Steve Nelson – författare

Gower Champion's career spanned the years during which American musical theatre was transformed from a crude popular entertainment into a sophisticated art form. As the director and choreographer of Hello, Dolly!, 42nd Street, and other Broadway musicals, he was central to that transformation. He came of age during the zenith of American musical theatre production and made his mark on both sides of the curtain. As a dancer, he gained notoriety through his work with Jeanne Tyler and Marjorie Belcher, and his experience as a performer gave him a solid foundation for his later success as an organizer of memorable productions. As a choreographer and director, he became known for spectacular numbers that blended dance, staging, and elaborate scenography. More than anyone else, he seemed to realize that the achievement of a musical depended on those spots where music, dance, lighting, costumes, and staging created a sustained narrative and emotional flow through sound and motion rather than words. This book provides the first extensive treatment of Champion's life and legendary career.The book falls neatly into two main sections. The first discusses Champion's career as a performer, with chapters on his early Broadway appearances and his work for MGM Special attention is given to how his experiences as a dancer prepared him for the later half of his career. The second examines his work as a choreographer and director and is organized around the musicals with which he was involved. Each chapter consists of a history of one or more of those productions, from original concept to opening night and sometimes beyond, as Champion, ever the perfectionist, sought to improve on what everyone else thought was already perfect. The volume is fully documented, with basic historical research conducted at several special collections. In addition, the book is based on a careful analysis of Champion's scripts, which include numerous revisions and thus illuminate how he crafted his productions. Finally, the study depends on interviews conducted with various individuals who knew and worked with Champion throughout his impressive career.

Where the hell is my life going, and what am I supposed to do when I get there? No matter where we start from, we all strive to answer these questions. This story anthology delves into souls young and old determined to break free of societal rules and family constraints, connect with fellow life travelers, and search for a place in this wonderfully wide and terrifying world.Cross-border collaboration: Five authors, Canadians Nancy Kay Clark, Phyllis Humby and Michael Joll, and Americans Steve Nelson and Frank T. Sikora, have come together to offer a collection of stories about finding the right path on both sides of the border and beyond. The stories are a mix of fiction styles and genres—literary, historical, psychological suspense, and speculative—but all depict the beginning, middle or end of a life quest. We offer them to you as variations on our plan to save the world—one story, one person at a time.

Mathias Blacklund was a young boy who dreamed of high adventure. After completing the eighth grade his greatest desire was to travel out west and partner up with his hero, Kit Carson. However, he was conflicted because he was at the same time in love with a childhood sweetheart who believed him to be a dreamer. He set out to earn money to purchase a team of horses for which to come courting. A fellow classmate convinces him to sign up for the Union army as a drummer boy. As with the best laid plans, they often go awry. Mathias Blacklund, now Matt Black was reassigned to the artillery. It was while serving in the artillery he acquired a superb horse, sword, red kerchief and reputation as the infamous Red Rider. At the wars end he was a decorated commissioned officer. His plans to lead a cavalry troop out west were dashed when to army wanted to demote him and make him a recruiting sergeant. Disillusioned and dismayed he and his famous horse, Ragnar, head to Texas in search of adventure. Along the way he meets Abby, the love of his life, and lifetime partner. Arriving in Texas, they settled on a small ranch. Matt supplemented his income by first becoming a Texas Ranger, and then a US Marshal. With his partner, Virgil Cameron they would become two of the most feared law enforcement officers of Texas. This is a saga of their lives and of their families.

In the five years since the first edition of this book published, there has been an accelerated rise in the number and influence of COO roles in the legal sphere. No longer the preserve of the largest national and international firms, mid-tier firms and even New Law and alternative legal service providers are considering a COO as a potential – perhaps even essential – component of law firm management, to achieve increased efficiency, productivity, and meet the demands of a highly competitive market.With contributions from a number of current law firm COOs, alongside some of the most respected and sought-after consultants working in this space, this second edition of Rise of the Legal COO examines the scope and variety of the legal COO role, and how the challenges and demands of the position have altered as law firms have evolved. It contains updated chapters from the first edition, and several brand new chapters covering topics such as:How the COO can enable innovation and digital transformation in their firm;The COO’s role in managing profitability and client engagement;The use of data in law firm management; andThe New Law COO.There are also all-new, exclusive interviews with legal COOs from a variety of national and international firms, covering topics ranging from the importance of relationships and adapting to the new hybrid, post-COVID world, to encouraging innovation in firms and strategies to recruit and retain talent.There is no doubt that a good COO is an invaluable part of a firm’s management team, and the opportunities for talented individuals with broad operational management skills will continue to grow. Heavily backed up by the first-hand experience of the contributors, this title provides essential guidance to the current and future legal COO on the skills and strategies they need to succeed, and to law firms on how to recruit, integrate, and develop a COO who will be a good match for their culture and help them achieve their ambitions.

In the five years since the first edition of this book published, there has been an accelerated rise in the number and influence of COO roles in the legal sphere. No longer the preserve of the largest national and international firms, mid-tier firms and even New Law and alternative legal service providers are considering a COO as a potential – perhaps even essential – component of law firm management, to achieve increased efficiency, productivity, and meet the demands of a highly competitive market.With contributions from a number of current law firm COOs, alongside some of the most respected and sought-after consultants working in this space, this second edition of Rise of the Legal COO examines the scope and variety of the legal COO role, and how the challenges and demands of the position have altered as law firms have evolved. It contains updated chapters from the first edition, and several brand new chapters covering topics such as:How the COO can enable innovation and digital transformation in their firm;The COO’s role in managing profitability and client engagement;The use of data in law firm management; andThe New Law COO.There are also all-new, exclusive interviews with legal COOs from a variety of national and international firms, covering topics ranging from the importance of relationships and adapting to the new hybrid, post-COVID world, to encouraging innovation in firms and strategies to recruit and retain talent.There is no doubt that a good COO is an invaluable part of a firm’s management team, and the opportunities for talented individuals with broad operational management skills will continue to grow. Heavily backed up by the first-hand experience of the contributors, this title provides essential guidance to the current and future legal COO on the skills and strategies they need to succeed, and to law firms on how to recruit, integrate, and develop a COO who will be a good match for their culture and help them achieve their ambitions.

In the five years since the first edition of this book published, there has been an accelerated rise in the number and influence of COO roles in the legal sphere. No longer the preserve of the largest national and international firms, mid-tier firms and even New Law and alternative legal service providers are considering a COO as a potential – perhaps even essential – component of law firm management, to achieve increased efficiency, productivity, and meet the demands of a highly competitive market.With contributions from a number of current law firm COOs, alongside some of the most respected and sought-after consultants working in this space, this second edition of Rise of the Legal COO examines the scope and variety of the legal COO role, and how the challenges and demands of the position have altered as law firms have evolved. It contains updated chapters from the first edition, and several brand new chapters covering topics such as:How the COO can enable innovation and digital transformation in their firm;The COO’s role in managing profitability and client engagement;The use of data in law firm management; andThe New Law COO.There are also all-new, exclusive interviews with legal COOs from a variety of national and international firms, covering topics ranging from the importance of relationships and adapting to the new hybrid, post-COVID world, to encouraging innovation in firms and strategies to recruit and retain talent.There is no doubt that a good COO is an invaluable part of a firm’s management team, and the opportunities for talented individuals with broad operational management skills will continue to grow. Heavily backed up by the first-hand experience of the contributors, this title provides essential guidance to the current and future legal COO on the skills and strategies they need to succeed, and to law firms on how to recruit, integrate, and develop a COO who will be a good match for their culture and help them achieve their ambitions.

Titles in the Pocket Tutor series give practical guidance on subjects that medical students and foundation doctors need help with “on the go”, at a highly affordable price that puts them within reach of those rotating through modular courses or working on attachment.  Common investigations (ECG, imaging, etc)Clinical skills (patient examination, etc.)Clinical specialties that students perceive as too small to merit a textbook (psychiatry, renal medicine)Key PointsBreaks down a subject that students find complex and daunting, using clear images and concise but informative textLogical, sequential content: relevant basic science; then chapters devoted to common disorders that introduce the clinical essentials of renal practiceDescriptions of common disorders are enhanced by Clinical Scenarios (Patient presents with...), which help students and trainees to recognise and manage common presenting problems