W. Nikola-Lisa – författare

In this well-documented account, W. Nikola-Lisa explores how science and technology changed the face of America’s colleges and universities during the nineteenth century, bringing much needed reform to the classical liberal arts curriculum. The author’s detailed narrative explores the origins of the classical liberal arts curriculum, the rise of “mutual education societies,” the push to establish independent polytechnic institutes, and the creation of “schools of science” at established colleges and universities. Additionally, as the title suggests, the author explores the pedagogical changes brought about by these initiatives, especially in the area of science and technology where hands-on experiential laboratory instruction slowly became the norm rather than the exception.  

Fleeing a mean stepfather in south Texas, Billy-Boy arrives in Florida with his mother and two sisters at the beginning of summer. Billy-Boy quickly befriends a local boy, Tim, and all is well until it becomes clear they both like the same girl, Mae Beth, the daughter of the local surf shop owner. Billy-Boy has to learn how to navigate new terrain, while struggling to overcome feelings about his stepfather. He is helped by the insights of an older teenager, known locally as “Shark Man,” and Sonny, Mae Beth’s father, who help him understand both the mysteries of the ocean and his inner self. In this piece of middle grade fiction, Shark Man picks up where the author leaves off in Dragonfly, the author's memoir of growing up in Texas. Rather than continue this segment of his life as a memoir however, Mr. Nikola-Lisa casts his experience as a novel, condensing almost ten years of living in south Florida as a teenager into one summer. 

During a yearlong office-cleaning project the author reflects on his life as a writer and as a reader, addressing several themes: the place of physical books in an ever-increasing digital age, the impact of social media on publishing''s rapidly-changing landscape, the skill set an author needs to survive in today''s publishing world, and the author''s measured transition from traditional author to independent author/publisher. Written in four parts reflecting the four seasons of the year, W. Nikola-Lisa offers fifty-two sketches of his life as an author, a reader, and a book collector. A fascinating, but quick, read filled with insight and humor.

Author and storyteller W. Nikola-Lisa presents three original folk stories in this handsome volume. While the first two stories ("The Girl and the Troll" and "Two Bags of Gold") offer traditional elements of a folk story-magic, daring, wonder, and amazement-the last story ("The Young Boy and the Old Man") is a meditation on the development of writing and the art of bookmaking. Parents, teachers, and caregivers will enjoy sharing this collection of stories with emerging readers and writers.