Books published by Outskirts Press

Are you traveling to Rome or Florence? This book will enhance your voyage into art, archaeology, food, couture, and the sights and sounds of le dolce vita! These essays and poems enlighten and invigorate any site or museum you may visit, and the readings will uplift and inspire.

Young Evelyn hates her hair! It's everywhere! No matter what she does or where she goes, she continuously hears, "Evelyn, comb that hair, it's everywhere"! Evelyn comes up with a plan to fix her unruly hair only to find out that love means more than looks. This adaptable story is geared toward young children who may feel unlovable due to a physical characteristic beyond their control.

Living your truth will change the trajectory of your life. Therefore, do not allow anyone to rob you of your God-given purpose. Inevitably, the love you have for yourself will propel you into your destiny. Never allow anyone to superimpose upon you their perception of you. God purposefully created you in His image. He knew exactly what He was doing when you were born. God created you the way He wanted you to be. Remember, God knows the plan He has for your life so, do not allow the enemy to abort it. Self-love is one of the most significant ingredients for your success. Please, do not fall prey to the enemy's trap of remaining blinded to who you are. Remember, you have the breath of the God residing within you. The breath of God is the Spirit of God, and you mustn't take it lightly. Have you ever stopped to think of how important you are to God and how important God is to you? You are His representative, and as such, you have the awesome responsibility of representing Him in the most exemplary way. You cannot accomplish this if you have not learned to love yourself. You were made to do great things; God placed it within your DNA. The sky is the limit, so spread your proverbial wings and soar into your greatness. The world is waiting for you so, get ready to make an indelible mark for all to see. Break free of those things that are attempting to hold you captive, break free of self-doubt, break free of self-destructive behaviors, and break free of fear. Love thine self to the fullest and watch how God will bless you in many amazing ways.

Between Lincoln and FDR, the Presidency and the United States come of ageIn the wake of the Civil War, fourteen men will succeed Abraham Lincoln and attempt to reunify the United States. As their personal tales intertwine and overlap on their way to the Presidency, they defer to Congress until it is clear that Democrats and Republicans are more concerned with the prerogatives of power and patronage than Lincoln's pledge of freedom and opportunity for all Americans. The 19th-century Presidents battle with Congress to reform how jobs and other benefits are dispensed, while the Presidents of the early 20th century find themselves presiding over a country that has transitioned from an agricultural economy-supported by slave and immigrant labor-to an industrial economy generating the wealth that thrusts the country onto the world stage. Through it all, the Presidents continue the novel practice of handing over power peacefully, even in the face of a Depression that will challenge the United States' newfound status as a world power. "Brad McKim is a masterful storyteller. He seamlessly wove the stories of our first 15 presidents together into a compelling, interesting, and informative narrative." -Scott Barker, Author, The Kings of War: How Our Modern Presidents Hijacked Congress' War-Making Powers and What to Do About It"McKim weaves fascinating stories of presidential lives from their youth through early love affairs and careers, into political prominence. Not a retelling of common knowledge, this book reveals a fabric of personal stories not found in high school history books." -Jeff Bensch, Author, History of American Holidays"I have read countless books on the country's chief executives and I learned something about each president that I never knew before. I could not put A Presidents Story down and can't wait to read the sequel!" -Bradley Nahrstadt, Author, Alton B. Parker: The Man Who Challenged Roosevelt

How exciting would it be to have an opportunity to grow both your leadership and your spiritual walk with God? Well look no further. JumpStart Your Leadership and Spiritual Growth is a 17-week, 119-day journey as you discover yourself as a leader and grow in God's Word. One of the greatest lessons I have learned over the years is that I can't accomplish anything without God by my side. I am a better leader and person when I stay close to Him and read and study His Word!As you prepare to embark on this journey spend some time in prayer and self-reflection on where you are as a leader and Christian and where you see yourself in the future. Now as you read, and study daily be intentional and disciplined on how you get there!

Grand Deception exposes the highly confidential and secret lives of the World's top two political leaders. When it is discovered that the Presidents may be targeted by adversaries who want to destroy the World's balance of power, a countdown begins. If successful, unknown forces could accelerate the transformation of Earth into a New World Order controlled by a OneWorld Government. Faced with possibly their most challenging and dangerous case, Nikki Austen, former DC homicide detective turned private investigator and her partner Marcus Bianco become entangled in world political games as they join an investigation of a macabre murder of an escort in an upscale Georgetown townhouse owned by a beautiful and successful madam. When the investigators quickly identify the perpetrator, the trail leads them into the danger-filled underworld of a political coverup and clandestine plots that may go as high as the White House. Inexplicably, they are taken off the case by the President, but their next decision suddenly becomes their worst nightmare. Nikki and Marcus visit the DC Embassy of The People's Republic of China in hopes of locating the escort's murderer. They soon learn that they must deal with a mysterious Chinese general who operates in the shadows of his government and whose actions could lead to catastrophic global repercussions. As the mystery deepens, they discover more questions than answers. The search for answers about who is manipulating worldwide events from the shadows of power leads the investigators down a dangerous path, risking both from being permanently "canceled." Their future is in limbo as the mystery goes darker, and it becomes clear that somehow, they must identify the leader of a secret Shadow Cabal and stop a super intelligent AI creation from radically altering the course of human history forever. Nikki and Marcus soon learn that they may be the only ones who can stop the countdown to world pandemonium. In Grand Deception Michael Grantham takes the reader through the hidden world of political intrigue and deceit, reminding us that deception is everywhere and is a powerful weapon in the quest for power and control.

If your survival depends on having steaks, will your very survival be at stake? If you're in a cozy bar when you start feeling tender, should you cozy up to the bartender? If you have to study the dew with diligence, should you study it with dew diligence? If you meet a wise nun and the wisest nun, will you still be none the wiser?Puns and double entendres such as these emerge when you mercilessly mingle idioms with homonyms and their kin, and play around with their literal meanings. As a sequel to Son of a Pun, the hundreds of such entries in Dew Diligence are just as lively, just as exuberant. You will think that as long as the author does not abandon puns, he will continue to pun with abandon.

Yogananda, Gurdjieff, Jung & I AM: My Adventures in Life and Consciousness is John Maxwell Taylor's wild romp through sixty years of consciousness-raising meditation to find bliss, joy, happiness, and our true nature as humans...Are you ready to join him on this journey?Inspired by yogi Paramahansa Yogananda, spiritual teacher G. I. Gurdjieff, and mystical psychologist Carl Jung, John Maxwell considers himself a rock 'n' roll mystic, who came to spirituality when he was a singer/guitarist in the 1960s. As flashy as was his life then, so was his spiritual transformation: for a moment, the world literally disappeared in the light of God. In an engaging style, with thrills and humor sprinkled throughout, John Maxwell invites the reader to become emotionally connected not just with him through his autobiography but with themselves. He offers his own life lessons that can be applied immediately to readers' own lives so that they too can fulfill their destiny. Unlike most Western self-help books that preach thinking about concepts, John Maxwell offers a more truthful path forward into enlightenment: feeling through direct experience.

Armadillo Joe is an inspirational book for middle aged children. It demonstrates friendship and the importance of family heritage being provided by parents and elders. Its characters display the value of discipline, the motivation for learning and the exploration of nature and self-motivation. Human kindness as a value is demonstrated. A great introduction for children to an animal known as an Armadillo.

The Earth Observation and Remote Sensing market is one of the most dynamic sectors of the commercial space industry. Once reserved for nation-state sponsored space programs, today scores of private companies are investing in commercial satellite constellations and changing the way Earth observation imagery and data are delivered. This short primer provides the reader with a comprehensive, yet readily digestible, overview of the space based geospatial intelligence industry. It includes a detailed look at the historical development, principle technologies, market forces and pioneering companies that are offering organizations without in orbit capabilities of their own, a private view from space.

Pastor Ray Lane was born during the Great Depression in spite of a plan to have him aborted. This book is written to share LIFE experiences that almost didn't happen. He grew up on a farm in Idaho and served in the Air Force. He attended Boise Junior College, then developed prize winning Holsteins. Was called by God to be a minister, graduated Bible College, and pastored with his famous artist wife; churches in four states and New Zealand. In retirement he has served as an assistant funeral director, volunteered as Colorado Springs police chaplain, and with San Diego Sheriff's Department.

Golden Nuggets of WisdomEvery step along life's journey is a necessary piece of the puzzle that becomes the story of each person's life. Life itself is a lesson of learning and self-discovery. The importance of self-discovery is so that each person can best develop, become the best one can be. The essence of life without a doubt is love. Learning to love ourselves and others reveals to us great lessons about life from which to gain nuggets of wisdom that we share with others, To gather these nuggets, it begins with self-esteem and a great sense of inquiry, followed by examination and heeding advice of others as well as one's own inner voice, list being to one's heart. Therefore, the human journey, our lives is about relationships. It is through relationships we gain the most insights and sense of worthiness, because every relationship to some degree or at some dimension involves love. Relationships compels us to focus on being at peace with oneself and others; therefore, in to be in harmony with oneself, to love oneself, and to joyfully love and be at peace with other. Doing so, one remains well-balanced and open-minded to receive, to cultivate and to share golden nuggets of wisdom, which in truth are tidbits or bits of knowledge, gained from experience. And this, is the heart of the focus of Storybook Of Love. Presented here is a compelling collection of poems and poetical writings, annotating deep emotions, feelings of love, life, grief, loss, and a need for healing, which in a sense are tools which were generators of pearls of wisdom for the writer. Each reader is sure to relate and identify on some level with this variegated inspirational and heartfelt journey. Inside this compendium, . one is sure to find some golden nugget upon which to reflect and contemplate..

Sash, a tour guide, leads a quirky band of American tourists, including Susan, a lonely, retired teacher, on an extraordinary adventure to India's historical sites, such as the Taj Mahal, Old Delhi and Varanasi. However, the couple's growing attraction to one another gets complicated because of the country's social norms. They struggle to find an answer during this amazing journey of awareness.

Sweet Talker is a story of two very different people, with one thing in common, personal tragedy. Theo Storm grew up on a family cattle ranch in central Texas. As a Naval Academy graduate, he planned on a career as a Navy SEAL. Sara Harris, a Harvard trained lawyer and well connected in New York City, planned on a career in corporate law. Too often terrible things happen to good people that change their lives forever. The Texas Mexico border had gotten out of control. Drugs, human trafficking, murder, and gangs had taken over many small towns along the border. When the time came to pick a new Governor, the people of Texas turned to Rebecca Houston, a direct descendent of Sam Houston, one of Texas' founding fathers. These three, Sara, Theo and Rebecca, along with the help of many good men and women put together a plan to take back the state and send the cartel to the place they deserved to be, Hell. As Sara put it in her straight-talking way, Theo catches the S.O.B. and I fry them. Neither one ever thought they would fall in love, but that's exactly what happens.

"A Place for Hope" is a devotional book that shares 365 days of real life experiences and how encouragement and hope guided my daily walk through some of the most difficult seasons in my life. Writing these experiences were healing and I hope as you read these each day you may be touched some by my own experience, strength and hope, and that your life will become more brighter. My book shares how my faith, personal walk and relationship with God helped pull me through some very difficult times. I pray these daily devotions will encourage and supply you with a renewed hope that will help you get through perhaps some difficult things you may be going through. I can honestly say, in my own walk, I have learned that with God you are never alone and He will always guide you no matter what you may endure. I hope my own journey will embrace and help you some along the way. I have learned that no matter what I have been through, everything always has a way of working out and God will give you the strength to persevere.

Very, very few people truly understand God. And thus for the almost six thousand years, that this universe has been in existence, the vast majority of His creatures have treated Him hardly in accordance with His Eminence. Not realizing or caring that He is the Source of their life, God has been abused, disparaged, mocked, ridiculed, derided, defied, disregarded, defamed, scorned-pick a verb-in short, treated with contempt! Or arguably, worse than the above, God has been totally ignored!As a result, God has suffered throughout the Millenia-exponentially greater and far longer than any human being-despite billions of people of various religions, sects, and modalities who pray to Him-some on a daily basis-without truly understanding what they are doing-nor why they are doing so. As a result, it is fair to state God is basically alone-although forlorn and isolated are better descriptors. This book, therefore, is written first and foremost for God; to assure Him there are, at least, some who understand His nature, and appreciate His efforts in our behalf; that is, the food we receive, the shelter He provides, the ability to live a fairly long life with its pleasures and blessings, and His greatest gift of all: Free-Will. Do you know Who He is, what He wants, what He needs, what is important to Him, how much He suffers, and, especially, how we can help Him, and engage Him real-time? Are we here to do God's Will? Or is it possible God wishes to do our Will? Indeed, if you read this book, you may not believe your eyes and ears. You will discover we know more about God than we do about our own spouse, parents, children, and friends, because God hides nothing from us, but reveals everything about Himself throughout Scripture!For thus says the Lord-Who created the Heavens; "I am the Lord, and there is no other.I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness. I did not say 'Seek Me out in a wasteland', But I, the Lord, announced beforehand what was to come." (Isaiah 45:18.)The major purpose, then, of this book is to inform readers of God's basic nature, His inner life, His thoughts and feelings, His desires, and how He relates to the creatures He created, to the end that those who wish a relationship with Him can have one. "God has a stake in our behavior. Thus, He cries when we fail and rejoices when we succeed. He weeps when we ignore widows, exploit orphans, and abuse strangers. When we violate the norms He has taken pains to communicate to us, He angrily sends prophets to chastise and warn us. What all this means is that God is filled with feeling; with pathos. That is the essence of Biblical religion and of the Judaism that arose from it."Abraham Joshua Heschel In conformity with the above, again and again, dozens-nay hundreds-of times in every book of the Old Testament, we are struck by God's total involvement in His Creation; in the human condition, and the effect His creatures-have upon Him! Scripture could not be more explicit! God is not remote from any human who wishes to know Him. Nor is it necessary to allow others to interpret God's Laws for us. We are all capable of doing so if we truly desire to, and thus have an individual relationship with God!

SAVING PORTERVILLE is a sequel to DECENT DECEIT-Destiny of Deception-Story of how Drake Dawson, a young man in search of himself befriended a soldier with PTSD and both lives were changed as well as were others. The physically and emotionally flawed strangers caught up in a history of deceit and the tragedy of the war against ISIS in Afghanistan, searched for and found purpose, redemption and love. Although Saving Porterville stands alone, you may also enjoy the precursor. SAVING PORTERVILLE is a continuation of the story, with the same delightful characters, plus the addition of a new character, Francine, a Homeland Security agent recruited to help solve an out-of-control illegal drug crisis in the small town. If you liked Drake, Oscar, Patricia, Charlie and Tanner in Decent Deceit you are invited to visit them again in this new book. This time, after reaching their personal goals, you will find them courageously fighting a war on drugs where family, neighbors and friends are victims. If a small group of friends can save a small town, perhaps there is hope for the country. This book has been in the making for two years. Covid isolated us, made us fearful, often angry, and friendships were jeopardized. We were thwarted from physically expressing our love to one another, and the consequences are yet to be fully realized. I survived by writing about love of home, community, and country. It is also about art, food, forgiveness of oneself, and a bit of humor-all things to make us smile in a sad, fast-changing world. Thich Nhat Hanh said, "You must love in such a way that the person you love feels free." The same is true of countries. I hope SAVING PORTERVILLE will help all of us return to love, faith, friendship and courage, whether we live in a city, country or somewhere in between.

"Viva Laughter" is a potpourri of humor presented in a variety of lengths and styles. The author suggests treating it like your favorite snacks and tasting it a little at a time. Patrick Shannon, whose favorite genre is humor, has had a field day with this one.

This is a Christian book written to inspire those who want to know more about the modern day church. To help improve the integration of new believers into the church.

The Sista's of Hooverville County have been playing tricks and pranks on people for as long as they were able to walk. Their cousins Jake and Joe, who was the boys of the Sheriff in town, helped the girls in some of their pranks. Their parents knew what they did, and was punished, if needed. The girls grew up in this book from Kindergarten to adulthood. They still loved to have fun. Most of the people in the County knew the girls and decided if no one was harmed or killed, then they were okay with the girls' fun. Even when they were married, they made their wedding a fun activity. They gave up their activities when they grew up to be adults. Their best trick was in church when their frog jumped up on the head of a Deacon, but that was when they were much younger. Join the kids while they grow up and make good men and women. The parents often laughed and had fun themselves, but not to the measure the kids did. Everything was going well until one of the girls were taken by some mean men. Then all pranks were off. They come from a strong family who help each other when the times got rough.

Mister is a black-and-white cat with a fondness for hats. Join him as he searches for the perfect hat-specifically a big purple pirate hat for a birthday tuxedo cat. But will Mister find exactly what he's looking for?

JETT CHASE?No way will that discombobulated deduction of his amnesia-filled wife's brain ever settle in Sir Dru Simon's mind! But before tackling her amnesia, she must survive an extremely difficult back surgery stemming from injuries she received during the explosion at Jettalio. And if she does, Dru feels certain that his Lady Simon, the one and only Jett, will remember their undying love.Jett does survive, but only recalls bit and pieces of her marriage to Dru. And after totally focusing her concentration on her children, she finally recognizes them. However, that's about as far as her memory goes even after Michael Langitto visits her and mentions Brodie, who she absolutely has no recollection of, whatsoever. And what of the grandchildren? There's not even a little glimmer of hope in Jett realizing their existence!Dru has Michael's guarantee that Vincenzo Ballicari, who was responsible for the Jettlio explosion as well as Jett and Michael's injuries, will pay dearly. True, Dru would've handled the matter himself, but Jett's health is first and foremost on his mind. Besides, Michael and his righthand man, Nicholai, you might say pride themselves on the type of ruthless repercussions that Ballicari must suffer.Join Jett on her journey to wellness as she discovers that starting her life over may be more than she can handle. But then she hasn't taken her former mother-in-law, Tess Landon-Webb, into consideration. Hell, the way things are going, Jett might even for really learn to cook!Jett receives a multitude of support from her family and loved ones. Enough so that she gets talked into making a Hollywood movie, and with Deke DeGeorge, no less! Yes, she'll be working alongside her former beau, Deke, and her favorite actor, Cameron McGinley.DANG! Once again, life is good!

Take a journey to the Caribbean as you read this ode to the pleasures of island life. It is written as a bedtime poem for young and old alike. Imagine the boats zipping around the bay and see a pirate ship come sailing in! As night falls, the bay quiets, and all becomes calm and serene.