A Ghost Named Fred

A lonely boy finds an empty house with a ghost and a lost treasure!

'A small boy finds shelter from the rain in an old house and meets a ghost'named Fred. Colorful illustrations plus a mystery which will delight 1st- and 2nd-grade readers.' 'SLJ. Children's Books of 1968 (Library of Congress)

In this hard-hitting memoir, Fred Burton, a key figure in international counterterrorism and domestic spycraft, emerges from the shadows to reveal who he is, what he has accomplished, and the threats that lurk unseen except by an experienced, worldly-wise few. Plunging readers into the murky world of violent religious extremism that spans the streets of Middle Eastern cities and the informant-filled alleys of American slums, Burton takes us behind the scenes to reveal how the United States tracked Libya-linked master terrorist Abu Nidal; captured Ramzi Yusef, architect of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing; and pursued the assassins of major figures including Yitzhak Rabin, Meir Kahane, and General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, the president of Pakistan–classic cases that have sobering new meaning in the treacherous years since 9/11. Here, too, is Burton’s advice on personal safety for today’s most powerful CEOs, gleaned from his experience at Stratfor, the private firm Barron’s calls “the shadow CIA.” Told in a no-holds-barred, gripping, nuanced style that illuminates a complex and driven man, Ghost is both a riveting read and an illuminating look into the shadows of the most important struggle of our time.

A literary venture into the economic shadow that slavery cast, Feeding the Ghosts, based on a true story, lays bare the raw business of the slave trade. The Zong, a slave ship packed with captive African “stock,” is headed to the New World. When illness threatens to disable all on board and cut potential profits, the ship’s captain orders his crew to throw the sick into the ocean. After being hurled overboard, Mintah, a young female slave taken from a Danish mission, is able to climb back onto the ship. From her hiding place, she rouses the remaining slaves to rebel and stirs unease among the crew with a voice and conscience they seem unable to silence. Mintah’s courage and others’ reactions to it unfold in a suspenseful story of the struggle to live even when threatened by oblivion.

Ghost stories have played a prominent role in childhood. Circulated around playgrounds and whispered in slumber parties, their history in American literature is little known and seldom discussed by scholars. This book explores the fascinating origins and development of these tales, focusing on the social and historical factors that shaped them and gave birth to the genre. Ghost stories have existed for centuries but have been published specifically for children for only about 200 years. Early on, supernatural ghost stories were rare--authors and publishers, fearing they might adversely affect young minds, presented stories in which the ghost was always revealed as a fraud. These tales dominated children's publishing in the 19th century but the 20th century saw a change in perspective and the supernatural ghost story flourished.

"Fantastic! I've learned there's much more to this valley than first meets the eye. I had no idea the dead population was so lively here. Truly, Dwyer brings the past to life." --Mick Winter, author of The Napa Valley Book "Filled with fascinating historical details that few locals even know, the book is eerily convincing in its convictions."--Santa Rosa (CA) Press Democrat "A handy guide to curdling your blood and raising your hair."--Napa Valley Register Serving as a guide to one of America's most treasured lands, the Ghost Hunter's Guide to California's Wine Country takes readers to the rolling hills, old wineries, and beautiful vineyards of the California Wine Country. With more than eighty haunted locations described in great historical detail, experienced and novice ghost hunters alike can search this famous region for encounters with ghosts of explorers, Indians, soldiers, and others. Recommended locations include the famous novelist Jack London's homestead, where apparitions and other phenomena have been experienced. Many believe London's ghost still haunts his beloved ranch. After traveling the vineyards and wineries, the counties of Napa and Sonoma offer more ghostly adventures. The Cinedome movie house in Napa is said to hold the ghosts of an older couple who were often found cuddling in the back of the theatre. In Sonoma, hauntings have occurred in the popular park known as the Plaza. Sem-Yeto, one of the last Pomo Indian chiefs, is buried in the park's northwest corner, and some have witnessed the spirit of his ghost wandering the site. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ghost hunting guru Jeff Dwyer, a resident of the California Wine Country, has been fascinated with ghosts since childhood. He is an experienced paranormal investigator and the author of Ghost Hunter's Guide to the San Francisco Bay Area, Ghost Hunter's Guide to Los Angeles, Ghost Hunter's Guide to New Orleans, and Ghost Hunters Guide to Seattle and Puget Sound, all published by Pelican.