Sunset Over Happy Farm

On the surface, Derrick James is a mild mannered socially awkward attorney, who works a modest federal government job. While Derrick lacks any particular legal acumen or academic prowess, and possesses modest legal writing skills, everywhere he goes and whatever he does, Derrick inevitably and always makes his way to the top of the pyramid. Possessing an unflappable mental skill set and seldom suffering fools lightly, he accomplishes what needs to be done and he does it superbly well, much to the chagrin of his peers. In the twilight of his legal career, Derrick finds himself working in perhaps one of the most boring brain-numbing federal legal jobs one can possibly imagine, but it’s inside work – no heavy lifting – and the pay is pretty good too. Finally! Derrick relaxes satisfied with who he and where he is. Life reaches a comfortable working rhyme. Both daughters are in college. After many down years, he is finally setting aside some extra money for retirement. Life is good, that is, right up to the very moment that a group of jealous federal supervisors and co-workers ban together forcing him to accept a forced early retirement. Now having abundant free time, Derrick travels the world, begins a ‘get out of debt’ project and ponders how he got to ‘here’. In doing all of this, he constantly runs into the ghosts of his past most of which is rooted in his ill-fated youth spent growing up in a Catholic Orphanage, which he facetiously nicknames “The Happy Farm”. Within the realm of his forced retirement and even as life’s ghosts taunt him, Derrick finds that truth and hindsight are not necessarily friends, but with enough time and grit, he finds that, by accepting his past, he can finally accept his present, and in doing so he finally says good bye to all the enemies, all the friends and all the ghosts that haunt him, as the sun sets over The Happy Farm.

A bold call for the “insane” to reclaim their rightful role as prophets of spiritual and cultural transformation • Explains how many of those diagnosed as schizophrenic, bipolar, and other forms of “madness” are not ill but experiencing a spiritual awakening • Explores the rise of Mad Pride and the mental patients’ liberation movement • Reveals how those seen as “mad” must embrace their spiritual gifts to help the coming global spiritual transition Many of the great prophets of the past experienced madness--a breakdown followed by a breakthrough, spiritual death followed by rebirth. With the advent of modern psychiatry, the budding prophets of today are captured and transformed into chronic mental patients before they can flower into the visionaries and mystics they were intended to become. As we approach the tipping point between extinction and global spiritual awakening, there is a deep need for these prophets to embrace their spiritual gifts. To make this happen, we must learn to respect the sanctity of madness. We need to cultivate Mad Pride. Exploring the rise of Mad Pride and the mental patients’ liberation movement as well as building upon psychiatrist R. D. Laing’s revolutionary theories, Seth Farber, Ph.D., explains that diagnosing people as mad has more to do with social control than therapy. Many of those labeled as schizophrenic, bipolar, and other kinds of “mad” are not ill but simply experiencing different forms of spiritual awakening: they are seeing and feeling what is wrong with society and what needs to be done to change it. Farber shares his interviews with former schizophrenics who now lead successful and inspiring lives. He shows that it is impossible for society to change as long as the mad are suppressed because they are our catalysts of social change. By reclaiming their rightful role as prophets of spiritual and cultural revitalization, the mad--by seeding new visions for our future--can help humanity overcome the spiritual crisis that endangers our survival and lead us to a higher and long-awaited stage of spiritual development.

An entertaining and educational mirror into the past, filled with heartwarming stories, essays, photographs and artwork recounting life on the family farm.

Bringing back in time, life through the 1950’s. This is a great untold story. A unique adventure into a world of wild imagination. The struggle of two families for survival. One, firmly seeking to look in the right direction. The other with tremendous inclination for wrong doings. Both victims of their own ignorance. THE LAST RED SUNSET describes with complete details the knowing-mess that ignorance can create. And how it impacts the life of others for better or worse. Taking me back in time to my childhood in 1970’s, connecting me to some sources of strange events. The novel tells the unthinkable adventure of three brothers that sat foot in a remote farm in 1955, the struggle for survival, and their tragic demise. And those that once lived under the rain of happiness and fear around them. Just living the life day by day, even if that day was destined to be the last red sunset.

Curl up with this delicious collection of bite-sized treats from the queen of feel-good fiction! A Recipe for Happiness takes you through a year with No.1 bestselling author Jo Thomas and includes seven heartwarming short stories, tons of mouth-watering new recipes and some personal family memories for an insight into Jo's life and loves, along with an extract of her most recent novel. It's perfect for fans old and new! **Jo Thomas' new novel COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS is out now in ebook and paperback!** Your favourite authors love Jo Thomas: 'Bursting with flavour, adventure and romance' Ruth Jones 'Delicious and delightful - Jo sweeps you away to a better place with every book, which are always filled with warmth, love and a big spoonful of happiness' Veronica Henry 'Heart-warming, moving and romantic, with beautiful settings - what could be better?' Katie Fforde

Winner of The IACP 2019 First Book Award presented by The Julia Child Foundation Like Madhur Jaffrey and Marcella Hazan before her, Naz Deravian will introduce the pleasures and secrets of her mother culture's cooking to a broad audience that has no idea what it's been missing. America will not only fall in love with Persian cooking, it'll fall in love with Naz.” - Samin Nosrat, author of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: The Four Elements of Good Cooking Naz Deravian lays out the multi-hued canvas of a Persian meal, with 100+ recipes adapted to an American home kitchen and interspersed with Naz's celebrated essays exploring the idea of home. At eight years old, Naz Deravian left Iran with her family during the height of the 1979 Iranian Revolution and hostage crisis. Over the following ten years, they emigrated from Iran to Rome to Vancouver, carrying with them books of Persian poetry, tiny jars of saffron threads, and always, the knowledge that home can be found in a simple, perfect pot of rice. As they traverse the world in search of a place to land, Naz's family finds comfort and familiarity in pots of hearty aash, steaming pomegranate and walnut chicken, and of course, tahdig: the crispy, golden jewels of rice that form a crust at the bottom of the pot. The best part, saved for last. In Bottom of the Pot, Naz, now an award-winning writer and passionate home cook based in LA, opens up to us a world of fragrant rose petals and tart dried limes, music and poetry, and the bittersweet twin pulls of assimilation and nostalgia. In over 100 recipes, Naz introduces us to Persian food made from a global perspective, at home in an American kitchen.

'Warm, romantic and funny' Katie Fforde Jo Thomas's new novel invites you to a special cherry orchard in Spain, where sunshine, romance and family secrets are the order of the day. Perfect for fans of Jill Mansell and Carole Matthews, Sunset Over the Cherry Orchard is a heartwarming, hilarious tale that is 'like the best kind of holiday' (Lucy Diamond). It's time for Beti Winter to dance to her own beat. After three failed engagements Beti is in desperate need of a fresh start. What better place than the sun-drenched hills of southern Spain? But it's not all sangria and siestas. Beti finds work on an old Andalusian cherry farm where there are cherries to be picked, trees to be watered and her fiery boss, Antonio, to win over. As the sun toasts her skin, Beti finds herself warming to the Spanish way of life. Embracing the art of flamenco, she discovers there is much to learn from the dance of passion. She just has to let loose and listen to the rhythm of her heart. Readers love Sunset Over the Cherry Orchard: 'I loved it!!! I can't recommend this book enough' 'Such an enjoyable journey that I just couldn't put it down' 'A real feel good book' 'Wow just wow, its a shame I have to come back to England, after being so thoroughly transported to southern Spain in this wonderful story' 'Amazing, incredible, heartwarming read that I loved from start to finish' 'If you want to be transported to another country and another way of life, with fantastic characters and an utterly addictive story, then you really must read this book!' 'I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book' 'The plot of Sunset Over the Cherry Orchard is perfect' 'There is laughter, tears, friendship, jealousy, and passion all vying for attention against the stunning backdrop of rural Spain' 'This is a delightfully sweet, escapist read that's perfect for holidays or anyone wishing to get away for a bit, as it whisks readers away to beautiful Spain' 'Sun, Food and Romance is there anything more you could ask for in a summer read? I don't think so!!!'