Showing results by author "John McCormick" in All Categories

When blues master Robert Johnson's recordings were rereleased to great fanfare in the 1960s, little was known about his life, giving rise to legends that he gained success by selling his soul to the devil. Biography of a Phantom is musicologist Mack McCormick's search, from the late 1960s until McCormick's death in 2015, to uncover Johnson's life story. McCormick spent decades reconstructing Johnson's mysterious life and developing theories about his untimely death at the age of 27, but never made public his discoveries. Biography of a Phantom publishes his compelling work for the first time.

The Horror Writer covers how to connect with your market and carve out a sustainable niche in the independent horror genre, how to tackle the writer's ever-lurking nemesis of productivity, writing good horror stories with powerful, effective scenes, realistic, flowing dialogue and relatable characters without resorting to clichéd jump scares and well-worn gimmicks. Also covered is the delicate subject of handling rejection with good grace, and how to use those inevitable "not quite the right fit for us at this time" letters as an opportunity to hone your craft.

There are 300,000 coastal U.S. properties which, if purchased today with a 30-year mortgage, will be worthless by the end of the mortgage and by 2099 will cost the United States more than $1 trillion of lost property value. The complete situation including bank failures and infrastructure destruction will be much worse. This booklet is about how you and your community can prepare for climate change. You'll find the latest measurements and estimates to help families, investors, and government officials prepare for the inevitable. Whether you believe the earth is warming because of human ...

In a rundown farmhouse near isolated, rural Dunwich, a bizarre family conjures and nurtures an evil entity from another realm, with the purpose of destroying the world and delivering it to ancient gods to rule, and only an aged university librarian can stop them. The Dunwich Horror was first published in 1929 in Weird Tales. (Summary by Mark Nelson)

A classic locked room mystery, in a not-so-classic setting. (Intro by Karen Savage)

When financial executive Bob Vanags takes a job at ominous Turaida Bank in Latvia, he hopes to learn of his heritage and to fight economic fraud in Eastern Europe. Instead, Bob finds himself pulled into a world of political intrigue, blackmail, and murder. Aided by his son David, his beautiful colleague Agnese, and a fearless Latvian journalist named Santa Ezeriņa, Bob begins to unravel his employer’s darkest secrets, discovering their sins and conspiracies beyond his wildest fears. Secrets that Turaida wants to keep hidden, even at the cost of Bob’s life.

The Murder on the Links is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie.The story takes place in northern France, giving Poirot a hostile competitor from the Paris Sûreté. Poirot's long memory for past or similar crimes proves useful in resolving the crimes. The book is notable for a subplot in which Hastings falls in love, a development "greatly desired on Agatha's part... parcelling off Hastings to wedded bliss in the Argentine."

Love animal rescues, dogs. lambs, miniature horses, miniature donkeys, pet emus, and more? How about Punxsutawney Phil and Groundhog Day? If so, then this is the book for you. Highland Ranch was our decade-long adventure playing with lambs, rescuing miniature donkeys and horses, raising rare sheep for petting zoos, operating an organic orchard and garden, along with caring for our many, many dogs.

White Fang was written as a companion to Jack London’s famous 1903 bestseller The Call of the Wild. Told from the perspective of White Fang, a creature half-wolf and half-dog, the story follows his journey through brutal environments that strip away his innocence and turn him savage. Everything changes when a young man shows him kindness and offers a chance at friendship—something White Fang has never known. More than just an adventure, White Fang is a powerful exploration of how environment shapes character. Set during the Klondike Gold Rush, it also offers a vivid portrait of its ...

Dr. John McCormick discusses the healthcare industry and his vision for providing affordable quality health care for all.Video and podcast topics include: healthcare policy, healthcare costs, prescription costs, health insurance, Telehealth, Telemedicine, mental health, ERISA, patient out-of-pocket costs, patient deductibles, patient copays, self-funded health benefits, employee benefits, and more.Dr. McCormick is CEO of Ovation Health. Ovation Health is a group health plan provider, offering $0 to low deductible plans and HD plans. Ovation Direct offers subscription health benefit plans for ...

Red Riding Hood is walking through the woods, taking a lovely meal to her ailing grandmother. She has been warned about the big bad wolf, but when she meets a shaggy stranger, he insists he is the big good wolf. Should she trust him?

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott follows the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—as they grow up in Civil War-era New England. Under the guidance of their loving mother, Marmee, they navigate poverty, personal dreams, and family challenges. Meg seeks domestic life, Jo aspires to be a writer, Beth is gentle and musical, and Amy is artistic and ambitious. Their bonds are tested through illness, love, loss, and societal expectations. Ultimately, the novel celebrates sisterhood, moral growth, and the pursuit of individuality while highlighting the joys and struggles of ...

A party of campers on a deserted Baltic island is terrorized by a huge wolf... or is it?

Focus on Art delves into all aspects of the Art world: The artists themselves, different genres of art, music and literature. We strive to have the type of lively discussions that you may overhear in a diner late at night, or among friends at a party. Join us and be part of the discussion.

This 1914 book gives a picture of the British Army structure and life in the early hours of World War I. Summary by david wales

The Castle stood above the quiet little town for as long as folks remembered: barren, deserted, lonely and frightening to the townsfolk. Until one day, smoke began to ascend from the dunjon. They were warned not to go near, and when intrepid souls dared to venture to uncover the mystery of the ruined castle, they learned firsthand what supernatural terrors await inside The Castle of the Carpathians. Summary by Joseph DeNoia.

"“Who is he?” I asked.“The worst man in London,” Holmes answered, as he sat down and stretched his legs before the fire." And so begins this Sherlock Holmes adventure with the most morally corrupt and vile man in London. A man whom Sherlock must accept into his home and treat with professional courtesy despite intense personal disgust and animosity. What power does this man hold over Holmes and the other people he forces into terrible situations? - Summary by phil c

The unconventional Scotland Yard detective Angel Esquire is no fool to be hoodwinked by the murder of the old crook Reale as he anticipates the coup that follows. Jimmy is unconventional too but at the other side of the law and what follows is the nail-biting adventure. - Summary by Yoganandh T

The House of the Dead is a novel published in 1861 by Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky, which portrays the life of convicts in a Siberian prison camp. Dostoyevsky himself spent four years in exile in such a camp following his conviction for involvement in the Petrashevsky Circle. This experience allowed him to describe with great authenticity the conditions of prison life and the characters of the convicts. The narrator, Aleksandr Petrovich Goryanchikov, has been sentenced to penalty deportation to Siberia and ten years of hard labour. Life in prison is particularly hard for Aleksandr ...

The American Rivals of Sherlock Holmes is a collection showcasing clever U.S. detectives who mirror Sherlock Holmes' brilliance. Though not written by Mark Twain, it features stories by various authors from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These detectives solve crimes with wit, logic, and unique American flair, offering an alternative to Holmes’ British methods. Full of charm, humor, and suspense, the anthology highlights how American authors contributed to the detective fiction genre, proving Holmes wasn’t alone in his intellectual mastery across the Atlantic. Summary by John ...