Michael Thomas Ford Knihy

Focusing on the experiences of gay and lesbian youth, this book serves as a vital guide to understanding life beyond the closet. It features brief profiles of individuals who have successfully embraced their gay identities in various aspects of life, offering relatable insights and inspiration. Aimed at a new generation, it addresses the complexities of being part of the gay community, providing valuable knowledge and support for those seeking to navigate their identities.

The protagonist, Lily, possesses an unwanted ability to foresee people's deaths through touch, leading her to take drastic steps to shield herself from this burden. Her life takes a drastic turn when her mother sells her services to a manipulative preacher at a traveling revival, pulling her from her peaceful home into a treacherous world. As she navigates greed and danger, she must confront a quest set by the witch Baba Yaga and the preacher who claims he can save her soul. Eerie illustrations by Staven Andersen complement the narrative by Michael Thomas Ford.

Exploring contemporary gay life, the author shares personal revelations, including traumatic high school experiences, while reflecting on his journey to happiness and self-acceptance. He delves into broader political themes involving religion and politics, all infused with his signature caustic wit. With a candid approach, he critiques societal norms and expresses disdain for ignorance, making for a compelling and humorous narrative that balances personal anecdotes with insightful commentary.

Focusing on the spiritual journey of gay men, this guide offers practical information and detailed plans for studying and practicing Wicca. It features eight original stories that draw inspiration from the Wiccan Sabbats, enriching the reader's understanding of the traditions and rituals. The blend of personal practice and storytelling creates an engaging resource for those looking to explore their spirituality within the Wiccan framework.

Fifteen-year-old Jeff wakes up on New Year’s Day to find himself in the hospital. Make that the psychiatric ward. With the nutjobs. Never mind the bandages on his wrists, clearly this is all a huge mistake. Jeff is perfectly fine, perfectly normal—not like the other kids in the hospital with him. They’ve got problems. But a funny thing happens as Jeff’s forty-five-day sentence drags on: the crazies start to seem less crazy. . . . Compelling, witty, and refreshingly real, Suicide Notes is a darkly comic novel that examines that fuzzy line between “normal” and the rest of us.

After two hundred years undead, Jane Austen still has bite. But will her most recent literary success be her last? Life was a lot easier for Jane when she was just an unknown, undead bookstore owner in a sleepy hamlet in upstate New York. But now the world embraces her as Jane Fairfax, author of the bestselling novel Constance—and she’s having a killer time trying to keep her true identity as the Jane Austen a secret. Even the ongoing lessons in How to Be a Vampire, taught by her former lover Lord Byron, don’t seem to be helping much. Jane can barely focus on her boyfriend, Walter, while keeping him in the dark about her more sanguine tastes. To make matters worse, Walter announces that his mother is coming for a visit—and she’s expecting Jane to be Jewish. Add in a demanding new editor, a convention of romance readers in period costume, a Hollywood camera crew following Jane’s every move, and the constant threat of a certain bloodsucking Brontë sister coming back to finish her off, and it’s enough to make even the most well-mannered heroine go batty!

How will Jane Austen break the news to her fiancé that she’s not only undead, but also a two-hundred-plus-year-old literary icon? In sleepy upstate New York, Jane’s wedding preparations have taken on a bloodsucking intensity. So when Walter suggests they ditch it all and combine their marriage and honeymoon with a house tour of Europe, Jane jumps at the chance to flee Lord Byron and the lingering threat of Charlotte Brontë. But to Jane’s chagrin, more than one secret from her past is about to resurface. From an Agatha Christie–style murder mystery to a wedding interrupted by the ghosts of the Princes in the Tower to a shocking revelation about Walter’s mother, nothing about this trip is less than pure mayhem. And when a chance encounter puts Jane on the trail of a legendary device reputed to restore a vampire’s human soul, will our beloved heroine finally be able to vow her love and devotion—or will a vampire hunter’s vengeance drive a stake through her eternal life?

How can Barkley, a sweet springer spaniel, belong to an arrogant guy like Jack, who laughs whenever one of our dogs at Perfect Paws has literally dragged me through the dirt? Plus he's dating Megan-the-Mega-Snob! I'm not sure why that gets to me—it's not like I like Jack, despite his surprising smile and the way he is with dogs. Sigh . How do I know so much about puppies and so little about love?

Through a blend of humor and personal anecdotes, the author explores the complexities of queer identity and societal norms. Tackling controversial topics, he critiques the state of gay pride while reflecting on his own experiences, from feeling overshadowed by Cher's fame to humorous high school escapades. His essays, such as "Rite of Passage," delve into themes of masculinity and parenthood, encouraging readers to introspect while delivering sharp wit. The collection promises both laughter and thought-provoking insights into the queer experience.

This book explores how the meaning of 'poetic atmosphere' developed within larger ideas of Romanticism, particularly through the poetry of William Wordsworth, who was the first to see its potential as metaphor. Thomas H. Ford here makes a significant contribution to debates in the areas of literary ecology and ecocriticism.