The Zeal of Rosendal

"The Zeal of Rosendal: Discovering Freedom in Norway" by Casey Layne

An introspective and open-minded teacher spends two months living in a cabin (overlooking one of the largest fjord in the world) with nine female teachers. The main character, Freddie, cannot help learning the ropes of his middle-aged mentor, Jerzy, who sticks back flips on skis while maintaining a heroic and stoic reputation among his students. Live the journey as Freddie and two other teachers embark on a seven-day cycling trip across Ireland including multiple sleepless nights in London airports while undertaking sleeping bag nightcaps overlooking that backyard fjord. The Zeal of Rosendal takes the beauty of Norwegian Scandinavia and wraps it into this tight experience amongst misfits, their nerdy yearning for a game of chess, the quest to see just how real the Freedom to Roam Law really is, and of course, the most amazing craving for Norway’s famous brown cheese. We swear it has to be candy. Join the crew and meet these outcasts one by one as they go from estrangement to family as they stumble upon the true Zeal of Rosendal. A true biographical experience.

Two Minus One

"Two Minus One: A Memoir" by Kathryn Taylor

| Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | “You can quit waiting for the other shoe to drop: I’m in it for life.” Those are the fateful, repeated words that help convince Kathryn Taylor to remarry, retire from her thirty-year profession, sell her home, and relocate in support of her new husband’s career. But five years later, in a car packed with food she has carefully prepared to nourish her husband’s dying brother, the other shoe does drop. Taylor’s husband unexpectedly proclaims he is, “done with the marriage and doesn’t want to talk about it.” With this, the life Taylor has come to know is over. Relying on the strength of a lifelong friend who refuses to let her succumb to the intense waves of grief, she slowly begins to find her way out of grief. Over the course of two years, through appointments with attorneys and therapists, purging shared belongings, and pushing herself to meet new people and do new things, Taylor not only regains a sense of control in her life, she also learns to enjoy the new life she has built, the friendships she’s formed—and to savor her newfound strength.

Bikes Cars And Thoughts From Mars

"Bikes Cars And Thoughts From Mars" by Michael W J Wilgar

| Website | Bikes, Cars and Thoughts From Mars is Michael W J Wilgar’s evocative and refreshing memoir that’s a must-read for anyone born in the 1970s. Packed with scenic motorcycle adventures and coming of age memories, stories of friendship, fatherhood and family relationships, loss and laughter, this is an unforgettable depiction of his life so far. He shares his diverse anecdotes with relish, honesty and humour, to create the kind of read that stays with you long after the book is finished. From his early childhood in Northern Ireland, the broken bone stories, and the toys he played with to his first bicycle and the youth club discos, there is much in here to bring a smile to any ‘70s child. His lifelong love of motorcycles has enabled him to enjoy escapades without circumnavigating the globe and forge biker friendships which last forever. What stands out most in this entertaining memoir is the author’s wry sense of humour, plenty of which is sprinkled throughout the book. He offers ‘Sound Advice’ to other bikers and shares his personal insight into the BBC’s ‘Top Gear’ programme (both past and present versions) – both of which will provoke a reaction from even the most tight-lipped people. If you’re an avid memoir reader you will thoroughly enjoy Wilgar’s chatty, warm and articulate writing style, and by the final page you’ll feel like you know him inside out.

Always Welcome

"Always Welcome: Nine Decades of Great Friends, Great Times & (Mostly) Great Deals as a Real Estate Investor" by Welcome W. Wilson Sr.

| Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | By any measure, Welcome Wilson, Sr., chairman of the Welcome Group―a privately held real estate development firm headquartered in Houston–has led a big life. He’s made friends in the highest places, developed communities that continue to prosper, survived some major set backs, and made hundreds of successful real-estate deals. He married his college sweetheart, and they have five happy and productive children. Growing up in South Texas during the Depression, Wilson learned the art of the Wilson deal, an uncanny ability to pitch deals that favor the Wilsons, from his father and his many uncles. He honed this skill in partnership with his brother, Jack. Combining the Wilson touch with hard work and determination, he found continuing success: at the University of Houston, in the Navy, in civic and Federal service, and again and again in real estate. It often took some fast-talking, some scrambling, and lots of hard work, but Wilson has always had great confidence that he could figure out a way to get a job done. Named a Business Legend by the Texas Business Hall of Fame, Wilson has received numerous other awards for his many accomplishments. His memoir provides insight on his relationships with Eisenhower, Kennedy, LBJ and other notable leaders, shows the many ways he supports the university and the city that have provided him so much opportunity, and explains the inner workings of his most notable deals, including the founding of The Jamaica Corporation and the development of the Astrodome. Colorful, lively and opinionated, Welcome Wilson finds real delight in bringing people together and making big things happen. His candid and entertaining anecdotes will engage readers and inspire anyone who wants to find more success in life to aim high and have confidence.

Biographies & Memoirs