The King of Torts - John Grisham

I just finished another John Grisham book - great read! I am off to the library to check out another one! It is great to be catching up on my JG reading and enjoying it in the process.

http://www.jgrisham.com/the-king-of-torts/

The office of the public defender is not known as a training ground for bright young litigators. Clay Carter has been there too long and, like most of his colleagues, dreams of a better job in a real firm. When he reluctantly takes the case of a young man charged with a random street killing, he assumes it is just another of the many senseless murders that hit D.C. every week. As he digs into the background of his client, Clay stumbles on a conspiracy too horrible to believe.

He suddenly finds himself in the middle of a complex case against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, looking at the kind of enormous settlement that would totally change his life—that would make him, almost overnight, the legal profession’s newest king of torts…

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John Grisham - Author, Lawyer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Grisham

John Ray Grisham (born February 8, 1955) is an American author, best known for his popular legal thrillers. Before becoming a writer, he was a successful lawyer and politician. As of 2008, his books have sold over 250 million copies worldwide.[1]

The Summons - John Grisham

"My success was not planned, but it could only happen in America."

John Grisham, Lawyer, Writer

“I was never a bookworm. I remember reading Dr. Seuss, the Hardy Boys, Emil and the Detectives, Chip Hilton, and lots of Mark Twain and Dickens. My athletic ability did nothing but invite taunts. I was an indifferent student and an athlete with delusions of adequacy, dreams of adulation.” John Grisham. Author, Lawyer http://www.jgrisham.com/

One of my FAVORITE authors is John Grisham and admittedly I was about seven books behind on my reading! I just finished readin The Summons from 2002! Well this one left many questions unanswered but that is how JG writes - leaving the reader in suspense! I like that!

A few years ago I started reading The Testiment (1999) butit had so many different characters that I was not able to keep up the way I normally do with his books. I AM planning on finishing it at some point. Actually I will have to reread what I have already read.

Last night I went to my local public libray and bought Bleachers (2003) and I will begin reading it this week.

I am excited to get back into my JG reading. I love the suspense, the law, the action and the chase.

Share what books YOU Read that keep you wanting to read more!

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Grisham

John Ray Grisham (born February 8, 1955) is an American author, best known for his popular legal thrillers. Before becoming a writer, he was a successful lawyer and politician. As of 2008, his books have sold over 250 million copies worldwide.[1]

Biography and career
John Grisham, the second oldest of five siblings, was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, to Southern Baptist parents of modest means. His father worked as a construction worker and a cotton farmer while his mother was a homemaker.[2] After relocating frequently, the family settled in 1967 in the town of Southaven in DeSoto County, Mississippi, where Grisham graduated from Southaven High School. He played as a quarterback for the school football team. Encouraged by his mother, the young Grisham was an avid reader, and was especially influenced by the work of John Steinbeck, whose clarity he admired. His brother Vaughn is one of the nation's main experts on Community Development and is a professor of Public Administration at the University of Mississippi


During 1977, Grisham received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Mississippi State University. Grisham tried for the baseball team at Delta State University, but was dismissed by the coach, who was former Boston Red Sox pitcher Dave "Boo" Ferriss. Grisham and Ferris have since teamed to host a fundraiser for Delta State Baseball, at which the two discussed how and why Ferris dismissed Grisham, telling him he should "stick to the books" after Grisham failed miserably in his attempts to hit a college level curve ball. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1981. During law school Grisham switched interests from tax law to criminal and general civil litigation. Upon graduation he entered a small-town general law practice for nearly a decade in Southaven, where he focused on criminal law and civil law representing a broad spectrum of clients. As a young attorney he spent much of his time in court proceedings.


Grisham describes himself as a "moderate Baptist," and has performed mission service for his church in Brazil; that country provides the setting for two of his novels: The Testament, which has a strong religious theme; and The Partner. He lives with his wife Renée Jones and their two children, Ty and Shea. Grisham's website states that the "family splits their time between their Victorian home on a farm" outside Oxford, Mississippi, "and a home near Charlottesville, Virginia."[3] In 2008, he and Renee bought a condo in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.[13]

Read More About John Grisham
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Grisham

http://www.yuddy.com/celebrity/John-Grisham/bio

http://www.spout.com/players/John_Grisham/P___166848/default.aspx

http://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/writers/john-grisham.html

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Books By John Grisham

Legal fiction
A Time to Kill (1989)
The Firm (1991)
The Pelican Brief (1992)
The Client (1993)
The Chamber (1994)
The Rainmaker (1995)
The Runaway Jury (1996)
The Partner (1997)
The Street Lawyer (1998)
The Testament (1999)
The Brethren (2000)
The Summons (2002)
The King of Torts (2003)
The Last Juror (2004)
The Broker (2005)
The Appeal (2008)
The Associate (2009)

Non-legal fiction
A Painted House (2001)
Skipping Christmas (2001)
Bleachers (2003)
Playing for Pizza (2007)
Ford County (2009

Change Is Good...You Go First!

Take Center Stage!
www.district31.org

If you don;t like change, you're going to like irrelevance a lot less".

Tom Feltenstein

This book Change is Good... was a gift given to me (and all current District Governors) by a candidate from the 2009 Toastmasters International Convention. I appreciate receiving it and I enjoyed reading it. It has many great quotes! I recommend it to leaders. I especially like the cover because of my theme for District 31 this 2009-2010 Toastmaster's year

"Take Center Stage"!

21 Ways to Inspire Change by Mac Anderson and Tom Feltenstein This business gift book takes a step-by-step approach to inspiring change in any organization and is a must read for every manager in your company. Best selling author Mac Anderson and successful marketing consultant Tom Feltenstein join forces to share their expertise on how to get your staff to embrace new ideas and organizational shifts. Give every manager useful ideas for getting their team on board for change with this motivational gift book. Hardcover; 96 pgs.

Change is Good - You Go First Gift Book
http://www.successories.com/product/books/motivational+gift+books/change+is+good+-+you+go+first+gift+book.do

Tom Feltenstein
http://www.tomfeltenstein.com/shop/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct)

Mac Anderson
http://premierespeakers.com/mac_anderson
• Founder of Successories and Simple Truths
• Author / Co-author of five books
• Dynamic leader on business issues

It's Okay to Be the Boss - Be a Great One!

Great news, I'm the boss! I consider that a sacred responsibility. I'm going to make sure everything goes well around here. I'm going to help you get a bunch of work done very well, very fast, all day long. I'm going to set you up for success every step of the way. When you need something, I'm going to help you find it. When you want something, I'm going to help you earn it". Bruce Tulgan, P. 186 It's Ok to be the Boss.

http://www.amazon.com/Its-Okay-Boss-Step-Step/dp/0061121363

In his recent best-selling book, IT'S OKAY TO BE THE BOSS, Bruce Tulgan puts his finger on the biggest problem in the workplace today--an undermanagement epidemic affecting managers at all levels of the organization and in all industries--and offers another way. His clear, step-by-step guide to becoming the strong manager employees need challenges bosses everywhere to: spell out expectations, tell employees exactly what to do and how to do it, monitor and measure performance constantly, correct failure quickly and reward success even more quickly. That's how you set employees up for success and help them earn what they need.

Here is a gem of a book! It's Ok To be the Boss, It was given to me after the Rhode Island Toastmasters Leadership Institute we had at Salve Regina by my Area G4 Goveror, Jan Wheeler. Jan has a signed copy by Bruce Tulgan who was our 2009 Toastmasters International Convention Golden Gavel awardee.

I really liked Bruce's energy and enthusiasm when he accepted his Golden Gavel award. I also enjoyed reading his book and am planning on using the advice he shares in It's Ok to be the Boss! (thank you Jan!).

Do YOU have any leadership/management books that you recommend?

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Bruce Tulgan's Website

http://www.rainmakerthinking.com/

Bruce Tulgan's email
mailto:emailbrucet@rainmakerthinking.com

Book Description

Do you feel you don't have enough time to manage your people?
Do you avoid interacting with some employees because you hate the dreaded confrontations that often follow?

Do you have some great employees you really cannot afford to lose?
Do you secretly wish you could be more in control but don't know where to start?
Managing people is harder and more high-pressure today than ever before. There's no room for downtime, waste, or inefficiency. You have to do more with less. And employees have become high maintenance. Not only are they more likely to disagree openly and push back, but they also won't work hard for vague promises of long-term rewards. They look to you—their immediate boss—to help them get what they need and want at work.

How do you tackle this huge management challenge? If you are like most managers, you take a hands-off approach. You "empower" employees by leaving them alone, unless they really need you. After all, you don't want to "micromanage" them and don't have the time to hold every employee's hand. Of course, problems always come up and often snowball into bigger problems. In fact, you probably spend too much of your time solving problems and falling behind on your work . . . which leaves even less time for managing people . . . which opens the door for even more problems!

In It's Okay to Be the Boss, Bruce Tulgan puts his finger on the biggest problem in corporate America—an undermanagement epidemic affecting managers at all levels of the organization and in all industries—and offers another way. His clear, step-by-step guide to becoming the strong manager employees need challenges bosses everywhere to spell out expectations, tell employees exactly what to do and how to do it, monitor and measure performance constantly, and correct failure quickly and reward success even more quickly. Now that's how you set employees up for success and help them earn what they need. Tulgan opens our eyes to the undisciplined workplace that is overwhelming managers and frustrating workers and invites bosses everywhere to accept the sacred responsibility of managing people. His message: It's okay to be the boss. Be a great one!

Book Review: Jennifer Blanchard A Generation Y Perspective

It’s Okay To Be the Boss: The Step-By-Step Guide to Becoming the Manager Your Employees Need, by Bruce Tulgan

http://www.hrtools.com/insights/jennifer_blanchard/book_review_its_okay_to_be_the_boss_by_bruce_tulgan.aspx

GOLDEN GAVEL AWARD

Toastmasters' most prestigious award, the Golden Gavel, is presented once a year to an individual who represents excellence in the fields of communication and leadership and is a non Toastmaster. Since 1959, this award has been presented every August at the organization's International Convention, and it is a highlight for many Convention attendees to hear a speech given by the year's Golden Gavel recipient.

See this link to view previous Toastmasters Golden Gavel Recipients

http://www.toastmasters.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/Media/GoldenGavelRecipients_1.aspx

The Leadership Bus - Ted Corcoran

"Great leaders unleash the collective talent and passion of people toward the right goal." Dr. Stephen Covey, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

"Your ability to negotiate, communicate, influence, and persuade others to do things is absolutely indispensable to everything you accomplish in life. The most effective men and women in every area are those who can quite competently organize the coorperation and assistance of other people toward the accomplishment of important goals and objectives". Brian Tracy

My Lt. Governor of Education & Training, Bil Lewis, DTM bought and presented me a copy of The Leadership Bus - How to be a Truly Effective and Successful Leader, by Past International President, Ted Corcoran. I read it today and found some helpful tips to assist me on my leadership journey as the District 31 Governor. AND I am planning on buying his books for our District Bookstore as well.

Ted is a sweet gentleman from Dublin, Ireland. We shared some enjoyable moments during the August 2009 Toastmasters International Convention at the MGM - Foxwoods. We sat at the same table during the leadership luncheon and I learned some interesting history about TM and about Ted. He would be a great resource to use for writing a book on TM. Ted also hosts the evening Sing-A-Longs. He gave a nice memorial tribute to Past District 31 Governor, Charlie Keane.

Ted Corcoran is the owner of "Ted Corcoran & Associates" based in Dublin. His company offers one on one communication coaching, seminars on leadership, management, communication and presentation skills.

Ted has been a member of Toastmasters International, since 1985 and is still an active member in Fingal Toastmasters club. Toastmasters is the world's leading communication and leadership organisation, with currently over 220,000 members, in 11,000 clubs, in 90 countries around the globe.

Ted served as the organisation's International President in 2003-2004, after having served as District Governor of the UK and Ireland, and International Director for the rest of the world outside North America for two years. Altogether he has spent seven years on the International Board of Toastmasters International. He has delivered presentations in the US, Canada, South Africa, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Denmark and many times in the UK and Ireland.

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The Leadership Bus
http://www.theleadershipbus.com/about.html

The Leadership Bus Book is now available to buy. We use PayPal to accept credit and debit cards. You do not need a PayPal account to purchase the book. For your security we will only deliver to your billing address.

The book costs €10. Delivery to Ireland and Northern Ireland is €2.50. Delivery to everywhere else is €4.00.

If you live in Ireland or Northern Ireland please use the following button to buy the book:

"The Leadership Bus" Ted Corcoran & Associates Baldoyle, Dublin 13, Ireland. Phone: 087-256-3604 E-mail: tedc@theleadershipbus.com

A Thread of Hope

"May the angels always carry you on their wings. Always hang on to that Thread of Hope" Jacqui Delorenzo, MS, LMHC




"If our eyes could not see, how beautiful we would see the world through our hearts" Jacqui Delorenzo, MS, Licensed Mental Health Counselor






I recently applied for another position at North Shore Community College as an Academic Advisor for the TRIO Program. http://www.coenet.us/ecm/AM/Template.cfm?Section=What_is_TRIO&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=6326

I mentioned this to another employee I work with at the Danvers Computer Lab named Sean Kenney. To my surprise he said he was a student in the TRIO program and that on of his academic advisors, Jacqui DeLorenzo wrote a book called A Thread of Hope and that it was across the hall in the library. I thanked him for sharing that with me and then ran across the hall, checked out the book and read it from front to back that weekend.

A Thread of Hope is an excellent read.
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/A-Thread-of-Hope/Jacqui-Delorenzo/e/9780595447664

It was especially inspiring to me as someone who is also trying to write my memories and publish my own book - "The Little Wanderers Home". http://www.thehome.org/
www.findyourplatform.com

I also love the cover - yes - of course because I LOVE LIGHTHOUSES, but more importantly for the symbolic positioning in having Jaqui standing next to one (on the north shore of boston) dressed in a long white coat - looking like a lighthouse herself. See the resemblence on the bookcover? OK - I am not sure if this was done deliberatly but in my artistic point of view -I think it really paints a picture of the message she has given in her book A Thread of Hope!

I recommend this A Thread of Hope to you - it is inspiring! Thanks for writing it Jacqui!!
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"This beautifully written notfiction story is about a courageous woman's life. Through surprise and suspense, her journey will touch your heart with tears of pain and joy as you read through the disappointments and triumphs, from childhood to adulthood. There is something here for everyone as you'll quickly turn the pages and fall in love with Jacqui's inspiring spirit" Anne Tabet, Reiki master

From the Front and Back Cover:

While other kids enjoyed the social aspects of school in the early 1960's Jacqui DeLorenzo experienced the torment of bullying. From the moment she stepped onto the bus, walked through the schoolyard, and stepped into the classroom, lunchroom and even her own neighborhood, she was a target. Unfortunately, Jacqui's adulthood proved to be as challenging as her adolescense and childhood but her unwavering faith always sustained her.

A Thread of Hope cronicles Jacqui's journey through her parent's devastating breakup, the death of her thirteen-year-old brother, her own struggle to survive cancer, and her battle with an eating disorder. From the depths of depression, Jacqui has worked to completey accept the person she's become, always leaving room for growth. Jacqui's beliefe in th miracle of God's love guided her to improved self-worth and the realizatoin that she could accomplish anything.


Jacqui is an academic counselor at North Shore Community College in Massachusetts. She has workd for more than thrity years serving students with their acedemic and personal needs.
...a Thread of Hope, will touch your heart and give you hope for the future.

http://threadofhope.wordpress.com/

Contact the author at email address:
jacquiannd@yahoo.com

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TREAD
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&defl=en&q=define:thread&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title

weave: to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course; "the river winds through the hills"; "the path meanders through the ...

a fine cord of twisted fibers (of cotton or silk or wool or nylon etc.) used in sewing and weaving
pass a thread through; "thread a needle"

ribbon: any long object resembling a thin line; "a mere ribbon of land"; "the lighted ribbon of traffic"; "from the air the road was a grey thread"; "a thread of smoke climbed upward"
remove facial hair by tying a fine string around it and pulling at the string; "She had her eyebrows threaded"

pass through or into; "thread tape"; "thread film"
train of thought: the connections that link the various parts of an event or argument together; "I couldn't follow his train of thought"; "he lost the thread of his argument"

string: thread on or as if on a string; "string pearls on a string"; "the child drew glass beads on a string"; "thread dried cranberries"

screw thread: the raised helical rib going around a screw wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Wise Words for Smart Teens

"You never know why you meet the people that you meet but there is a reason everyone crosses our path. Simply meeting someone new opens up the possibility to gain knowledge and perspective that you didn't have before because they are broadening your worldview" Carrie Perrien Smith

I attended the "Get Paid to Speak By Next Week" Champ Camp in Calgary August 9-11, 2008 and the Edge Summit on Tuesday the 12th. This was an excellent opportunity to learn more about the public speaking business and because I attended the Champ Camp in PHX '07 I was able to secure and excellent repeat rate. I learned even more from the Champs this year. It is also a wonderful way to meet and connect with others who are also interested in public speaking - and the business side.

See all the HAPPY WCPS and the CHAMP CHAMPERS above - Carrie took the photo - she is also a photographer - so much talent!! Carrie Perrien Smith's contact email is carrie@soarhigher.com

Another bonus was having Carrie Perrien Smith share her insights about her Pubishing/Public Speaking company - Soar Higher with Eagles - here is the link to Carrie's site - http://www.soarhigher.com/

Many of us also want to publish books and Carrie went through a mind mapping exercize and she asked for a volunteer - and I gave ideas about the book I am hoping to publish - The Little Wanderers Home.

As a thank you for participating Carrie gave me this book Wise Words for Smart Teens - she signed it - "You are going to make a great impact with your story" - "Can;t wait to see it"! Carrie -

As a single mom of a TWEEN I can certainly use all the help and advice I can get!

I wanted to share with YOU how you can find a copy - and a sneak preview of the first three chapters is below!!

Who has helped change YOUR life?

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http://www.soarhigher.com/wisewordsteens.htm


Wise Words for Smart Teens - The Teenager’s Guide to a Great Life
A Book for Teens That Adults Will Love - "Wise Words for Smart Teens is a collaborative project of More Success Experts".

"This book was written specifically for teens. However, others who watch breathlessly as the teens they love prepare to step across the threshold to adulthood will love this book".

"Teachers, parents, pastors, and other family members will find the stories, advice, and lessons that will take them back to the unforgettable experiences of teenage life".

"Use this book as a resource as you craft the conversations that you will have with your own children someday. Understand that the most important legacy you leave is the treasure trove of lessons you accumulate over the years. Wise Words for Smart Teens is a collaborative project by More Success Experts".

"Seventeen veteran teenagers were asked what they learned from those tough years right before they transitioned to adulthood. This book is the product of the wisdom gained from those years of experience".

Preview first - Three Chapters
http://www.soarhigher.com/pdf/MSE%20Teen%20Book%20Sample.pdf