Jeff Martin

C. Max Magee

writers on the future of books

The late American novel

Richard Banks

This book is a practical guide to using Visual Studio 2013 that will help you become familiar with the improvements made over previous versions. Each recipe provides a hands-on approach to the new features with step-by-step instructions on how to increase your productivity. If you are a developer excited about the new features introduced in Visual Studio 2013, then no matter what your programming language of choice is, Visual Studio 2013 Cookbook is for you. You should have a good knowledge of working with previous versions of Visual Studio to enjoy the recipes in this book. This book provides practical examples to help you use Visual Studio 2013 more effectively.

Visual Studio 2013 Cookbook

'Jeff Martin explores the Tawny Owl's natural history in the greatest detail. Where controversy has arisen in the literature, he has put forward all points of view so the reader can make his or her own judgements. There seems nothing concerning the biology of this owl that Jeff has not researched.' - Derek Bunn, author of The Barn Owl The haunting calls of the Tawny Owl can be heard from Scandinavia in the north of its range to North Africa in the south. Most people would consider it to be a common and widespread species throughout Europe, but populations in Britain at least are declining, and we need to understand more about the behaviour and ecology of this magnificent woodland bird if its future is to be secured. Jeff Martin has been studying owls for decades, and in this timely book he combines his personal observations together with those of other ornithologists and a comprehensive review of the literature, resulting in some surprising revelations. It was not long ago, for example, that the Tawny Owl was considered to be one of the most nocturnal of all owl species, but in recent years it has been observed sunbathing, calling and even hunting in broad daylight. The Tawny Owl begins by exploring the research that has been undertaken over the last two centuries, and the gaps that remain in our knowledge. Subsequent chapters detail the evolution and classification of this relatively young species, its status and distribution across Europe, its feeding, breeding and behavioural ecology, why numbers are falling, and what we can do about it. Interestingly, this silent hunter appears to be increasingly preying on passerine birds, as forest degradation and destruction have had a negative impact on small mammal numbers. The book concludes by looking at the role that Tawny Owls have played in British culture, and whether the changes in behaviour and plumage among the British population could mean we have a new subspecies evolving on our island.

The Tawny Owl

How do you lead a movement? Movements that unify millions and sustain national relevance over the course of decades are hard to come by. They’re even harder to plan and predict. But that is exactly what happened and is captured with stunning detail in this book. In Empower, Jeff Martin drills in to four key principles that can unlock a volunteer-led movement. They were unearthed from an event he founded in 2004 called “Fields of Faith” that focused on giving ordinary people the microphone. It has impacted and united millions of people, thousands of volunteers, and countless community organizations. Each year, over 250,000 people gather on one night in communities across the country. How was he able to lead this movement? How can you lead a movement? Empower will give you the four keys—value, simplicity, commonality, and ownership—to lead a movement of your own.

The 4 Keys to Leading a Volunteer Movement

Empower

The sight of a ghostly barn owl quartering a field at dusk is not one that is easily forgotten, but the day-to-day lives of these captivating birds are little known to most people. This book introduces the reader to some of the most fascinating aspects of a remarkable nocturnal existence.

Guardian of the Countryside

The Barn Owl

The founder of Smallcakes, featured on Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, shares his story and his recipes for cupcakes, ice creams, and other delights. Jeff Martin created the wildly popular and fast-growing Smallcakes franchise, and in this book he shares not only thirty creative recipes but his experiences turning his passion into a business and coming up with some of his very first signature cupcake flavors like Cookies-n-Cream. He appeared on the Food Network’s reality show called Cupcake Wars—and famously became the guy who forgot the pumpkin in a pumpkin cupcake challenge. That popular recipe for a Pumpkin Cupcake with Cardamon buttercream is among the recipes in this book. He introduces creative new flavors like Peanut Butter Pretzel and French Toast with Bacon, and since Smallcakes is a family-owned company, he also includes his kids’ favorites. His son Jax loves bubble gum, so they created a Bubblegum Cupcake. His daughter Lily asked her dad to come up with some crazy flavors like Orange Creamsicle and Caramel Pecan Carrot Cake. And cupcakes are only the beginning—you’ll also find recipes for ice cream and other confections offered now at Smallcakes locations, such as Nutella Wella Ice Cream, Mama’s Chocolate Fudge, and Smallcakes Crazy Monster Cookies. Includes color photos!

Small Cakes, Big Scoops, and Sweet Treats

Buttercream Dreams

Scholars, journalists, and publishers have turned their brains inside out in the effort to predict what lies ahead, but who better to comment on the future of the book than those who are driven to write them? The way we absorb information has changed dramatically. Edison’s phonograph has been reincarnated as the iPod. Celluloid went digital. But books, for the most part, have remained the same--until now. And while music and movies have undergone an almost Darwinian evolution, the literary world now faces a revolution, a sudden change in the way we buy, produce, and read books. In The Late American Novel, Jeff Martin and C. Max Magee gather some of today’s finest writers to consider the sea change that is upon them. Lauren Groff imagines an array of fantastical futures for writers, from poets with groupies to novelists as vending machines. Rivka Galchen writes about the figurative and literal death of paper. Joe Meno expounds upon the idea of a book as a place set permanently aside for the imagination, regardless of format. These and other original essays by Reif Larsen, Benjamin Kunkel, Victoria Patterson, and many more provide a timely and much-needed commentary on this compelling cultural crossroad.

Writers on the Future of Books

The Late American Novel

Language learning shouldn't be a mystery. We've all done it at least once before.

Jeff Martin

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