Books with author Heidi Krumenauer

For a kid who grew up pitching baseballs for five years on his high school varsity team, it s surprising that Brett Favre would spend his college and professional careers playing football. Favre is considered one of the best football players in NCAA history. Drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 1991 and by the Green Bay Packers one year later, he has become one of the most notable football players in the NFL. Life hasn t been easy for this successful quarterback. An addiction to prescription painkillers, deaths of family members, destruction from hurricanes, and his wife s battle with cancer prove that even the greatest heroes have their struggles. Yet despite family tragedies and more than seventeen years worth of multiple injuries, Favre has managed to stay strong mentally and physically. Read the story of a legend, from birth through his tearful NFL retirement!

One of NASCAR s greatest champions didn t start racing in a stock car. Instead, at the age of five, he was learning how to race on two wheels! Jimmie Johnson s career began on the motocross circuit in California. As a teenager, he progressed to four wheels choosing to race off-road trucks. After winning several races and claiming championship titles, Jimmie moved to North Carolina, where he immersed himself in the stock car racing world. From ASA to the NASCAR Busch Series to the NASCAR Cup, Jimmie has been leading the pack around the asphalt and happily driving his car into Victory Lane. A three-time NASCAR Cup Champion by the end of 2008, Jimmie Johnson shows no signs of slowing down.

At age fifteen, Rihanna received the break that most people only dream about: A chance meeting with a popular producer in her home country of Barbados quickly led her down the path to stardom. Within months, she auditioned for Def Jam s CEO Jay-Z. Hours later, she signed a record deal that changed her life. By age nineteen, Rihanna had become an international superstar, topping the R&B charts in the United States and worldwide. In less than three years, she had released three albums, was nominated for several Grammy Awards, and had received numerous other music awards. Rihanna s beauty and fashion sense have launched yet another piece of her young career. Magazines all over the world have featured Rihanna on their covers. CoverGirl Cosmetics named her their spokesperson in 2007. Life has really changed for this girl who used to call herself a tomboy when she was growing up in Barbados.

Singer/songwriter Sean Kingston might be sporting diamond necklaces worth thousands of dollars these days, but his life hasn t always been that flashy. Splitting his childhood between Miami, Florida, and Kingston, Jamaica, Sean dealt with more hardship than most kids. His parents were divorced. A run-in with the law at age eleven landed him in jail. By sixteen, Sean was homeless. Even with all that hardship, nothing stopped him from pursuing his music career. A big fan and user of MySpace, Sean sought out a record producer who could make him famous. With a lot of persistence, he found the perfect person to get the job done producer J.R. Rotem. In less than a year, Sean topped the charts with Beautiful Girls, a song about heartbreak and losing a girlfriend. When faced with tough times, many people give up. Sean has pushed forward. This artist is living his dream.

Growing up in one of the toughest neighborhoods in Miami, Florida, rapper Flo Rida could have easily run with gangs, taken drugs, or carried a weapon. He had a different idea, though. As a boy, he knew that he wanted a music career. Reaching his dream wasn t easy. After graduating from high school and spending some time in college, he ventured to Los Angeles to pursue a record deal. With no money in his pockets, he was often working several odd jobs at a time, scraping together whatever he could to live. His life changed when he received a call from the CEO of Poe Boy Entertainment. After a trip back to Miami and a few meetings with record companies, his debut album was released. It quickly launched Flo Rida to international fame. This music artist, who became famous for his songs Low and Right Round, has begun the path of a long and prosperous career.

With lush rainforests and beautiful waterfalls, there are many sights to see in Brazil, the largest country in South America. The local cuisine is just as grand with recipes rich in fruits, vegetables and cocoa. Whether cooked in restaurants or at home, the heritage of immigrants who came to Brazil hundreds of years ago is found in these savory dishes that have been around for generations. If you can't make the trip to Brazil, don't worry-you can still enjoy some of the country's favorite dishes by taking a peek inside. From soups to salads and drinks to desserts, you can enjoy traditional Brazilian food right in your own home. Isn't your mouth watering already? Hurry up! It's time to cook!

At age four, Lady Gaga was learning to play piano without formal instruction. By age fifteen, she was already starting to live her musical dream by performing in New York nightclubs. At age seventeen, she entered into one of the world s most prestigious art schools. And before the age of twenty-five, she had multiple music awards in her pocket, singles that topped the charts, performed before royalty and world leaders, and was even named one of Barbara Walters Most Fascinating People of 2009. Lady Gaga didn t rise to the top by blending in. Her unique style sometimes risqué and controversial reveals her personality, her love of art, and her belief that it is important to be comfortable with who you are. While others are trying to find their spot in the world, Lady Gaga is proof that you can make your own, that persistence pays off, and that you can live your biggest dream!

What do you do when Justin Bieber wants to sign you to his record label? You say 'yes, ' of course. And that's exactly what Carly Rae Jepsen did in early 2012 after The Biebs discovered her on Canadian radio. Her life has been a whirlwind of amazing experiences ever since. She travels across continents, performing in front of massive audiences. She poses for magazine covers. She shakes hands with millions of her fans. But at the end of the day, Jepsen just loves writing music. With all her talent-and the support of her new superstar friend-she has a long musical career ahead of her

Ella-Yelich O'Connor wasn't your typical tween. At the age of 12, her performance in a school concert landed her a recording contract with Universal record label. Five years later, that same girl, now known as Lorde, celebrated her 17th birthday by signing another contract - this time it was worth $2.5 million! And only a few months later, she was topping the charts with her megahit Royals Life for this New Zealand native has been far from normal as she maintains a superstar status and travels the world selling out concerts to faithful fans.