Books with author Nicholas Ross

Do you like riddles? Do you like brain teasers? Do you like puzzles? Are you a problem solver? Are you creative? Do you think outside the box? If you can answer yes to any of these questions, this book may be perfect for you. Introducing a collection of the best riddles, puzzles, and brain teasers that has been years in the making. These will challenge the way you think, introduce you to new ways to look at problems, and expand your mind. The puzzles in this book range in difficulty from light & easy to hard to very hard and will provide a challenge for even the sharpest mind. There are discrete reasoning riddles, mathematical reasoning riddles, practical reasoning riddles, and some classical logic riddles as well, along with the old school problem-solving puzzles that you might have come across in school.

Julie Ziegler, a young San Francisco investigative journalist, receives a strange mandate from her estranged father who, she learns from his attorney, died four months earlier. In order to inherit his estate she must keep a journal of "personal and family discovery" for one year, actually 360 days since he formatted the journal to begin on January 6. Julie is outraged, but accepts the challenge because she refuses to let him best her, even posthumously. As the year progresses, Julie slowly uncovers devastating facts from her father's past. Her birth mother was not the woman she always considered her mother, but a Mexican firebrand involved in the 1968 student revolt in Mexico City. After her lover's murder in Tlatelolco Square that October, she fled to the United States with Julie's father George. Months later she gave birth to her lover's child (Julie's half-sister) and three years after that to Julie. However, within a year of Julie's birth, unable to cope any longer with a new country and a man she did not really love, she committed suicide. While Julie is reeling emotionally from revelations about her family, her reporting of political scandals in San Francisco's Chinatown puts her at great personal risk. All this turmoil comes to a head near year's end, just as she is bringing her journal to its mandated conclusion. Not only has Julie's journal revealed Mexican relatives she never knew she had, her year's "conversation" with her deceased father has also reconciled her with his memory.

A STAND ALONE ZOMBIE NOVEL. If you enjoyed World War Z by Max Brooks you will It was conceived in the deserts of Iran – a monstrous terrorist plot that would change America forever – and it was unleashed in a football stadium one sunny Sunday afternoon. ‘Zombie War’ is a detailed account of the zombie apocalypse as it sweeps through the southern states of the USA and how the American military struggles to contain the infection. Written as a combination of narrative followed by interviews with the combatants, the book is a chillingly realistic portrayal of the devastation and the dreadful cost to all those who survive… A full length stand alone novel.

A mermaid turns out to be the perfect bait. A young man in the Badlands discovers the price of business. And a man desperate to escape his life finds out he's not the only one. These are just a few of the stories in Honest Fibs, a collection of speculative and science fiction short stories that explore our perception of the world around us. Is there more to the world than we can see? How far can we trust our senses? And in a digital society, can any of us tell what's real? "Nicholas Rossis is a master of the craft... I found myself looking forward to coming home so I could dig into the next story. Each story pulls you into its unique little universe and takes you on a ride where the tracks are hidden, and you can't see the corners up ahead." - Nat Russo

When we think of wild animals, we don't immediately associate them with the cities we live in. But a closer look soon reveals that we share our urban environment with a great many untamed creatures. Heavily illustrated with color photographs throughout and full of entertaining and informative facts, City Critters examines how and why so many wild animals choose to live in places that, on first glance at least, seem contrary to their needs.How do those deer, raccoons, squirrels, skunks, coyotes, crows, gulls and geese—not to mention the alligators, eagles, otters and snakes—manage to survive in the big city? What special skills do city critters have that many of their wilderness cousins lack? Why have they developed these skills? And what are our responsibilities in ensuring that these animals can continue to share our city lives?

Six science fiction short stories written by the award-winning author of Runaway Smile and Pearseus. This edition includes one extra story, by Amos M. Carpenter.Although they seem to be concerned with various themes, there are certain passions that run through them, almost obsessively. What is the nature of reality; digital and corporeal? Is there more to the world than we can see? How far can we trust our senses? What are the consequences of our actions, and is it possible to change them? And if so, would we simply repeat same mistakes, or make new ones? The anthology includes “I Come in Peace”, an award-winning short story that deals with a tortuous question: how far would man go to alleviate his loneliness? Readers of Pearseus will certainly recognize here the birth of the Orbs.Humorous and poignant, these short stories are exciting, intriguing and imaginative.

A STAND ALONE ZOMBIE NOVELThe gruesome Raptor virus is sweeping the world, devastating the USA and threatening to burn like wildfire through Europe. An American professor trapped in the midst of the zombie apocalypse knows of only one place where mankind can make its last stand for survival…But fighting the undead is not the only challenge the besieged city faces. There are other selfish forces at work, plunging everyone’s future into peril.A full length stand alone novel.

An informative book for middle-grade readers about sanctuaries across North America that rescue wild animals and provide them with safe places to live.Years ago, most major cities in North America had zoos full of exotic or wild animals in tiny cages. It was also not uncommon for wild animals to be kept as pets or trained to perform in circuses. Today, we have a different way of looking at animals and deciding if and how they should be kept in captivity. There are still zoos and aquariums, of course, but the best ones are more concerned with protecting animals than putting them on display. There is also a different sort of organization—the animal sanctuary—which provides comfortable homes for animals that have been housed in unaccredited zoos or caught up in the illegal exotic-animal trade. Sanctuaries are never a substitute for the wild, but they are the next best thing.A Home Away from Home tells the true stories of animals that live in sanctuaries across North America, from the tragic tale of Moby Doll, the first orca held in captivity in Vancouver, to the inspiring story of Thika, Toka, and Iringa, three elephants who travelled from a tiny zoo enclosure to a sprawling acreage in Sacramento, California. Often entertaining and sometimes sad, this book is an eye-opening read for children who care about the welfare of animals and want to know more about the organizations that help them.

When we think of wild animals, we don't immediately associate them with the cities we live in. But a closer look soon reveals that we share our urban environment with a great many untamed creatures. Heavily illustrated with color photographs throughout and full of entertaining and informative facts, City Critters examines how and why so many wild animals choose to live in places that, on first glance at least, seem contrary to their needs. How do those deer, raccoons, squirrels, skunks, coyotes, crows, gulls and geese—not to mention the alligators, eagles, otters and snakes—manage to survive in the big city? What special skills do city critters have that many of their wilderness cousins lack? Why have they developed these skills? And what are our responsibilities in ensuring that these animals can continue to share our city lives?

Gather around for some terrific family fun with letters and words. Are you all set to have a good time? Are you ready to learn?Let’s explore those amazing twenty-six letters of our alphabet using animal poems and facts. We will even throw in some limericks, tongue twisters and alphabet/picture puzzles along the way to make it more interesting.No matter how young or old you are, you will enjoy listening to these. As your language skills improve, you will have fun reading more of them by yourself.I double dare you to say some of my tongue twisters three times fast!And just wait until you try my alphabet tongue twisters in which EVERY word in the tongue twister starts with the same letter of the alphabet. Phew!This book is chock full of fun - 81 graphics - 29 Poems - 20 Limericks - 47 Tongue Twisters - 44 Word/Picture Puzzles - Over 150 fascinating facts about animal group names. Did you know a group of crickets is called an ‘orchestra’?So shift your brain into high gear and let’s pay a visit to the amazing world of AlphaAnimals.Interest Level - 4 Years and UpReading Level - 4th Grade and Up

Age Level: 9 and up – Grade Level: 4 and upThis is an entertaining collection of silly poems, limericks and sonnets for children and families to enjoy - plus a few not so silly verses. Children under the age of nine will enjoy listening to most of these poems as well. I show you how to read a poem – which syllables to stress to make the rhythm and rhyme flow.Here are sample lines from some of the poems:In a land far away known as SpoonsipperWas a small village by river StoneskipperThere in twelve minutes or possibly quickerStood tumbledown shack of Mr. McSnipperThere once was a very big catWhose body was overly fatToo much did she weighAte candy all dayBut never would dine on a ratPenny the pudgy pink pigStruts ‘round the farm in her wigBows in long tressesDressy in dressesSways when she zags with a zigThere’s a troll on my couch he sits in a slouch yet never does wiggle his tailBug eyes glaring at me wonder what he sees I try to out stare him but failLittle Stanley was a blue antOn a hill where all were brownAll the ‘antlings’ said that he can’tCome and join them on playgroundHis big compound eyes wept wet tearsLonely walked alone all dayStanley sadly heard their gay cheersAnd then Stanley ran awayAll these and more are waiting for you to visit. So come on in and meet some new friends!And when you are finished reading, I will show you how to write your own poems.