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Books with author Peter Coles

  • The Off-Islander

    Peter Colt

    Hardcover (Kensington, Sept. 24, 2019)
    In Peter Colt’s gritty, gripping new series set along the New England coast, a Boston-born Vietnam veteran and P.I. is hired to find a missing father—but may find far more than he bargained for . . . Boston, 1982. Private investigator Andy Roark has spent the past decade trying to rediscover his place in the world. In Vietnam, there was order and purpose. Everything—no matter how brutal—happened for a reason. Back home, after brief stints in college and with the police force, Roark has settled for a steady, easy routine of divorce and insurance fraud cases. Roark’s childhood friend, Danny Sullivan, dragged himself out of blue-collar Southie to become a respected and powerful lawyer. Now he wants Roark to help one of his clients with a sensitive request. Deborah Swift, wealthy wife of an aspiring California politician, is trying to trace her father, last seen on Cape Cod, who walked out on her and her mother long ago. Other investigators have turned up nothing, but Roark’s local connections might give him an edge. The case takes Roark to the island of Nantucket, tranquil in its off-season, and laden with picturesque charm. Yet even here, on the quaint cobblestoned streets and pristine beaches, Roark’s finely honed senses alert him to danger just below the surface. Nothing is quite as it seems. And the biggest case of Roark’s career may just shatter what little peace of mind he has left . . .
  • The Off-Islander

    Peter Colt

    eBook (Kensington Books, Sept. 24, 2019)
    In Peter Colt’s gritty, gripping new series set along the New England coast, a Boston-born Vietnam veteran and P.I. is hired to find a missing father—but may find far more than he bargained for . . . Boston, 1982. Private investigator Andy Roark has spent the past decade trying to rediscover his place in the world. In Vietnam, there was order and purpose. Everything—no matter how brutal—happened for a reason. Back home, after brief stints in college and with the police force, Roark has settled for a steady, easy routine of divorce and insurance fraud cases. Roark’s childhood friend, Danny Sullivan, dragged himself out of blue-collar Southie to become a respected and powerful lawyer. Now he wants Roark to help one of his clients with a sensitive request. Deborah Swift, wealthy wife of an aspiring California politician, is trying to trace her father, last seen on Cape Cod, who walked out on her and her mother long ago. Other investigators have turned up nothing, but Roark’s local connections might give him an edge. The case takes Roark to the island of Nantucket, tranquil in its off-season, and laden with picturesque charm. Yet even here, on the quaint cobblestoned streets and pristine beaches, Roark’s finely honed senses alert him to danger just below the surface. Nothing is quite as it seems. And the biggest case of Roark’s career may just shatter what little peace of mind he has left . . .
  • Choosing Courage: Inspiring True Stories of What It Means to Be a Hero

    Peter Collier

    Paperback (Artisan, May 3, 2016)
    Riveting real-life accounts of heroism from Medal of Honor recipients, including Clinton Romesha (author of Red Platoon: A True Story of American Valor) and exceptional civilians like schoolteacher Jencie Fagan How does an ordinary person become a hero? It happens in a split second, a moment of focus and clarity, when a choice is made. Here are the gripping accounts of Medal of Honor recipients who demonstrated guts and selflessness on the battlefield and confronted life-threatening danger to make a difference. There are the stories of George Sakato and Vernon Baker—both of whom overcame racial discrimination to enlist in the army during World War II (Sakato was a second-generation Japanese American, Baker an African American) and went on to prove that heroes come in all colors—and Clint Romesha, who led his outnumbered fellow soldiers against a determined enemy to prevent the Taliban from taking over a remote U.S. Army outpost in Afghanistan. Also included are civilians who have been honored by the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation for outstanding acts of bravery in crisis situations, from a school shooting to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Adding depth and context are illuminating essays on the combat experience and its aftermath, covering topics such as overcoming fear; a mother mourning the loss of her son; and “surviving hell” as a prisoner of war.
  • Choosing Courage: Inspiring True Stories of What It Means to Be a Hero

    Peter Collier

    eBook (Artisan, May 19, 2015)
    How does an ordinary person become a hero? It happens in a split second, a moment of focus and clarity, when a choice is made. Here are the gripping accounts of Medal of Honor recipients who demonstrated guts and selflessness on the battlefield and confronted life-threatening danger to make a difference. There are the stories of George Sakato and Vernon Baker—both of whom overcame racial discrimination to enlist in the army during World War II (Sakato was a second-generation Japanese American, Baker an African American) and went on to prove that heroes come in all colors—and Clint Romesha, who led his outnumbered fellow soldiers against a determined enemy to prevent the Taliban from taking over a remote U.S. Army outpost in Afghanistan. Also included are civilians who have been honored by the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation for outstanding acts of bravery in crisis situations, from a school shooting to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Adding depth and context are illuminating essays on the combat experience and its aftermath, covering topics such as overcoming fear; a mother mourning the loss of her son; and “surviving hell” as a prisoner of war.
  • The Off-Islander

    Peter Colt

    Mass Market Paperback (Kensington, Aug. 25, 2020)
    In Peter Colt’s gritty, gripping new series set along the New England coast, a Boston-born Vietnam veteran and P.I. is hired to find a missing father—but may find far more than he bargained for . . . Boston, 1982. P.I. Andy Roark has spent the past decade trying to fit back into the world. In Vietnam, there was order and purpose. Everything—no matter how brutal—happened for a reason. Now, after brief stints in college and with the police force, it’s enough for him to take on the occasional divorce or insurance fraud case. Roark’s childhood friend, Danny Sullivan, dragged himself out of the Southie gutter to become a respected and powerful lawyer. Now he wants Roark to help one of his clients find her missing father. The case takes Roark to the beaches of Nantucket, where Roark’s finely-honed senses alert him to danger just below the island’s picturesque surface—where the biggest case of Roark’s career may just shatter what little peace of mind he has left . . .
  • Journey to Gameland: How to Make a Board Game from Your Favorite Children's Book

    Peter Coleridge

    Paperback (Lantern Books, June 1, 2001)
    Take a journey through your favorite book and transform it into a board game! Choose your characters, design your board, and create obstacles and other fun activities all according to what happens in your favorite book. Learn how to take the joy of reading to another level and discover your own creativity. Eleven-year-old Ben Buchanan, who created a board game based on the popular Harry Potter books, provides advice for all children who would like to turn their favorite book into a board game. Along with his co-authors, he offers a step-by-step process, with suggestions for parents, librarians, and teachers, on how to help children transform their favorite book into a board game. The book shows how you can have hours of fun creating the board game―and then have lots more hours of fun playing! Journey to Gameland encourages children to develop their own creativity.
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  • The Adventures of Stupid Peter: The Ravenous Dogs

    Peter Coles

    language (, Aug. 17, 2011)
    The adventures of Stupid Peter follows the misadventures of a reckless young boy, aptly named, Stupid Peter. Each story, which forms part of a series leads the reader into the unfolding consequences of recklessness. Each story is in easy to understand english with the focus on the ulimate end to reinforce the danger associated with stupidity. A workbook, which is intended for use in schools is used in conjuction with the individual books and also reinforces the moral to each story.
  • Great Works of Samuel Williams Cooper: A Pioneer Against Abuse Of Police Powers

    Peter Cole

    language (Uply Media, Inc, July 6, 2016)
    The concerns for the misuse of law enforcement powers over citizens in society is growing at an all time high. As the safety for all American citizens is now at stake where injustice is a threat to all mankind collectively impacting the entire human race.We the People are in a deep state of emergency as citizens to protect ourselves from the harm and abuse of police powers by excessive force. While born in 1860, Samuel Williams Cooper who had a distinguished career in law would be a champion in the fight for justice today. He is considered a pioneer against abuse of police powers. Great Works of Samuel Williams Cooper details a collection featuring some of his best works. Highlighting important cases and best defenses against abuse of police powers in society. This is empowering information for not only attorneys and advocates but all citizens of the world.
  • Choosing Courage: Inspiring Stories of What It Means to Be a Hero

    Peter Collier

    Hardcover (Artisan, May 12, 2015)
    What turns an ordinary person into a hero? What happens in the blink of an eye on a battlefield (or in any dangerous situation) to bring out true courage? The men and women who have been recognized by the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation know the answers to these questions deep in their hearts. We learn of Jack Lucas, a thirteen-year-old who kept his real age a secret so he could fight in World War II—where he deliberately fell on a grenade to save his buddies during the Iwo Jima invasion—and Clint Romesha, who almost single-handedly prevented a remote U.S. Army outpost in Afghanistan from being taken over by the Taliban. Also included are civilians who have been honored by the Foundation for outstanding acts of bravery in crisis situations: for example, Jencie Fagan, a gym teacher who put herself in danger to disarm a troubled eighth grader before he could turn a gun on his classmates. Adding depth and context are illuminating sidebars throughout and essays on the combat experience and its aftermath: topics such as overcoming fear; a mother mourning her son; and “surviving hell” as a prisoner of war. Back matter includes a glossary and an index.
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  • THE VERY LAST APPLE

    Peter Collier

    eBook
    This is one of the author's personal favourites. It's a kind of feel-good story about the people of a small town and their curiosity concerning the apple at the top of a tree. If you liked reading it, which I'm sure you will, don't miss "The Immovable Rock", "The Fishing Derby", "Lou and Stu". Three Old Men and Their Teddy", or "Foggy Daze".Ideal for a bedtime read.If you like this one, other stories like 'Cross Your Fingers', 'Everyone has a Name', 'Gingersnap Dragons', 'Foggy Daze', or 'Sick Again' you will find great for family laughs. Alternatively, I have several fully illustrated stories, like 'Monsters I Know', 'Kids I Know, 'Hector the Collector', or 'Marmalade Jam and Chocolate Eclairs', and othersMy stories are designed for both the reader and the listener.Children will request parents to re-read, over and over again, a story that has caught their imagination.If not in rhyme, these stories will quickly become dull and a burden to read.When written in free verse, a story is both a delight to read and to hear.The reader feels accomplished when reading my stories and, in the act of story telling, begins exaggerating tone, inflection, and mood.When constructed in free verse rhyme, while reading along, children quickly begin to retain portions of each story.Once the child begins reading independently, these stories act as memory assisting templates to guide the beginning reader through their first reading selections. The reading successes of a child will fuel additional comprehension activities and help to jump start reading skills that greatly motivate the young reader.For the adult reader these stories are always a treat.I understand the necessity to include a readers interests and needs as part of the story telling activities.The length of these stories is designed to be between 10 to 15 minutes, to act as a short break or bedtime activity. Unlike Dr. Suess, I have avoided making up new nouns and adjectives for purposes of rhyme,other than some tintinnabulation (words designed to give greater description of sounds), finding that teachers do not appreciate this activity.I find that by identifying children by full name, as the story characters, it adds a sense of character reality and identity. The children accept the diversity of people, which, in turn, opens the imagination to accepting limitless fictional situations and opportunities.My stories constitute several conceptual elements to motivate reading and precipitate a positive child's reading development.For all teachers and Friends, I applaud your support in exposing free verse reading to young children. Your efforts to improve early perceptions of reading will provide children with a foundation for continued learning comprehension and development.
  • MONSTERS I KNOW

    Peter Collier

    eBook
    This one is just for fun. Kids love MONSTERS...and this introduces a few of my own imaginings. Ideal for a bedtime read.If you like this one, other stories like 'Cross Your Fingers', 'Everyone has a Name', 'Gingersnap Dragons' or 'Sick Again' you will find great for family laughs. Alternatively, I have several fully illustrated stories, like 'Kids I Know', 'Hector the Collector', or 'Marmalade Jam and Chocolate Eclairs',and some others that are simply magical to experience, like 'The Immovable Rock' or 'The Very Last Apple'...these are the feel-good kind of bedtime stories that everyone looks for when reading to children. The best illustrations are often inside the imaginations of children. www.readingtochildren.comMy stories are designed for both the reader and the listener.Children will request parents to re-read, over and over again, a story that has caught their imagination.If not in rhyme, these stories will quickly become dull and a burden to read.When written in free verse, a story is both a delight to read and to hear.The reader feels accomplished when reading my stories and, in the act of story telling, begins exaggerating tone, inflection, and mood.When constructed in free verse rhyme, while reading along, children quickly begin to retain portions of each story.Once the child begins reading independently, these stories act as memory assisting templates to guide the beginning reader through their first reading selections. The reading successes of a child will fuel additional comprehension activities and help to jump start reading skills that greatly motivate the young reader.For the adult reader these stories are always a treat.I understand the necessity to include a readers interests and needs as part of the story telling activities.The length of these stories is designed to be between 10 to 15 minutes, to act as a short break or bedtime activity. Unlike Dr. Suess, I have avoided making up new nouns and adjectives for purposes of rhyme, other than some tintinnabulation (words designed to give greater description of sounds), finding that teachers do not appreciate this activity.I find that by identifying children by full name, as the story characters, it adds a sense of character reality and identity. The children accept the diversity of people, which, in turn, opens the imagination to accepting limitless fictional situations and opportunities.My stories constitute several conceptual elements to motivate reading and precipitate a positive child's reading development.For all teachers and Friends, I applaud your support in exposing free verse reading to young children. Your efforts to improve early perceptions of reading will provide children with a foundation for continued learning comprehension and development.
  • OVER THE FENCE

    Peter Collier

    eBook
    This story enlightens children to the use of visual comprehension - i.e. not always will answers be given. Sometimes visual observations, deductive reasoning and elimination may reveal additional answers. This is what I see as the first real mystery story for children. The written verse asks only questions, and never does answer the question: "What's in the box?", but the illustration does.It is written and to be illustrated so that children maintain some focus on Fred, the dog. The ending is with Fred providing the answer to the mystery, by digging a hole in the shape of the object in the box (a large bone from the Natural History Museum – stickers on the box reveal part of the answer). My stories are designed for both the reader and the listener.Children will request parents to re-read, over and over again, a story that has caught their imagination.If not in rhyme, these stories will quickly become dull and a burden to read.When written in free verse, a story is both a delight to read and to hear.The reader feels accomplished when reading my stories and, in the act of story telling, begins exaggerating tone, inflection, and mood.When constructed in free verse rhyme, while reading along, children quickly begin to retain portions of each story.Once the child begins reading independently, these stories act as memory assisting templates to guide the beginning reader through their first reading selections. The reading successes of a child will fuel additional comprehension activities and help to jump start reading skills that greatly motivate the young reader.For the adult reader these stories are always a treat.I understand the necessity to include a readers interests and needs as part of the story telling activities.The length of these stories is designed to be between 10 to 15 minutes, to act as a short break or bedtime activity. Unlike Dr. Suess, I have avoided making up new nouns and adjectives for purposes of rhyme,other than some tintinnabulation (words designed to give greater description of sounds), finding that teachers do not appreciate this activity.I find that by identifying children by full name, as the story characters, it adds a sense of character reality and identity. The children accept the diversity of people, which, in turn, opens the imagination to accepting limitless fictional situations and opportunities.My stories constitute several conceptual elements to motivate reading and precipitate a positive child's reading development.For all teachers and Friends, I applaud your support in exposing unrestricted rhyme for reading to young children. Your efforts to improve early perceptions of reading will provide children with a foundation for continued learning comprehension and development.