Books published by publisher Villard

Recently divorced actor Stephen C. McQueen (no relation, unfortunately) seems to have a knack for bad luck. But a failed marriage, a stalled career, a judgmental ex-wife, a distant daughter, a horrid little studio apartment in the far reaches of the London suburbs–all these pathetic elements seem to pale in the chiseled face of his newest tormentor: the Twelfth Sexiest Man in the World, Josh Harper. Josh is the star of Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know, a biographical play about Lord Byron–and Stephen is his understudy. Not only is Josh fantastically, infuriatingly good-looking, internationally renowned, and remarkably talented, he’s also frustratingly healthy. No matter how many all-night booze-and-coke benders Josh goes on, he always shows up at the stage door for his call like clockwork. Stephen doubts he’ll ever get his chance to slip on the puffy shirt and tight breeches of Byron and tread the boards in the role that would certainly be the break he’s always waited for.And just when Stephen’s sure he couldn’t resent Josh more, he meets Josh’s witty, restless American wife, Nora . . . and discovers he likes her a little too much. Another man might curse his luck at finding that his potential dream woman is a rival’s wife, but at this point, Stephen would expect nothing else. Caught between his stirring feelings for Nora, the demands of an insistent and secretive Josh, and his lifelong desire for a real career in show business, Stephen must make a terrible decision: Will it be the girl or the fame?A hapless, bumbling bloke in love, an arrogant megastar with a potpourri of addictions, a sexy married woman out of her element in the fast lane–David Nicholls brings them all together in this knockout romantic comedy.

A Totally Unofficial Guide to the Hit TV Series GleeGET CHOIRED UP! Calling all Gleeks! Go back to school and behind the music with the hot new stars of Glee, one of the most watched, beloved, and sung-about shows on television. The unofficial guide to all things McKinley High, Gleeful takes fans backstage for peek at everything from the show’s creation to Fox’s groundbreaking marketing campaign, from the secrets behind the show-stopping musical numbers to detailed biographies and up-close insights on the noteworthy cast. Find out about Lea Michele’s early start on Broadway and Cory Monteith’s unusual audition tape, and learn what Jane Lynch and Matthew Morrison were really like in high school. Plus, brush up on little-known trivia and get in tune with the rumors surrounding the much anticipated Season Two! Complete with full-color cast photos and hilarious behind-the-scenes anecdotes, Gleeful! hits all the right notes on America’s favorite TV show without ever missing a beat. Caution: This book is unauthorized! It has not been prepared, approved, licensed, or endorsed by Fox or any other person or entity involved in the creation or production of the TV program Glee.

A journey into the most secret place in AmericaA story of secrecy, suspicion, and conspiracyA history of a place that does not legally existDreamland zooms in on Area 51--the nearly four million acres of Nevada airspace that has been a base for experimental military aircraft, the fount of UFO rumors, and the alleged site of alien insurrection. How this real-life legend came to exist is Phil Patton's tale. He explores the mystery and fantasy surrounding the place, peeks over the edge of paranoia, and tracks strange objects in the air above this country of the mind. He visits spies and counterspies, test pilots and secret agents, and tunnels into the subcultures of true believers and conspiracy buffs. Reviewers have applauded Dreamland as "brilliant," "fascinating," "weird, wonderful, sometimes spooky," "curiously epic, frequently humorous, and always entertaining." Dreamland is a novelistic tour de force that makes us all rethink our convictions about American know-how--and alien inventiveness.

Now after 10 years Jon Katz has written Rose in a Storm, a novel inspired by those real life episodes. Told fromthe point of view of Rose, a dedicated sheep dog, Katz delivers a moving window into the mind of an animal. As the novel opens, the sheep are lambing season and Rose's owneris struggling to rescue the newborns from the bitter cold. But the approach of a blizzard suddenly makes his efforts far more challenging. When the farmer is injured, Rose is the only one left to protect the animals. As the food begins to run out and the coyotes circle, will rose's great heart be big enough to save them all...and herself?

New York Times bestselling humorist Jeff Foxworthy offers a hilarious illustrated guide to having the most fun possible at work while doing the least—without getting firedThe better you are at your job, the longer your hours are going to be. And how many people on their deathbeds say “I wish I had spent more time at the office?” With that in mind, Jeff Foxworthy asks you to embrace the fact that you do stink at work (or secretly want to). How to Really Stink at Work will help you relieve yourself of all that responsibility and accountability—in sections like:• “Becoming Unfireable” (Get your boss drunk and record it)• “AvoidingWork”(When all else fails—that fire alarm’s not there for nothing!)• “Alienating Colleagues” (Nothing says “stay away from that guy” like a grossly inappropriate secret Santa gift)Filled with laugh-out-loud illustrations, How to Really Stink at Work is the funniest guide to not-getting-ahead you’ll ever read.

New York Times bestselling humorist Jeff Foxworthy offers a hilarious illustrated guide to having the most fun possible at work while doing the least—without getting firedThe better you are at your job, the longer your hours are going to be. And how many people on their deathbeds say “I wish I had spent more time at the office?” With that in mind, Jeff Foxworthy asks you to embrace the fact that you do stink at work (or secretly want to). How to Really Stink at Work will help you relieve yourself of all that responsibility and accountability—in sections like:• “Becoming Unfireable” (Get your boss drunk and record it)• “AvoidingWork”(When all else fails—that fire alarm’s not there for nothing!)• “Alienating Colleagues” (Nothing says “stay away from that guy” like a grossly inappropriate secret Santa gift)Filled with laugh-out-loud illustrations, How to Really Stink at Work is the funniest guide to not-getting-ahead you’ll ever read.

THE INSPIRATION BEHIND RIDLEY SCOTT’S NEXT MOVIE—STARRING NICOLAS CAGE AND SAM ROCKWELL—BY ERIC GARCIA, THE ACCLAIMED CULT AUTHOR OF ANONYMOUS REX.“After the first of Eric Garcia’s Rex books, I found myself thinking, ‘I wonder what he’s up to now.’ After Matchstick Men, a lot of other people will begin wondering, too.”—Thomas Perry, author of PursuitRoy and Frankie are matchstick men—con artists. Partners in elegant crimes for years, they know each other like brothers and have perfected the rules of the game.Roy is the careful one. Saves every penny. Takes his medication regularly. Without the pills, his obsessive-compulsive disorder kicks in and he is too nauseated to do anything but stare at the dirt on the carpet. Frankie is the adventurous one, hungry for a big score. He wants Roy to join him in running a tricky game, but Roy is distracted—for good reason. Roy has just discovered that he is the father of a punky teenage daughter from a brief marriage that ended years ago. Much to the frustration of Roy’s partner, the kid wants to get to know her father. She also wants to learn the family business.Novelist Eric Garcia takes readers into the fast and funny world of grifters with issues. Matchstick Men is a dazzling literary con game that will keep readers guessing until the last page.matchstick men (mach•stik men) n. pl. 1. simply drawn characters, meant to represent the human form 2. tavern betting game, invented circa 1920 3. con artists or grifters, those who steal via wit, trickery, or confusion 4. a mob of people, easily enraged 5. a deviously suspenseful and surprising novel by Eric Garcia, acclaimed cult author of Anonymous Rex 6. a major motion picture, directed by Ridley Scott, starring Nicolas Cage and Sam Rockwell, coming in 2003 from Warner Bros.

A Totally Unofficial Guide to the Hit TV Series GleeGET CHOIRED UP! Calling all Gleeks! Go back to school and behind the music with the hot new stars of Glee, one of the most watched, beloved, and sung-about shows on television. The unofficial guide to all things McKinley High, Gleeful takes fans backstage for peek at everything from the show’s creation to Fox’s groundbreaking marketing campaign, from the secrets behind the show-stopping musical numbers to detailed biographies and up-close insights on the noteworthy cast. Find out about Lea Michele’s early start on Broadway and Cory Monteith’s unusual audition tape, and learn what Jane Lynch and Matthew Morrison were really like in high school. Plus, brush up on little-known trivia and get in tune with the rumors surrounding the much anticipated Season Two! Complete with full-color cast photos and hilarious behind-the-scenes anecdotes, Gleeful! hits all the right notes on America’s favorite TV show without ever missing a beat. Caution: This book is unauthorized! It has not been prepared, approved, licensed, or endorsed by Fox or any other person or entity involved in the creation or production of the TV program Glee.

"Outrageous, breathless, voluble, fast-moving, funny . . . and always mercilessly candid." Chicago Tribune.For eight glorious years, Naomi Judd and daughter Wynonna lived the American dream. Signed by RCA in 1983 after a rare live audition, they became country music's most honored and successful women -- winning six Grammys and selling more than fifteen million albums.Then the discovery of a life-threatening liver disease forced Naomi to retire. The Farewell tour of the Judds broke America's heart and ended one of the most beloved country music acts of all time.But Naomi never gave up. And here, at last, is her story, as touching as any of her songs: the true story of a mother and daughter who sang like angels and fought like devils, but loved each other through struggle, tragedy and triumph.From the Paperback edition.