MY UNEXPECTED LIFE by Martina Clark
“I’ve read several HIV/AIDS-related memoirs over the years, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen an inside day-to-day account of an activist’s work –– with the UN, no less! It’s a terrific read.” –– Hank Trout, Senior Editor, A&U: America’s AIDS Magazine
“What’s not to like about a book that features a wooden penis and a silicone vagina?” – Patricia Marx, staff writer, THE NEW YORKER
At age 28, the doctors told Martina Clark she had HIV and five years to live. With a sense of nothing to lose, she dove into activism. Then, fell into an international career, starting as the first openly HIV-positive person to work for UNAIDS in 1996. A mix of personal memoir, travel, humor and an up-close look at the squishy underbelly of the United Nations, My Unexpected Life follows her personal journey—emotional and physical—interwoven with her professional path. From diagnosis to starting treatment, surviving an abusive marriage and fostering a teenage daughter, Martina’s memoir adds an insider’s view to the history of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, particularly as pertains to women. Throughout, she draws parallels to the COVID pandemic–including her own long-haul bout with COVID–reflecting on her experiences as she journeys through life with an incurable illness, a well-stamped passport, and a stubborn determination that keeps her alive to bear witness to the human condition in My Unexpected Life.
Trade Paper Edition, $19.95 US. Ebook edition, $6.99 US. Order here:
IN ANOTHER PLACE: With and Without my Father, Norman Mailer, by Susan Mailer
“In Another Place brings us to many remarkable new places in the Mailer universe. Written with tenderness, acuity and unadorned psychological depth, Susan Mailer’s memoir is a powerful look at the literary world.” —Colum McCann, National Book Award–winning author of Let the Great World Spin
“Brisk, enthralling [. . .] full of dramatic family scenes, most of them heretofore unknown. I wish I had her memoir in hand when writing my biography.” —J. Michael Lennon, author of Norman Mailer: A Double Life
“In this beautifully structured memoir Susan writes clearly and honestly about that murky landscape in which we children of these 20th century white male giants live—between adulation and adoration on one end of the spectrum, to the distinctly human, deeply flawed father on the other.” —Kaylie Jones, author of Lies My Mother Never Told Me
Norman Mailer, Susan Mailer’s father, was among the most celebrated, talented, and controversial writers of the 20th Century. The Naked and the Dead (1948), inspired by his experience in World War II, was a bestseller and made him famous at the age of 25. Notoriously combative and egotistical, her father enjoyed a good fight both physically and verbally. Whether cheered or booed, Mailer was front and center in America’s cultural battles for more than 50 years. He married six times and fathered nine children. Susan, born in 1949, is the eldest.
Susan’s parents separated when she was a baby. She grew up shuttling between her mother’s home in Mexico and New York. Later she would marry a Chilean activist, spending the majority of her adult life in Chile, where she is a psychoanalyst.
In Another Place tells the story of her intense and complex relationship with her father, her five stepmothers and nine siblings, and the joys and pains of being part of the large Mailer clan. It is a tale of separation, and of the rewards and struggles of living in two very different cultures. Of being someone who belongs everywhere and nowhere, always longing for a life . . . In Another Place.
Available in bookstores and online.
Hardcover Edition, $27.95 U.S., or Trade Paper, $19.95:
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Ebook edition, $9.99 US:
Heroes of Annapolis by David Poyer – New Edition
“Heroes of Annapolis is an inspiration from cover to cover.” – Quarterdeck Magazine
The United States Naval Academy has no monopoly on heroes. But over the last ten years, the most popular living author of American sea fiction has spent thousands of hours researching its graduates for Shipmate, the U.S. Naval Academy’s magazine. The extraordinary personal stories of adventure and courage he’s collected span American history from the Mexican War to the War on Terror.
HEROES OF ANNAPOLIS shines light into corners of history that still affect us today. For example, our huge prison population can be traced to Richmond P. Hobson, “The Most Kissed Man in America.” Merian C. Cooper was a fighter pilot and film director whose iconic KING KONG has been remade over and over. Philo McGiffin became a high-ranking officer in the Imperial Chinese Navy, commanded a battleship during the Battle of the Yalu, and surveyed many of the islands China is claiming today. Other graduates held bridges under fierce fire, hunted buffalo on horseback, sacrificed their lives to save shipmates, shot down snipers with pistols, rescued fellow aviators on enemy territory, advised presidents against escalation in Vietnam, led Iraqi militias in Baghdad . . . and much more.
Poyer tries not to engage in hero worship, or glorify war. Still, for at least one shining moment, each of the men and women profiled made the difficult choice: To risk it all, for flag, country, honor, and those they led into battle.
Trade Paper Edition, $19.95 US. Ebook $7.99 US.
HAPPINESS CALLING: A Practical Guide for Saying Yes to Life’s Joy. By Victoria Mitchell, RN, LCSW
“Move from the bondages and safety of the dark and walk in the light. Learn strategies for moving from anxiety and anger to forgiveness and wellness. What delightful tools this book has to offer!” —Dr. Lori A. Russell-Chapin, Ph.D., LCPC, ACS, CCMHC, Co-Director for the Center of Collaborative Brain Research
Over eight years as a psychiatric nurse and thirty-plus years as a psychotherapist, Victoria Mitchell, RN, LCSW, has helped hundreds of patients deal with serious depression, anxiety, grief, and trauma. In this book, she shares what she’s learned in her decades with clients, and in her own journey of self-discovery from fear to freedom.
Nature and nurture work together to create who we are – and we have the ability to develop the best life possible with what we’ve been given. In Happiness Calling, Mitchell helps you identify the roadblocks that hold you back, and ask why they have such power. In doing so you honor their function, allowing yourself time to grieve, then move on. As she has for hundreds of clients, Mitchell helps you assemble a toolbox to manage challenges, maintain peace in stressful times, and adapt. Happiness Calling is learning and self-discovery nestled in a therapist’s reflections on a career she loved. It will furnish wisdom and guidance for your own unique and fulfilling journey!
Our newest nonfiction hit! Available in bookstores and online.
Ebook Edition, $5.99 U.S. Trade Paper Edition, $14.95 U.S.
YOU’RE NOT DEAD ‘TIL I SAY YOU’RE DEAD: A Nurse’s Reflections on Death, Dying, and the Near-Death Experience. By Joyce Victor, Ph
D., RN
Every encounter with death reminds us of our own ultimate fate; what each of us must one day confront and endure. Our experiences with the dying shape who we are and how we will live. Framed by Victor’s own near-death experience, You’re Not Dead ‘til I Say You’re Dead explores the process of dying, the stages of grieving, and what may come next. Along the way, she addresses such rarely discussed yet heartbreaking topics as suicide, sudden infant death syndrome, and miscarriages. First-hand accounts take you into the minds and hearts of those who attend and care for the dead, the dying, and the grieving. Each story is told candidly with humor, irony, science, and, of course (spoiler alert), someone dying.
JOYCE VICTOR, PhD., RN is a registered nurse and professor. She holds masters degrees in health administration, nursing and creative writing, and a PhD from Duquesne University. Over a long nursing career, she’s worked in ICUs and emergency rooms, and served on a major hospital’s ethics committee for fifteen years. Her articles have been published in Nurse Educator, Clinical Simulation in Nursing, and other professional journals. Despite a specialization in the death and dying process, she’s actually an upbeat person who enjoys life.
Our nonfiction bestseller! Available in bookstores and online.
Ebook Edition, $5.99 U.S. Trade Paper Edition, $14.95 U.S.
Shorts and Briefs: A Collection of Short Plays and Brief Principles of Playwriting. By Gregory Fletcher
“Greg’s book makes an interesting case about how the short play can be a valuable tool to learn how to write plays in general — 10 minute plays, 90 minute plays, plays that last for days.” — Christopher Durang, playwright (Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Miss Witherspoon, The Marriage of Bette & Boo)
“A frisky show and tell about designing shorts and briefs. How to put them on, as well as take them off.” — Tina Howe, playwright (Painting Churches, Coastal Disturbances, Pride’s Crossing)
“Fletcher’s Shorts are filled with nice surprises and stamina. His Briefs are filled with insight and clarity. The bar is raised high in this enviable package.” — Charles Busch, actor, playwright (The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, Psycho Beach Party, Die Mommie Die)
The first edition of Shorts and Briefs has been used by Alfred University, Cornell University, CUNY-Kingsborough Community College, Lock Haven University, Marshall University, Niagara University, University of Oregon, University of Central Arkansas, and many others. This revised and expanded second edition will introduce hundreds more drama students and aspiring playwrights to the delight and challenge of the Short Play.
“Shorts” — a collection of short plays, offering roles for actors from the teens to the fifties. Visit an agency that offers once in a lifetime placements, a family errand that turns downright embarrassing, a subway ride that changes lives forever, a dog park for extended families, a breakfast nook that turns negative to positive, an unexpected war zone where a soldier is unprepared for battle; a double date where a surprise kiss almost topples everything, a last attempt to regain a romantic spark, and a staircase where two estranged siblings become reunited.
“Briefs” — a collection of brief principles of playwriting, intended for students of theater, and new or established playwrights who would like to explore the short play genre.
Shorts and Briefs is an excellent resource for apprentice playwrights, actors, and teachers. Available in bookstores and online.
ISBN 978-1-937997-85-4
Ebook Edition, $9.99 U.S. Trade Paper Edition, $19.95 U.S.
Living with the Band
by Victoria Ashton
Morbid obesity currently affects more than six million Americans. It’s associated with a number of life-threatening conditions, such as Type-2 diabetes, cancer, and hypertension, all of which can be improved with weight loss.
Sometimes, when other methods have failed, surgery is the best option for taking control of your weight — and your life. The LAP-BAND System is a minimally invasive, adjustable and reversible FDA-approved obesity treatment. Properly used, it can help improve your health, reduce your risk of developing severe medical conditions, and enhance the quality of your life.
Victoria Ashton knows. This is the story of her experience with surgery, and beyond. Her message is: Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor if Lap-Band surgery could be right for you. Take the time to research all there is to know. Make sure you ask all the questions are on your mind. Most importantly, if you are not comfortable in any medical situation, change it. It is very important to have the right medical team beside you. To date Victoria has lost seventy-two pounds, and more importantly, maintained that loss for over four years. Her life has changed dramatically. Beautifully written, with a wry humor that isn’t above poking fun at herself, her story is an inspiration to readers, as well as a detailed guide to what you can and cannot expect.
Available in bookstores and online. ISBN 978-1-482529-57-9
Ebook Edition, $5.99 U.S. Trade Paper Edition, $17.95 U.S.
Happier Than This Day And Time: An Oral History of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. By David Poyer
“A major contribution to the preservation of the lore and heritage of the Outer Banks.” — David Stick
“The voices ring with authenticity.” — Paul Clancy, Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
How much would you give to talk quietly for just one hour with your great-grandmother? Most likely, almost anything. But Time rushes by like a hurricane-driven tide, cutting us off from those who went before. It bears away the old voices and the old ways. What we loved, and what we realize, too late, we still desperately need.
This book’s a bridge to that past. In a series of interviews conducted in the late 1970’s and early 80’s, eight elderly people recount their lives on a string of isolated islands off the North Carolina coast … The Outer Banks. They tell of childhood, courting, marriage, and children; of hurricanes, depressions, wars, and death; faith, doubt, love, and fear. They watched the Wright brothers fly; saw U-boats torpedo ships offshore; dealt with blindness and heartbreak and shipwreck.
Now, near the end, they linger for a little while to tell us of The Way Things Were. And they’ll tell us more — if we’ll listen. With a little urging, they’ll share their thoughts on the ultimate questions; good and evil, youth and age, triumph and suffering. And what, in the end, it’s all about. From the first word, they cast a spell.
Paperback available at any National Park Service store and many other stores on the Outer Banks. Also available in bookstores and online.
ISBN 978-1-481089-43-2
Ebook Edition, $2.99 U.S. Trade Paper Edition, $15.95 U.S.
Northampton House Press 