St. Martin's Publishing Group

This Thing Called Life: Prince's Odyssey, On + Off the Record

A Deep Dive into the Life and Legacy of a Musical Icon

This intimate and revealing biography offers a unique perspective on the life of Prince, one of music's most enigmatic and talented artists. Author Neal Karlen, a close friend and confidante of Prince for over three decades, provides an unprecedented glimpse into the artist's world, both on and off the stage.

A Unique Perspective from an Uncommon Bond

Karlen's relationship with Prince spanned over a dozen years, beginning before the release of *Purple Rain* and continuing until Prince's passing. As the only journalist granted in-depth interviews by Prince for this extended period, Karlen offers a privileged window into the mind of a creative genius. He penned three *Rolling Stone* cover stories featuring Prince, wrote the "rock video opera" *3 Chains o' Gold*, and even penned Prince's last testament, a document potentially buried with the artist at his private estate, Paisley Park.

Beyond the Stage: A Human Portrait

**This Thing Called Life** goes beyond the glitz and glamour of superstardom, delving into the complexities of Prince's personal life. Karlen paints a portrait of Prince as a multifaceted individual, highlighting his contradictions, vulnerabilities, and unexpected quirks. He unveils the profound impact of Prince's upbringing and his often turbulent relationship with his father, offering crucial context for understanding the artist's artistic evolution.

An Intimate Journey Through Prince's World

Readers will be captivated by Karlen's vivid portrayal of Prince's life beyond the music. From his childhood days in Minneapolis, where he shared a common ground with Karlen as a young biker, to his later years as a global icon, the biography unveils a side of Prince rarely seen by the public. We witness his love for movies and music, his frequenting of libraries, and his spontaneous bursts of musical energy that brought joy to local crowds.

**This Thing Called Life** is not simply a biography; it is a heartfelt tribute to a complex and extraordinary individual. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the man behind the music, the artist who transcended boundaries and left an indelible mark on the world.

A Turn The Wheel: Odd Jobs - Mix & Match For Hilarious Results

A Whimsical Journey Through the World of Jobs

Roger Priddy's *Turn the Wheel: Odd Jobs* is a delightful novelty board book that invites toddlers on a journey through the world of work. With a playful mix of quirky animal characters and interactive wheels, this book promises hours of fun and giggles.

Mix and Match for Unforgettable Combinations

Each page features a different character dressed for their job. But here's the twist: the outfits are not fixed! Young readers can spin the wheel to change the character's attire, creating hilarious and unexpected combinations. Imagine a sailor sporting a clown wig, a judge wearing a surgeon's mask, or a chef donning a tennis skirt! The possibilities are endless, fueling imagination and sparking laughter.

Learning Through Play

Beyond the amusement, *Turn the Wheel: Odd Jobs* also offers a gentle introduction to different professions. Toddlers can explore various job titles, identifying familiar objects like a sailor's hat, a judge's wig, and a chef's apron. This playful approach encourages learning without feeling forced, making the book an excellent tool for early vocabulary development.

A Fun Family Activity

*Turn the Wheel: Odd Jobs* is not just a book; it's an interactive experience for the whole family. Share giggles as you spin the wheels together, creating unique combinations that will leave you all in stitches. This book is a great starting point for conversations about different jobs, encouraging little ones to imagine their own future careers.

A Sequel with a Twist

This delightful book is a follow-up to the popular *Fancy Pants!* While *Fancy Pants* focused on playful fashion choices, *Turn the Wheel: Odd Jobs* takes a quirky and humorous look at the world of work. The familiar interactive format, combined with a fresh and engaging theme, ensures hours of entertainment for little ones.

With its quirky characters, playful text, and engaging interactive elements, *Turn the Wheel: Odd Jobs* is a must-have for any toddler's bookshelf. It's a book that promotes laughter, imagination, and a love of learning, all wrapped up in a delightfully interactive package.

<p>Chirp, Chirp: A Changing Picture Book</p>

<p>With clever acetate&nbsp;pictures that change at the pull of a tab, this fun, interactive book will&nbsp;encourage preschoolers to use their imaginations.</p>

<p>A Robin Lockwood Novel 3: A Reasonable Doubt</p>

<p>A magician linked to three murders and suspicious deaths years ago disappears in the middle of his new act in&nbsp;New York Times&nbsp;bestseller Phillip Margolin's latest thriller featuring Robin Lockwood,&nbsp;A Reasonable Doubt.</p>

<p>Justice is blind. But how do you solve a crime that no one could see?</p>

<p>Criminal defense attorney and former MMA fighter Robin Lockwood does not believe in magic. Behind every good illusion is a good explanation--unless you consider the work of Robert Chesterfield, that is. One of her firm's former clients, Chesterfield is a career magician who was linked to a series of suspicious deaths. Even though he walked free, Robin can't help but wonder whether he was as innocent as he appeared.</p>

<p>Now, decades later, the mystery surrounding Chesterfield has taken a dark turn. When he stages his greatest-ever trick, called the Chamber of Death, Chesterfield himself turns up dead at the end. With dozens of witnesses--and no one with any idea of how it was orchestrated--Robin finds herself at loose ends as she tries to untangle this twisted case...and learn the truth about Chesterfield, once and for all.</p>

<p>"In the hands of Phillip Margolin, nothing is ever simple and no one is really safe. He is the master of suspense mystery."--Associated Press</p>

<p>"A smooth, tight narrative with a snappy, old-time whodunit finish. Margolin pulls off his own sleight of hand when the murderer is revealed."--Booklist</p>

<p>My First Town: A Flap Book</p>

<p>The start of a new series, this colorful illustrated giant flap book is aimed at toddlers to help improve their observational and language skills by seeing inside buildings and discovering lots of things in the town.</p>

<p>The large, shaped flaps are easy for toddlers to use and there is lots to search for and find in the bright and colorful illustrations.</p>

<p>There is lots of lift-and-learn fun on every spread, with a big gatefold flap to open to see inside each building. Each double-page spread introduces a different shop or building, and has cute and colorful illustrations of characters and everyday objects inside.</p>

<p>One Step Ahead</p>

<p>There's been a revolution in negotiating tactics.</p>

<p>The world's best negotiators have moved beyond How to Win Friends &amp; Influence People and Getting to Yes. For over twenty years. David Sally has been teaching the art of negotiation at leading business schools and to executives at top companies. Now, he delivers the proven, clear, actionable insights you need to stay competitive in an ever-changing marketplace.</p>

<p>One Step Ahead offers the fundamental wisdom that elevates the sophisticated negotiator above everyone else. Readers will gain the advantage in everything from determining when to negotiate and deciphering a game strategically, to understanding which personality traits matter, why emotions are not necessarily to be avoided, and how to be tough and fair. You'll learn to be round on the outside and square on the inside, how to command the idiom, why to avoid bumping into the furniture, and how to achieve mastery of the word and the number. While all of life is not a negotiation, Sally says, a negotiation incorporates all of life-One Step Ahead is for anyone and everyone who bargains, parents, manages, buys, sells, emotes, and engages.</p>

<p>Based on cutting-edge studies and real-world results, and drawing parallels to everything from the NBA to the corner con game to Machiavelli, Xi Jinping, and Barack Obama, One Step Ahead upends conventional wisdom to make sure that you have what it takes to stay one step ahead-no matter whom you are facing across the table.</p>

<p>See, Touch, Feel: Spring</p>

<p>Your baby can explore the joys of Spring with Roger Priddy's sturdy sensory book,&nbsp;See, Touch, Feel: Spring.</p>

<p>It's specially designed to stimulate babies with colorful pictures, activities, textures to feel and finger trails to follow. These fun, simple, Spring-themed activities encourage babies to interact with the book through sight, sound and touch.</p>

<p>As your baby grows,&nbsp;See, Touch, Feel: Spring&nbsp;will help them to develop early language recognition and motor skills.</p>

<p>With lots of bright pictures and engaging novelties to enjoy together, this is the perfect sensory experience to share with your little one.</p>

<p>Master Of His Fate: The House Of Falconer</p>

<p>From 1&nbsp;New York Times&nbsp;bestselling author Barbara Taylor Bradford comes the first book in a stunning new historical saga.</p>

<p>Victorian England is a country of sharp divides between rich and poor, but James Lionel Falconer, who spends his days working at his father’s market stall, is determined to become a merchant prince. Even as a child, he is everything a self-made man should be: handsome, ambitious, charming, and brimming with self-confidence. James quickly rises through the ranks, proving himself both hardworking and trustworthy, and catching the eye of Henry Malvern, head of the most prestigious shipping company in London. But when threats against his reputation – and his life - begin to emerge, James will have to prove that he truly is the master of his fate.</p>

<p>Through scandal and romance, tragedy and triumph, the Falconer and Malvern family’s lives intertwine in unexpected ways in this expansive and intricately detailed new novel filled with drama, intrigue, and Bradford's trademark cast of compelling characters.</p>

<p>The Other Woman</p>

<p>THE&nbsp;REESE WITHERSPOON X HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB PICK AND&nbsp;NEW YORK TIMES&nbsp;BESTSELLER</p>

<p>One of the most twisted and entertaining plots.--Reese Witherspoon</p>

<p>Whiplash-inducing.--New York Times Book Review

Such fun you'll cheer [Emily's] chutzpah.--PEOPLE

This thriller will hit close to home.--Refinery29</p>

<p>The most twisty, addictive and gripping debut thriller you'll read this year.</p>

<p>HE LOVES YOU: Adam adores Emily. Emily thinks Adam's perfect, the man she thought she'd never meet.

BUT SHE LOVES YOU NOT: Lurking in the shadows is a rival, a woman who shares a deep bond with the man she loves.

AND SHE'LL STOP AT NOTHING: Emily chose Adam, but she didn't choose his mother Pammie. There's nothing a mother wouldn't do for her son, and now Emily is about to find out just how far Pammie will go to get what she wants: Emily gone forever.</p>

<p>The Other Woman&nbsp;will have you questioning her on every page, in Sandie Jones' chilling psychological suspense about a man, his new girlfriend, and the mother who will not let him go.</p>

<p>Alphaprints: Easter 123 Mini</p>

<p>Roger Priddy's Alphaprints Easter 123 Mini is the next addition to the Alphaprints series, which has sold over 1,000,000 copies in the US alone, and is published around the world in 13 languages.</p>

<p>Alphaprints make learning to count fun in this Easter themed tab book. Sweet rhymes accompany Easter animals and items ingeniously created from fingerprints and photographs of everyday things. A tabbed board book treat to celebrate Easter and the arrival of Spring.</p>

<p>This tabbed board book has an Easter item on each page and a lighthearted rhyming couplet:</p>

<p>3 yummy carrots for little bunnies to munch,

4 skipping lambs nibbling grass for lunch.</p>