Showing results by narrator "Karen Commins" in All Categories

In 1888, Nellie Bly, a feisty, investigative reporter for Joseph Pulitzer's New York World newspaper, pitched a story idea of traveling around the world in 75 days to beat the record achieved by Phileas Fogg, the character in Verne's book. While the editor thought it a great idea, he naturally thought the trip should be made by a man. The idea was shelved for over a year.

Although the story is over 100 years old, it offers an important truth that is still relevant to the modern listener. Rather than rely on dialogue to advance the plot, noted American Edna Ferber is an exceptional storyteller who delights and entertains the listener with narrative. Her stories featuring strong heroines are as fresh and original today as when they were written.

The story revolves around Fanny Brandeis, starting with her childhood in Winnebago, WI, where her parents run a shop. After Fanny's father dies, her mother Molly must make extremely difficult choices about Fanny's and her brother Theodore's educations. These choices set the course for the entire family throughout their lives. Rather than rely on dialogue to advance the plot, noted American author Edna Ferber is an exceptional storyteller who delights the listener with narrative. Fanny must decide whether to pursue wealth or follow her creative dreams.

When Mary Potter Kenyon's husband David was diagnosed with cancer she searched libraries and bookstores for books on cancer and the caregiving experience. What she discovered was a plethora of technical and medically-oriented books or those written by a caregiver whose loved one had died, a scenario she refused to contemplate.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox wrote this classic text in the "New Thought" movement over 100 years ago, yet much of her advice and wisdom is still true today. If you want to be happy, the change must first start with your thoughts. Wilcox suggests ways to change your thinking and specific actions to take in order to feel better about yourself and improve your life.

Coupon Crazy examines the phenomena of avid coupon use and the socio-cultural and socioeconomic factors that construct it. By delving into the history of couponing, refunding, the science of shopping, and the dark underbelly of a coupon world the average American didn't even know existed, author Mary Potter Kenyon manages to both fascinate and educate the reader.

The events of July 19, 1878, marked the beginning of what became known as the Lincoln County War and catapulted Susan McSween and a young cowboy named Henry McCarty, alias Billy the Kid, into the history books. The so-called war, a fight for control of the mercantile economy of southeastern New Mexico, is one of the most documented conflicts in the history of the American West, but it is an event that up to now has been interpreted through the eyes of men.

Marion Warren leads a lonely life in the city. Her one joy is attending symphony concerts, where she finds crimson roses mysteriously placed in her seat. She never dreams that the donor is a rich, handsome man who is in love with her.

English professor Elijah M. Clayton, Jr., has promised his dying cousin he’ll raise her unborn daughter, but he knows he can’t do it on his own. His search for a wife fails miserably until he meets Beatrix-35 at a speed-dating event. Unfortunately, the ASD he does his best to conceal turns his best hope into another failure. Plumber Beatrix Glouster is convinced she’s finally met a good guy in Elijah-34—until his probing questions about babies and breastfeeding lead her to suspect he’s more pervert than perfect.

In her spirited, witty, and vastly entertaining first memoir, Helene Hanff recalls her ingenuous attempts to crash Broadway in the early forties as one of “the other 999.” Helene warmly tells stories about her life before she wrote the beloved and bestselling book 84 CHARING CROSS ROAD. Naive, nearsighted, frequently penniless but hopelessly stagestruck, she found her life governed by Flanagan’s Law: “No matter what happens to you, it’s unexpected.”

Theodore Roosevelt's daughter Alice Roosevelt Longworth once remarked that if her Auntie Bye had been a man, she would have been the president. Anna Roosevelt Cowles was Theodore Roosevelt's older sister by almost four years. She was nicknamed Bamie as a child. Her siblings, nieces, and nephews later called her Auntie Bye because she was always on the go. After overcoming a childhood disability, Bamie grew into a tower of strength for her immediate family and supported them throughout her life, especially after her father passed away. She also assisted her extended family at every opportunity.

In the late 1920s, secretary Carol Berkley works directly for the owner of the Fawcett Construction Company. When her boss suddenly becomes seriously ill, Carol bravely volunteers to forego her long-planned vacation and instead travel to another state to resolve problems on a construction project in jeopardy of default. Her boss gives her carte blanche to make decisions on his behalf. She is excited to prove herself and undertake a business role not normally filled by a woman.

While perhaps best remembered today as the beloved, iconic character Glinda the Good Witch in the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz", Billie Burke enjoyed a long theatrical and film career in the early 20th century. Popular, red-haired comedienne Burke was the daughter of a woman possessing an indomitable spirit and a well-known circus clown from whom she took her name.