Showing results by author "Steven Doornbos" in All Categories

From companionship to stress relief, the emotional and behavioral benefits of owning a pet are profound and far-reaching. Research in psychology and healthcare consistently highlights the positive impact that pets can have on our mental well-being and behavior. In this chapter, we will explore the multifaceted ways in which pet ownership enhances our emotional and behavioral health. One of the key aspects of owning a pet is the companionship they provide. Pets, whether dogs, cats, or other animals, offer unconditional love and support, which can alleviate feelings of loneliness and ...

The Magical Arrival: Welcoming Your Kitten into Your Home** Bringing a new kitten into your home is a magical experience filled with excitement and joy. However, it is essential to prepare yourself and your living space to ensure a smooth transition for your new furry family member. This chapter will guide you through the crucial steps to welcoming your kitten into your home and setting the stage for a strong and loving bond. **Understanding Your Kitten's Needs** Before your kitten arrives, it is vital to understand their basic needs. Kittens require a safe and comfortable environment with ...

Sky Simmons is 11 years old, mildly allergic to boring things, and absolutely incapable of leaving any mystery alone. Especially when a door shows up in her basement that wasn’t there yesterday. What begins as a weird creak and a whisper soon explodes into an unforgettable journey filled with living hallways, forgotten memories, and a janitor with a mop and a vendetta. In this thrilling and funny middle-grade tale, Sky faces her fears—and the fears of others—as she tries to save her brother, a lost friend, and maybe the entire world from becoming part of the hallway that never forgets.

Understanding the Downwind Society: Navigating a World of Easy Routes In today's fast-paced world, we often find ourselves drawn towards the path of least resistance, the route downwind. This metaphorical concept refers to the tendency of individuals and societies to opt for the easier, more convenient options rather than facing the challenges of sailing upwind. Understanding the dynamics of a downwind society is crucial for grasping the complexities of our modern world and navigating it successfully. One key aspect of the downwind society is the allure of instant gratification. People are ...

Your bucket list is filled to overflowing and you want to begin actually seeing some of the sights you’ve only dreamed about. But there’s a problem. You have convinced yourself that you really can’t afford to get on the road and travel as you haven’t yet saved enough money on which you can live while traveling. The fact that you’ve decided to at least check out the contents of this book tells me that you are serious about finding a way to survive financially while traveling and further that you’re serious about getting out of the rat race and enjoying the open road. Good for you...

Let’s be honest—being unemployed is not something most people throw confetti over. It’s a challenge, sometimes a gut-punching, pride-wounding, rent-is-due-on-Tuesday kind of challenge. Whether you were laid off, downsized, fired, furloughed, quit in a blaze of glory, or slowly backed out of a toxic job with a forced smile and a fake excuse, one thing’s certain: you’re standing at the edge of uncertainty. But here’s a radical thought—what if that edge is the beginning of something not just bearable, but better? This book is for you. The job seeker, the soul-searcher, the I’m-...

Millions of people wake up each morning fearing what lies ahead in their day. They’re afraid that when their feet touch the floor the mayhem will begin and go on and on and on throughout the entire day. You don’t have to be one of those people. You can hit the ground running each and every morning and look forward to what your day has in store for you. The process is really quite simple and in the next few pages I’m going to introduce you (or perhaps reintroduce you) to what you can do to spice up and energize your day. Although there are certainly more than just eleven things you can...

Welcome to Sweetgum Hollow—where stories grow wilder than blackberry vines and one red-haired girl can stir up more truth than a Southern storm. Meet Jennymae “Jingles” Tibbins: a feisty, 13-year-old sparkplug with a jangle in her pocket, a rebel spirit, and a sweet tea wit that cuts through nonsense like a butter knife through biscuits. In these pages, you’ll ride shotgun through the Deep South—on dirt roads, church pews, and secrets buried beneath front porch chatter. Jingles doesn’t aim to cause trouble, but truth has a funny way of finding her—and when it does, it sure ...

His name was Sean Billings—but most knew him as “Stoner.” He wasn’t always a man of second chances. There was a time when the only thing that kept him going was the promise of another high, another escape, another slow fade into nothingness. A talented mechanical engineer with a mind built for innovation and precision, Sean had let the weight of pressure, loss, and his own silence push him over the edge. Literally. When he found himself sliding off the face of a mountain, nearly dying, clawing for life—something inside him cracked. Or maybe… something woke up. The Recovery Rig ...

Introduction Welcome to the ctrl-alt-deleted version of my life. Once upon a time, I had a morning routine that didn’t involve stepping on LEGOs barefoot, explaining to a toddler why the cat can’t wear diapers, or muting myself mid-Zoom call because someone was screaming about the injustice of a banana being “too banana-y.” Then came motherhood. And then came remote work. And then came the apocalypse. (Okay, maybe not the biblical kind—but certainly a toy-strewn, schedule-destroyed, sleep-deprived version of one.) This isn’t a guide. It’s not a parenting manual. It’s not ...

Some vampires sparkle. Some brood. Bartholomew Black just wants to nap. He’s the oldest vampire in the world—grumpy, ancient, and occasionally forgetful. For centuries, he’s avoided the spotlight (and garlic) by hiding out in a castle with his overly chatty bat companion, Kevin. But when a mysterious visitor shatters his eternal snooze, Bartholomew is thrust back into a world of deadly secrets, creepy mirrors, undead politics, and one very sarcastic were-hamster. And that’s before the mimic shows up. Bite Me is a dark, dramatic, and wickedly funny adventure into the shadows of ...

Tony and Tickles live just outside the big city, but their small town is bursting with big trouble. From kangaroo conspiracies to trampoline disasters, every day is another chapter in the chaos of being siblings. One dreams of glory, the other craves quiet—but both have secrets, schemes, and sass to spare. Join this not-so-dynamic duo as they stumble, tumble, and triumph their way through the wildest adventures the Australian countryside can dish out. Buckle up. It’s going to be loud, muddy, and absolutely hilarious.

Welcome to The Adventures of Jeremiah Jackal, a laugh-out-loud, dust-kicking, tail-twitching romp across the most absurd corners of the desert you’ve never visited but will never want to leave. Meet Jeremiah Jackal—a bushy-tailed, peanut-butter-loving, sandal-snatching, chaos-stirring creature who lives on the edge of a scorching desert and doesn’t just survive… he thrives, schemes, and snickers his way into one unpredictable adventure after another. Written for readers of all ages with at least a 5th grade reading level (and a 10th grade sense of humor), this story blends heartfelt...

What if a butterfly could talk? One warm autumn afternoon, a butterfly named Becky landed gently on a young listener’s hand—and whispered a story so magical, it carried across mountaintops, jungles, thunderstorms, and even the sky itself. Told through ten unforgettable chapters, The Whispering Wings of Becky is a tale of courage, memory, and heart. With rich storytelling, humor, and a gentle dose of magic, Becky takes us on her incredible migration from “Up North” to South America—meeting coyotes, lightning bugs, jungle frogs, wind-blind vultures, and a chameleon who thinks ...

The sky always told the truth—if you knew how to listen. Jenny Maddox leaned against the hood of the matte-black Suburban, eyes locked on the gathering mass of dark clouds bruising the western horizon. The wind had shifted. Just a whisper now, but one with teeth. It brushed across her face like a warning. Most people would've taken it as a cue to head for the basement. Jenny? She called it a siren song. Behind her, the mobile Doppler radar unit beeped in steady intervals. On the roof of their secondary vehicle—nicknamed The Jackrabbit, a lifted, reinforced Jeep with steel plating and ...

In the past, the mere whisper of the “N” word sent chills down spines. Nations stepped back from the edge. It meant destruction, devastation—nuclear war. But not anymore. The world has changed. Power is currency, morality is optional, and the leaders who possess nuclear weapons no longer see them as last resorts. They see them as leverage. The “N” word—nuclear—no longer deters. It provokes. It threatens. And this time… it may just happen.

When you are ready to swap your comfortable office desk and all of it's trappings and make the leap between desktop of mountain top in a hands-on kind of way this book will help you navigate the transition. Whether you're chasing stability, freedom, or simply a job that just sort of feels "more real" this book walks you through the steps you'll need to take to make the change successfully and with limited stress.

Some friendships are made in school. Others? In swamp mud. Meet Al-E-Gator—a charming, grumbly, always-hungry alligator with a powerful tail and a big appetite for snacks and secrets. And then there’s Fluffy the Fish—a quick-witted puffer with the uncanny ability to puff up like a spiky balloon whenever trouble floats too close. Together, they’re not just best friends. They’re snack scouts. Crunch collectors. Swamp adventurers. And accidental heroes. From battling Bog Bandits to gliding through the sky on a homemade gator-glider, this duo will take you on a hilarious, suspense-...

A seven year old boy remembers his grandfather's lesson about stars. They discover the truth behind stars that only a select few people have ever learned. What's the secret of the stars? You'll learn all about it when you read this touching story. It is an excellent way to introduce children to books that teach while entertaining at the same time.

There's nothing more frustrating than trying to set up a yard sale, garage sale, estate sale or "tag" sale. Most people either give up or just run a small, how-hum sale that draws little, if any, customers. That doesn't have to be the case and within the pages of this book you'll learn exactly what you can do to make setting up, running and earning maximum profit from your next sale.