Program: RidgeCon: Captain Marvel

In a tale as twisted as any spy thriller, discover how three women delivered critical evidence of Axis war crimes to Allied forces during World War II: "A tantalizingly novelistic history lesson" (Kirkus).   In 1944, news of secret diaries kept by Italy's Foreign Minister, Galeazzo Ciano, had permeated public consciousness. What wasn't reported, however, was how three women--a Fascist's daughter, a German spy, and an American banker's wife--risked their lives to ensure the diaries would reach the Allies, who would later use them as evidence against the Nazis at Nuremberg. In 1944, Benito Mussolini's daughter, Edda, gave Hitler and her father an ultimatum: release her husband, Galeazzo Ciano, from prison, or risk her leaking her husband's journals to the press. To avoid the peril of exposing Nazi lies, Hitler and Mussolini hunted for the diaries for months, determined to destroy them. Hilde Beetz, a German spy, was deployed to seduce Ciano to learn the diaries' location and take them from Edda. As the seducer became the seduced, Hilde converted as a double agent, joining forces with Edda to save Ciano from execution. When this failed, Edda fled to Switzerland with Hilde's daring assistance to keep Ciano's final wish: to see the diaries published for use by the Allies. When American spymaster Allen Dulles learned of Edda's escape, he sent in Frances De Chollet, an "accidental" spy, telling her to find Edda, gain her trust, and, crucially, hand the diaries over to the Americans. Together, they succeeded in preserving one of the most important documents of WWII.           Drawing from in‑depth research and first-person interviews with people who witnessed these events, Mazzeo gives readers a riveting look into this little‑known moment in history and shows how, without Edda, Hilde, and Frances's involvement, certain convictions at Nuremberg would never have been possible.

"Richly detailed. . . an intimate portrait of a diplomat." --New Yorker From the seven-time New York Times bestselling author and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright--among history's most admired and tireless public servants--a revealing, funny, and inspiring reflection on the challenge of continuing one's career far beyond the normal age of retirement In 2001, when Madeleine Albright was leaving office as America's first female secretary of state, interviewers asked her how she wished to be remembered. "I don't want to be remembered," she answered. "I am still here and have much more I intend to do. As difficult as it might seem, I want every stage of my life to be more exciting than the last." In that time of transition, the former Secretary considered the possibilities: she could write, teach, travel, give speeches, start a business, fight for democracy, help to empower women, campaign for favored political candidates, spend more time with her grandchildren. Instead of choosing one or two, she decided to do it all. For nearly twenty years, Albright was in constant motion, navigating half a dozen professions, clashing with presidents and prime ministers, learning every day. After leaving the State Department, she blazed her own trail--and gave voice to millions who yearned for respect, regardless of gender, background, or age. Hell and Other Destinations reveals this remarkable figure at her bluntest, funniest, most intimate, and most serious. It is the tale of our times anchored in lessons for all time, narrated by an extraordinary woman who had a matchless zest for life.

Can you imagine what life would be like if you could accept failure, cellulite, wrinkles, imperfection, screw-ups, and vulnerability?   I'll tell you what would happen: you would finally take that weight off your shoulders and build unshakeable, sustainable confidence. The truth is that confidence isn't about living up to anyone's expectations--it's about affirming, every day, that you're an effing boss. It's not the result of being skinny, making a six figure salary, finding your dream partner, or drinking a green juice every day. It requires patience, dedication, forgiveness, bravery, and an incredible amount of self-compassion.     You've probably read that "confidence is a choice," and while that's true, it's more accurate to say that confidence is a series of repeated choices to accept yourself. To choose pride over insecurity. And to fearlessly show up in the world as the truest expression of yourself. It took me a long time to overcome all the BS. It took me a longer time to develop a rock-solid sense of inner-peace and become intimate with my intuition. To achieve real confidence that lasted longer than a sugar rush.    My goal with this book is to share with you how I have arrived here, how I've helped my clients arrive here, and hopefully save you years of pain, shame, and uncertainty. Because, girl, I know how rocky this road can be. I'm going to show you how to block out all the noise around you, and how to free yourself from the opinions and judgment of others. I'm going to teach you how to trust your gut, reclaim your life, and rock what you've got.    I'm going to show you how to own the place.

You'll recognize your own cat in this entertaining collection of stories about the surprising, amusing, heartwarming, and even magical things that our cats do.  How do cats do it? Even non "cat people" fall under their spell. Our cats make us better people. If we rescued them, they rescue us back. If we're sad, they comfort us. If we need to have more fun, they show us how. They are our therapists, our role models, and our best friends. You'll laugh a lot, tear up at times, and nod your head in recognition as you read these tales about the magical experience of sharing life with a cat. In this collection, you'll find stories from hilarious to heroic, mischievous to miraculous, and everything in between.

In this step-by-step guide, J. C. Amberlyn combines her love of cats with her beautiful, detailed drawing style in order to teach beginning artists to draw many different breeds of cats and kittens in pencil and pen-and-ink.   Cats are creatures of beauty and mystery. They live among us but have never quite been tamed, drawing the ire of some and the admiration of others. They keep rodents away from our homes and offer purring companionship for those they have deemed worthy of their attention. The feline form exudes grace and flexibility and can be a joy to draw.   How to Draw Cats and Kittens continues a rich tradition of cats in art. Covering all the most popular types of cats, as well as kittens, this book gives easy-to-follow instructions for drawing cats in many poses and a variety of expressions. Amberlyn includes basic information on art materials and the fundamental mechanics of drawing so that even beginners will feel confident and successful as they learn to produce highly detailed, lifelike drawings of their fluffy companions.

"Definitely a book your cat would want you to read!" --Dr. Sarah Ellis, coauthor of The Trainable Cat "Zazie Todd has created a must-have guide to improving your cat's life." --Modern Cat Magazine We all love our cats and we all want them to be happy. But making our cats happy isn't about buying them lots of things--it's about finding out what matters to them. In Purr, animal behavior expert Zazie Todd addresses every stage of your cat's life and offers surprising and effective advice for even the most experienced cat owner, all with the science to back it up. In this indispensable book, "cat lovers learn the science behind cats' petting preferences; the multiple meanings of purrs, chirrups, and meows; how to best satisfy the scratching and stalking desires for indoor cats; and even how to keep both cats and wildlife safe if your felines spend time outside."--Cat Warren, New York Times-bestselling author  Cat lovers will also discover how to: Enrich your cat's life through play and exercise Reduce anxiety and fear around your absence, visitors, and trips to the vet Train your kitten or cat without causing harm (i.e. don't use a spray bottle!) Provide for special needs like asthma Make senior cats comfortable And so much more! In Purr, Zazie Todd demystifies the feline-human relationship so you can form your special bond based on your cat's unique needs--all while learning lots and having fun together.