Contention

Rich, an audiobook narrator from Tucson, Arizona, wonders how lexicographers decide which pronunciations are preferred. He specifically wonders about pronouncing the word aioli. http://waywordradio.org

1654-Caller-Rich-Aioli-Pronunciation

Given the fact of reading mortality--the awareness that it's physically impossible to read all the books we'd like to--what's the best way to choose your next book? Maryanne Wolf wrestles with modern challenges to doing so in Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World (Bookshop|Amazon). http://waywordradio.org

1654-Caller-Siri-Managing-Your-Reading

On sale April 15th, 2025

VENGEANCE WILL BE HISThe Sword Roses are blossoming into proper Kimberly mages, but that growth doesn’t come without trials: Magical biology continues to bring Katie anguish, and an upperclassman is putting Guy through labyrinth boot camp. Meanwhile, Oliver has set his sights on his next target-Enrico Forghieri.When Enrico whisks Pete off to his laboratory with Nanao and Oliver hot on their heels, the three friends get a horrifying glimpse of the longstanding conflict between mages and Gnostics. This may be the perfect opportunity for Oliver to finally exact his revenge on the mad old man...!

Listen Here

Reign of the Seven Spellblades, Vol. 5 By Bokuto Uno, Read By Kyle Omori (Audiobook Excerpt)

On sale April 15th, 2025

A picture book biography of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, the remarkable conservationist and naturalist who worked tirelessly to protect the Florida Everglades.

As an environmental journalist and conservationist, Marjory Stoneman Douglas spent her life fighting to preserve the Florida Everglades. Now celebrated as a subtropical paradise with a diverse ecosystem, the Everglades was once considered a worthless swamp. Marjory recognized the wetlands as a treasured river, home to an array of species unlike anywhere else in the world—and she was determined to help protect it.

This is the story of how Marjory’s incredible vision and unwavering tenacity led to the preservation of one of the most unique regions on Earth. 
 
Bonus content includes an author’s note, inspiring quotes by Douglas, and information about water: where it comes from, and what we can do to help preserve this precious resource.

Marjory's River of Grass By Josie James, Read By Elizabeth Wiley (Audiobook Excerpt)

'Seaside, strawberries and a sexy hero – what's not to love?' Mandy Baggot, author of My Greek Island Summer 

 Hetty Colman loves her life in the cosy seaside town of Swallowtail Bay, organising children’s birthdays, anniversaries and retirement parties. But after her recent break up from long-term boyfriend Ben, she’s been searching for something new.

So, when Hetty overhears locals wondering how to return the old strawberry festival to its former glory, she jumps at the chance to relaunch it. There are just two problems – she only has four weeks to organise it and absolutely nowhere to host it!

When Hetty manages to convince the aloof, yet extremely handsome, John Thornhill to use the grounds of his rundown manor, things start to look up. But as Hetty and John grow closer and Ben tries to win back her affections, can Hetty make the festival and her love life run smoothly at the same time?

Fans of Rachael Lucas, Cathy Bramley and Jenny Colgan will fall in love with this hilarious summer read from Katie Ginger!

‘Perfect escapism!’ Cressida McLaughlin, author of The Cornish Cream Tea Summer

‘Simply delicious – summer escapes don't come any more tasty!’ Jane Linfoot, author of The Little Cornish Kitchen

‘A hilarious romantic comedy that left me with a big smile on my face’ Holly Martin, author of Sunrise over Sapphire Bay

‘So beautifully written. It made me want to move house right now and set up by the sea!’ Tilly Tennant, author of The Waffle House on the Pier

‘A delightful and delicious read for hopeful romantics everywhere’ Sandy Barker, author of One Summer in Santorini

Readers LOVE Summer Strawberries at Swallowtail Bay!

‘I wish I could give this book more than five stars, this is definitely my favourite of Katie's books to date.’ *****

‘Hetty is a dynamo! I enjoyed having a heroine who knew her goals, set them, and goes after them.’ *****

‘An absolute pleasure to read, I loved delving into these pages and was smiling as I reached the end.’ *****

Summer Strawberries at Swallowtail Bay, By Katie Ginger, Read by Gloria Sanders

On sale April 15th, 2025

A testament to the indomitable human spirit and the power of a mother's love, this story of a wrongfully incarcerated woman's fight for freedom and her family will inspire all.

Judy Henderson was a single mother with a successful small business of her own when she was arrested and convicted of a crime she did not commit.  Sentenced to life in prison, Henderson faced the untenable: leaving her young children as she entered the brutal prison system. Even as she faced violence, mistreatment, Henderson persevered with hope and determination. She never lost sight of her innocence—or her deeply held role as a mother. She also gained new purpose, fighting for her clemency and for the rights of incarcerated women, especially mothers. As the years passed, Henderson experienced hope through serendipitous events and calls, letters, and too infrequent visits with her children and other family. With the support of the prosecutor who once sought her conviction and the Missouri governor, Henderson was granted clemency and received a full pardon after nearly thirty-five years behind bars.

When the Light Finds Us is a gripping narrative that explores the depths of human resilience and the transformative power of hope. Henderson's story will inspire readers to persevere through their own struggles, reminding us of the strength of the human spirit and the unbreakable bond of a mother's love. In a world often filled with darkness, Judy Henderson's journey is a beacon of light, illuminating the path to redemption and the triumph of justice. 

When the Light Finds Us By Judy A. Henderson, Read By Marjie Shrimpton and Judy A. Henderson (Audiobook Excerpt)

On sale April 8th, 2025

This collection of short stories from the world of Spice & Wolf features three new vignettes from Lawrence and Holo's journeys, as well as a novella that follows Norah the shepherdess and her faithful sheepdog, Enek, as they put the city of Ruvinheigen behind them and try to forge a new path for themselves...

Spice and Wolf, Vol. 13 By Isuna Hasekura, Read By Paul Starr (Audiobook Excerpt)

On sale April 22nd, 2025

#1 New York Times bestselling author Admiral McRaven tells stories from his life and career that illustrate the principles of effective leadership during times of crisis.

Throughout his 40-year career, Admiral McRaven has experienced every manner of calamity imaginable. From managing failed hostage rescues to responding to student unrest, McRaven has learned how to successfully navigate crises—those moments that push the limits of your experience and challenge your confidence, when leadership skills alone may not be enough.

Conquering Crisis provides a new set of tools for facing these stressful moments with poise. It breaks crises down into five phases assess, report, contain, shape, and manage—and provides concrete steps to come out the other side stronger. With incredible personal stories, thought-provoking parables, and memorable lessons, Admiral McRaven sheds light on the ways we can rise to the occasion in times of crisis and act as leaders, no matter the situation.

Conquering Crisis By Admiral William H. McRaven (Audiobook Excerpt)

On sale April 22nd, 2025

A Hollywood icon and Asian superstar shares the inspiring story of her groundbreaking career. 

When Nancy Kwan burst onto the scene in the early 1960s, Asian characters in film were portrayed by white actors in makeup playing “yellowface,” and those minor roles were the stuff of cliché: shopkeepers, maids, prostitutes, servants. When—against all odds—Nancy landed the lead role in the much-anticipated 1960 film The World of Suzie Wong, she became an international superstar and was celebrated for her beauty, grace, authenticity, and spunk: a “Chinese Garbo,” the “Asian Bardot.” From Hong Kong to London, Hollywood and beyond, The World of Nancy Kwan charts Nancy’s journey. The obstacles she faced, the prejudices she overcame, and how her success created paths for others.

Never allowing show business to change her, Kwan persevered in an industry where everything was stacked against her, breaking through barriers and becoming a beacon of hope to generations of Asians who aspired to be seen. The World of Nancy Kwan is a multi-faceted personal history of an iconic actress whose triumphant rise and resilience illuminates the broader history of Hollywood and how the only way forward is to stay true to oneself.

The World of Nancy Kwan By Nancy Kwan, Read By Nancy Kwan and Kevin Kwan (Audiobook Excerpt)

On sale April 22nd, 2025

An award-winning business leader and speaker shares her journey of uncovering years of childhood trauma through scientific modalities like epigenetics, neuroplasticity, and decades of therapy.

Daria Burke’s childhood was marked by neglect and poverty. When she discovers a photograph of the car accident that she believes altered the course of her early life, Burke is forced to confront the parts of her childhood she had avoided. This discovery sparks a four-year immersion into neuroplasticity, epigenetics, the impact of adverse childhood experiences on early brain development and ultimately, why some of us remain stuck in past trauma while others experience Post Traumatic Growth. She dives headfirst into an exploration of her trauma, grappling with the enduring grip of the past on the present and the mind's influence over the body. 

More than a story of personal triumph, Of My Own Making is a soulful and scientific exploration of the power to shape one's destiny. In facing the stark reality of her past, Burke reminds us that every moment demands a choice, and that we owe it to ourselves to reparent our inner child and reclaim the lives we deserve. Part memoir, part methodology, it is a fearless rallying cry inspiring us to excavate and examine the stories that define our lives. Ultimately, the narratives that we craft with ourselves are the only ones that matter.

Of My Own Making By Daria Burke (Audiobook Excerpt)

Award-Winning Composer-Pianist

Nu-Classical:  Modern concert music with the essence of jazz, rock, funk, Latin, and beyond.

"For several decades now, the culture of the so called 'art music' genre, which, in most cases might more aptly be called 'academic music', has been to shun anything which might be construed as being accessible enough to be sold to the general public. Becker KB (composer and piano virtuoso) is a refreshing exception to this trend… [His music] displays a lot of theoretical, compositional, and performance mastery, while avoiding the common pitfall of being out of touch with what people want to hear."
-Philip Cornell, Asterisked Music Journal

"Mr. Becker's style is evidently steeped in multiple genres but is not mere eclecticism. Rather, his compositions are a clear distillation of very personal musical impulses...I think music like that [of Becker's] is worthwhile to the masses of listeners on the fringe of [classical] music because it challenges definitions and breaks down barriers between the music they are familiar with and that which they have never heard (most [classical] music)…[It] is undeniably evident that Becker KB is a uniquely talented musician."
-Garrett Schumann, Sequenza21.com

"Becker coined his mishmash of classical structures and popular inclinations 'nu-classical,' but not in the traditional sense of executing one style in another one's framework. Becker's nu-classical is a genuine blend that results in a sound that seems not to be associated exclusively to conventions of the past. Rather, it reinvents what it means to fuse these elements synergistically." 
-Joel Luks, CultureMap

Contention

Becker KB | Composer-Pianist