Most Popular Books by Raymond Obstfeld

Every writer struggles with spots that "just aren''t working"in their manuscript. No other book on the market approaches works like Fiction First Aid does, which quickly shows how seemingly fatal errors can become both manageable and fixable. Novice and more experienced writers alike will appreciate the book''s techniques for identifying and revising weaknesses in their work. Fiction First Aid shows how to repair those wounded manuscripts through easy-to-follow steps, patterned after those found in your typical first-aid manual: 1) Diagnose the problem 2) Suggest specific remedies 3) Prescribe therapies to avoid the problem in the future It couldn''t be any easier! Raymond Obstfeld is the author of 27 novels in a variety of genres, including mysteries, suspense thrillers, and mainstream novels and The Novelist''s Essential Guide to Creating Scenes. He has also sold ten screenplays, thirteen books of nonfiction, numerous short stories, poems, and nonfiction articles. He resides in Tustin, California, and heads the writing program at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa.

The irreverent, outrageous novels of Raymond Obstfeld - written under the pseudonym Laramie Dunaway - five readers everywhere something to laugh about. Each book, his wisecracking, exuberant characters plunge head and heart first into grim modern realities that are twisted just enough to become a little bit naughty and a whole lot of fun.

Writing page-turning fiction depends on your ability to create rock-solid, believable scenes. Scenes act as dynamic structures that thrust both your characters and readers forward through conflict, baiting them with goals that may–&break;In Novelist''s Essential Guide to Crafting Scenes, Raymond Obstfeld leads you through the creation process, examining all the elements that go into making scenes successful, cohesive and compelling. Tackling topics like finding a scene''s "hot spot," identifying its dominating purpose and avoiding a cliched ending, Obstfeld provides essential reading for novice and novelist alike. Using examples from film, short stories, and best-selling fiction, he documents why and how scenes work. You''ll learn: &break;&break; what is (and isn''t) a scene&break; how to make scenes memorable&break; how to use point of view&break; how to focus on character, plot and theme&break; how to make scenes pay off&break; how to structure a scene&break; how to use setting&break; how to revise a scene&break; the importance of first impressions &break;&break;Every page of Novelist''s Essential Guide to Crafting Scenes opens a new window of opportunity for writers by offering valuable insight, articulate advice and expert examples. It''s a reference, a road map and a romp, all rolled into one. So go on–make a scene. And make it unforgettable.

In search of the purloined Apocalypse Handbook, Mycroft Holmes and Lark Adler criss-cross the United States, facing danger and intrigue at every turn. But what does the latest heist of Jesse James and his band of outlaws have to do with their quest? What secrets is Lark hiding in her past? And what traumas and triumphs have shaped Mycroft into the man he is today?

Mycroft hits the USA in search of the Apocalypse Handbook - but an encounter at the New York docks leaves him battered and bruised at the hands of impossible superweapons ¨C and that''s even before he follows the trail out West, where an unexpected face boards his train, with robbery on his mind! And introducing... Lark Adler!

Mycroft Holmes: rake, adventurer, intellectual; deductive mind without peer! Thrust into the greatest quest of his young life, Mycroft is forced to battle a monstrous abombination in the bowels of Buckingham Palace, as a courtly conspiracy threatens the world with steampunk weapons of mass destruction! With only his wits to aid him, Mycroft is soon set on a globe-trotting mission to reclaim the plans for the weapons ¨C before they fall into more nefarious hands!

Basketball legend, novelist, and superstar polymath Kareem Abdul-Jabbar brings his take on Sherlock Holmes'' older brother to comics at last! An all-new adventure set in the world of the bestselling Mycroft novel, The Apocalypse Handbook sees the diffident, brilliant Mycroft pulled into a globe-spanning adventure at the behest of Queen Victoria and a secret organization at the heart of the British government. A madman is on the loose with civilization-destroying weapons, each two hundred years in advance of the status quo. Can the smartest man in England set aside his idle, womanizing ways for long enough to track down the foe that may be his match?

While twins Ella and Herbie help the handyman Mr. Midal work on their new home, he tells them about such inventors as Granville Woods, Dr. Henry T. Sampson, and James West, giving them a new view of their heritage as African Americans.

Masked Dog by Raymond Obstfeld released on Jun 24, 1986 is available now for purchase.

1874. Despite the best efforts of a cadre of international thieves, criminals, and assassins, Mycroft Holmes and Adler have finally found the Apocalypse Handbook – a collection of working blueprints for deadly, highly-advanced weapons. But their young ward, Kerry, has been abducted. Now, they await delivery of the ransom demands. The fates of both Kerry, and of the free world, rest in their hands!

A New York Times and Washington Post Bestseller Bestselling author, basketball legend and cultural commentator Kareem Abdul-Jabbar explores the heart of issues that affect Americans today. Since retiring from professional basketball as the NBA''s all-time leading scorer, six-time MVP, and Hall of Fame inductee, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has become a lauded observer of culture and society, a New York Times bestselling author, and a regular contributor to The Washington Post, TIME magazine and TIME.com. He now brings that keen insight to the fore in Writings on the Wall: Searching for a New Equality Beyond Black and White, his most incisive and important work of non-fiction in years. He uses his unique blend of erudition, street smarts and authentic experience in essays on the country''s seemingly irreconcilable partisan divide - both racial and political, parenthood, and his own experiences as an athlete, African-American, and a Muslim. The book is not just a collection of expositions; he also offers keen assessments of and solutions to problems such as racism in sports while speaking candidly about his experiences on the court and off. Timed for publication as the nation debates whom to send to the White House, the combination of plain talk on issues, life lessons, and personal stories places Writings on the Wall squarely in the middle of the conversation, as many of Abdul-Jabbar''s topics are at the top of the national agenda. Whether it is sparring with Donald Trump, within the pages of TIME magazine, or full-length features in the The New York Times Magazine, writers, critics, and readers have come to agree on what The Washington Post observed: Abdul-Jabbar "has become a vital, dynamic and unorthodox cultural voice."

Theo Rollins is starting eighth grade six inches taller, and his new height is making everyone expect more from him. Coach Mandrake wants to transform him from invisible science geek into star basketball player, even though Theo has little experience with the game. When Theo tries to hone his skills by playing pick-up ball in the park, kids are eager to include him at first; then they quickly see that he has no control of his gangly body. A girl named Rain even dubs him "Sasquatch." To make matters worse, all his time spent on training is starting to hurt his science club''s chances of winning the "Aca-lympics," the school''s trivia competition. Just when Theo thinks he can''t handle any more pressure, he''s accused of stealing. Can he find the real thief before he is kicked off the basketball and science club teams, or will his attempt at sleuthing be yet another air ball? Loosely based on challenges that NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar faced while growing up, Sasquatch in the Paint is a slam dunk for fans of basketball action and absorbing mysteries

The first memoir for young readers by sports legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. At one time, Lew Alcindor was just another kid from New York City with all the usual problems: He struggled with fitting in, pleasing a strict father, and overcoming shyness that made him feel socially awkward. But with a talent for basketball, and an unmatched team of supporters, Lew Alcindor was able to transform and to become Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. From a childhood made difficult by racism and prejudice to a record-smashing career on the basketball court as an adult, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar''s life was packed with ""coaches"" who taught him right from wrong and led him on the path to greatness. His parents, coaches Jack Donahue and John Wooden, Muhammad Ali, Bruce Lee, and many others played important roles in Abdul-Jabbar''s life and sparked him to become an activist for social change and advancement. The inspiration from those around him, and his drive to find his own path in life, are highlighted in this personal and awe-inspiring journey. Written especially for young readers, Becoming Kareem chronicles how Kareem Abdul-Jabbar become the icon and legend he is today, both on and off the court.

“Stunningly beautiful!” – Nerdist An all-new epic graphic novel adventure from author, activist, columnist, and NBA All-Star athlete Kareem Abdul-Jabbar! Against his will, the idle but brilliant Mycroft Holmes is pulled into a globe-spanning adventure at the behest of Queen Victoria. A madman has stolen a handbook full of plans for civilization-destroying weapons – and desires to sell them to the highest bidder. Can the smartest man in England track down and defeat the one foe that may prove to be his match? This all-new graphic novel collection, co-written with Robert Obstfeld and brought to life with stunning art by Joshua Cassara and Luis Guerrero, presents a swaggering steampunk adventure that will leave you in no doubt as to which of the Holmes brothers is your favorite. Collects Mycroft Holmes and the Apocalypse Handbook #1-5. “Abdul-Jabbar’s take on Mycroft is wickedly funny and engaging. 9/10” - Newsarama

When eighth-grader Chris''s older brother Jax is caught betting on the pick-up basketball games that Chris and his friends play, Chris becomes involved in the police investigation.

A high school student whose promising basketball career is in jeopardy discovers the triumphs and hardships of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar''s life as a social justice advocate in this stunningly illustrated graphic novel. Monk Travers is the star basketball player on his high school team. Confident about his future as an NBA player, he doesn’t see the point in caring much about school, let alone his community. But his world is about to change—big time! After getting caught graffitiing his team''s rival school, Monk comes to the awful realization that his actions have put his place on the team—and his future—in jeopardy. Fearing the worst, he’s taken by surprise when his coach offers him an unorthodox way to atone: completing a report on the life of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Monk is ecstatic. He knows all Kareem’s records and stats. He smugly announces that the project will be a snap, but his excitement is short-lived when coach tells him that the project is not about Kareem’s basketball career—it’s about his life as an advocate for change. As Monk grudgingly begins his research, he discovers a history of struggles, conflicts, frustrations, and violence that he’d never been aware of, awakening a passion for social justice that rivals Kareem’s own.

A sweeping look back at the protest movements that changed America from activist and NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with personal and historical insights into lessons they can teach us today “A compelling case for standing up for justice at a time when everything, it seems, is on the line.”—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. For many, it can feel like change takes too long, and it might seem that we have not moved very far. But political activist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar believes that public protest is a vital part of affecting change, even if that change doesn’t come “right now.” In We All Want to Change the World, he examines the activism of people of all ages, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds that helped change America, documenting events from the Free Speech Movement through the movement for civil rights, the fight for women’s and LGBTQ rights, and, of course, the protests against the Vietnam War. At a time in our history when we are witnessing protests across campuses, within the labor movement, and following the killing of George Floyd, Abdul-Jabbar reminds us that protests are a lifeblood of our history: “Protest movements, even peaceful ones, are never popular at first. . . . But there is a reason protest gatherings have been so frequent throughout history: They are effective. The United States exists because of them.” Part history lesson and part personal reminiscences of his own activism, We All Want to Change the World will resonate with anyone who recognizes the need for social change and is willing to do the work to make it happen.

Presents twenty-one works of criticism on Herman Melville''s novel "Moby-Dick," discussing its language, style, symbols, themes, religious references, and characters and relating the novel to American society, and provides a chronology and further reading list.

Contains a biographical overview of the life and times of the emperor, and a series of essays on the major influences on his character and career, domestic and foreign policies, military career, and legacy.

As he becomes involved with a tough, intelligent teenager who has escaped from a juvenile detention center, seventeen-year-old Eric begins to examine his well-planned life and his relationships with his girlfriend and his divorced parents.

Theo and the rest of the Streetball Crew have to find out who is pulling the pranks at basketball camp.

Theo Rollins is starting eighth grade six inches taller, and his new height is making everyone expect more from him. Coach Mandrake wants to transform him from invisible science geek into star basketball player, even though Theo has little experience with the game. When Theo tries to hone his skills by playing pick-up ball in the park, kids are eager to include him at first; then they quickly see that he has no control of his gangly body. A girl named Rain even dubs him “Sasquatch.” To make matters worse, all his time spent on training is starting to hurt his science club’s chances of winning the “Aca-lympics,” the school’s trivia competition. Just when Theo thinks he can’t handle any more pressure, he’s accused of stealing. Can he find the real thief before he is kicked off the basketball and science club teams, or will his attempt at sleuthing be yet another air ball? Loosely based on challenges that NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar faced while growing up, Sasquatch in the Paint is a slam dunk for fans of basketball action and absorbing mysteries.

Create characters whose professional lives resonate with realistic details and insider insights.

Offers more than two thousand quotations from rock musicians and singers on topics including music, love, sex, fame, the press, and aging

The rebirth of learning and artistic pursuit in Europe is well-detailed in Greenhaven Press'' anthology on the Renaissance. Gathering primary accounts from religious, artistic, scientific, and secular leaders, this anthology covers a broad spectrum of social and political topics of the day. Their firsthand reflections convey the exuberance of rediscovering the joys of education and social progress after the intellectual darkness of the Middle Ages.

"But Harry''s got it all worked out. He''s got a great new plan to make enough to pay his debts, and then some. Assuming he survives . . ." Harry needed money, as usual. And in return for a small loan, Uncle Deacon was asking a small favor. All Harry had to do was deliver a package . . . on January 14th. After that, Harry was a prisoner. And it was all very legal, according to Uncle Deacon. Raymond Obstfeld is a novelist, poet and screenwriter. With more than twenty-five published novels in the mystery, suspense and western genres, he has created and written three successful series as well as having written for two other series.