Böcker av Charles McRaven

Landing in Charlottesville, Virginia, itinerant girl carpenter Wesley Whitestone scores the ideal job with the ideal boss, the restoration of a historic plantation house. But she stumbles onto a drug operation run by the owner and his family, and the violence escalates. She's joined by an unlikely companion, and together, they evade determined, deadly hunters. What follows is a prolonged chase scene, from Virginia to Arkansas to Missouri, Kentucky, Georgia, and back. She's aided by receiving occasional otherworldly 'messages' that guide her. Throughout their travels and travails, she spices the adventures with appropriate literary quips, from her 'useless' college major. Wesley is tough, competitive in a man's world, capable of strengths she didn't know she possessed. But she's also quite open to romance, as long as it's on her terms.

Searching for an escape from the construction rat race and a troubled marriage, craftsman Liam McLeod drops out at age 70 and builds a retreat in a hidden, stony mountain cleft. He seeks peace, but the doubts remain, and he is unable to lose his sense of duty and a newfound faith in the demanding, constant toil to survive. His odyssey is complicated by an attractive, mature therapist after he's injured, and the routine of building, planting, surviving, is disrupted. His grown children, his estranged wife, a brother and a rural minister help him find perspective. Traveling the road untaken turns out to be an adventure laden with consequences. He accomplishes a lot, learns a great deal about human nature, and also about himself.

Revolutionary War veteran sharpshooter Stephen Davis searches for the reality of the old saying, that all it takes is, "Two people and a piece of ground." He finds himself caught in a web of violent criminal activity instead, is hunted, must use his deadly skills too often. All while courting a planter's stunning daughter, overlooking a gifted farm girl. He rescues a stolen ex-slave, they wipe out a sophisticated robbery ring, but he is betrayed by his betrothed, then loses the other girl. Maybe.

Blacksmithing is one of the traditional "lost arts" deserving re- discovery by anyone interested in do-it-yourself building and crafting. Creating one's own apparatus from metal enhances wood- working, stonework, building, and restoration work.

Concrete and steel may weigh as much, but nothing can rival stone for its beauty and durability. Building With Stone is an introduction to the art and craft of creating stone structures and projects by a man who has made stonework his vocation. Throughout the book is Charles McRaven's stonebuilding philosophy -- that careful craftsmanship and time well spent during construction will repay itself many times over. The physical challenges will be offset by tremendous satisfaction and the knowledge that long after the builder is gone, the structure will stand as a personal and historical monument. Based on years of experience, this book will educate the novice and inspire the seasonal artisan. A stonebuilder at any level will learn how to evaluate each stone and undertake each step in the procedure with an eye toward aesthetics and useful permanence. In addition to introductory material on acquiring stone and what tools will be necessary, there are chapters with step-by-step instructions on how to build: -- walls -- buttresses -- stone fireplaces -- a barbecue pit -- a stone dam -- a stone bridge -- a spring house -- even a home or barn The final chapter is on proper restoration techniques for stone structures. Not just a how-to book, but also a good read, Building With Stone is sure to be a reference book and constant companion for all manner of stone journeymen, and will prove to be as enduring a volume as the structures it recommends.

Discover the lasting satisfaction of working with stone and learn the tricks of the trade from a master craftsman. No building material rivals stone for beauty, permanence, and enduring popularity. Builder Charles McRaven offers the benefits of his fifty years of stonework experience in Stonework, a book that will inform, entertain, and inspire anyone using or working with stone. McRaven helps even first-time builders comprehend the intricacies of working with different stone types; choosing the most suitable stone; handling, cutting, and shaping stone; working with recycled stone; and using stone inside the home. Stonework presents complete, fully illustrated instructions for: * Using stone for gardens, paths, pools, and waterfalls * Building walls, from simple to serpentine * Making gateways, pillars, and doorways * Using large stones as wall and landscape accents * Installing stone steps for porches and entries * Creating retaining walls * Building bridges and walkways

Since 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life. Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins contain practical, hands-on instructions designed to help you master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. From traditional skills to the newest techniques, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletin Library provides a foundation of earth-friendly information for the way you want to live today.