ArcaMax

Set against the backdrop of the early 20th century and World War I, "Crossroads of Empire" captures the essence of a world in turmoil. Author Michael Cooper’s diligence and attention to detail bring this period to life, from the smoky trenches of the Western Front to the political maneuvering in Europe.

The protagonist, Evan Sinclair, a 16-...Read more

All people who are pulled from the water after drowning should receive CPR with rescue breaths and chest compressions, according to updated guidance from the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The guidelines were published in the journals Circulation and Pediatrics. The article in Pediatrics focuses on literature...Read more

You’ve no doubt heard of the infamous Judas Iscariot — and his well-known betrayal — but you’ve never seen him in this light before. In the first of Martin Davey’s exciting The Black Museum series, Judas is, well … miraculously, the hero.

"Judas the Hero" follows Detective Inspector Judas Iscariot through the dark underbelly of ...Read more

'NOSFERATU'

Rated R for bloody violent content, graphic nudity and some sexual content.

What it’s about: This remake of the iconic 1922 vampire film sees a newlywed marriage torn apart by the obsessions of the vampire Count Orlok.

The kid attractor factor: Not much — this is a spooky, moody atmospheric horror film.

Good lessons/bad ...Read more

I haphazardly closed up the little house this year. I hurriedly swept the floors, took out the trash, checked the windows, pulled the Dutch door shut and whispered, “Thanks for the memories.”

Not long after, a fierce night wind pushed the door open. Blowing snow drifted in and nestled in the corners.

Tiny hand-shaped footprints ...Read more

Q. My ex is not a good person. She sends me terrible text messages that the kids have read over my shoulder. They tell me she refers to me as “sperm donor” when she talks to her friends. (They aren't sure what that means, but they know it's bad.) Now the kids are telling me they don’t want to go back to her home. We alternate weeks, and ...Read more

As we round the corner to Christmas, I feel compelled to say something to women across the land:

It’s OK.

It’s OK that you didn’t get the same amount of presents for each child.

It’s OK that you shopped for yourself. Not once or twice, but often.

It’s OK that you didn’t meet your Christmas budget while negotiating a trillion-...Read more

Q. I don’t hate my ex, and I’d like to get him a little something for Christmas. What’s good ex-etiquette?

A. I have multiple answers to your question. Do you have children or not? Using the children as qualifiers, that will help determine my answer.

If you don’t have children, how will the present be received, and what is the ...Read more

Q. My son recently married a woman with four children. They also have a baby together, my only grandchild. We are expecting a lot of company for the upcoming holiday, and I have asked my son to bring my grandchild but leave his wife’s children at home. There’s just not enough room. Now he’s refusing to come, and I’m broken-hearted. What ...Read more

The kitchen becomes my primary place of residence the week before Thanksgiving and continues straight on through New Year's Day. I should probably file a change-of-address card with the post office.

The kitchen counter is littered with crumpled dish towels, soiled hot pads and towering stacks of dirty cookie sheets and mixing bowls. Pots ...Read more

Last fall, 46-year-old lawyer Priti Langer took a trip to Baltimore with a group of fellow women to see singing greats Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks perform.

The outing was a 50th birthday celebration for a friend and neighbor in Langer's Fairfax, Virginia neighborhood. When Langer rolled her suitcase into the hotel, she felt a flutter in her ...Read more

Award-winning author Bill VanPatten tends to capture all those acts and emotions in his characters, drawing heavily on gay themes and Latino heritage in and around the small, fictitious town of Mañana, situated in California, which he describes as “a patchwork quilt of cities and small towns, urban areas and vast agricultural lands, foggy ...Read more

The holiday season is meant to be a carefree celebration, bringing people together to enjoy each other’s company and traditions. As it overlaps with the end of the year, people hope to leave the daily stress of normal life behind and enjoy time with the ones they love.

This goal becomes complicated, however, when the desire to have a perfect ...Read more

Feeling the elf-haustion? Does coming up with new adventures for your nighttime Santa spy have you stressed out? Holly (or Buddy or Snowflake) doesn’t need elaborate setups or expensive props to keep the wonder alive.

Here’s how to reclaim the joy while saving your sanity.

Keep it simple, Santa

“The elf just has to move, no need to ...Read more