Best Selling Books by Judy ALLEN

Practical, prescriptive advice on successfully marketing your event planning business Recent years have been tough on the event planning industry. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, economic downturns, wars, and SARS have all negatively impacted the business. There are fewer corporate dollars dedicated to travel budgets and special events, creating even more pressure on businesses in an already highly competitive industry. This book tells you all you need to know to market your business and build your client base in good times and bad. Marketing Your Event Planning Business shows you how to gain a competitive advantage by setting yourself apart from the competition, pursuing new markets, and soliciting sales. It covers all the vital topics in event planning marketing, including how to diversify your client base, develop niche markets, improve your customer service, establish emergency business plans, and much more. Ideal for event planners, marketing managers in the industry, and professionals in the hospitality, culinary, or travel industries Includes actionable advice on successfully marketing an event planning business Features illustrative examples, practical tips, and useful checklists and other resources Marketing Your Event Planning Business is packed with practical tips and examples, giving you creative new ways to showcase your talents, build your business, and bring added value to your clients.

In 1968, Arthur Ashe climbed his way to the top of the tennis world in a time filled with racial tension and segregation. But his success didn''t happen without help. Arthur''s close relationship with his younger brother, Johnnie, was key to Arthur becoming the first Black man to break the color barrier in men''s tennis. A layered story full of love, sibling rivalry, and unconditional support, The Ashe Brothers tells the little-known story behind Arthur''s Grand Slam win.

This colorful first nature picture book, written by Judy Allen and illustrated by Tudor Humphries, gives children aged 4 to 7 an inside look at the everyday life of a honeybee. Ideal for reading aloud or as a first reader, the detailed illustrations bring this familiar creature to life in a truly memorable way. Children will discover how a young bee faces many challenges as it takes its place in the hive and joins in the work of the bee community. They will learn about honeybee life cycles and behavior, and the witty, interactive text will encourage them to explore the similarities and differences between themselves and these fascinating animals. And if you love insects, why not collect all ten titles in the Backyard Books series?

For some months, Katie''s mother has woken screaming from a recurring nightmare. Katie becomes convinced the dream is a buried childhood memory, and that her mother needs to remember to overcome it. She finds out where her mother grew up and persuades her to go back, ostensibly for a holiday, in reality for Katie to track down her estranged grandfather. The seaside town is out-of-season, bleak, beset by storms and high spring tides, and the subject of a legend that the beach and waters are haunted by the crying of a child and the howling of a grief-stricken man. What emerges are the events of a terrible accident fifty years before, when a cliff fell into the sea, taking cottages and their inhabitants with it. The failure to rescue a small child has haunted Katie''s family ever since - an incident depicted in photographs in the museum - the child and a lifeboatman vainly reaching out as a wave sweeps her away. As real and supernatural events build to a stormy climax, Katie uncovers that her mother was the small child used in a filmed re-enactment of the tragedy, terrified at being forced by her father to play the part of the drowning child again and again and again. An uncompromising story of a young child''s abuse through the greed and insensitivity of adults, and of the destructive power of guilt.

With a foreword by the award-winning fantasy author Jonathan Stroud, and illustration by some of the world''s best illustrators including John Howe, the Fantasy Encyclopedia is a spectacular one-stop guide to the creatures and people of folklore and fantasy. From goblins and fairies to dragons and Dracula, this encyclopedia covers them all with sparkling, readable text and stunning illustrations. Discover how the magic of stories throughout the centuries has kept these creatures alive in traditions and cultures around the world. Using a highly visual approach, featuring more than 400 photographs and illustrations, this book will introduce readers to each fantasy character within its habitat and genre. Cross-reference boxes direct readers to popular books and movies starring these fantastical creatures. This is a must-have for any fantasy enthusiast!

Practical tools and expert advice for professional event planners Before planning an event, there is much that must be done behind the scenes to make the event successful. Before any thought is even given to timing or location of the event, before the menus are selected and the decor designed, there are proposals to be written, fees and contracts to be negotiated, and safety issues to be considered. This book takes you behind the scenes of event planning and explains every aspect of organizing and strategic planning. This book will be of value to both the professional event planner and to clients who are dealing with planners. Its comprehensive coverage includes: how to prepare winning proposals, and how to understand them if you are the client; how to determine management fees; negotiating contracts; safety issues; designing events in multicultural settings; and new technology that makes operations more efficient (such as online registration and response management, database project management tools). The book also includes practical tools such as sample letters of agreement, sample layouts for client proposals, forms, and checklists. Professional event planner Judy Allen offers first-time or professional event planners all the top-class advice they need to make their special events come off without a hitch.

With its intriguing bug''s-eye view of the world, this new series offers preschoolers a unique perspective on the life cycles and environments of some familiar backyard creatures. In each book, the initial question -- Are you a snail''...Are you a ladybug? -- is followed by a series of simple sentences that help children appreciate the differences between themselves and a particular small animal. Realistic, detailed art and informative, easy-to-read texts make these stories perfect for reading aloud. "Slowly, slowly, slowly, your color grows stronger. Your black dots appear. Congratulations, you''re a ladybug "

The world of event planning can be alluring and dangerous at once-exotic locales, wining and dining, and people traveling without their spouses. In such situations the line between business and pleasure blurs and the nature of relationships gets cloudy. With a thoughtless act or a less-than-tactful word, long-lasting business relationships can be ruined forever. Beyond that, budgets are on the chopping block and competition for business is tight. In that environment, people often cut not just financial corners, but the ethical ones, too. There’s a fine line between innocent perks and inappropriate gifts or kickbacks. Event planners today must navigate a minefield of potentially sticky situations that can easily blow up in their face. Without a professional code, lines of acceptable behavior are easily crossed. And what you do personally can hurt you professionally. Event Planning Ethics and Etiquette provides event planners with the companion they need to stay out of trouble, keep professional relationships healthy and profitable, avoid the riskier temptations of the lifestyle, and win business in a highly competitive market using ethical business practices. Explains how to establish policies and codes of behavior, in the office and onsite at events. Offers guidelines on when it is acceptable to accept a gift, what is acceptable, and what is inappropriate. Shows how to prepare yourself, as well as your staff, for what to expect, and how to handle the unexpected with business finesse. Covers business etiquette in event planning crisis management situations. Helps you to avoid putting yourself and your company at personal and professionals risk. Features real-life examples and situations, and advice on how to handle them with poise and professionalism. Includes a list of “Event Planning Do’s and Don’ts.” Event Planning Ethics and Etiquette will be of value to the professional event planner; to event planning suppliers and clients working with industry professionals; as well as to those in related fields, such as public relations, administrative professionals, communications; and anyone in the hospitality, culinary, and travel industry.

In the cottages around The Green sleeps a memory of long-dead hands that once wielded a terrible power. Now it is only slumbering, waiting for somewhere to feed and grow, someone to embrace its awesome power and turn it to new purposes. On the eve of Bonfire Night it is nudged to wakefulness: a stranger all the way from Canada on a quest for family history; friends Jan and Kate''s sortie into a long-closed attic to find debris for the bonfire on The Green. This is a community holding an uneasy truce between tourist interest in legends of witchcraft and the terrible reality of a fire that burned scores of cottages and their inhabitants years before. Bonfire Night looms; objectors say there hasn''t been a bonfire on The Green since The Fire and there shouldn''t ever be again. The waking power feeds on the anxieties, puts out tendrils in search of a mind to sieze - and finds Jan. Into her hands will flow the deadly malevolence that once made The Burning. Into her mind will flow the hatred that once consumed everything ....

This groundbreaking text draws upon examples from everyday health care situations to demonstrate that the behaviour differences we all experience in others actually fit within a readily understandable framework (the MBI).

The label on the bottle reads ''There be a witch in here. Let her out and there be a peck of trouble''. But Mike is always trying to emulate his impulsive sister or his responsible brother. Then his friend Lee swears he sees something fly out of the bottle, and Mike decides to open it again. Out flows an extraordinary tableau - a Fire King astride a stallion, and a beautiful woman in a bower of flowers - the archetypes of Yin and Yang in terrible conflict. Mike, seeing that he can tip the balance, throws his lot in with the king. When things go wrong in the real world, Mike returns to his vision, to find that the Fire King has wreaked havoc. He changes his allegiance to the Lady - and sinks into a deep depression. Slowly he learns that the answer lies not in choosing the power of fire or of water, Yin or Yang, his sister''s or brother''s way - but in the eternal dance between them.

For anyone planning events—student, novice, or experienced professional—Confessions of an Event Planner is an "apprenticeship in a book." This insider’s guide takes you on a narrative journey, following a fictional event planning company that stages various types of events around the world for many different clients. While other books, college courses, and training programs give you the theory and how-to of the profession, Confessions of an Event Planner reveals the real world of event planning and what can happen—usually the unexpected—on an event program when actual participants are added to the event planning design and execution mix. In a climate of media scrutiny and corporate scandals, event planners must be masters of discretion, knowing how to avoid and deal with everything from sexual romps to financial shenanigans, to chainsaw wielding salesmen dead set on “re-landscaping” the grounds of the resort they’re staying at. From an event planner who’s seen it all and knows how to deal with it all, comes practical first-hand advice delivered in an entertaining and accessible format. Each chapter is set in a unique location, with a cast of characters, and a host of challenges and problems to overcome—from the boardroom to the resort guest bedrooms. Readers learn what they can come up against, how to problem solve creatively on the fly, get ideas for staging spectacular events, and see the principles of event planning in action. The scenario in each chapter is introduced by an outline of what will be covered in the chapter, and each chapter concludes with a series of review questions to explore key issues and stimulate reflection or discussion for individuals or groups. Ideal as a companion to Judy Allen’s six other event planning books, as a textbook in event planning courses, or as a professional training tool Confessions of an Event Planner prepares planners for what they can expect once they start working in the world of corporate and social event planning, and will help decision-makers set company policies, procedures and protocol and promote discussion about codes of conduct in the office and offsite.

Event planning never stops. This industry goes 24/7, 365 days a year. Planners work evenings, weekends, and holidays, often far away from their home base, organizing and running events that simply must go on, and go smoothly. Missing a critical deadline is not an option in the event planning field. Time management errors can cost a company a potential sale, lose them an existing customer, and damage their professional reputation. Burnout and chaos are real risks in this hectic world of deadlines and multiple projects. Planners often find themselves working down to the wire against crushing deadlines and a mountain of obstacles that impede their progress. Too frequently, there is not enough time to get the job done properly, let alone to spend on personal or professional pursuits. And for many involved in the event planning field, there is the extra dimension of travel to factor in, juggling multiple projects on a daily basis across a multitude of time zones. For smooth event implementation, and for business success, it is essential that planners know how to manage their own time as well as they manage an event. Time Management for Event Planners teaches readers how to successfully manage their workload, and do what matters most, when it matters most: Analyze and prioritize tasks. Structure your workload and your day for maximum performance. Identify red-flag activities that hinder productivity. Reduce stress-producing time crunches. Identify when extra help is needed, as well as how to delegate, outsource, and even partner with suppliers in crunch periods. Work with rather than against deadlines. Save time using technology. Manage multiple projects, even in multiple time zones. Balance your personal and professional life. Whether you are an event planner, a hospitality professional, in public relations or other related fields, Time Management for Event Planners offers time-saving tips, techniques, examples, and expert insight that will help you get time on your side.

It is mid-July, the time of year governed by Cancer - the moon''s sign. David''s archaeologist father is excavating a Roman mosaic found in Yorkshire. David becomes fascinated by an ancient stone circle on a nearby hillside, but his interest turns to a pervading fear when he touches the stones and gets a powerful electric shock. He befriends Westwood, who has a theory that the stones were used in ancient times to call forth water by chanting ''til the vibrations hit a powerful resonating note. Hence the name ''weeping stones''. And after centuries asleep, something has re-activated them. David''s father dismisses Westwood as an eccentric dabbler, and the townspeople throw him out as suspicious and untrustworthy. But Westwood''s theory predicts a catastrophic flood - unless David can convince everyone of the stones'' extraordinary force, find out what has woken them and turn the power back ...

"A satisfying read." --School Library Journal Hurricane Katrina was one of the most destructive storms in American history. In this fictional tale, daring twins Jo Jo and Sophie battle the raging floodwaters in a fight for their lives. For twins Jo Jo and Sophie Dupre, Hurricane Katrina isn''t the most important thing on their minds-not compared their mother''s cancer treatments, Sophie''s swim meet, and Jo Jo''s upcoming coding competition. But when the storm intensifies and there''s only one seat their aunt''s car, Mom has to be the one to evacuate. The twins and their father are stuck at home in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. The winds rise-and with them, the waves. The levees break and floodwater rages through the city. During the chaos, Jo Jo and Sophie are swept away. Together, they must find their way to the Superdome, where their father should be waiting-but can they escape the wrath of one of the deadliest storms in history?

By day, graveyards are often peaceful places. When night falls, though, things change. The moonlight casts an eerie glow on the headstones. Trees make creepy shapes and shadows. What looks like a human shape drifts among the sea of cold, gray stones. Could it be a restless spirit? Among the 11 ghostly graveyards in this book, children will discover a tree that’s filled with blood, a mysterious lady in white who floats among headstones, a poltergeist that attacks people, a vanishing house, a funeral party formed entirely of phantoms, and many other terrifying hauntings. The creepy photographs and chilling nonfiction text will keep children turning the pages to discover more spooky stories.

This colorful first nature picture book, written by Judy Allen and illustrated by Tudor Humphries, gives children aged 4 to 7 an inside look at how they would experience life if they were a snail. Ideal for reading aloud or as a first reader, the detailed, warm illustrations bring this familiar creature to life in a truly memorable way. Children who love snails will learn all about their life cycles and behavior, and the witty, interactive text—beginning with the question "Are you a snail?"—will encourage readers to explore the similarities and differences between themselves and these fascinating animals. And if you love insects, why not collect all ten titles in the Backyard Books series?

An industry expert shows readers how to get the best return on investment from corporate events Corporate events and business entertaining are a major part of a company''s communication, marketing and public relations strategy. They are used by businesses of all sizes to solicit new business, create a corporate or brand image, and retain and build loyalty with existing suppliers and customers. They can also be used effectively to elicit peak performance from employees and produce camaraderie and teamwork among co-workers. The corporate event bar has been raised dramatically and the competition to craft something original that will help a business create public awareness as well as industry and media buzz is fierce. Staged effectively, business functions can contribute to a company''s success, standing, profitability and business development. But corporate events and business entertaining can also seriously damage a company''s image and put the company and its management in potentially high-risk situations if not handled carefully, professionally, and appropriately. Corporate boards and chief executives are now seeing how company scandals played out in the headlines can estrange customers, sink stock prices, and end careers in a matter of minutes. And many of the transgressions that have been made public have been linked to corporate events and business entertaining. The Executive''s Guide to Corporate Events and Business Entertaining provides executives with all the information they need before they plan, host, sponsor, or attend corporate events. It gives rising and established executives the tools they need to move ahead with confidence in planning their next company function.

A panel of experts present an excellent guide to the art of arranging flowers. Illustrated.

Peter, Michael and Emma are strangers, each despatched by their parents for a week''s holiday with the Myers in their cottage at the foot of a Welsh mountain. Coincidence? Or has the strange neighbour, Mrs White, somehow lured them to enact an awesome quest? They are an uneasy trio, uncomfortable in their forced alliance, and they face their circumstances in very different ways - Mrs Myers anxious ''mothering'', the enigmatic Mrs White, and the swirling sense of fear that seems trapped in the lane running past her house, her stories of Arthur''s Way, the old straight track shrouded in legend that leads straight to the peak of the mountain, and her obsession with diverting the spring at the top. There are peculiar visitors and strange warnings, yet the children feel compelled to set off up Arthur''s Way at the most dangerous time of year. What they discover, about unseen forces on earth, about the price of disturbing nature, about themselves, leads to a gripping climax in a spell-binding tale. First published in 1973 by Jonathan Cape Ltd.

This colorful first nature picture book, written by Judy Allen and illustrated by Tudor Humphries, gives children aged 4 to 7 an inside look at how they would experience life if they were a grasshopper. Ideal for reading aloud or as a first reader, the detailed, warm illustrations bring this familiar creature to life in a truly memorable way. Children who love grasshoppers will learn all about their life cycles and behavior, and the witty, interactive text—beginning with the question "Are you a grasshopper?"—will encourage readers to explore the similarities and differences between themselves and these fascinating animals. And if you love insects, why not collect all ten titles in the Backyard Books series?

Watercolour illus. picture book style story of Anya and her family''s encounter with whales on a moonlit night and their efforts to keep the whales away from an oil slick.

The Encyclopedia of the Unexplained is a comprehensive guide to the mysterious and strange, whether natural or unnatural. Even with today''s hi-tech science, many events and ancient mysteries, such as crop circles, ghosts, the Holy Grail and the Nazca lines, remain unexplained, with many theories stirring the imagination. Some famous enigmas, such as The Bermuda Triangle, have now been explained by science, but still hold an allure of mystery. The Encyclopedia of the Unexplained will also uncover some of our ancient superstitions and symbols, from why black cats are lucky to how Feng Shui is supposed to change our life for the better.

Use the tools and techniques the experts use for stress free planning Every wedding moves through the same series of planning steps, but the time, money, energy and emotion invested can vary tremendously. Couples who use the tools and techniques the experts use are prepared to do what matters, when it matters most. With the logistics in order, they have the freedom to enjoy the events leading up to their special day as well as time to relax and plan their future life together. As they work their way through the planning stages, couples will find that their initial stress over planning their wedding day has disappeared. Couples committed to creating a memorable, meaningful wedding day will come to view the wedding planning process not as an ordeal to get through, but as a fun experience. Judy Allen is a professional event planner and shows brides a step-by-step approach to minimize the complexity of planning the wedding day. When an event is planned in these 10 stages, whether over six weeks or a year or longer, the planner will always be in control of the process, will not go over budget and will find the whole process relaxed and stress free. The 10 stages: 1. Visualization: Wedding-Day Dreams 2. Decision Making: What Matters Most 3. Designing a Realistic Blueprint 4. Choosing the Perfect Wedding and Reception Site 5. Selecting the Right Wedding Vendors 6. Before You Sign on the Dotted Line: Questions to Ask 7. Organizing Wedding-Day Timelines and Wedding-Day Flow 8. Wedding-Day Flow Sheets 9. Wedding Supplier Previews and Wedding-Day Rehearsal 10. On-Site Wedding-Day Orchestration

Integrates cultural awareness in early childhood education. Includes information on Asian, Black, cowboy, Eskimo, Mexican, and Native American cultures.

Choose from over 40 fabulous folk art gifts ranging from pens to picture frames, all under $20. China, plastic, leather, fabric, glass, and a host of unusual materials are used. 96 pages (12 in color), 71 b/w illus., 7 3/8 x 10 1/4.

"The dragon drifts his way through the art and mythology of the ancient and modern worlds like a recurring dream. And dreamlike, his forms and attributes change, from East to West and from age to age. He doesn''t exist, and yet he features in ancient cosmology and western medieval romance; the alchemists used him as a symbol; early travellers insisted that they saw him and drew his images on maps; and psychologists analysed his impact on the human mind. He has been drawn, painted, carved, written about, hunted, slain, prayed to and sacrificed to and offered gifts and abuse in equal measure for centuries. The 140 illustrations range from a Ch''ing dynasty robe to Piero della Francesca''s Saint Michael"--author''s website.

While vacationing in Greece, Jenny discovers a secluded beach where a rare seal hides his family. Includes information about the seal species and environmental threats.

While on an expedition to western China with his father, twelve-year-old Jake sees a panda but when he tries to take its picture the camera breaks and no one believe his story.

Caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly; follow the metamorphosis of this familiar backyard creature as it evolves into a delicate flying insect.

Introduces the life cycle of a spider, describing how it hatches, develops, spins webs, and feeds.