My Books
Running Against the Wind
Running Against the Wind is the biography of Bill Brooks, a black kid who grew up impoverished in the racially hostile town of Little Rock, Arkansas. He made his way into the bigger world and eventually lived a prosperous life. He has also struggled, however, as a black man in a predominantly white culture. His life demonstrates a plain, hard truth: that a black person seeking to pursue happiness in America still requires unusual courage, patience, faith—and luck. Building upon Bill’s life, the narrative expands to include his family and the entire Black community of Little Rock, providing a personalized history of Black life in the state during contemporary times. Bill’s family record informs the state’s history of slavery and Jim Crow. The book shows the pernicious effect of race-related violence by the author’s own ancestors.
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“One of the things that compelled me to keep reading is the way Collins compares their two lives. … He just states the facts. Here are two guys, black and white, both poor, with the same aspirations and the same values. … They went out into the world in much the same way. The response of the world to the two of them was very different.”
—Lottie Shackelford, former Little Rock mayor
Running is compelling, a candid account about a Black man from Arkansas who dealt with the adversity and dangers that millions of Black families experience every day. … This book contains testimony that we should never ignore, and lessons we must never forget.
—Wendell Griffen, author, theologian, retired jurist
Jane Austen and the Creation of Modern Fiction
Jane Austen and the Creation of Modern Fiction: Six Novels in “a Style Entirely New,” investigates her development as a writer and shows how her innovations as a prose stylist set the course for modern fiction. Intended for regular readers as well as academics, this book of literary criticism explains in accessible language how Austen achieved her artistry. It demonstrates, book by book, how she worked through the many steps in the creative process to develop character psychology, build character arcs, and solve pragmatic writing issues to create her masterworks. Each of Austen’s six novels is examined in its use of major fictional techniques—description, scene-building, point of view, and psychological development—to reveal its unique literary attributes.
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“Hemingway’s book is … both masterly and original. Even an old Janeite warhorse like myself, who has been dissecting and delighting in her for half a century, finds my jaded mind excitingly opened to fresh and revelatory new thoughts. Yet his style is approachable, engaging, and would appeal as well to those newly taking up the siren’s call to examine Austen more closely.”
—Diana Birchall, Jane Austen Society of North America News
“Hemingway’s talents as a writer are evident throughout. … [He offers] an accessible and illuminating analysis of Austen’s creative process. His prose is relaxed, witty, and engaging, not too far removed from Jane Austen herself. … [His] approach serves as a masterclass in creative writing.”
—Judith Bonzol, Jane Austen Society of Australia Sensibilities
“I would recommend Hemingway’s book as an excellent and instructive addition to our Austen library shelves.”
—Jill Webster, Jane Austen Society News Letter (UK)
Marry for love, Jane Austen said—did she?
Jane Austen’s prospects soar when she flies in the face of convention by accepting an unusual invitation from a compelling but possibly unsuitable young man. An accurate rendering of her life and tumultuous times, The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen fills in the blanks of Austen’s “lost years” with a riveting love story that engages the protagonist in the most important and dramatic events of the Regency era.
An imaginative journey of the soul. —Foreword CLARION Reviews, 4 stars
Truly a worthy addition to the Jane Austen legacy. —BlueInk Starred Review
An enjoyable first novel in an imaginative, well-researched series. —Kirkus Reviews
New life, duties, and joys in ‘magical tale’
Marriage and wealth bring radical changes to Jane’s life as the sheltered clergyman’s daughter takes on the duties of a wife, the responsibilities of an estate, and a growing recognition of the inequities in society.
Find out why readers have praised it as “a magical tale”—“one of the best love stories I have read in a long time”—“wickedly clever”—“highly imagined, playful”—“so well-researched and respectfully written … it’s easy to imagine she could have found love.”
Courtship becomes marriage. Life becomes real.
Agonizing Trials of Life Determine Austen’s Fate
Explore the final chapter in the seven “lost years” of Austen’s mid-twenties, when she faces the most serious questions of the heart.
“Hemingway again displays his notable ability to recreate time and place. … A lively, compelling read, [a] sobering but moving finale.”—Blueink Reviews
“Makes for wonderful reading, … a Jane that lives and breathes on the page. Audiences will want her to be real.”—Foreword Reviews
“Although sorrow sweeps through much of this story, Hemingway’s thoughtful, well-written book offers an incredibly moving portrayal of a young woman confronting love and loss.”—Kirkus Reviews
Love, Marriage—and Fate’s Final Reckoning
The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen: The Trilogy is the complete Kindle edition of the highly praised historical fiction built on the life of Jane Austen. Encompassing the charming courtship novel (Volume I), the in-depth psychological look at marriage from a woman’s perspective (Volume II), and the heart-wrenching conclusion that tests the heroine’s beliefs and courage, the trilogy resolves the mystery of Austen’s life during the “missing years” of her twenties.
Using Tech to Liberate Employees, Transform Business
The bestselling business book by Microsoft’s Bill Gates with Collins Hemingway as co-author sets forth the strategies by which companies can use technology to empower and motivate employees. The book shows how leaders, by treating technology as a strategic asset, can transform business and create competitive advantages. Many of the predicted innovations have come true, while the strategic lessons remain instructive even as technologies evolve.
The Brain, Stress, and Cognitive Fitness
Psychologist Shlomo Breznitz and technologist Collins Hemingway explain how the brain works and show ways to increase its capabilities. Using cutting-edge research, they champion change over deadening routine, show methods to stimulate the brain, and demonstrate how hope and socialization can defend against cognitive decline. Filled with colorful real-life stories and fascinating psychological experiments, this revelatory work will help adults of any age keep their minds sharp, healthy, and cognitively fit throughout life.
How the Mobile Revolution Is Changing Life
The mobile revolution—the fifth wave of computing—is a tsunami. The convergence of mobile devices and the internet creates a worldwide market of six billion users and $2.5 trillion in annual economic value. It’s still gathering force. The Fifth Wave is the first book to insightfully explain this revolution and its effects on life, commerce, and society. It’s the indispensable sourcebook for navigating this time of great unpredictability and even greater opportunity.
Gold Standard for Retail Business in the Digital Age
Longtime Starbucks executive Arthur Rubinfeld and business strategist Collins Hemingway describe in depth how you can create a retail brand and presence that drives true customer passion. Topics range from the operational to the aspirational, helping retailers create unique experiences that bring in customers in an increasingly virtual world. The book treats leadership, location strategy, organization and systems, operational execution, brand renewal, and more. For experienced retailers and new entrepreneurs alike.
Using Positive Culture to Drive Profits
Ending fear-based culture is not just the right thing in business. Positive culture drives profits. “Filled with practical ways to master ‘the softer side’ of business, this guide will help employers … produce more cooperative, innovative, and dedicated employees. ...Through research and accessible style, readers will understand not just how to improve their companies, but why it’s necessary. Original and intelligent—a ‘complete blueprint’ for building a happy and successful organization.”—Kirkus Reports