Countryman Press

Asking credit card companies, banks, hospitals, schools, and other businesses for better rates and discounts works. Here’s how to do it. In this must-have money manual, personal finance expert Matt Schulz empowers you to ask 45 fiscal questions in seven key areas of life: credit and debt, healthcare, housing, shopping, travel, work, and relationships. The questions feature decision trees, success stories, potential risks, and other practical tools that skillfully guide you through the pros and cons and explain the relevant data. Every request also comes with an easy-to-follow, fill-in-the-blank script. Gain the confidence to request a lower rate on your rent or mortgage, better financing for an auto loan, a higher salary, a refund on a cancelled flight, a lower phone bill, and even a fair split for that group dinner. You are the lifeblood of every company that you pay, and you have more power over your money than you realize. Put more of it in your pocket and keep it there. Sometimes all you have to do is ask. 13 illustrations

Create your own stunning objects, from easy projects to statement pieces, with the magic of epoxy resin. This groundbreaking maker’s manual masterfully guides you through the entire process, from proper planning to finished work. Learn how to prepare surfaces, which epoxy to use, and the right temperatures for your workspace and materials. Determine how much time you need for a project and how to support weight effectively. Understand how to mix and add colors and how to prepare and remove molds. Figure out how to achieve textures and tackle problems such as bubbles, drips, and dust. Explore color schemes, customizations, and ways to add impact and depth, including embedding objects, incorporating other media, and finishing techniques. Packed with tips, this must-have book features step-by-step instructions and photos for 12 projects?from bookmarks and coasters to countertops and dining tables?that anyone can create. The epoxibilities are endless. 150 illustrations

Drink and dine with recipes inspired by the best-selling novelist of all time. Poisons, knives, and bullets riddle the stories of Agatha Christie, but so does food, which she uses to invoke settings, to develop characters, and, of course, to commit murder. This to-die-for cookbook offers recipes written by the author for one accessible, easy-to-follow dish or drink for each of Christie’s 66 mysteries. Recipes include Fish and Chips at the Seven Dials Club, Literary Luncheon Meringues, Oysters Rockefeller on the Orient Express, Sixpence Blackbird Pie, Orange Marmalade from Gossington Hall, and more. Along the way, you’ll learn how to make an exquisite omelet, how to roast a leg of lamb properly, and how to serve perfectly timed steak frites. Framing these dishes are insightful essays and headnotes that detail the history of the recipes, their context in Christie’s life and times, and the roles they play in the source works. Based on extensive research and investigation, all dishes appear traditional to their respective eras, so steak fried for 1923 but marinated and grilled for 1964. Completing the collection, thematic menus assemble recipes for a Halloween murder mystery gathering, a “Christie for Christmas,” a book club buffet, and other occasions, making it a filling tribute to the grand dame of detective fiction. RECIPES FOR MURDER has not been prepared, approved, or licensed by Agatha Christie Limited, RLJ Entertainment, or any individual or entity associated with Agatha Christie or her successors. Over 50 illustrations

We all know how important it is to reduce our environmental footprint, but it can be daunting to know where to begin. Enter Kathryn Kellogg, who can fit all her rubbish from the past two years into a 16-ounce jar. How? She starts by saying "no" to straws and grocery bags and "yes" to a reusable water bottle and compostable dish scrubbers. In 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste, Kellogg shares these tips and more, along with DIY recipes for beauty and home; advice for responsible consumption and making better choices for home goods, fashion and the office; and even secrets for how to go waste free at the airport. "It's not about perfection", she says. "It's about making better choices." This is a practical, friendly blueprint of realistic lifestyle changes for anyone who wants to reduce their waste.