Bøker av Heather O'Brien

The lives of three families on two continents are set on a collision course with destiny as they're inextricably woven into the tapestry of music history.In America's Pacific Northwest, a star is born. In Northern England, another.And another.And another. A promising new record label is formed amidst the dust of crushed and twisted lives, by the very man who makes it happen. A man who has risen like a phoenix against all odds to reinvent himself despite a tragic past. Twin brothers, East London's most fearsome villains, move to commandeer some of the most notable bands in history by any means necessary. They expect their due. Or else. From Swinging London to the LA music scene. From the bombed-out rubble of post-WWII England to the gritty streets of New York to California's sunny coast. These are the Hit Makers. And this is where their story begins.

In the aftermath of the explosion, the music industry continues in its soul-crushing vortex of creating superstars and spinning lies into truth. The Grants, royals of rock'n'roll, make a decision that will strain Ben's family and lead a killer to their front door. Meanwhile, Chris wrestles his obsession over the only woman he ever loved. His solo career thrives as his fragile marriage suffers under the weight of jealousy and unspeakable betrayal. Record mogul Jameson Lockhardt has used every weapon in his arsenal to avoid the exposure of his past, including his failed marriage, his son's illness, and a trail of bodies. One man knows the truth about the biggest name-the biggest monster-in entertainment. And Jameson has left him nothing to lose. Frustrations intensify as reporter Miles Macy and his Metro Dade allies continue their off-the-books investigation into the Grant murders. A mysterious riddle from an anonymous source, previously concealed evidence, and a voice from the past converge to fill in missing pieces and bring closure to more than one grieving family. Loyalties shift. Bonds of love are tested. Life and death meet head-on in a cataclysmic finale that will shake the foundations of an entire industry.

Two years have passed since a series of tragedies upended the Grant family, prominent players in the tempest that is the music industry. Estranged brothers Ben and Chris still struggle to accept the loss of the youngest, and dearest, member of their family. The official report is as convenient as it is contrived. Questions linger that police cannot-or will not-answer. Miami news reporter Miles Macy's determination to unearth the truth has landed him a forced transfer to Chicago, but his personal investigation continues. His gut tells him there's more to the story, and it points him in a singular direction: Jameson Lockhardt. Meanwhile, famed record label Lockhardt Sound has seen better days. With little more than creative accounting and a grassroots strategy, Jameson Lockhardt fights to maintain his legacy, his secrets, and his freedom. When a request from a former LSI colleague leads to a true confession, a life-or-death race ensues. Only one man can expose Lockhardt's deadly past. And time is running out.

Explore the complex lives and loves of three musical families connected by secrets one man will kill to protect. Singer Farin O'Conner has it all. A new contract with her dream label. Unprecedented access to Jameson Lockhardt, the world's most successful creator of musical megastars. And due to a chance encounter at a swank LA restaurant, the enviable attention of pop music sensation, Jordan Grant. In one heartbreaking moment, the façade of Farin's perfect world shatters. Shaky personal relationships, tormenting memories of a troubled childhood, and the unrelenting pursuit of Jordan's brother soon leave her emotionally unstable and desperate for relief. But no amount of lust, fame, money, or pills can prevent Farin's past and present from colliding in a miasma of secrets and scandals that will change her life-and theirs-forever. Grab your backstage pass for an insider's glimpse into the heart of fame and fortune. Music is murder...long live rock'n'roll.

User engagement refers to the quality of the user experience that emphasizes the positive aspects of interacting with an online application and, in particular, the desire to use that application longer and repeatedly. User engagement is a key concept in the design of online applications (whether for desktop, tablet or mobile), motivated by the observation that successful applications are not just used, but are engaged with. Users invest time, attention, and emotion in their use of technology, and seek to satisfy pragmatic and hedonic needs. Measurement is critical for evaluating whether online applications are able to successfully engage users, and may inform the design of and use of applications. User engagement is a multifaceted, complex phenomenon; this gives rise to a number of potential measurement approaches. Common ways to evaluate user engagement include using self-report measures, e.g., questionnaires; observational methods, e.g. facial expression analysis, speech analysis; neuro-physiological signal processing methods, e.g., respiratory and cardiovascular accelerations and decelerations, muscle spasms; and web analytics, e.g., number of site visits, click depth. These methods represent various trade-offs in terms of the setting (laboratory versus ``in the wild''), object of measurement (user behaviour, affect or cognition) and scale of data collected. For instance, small-scale user studies are deep and rich, but limited in terms of generalizability, whereas large-scale web analytic studies are powerful but negate users' motivation and context. The focus of this book is how user engagement is currently being measured and various considerations for its measurement. Our goal is to leave readers with an appreciation of the various ways in which to measure user engagement, and their associated strengths and weaknesses. We emphasize the multifaceted nature of user engagement and the unique contextual constraints that come to bear upon attempts to measure engagement in different settings, and across different user groups and web domains. At the same time, this book advocates for the development of ``good'' measures and good measurement practices that will advance the study of user engagement and improve our understanding of this construct, which has become so vital in our wired world.