"Edge! A Leadership Story," the latest book from executive coach and author Bea Fields, takes an innovative approach to educating and enlightening today's leaders.

The book combines the storytelling appeal of a novel with the educational approach of nonfiction. Fields is widely recognized as a pioneer in the leadership coaching industry, but found she needed to take a new approach to putting the subject she was most passionate about into words.

"Part of what I do is turn reality on its head," says executive coach Bea Fields. "I need to shake people up and get them to start asking questions -- and ultimately challenge them to set higher standards for themselves, their businesses and their lives. How could I translate that energy and passion into book form?"

To write the book, Fields teamed with award-winning film director and producer Corey Blake, "Chairman of the Dream" of Writers of the Round Table, and Eva Silva Travers, writer and actress.

With the help of another coach and actor, Roger DeWitt, they worked out the dialogue and created three-dimensional characters and a page-turning story that both entertains and educates.

Best-selling author Michael Gerber of the E-Myth series, wrote the foreword for "Edge!"

The entrepreneurial guru says, "In 'Edge!' our coach is someone I wish I knew when I needed one. She's direct, has a sureness about her, asks questions I knew I should answer, and in the end achieves what she set out to do."

The book has been endorsed by Michael Port, author of "Book Yourself Solid," Andy Wibbels, author of "Blogwild!" and NBC Universal Executive, Sophie Mokhtari, author of the new novel "China Girl: A Daughter's Journey."

Fields is the president of Bea Fields Companies Inc., a full service leadership coaching, consulting and training firm in Southern Pines, which serves over 1,000 clients worldwide.

She is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coach Federation and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama and a certificate degree in leadership coaching from Georgetown University.

Fields also wrote "Millennial Leaders: Success Stories from Generation Y's Most Brilliant Leaders" (Writers of the Round Table Press, 2008).

The book is available at The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines.

For more information, visit http://Edge-Book.com.

July Limerick Contest Line

Due to an oversight, this past Sunday's limerick column failed to mention the leading line for our next contest. It is as follows: "I decided to get a tattoo..."

What will your tattoo look like? Where will you position it?

The deadline for entries is July 31, with results appearing on Aug. 31.

E-mail your verses to joelimericks@embarqmail.com. Or mail them to Limericks, The Pilot, PO Box 58, Southern Pines, NC 28388. By submitting limericks, you agree to have them edited and published at any time without compensation.

Limerick columnist Joe Piper, a resident of Seven Lakes, may be reached at joelimericks@embarqmail.com.