"Children of a Sunless Land" is the first installment in the "Deaf Swordsman Series"."Children of a Sunless Land" is the first installment in the "Deaf Swordsman Series".Told in serial form, the Deaf Swordsman Series is a collection of stories featuring the fantastical deaf swordsman, Vohro Vahllenu. These set of stories is a sprawling epic of good and evil, bringing together the supernatural and weird, featuring dark fantasy adventures sure to resonate with both the hardcore and casual reader of dark fantasy literature.The stories begin and end in chaos, promising the reader a wild ride through the darkest bowels of the imagination while offering moments of deep reflection. Here are the terror-inducing tales of children clad in beastly armor, of people consumed by their own shadows, and of dark nights spent under the auspices of an angry moon.Embark on perilous journeys into unknown places like an abandoned asylum floating in the open, midnight sky, or an eerie forest characterized by the continuous sounds of echoing whispers. These are some of the places you'll venture into, following a fierce avenger armed with nine of the deadliest blades known to mankind, as he rides from the seen into the unseen, where hope and doom are bound only by the thinnest threads of humanity.Series No. 1: Children of a Sunless Land: 8,000 words (the equivalent to 30 paperback pages).*Includes illustrations.

Old friends, Jane and Kerri, are having an argument about when it is appropriate to talk about the Word and Jesus. Which one is correct?Warning: experimental translation (hybrid)Leo is a police officer dog, a half-caste with the passion for the Looney Tunes. It has always desired to have the hands to be able to manage the remote control of the TV and the refrigerator, but when its master Steve was killed in a trap, it desires become a real fixed, because the hands are the only mean that would allow him to unmask the assassin and to do justice. From that moment in then it will be found involved in a spiral of adventures during which "it will take on loan" the hands of other characters, met along a tortuous walk that will bring more and more it of time in time next to the assassin, up to the "confrontation" final.

Joanna Gawn and Ron Dickerson, authors of The Lazuli Portals series, have brought together some of their shorter works in this small ebook.With stories (and a few poems) ranging from 100 - 1500 words, this collection is ideal for reading when you don’t have much time to spare.Includes: Yin and Yang; The Crystal Cave; The Day Edward Met Helene; The Haunting of Melton Grange; A Cordello Memory.Joanna Gawn and Ron Dickerson, authors of The Lazuli Portals series, have brought together some of their shorter works in this small ebook. If you’ve not read their other books, or their blog or newsletter, then this little anthology offers you the chance to get acquainted!With stories (and a few poems) ranging from 100 to 1500 words, this collection is ideal for reading during a coffee break, or when you don’t have much time to spare.Shorter stories include:Yin and YangThe Crystal CaveThe Day Edward Met HeleneSun, Sea and SphinxA Cordello MemoryThe Angel ThinksThis book also contains four longer stories of around 1000-1500 words:The Restoration of Conover House Delights of the DartSunriseThe Haunting of Melton Grange

The voices have accused him of unrepentant sin. He is ready to take desperate measures to absolve himself of guilt from his past and to stop the relentless torment. Prepare yourself for a descent into madness and pray it's not too late.The first thing Mixer knew with certainty was that he was hungry. The feeling grew more intense each day until it became unbearable and Mixer began to lash out. Quietly, steadily he ate away at his enemy and, in a few weeks, where there had been two, now there was only one.History had been erased. The land had been eroded and the global population had crashed. Into this new world came an evolutionary change, a genetic mutation that could make humans perform in ways they'd never done before. Those who survived learned to fear the abilities of those who carried the gene and banished any who displayed the slightest difference. As time went on, the gene appeared to die out. But it wasn't entirely gone. In a world still largely ignorant and illiterate, nine children struggle to survive, sometimes even against their own.

Cathee is an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who has suffered from severe post-traumatic stress disorder for several years. During a vacation with her four year old daughter to Topeka, Kansas, she meets Garrett, a widowed therapist. He hopes Cathee will let him help her work through her issues, but her past has come back to haunt her.“On the morning of Sunday April 16, two days before his fortieth birthday, Samuel P Bishop went to kill a man….”Nick Blake has it all: success, wealth, fame. His last book, Come The Night, was a bestseller, and he’s currently flavour of the month. A media darling. Sam Bishop, his main rival, is getting desperate. With his career stalled, he’s going nowhere. One night, he breaks into Blake’s house. The author isn’t home, but Bishop finds his latest manuscript – a collection of stories titled Something Weird. As he begins to read, it isn’t long before the book starts living up to its title….

Electrum was looking forward to a quiet retirement. Then the prince fell in love with a common merchant girl from another realm. The captain of the guard wanted to stop all commerce, and the Silver Gate to the Tween World was showing signs of wear. Electrum found himself in the middle of the conflicts, and might face being exiled. This wasn’t the way he had pictured his last year of employment.In a magical land, three young women, Gwynn, Mirela and Rosina have escaped their village after it was ransacked by ogres and are on a quest to bring three magical items to the wizard in the east. Hunted by ogres and witches they must use all their strength and courage to make their journey.

Nine months after the same sex marriage of retirees FBI senior investigator Charlotte Diamond and movie box-office actress Brenda Brandon/Boynton (See the eighth in the Charlotte Diamond Mystery Series, Horrid Honeymoon) the two are putting on a Christmas program at the Curtain Call retirement home for movie folks. The Christmas concert is intended to bring together the townspeople of the riversidA special Christmas Mystery gift from Olivia Stowe.Nine months after the same sex marriage of retirees FBI senior investigator Charlotte Diamond and movie box-office actress Brenda Brandon/Boynton (See the eighth in the Charlotte Diamond Mystery Series, Horrid Honeymoon) the two are putting on a Christmas program at the Curtain Call retirement home for movie folks. The Christmas concert is intended to bring together the townspeople of the riverside village of Hopewell, Maryland, and the residents of the new retirement home, which has become a major part of the town. Efforts at melding the two communities aren’t looking like they will be successful, though.The plot thickens when the Christmas program’s lead actress, Cassandra Carlisle, who fancies herself as competition for Brenda Brandon for the queen of the movies spotlight, mysteriously disappears at night in a snow storm and another resident of the home declares that she has been murdered by her visiting son.Charlotte and Brenda’s canines, Sam the husky and Rocket the boxer, take charge to try to save the day.

"Lame High School Poetry" is a collection of 65 poems written by an earnest young man falling in and out of love for the first time."Lame High School Poetry" is a collection of 65 poems written by an earnest young man falling in and out of love for the first time. Follow the journey of words as he uses his writing to keep from exploding with emotion. The poetry will lead you from his sophomore year in high school, through ups and downs, into college and then years spent in New York City.A true documentation of what we have all felt.

When a teenage girl gets the chance to play her Ogress Bloodskull character for the Dreadknights in Guild Wars, she also finds that she has a shot at a real future playing the game she loves on a terraformed alien world. Through danger, betrayal and impossible odds, Christine must prove she has what it takes both in and out of the game. Shake the pillars of hades! The Dreadknights are coming!Experience the glory and drama of Impworld's Guild Wars! The future can be a dark place, but when a teenage girl gets the chance to play her Ogress Bloodskull character for the Dreadknights in Guild Wars, she also finds that she has a shot at a real future playing the game she loves on a terraformed alien world. Of course, nothing is a sure bet in Guild Wars. To win the prize, Bloodskull and her teammates will have to beat out rival guilds like the Golden Gears, Neverdeath and her old cronies in Doomsmack. Through betrayal, friendly fire, sabotage and impossible odds, Christine must prove she has what it takes both in and out of the game. But will she seize the prize or wind up toiling away in her aunt's earthbound dream of farm life? Shake the pillars of Hades! The Dreadknights are coming!

Seven short spy stories like you've never seen before: from a man lost in a vortex of illusion, to a boogying alien infiltrating the inaugural ball of a U.S. president...to intense corporate espionage, to the story of a man recruited by a shadow agency that thinks itself above the law - these science fiction tales of intrigue will keep you turning the pages.Seven short spy stories like you've never seen before: from a man lost in a vortex of illusion, to a boogying alien infiltrating the inaugural ball of a U.S. president...to intense corporate espionage, to the story of a man recruited by a shadow agency that thinks itself above the law - these science fiction tales of intrigue will keep you turning the pages. Includes the Writers of the Future Honorable Mention story Superthread, plus Switch, Aliens Don't Dance, Project: Dreamer, Initiate, Edge of Human, and Royal Flush. BONUS: Includes a sample of the popular thriller novel, AssassinWare.

A spiritual adventure affirming that love, faith, hope & charity survived 9/11.Al Masterson, a risk manager working in the World Trade Center, had nothing left to lose on 9/11 with his imminent death. Tower One of the World Trade Center was collapsing on him when he was whisked away on a mysterious journey back through his extraordinary life as it had unfolded, and with some surprises.A TIME TO... is a story about Al Masterson, a baby boomer and a risk manager who worked in the World Trade Center on 9/11. As Tower One collapsed on him and his companions, he was taken away on a mysterious guided tour of his life.He revisited his childhood in the '50s when he had a hard time adapting to his New York City home. A teacher had rescued him from a disastrous year so he gave her a special gift; he couldn't imagine how that gift would later impact his life.In the turbulent '60s, he struggled to become a man, but, his attempt to join a street gang led to a terrible loss that would haunt him for years.His life drifted into the '70s until he left New York for Ethiopia where he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer. While there, he experienced a world full of fascinating people and situations. In the process, his life had purpose once again.Jobs as a broadcast journalist and a public relations executive in the 80's gave him a front row seat to social events that defined the times. But, he learned that high-profile glamorous jobs can be more trouble than they are worth.At the end of his journey, thanks to everything he had experienced on it, he learned that love, faith, hope and charity all survived 9/11 and that his life would never be the same again.

An ancient necromancer seeks but one dream, the power of perfection, the power of immortality. What he finds leaves him speechless. Is he but chasing the wind?This is a short story about Devin, a middle school student who is new in school. Walking into the cafeteria on his first day, he realizes some friends are harder to make than others. If he wants to be friends with a certain girl, he will have to face down all the obstacles she puts in his way. He will have to prove he has brains, bravery, and heart to meet her standards.

In this fourth in a collection of fourteen short stories by Abbie Joules, her brother Bendigo is befriended by a young calico cat on their east Texas farm. Together they explore an unlikely friendship with a farm pond catfish, a relationship of discovery that enriches and changes Ben's life.The fourth in a series of fourteen short stories by Abbie Joules, chronicling the young lives of her and her brother, Ben Joules, as they grow up on a dairy farm in east Texas during the 1940's and 1950's. In this story, a barnyard calico cat befriends Ben, and together they embark on a journey of discovery about unlikely friendships and deep, unrealized emotions. The cat, which becomes known as Fish-Cat, chooses a farm pond catfish as a companion, and the relationship changes the way Ben views the world.

The 2nd in a series of 14 short stories by Abbie Joules as she recounts the exploits of her and her brother, Bendigo, growing up on a farm in east Texas. This story reveals the unraveling of a practical prank played on Abbie by Ben, involving their prize sow, Matilda,. Learn what happens when sourdough starter is used in an attempt to bring new pigs into the world.The 2nd in a series of 14 short stories by Abbie Joules as she recounts the exploits of her brother, Bendigo, and herself, growing up on a farm in east Texas in the late 40's and early 50's. Hard financial times prompt Ben to encourage Abbie to augment the families meager income by helping their prize sow, Matilda, to produce a litter of piglets, with the use of sourdough starter. It's really just a prank, but Abbie takes it to heart and the results are not what either of them expect. Learn what happens when two kids, looking for a laugh or a solution to a real problem, try to change Mother Nature's timetable.

An eclectic collection of short stories, poems, fan fiction and novel excerpts by Anna Jones Buttimore• A man can predict his wife's future from the football results • Zombies visit their employer to discuss their working conditions • An atheist is on the run in a world where everyone is religious • Prince Charming’s footman really doesn’t want him to marry • Dr. Carlisle Cullen asks a nurse to care for Esme Evenson This varied collection of short stories, poems, excerpts and fan fiction by Anna Jones Buttimore is ideal for dipping into whenever you have a spare five minutes.

The 1st in a collection of 14 short stories by Abbie Joules about her brother, Bendigo, as they grew up on an east Texas Farm. Ben's life ended tragically in Abbie's company at the age of eighteen, and she is determined that his memory not vanish forever. She as sculpted an image of a bygone era in which her brother stars in riveting tales, filled with humor, adventure and love.Bendigo Joules, raised on a small farm in east Texas in the 40's and 50's, scratched out a life filled with the joys, surprises, trials and love that only an adventurous and giving spirit could produce. His life ended tragically in his sister's company at the age of eighteen, and Abbie Joules is determined that his memory not vanish forever. Fortunately 'words work' is her specialty, and she has sculpted an image of a bygone era in which her brother stars in riveting tales filled with humor, adventure, and the full warmth and foibles that humanity has to offer. You will not soon forget the life of Bendigo or his loving sister, Abbie, nor the many characters she paints with both sensitivity and vivid colors: Price and Pleasure Walker, Booptriska Kazmierski, Ziggy Pugh, Cat-Fish and Fish-Cat, and many others. It is a book for readers of any age who want their day to feel warm, bright and friendly."I figured I was a goner," Corrinth said. "That car was going over the edge of the dump, right down into that filth and--BLEWY! I was going to cook, right along with the rats. Can you imagine? On my first date with Ben?" (from The Rat Stomp)Dirk Palowski snatched up Ziggy and chucked him under his arm like a wiener pig, then ran around the track like a tramp hauling a stolen ham, with all the boys in hot pursuit. For the first time in his life, Ziggy was in demand. (from Five Seconds For A Winner)

Hannah and her mother Marla moved to a new place : a new house, in Melbourne. Neither of the two had slightest idea how soon the things would start changing!Hannah and her mother Marla moved to a new place : a new house, in Melbourne. Neither of the two had slightest idea how soon the things would start changing! Marla not only found a new place to work at but also a new place to live in! Twists and turns in place on such a short notice that things totally slipped out of their hands!.........Thank you for downloading this free ebook. You are welcome to share it with your friends butplease do not post or archive without asking me first. If you like the story, please tell yourfriends, add the title to reading lists etc but direct people back to my official distribution sites.Please keep this book in its complete original form, with the exception of quotes used inreviews. No alteration of the content is allowed.Your support and respect for the property of this author is appreciated.This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, eventsor locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination andused fictitiously.

This is a fictive book about a boy how want’s to be a girl and want’s to be a Wiccan. | Dear diary it's a long time since I have written in you last and I'm sorry for that but I have made so much until now, my life has just been a way down to the underworld for my brain. I actually haven’t had it so bad since my dad died, I'm 18 now.While serving hors d'oeuvres to the beautiful people at a glittery Hollywood party, an aspiring young screenwriter named Vish meets Sparky, a charismatic stranger who claims he can do amazing things for Vish’s career. Vish’s attempts to find out more about Sparky set in motion a string of bizarre events, leading to a cushy writing gig on a hit TV series and a too-good-to-be-true romance with Troy, a sweet-natured starlet with a dangerous alter ego. After Troy dumps him without explanation, a heartbroken Vish tries to discover what went wrong in their relationship. His quest for answers leads him deep into Los Angeles’ seedy, supernatural underbelly, where struggling artists are a disposable commodity and fame often comes at a mortal cost. Vish finds himself at the center of a high-stakes battle between ancient forces for dominance in the entertainment industry. With a foul creature living in the earth beneath his apartment complex, a vicious coterie of murderous surf bums dogging his every move, and a disturbing lack of trustworthy allies, Vish’s best chance for survival lies with the mysterious and powerful Sparky. Vish must track down Sparky before he becomes the latest victim of Hollywood’s deadly allure.

Join Abbie and Bendigo Joules as they explore beyond their own east Texas farm, uncovering a hidden wonder in the neighbors living next door. Price and Pleasure Walker fascinate and beguile the youngsters with sculpture, hospitality and family history, enriching their lives and opening their eyes to a world they've never known.The fifth in a series of fourteen short stories by Abbie Joules, as she chronicles the lives of herself and her deceased brother, Bendigo, growing up on their family farm in east Texas during the 1940's and 1950's. Abbie and Ben set off on a short canoe trip down their local creek, seeing adventure. What they find is a new appreciation for their neighbors, Price and Pleasure Walker, an old black couple who open their eyes to a hidden world on their doorstep. Price's gift of sculptural art fascinates them, and the old couple's personal history introduces them to a world they've never known. Abbie and Ben can never look on their neighbors the same old way again.

A mission to Bermuda goes terribly wrong and Sgt. McGraw finds himself with only one person left in his team: the stuffy anthropologist unsuited for fieldwork.Can they complete their mission before the greenskins get to them? Based upon the tongue-in-cheek 1950's themed boardgame (Mars vs Earth), this *short story* follows "Duke" McGraw & Dr. Bonnie Hill at the tail-end of their doomed mission.A mission to Bermuda goes terribly wrong and Sgt. McGraw finds himself with only one person left in his team: the stuffy anthropologist unsuited for field work.Can they complete their mission before the greenskins get to them? Based upon the tongue-in-cheek 1950's themed board game (Mars vs Earth), this *short story* follows "Duke" McGraw & Dr. Bonnie Hill at the tail-end of their doomed Bermuda mission to disrupt Martian communications.

The 3d in a series of 14 short stories by Abbie Joules as she recounts the exploits of her and her brother, Bendigo, growing up on a farm in east Texas in the early 50's. The story sees Abbie seeking status in her father's eyes, and a pet in the form of a baby raccoon. A cow goes missing, leading to a wild cry in a tree, and Abbie finds herself in deep trouble. See what it takes to get her out!The 3d in a series of 14 short stories by Abbie Joules as she recounts the exploits of her and her brother, Bendigo, growing up on a farm in east Texas in the late 40's. A cow called Two-Banger goes missing, again, and this time it is young Abbie who is sent to retrieve her. Along the way Abbie discovers a nest of baby raccoons in a hollow tree, and unable to resist, she climbs into the tree only to find herself ensnared as the night comes on. Finally discovered by her brother, he and his father go to great and heroic lengths to free her. What would you have done?

Great short stories told in 1,000 words or less to fill those times between sleeping and working.Great short stories told in 1,000 words or less to fill those times between sleeping and working. In here you’ll learn that burying a body in the woods is difficult when you’re being haunted by a doll. You’ll discover a new underworld of humans upgrading their bodies with inexpensive electronics. And you’ll go on an adventure with Oake and discover that there is more to his meager existence than meets the eye and the path to truth is through a fruit. These and many more science fiction and fantasy stories await inside…Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Categories>> Science fiction> Short stories> Short stories collections> Short reads> Fantasy books> Fantasy romance> Urban fantasy> Fantasy kingdom> Suspense thrillers and mysteries> Dystopian fiction

Former cowboy Lester falls for more than his horse in New in the Neighbourhood - Volume 1, part of the Neighbours Series 1, a contemporary Christian romance.Lester Tibbett has to leave his farm in Southern Alberta for the big city. It means starting over in an unfamiliar environment - a heavy burden for the guardian of a teenage sister full of angst. The apartment complex to which they relocate is a far cry from their spacious farmhouse and offers little anonymity for a man used to doing things his own way. During the process, he pushes his own loneliness aside in favour of looking after his sister. As Lester struggles to find a church that will meet both their spiritual needs, he quickly learns that neighbours come in many forms, some of them quite meddlesome. Still, he is happy to accept help from an overtly friendly neighbour named Jed who also happens to work for the same construction company. The two soon become friends, despite Jed’s habit of trying to set Lester up with every available single female, and end up frequenting a local pub where Lester is surprised to discover an ‘old school’ mechanical bull just waiting to be ridden. The former rodeo cowboy in him rises up, but not before he meets a mysterious woman who is out of his reach.

When 23-year-old Micah McGrath suddenly finds himself thrust into a dangerous and ugly future after a lab accident, his only choice is to make the best life for himself that he can. But when the secret police get wind of his research into time travel, Mike soon becomes a virtual prisoner, forced to continue his work on behalf of ruthless captors who wouldn't hesitate to eliminate him if necessary.15 year-old Axel lives happily with his mother until he is kidnapped and taken to places unknown and he must find his way back home.

Caught in a sticky situation, an oft-misused starship underling concocts a way to make everyone pay - but him.A ravaged corpse is discovered in the mountains while a local medical specialist goes missing without a trace. A young woman and her children suddenly disappear and the only witness is a teenage boy who doesn’t realize yet what he’s seen. Ben Drake hopes to strengthen his relationship with his teenage son Jason during a road trip that takes them from their home in California to the Mountains of Colorado. Their plans are interrupted when they are unexpectedly drawn into a police investigation involving Maeve Tidewell and her two young daughters. Ben and Jason are compelled to keep searching for the missing family near a cabin they have discovered deep in the woods, and an almost psychic connection draws Ben toward a dangerous, and possibly deadly, confrontation.Meanwhile Maeve finds herself held captive, along with her daughters and the missing doctor, by a disturbed man from her past. They work together to devise a plan to overpower the gruesome killer before he decides the time is right for them to die. Somehow, fate brings them all together in a brave and desperate attempt to escape a bizarre kidnapper.

In this sixth of fourteen short stories that Abbie Joules has written about her deceased Brother, Ben, the small farming community of Peach Creek comes together in a contest of marksmanship to help raise money for a meeting hall--and a pool table. The contest, conceived by Ben (who is a crack shot), doesn't end the way he envisions it.In this sixth of fourteen short stories that Abbie Joules has written about her deceased brother, Ben, the small farming community of Peach Creek comes together in a contest of marksmanship to help raise money for a meeting hall--and a pool table. The contest, conceived by Ben (who is a crack shot) raises the funds needed for the hall, but the event doesn't end the way he envisions it. Ben thinks he's holding all the cards, but he doesn't reckon on Mr. Moore who has donated the land for the hall.

In a matter of 24 hours, Sarah Masters lost everything that was important to her - her job, her friends, her house. Now a madman is hunting her down to kill her, and the only ones stopping him are the FBI Agents who have pledged to protect her. But while keeping her safe, these FBI Agents touch Sarah's life in a way she never expected as they cause her to question her relationship with God.In a matter of 24 hours, Sarah Masters lost everything that was important to her - her job, her friends, her house. Now a madman is hunting her down to kill her, and the only ones stopping him are the FBI Agents who have pledged to protect her. But in the process of protecting her, these FBI Agents touch Sarah's life in a way she never expected as they cause her to question her relationship with God and His plan for her future.Sam Morgan is the FBI Agent tasked with the job of keeping Sarah safe. He and his team fight to keep Sarah alive - and in the process, all of their lives are changed in ways they never expected.

Ephron has vital skills to ensure security and growth of their tribe. Zohar plans to use Ephron and his sister as peace children in arranged marriages. Marauding enemies and rising waters threaten the homelands of fellow Hittites but no one wants to sacrifice autonomy just for safety, food, clothing, and shelter. Tensions rise.They need strength, unity, and prosperity.Ephron's father Zohar chooses him to lead their family. He not only has vital skills to ensure the security and growth of their tribe but he is still unmarried. Zohar plans to unite the Hittite tribes using Ephron and his sister as peace children in arranged marriages. Marauding enemies and rising waters threaten the homelands of fellow Hittites but no one wants to sacrifice autonomy just for safety, food, clothing, and shelter. Family patriarch Heth's arrival might settle the unrest, but when he does not appear, his representatives find rising tensions and a need for desperate action to show strength, unity, and prosperity. Ephron can't force Shelometh, his intended bride, to marry him. Will she make his tireless work pay off, or destroy his future and her own?

Abbie and Bendigo Joules, teenagers on a farm in east Texas, share three days canoeing down a creek in the Big Thicket. For Ben, it involves a high school project on memory. For Abbie, it's a chance to spend time with her older brother, doing what she loves the most--canoeing. For both of them, it's a lesson on wilderness living and their connection with the animals that live there.The seventh in a series of fourteen books by Abbie Joules about her brother, Bendigo, as they grew up on their hard-scrabble farm in east Texas. In this episode, Ben uses the excuse of a high school psychology project on memory to justify a three day canoe paddle down Big Sandy Creek in the Big Thicket wilderness. Abbie, who loves to canoe and adores her older brother, needs no excuse. Together they test themselves as they attempt to remember everything they see, and as the days go by the wilderness tests their ability to live off the land. In the end, they learn more about themselves than they ever thought they would, and gain a new appreciation for the creatures they share the world with.

A week in the life of Cameron, an ordinary man with a dark secret.Jack Stone always dreamed about fitting in with the crowd, and being the most popular guy in school that girls would drool over when he walked down the halls. Jack was really smart when it came to his studies, but was frowned upon by other classmates because he only had to put little effort in making an A in class. Jack was also the guy to go to when it came to computers. He was definitely what you would call a nerd, but Jack didn't care what other classmates thought about him, he just wanted to be popular.Jack's life was about to change when he seen how everyone in the school hovered around Mark Edwards the school's most popular guy that would snap his fingers and the girls would come running. Everyday Jack would come up to Mark and ask if he could hang out with him so he could be popular with the girls, but Mark just ignored him or told him to buzz off.Then Mark finally had all he could take with Jack pestering him on a daily basis. Mark said, "Come here!" and Jack came up to him with excitement on his face thinking Mark would entertain the thought of them becoming best friends, but that wasn't going to happen.Jack could barely get any words out of his mouth when Mark grabbed him with both hands on the collar of his shirt, and spit in his face, and threw him to the floor, and said "If you bother me one more time, you'll wish you were never born. Got it! Now get lost and leave me alone you stupid little twerp."Jack got off the floor and said "You'll pay for this!"

What if you could erase a single, traumatic memory by simply popping a specially-formulated pill and sleeping it off? What if that memory turned out to be the crucial piece of evidence that could exonerate a wrongly-convicted man? Janet Stevens must now stay awake through one thrill-ride of a night in a desperate chase to find the real killer before her memory of the event is gone forever...Inspector Gilles Maintenon has finally run up against an original mind—someone who’s very good at wasting his time. A young bank employee is found dead in a vault that shows every sign of having been robbed. The premier Paris branch of Crédit Lyonnais holds ten or twenty million francs on a busy day. Then there’s the safety-deposit boxes. A proper investigation takes time. The police are nothing if not predictable in their procedures. But that other mind has already gone down that road. They’ve had plenty of time to think it through. Their killer, using simple human psychology, has come up with a brilliant plan. Gilles would dearly love to meet the mind that conceived of that plan. He intends to do just that. Mystery fans are sure to enjoy How to Rob a Bank, the sixth volume in Louis Shalako’s Inspector Gilles Maintenon Mystery Series.

Get ready to get spooked with this creepy collection of half a dozen tales that will send a chill up your spine! From deathly visitations to a slimy predator, from billions of phantasms to a solitary disembodiment, from the blind who can see the dead to a zombie invasion - DARK has it all. Includes Turn the Page, Checkmate, The Darkness, Pod N, A Sense of Souls, and Surge.Get ready to get spooked with this creepy collection of half a dozen tales that will send a chill up your spine! From deathly visitations to a slimy predator, from billions of phantasms to a solitary disembodiment, from the blind who can see the dead to a zombie invasion - DARK has it all. Includes Turn the Page, Checkmate, The Darkness, Pod N, A Sense of Souls, and Surge.Bonus: also read Unsettling Things (flash fiction), and a special Sneak Peek of the techno thriller, ASSASSINWARE available now for all e-readers.

Abbie Joules is familiar with her older brother's earthy high jinks, but she is shocked to learn that he would share one of his strange ideas for a good time with his high society date. A night at the town dump on a double date, in his best friend's mother's pink Imperial, does not end well as the boys entertain their dates with The Rat Stomp.The eighth in a series of fourteen books by Abbie Joules about her brother, Bendigo, as they grew up on their hard-scrabble farm in east Texas. In this episode, Ben's girlfriend, Corrinth, recounts to Abbie her experience on a double date with Ben, his best friend Billy and his date. Abbie listens wide-eyed with growing apprehension and humor as Corrinth paints a vivid tale of unlikely adventure, suspense and near disaster at the town dump involving a new pink Imperial, mounds of smokey garbage, hordes of rats, and a 'dance' Abbie is familiar with called, The Rat Stomp.

Cody's friend, Gen, thinks she spotted Bigfoot in the woods. George Roge, an Internet blogger, is tracking the creature down. His blogs have attracted the press and curiosity seekers. George is getting close to their town. Too close. Cody wants life to return to normal, but Gen insists on going back into the woods to rescue Bigfoot.Cody’s friend, Gen, thinks she spotted Bigfoot living in the woods. The whole school hears about it, and they aren’t going to let them live it down. When Cody and Gen get caught passing notes in class, everyone gets stuck with an extra assignment. Cody’s dad tries to help him by sharing his password to an experimental program, EGOR. The program works great for the assignment. But then a blogger, named George Roge, appears on the Internet. George believes in Bigfoot. In fact, he's tracking the creature down, and the search is getting close to where Cody lives. Too close. Everyone is talking about George, even the teachers. Reporters and groups of Bigfoot hunters are swarming the town. Cody wants to avoid any more attention, but Gen insists on going back into the woods to rescue Bigfoot.

A collection of six stories that bend the rules of time - from straight-ahead time travel, to moving through the ages via more mystical means...Includes the Writers of the Future Honorable Mention-earning novellas Seer and Superthread; plus the short stories Predict THIS, Tag-Alongs, Broker, and Liberation. BONUS: a sneak peek at the YA Fantasy novel, "The Conge Posterne," coming in 2013!Elendor, currently ruled by a newly appointed queen named Nadia, is under attack by their mortal enemies. Dravion, leader of dreaded Sha, will stop at nothing to take control of Nadia's entire kingdom but before he has the chance to kill her an unforeseen circumstance occurs.

Sundara Kãnda the Canto Beautiful of the epic' Valmiki Ramayana' is sought for spiritual solace; many believe that reading Sundara Kãnda or hearing it recited would remove all hurdles and usher in good tidings! Miracles apart, it's in the nature of Sundara Kãnda to inculcate fortitude and generate hope in man for it’s a depiction of how Hanuman goes about his errand against all odds.With rhythm of its verse and the flow of the narrative this over 3,000 sloka to sloka transcreation of the foremost poetical composition in the world, Hanuman's Odyssey that paves the way for Rama to rescue his kidnapped wife is bound to charm the readers and listeners alike. Interestingly, as the following verses illustrates, it was the forerunner of the magic realism of our times – “Gripped she then him by shadow / Cast which Hanuman coast to coast; Recalled he in dismay then / What Sugreev said at outset / That one fiend had aptitude / To grip its prey by mere shadow.”

Kyle White is the widowered father of teenage twins. He's also wanted by the government. His crime? Living off the grid in a totally plugged-in world.He's also working on a way to bring down the entire online infrastructure responsible for his wife's death.As the time nears for the implementation of his revolutionary plan, the question is - who can he trust?Imagine a not-too-distant future where you can be online 24/7 - plugged into the internet - able to stream video directly to your eyes, and audio straight to your ears. Instant communication with anybody, anywhere. GPS, banking, entertainment, work - all available through a simple cranial installation called The File.Imagine the freedom!Imagine the enslavement.For Kyle White, widowered father of teenage twins, the risks - and the restrictions - are just too much. But in a world where living off the grid is a crime, a life unplugged can get cut short by forces intent on eliminating any aberrations in the data set - such as free individuals.

Three stories tied to a single place of pain. The trailer that symbolizes one man's dashed hopes; the trailer that embodies the torture of one man's abuse; and the trailer that transports a man through time, giving him a most unusual chance to change his destiny. Beware the prowler. It will change your life.The Music Box is a story about a boy's adventure in a music store. The various sounds of different instruments captured his imagination. Tim's love for music grew stronger after hearing the various sounds in the music store. He was able to play a variety of instruments in the store. The Music Box turned out to be his favorite place to be.

This abridged edition of a classic story contains Charles Sheldon's original writing, with some passages sensitively abridged to allow his powerful story to come through for modern readers. Nothing in the story line has been changed. A homeless man staggers into a wealthy church and upsets the congregation. Rev. Henry Maxwell issues a startling challenge to his congregation: "What would Jesus do?"This new edition of a classic story contains Charles Sheldon's original writing, with some passages sensitively abridged to allow his powerful story to come through for modern readers. Nothing in the storyline has been changed.A homeless man staggers into a wealthy church and upsets the congregation. A week later he is dead. This causes the Rev. Henry Maxwell to issue a startling challenge to his congregation and to himself -- whatever you do in life over the next twelve months, ask yourself this question before making any decision: "What would Jesus do?"The local newspaper editor, a novelist, a wealthy young woman who has inherited a million dollars, her friend who has been offered a professional singing career, the superintendent of the railroad workshops, a leading city merchant and others take up the challenge. But how will it all work out when things don't go as expected?A bishop gives up his comfortable lifestyle -- and finds his life threatened in the city slums. The story is timeless. A great read, and a challenge to every Christian today.Abridged by Chris Wright. Chris is the author of over thirty books, starting with young fiction for an English Christian publisher in 1966. He has written both fiction and non-fiction, mostly with a Christian theme, for a variety of publishers. Chris is married with three grownup children, and lives in the West Country of England where he is a home group leader with his local church. His website is: www.rocky-island.com.

Dark Fantasy story of a post-apocalyptic encounter with ancient creatures of legend. From the collection Meat for the Storytelling: Stories of the goblin world.Dark Fantasy story of a post-apocalyptic encounter with ancient creatures of legend. From the collection Meat for the Storytelling: Stories of the goblin world.A man wanders into the old underground transportation system tunnels and is captured by hostile creatures and taken into the darkest reaches of an underground cavern system. Slowly his vision adjusts to the minimal light from crystal reflections in the stone and he begins to see his captors, but would he have been better off to remain blinded by the darkness?

Ammon Waters is on the verge of a stunning breakthrough - the ability to travel through time. He's also on the verge of a breakdown - unable to distinguish reality from a pharmacological illusion. DECEIVE THE PARADOX explores one man's descent into the abyss of insanity as he uses the desperation caused by tragic loss to advance his science.Jacqui explored the Earth on her venerable Royal Enfield 500cc motorbike in the early 21st century. One hundred and twenty years later her cryonically preserved body is thawed and she is flown to explore Mars as part of mankind's effort to find new worlds to colonize. Earth is doomed through over-population,decimation of its resources and choking pollution. She knows that she is being used as a symbol of the struggle to survive,and though anxious to do her best she is plagued with doubts that the human-race will inevitably ruin another planet. Riding her trusty steed Enfield,now powered by an electric motor,she surveys the landscape,coming across a promising plain. Pausing to take photographs,Jacqui falls into a reverie as she encounters an ancient Martian.

Joshua Gray may be the only person who can save the human race from utter destruction at the hands of an intractable alien enemy. He forms a friendship with a leader of the q-Chek - a bond forged through suffering and painful choices. Together, the two blur the lines of loyalty and sacrifice in their desperate quest for peace.Joshua Gray, an explorer forced to become a soldier, may be the only person who can save the human race from utter destruction at the hands of an intractable alien enemy that claims a right of return to Earth. Gray forms a friendship with a leader of the long-dispersed q-Chek - a bond forged through suffering and painful choices. Together, the two blur the lines of loyalty and sacrifice in their desperate quest for peace . . . peace at a price.

A soldier aboard a generational cruiser orbiting Mars is the only one who can save a small colony on the surface. That's because he's the only one left alive on the ship as it hurtles toward the Martian terrain. Trouble is, the door he needs to get through requires two arms to open - and he only has one...This story earned Honorable Mention in the Writers of the Future contest in 2012.When a man has nothing, he has nothing left to lose. It is a simple concept, but many people miss it. When he has lost everything, he is afraid of nothing. There is no risk he won’t take. There is no extent to which he won’t go to take back some tiny remnant of all that is lost. You cannot buy, bully, reason, or negotiate with him. His purpose and vision crystallize, his determination solidifies, and the world must make way. He is now free to do anything.

What happens if you die in your dreams? You wake up...hopefully. But how many times can you keep doing that before it destroys you? For Earth Armed Forces Specialist Adams, waking up from the battle is a crucial part of the job - it means he'll live to fight another day. But when it's up to him to turn this war around - will he have what it takes to be the ultimate Dream Soldier?What happens if you die in your dreams? You wake up...hopefully. But how many times can you keep doing that before it destroys you? For Earth Armed Forces Specialist Adams, waking up from the battle is a crucial part of the job - it means he'll live to fight another day. But when it's up to him to turn this war around - will he have what it takes to be the ultimate Dream Soldier? Find out in this short military sci-fi tale.

Tasked with protecting Earth and the Solar System, members of The Program live a strict code during their ten year tour of duty, including no relationships - especially not with other agents. But as Ben Vincent falls into an intricate web of twisted reality, he must struggle to sort out truth from illusion, and determine if the love of his life is legitimate - or an elaborate trap.In this new series we're paying tribute to the classic theater experience. We're pairing up two great, similarly themed tales and giving them to you in one easy-to-enjoy bundle. Just like at the box office these adventures are meant to be enjoyed in a single sitting.Tonight's "Action" double feature starts off with one man's attempt to return to his hometown and troubled past and it's called, "Welcome Home Asshole."Our second story finds us smack dab in the middle of the world of mixed martial arts, organized crime, and one man's attempt to do what is right for the only person left on the planet that he loves.

Two untested military programmers are the last hope for the biggest offensive in a war fought by remote drones. Trouble is, these brave geeks are vastly outnumbered - and if their lead drone is captured, it'll fry their brains. But their greatest handicap may turn out to be a profound strength.Elra is trapped in her life. Caught between a dysfunctional family situation and the grim reality of inner-city living in recession-hit Britain, she spends her days longing for escape. But plans made with her friend Cali lead nowhere, and the prospect of going to University is just a distant dream.Soon her dreary world is torn apart in an explosive, surreal flash of violence, and she finds herself on the run with Kai Leto, a guy with electric hands and a taste for the dramatic. He introduces her to the secrets of the Marked, a clandestine worldwide community dedicated to the preservation of Knowledge, humanity's oldest, most powerful, most dangerous tradition. Through it, she discovers abilities beyond anything she could have imagined.But for Elra, this revelation is nothing compared to what awaits. Something powerful, alien and world-changing – bigger even than the wonders of Knowledge – is relentlessly hunting her. Soon she, Kai and Cali are involved in events beyond their comprehension. Universes alongside our own, a desert and a city beyond infinity, and the Red People that inhabit it...What happens when worlds collide? Take the Unmarked Journey to find out.

Reporter Holly Gooding's first major news story for Channel 8 News takes a turn for the weird when the guy she's sent to interview - the only person to survive a plane crash off the coast of Florida - happens to be a pirate.iHearts - They are really a super active lil clan – some would say hyper – with a heavy stress on “active” – a different kind of support group dedicated to “giving back” and working together for “healthy community”.Very into the historical perspective – they love history; they are that nerdy! – and when they are really into their “zone” – their best thing, actually – they refer themselves as the “Lion Hearts”, reinvented for the virtual, icloud age. Lighting and Leading the way to a better world – they are sorely needed!!!There are many gangs, clicks and other very active groupings all around us today, all too busy doing harm, causing hurt, leading with the negative or ugly, or just de-valuing and obstructing for its’ own sake. Tearing down is easy – building up is the hard part!The ihearts seek to foster “gangs” for good, to lead with the positive and all that is beautiful, to build the positive centers needed for real progress.They are extremely well connected and adept at using all virtual and icloud means to do so – always balancing with the traditional in everything.Their main focus is to respond to the many calls to “do something”, to “say something” in response to what the gang broadly calls “worrisome behavior”.They “get it” that meaningful action is often very difficult and unsettling – that digging beyond the reactionary is essential for meaningful solutions…..….. And that always “being there” in support of the troubled is often the most important response.

Some are born great, some have greatness thrust upon them, others seek the receipt of greatness in the hopes of returning it for something a little less save the worldy. Susan doesn't know how to save a world, especially one she has just been magically transported to, no one seems to want to listen to her though and she soon finds herself wishing destiny had called someone else.Like many Susan is a little lost, unfortunately the world doesn't seem to pull the car over so she can make up her mind about which direction to head in. Stuck in a dead end job she didn't want in the first place she wishes to be anywhere else doing anything else. Through no fault of her own she finds herself in the world of Mach B'alif, tasked with saving their entire world from its dark ruler, and today was supposed to be just another day of filing.These are the opening chapters to Susan's tale of prophecy and power struggles, destiny and denial and one lost girl trying to find her way home with no intent on being anyone's chosen savior.

SpaceForce Corporal Nigel Halsted thinks he's in deep when he gets recruited by a shadowy organization to help derail a treaty between two interstellar species. But when the mission turns sour, he quickly learns that "deep" is all a matter of perspective...In the year 2833, two friends Tyren and Reda set out to discover new worlds in the universe. They reach Planet Ziplo and get to explore the planet with the Mintrones that inhabit it. The Mintrones welcome Tyren and Reda and they have a great time together. All if well till a cataclysmic event occurs. The dark and evil Zonetrones want to get a hold of the power cube on planet Ziplo in the hope of increasing their own powers. This leads to an attack of planet Ziplo by the Zonetrones. The Mintrones fight the dark Zonetrones with the help of Tyren and Reda. To find out how this story unravels, read our book – THE DAY THE WORLDS MET. A Note from the Author This book was written to put into words the adventures of the Mintrones as my son imagined them. So it’s an effort of a mom to document her son’s thoughts. I have tried my best to bring his ideas alive here. The website www.mintrones.com offers a range of creature toys based on the characters in this book. This whole process of creating our company started when my son who is seven years old came to us and told us that he would love to create his own toys. He drew some sketches of the creatures that inhabited an alien world called Planet Ziplo. He imagined their abilities, their world and their adventures. We decided to go for it and create a range of toys based on his thoughts. In this process, he got to work with artists, prototype designers and even the manufacturer to some extent in the design of the toys. It was an awesome experience for a little guy to take what was an idea and see a tangible product come from it. We had a lot of fun in this process as well. We thought it would nice to give every child the same opportunity to be creative and enjoy being a part of an experience like this. From this was born the “Create Your Own Mintrone” Contest. Your child can enter a design of a mintrone into our contest. The entries get voted upon and the winners get to be our next great toy designers. They also get paid royalty every time a toy of their design is sold to help fund their college! We are out to impact the lives of our children in a positive way. So go ahead and be part of this journey. We hope you have a blast doing it!

It's Temperance Hall's big day - her chance to exact revenge and ruin some lives. Just the kind of thing she relishes. But when all the skeletons in her closet converge in a tragic car wreck, only her mind-reading chauffeur understands the full significance of this life-changing event.This slipstream short story may leave you with second thoughts about . . . your thoughts.After a tragic accident, football superstar Joel Harper finds himself rolling his wheelchair into a new school in a strange town. Soon he's making friends of misfits, taking lessons in Iron Maiden, and dodging a ruthless bully with a penchant for switchblades. Little is he aware, something ancient and wounded has awoken deep beneath the tiny mountain community, and all of Honaw will know its pain."Classic horror and true romance . . . Barnett's writing is pure poetry, and this one is his goriest, grittiest yet," Sarah Wathen - YA Books Central