The story of a man named John, who finds a wolf pup on a trip to Alaska and helps rescue it. The story of his life, how he meets his wife, Jane, and of his son, J.D.Oriel is a planet with a roof, a crusted atmospheric ceiling that falls in chunks like oversized snow. The snow is alive, the Ologists joke. It mimics life, but only out of the corner of your eye...or behind your back.Oriel is a far-flung world whose raw potential is contested, although not understood. A deliberately crashed spaceship throws the planet's atmosphere into turmoil, kick-starting an evolutionary process that accelerates out of control. There is indigenous life on Oriel but in a form unrecognised by man. Soon though this, along with man himself, is transmuted into a pastiche of Earth-like forms, people and buildings grown from the land itself in a matter of days, briefly flourishing before falling into conflict and decay. It is difficult to tell what is human and what mutant. A few surviving humans struggle to make sense of this new world, whilst others are drawn to Oriel in a hopeless search for answers, redemption and even lost love.In the end even reality itself is twisted.

What was really in the garden -- and how dangerous was it?Leela Devi Panikar, author of two short story collections -- Floating Petals and Bathing Elephants -- writes a short story closer to her own terrace.

A madcap romp where the humour flows non-stop. Elizabeth West, of the Territory Police, arrives at a job interview but the job has already been given to the nephew of a politician. That is not West's only problem, the detectives conducting the interview are as loony as any character in Monty Python's Flying Circus. This is not a serious work of detective fiction but a seriously funny parody.In Death in the Australian Outback the serious detective thriller is completely blown away. In this modern world of climate change, terrorism and ever increasing regulation on the way we think, we need to lighten up. So sit in a comfortable chair, let your hair down, relax, download the book and have a laugh with Elizabeth West at the very crazy, very zany characters of Detective Chief Superintendent Bigfoot and Detective Superintend Chief Littlefoot. For comedy, like sex, one has to be in the mood and as we get older we forget that one of the most enjoyable things in life is to let go and laugh. So liberate those joy releasing happy hormones, set your inner laughter free and have a read. You will be rewarded by entry into a brilliantly crazy and surreal world of madcap cops trying to solve the problems of a madcap world. Reviews: 'The Australian Outback is the backdrop to this first in the Bigfoot series which sees West angling for a job with TURDS. It's packed with misunderstandings, mishaps, bizarre exchanges and loads of laughs. Along with other books about these three stooges, yarns about this zany trio are rapidly becoming a cult series from an author with a seemingly endless fund of crazy ideas and themes. Strongly recommended if you enjoy a good laugh.''Thoroughly enjoyed the book. The character names and departmental names had me giggling away on the train to my dental appointment. I read a lot of crime and thriller books, so it was a nice change to read something that was quite satirical. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that has a wonderfully warped sense of humour like myself.'

ADAMS FABLES is colorfully illustrated with double-entendre puns and fun. The cast of playful animals gently teaches life’s lessons to the small child within everyone.EVER WONDER WHY:Coyotes howlPenguins wear tuxedoesHummingbirds humCheetahs cry Giraffes have long necksLions roarFlamingos stand on one legBasenjis yodelAnd so much more.Alive is the dark and depressing tale of Scorpina’s birth and potential. She will have to fight for freedom and learn to exist in a society that sees her as abnormal.Born different, instilling fear in the hearts of all. Scorpina is a mutant humanoid with scorpion features, her life is forged on a whim and she struggles to escape from her dangerous insectoid creators. Will Scorpina find purpose in life and will Scorpina even survive escaping from the insectoid lair?Scorpina’s tale continues in a larger novel soon to grace the world, in life or death.

A Children's Nativity Musical. Suitable for Year 3 (approx. age 8) - whom the main text is aimed at, and under, although others can also get involved. You can download all of the audio tracks for free from the website associated with this work. This work is offered free to schools, nurseries and church groups that wish to raise funds for themselves, their PTAs or their closely related charities.This is an original musical, written in 2008 and now offered free on smashwords to schools, nurseries and church groups anywhere in the world that wish to raise funds for themselves, their PTAs or their closely related charities.It lasts around 20 - 25 minutes. There are nine songs, and four instrumental pieces. The music is supplied! You do not have to provide musicians because you can download all of the audio practice and backing tracks, for free, from the website associated with this work (see script for details). You can also download PDF versions of the script (in "Director" and "Performer" formats) from the associated website.You do not need a licence to perform this work, and no commission is payable. Your licence to perform this work, if you fulfill the above criteria, is hereby granted.The key points are, though: you mustn't change the script, you mustn't the lyrics and you must show my name as being the author.That's it. Have fun. Spread the word.

Lily is a primitive spirit trapped on Earth, and has been from the day she was born, nine years ago and counting. She can’t smell, taste, touch or be heard. Lily wants to experience such sensations. But most of all, she wants her human sister – dead.Lily is a primitive spirit trapped on Earth, and has been from the day she was born, nine years ago and counting. She can’t smell, taste, touch or be heard. Lily wants to experience such sensations. But most of all, she wants her human sister – dead.Rose discovers her twin sibling in a forest, bathed in moonlight. She and Lily are transported to the afterlife, three billion light years away, within a galaxy called Domino.On the planet Kiian, the twins go in search of their mother, the key to transforming Lily into a fully formed spirit. However, humans and primitives are not welcome in Domino. Fearless creatures called the Govern seek out the twins to remove them from the afterlife and, in turn, from each other.

Three journalism students stumble across something that could change the world. In the process, they make enemies of the Prime Minister and every pharmaceutical company on the planet - who all want what the students have - and of The Vatican, which would do everything in its power to stop the students' investigations.Three journalism students stumble across something that could change the world. In the process, they make enemies of the Prime Minister and his mysterious Special Envoy, and of every pharmaceutical company in the world, who all want access to the formula for The Eternal Drug. Also threatening the students is The Vatican, which needs people to continue believing in Heaven and Hell.This quirky comedy-drama is based in Adelaide (South Australia) and includes various themes that interest and concern me, including the power of big businesses, especially pharmaceutical companies and The Vatican; the blind belief of religious people; and the corruption of governments.

A short story about Brian, an actor who moves from Chicago to New York City with his girlfriend, Diana. The adjustment to life in New York City takes Brian a while, but he keeps trying out new opportunities.Camp Deerfield offers delights innumerable for the young camper: nightly dances, grade-school turf wars, and a three-story robot that doubles as a toilet.A short memoir about children misbehaving.

Inaction Man, a quixotic superhero, lives as a bum on the streets of Paris, defending humanity against the forces of evil. He possesses the gift of sight, allowing him to see things that aren't really there, and exploits his superhuman powers of inaction, which enable him to do nothing for a very long period of time.Inaction Man lives as a bum on the streets of Paris defending humanity against the forces of evil. He possesses the gift of sight, allowing him to see things that aren't really there, aided by the consumption of copious amounts of methylated spirit vision juice. He also exploits his superhuman powers of inaction, which enable him to do nothing for a very long period of time. Together with his assistant, a broken bicycle called Symbol, and the world’s second great superhero, the Illogical Woman, he fights action with inaction. Watch him battle the dark pan-dimensional forces that surround us. From shape shifters masquerading as park attendants, to changelings who wear the skin of junkies, to vampire sewer rats and crack dwelling spectres. Only Inaction Man stands between us and the dark lords who wish to end time and space.A must read for all mortals. Let Inaction Man help you to escape the fatal fog of routine and stop your innards being ossified.

A no-hit group from the 1970s called Cinnamon Sweat performs at a virtual ghost town for Deb, the band’s original and now only member of its fan club. While the event is being broadcast live online for a reality-style website, the producers focus on Deb’s personal issues rather than The Big Story: what happened to the band's original guitarist during that fateful tour of 1975?A no-hit group from the 1970s called Cinnamon Sweat performs at a virtual ghost town for Deb, the band’s original and now only member of its fan club. While the event is being broadcast live online for a reality-style website, the producers focus on Deb’s personal issues rather than The Big Story: what happened to the band's original guitarist during that fateful tour of 1975? This quirky comedy-drama is set in a (fictitious) one-dog town called Chittingford Dales in rural South Australia. The book incorporates things I know and love, such as 1970s music and my home state; and topics that interest me, such as webcasting and filming. Besides the band members Trevor, Nigel and Cockles, the myriad of whacky characters include Madge, who runs the pub; Arnold, an octogenarian railway conductor; Gladys, a former groupie, now with a Zimmer frame; and Lifeless Cyril. The book is based on a movie script I wrote and is very short (only 70 pages), which is why it's free.

Grant Thornton, a wealthy New Yorker, has finally gone into remission from cancer. He is going through a rough time when he meets Lila.Nicolas, a once successful author, now struggles to make a comeback. His agent pays him and unexpected visit, and triggers a series of things that start to go terribly wrong. A past as grave as Nicolas' is best left undisturbed.

Shakespeare on the Roof is the first of the famous Jack Hamma action adventure novels. With satire and wry humour our indomitable hero struggles through the red tape and endemic cock-ups of a top secret, military operation. Full of action, but sugar coated with Jacks signature throw away lines, the book is a hard to put down, thunderingly good read.Jack is in a canoe paddling for his life on the open sea. ‘The light was fading fast now. The vast mass of the sea, in giant waves, crashed and smashed against our tiny craft and then it happened, a spotlight swept the sea around us and a machine gun opened fire. My mate turned, yelled at me and pointed, blood was streaming down the side of his face, we paddled faster and I steered the canoe to where he had pointed. We were moving as fast as we could to an appointment with a bullet. The machine gun rattled again and cut tiny holes in my paddle, it made quite a pretty pattern. Bullets started to smash into the rudder, the rudder spat the dummy and turned us into the course of the unfriendly fire. More bullets exploded into the back of the canoe and we began to take on water. Take on water, we were bloody sinking!’If you enjoy action adventure novels, but with a splash of humour, Jack Hamma has arrived.Review: ‘What a splendid book. How come Australians are able to do such fast action packed books? Part action, part private detective and 100% funny, Jack Hamma is a brilliant character, reluctantly getting himself into lots of tricky situations and so difficult to kill. Really looking forward to reading the next Jack Hamma adventure.’

A young man is wrongly imprisoned for the manslaughter of his kindly employer. Michael has mild learning difficulties and was raised in a children's home. Unable to explain to the court that the death was an accident, he is incarcerated with a sadistic killer, who forces him to become his butler and becomes progressively deluded that he is a member of the aristocracy. Revenge lurks in the shaddowsMichael is imprisoned at a young age for the manslaughter of his employer, a lonely gentleman who enjoyed Michael's childlike view of life. Michael has mild learning difficulties and was raised in a children's home. Unable to explain to the court that Mr Tim's death was the result of a tragic accident, he finds himself in prison, where he is taunted, humiliated and forced to act as a butler to Monk, his deluded older cellmate. Desperate and reclusive, Michael plots his revenge as Monk, grows evermore brazen in his belief that he has joined the hallowed ranks of the English aristocracy.

Danger awaits as evil witches grow in power. A collection of Elfen creatures and a brave crusader knight, together with gifted monks are asked to save their world. A most enjoyable read that teases the reader with the concepts of trust, loyalty, suspicion, betrayal, and of course love. Witches Snared will trap you deep within the story, leaving you eager for more Dream Cane adventures.Raj and Dan are again summoned by the Dream Cane to a strange new realm. Danger awaits as evil witches grow in power casting spells that will plunge this world into a shroud of evil and eternal darkness. A collection of Elfen creatures, a brave crusader knight, and gifted monks are asked to combine forces with the forest animals in an unlikely alliance to save their world. A fascinating read that spans time and worldly realms culminating in an epic battle that unites the forest’s inhabitants against the most powerful and evil force they have ever encountered. An intelligent read that teases the reader with the concepts of trust, loyalty, betrayal, and of course love. Witches Snared will trap you deep within the adventure, leaving you eager to see where it ends and where the Dream Cane will lead you next.

A brilliant Indian scientist with self esteem problems faces off against a redneck jet pilot in a bass fishing contest that defies probability.When super popular redneck fighter pilot Gator challenges theoretical permutational mathematician and supernerd, Inderjit to a fish off, Inderjit thinks he's got it covered because he was raised on the Ramaputrya river in India and can out fish any man on the planet. Unfortunately for Inderjit, he's in Florida and they don't fish with nets. Feeling pressured to prove himself, Inderjit steals a work-in-progress device to maybe give himself an edge. This proves, of course, why mathematicians make bad gamblers because they think about statistics instead of remembering that the house always wins, even when it loses. Also, there is a largemouth bass.

The soul of a pedantic attorney plays hooky and falls in love.Shanna and her fellow monster hunters travel to New Orleans to investigate the disappearance of several students from a local private school. Of the many leads, they focus on a mansion bordering the property that is rumored to be haunted, opting to spend their nights within its decrepit walls to record any paranormal activity.While she is excited to be included in the mission, returning so close to home drudges up memories that Krystal would rather forget, forcing her to confront the dark roots of her powers as local voodoo legends seem to come to life around her.Betrayal is still fresh for the hunters, and as Shanna tries to cope with recent events and lose herself in the new mystery that surrounds them, she finds that she has to step up her game when things go downhill fast, and is left to make hard choices that could cost her friends their lives.

Economist John Jason Grant is in the emergency room, and thinks back on his life. He then decides to reach for some of those dreams he once had.These are three stories and a poem. Two of the stories are short stories. One is a novella. It is intended for older teenagers/young adults. It does contain some material and language that is not suitable for younger readers. Love stories that are meant to touch the hearts of everyone regardless of age, because that's how love works. I don't like these synopsis they make us write. It's a love story enjoy it, or not, don't over think it. Sorry I'm still writing because they are making me add words. Have a Happy Valentines!

A short story about a young woman named Anne, who has several male friends, and her male roommate is interested in her. A story of possible loves and the friendships that endure.It's spring break and a visit to the Alderman farm leads to another exciting adventure in Camelot. Marcus, the elfin mage known as the Keeper, has been captured by Bellator, the mightiest of the twelve Immortals. Bellator is holding Marcus for ransom until Excalibur, the sword blessed by the Creator, is returned to him, but no one knows where the sword is located. Was the final prophecy of Venus given to provide hope in times of darkness or was it intended as a warning? Is Ben really the chosen one? Will he save Camelot... or destroy it?

The bond between Dan Louis and Eric Boyle - lifelong friends and aspiring comedy writers - begins to fracture when one of them develops a knack for stealing the other’s ideas.The bond between Dan Louis and Eric Boyle - lifelong friends and aspiring comedy writers - begins to fracture when one of them develops a knack for stealing the other’s ideas. 'Dan And Eric' subtly gathers absurdist momentum before reaching a shocking and darkly funny conclusion.

A tone deaf deep space astronomer discovers a catchy tune from beyond our galaxy and destroys the world.Sarah Jane had been so excited to be accepted on the team of doctors at the prestigious clinic, The Center. It was exciting and exhilarating work. It did not hurt that she got to work with brilliant people all day, everyday. Until disaster struck and suddenly everything she had was in danger of being lost.Would she turn the hands of time if she could? Would she choose differently if she did? Would she choose her old life over the new one that was unfolding?Sometimes, life forces us to grow way bigger than our shells. Sarah Jane had to.(This is a stand-alone novel but readers will understand the story a lot better if they read my book, 'Transgender J' first. Transgender J is free on Smashwords.)This book was formerly titled, Undead - Sarah Jane.

A cruise ship, then a fishing boat, then pirates, then a submarine, then a viking ship, then a submarine, then a fishing boat, then pirates, then a cruise ship, then a written page.A nested story comprised of insanely horrifying, weird, morbid sea stories all wrapped in a literary burrito of magical realism. A true nightmare.

A trucker lies dying. A soul goes riding. Someone sings amazing grace.As a man lays dying in a rickety shack in Alabama, his nephew's soul does a fact check on his most famous story and finds out it's true.

Begin the military dystopian series Friends of my Enemy. Arinna and Michael Prescot are just two of the many former soldiers sent to embassies in the hopes of strengthening faltering US alliances in 2055. But as the US becomes embroiled with new internal terrorism, its agents in Europe are offered intimidation, lies, and deceit rather than explanations. And the price of seeking answers is steep.A dark future awaits...After a decade of storms, disease, drought, and riots, the US conquers its troubles by militarizing its government. Old democratic allies in Europe respond uneasily to the change.in 2055 Arinna and Michael Prescot are just two of the many former soldiers sent to foreign embassies in the hopes of strengthening faltering US alliances. But as the US becomes embroiled in new internal terrorism, its agents in Europe are offered intimidation and lies rather than explanations. And the price of seeking the truth to events back home is steep.As the growing conflict in the US threatens the peace of Europe and tips the world toward World War III, choices of loyalty need to be made - if Michael and Arinna can determine who to trust and if the price of their help is worth the cost. Global events hinge on a few individuals as an apocalyptic war threatens Europe, and no one is more unprepared than its potential saviors.Stories from the War consists of eleven interlinked short stories that are a prelude to the military dystopian thriller trilogy Friends of my Enemy.Set in Europe, this near future fiction series of novels unfolds through the intersecting lives of a small handful of people and explores adult themes, both dark and hopeful, of friendship, romance, and family, including how these influences direct everyday choices which ripple outwards to impact governments on the verge of an apocalypse. Because not all influence is good, and not all decisions can be made in time.What readers are saying:“Part one of what appears to be an interesting tale of tangled relationships and covert happenings in a future earth torn asunder with riots and natural disasters. Strong characterization and believable scenarios coupled with a setting that is thought provoking and entertaining. I want to read the next one. Check this story out!” - J.Williams 4 stars“Autumn has done it again. This book will grab you and carry you from beginning to end without a moment of boredom. Think of the quotation "The Enemy of my enemy is my friend" and you gain some insight into the substance of the story. I normally like Fantasy Adventure, but this novel was a great walk through something a little different. Can't recommend it enough.” - Victor 5 stars

An old school band manager and a new school performer find common ground.They found him in a field half out of his mind after the whole thing went down. He still has headaches. His best friend Anthony was there too and he feels responsible. It was his idea. He tried to keep Michael from running into the field after it happened but he couldn’t. He still has a cast on his left leg. Anthony does not like the stories in the newspapers either. The articles informed us he was a gang banger. He is not. The last time I spoke with Anthony he had plans for leaving Colorado once he heals. I want to tell their story and mine, I was there. Let me tell you how I met Michael and Anthony and why I worked hard to defend them. I’m not a lawyer or anything but I did have time for a side project. I’m also going to tell you how I fell in love. It happened on the same day I ran into Michael and Anthony. Funny how things work out.

Adam, Eve, and God hit a few bumps in the beginning of everything.I have been fasciated with the stories in Genesis and always felt the lessons contained therein might be veiled by a declination of quality of translation and transmission from the very start. Maybe what happened was a little different that what we've all read about.

Adoption is a delicate art.‘Don’t let me lose myself.’Fifteen-year-old X thinks she is going to die. Shacked up in the cellar of an old farmhouse, she starts a journal to document her last few days. Much less than a few days if the uglies manage to get in.X is a post-apocalyptic short story from Jack Croxall, author of Tethers.Praise for XA luminous, captivating tale perfect for giving you one of those reading "moments".– Liz Loves BooksI was left with a genuine shiver down my spine.– D.M. Cain, author of The Phoenix Project

In Two of a Kind, twelve-year-old Faith, who has grown up in a home for orphans in the distant future, unexpectedly finds herself on the run with a youth named Fisher. Together, they must escape the government forces that hunt them to find hope, family and a new life.‘Don’t let me lose myself.’Fifteen-year-old X thinks she is going to die. Shacked up in the cellar of an old farmhouse, she starts a journal to document her last few days. Much less than a few days if the uglies manage to get in.X is a post-apocalyptic short story from Jack Croxall, author of Tethers.Praise for XA luminous, captivating tale perfect for giving you one of those reading "moments".– Liz Loves BooksI was left with a genuine shiver down my spine.– D.M. Cain, author of The Phoenix Project

It starts with a single bite, a morsel, a taste and then it builds to a dish, to a meal, to a banquet.Who is Spider Latham? Think John Wayne meets Miss Marple. When Spider is hired to do some private detective work for the Red Pueblo Museum, he doesn’t suspect it will cause a rift between his wife, Laurie, and himself. Museum Director Martin Taylor is desperate, and his son, Matt, is angry. Some wicked, faceless organization is bent on destroying the museum financially, and it’s about to succeed. After Spider arrives, the situation turns deadly when a killer uses an Anasazi ax from the museum’s tourist shop to bash in the skull of a charismatic playboy. Everyone has a motive for the murder, even Laurie’s handsome, rich relative who cozies up to her every chance he gets. The local Barney-Fife-type deputy arrests volatile Matt Taylor, whose only real crime is putting his trust in the wrong woman. Can Spider untangle the web of secrecy and lies surrounding the museum and save its Anasazi treasures before the Taylors lose it all? And in the process, can he save his own marriage? A cozy mystery with an edge, Trouble at the Red Pueblo is Book #1 in Liz Adair’s Spider Latham Red Rock Mystery Series set in Southern Utah’s spectacularly scenic canyon country. From InD’Tale Magazine (four-and-a-half star review): Spider Latham has a new fan! This scrumptious story by Liz Adair is a marvelously easy to read mystery, seasoned with rich descriptions of the red rock area of Arizona and Utah. The author draws in the reader with uniquely realistic story lines involving existing businesses and landmarks in the area. The characters are complex—so fleshed out and genuine, one would expect to see them firmly ensconced at the Museum, the local diner, or patrolling the area in an orange Yugo with flames painted on it. Readers will love the bantering dialogue between Spider and Laurie, and they’ll pull for the Stetson wearing cowboy deputy from Nevada. Well written, well researched, and well done, Ms. Adair!

The short story of nature-loving John, a young teenage photographer, who encounters a little blue heron in a Florida wetland marsh. Soon after, John is in a car accident, and can't return to the marsh for a while....A tale of a brother's dedication set in the time period of the Irish rebellion of the 1900s.A sort-of a Irish ghost story told to me by my mother who lived her life in Ireland. This story involves a brother and sister who dedicate love and caring towards each other.

Stacey recently buried her grandma and inherited her house full of Russian collectibles and history books. The one thing that her grandma gave her was a ring, and when Stacey arrives in Russia to take a class about the Tsars, she finds out that the ring is her claim to the throne. A corrupt President is determined to get the ring from her, but she won't allow it. Will she get out of Russia alive?The legend of the survival of the Romanovs is alive and well and has surfaced in modern Russia. Stacey, a college student from the farmlands of Indiana learned a lot about Soviet history from her grandma, an aficionado on the subject. When her grandma dies, she gives Stacey a mysterious ring and tells her never to let it out of her sight. In her first year of college, Stacey takes an opportunity to go to Russia and learn about the Tsars; the part of Russian history that her grandma didn't teach her. Upon her arrival, she finds out that the ring she carries is part of an ancient decree that entitles her to the throne of Russia, and she discovers that she is the last direct connection to the Romanovs. She soon discovers that the corrupt Russian President has been following her family, is aware of who she is and knows that she is in Russia. Will the President catch her? Will she get to keep the ring or simply get out of Russia alive? The adventure begins in part one of The Ring of the Queen trilogy where a young girl finds out about her past and decides where exactly that takes her future. Find out how Stacey deals with her lineage as she travels across western Russia in this epic conflict.

A young man, already down on his luck, experiences a series of strange and mysterious events which escalate into a telling trauma.A short story. A "branch" off of The Roots of Evil.A short story. A "branch" off of The Roots of Evil. A young man, already down on his luck, experiences a series of strange and mysterious events which escalate into a telling trauma.

Murder most foul comes to the cosy country lanes of a green and pleasant England. Poison darts, death cap mushrooms, footprints and DNA evidence all come together for some in depth detection work and with the help of forensic guru Antonette, Constable Elizabeth West is able to bring a diverse collection of murdering villains to account. Expect the unexpected.Constable Elizabeth West, Australia's greatest export, turns up in the North of England tracking a murderer across the Yorkshire Moors. Goyt Hall is a big old country house and lying dead, in front of the fireplace, is a beautiful young girl. Reviews: 'I'm delighted to have found Thorogood's books. Have raced through the Jack Hamma series and presently on 6th Elizabeth West. Googled his mini biography, fascinating! He really has been around the traps, no wonder he can produce volume after volume of improbable crazy exploits with that background to draw on, although it did have me wondering if he ever had time to sleep.''Not crazy like the rest of the books in the series but the book that inspired bedlam deserves to be read for itself alone. I'm the number one member of the Elizabeth West fan club so I had to read this book.''The stories that inspired the craziest whodunits ever written. I love the serious but tongue in cheek style.'

In this short story, college students and friends Jessica and Bryan are talking and studying one night. The next day, Jessica buys a magical hat and begins to learn what people are really thinking!New Pulp Author David White takes on Heaven, Hell, and everything in between with the debut of Magee, his Pro Se Single Shots series.Banished from on high for standing up to the archangel Michael, the being now known as Magee finds himself on Earth, stripped of his wings. Literally, as they were torn from his back. Left to his own vices, this fallen angel discovers he has many. In Magee: Knight From Hell, a killer is on the loose, one that no mortal means can stop. Magee begrudgingly finds himself involved in the hunt for this mystical murderer, alongside the only being he might call friend- a cultured and wealthy werewolf named Princeton. As Magee fights his way through his own issues, he finds that horrors of the past may mean more to his present than even a disgraced angel can survive.

(Short Story, Sci-Fi, Alien Invasion) Everything is going fine for Anaximander, until one day he awakens to find that his home is being overrun by an alien force.Prequel to Ascent of the Fallen, Book I of the Chronicles. Set almost a decade before, Lord Fallondon Breck is a young knight searching for glory and purpose in the Kingdom of Heaven. After campaigns near Jerusalem he is stationed along the pilgrim road in Syria and tasked with an important mission: find and stop an unknown killer crucifying those traveling to Antioch.Fallondon's company of knights are dispatched to Ghmam, a remote village in the hills near Tishreen. Before he can do anything about his errand, he must face his most challenging trial: winning over the villagers, their proud leader, his resourceful son, and his beautiful daughter. Little does Fallondon know that the spiritual forces of darkness are already set against him.This prequel novella tells the tale of how crusader knight Lord Fallondon Breck met his love, won his spurs, and faced down evil. It's a blend of Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker-inspired spiritual warfare combined with the action and adventure of Kingdom of Heaven, Robin Hood, and The 13th Warrior. If you enjoy Christian fantasy mixed with military-inspired action and 12th century historical fiction, you'll love this! Join Lord Fallondon Breck and his knights as they challenge evil and seek to recover their most precious reward: their own hearts.Favorite beta reader comment: "I didn't put it down it was that good. Finished in one sitting!"

Laura's Shorts is a random collection of unrelated short stories. Many were prepared in response to prompts or criteria of competitions, all were prepared for the sheer joy of storytelling.Sam wins the lottery and asks Natali to marry him and run away to see all the hidden beauty the world has to offer. He wants her by his side through all the great and secret adventures he can dream of with his new wealth. She denies his proposal so he goes it alone, only to return fifty years later. that's when the story truly begins.

An original, creepy, ghost story for Christmas. When Joe buys an ornate box from a car-boot sale, a set of mysterious and creepy occurrences with the box and its contents ensues.When Joe buys an ornate box from a car-boot sale, a set of mysterious and creepy occurrences with the box and its contents ensues. An original, creepy, ghost story for Christmas.

With Thorogood's hallmark brilliant dialogue the plays in this collection come alive. They are entertaining enticing and laugh out loud funny. A cross between Noel Cowards* Hay Fever and the Marx Brothers* Duck Soup they are a mad romp into the surreal. A fantastic collection of truly comic plays.All the plays in this collection were successfully performed in the late 1970's early 1980's with Planet of the Cow's being presented in the fringe of the Adelaide Festival of Arts. Reviews: Tim Lloyd in the Adelaide Advertiser wrote of the play Planet of the Cows: 'Thorogood has the tremendous advantage of being able to write fresh and fluent dialogue which makes the play come alive. It is indulgent and funny with everything from terrible puns about cows to sublime comments on the behaviour of modern man.'*Noël Peirce Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit and flamboyance. Hay Fever is a comic play written by Coward and first produced in 1925 and described as a cross between a rollicking farce and a comedy of manners.*The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act that was successful in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in motion pictures from 1905 to 1949. They are widely considered to be among the greatest comedians of the 20th century

This free bonus chapter shares a story not in the main novel, Wide as the Wind. It addresses how Miru, the main character, earned his secret name. Whether you have already read the novel and would like some extra background, or if you want to "test the waters" before you read Wide as the Wind, this standalone chapter will provide extra insight into our young hero, Miru.Tricked into going to Ireland by a wicked leprechaun, Astro and the gang are forced to find the King’s special pet.Only this pet is not the type of animal any dog should be made to save.It’s wicked and cruel and can make you obey its every command just by purring!That’s right - the dogs are sent all over Ireland to save a cat!On the way, they encounter a whole host of magical creatures, stunning scenery and not to mention, a very polite donkey.

No one writes about mountaineering and its attendant victories and hardships more brilliantly than Jon Krakauer. In this collection of his finest essays and reporting, Krakauer writes of mountains from the memorable perspective of one who has himself struggled with solo madness to scale Alaska's notorious Devils Thumb. In Pakistan, the fearsome K2 kills thirteen of the world's most experienced mountain climbers in one horrific summer. In Valdez, Alaska, two men scale a frozen waterfall over a four-hundred-foot drop. In France, a hip international crowd of rock climbers, bungee jumpers, and paragliders figure out new ways to risk their lives on the towering peaks of Mont Blanc. Why do they do it? How do they do it? In this extraordinary book, Krakauer presents an unusual fraternity of daredevils, athletes, and misfits stretching the limits of the possible. From the paranoid confines of a snowbound tent, to the thunderous, suffocating terror of a white-out on Mount McKinley, Eiger Dreams spins tales of driven lives, sudden deaths, and incredible victories. This is a stirring, vivid book about one of the most compelling and dangerous of all human pursuits.

When Jon Krakauer reached the summit of Mt. Everest in the early afternoon of May 10,1996, he hadn't slept in fifty-seven hours and was reeling from the brain-altering effects of oxygen depletion. As he turned to begin the perilous descent from 29,028 feet (roughly the cruising altitude of an Airbus jetliner), twenty other climbers were still pushing doggedly to the top, unaware that the sky had begun to roil with clouds... Into Thin Air is the definitive account of the deadliest season in the history of Everest by the acclaimed Outside journalist and author of the bestselling Into the Wild. Taking the reader step by step from Katmandu to the mountain's deadly pinnacle, Krakauer has his readers shaking on the edge of their seat. Beyond the terrors of this account, however, he also peers deeply into the myth of the world's tallest mountain. What is is about Everest that has compelled so many poeple--including himself--to throw caution to the wind, ignore the concerns of loved ones, and willingly subject themselves to such risk, hardship, and expense? Written with emotional clarity and supported by his unimpeachable reporting, Krakauer's eyewitness account of what happened on the roof of the world is a singular achievement. From the Paperback edition.

Librarian's Note: An alternate cover edition can be found here In April 1992 a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. His name was Christopher Johnson McCandless. He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself. Four months later, a party of moose hunters found his decomposed body. How McCandless came to die is the unforgettable story of Into the Wild. Immediately after graduating from college in 1991, McCandless had roamed through the West and Southwest on a vision quest like those made by his heroes Jack London and John Muir. In the Mojave Desert he abandoned his car, stripped it of its license plates, and burned all of his cash. He would give himself a new name, Alexander Supertramp, and, unencumbered by money and belongings, he would be free to wallow in the raw, unfiltered experiences that nature presented. Craving a blank spot on the map, McCandless simply threw away the maps. Leaving behind his desperate parents and sister, he vanished into the wild.

Greg Mortenson has built a global reputation as a selfless humanitarian and children’s crusader, and he’s been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He is also not what he appears to be. As acclaimed author Jon Krakauer discovered, Mortenson has not only fabricated substantial parts of his bestselling books Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools, but has also misused millions of dollars donated by unsuspecting admirers like Krakauer himself. This is the tragic tale of good intentions gone very wrong.

From bestselling author Jon Krakauer, a stark, powerful, meticulously reported narrative about a series of sexual assaults at the University of Montana ­— stories that illuminate the human drama behind the national plague of campus rape Missoula, Montana, is a typical college town, with a highly regarded state university, bucolic surroundings, a lively social scene, and an excellent football team — the Grizzlies — with a rabid fan base. The Department of Justice investigated 350 sexual assaults reported to the Missoula police between January 2008 and May 2012. Few of these assaults were properly handled by either the university or local authorities. In this, Missoula is also typical. A DOJ report released in December of 2014 estimates 110,000 women between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four are raped each year. Krakauer’s devastating narrative of what happened in Missoula makes clear why rape is so prevalent on American campuses, and why rape victims are so reluctant to report assault. Acquaintance rape is a crime like no other. Unlike burglary or embezzlement or any other felony, the victim often comes under more suspicion than the alleged perpetrator. This is especially true if the victim is sexually active; if she had been drinking prior to the assault — and if the man she accuses plays on a popular sports team. The vanishingly small but highly publicized incidents of false accusations are often used to dismiss her claims in the press. If the case goes to trial, the woman’s entire personal life becomes fair game for defense attorneys. This brutal reality goes a long way towards explaining why acquaintance rape is the most underreported crime in America. In addition to physical trauma, its victims often suffer devastating psychological damage that leads to feelings of shame, emotional paralysis and stigmatization. PTSD rates for rape victims are estimated to be 50%, higher than soldiers returning from war. In Missoula, Krakauer chronicles the searing experiences of several women in Missoula — the nights when they were raped; their fear and self-doubt in the aftermath; the way they were treated by the police, prosecutors, defense attorneys; the public vilification and private anguish; their bravery in pushing forward and what it cost them. Some of them went to the police. Some declined to go to the police, or to press charges, but sought redress from the university, which has its own, non-criminal judicial process when a student is accused of rape. In two cases the police agreed to press charges and the district attorney agreed to prosecute. One case led to a conviction; one to an acquittal. Those women courageous enough to press charges or to speak publicly about their experiences were attacked in the media, on Grizzly football fan sites, and/or to their faces. The university expelled three of the accused rapists, but one was reinstated by state officials in a secret proceeding. One district attorney testified for an alleged rapist at his university hearing. She later left the prosecutor’s office and successfully defended the Grizzlies’ star quarterback in his rape trial. The horror of being raped, in each woman’s case, was magnified by the mechanics of the justice system and the reaction of the community. Krakauer’s dispassionate, carefully documented account of what these women endured cuts through the abstract ideological debate about campus rape. College-age women are not raped because they are promiscuous, or drunk, or send mixed signals, or feel guilty about casual sex, or seek attention. They are the victims of a terrible crime and deserving of compassion from society and fairness from a justice system that is clearly broken. 

Jon Krakauer’s literary reputation rests on insightful chronicles of lives conducted at the outer limits. He now shifts his focus from extremes of physical adventure to extremes of religious belief within our own borders, taking readers inside isolated American communities where some 40,000 Mormon Fundamentalists still practice polygamy. Defying both civil authorities and the Mormon establishment in Salt Lake City, the renegade leaders of these Taliban-like theocracies are zealots who answer only to God. At the core of Krakauer’s book are brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty, who insist they received a commandment from God to kill a blameless woman and her baby girl. Beginning with a meticulously researched account of this appalling double murder, Krakauer constructs a multi-layered, bone-chilling narrative of messianic delusion, polygamy, savage violence, and unyielding faith. Along the way he uncovers a shadowy offshoot of America’s fastest growing religion, and raises provocative questions about the nature of religious belief. From the Trade Paperback edition.

When Daily Telegraph correspondent Tim Butcher was sent to cover Africa in 2000 he quickly became obsessed with the idea of recreating H.M. Stanley's famous expedition - but travelling alone. Despite warnings that his plan was 'suicidal', Butcher set out for the Congo's eastern border with just a rucksack and a few thousand dollars hidden in his boots. Making his way in an assortment of vessels including a motorbike and a dugout canoe, helped along by a cast of characters from UN aid workers to a campaigning pygmy, he followed in the footsteps of the great Victorian adventurers. Butcher's journey was a remarkable feat, but the story of the Congo, told expertly and vividly in this book, is more remarkable still.

For many years Sierra Leone and Liberia have been too dangerous to travel through, bedevilled by a uniquely brutal form of violence from which sprang many of Africa's cruellest contemporary icons - child soldiers, prisoner mutilation, blood diamonds. With their wars officially over, Tim Butcher sets out on a journey across both countries, trekking for 350 miles through remote rainforest and malarial swamps. Just as he followed H M Stanley through the Congo - a journey described in his bestseller Blood River - this time he pursues a trail blazed by Graham Greene in 1935 and immortalised in the travel classic Journey Without Maps. Greene took 26 bearers, a case of scotch, and hammocks in which he and his cousin Barbara were carried. Tim walks every blistering inch to gain an extraordinary ground-level view of a troubled and overlooked region. As a journalist in Africa, Tim came to know both countries well although the wars made trips to the jungle hinterland far too risky. This is where he now heads, exploring how rebel groups thrived in the bush for so long and whether the devil of war has truly been chased away. He encounters other 'devils', masked figures guarding the spiritual secrets of jungle communities. Some are no more threatening than schoolmasters but others are much more sinister, relying on ritual cannibalism as a source of their magical power. Tim encounters these devils on an epic journey that demands courage, doggedness and good fortune. Chasing the Devil is a dramatic travel book touching on one of the most fraught parts of the globe at a unique moment in its history. Weaving history and anthropology with personal narrative - as well as new discoveries about Greene - it is as exciting as it is enlightening.

On a summer morning in Sarajevo almost a hundred years ago, a teenager took a pistol out of his pocket and fired not just the opening rounds of the First World War but the starting gun for modern history. By killing Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Gavrilo Princip, started a cycle of events that would leave 15 million dead from fighting between 1914 and 1918 and proved fatal for empires and a way of ruling that had held for centuries. The Trigger tells the story of a young man who changed the world forever. It focuses on the drama of the incident itself by following Prinip’s journey. By retracing his steps from the feudal frontier village of his birth, through the mountains of the northern Balkans to the great plain city of Belgrade and ultimately Sarajevo, Tim Butcher illuminates our understanding of Princip— the person and the place that shaped him—and makes discoveries about him that have eluded historians for a hundred years. Traveling through the Balkans on Princip’s trail, and drawing on his own experiences there as a war reporter during the 1990s, Butcher unravels this complex part of the world and its conflicts, and shows how the events that were sparked that day in June 1914 still have influence today. Published for the centenary of the assassination, The Trigger is a rich and timely work, part travelogue, part reportage, and part history.

William Wilkie Collins (1824 - 1889) was an English novelist, playwright, and author of short stories. His best-known works are The Woman in White (1859), No Name (1862), Armadale (1866), and The Moonstone (1868). Collins's works were classified at the time as "sensation novels," a genre seen nowadays as the precursor to detective and suspense fiction. He also wrote penetratingly on the plight of women and on the social and domestic issues of his time. For example, his 1854 Hide and Seek contained one of the first portrayals of a deaf character in English literature. As did many writers of his time, Collins published most of his novels as serials in magazines such as Dickens's All the Year Round and was known as a master of the form, creating just the right degree of suspense to keep his audience reading from week to week. Sales of All The Year Round increased when The Woman in White followed A Tale of Two Cities.

In three months from the memorable day when his solicitor had informed him that he was a free man, Mr. Vanborough possessed the wife he desired, to grace the head of his table and to push his fortunes in the world--the Legislature of Great Britain being the humble servant of his treachery, and the respectable accomplice of his crime.