“Night Threads”
Over the decades, I have received dreams of all sorts that roll out like a movie – night dreams, awake dreams, shamanic journeys. They are filled with symbolism, color, and insight. Through creative writing deeply connected to the earth, each dream is a complete story, full of careful detail and day-to-day meaning. I follow each story with an experience I have had in my life that represents the symbolism in the dream. Facing each chapter start I have added a black and white ink illustration. My intention is not to have the focus on the illustration but rather, on the story, so the symbolism in the drawing is complete when the person reads the dream.
I have written, illustrated and/or designed myriad adult and children’s books, including How the Trees Got Their Voices, which has garnished 17 national awards. My years of experience as a graphic designer links the writing, illustration, design and production together from start to finish. My business clients range from healthcare, environmental, and high tech, as well as many book and art clients.
Untitled Manuscript
Teresa Pérez is the child of Cuban immigrants. Growing up in Toledo, Ohio in the ‘70s in this environment was rather unusual but being the 6th and youngest child, home alone until she also started school, resulted in a perfect storm for a wild imagination. She was always interested in other cultures, given that her family was considered ‘another culture’, and travel was always in the back of her mind.
Her first experience abroad was in her teens when she traveled to Canada on numerous occasions; after that, the spark was ignited and there was no turning back. After finishing university, she first moved across country to Colorado and then abroad. She has lived in Europe and has since visited numerous other countries; she fervently hopes to continue doing so well into the future.
This love of travel and experiencing other cultures was the inspiration for Joaquín’s adventures. Her sincere hope is to ignite that spark in children and open their hearts and imaginations to what travel and adventure have in store for them.
She currently lives in Argentina with her husband and two dogs.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Brandon Sousa is a corporate communication professional and a travel writer based in Toronto, Canada. He has published numerous of travel stories in magazines and newspapers with a large readership, but has never made his fiction public. With a collection of short stories in his back pocket, his ultimate goal would be to finish a novel which marries his passion for travel and the search of one’s self.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Ed Teja is a writer a poet, a musician and a traveler. He follows Paul Bowles’ definition of a traveler: “a person who moves slowly over the face of the planet, belonging no more to one place than the next.” His stories and poems are about the places he knows, places that lie in the margins of the world, and the amazing people he meets between the cracks.
Untitled Manuscript
I started work after i left grammar school as a trainee accounts clerk ,but after trying more office work in a car dealership and engineering company i settled working at a steelmaking plant in north wales
I stayed in industry for 29 years and was successful as a prolific suggestor , winning numerous prizes, starting me on my comping journey.and winning a car in the companies drum draw cemented my passion I finally took voluntary redundancy and became self employed in the claims industry and carried on entering competitions.I am now retired and have lots of free time for my passion
Untitled Manuscript
“For the sake of her eyes”
Everything was fine until she saw the reflection of her eyes in another person, another kind of lies , a hidden past and a distorted bane, false feelings and everything else is in a different direction.Lolita the girl whose having amnesia , get her memories back in the hardest way
“Book 3: Amulet’s Rapture in Curse of Clansmen and Kings Series”
Can an enslaved Celtic warrior princess balance her forbidden love for a Roman nobleman with her destiny to regain her freedom and to retake her kingdom as a warrior queen
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
A photographer based in Melbourne, Lachlan has a somewhat unique gift for finding the some form of water to end up in by accident. In fact, this gift is so strong that friends have described him as being able to find an oasis in a desert by falling into it. Lachlan has taught photography to students of all ages and for a variety of different styles of photography, from technical basics of how a camera works and how to use Manual shooting through to long exposure photography on location. There may or may not have been some tricks with fire involved as well.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Ellwyn Autumn is an American author and a certified teacher with a Master’s Degree in Education. She writes children’s picture books, middle-grade novels, and Young Adult fiction. Ellwyn’s first self-published novel, Chris Kringle’s Cops The First Mission, was a Finalist in the 2016 Reader’s Favorite International Book Contest. Her Kamyla Chung picture book series addresses difficult issues facing young children.
Ellwyn discovered her passion for writing in second grade when she had to write a book report for school. She was so excited to write the report, until her mother told her that she had to write about someone else’s book and not her own story. Ellwyn became indignant and decided that once she finished the book report she would most certainly write her own original story. She has been writing ever since!
Ellwyn lives with her family in Pennsylvania. She loves all things magical, curling up with a good book, writing stories, and almost anything with chocolate in it.
Untitled Manuscript
Dan Raabe is an athletic coach focused on busy professionals who understand the benefit of physical training and mental strength in their life. He is an author, speaker, and strength and conditioning coach. He also photographed Bob Dylan, Yamaha motorcycles, and developed the online marketing strategy for Smart Car in Japan.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Fledgling first-time author, I have written many manuscripts over the years and thrown them all away. Now in my seventies, I am trying to rival Laura Ingalls Wilder. I am a high school graduate who never had the money or opportunity to pursue a higher education. I have three grown children, all of whom are happily married. I also have seven grandchildren who contribute to the majority of my happiness. I am currently trying to break free from a loveless marriage in which I have very little if any allowed input. When you and your life partner see the world in completely different ways, it is a very sad situation.
Untitled Manuscript
Jessica has been a blogger for 15 years. Consistently making a mess of things, she’s either “funny” or “weird”. Botcho usually finds herself awake for too long despite her love of sleep. She’s busy exploring the world with a taste for fashion, concerts, breaking rules, hair dying and pizza. She only calls herself a writer in an attempt for her blog to make sense. For all business inquiries, you can contact her mom.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
I’m just a mother of a wonderful 8 yr old who enjoys to read. It all started when I wrote him notes with pictures for his lunch box that he took to school. Then it became short stories with a new chapter each lunch. We live our pets and we love camping. Nothing like a good book under the stars with our head lamps. The adventure is in our hearts. Stay tuned because you never know where the story goes next and what will unfold.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Melanie N Hayes is a 53 year old, single mom whose children snuck into adulthood without her knowing. They have three cats and a not so small dog and love animals.
Melanie has worked in the humanities for years. With education in recreation, psychology, creative communications and a lot more, she refuses to stop learning.
She lives in the extreme climate of WPG, MB, Canada and dreams of a more mild climate.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
I supposed that I should dispense with hyperbole and simply say that I’m something of a curmudgeonous lout who nonetheless enjoys the friendship of like-minded, creative people who, misguided as they may seem to the NRA, envision humanity as a benign, loving community that, despite all indicators, is evolving towards a kind of positive enlightenment.
I like reading more than I like writing, but, despite this, I’ve written nine volumes to date in various genre and under different pen names. Please do not ask me about titles or pen names as some of my books are quite controversial and I prefer hiding behind the pen name subterfuge. In my own defense, I’m medically allergic to litigation and especially sensitive to death threats.
My latest book – sure to attract death threats, or, at very least, a mountain of frivolous litigation – is entitled “Killing Tony, Excerpts from My Diary”, based on a true story that explores the dark underbelly of the community too many of us still rely on for remediation when things go wrong.
My interests are wide ranging, with literature – Spanish, French and English – being only one of them. Life is short. I like to travel. I’m something of an amateur anthropologist. I enjoy traveling on my own terms and have traveled the world in my own vehicle, free from wild-eyed terrorist rant, cranky flight attendants, and dicey flight schedules, while enjoying the co-privileges of sleeping in my own bed every night, eating my own food, and enjoying standards of sanitation to which I’ve become accustomed over a lifetime, no matter where I travel. As privileged as all of this may sound, it has been a spartan lifestyle that has, at least, afforded some protection from dengue fever, malaria and the myriad of other insect-borne diseases from which I’ve been left unprotected since birth.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Growing up in a very small town, I struggled to find ways to entertain myself since I wasn’t really interested in pop culture or mainstream movies and shows. I loved to create stories and fantasies in my spare time. However, I rarely wrote any of my ideas down because the characters and worlds that I created were very special to me; I didn’t want anyone judging or criticizing them back then. These days, I’ve grown curious of what others would think of those characters and stories.
Untitled Manuscript
“THE WINSTON ADVENTURES”
In each very very funny “adventure,” mad scientist Winston, who works for his brother-in-law at the US Government Scientific Office, comes up with an invention that more often that not surprises the reader when the world doesn’t come to and end! While science fiction, this is a collection of 15 short stories and a novella, all blended into a novel, that is in reality a series of written comedy routines. Like AUTHORS REP above, this just drips with sarcasm & mocking of contemporary mores.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
A retired individual who worked in a bank for many years. An expert in branch operations and lending. I spent a considerable amount of time in bank auditing and discovered more than one staff defalcation. I worked with various police organizations and insurance companies and testified at a number of trials as an expert witness. Worked with Deposit Insurance organizations and a national committee working to head off fraud and credit card thefts. Acted as a trainer for new bank staff and worked with an employee bonding program.
Untitled Manuscript
I am a teacher of classics and a writer. I live in Rhodes, Greece, where I studied classical subjects at the Kapodestrian University of Athens. I am thirty-two years old and I have taught for many years in tutorial schools, literature, ancient Greek, Latin, history, philosophy etc.
I have also written many short stories, many of them were published, and others are not. I occupied with writing articles on many sites in Greek or in English.
I love to play the piano and because of that, music is my inspiration.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
I’m an artist, from California. I work in several mediums, primarily sculpture and electronic media. I also write, and am part of a writer’s group. I love stories. I read books, watch several television shows, have a catalog of favorite movies, and am subscribed to tons of YouTube channels. I’m drawn to sci-fi, fantasy, and horror the most. I’m very interested in the paranormal. I like reading creepypastas. My imagination is all over the place. I’ve always enjoyed not only writing stories, but telling them. I used to read stories to all the neighborhood children. Any way to tell an interesting story excites me.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Kristen Prochnow was born in Anaheim Hills, California and jokes that she was the “trial child” as many of her aunts and uncles had a hand in raising her before having families of their own. Because she grew up in a house full of adults, she learned early on that her imagination was very active and she would often entertain herself for hours by creating complex stories and acting them out by herself outside. It was this never ending imagination that lead her to consider a career as an author and followed that path by earning her BA in English from Cal State Fullerton in 2011.
Her first book, “Fanged Beauty”, was a work of love that started from an idea when she was ten and evolved into the novel that is available today.
Untitled Manuscript
Jason Cheung is a performance based artist who uses his skills in the past to promote mental health awareness and recovery based in mental health issues. He is a “multipotentialite” and have many interests including the culinary arts, reading, acting, playing the violin and learning about different cultures including the Indigenous culture through attending sharing circles.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
“Dusting Down Alcudia”
When archaeologist Nina Esposito flies. to Mallorca to find the legendary Aelia’s necklace, little does she know she’s set in motion a chain events that’ll lead her into danger and romance.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
“The Book of Huper Seroes”
Our huper sero, I mean super hero named Muper San (instead of Super Man) battles against the evil Mackward Ban the Backward Man to save the planet Noom.
Andre Huu is a jack of many trades: a physical therapist, an entrepreneur, aspiring author, and artist. But mostly, he is a proud husband and father of three. He is also an unaccomplished, high-handicap golfer. Visit Huu online at www.golfroundofyourlife.com, or on social media @TheBackNineAuthor on FB and Instagram and Twitter.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Retiree formerly employed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut. During my own career climb, I also worked within sales and marketing departments as well as public relations, trained people within major Fortune 500 corporations on how to use mini- and micro-computer systems. Right before the Great Recession, I secured my Series 7 license and started my post as an Ameriprise Financial Advisor. The V.P. of Training saved my employability by farming me out to independent Advisors. While this approach allowed me to learn about the business, I also recognized that it was not the time for me to dedicate my efforts to the field.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
A recurring brain tumor was found in the author at nine years old. It was surgically removed, whereupon he lost the ability to walk and soon developed double vision. He relearned to walk, had eye surgery, and took medication as a teen to stay chemically balanced. The tumor returned by the tenth grade, and a second brain surgery was performed in senior year, followed by radiation treatment and another eye surgery. Years later, the author was placed in a closed psychiatric ward for a time. He channeled his thoughts, emotions, and convictions into his writing endeavors along the way.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Canadian, late middle aged (or so I like to believe). A believer in “if you don’t try it you’ll never know if it’s possible.”
Never published, first time attempt at writing a short novel.
Told many wild and crazy stories to my kids as they were growing up and watch the joy and wonder fill there faces as they listen intently.
Work in the Custodial field for 30+ years, married w/2 kids, boy and girl who are still in school.
Not much else to say!
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
I am Casey-Ann Brown and I was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica. I share a close bond with my mother and the other five siblings. I enjoy art and writing and I am a virtual freelancer who works from home, so I can pursue my passions for writing and graphic designing. I have worked mainly in the writing, printing and marketing industries as an administrative assistant and customer service representative. I am currently in the process of starting my own online business where I intend to sell my graphic designs as a print on demand commodity. Whilst striving to become a published author.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
I’m a fantasy novelist, primarily, but I like to stretch my genre without straying too far away – whether I dabble in political fantasy, erotic fantasy, science fiction, or various other genres. I began writing seriously when I was 18 years old, though I’d been writing stories since I could remember.
Untitled Manuscript
I started writing because my dreams haunted me. Characters spoke to me, demanding I tell their story. Their words filled my head until I put my fingers to the keys, and then it all came pouring out.
I had no choice, no say in the matter. These conversations weren’t my own, and the chatter wouldn’t subside until their tales had been told.
I’m all over the place, I write a little of everything, and I love it all with a passion.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Dayna Colvin is a holistic natural living self-care writer. She hopes to inspire her readers with her writing to make healthy holistic self-care choices and enjoy a very small carbon footprint on Mother Earth. She is a very active environmental advocate and animal rescue advocate. She and her husband live in the Pacific NW, USA and are happy thankful parents of an adorable little boy and share their home with 2 adorable sweet cats, their furry babies. You can reach her via email at permadeva at yahoo dot com. Dayna shares her ideas and thoughts about holistic organic self-care on her Holistic Organic Self-Care Blog: http://www.daynacolvin.com
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
author was born in germany during the post war era, with numerous family ties within the country, grandfather was old enough to recollect both world wars and could give a personal comparison, his mother was physically touch by Hilter when she was a child after being shot with piece of bullet schrapnel from an American fighter plane. most of his aunts have immigrated to the U.S. thru marrying American GI’s, while his uncle and others remain in Germany. These aunts & uncles were civilian children at the time of Hilter, some old enough to be in his youth program, while others were still to young. All have their slant as to the relevant events during the time period involved, depending on their age & what was important to them at the time
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Nthatisi Mohlominyane is a Twin she has two siblings which is Nthatuoa Mohlominyane (Twin Sister) and Lerato Mohlominyane Last born she is 26 of Age and she lives at Evaton. she Lives with Her Parents Both mother and Father and she is a Christian.she is a member of Rivers of Living Waters Ministries and she is a youth leader.
Untitled Manuscript
Karen Lee had enough of being told she wasnt living up to her potential and watching others with less talent, weaker skills and far less intelligence become more successful. What worked for them, wasnt such a straight easy procedure in her chosen vocation. After years of study and analysis she can proudly say The Missing Element was like one day compared to 1000 elsewhere.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
I LOVE to travel and see new places and meet new people as much as possible. I’ve been very lucky to have traveled to and lived in many states and countries in my life, and those experiences are worth more than gold to me and I’m nowhere near done exploring! I can be a bit of a smart-ass on occasion. I am a geek and occasionally keep odd hours.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
I am an aspiring author located outside of Boston. I write primarily in the fantasy and sci-fi genres, with an emphasis on emotional realism and twists on typical fantasy elements. My goal as an author is to immerse the reader in verisimilitude while still indulging in worlds of dragons, elves, mermaids, magic and curses. I have been writing since I was young and hope to continue to do so throughout my life. My inspirations include Susan Waters, Jennifer Egan, and Kazuo Ishiguro. Outside of writing, my interests include gardening, cooking, visiting the ocean, supporting animal charities, and playing video games.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
“Living the Dream – turn the life you have into the life you love”
There are secrets to living an amazing life and they are right in front of you every day! In this book the author will show you strategies from as far back as ancient China, and as near as your neighborhood coffee shop. You will laugh and enjoy the story as you are guided to turn the life you have into the life you love.
Neil Panosian is the author of “A Happy Life for Busy People” as well as creator of the website secret2anamazinglife.com. Mr. Panosian has been involved in the field of self-improvement for over 20-years. Recently nominated as Best Milwaukee Author by Shepherd Express magazine, Mr. Panosian has appeared on several podcasts and in local and national publications. He helps individuals and companies reduce stress, increase joy and become the best versions of themselves.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
“Middle Ground”
Roseanne and Coby have been best friends and almost romantic partners for some time until tragedy strikes, and Roseanne needs to heal from the trauma. Before they can pick up where they left off, Roseanne meets Will, a club owner, and the attraction is instant and intense. She finds herself falling deeper and deeper into his world of passion and drugs, and Coby is helpless as he watches the love of his life spiral downward. But when his attempts to get his love back take a drastic turn, it is hard to see who is crazy, who is in love, and who needs the most help.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
I am married and have three children. I have a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego. I currently work at an elementary school. My hobbies include reading, movies, contests, and hiking.I love to travel and have been on two cruises. I would love to explore Europe and Asia.
Untitled Manuscript
My name is Bharti Luthra Kochar and I am 33 years old. I have completed my Masters and also have 5 Years of work experience in corporate sector. Quit my job after an angel came into our life and made it more beautiful than ever. Never felt like joining back the Corporate sector as got engaged happily with my book and I believe strongly that I am born for this. I like to analyze life and live with the best practices and here I found the best platform to share my successful life’s experience and cascade it to the world in order to make it a beautiful place to live in. Real happiness and satisfaction should be the purpose of our life, not the money or a job. Hope to connect here with maximum people as well as complete my search for a literary agent.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
“Conned Fortune: Taking The House”
Tells the story of a Country Club Piano Player, Who started and organized a crew, who take casinos for money, from around the world, once a month. Using various systems, which they explain through the book, they take in stacks of money. I even verified one casino, who changed it’s game to prevent them from doing it again.
Mathius Young was born in Philadelphia and graduated with honors in high school, as well as college. He has BA in Fine Arts for Creative Writing from Bradford College in Massachusetts. He has worked as an investigative reporter, editor, and publishing editor for various companies. Through meetings, in the industry, he met a few people, who wanted to tell their true stories, and brought their proven stories to him.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
M. E. N. is a writer who currently specialises in writing creative fiction of the mystery/thriller genre. What began as a miniature means of escapism at the age of nine metamorphosed into an ardour and desire to address life itself.
She holds a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She works as a blogger/content creator and a freelance/ghostwriter for Jimczy Books.
When she is not glued to a computer screen, she spends time sewing clothes, making wigs and listening to music.
Untitled Manuscript
Rajarshi Ray earned his master degree in computer networking. Fondly known as the king of Indian erotica among his followers across the globe, Rajarshi is known for a radically different writing style, which does not rely on vividly graphic narratives but teases the readers with implicitly naughty cues thrown her and there.
Untitled Manuscript
Dave Morris has been in the people development business for over 30 years. Whether leading domestic or international teams or teaching discipline-specific principles and techniques on four continents, he has freely given and taken countless mulligans while mentoring others as they learn their craft and strive to achieve success as they define it for themselves.
Dave has spoken to youth and religious groups, business conferences and to television and satellite audiences. He is available to teach individuals or groups how to tap into the Power of Mulligans.
Untitled Manuscript
John W. Noyes is a world traveler and US Army Combat Veteran. He has spent much of his life in various parts of Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. He has a deep love of culture which has drawn him repeatedly to Peru and Bolivia to study the Ancient Inca. He currently lives in Arizona with his beautiful wife, two rambunctious children, and three crazy dogs.
“Journey Forward: The Girl Who Survived”
This will be the second book published in the Journey Forward Trilogy. The Girl Who Survived is the prequel to One Step at a Time. It is based on Lucia’s childhood experiences and making the decision to move away from home.
“Gangsta Boos Part 2”
A continuance of love, life, and survival skills from Part 1.
“Union Bound”
under my pen name William R. Walters
Untitled Manuscript
Catherine Kelley has been a freelance writer in the southern Oregon region for over ten years. Her memoir, prose and feature articles have been published in Grant’s Pass Courier, Medford Mail Tribune, Central Point Sun and most recently the Rogue Valley Messenger. In 2012, her first feature length comedy film, Vampire Camp, co-written with director Ray Robison, was released and won Best Feature Award at the 2013 L.A. Vampire Film Festival. She lives in Oregon and is currently completing her first novella.
Untitled Manuscript
“2Pray-part two”
Jeremy L Richard, known as JLR-Writer; Is an American Christian Horror/Thriller author. Jeremy isn’t your Traditional writer. His Horror stories come from creative Imagination, mixed with biblical truths, of the spirit realm of Good and Evil. Known for his movie like feel in his books, he leaves many readers running for their lives with the Characters!
Jeremy is also a Theology graduate with his Bachelors degree, he’s aiming for his masters in graduate school very soon. You can find him on Instagram @ jlr_writer. And be on the look out for his 2nd book named “Krazy” out now!!
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
I am a South African writer who began publishing in 1985. I’ve published 23 books, 14 through commercial publishers, the rest through my own publishing company. I’ve won several major literary awards, and have traveled extensively in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and South-east Asia. As a publisher, I am most interested in encouraging grassroots writers working in the developing world. As a writer, my speciality is so-called literary travel and short fiction.
Untitled Manuscript
Honey Kasper Glimpse into my past. There are a lot of bad things that happened in my life, but there is also a lot of good. I hope anyone that reads it can see triumph more than misery.
As you read, you will see my life unfold into something better than it was.
You will see the hand of God steering my life away from tragedy.
I chose to keep my identity a secret because I’m not doing this to hurt my family or to cause embarrassment. I want to try to help others in similar situations. This book will seem fragmented due to my post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I did find it important to share; I hope my readers will understand.
Untitled Manuscript
I was born and raised in a small mining town in SOuth Africa, where the deepest mine in the world is also situated. Writng intrigued me since childhood. At school I was always the nominated one amongst my friends to write their essays. I submitted a manuscript in 2012 to a publisher in Houston, Texas, who immediately accepted my novel. Since then I’ve written and published seven more novels, mostly Westerns. I’m married and have two children and one grandchild.
Untitled Manuscript
I have self published a 3 book series based on Peter Hawthorn (Main character) Book 1 Belfast Bound Book 2 Alaska Incident (Turned into a TV mini-series script) Book 3 Kuwait into the fires of hell.
Additionally I have written my first book A compilation of twelve short stories from modern to period all with a twist to the endings.
Book 2 Belfast Bound has also been turned into Audio and Book 2 Alaska Incident is in the process of being turned into Audio.
What If…is on hold until I’ve completed the script for Alaska Incident.
I enjoy writing and with a good imagination I find writing books easy and fulfilling.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
“Food Fight”
A picture book, which, you probably don’t handle.
“ELEMENTARY COMPUTER STUDIES FOR LOWER CLASS”
Stephen Ajode is a graduate of Moi University. Bed(Arts) and holds a post graduate diploma in Information Technology from Eldoret Polytechnic. He has lived most of his life in Webuye but his grandparents lived in Siaya, Karemo Division in a village called Randago. He hails from a family of 6 children. His father and mother, a Human Resource Officer and a teacher respectively live in a small village in Siaya called Mbaga. Steven has had two broken marriages and two biological children and an adopted child who live with the grandparents. He loves to right most of the time and in his life as a bachelor he has dedicated most of his time to righting the most interesting books of all time.
“Wimpsical City”
Historical short stories accompanied by contemporary photography
“A GIFT FROM A MYSTERIOUS BOTTLE”
A poor boy who was a coward ,dishonest and a chronic liar struggled in every every part of his life . One day a gift from a mysterious bottle changed his entire life and made him a winner of noble price .What was this mysterious bottle?What secrets did it have?
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
“Forerunner”
“I have 3 fiction novels. Here is the synopsis of the latest one due out in 2020:
Environmental anthropologist Lisa Hammond dreams of going into space. That dream turns sour when a computer malfunction transports her and her neighbor, Chris Williams, aboard a spaceship of humans from the 25th century. She’s told they can never return to Earth without changing history.
Refusing to accept that her five-year-old son, Jared, and her husband, Steve, are lost to her forever, Lisa conceives a plan to escape on the next time trip. As she waits for the window of opportunity, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to Benei, a Navajo astronomer and the only other Terran aboard.
Escape becomes more difficult as Sig, a doctor who considers her and Chris to be his daughters, and Naya, a scientist who acts more like Lisa’s mother, also befriend her.
But Lisa soon suspects they harbor secrets. What are their real motives for keeping her and Chris aboard and will those secrets prevent her from returning home? Or is there some bigger purpose to life among these people?”
Carol J. Amato is a writer, editor, and nonfiction book coach. To date, she has published twenty-nine books and over 200 articles in national publications. In addition to fiction, she writes educational fiction and nonfiction books for the middle-grade market and how-to books for writers and entrepreneurs. In her coaching practice, Carol shows entrepreneurs, speakers, coaches, and other professionals how to write and publish nonfiction books based on their expertise and other topics.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Previously I have published narrative articles for magazines and one children’s short story. This is my first full length book. I have lived in Flagstaff with my husband for 16 years. I have conquered breast cancer and Rheumatoid arthritis with help from God and my doctors and am currently retired. I have written or told stories most of my life and this book came about after a request from my daughter to write about this subject so her children could learn about the God she grew up with.
Untitled Manuscript
“Project 666”
Ancient secret makes its appearance with the universe’s sworn enemy Lucifer is back with the mission which destroyed the existence already four times. Will Kabir Singh be able to succeed in his mission and stop Lucifer or will he himself become the instrument for the destruction?
Veena Maheshwari had always been a science enthusiast and due to her high spiritual growth through scriptures and travels, she aspires to use them to create a world that would inculcate both spirituality and science under one umbrella. She also aspires to form an LLC soon which would help such new authors who would be able to contribute to the world of mystery and science.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Laurel Thompson was born in Houston, Texas in 1954. She is the top-middle of six children, all college educated. Writing and art have always been part of her life. An avid jogger, skier, married twice, three children, sadly, one son died of cancer in 2008, then Trigeminal Neuralgia struck her shortly thereafter changing her life radically. She still reads, writes, and creates.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
I’ve been writing fiction since I was seven. While still in elementary school, I read a children’s science magazine that described Roger Ravelle’s thoughts on global warming. He was Al Gore’s professor. Many years later, I decided that we all should use the best skills we have to fight global warming. I’m a skilled novelist, so I’m writing a global warming novel. I named it after a dove who came into my life to mourn a beautiful, smiling mother bird.
“Experiencing the Beauty of Brokenness”
“Without walking in Biblical brokenness, we are more prone to walk in broken dreams and broken trust with God. Many feel like they are broken into pieces. Instead of experiencing the love of God, they are experiencing broken love, broken trust, broken friendship, broken hope, and yes, a broken heart. God, however, says we need to have broken pride in order to expose His beauty within us.
When we walk in true brokenness, we will see emotional, mental, and spiritual freedom as we experience broken bonds, broken chains, and broken captivity to strongholds. The ministry of Biblical brokenness means that we are broken but not crushed. causes a beauty transformation in our soul. Brokenness is genuinely the beauty secrets of the Bible.
It is in our DNA or destiny to not be crushed or possess broken faith. We will be experiencing God through brokenness. There is an exquisite beauty after brokenness. Pain and suffering do not have to define us or destroy us because we can experience beauty from pain and suffering.”
INTRODUCTION:
DEFINING BROKENNESS
There is beauty in brokenness. However, it must be Biblical brokenness. There is nothing beautiful or healing in the brokenness of the world that leaves people traumatized, depressed, addicted to medications or alcohol, alone, depressed and emotionally and mentally damaged. This book is a study and exercise on the Biblical mandate of embracing the lifestyle of brokenness, covering 7-days a week for ten weeks. It will take about 10 minutes a day to read and complete the questions. By the end of the book, may we all have a complete understanding of God’s mandate that we are to die daily and live a life of Christ, and hopefully, we have chosen to do such.
Before we start the daily work, we need to identify and define brokenness both as to what it is not and what it is, according to the Word of God. The world has assigned a definition to the word brokenness, which we will look at and give the reason as to why this is not Biblical brokenness.
Many times, we only see brokenness as a result of coming from something we violently lost, something taken from us, or an emotional, mental or physical trauma we have experienced. Before sharing what true Biblical brokenness is, there needs to be a clear understanding of what brokenness is not.
BROKENNESS IS NOT SUFFERING:
Though suffering is an instrumental part of brokenness and is used by God to bring us to the point of brokenness, suffering alone is certainly not to be confused as brokenness. For over 40 years of ministry, people have testified that they had experienced brokenness. What they really mean is that they have been through a horrible time of suffering. Some crisis we experienced was a direct result of our own bad decisions, and some, unfortunately, was imposed upon us against our will. It may be a divorce, or a bad marriage, a rebellious and troublesome child, unemployment, money issues, extended family arguments or divisions, feelings of low self-esteem, loneliness, inadequacy, depression, constant worry, sexually immoral behavior, unresolved anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, rebellious acts, major disappointment, long term or serious illnesses, adultery or a multitude of other problems. When we hear the pain of those who experience these legitimate sufferings, we typically listen with sincere compassion, realizing these are no guaranteed pieces of evidence of Biblical brokenness. They can, however, be the vehicle the Holy Spirit uses to bring those suffering to the place of brokenness. Therefore, what many call brokenness is the fact that they have experienced severe emotional, mental, or physical trauma in their life.
BROKENNESS IS NOT UNRESOLVED PAIN:
Brokenness is not an unresolved pain. It is common in our days to hear someone say that they were hurt sexually, emotionally, relationally, or some other type of physical, emotional, or mental pain or trauma. Because these tragic events from their past cause current negative consequences, they feel justified in using the word “brokenness” to define themselves. Understandably we know what they mean and certainly do not deny they were hurt and are in emotional, mental, or physical pain. However, many of those who were hurt and traumatized are stuck in patterns that are causing dysfunction choices and lifestyle behavioral issues. This type of suffering is terrible and needs addressing, yet, this is not the kind of brokenness spoken of in Scripture. There are tremendous testimonies from many of these traumatized people receiving miraculous healing from our Lord Jesus Christ as they begin to experience Him and His Word entirely and honestly in faith without excuses or justifying their condition or actions.
Testimonies of those who claim to be broken but are, in reality, severely hurt would include a growing awareness that “no matter how hard we try, our ability to make our life work is getting worse instead of better.” The main difference between the brokenness of the world versus the brokenness from God’s Word is the fruit. The fruit always reveals the root. The brokenness of the world makes the individuals hurt to feel like victims and seeks to keep them that way wherever they turn in the world for help. After not being able to find help in the world that offers any lasting solutions, many of the “broken” individuals seek to medicate the emotional, mental, or physical pain through drugs, medications, or alcohol. Again, this is not to minimize the hurt and pain of those who have been traumatized. Indeed, our heart goes out to them in compassion and prayer that they get the right help from God’s Word for a complete healing and total restoration.
BROKENNESS IS NOT WHAT THE WORLD DEFINES IT AS BEING:
These two ideas lead many to believe they carry the classification of brokenness, which does not come from God’s Word but the world’s definition of brokenness. The dictionary defines brokenness as,
1. Forcibly separated into two or more pieces; fractured: a broken arm; broken glass.
2. Sundered by divorce, separation, or desertion of a parent or parents: children from broken homes; a broken marriage.
Again, this is not Biblical brokenness, but it is a broken spirit or broken heart. This reclassification is not to minimize the hurt, pain, suffering, or trauma, but to accurately identify what God’s Word calls us to and how to be healed from the spirit-man outward.
To “break people’s spirit” is to destroy them mentally and emotionally. It takes from them their self-esteem, their joy in life, belief and joy in who they are, to take away their dreams and the life they had hoped for, and to have them emotionally beaten down to the point where they go from being who they were to someone who has lost all hope.
CHARLES MORRIS is a native of Craigsville, Virginia. He is a disabled veteran, having served in the USAF for fourteen years. He has been in the ministry for over 40 years and has traveled extensively throughout the world. After his salvation experience in 1974, he immediately started to preach and teach the gospel. Pastor Charles is a pastor, church planter, evangelist, house church coordinator, and founder/CEO of Raising the Standards International Ministries, who possesses a unique way of using word pictures to paint the truth of God’s Word. Pastor Charles and his wife, Debra, currently reside in Navarre, Florida.
Untitled Manuscript
I am a happy husband to a perfect wife, and a proud father of two perfect kids. My wife and I are world-traveling nomads, tied to nothing, and intent on making our lofty goals our lofty reality.
I have a personal writing blog, and my wife and myself have a travel blog, which I write for as well.
I love my family, adventure, drinking, the ocean, and doing whatever I want. I’m also not afraid to try anything once.
“Medicine Buddha/Medicine Mind”
This book provides readers with simple ways to understand how Neuroscience emphasizes and explains the power of visualization meditation. Using the Medicine Buddha practice from Tibetan meditation techniques and citing how Neuroscience explains how our brains work when we imagine, the reader is led to an understanding of how East and West makes the same statements.
“Comprised of billions of neurons, or brain cells, our brains light up with tiny electrical charges when the neurons connect. For example, neurons connect when we perform an action. As we perform the same action repetitively the circuits of those connecting neurons grow larger. As those circuits grow larger, it becomes increasingly natural and increasingly easy, to repeat the action associated. These circuits may be measured on fMRI machines, functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging machines.
Untitled Manuscript
Jeff Rasley lives on the White River in Indianapolis with Alicia and Bandit. His first published writing was melancholic-adolescent poetry in the Hanover College Fine Arts Journal. Over 80 feature articles in law, travel, spirituality, politics, and human interest followed in Newsweek, Chicago Magazine, ABA Journal, and other periodicals. Jeff is the author of ten books.
Jeff dropped out of college, saved money from factory work, then hitch-hiked across the USA. Money earned on a road crew financed travels in Europe and motorcycling from Indiana to Mexico City. Marriage and kids lessened travel time, but he leads Himalayan treks and mountaineering expeditions, has scuba dived throughout the Caribbean, and sea-kayaked in Palau, Tonga, and the Greek Isles.
Jeff’s commitment to social activism and philanthropy began in high school when he co-founded the Goshen Walk for Hunger. In law school he fought for renters’ rights and organized the first rent strike in Indiana as president of the Indianapolis Tenants Association. As a young lawyer Jeff founded free legal clinics at two inner-city churches in Indianapolis. He was lead counsel on class action suits for prisoners which resulted in the construction of two new jails in Central Indiana. Jeff was plaintiff in a class action requiring clean-up of the White River after it was polluted by an industrial chemical spill. Jeff is the founder of the Basa Village Foundation, which funds culturally sensitive development in Nepal. He is president of Indianapolis Scientech Club, which promotes scientific inquiry and learning. Jeff is a director of six nonprofits, including the Indianapolis Peace & Justice Center, University of Chicago Alumni Club, and Phi Beta Kappa of Indiana. He is U.S. liaison for the Himalayan expedition company Adventure GeoTreks Ltd. He has taught courses on “culturally sensitive development” and philanthropy at Butler and Marian Universities and memoir writing at the Indiana Writing Center.
Jeff’s BA is from U of Chicago magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, All-Academic All-State Football, letter winner in swimming and football; JD Indiana University Law School cum laude, Moot Court, Indiana Law Review; MDiv Christian Theological Seminary magna cum laude, co-valedictorian and Faculty Award Scholar. He has been admitted to the Indiana, US District, and US Supreme Court Bars.
Jeff describes reading Marcel Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past as great an adventure as climbing Himalayan peaks.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
We live in a world where the habit of labeling people helps us hide from their humanity, their life stories. William Silvaneus’s whole life, whether writing or working with trauma victims and the disenfranchised, has been spent trying to smash labels and free people from the constraints those labels impose whether on an individual or social level. His other interests include watercolor painting, creating ornamental egg decorations, writing poetry, and loving his wife, four children, and thirteen grandchildren
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Lisa Riley is a fictional, as well as a nonfictional author, her love for writing, came to light in her late teens when she became inspired in literary arts, she always believes that ” everyone has a story inside, waiting to come out”.
In her latest novel Understanding God, is the third novel she has written following several short stories.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Born in London, England, Ryan Stride has been practising the Eastern martial arts and meditation for over fifteen years. Ryan wishes to share with people how the mystical can be found in the moment, allowing great things to happen. Ryan is also a journalist and social commentator who is currently working on a script and several new book titles.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Sunny Fungcap is a Brooklyn-born multicultural, self-help writer and mom of over twenty years. After 2016, she pivoted from public administration and singing professionally to being a healthcare technology SME and lifestyle-wellness coach. After teaching Pre-k and Elementary school in Atlanta, GA, Sunny earned her MPA in nonprofit management and educational studies. She is undergoing a second Master in Ehealth Management Rome, Italy to improve her skills and help improve access to care on a global scale.
In 2015 Sunny was featured in Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine and was interviewed on local radio to offer her perspective on single moms tapping into unlimited possibilities and becoming the best version of themselves, regardless of race, circumstance, or socioeconomic status. She emphasized a wellness-driven approach and discussed new and meaningful ways to enhance the single mom’s quality of life to bring about amazing results. The idea was to put the control back into the pockets of single moms everywhere, by explaining how we create our reality and how we can steer it in the direction we want.
Sunny has been an empowerment trailblazer and digital health subject matter expert at NYU Langone Health, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine, and currently Montefiore Medical Center. She’s worked directly with Pediatricians, OBGYNs, and Counselors to improve patient access to care for women and children and to help promote positive lifestyle changes for single moms. She is a holistic health champion and an innovator of Telehealth in such times when access to healthcare is crucial.
“My Author Journey”
This book is about my initial journey as a first time author. And it’s also about marketing publishing and writing your book.
I keep seeing ads from publishers. About getting your book published. I kept thinking about my special parents. And thoughts about writing their story kept coming back.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
My name is Steve Gunn. I love to write and spend time with my family. I have a German Shepard named Hero and a cat named Rocky.
I live in Cedar Lake, Indiana with my loving wife, Marie, and my three equally loving children, Joey, Nina, and William. Some of my favorite children’s books include anything from Dr. Suess and other types of rhyming books.
“Insanity Laughs”
“(Not finished)
A woman Elvira is committed to an asylum after brutally killing a man in cold blood with an ax.
The book takes the reader through Elvira’s journey on ending up at the asylum.
The doctor is mad and weird things are going on at the asylum.
Elvira has strange abilities, and nothing is what it seems.”
Untitled Manuscript
Kingdoms Come is my first completed original manuscript, however I do have other stories in progress that I would eventually love to publish. I would like a career as a novelist and an editor, specialising in fantasy and historical fiction. My dream is to tell meaningful, escapist stories that take readers on emotional adventures and develop a safe, supportive community. I have an online Marvel and Hasbro fanfiction readership. I am a poly-ethnic, demisexual woman with High-Functioning Autism/Asperger’s Spectrum Disorder and other physical disabilities. I was born and raised in Australia, and am currently studying English and History at university.
Untitled Manuscript
I am a Professor of Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship in the College of Business at Illinois State University. Also, I am the Director of George R. and Martha Means Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, College of Business, at Illinois State University. I had my doctoral education (Ph.D.) in Business Administration from Washington State University. I did my undergraduate studied at the University of London and my Masters from Hawaii. I was born in India and a citizen of the US. I live with my wife, Priyanka, and Dog: Bruce the Magnificient.
I have extensively published in top academic journals. I am regarded as a foremost scholar in fields like radical innovations, management of technology, management of design, technology strategy, and strategic entrepreneurship. I can be easily googled.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Bede Ehiogu is a budding writer from Africa. Having read vast and engaging fantasy tales from famed authors such as J. R. Tolkien, J. Rowling, G. Martin and Terry Goodkind, he has become interested in writing his own. Bede has a great liking for the creation of myth, or mythopoeia, for which he creates supernatural and extraordinary characters. To him, fantasising about these worlds of his os a favourite pastime.
Bede Ehiogu graduated in English (and literature studies) from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Sabina Khan, PhD, is a research scientist, clinical professor and freelance writer of brain health, nutrition and scientific articles in Miami, FL. Dr. Khan’s research falls at the intersection of neuroscience and women’s health and is focused on how our genetics, diet, environment, and lifestyle shape the brain.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Cendrine Marrouat is a French-born Canadian photographer, poet, and the multi-genre author of more than 30 books. In 2019, she founded the PoArtMo Collective and co-founded Auroras & Blossoms with David Ellis. A year later, Ellis and she launched PoArtMo (Positive Art Month and Positive Art Moves) and created the Kindku / Pareiku, two forms of poetry. Cendrine is also the creator of another poetry form (the Sixku) and a type of digital image (the Reminigram).
Cendrine writes both in French and English and has worked in many different fields in her 17-year career, including translation, language instruction, journalism, art reviews, and social media.
Untitled Manuscript
Bede Ehiogu is a budding writer from Africa. Having read vast and engaging fantasy tales from famed authors such as J. R. Tolkien, J. Rowling, G. Martin and Terry Goodkind, he has become interested in writing his own. Bede has a great liking for the creation of myth, or mythopoeia, for which he creates supernatural and extraordinary characters. To him, fantasising about these worlds of his os a favourite pastime.
Bede Ehiogu graduated in English (and literature studies) from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Untitled Manuscript
Kathlyn Jones can usually be found expressing her views, and those views will more likely than not be about the law. Writing a novel was always on her to-do list, and finally, with Confessions of a stay-at-home-mom, it became a reality. When not absorbed in the latest Supreme Court controversy, Kathlyn is a Harvard student, loves cooking, hiking, and enjoys jogging in the canyons. She lives in Utah with her husband and children.
Untitled Manuscript
Adm. Tola O. Ajimisogbe, born on 25th October, 1974, is a Nigerian lisenced Chartered Administrator in accordance with Cap C7 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. He is a passionate writer and public speaker. He is famous for his research paper on ERA 1 and ERA 2 theories of resources management upon which he wrote his widely circulated paper, Administration O Natural Resources For Sustainable Development In Contemporary Nigeria: Challenges And Improvement Template. A one time senior executive officer with the Delta State Public Service before his voluntary retirement in 2015. He is currently the Principal Consultant of T. O. Ajimisogbe & Associates. A firm of Corporate Healthcare Consultants, with operational base in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. He is married with children.
Untitled Manuscript
Emma-Jane Barlow is a 27-year-old poet, writer and mental health advocate from the UK. She has been writing poetry since the age of seven and finds comfort in writing about her life experiences. She has a BA Hons Degree in Creative Writing and plans to do her Master’s in writing. She is a spiritual and sensitive soul that loves to create. Emma-Jane shares her work on her Instagram page @emmajanepoetry and is also the project leader of the First Line Poets Project (@firstlinepoets) on Instagram. Darkness & Light is her first poetry collection, and she is already working on her second collection. In her spare time, besides writing, she loves reading, stitching, yoga and playing her guitar and ukulele.
Untitled Manuscript
“The Chelsea Experiment”
“Oracle – Fire Island (book 2)”
Ret’s second scar makes its explosive debut. More of our world’s mysteries lead him to Fire Island and the second element. Ancient artifacts, a hot-air balloon, lines in the desert, a city in the mountains, tribal societies, and even the navel of the world all play their parts in Ret’s continued quest to fill the Oracle. Hang on tight as author C.W. Trisef takes you to places and predicaments you have never seen before or even imagined, and makes you feel like you are a part of Ret’s destiny, to cure the world.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
The Captain’s Daughters is Doreen D. Berger’s first novel in a series about the Marsh sisters, Diane and Robin. Doreen, known to her family and friends as Diane has based the series on her relationship with her lifelong friend, Robin, and their spirited childhood adventures. Doreen lives on Long Island with her family and pets.
Untitled Manuscript
I’m a Native Texan, born and raised close to the heart of the great Lone Star state. I was born in January of 89′ and got to grow up during a great time, I honestly don’t consider myself a Millennial, and really hate that title. Also I’m a part-time working secretary and a full-time mother/housewife, as well as a Lupus Warrior.
Having Lupus, means a life of inside living, and the sun is known as my arch-nemesis, my personal kryptonite. I wanted to leave a legacy behind, sometime my kids could one day look back on and say, yeah my mom did that.
Thanks to the encouragement of friends and family, I found a passion in writing paranormal romance books. Anything fantasy usually suits my novels and me tend to be able to reach anyone in multiple genres. Most of my story ideas come to me in the most unexpected time and places, such as my dreams. They will plague me non-stop until I get my rear up and write it out.
I like to explore to new types of characters such as Sandmen and Boogeymen for example. I really wanted to give them their own world, such as A Sandman’s Forbidden Love.
God has granted me success that I never imagine was possible., which lead me to my obsession with the paranormal. Now, I know shifter aren’t real but Angels are another story. So Angels are also a part of my obsession, I will sit on the computer doing extensive research on both Sandmen and Angels trying to get my facts straight.
Then, on the side, I create Art Journals that can be cross generational from thirteen to sixty years younger, My goal with these types of books are to reach people who need that extra feel good in their lives.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Abiodun Nathaniel Folorunso is an Author and Scriptwriter. He developed his passion for writing through reading and his leadership act from a tender age through the opportunity given to him to preach to the congregation and lead the youths of his church. He is the author of Objectives (Making choices that guarantee a happy and successful life) and My choice & I.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
Poetry Writer 1976 – 1990. Poetry in the Library of Congress.
Diary Writer since 6th grade.
1990 Wrote first manuscript for a childrens Novel but did not get it published. But got it criticized from a Writers Connection group. Still would like to see it published eventually perhaps along with 2 others TBD like a trilogy.
Untitled Manuscript
I currently work as the manager of a self-storage company. It took me over 20 years to finally overcome my struggles with bipolar disorder and keep it in check. I like to sing karaoke, play volleyball, and ski in my spare time. I’ve taken acting classes and performed in theatrical productions. I’ve worked as an extra for a couple of years and got a good role in Orange is the New Black. Out of college I started a program of DNA testing for lymphoma and leukemia at a NY hospital.
Untitled Manuscript
I was born and raised in Northwest Ohio, where I live with my family. I am a graduate of Northwest State Community College in Archbold, Ohio, and will graduate in December with a B.A. from Bluffton University in Bluffton, Ohio. I discovered a passion for writing about three months ago and now want to create stories that will transform the way people think about themselves and the human condition.
“What to Wear to Paradise: Wedding Dresses with Hardware Inclusions”
“The artistic woman faces the historic dilemma of whether to marry, who to marry, what would marriage look like. In this colorful, hybrid poetry and florid iPhone imagery “”experiential novel,”” all aspects and points of view of the artisan wishing for, and also avoiding, a match that could become a muse are explored. Semi-autobiographical form follows a full story arc from historic arts birthright, through doubts, reversals, determination and conclusion.
“
Fairytale Dressing
A girl must first be a hero to herself. On ordinary days willing and able to leave her mark. Define, perform, create—without dependence. Not a cardboard persona, yet tracking the trappings of myth. This fairytale tells not just one woman’s untidy squabble with herself, but everywoman’s wavering wishes about pairing for life. Instinctual need clothed in wish fulfillment. Emotions may be woman’s traditional currency of involvement, but the consequences imperil our chosen course of marital action in face of pressures from many sides. We can get quite hostile; perhaps we are in part angry with ourselves, collapsing from otherwise cogent behavior into cloying sentimentality, with ingrained visions of heaven and even royal blood, at the appearance of a ring—diamond or otherwise.
What to wear to paradise? Outfit and accessories essential, crucial choices (though not always smart about the particular frog-prince.) Does one costume for one’s personal fairytale, assuring victory by acquisition? The Wedding Dress is villain and champion both, a wrench between art and artifice, with ingrained desire and nails of tradition hammered into the marrow. Religion and pagan story: fables with aftereffects. The roles established: hero on a quest, ugly villains, beautiful victim, peasants’ toil, courtly estate, magical happy resolution. Castles, if only in the air. And always The Dress, manifest rags to riches. A miracle of outside wrapping to eventually transform all conflict and disaster into bliss. A beautiful few minutes replays in a lifetime baggage of commemoration or tears—packed in Louis Vuitton, of course.
Tiny Dancer
Lift the lid
a tinkly waltz
awakes a tiny
plastic dancer
all pink and sequins
from her bed
of dime store rings
and young ear studs.
Her secret world
eternal balance
spinning on one toe,
oblivious
of crowd or clutter.
Wind her up;
she’ll dance for you
in her box
forever.
Music box ballerina
now princess-bride
twirling gown ecstatic
hush and swish,
head thrown back,
smug with guilty pleasure
burnished rapture
round and round
merry go round
a private mirror
echo of childhood’s pearls;
a cache so intimate,
pristine—
we shouldn’t look,
but film it if you can.
After considering fighter pilot, diplomatic service, and archaeologist, Sara Frances settled on photography because it created a bridge to know people, discover cultures, and discuss politics and sociology. She is a Master photographer, grad of Lighthouse Poetry Collective, and board member or volunteer or judge for a number of publishing, writing, and image making organizations.
Recent Books: Unplugged Voices 125 Tales of Art and Life from Northern New Mexcio, the Four Corners and the West; Fragments of Spirit: 60 Years: A Photographer’s Recollections of Tale Pueblo, the Region and its Arts
Untitled Manuscript
Hello to You, wherever you are in the world!
Writing has always been a way for me to express what goes on inside. I don’t believe much in the perfection of the script. For me, it has always been about the idea that is conveyed. I believe art is without perfection. But also the truest form of the self. That is the message I want to put forward with all my books. Now that I am in this field, I want to explore all my limits and every corner of my heart with my books. So every time you pick up a book of mine, you are getting an insight of my brain. I cannot wait to share all these little pieces of me with all of you. I hope you find it easy to connect with my words. My only desire is to create something that resonates with you. Writing is my passion and here I am liberated!
Untitled Manuscript
“the A’s”
Olivia, Assahi, Tanner, Ruthie and Pual are just five normal kids with ordinary lives. but when they find a dead body in a dark alley, the friends decide to investigate. will they be able catch the murderer? or until one of them falls to be the next victim.
“”” the shoes on different porches, killing the people we know, the footage erased from my camera.””
Tanner and i exchange looks. “” what are you saying? “”
Assahi looks dead our eyes. “” he knows us. the murder knows each and every one of us. “””
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
S Choudhury is an aspiring author, published poet and highschool student. Having a profound love for words and literature, she started writing at the age of five and never stopped since then. Through the years, she has been awarded numerous accolades and in the year 2021, she published a collection of her poems “Crimson Lights”. Still, the dream of creating a story of her own remains and she hones her craft daily so that her stories reach the world and brings them joy.
“Wolf Hunter Inquisition: Rise of the Fire Witch”
After discovering her former partner is a vampire, Sophia can’t return to life as usual. A choice will hurl her headlong into the dark world she never knew existed as a power rises within her which she cannot seem to control.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
I’m a former junior/senior high Spanish teacher turned UFC fighter (ranked #7 in the world, 2007), reality TV champion (Pros vs. Joes on Spike TV, 2006) and Division I wrestler/1st Team All-Academic. I currently speak on stages/virtually, write books and host a podcast with a mission to embody and inspire lifelong learning.
About my mission/message: Learning is the foundation of everything you want in life. It’s your pathway to your hopes and dreams. I bring the discipline and mindset of wrestling and fighting to learning through the systematic study of books and conversations. My goal is to quip you with the knowledge and tools to knock out any obstacle you face (pun intended).
“The Baby Monitor”
Richard and Lissa Platte can not sleep. Every night their infant son wakes them screaming, crying, gripped by a terror he can not name. Does he simply have nightmares? Is their home haunted? Or is something even darker eating away at the sanity of this young family? The Baby Monitor is a horror story. A love story. And a book with something to say about marriage and children. It will linger with you for many, many dark nights to come
“Who Has Seen the Wind Today?”
This is a story about four animals chasing the wind to see where it is going. As they go along they ask the question “Who has seen the wind, today as it went merrily on its way”. The hen, pig, dog and cat chase the wind through the green meadow, stopping to ask the Mr. Owl where the wind has gone.
Angela Thompson was born March of 1960 in Lumberton, North Carolina. She loves to write, especially children’s books. Recently she has completed her second book titled “How We Get From Here to There”. As a child she remember growing up copying and rewriting stories that she read as a child. Her dream is to see her books in public and school libraries and bookstores around the world. In the near future she hopes to publish another book titled “In Santa’s House” Retro St
Untitled Manuscript
Peri Heft is a 360-degree health and wellness coach who educates, encourages, and inspires others to improve their Meals, Movement, and Mindset. As a certified nutritionist, yoga and fitness instructor, personal trainer, and lover of all things health and holistic wellness, her knowledge and experience surrounding food and its effect on the body plays a large role in her success as a leader, educator, trainer, and author. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, working out, creating artwork, enjoying live music, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with friends and family.
“DIY Hydroponic Gardens”
With practical information aimed at home DIYers, author Tyler Baras (Farmer Tyler to his fans) shows exactly how to build, plant, and maintain over a dozen unique hydroponic systems, some costing just a few dollars to make.
Tyler Baras has a range of urban agricultural experience from homesteading to commercial hydroponics. While completing his B.S. in Horticultural Sciences at the University of Florida, he traveled overseas to study Organic Agriculture in Spain and Protected Agriculture (greenhouse production) in China. After graduation, he worked as a grower for 3 Boys Farm Inc., one of the first certified organic hydroponic farms in the United States. In 2013, Tyler moved to Denver, Colorado where he worked as the hydroponic farm manager at The GrowHaus. He managed a profitable urban farm while creating a successful hydroponic internship program with a 90% job placement rate for graduates. While at The GrowHaus, Tyler started creating educational videos and blog posts about farm tech which are available on his website FarmerTyler.com. In 2015, Tyler moved to Dallas, Texas where he managed the Dallas Grown hydroponic greenhouse and worked as Special Projects Manager for Hort Americas, a commercial hydroponic equipment distributor. While in Dallas, Tyler wrote one of the best-selling hobby hydroponic books, DIY Hydroponic Gardens: How to Design and Build an Inexpensive System for Growing Plants in Water. In 2017, Tyler wrote Roadmap to Growing Leafy Greens and Herbs, an educational book for new growers and investors interested in commercial hydroponic production of leafy greens in greenhouses and indoor farms. In 2018, Tyler moved to San Francisco, California where he worked as the New Product Development Senior Grower at the indoor vertical farming company Plenty. In 2020, Tyler relaunched FarmerTyler.com offering horticultural consulting services and education video content available on Urban Ag News YouTube and Farmer Tyler YouTube.
Untitled Manuscript
“21st. Century Vampire Dollhouse”
Story about modern Vampires snatching young youthful bodies to delete their minds and then transfer the vampire’s minds and persona into the stolen body. Hence, the vampire switched body to body and lived for ever.
Untitled Manuscript
“Albion Park”
Meeting Mister Right. As she walked back up the beach, she wondered if she could ever be as happy and excited about someone again as she was when she was sixteen. That lustful, exhilarating feeling that emanated from deep in the gut every time you encountered that crush, making you both dizzyingly weak and strong at the same time. Or the incredible rush of endorphins when you held that new boy’s hand, or when he kissed you, innocently and unexpectedly for the first time. New love was like a drug, an incredibly invigorating feeling Sam hadn’t felt in decades. Truly hadn’t felt with anyone for any amount of time since she was, in fact, sweet sixteen. Not since she was head over heels in love with Ian. He popped into her head like he always did when she was feeling down, or scared, or alone. Why couldn’t’ she get this guy, this fantasy, this relationship she had experienced over twenty years ago out of her mind? Why hold on to it? She hadn’t spoken to him in over fifteen years and at that time they had both been in relationships and living three thousand miles apart.
“Night Threads”
Over the decades, I have received dreams of all sorts that roll out like a movie – night dreams, awake dreams, shamanic journeys. They are filled with symbolism, color, and insight. Through creative writing deeply connected to the earth, each dream is a complete story, full of careful detail and day-to-day meaning. I follow each story with an experience I have had in my life that represents the symbolism in the dream. Facing each chapter start I have added a black and white ink illustration. My intention is not to have the focus on the illustration but rather, on the story, so the symbolism in the drawing is complete when the person reads the dream.
I have written, illustrated and/or designed myriad adult and children’s books, including How the Trees Got Their Voices, which has garnished 17 national awards. My years of experience as a graphic designer links the writing, illustration, design and production together from start to finish. My business clients range from healthcare, environmental, and high tech, as well as many book and art clients.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
An idea popped into my consciousness over fifteen years ago, morphing slightly over the years, but still capturing the original idea; to help people reach their inherent potential. As a coach with a background in psychology, I strive to help others see the world differently, and sometimes there is no better way than through fiction.
Untitled Manuscript
Untitled Manuscript
George Raymond Blake was enthralled as a boy by reading novels and serialized stories such as Analog, Omni, and others. Mr. Blake took an interest in science and engineering when he was nine years old, examining old machines and manmade technology to see what made them work, often repairing the machines and, ultimately, re-configuring and re-designing them.
Growing up in Southern California’s San Fernando Valley, he was afforded the opportunity to be mentored by engineers, scientists, and technicians from top aerospace companies at the peak of the Cold War.
Untitled Manuscript
George Raymond Blake reads novels and serialized stories such as Analog, Omni, and others. Mr. Blake took an interest in science and engineering when he was nine years old, examining old machines and manmade technology to see what made them work, often repairing the machines and, ultimately, re-configuring and re-designing them.
He is currently an Electronics Engineer for an industrial firm, has traveled to 8 countries, always striving to study, create and invent. Mr. Blake holds a U.S. Patent.
George Raymond Blake possesses a general-class license in amateur radio (W6BDD).
Untitled Manuscript
Lisa Grantham’s debut memoir, Soul, Eclipsed, was longlisted for the 2022 Memoir Prize for Books. Excerpts have been published in The Write Launch, Waxing and Waning, and Tangled Locks and shortlisted for the Lascaux Prize in Creative Nonfiction. She is currently querying agents and building her author platform.
Lisa has been in recovery since 2004, and her husband since 2005. They’re active in recovery communities in Northern California, where they live with their son. Lisa works as a substitute teacher and enjoys hiking with her family.
Untitled Manuscript
An idea popped into my consciousness over fifteen years ago, morphing slightly over the years, but still capturing the original idea; to help people reach their inherent potential. As a coach with a background in psychology, I strive to help others see the world differently, and sometimes there is no better way than through fiction.
Untitled Manuscript
Idegu Ojonugwa Shadrach is a Nigerian Author and Activist with over 58 self-published books spanning all genres of literature. He has also published political articles on some of the popular Nigeria’s Newspapers and on some reputable international journals.
I am currently looking forward to see my published books translated to some of the world popular languages, marketed on plenty reputable platforms and have the published books in audiobook format.
“Lost In The Middle Of Nowhere”
Lost In The Middle Of Nowhere is a story of the weird dream six-year-old Jack had when he was fond of not listening to what his mother says ‘avoid reading The Book Of Evils’. He learns his lesson the hard way!
John found out he was in a place he had no idea about. Scared he was, John asked, ‘’Where am I?!’’ It was obvious his question was not answered. More frightened, he asked again, ‘’Where am I!!?’’
Few seconds later, a sudden moving sound answered, ‘’You are in the middle of nowhere’’
‘’How did I get here?’’ John inquired.
He attempted to run away but realized the more he tried running, the closer the sound got to him.
‘’Ha! Ha!! Ha!!! You must be John, right?’’
‘’Yes. And who are you?’’
‘’I am the Windy Sound!’’
John was gripped with fear. He could see his heart almost pop out of his shirt.
‘’Are you the character I read about in Horror Comics?’’
‘’Yes, of Course.’’ Windy Sound laughed.
John was stationed at a spot as he felt Windy Sound surround him.
‘’Are you human? I have read about how you get to shape shift from being a human to an animal. Is that really true?’’
Windy Sound noticed John was getting rid of his fear.
‘’Well, all I can say is…I am the human I ought to be. But I am a hybrid, sadly.’’
‘’Good!’’ John was excited. ‘’Very interesting! Yes. I read you are a hybrid. That, to me, is the interesting part. But what happened? Why are you not the human you ought to be?’
‘’It’s a long story, kid. I won’t be able to explain it because you are under-age.
John got angry. ‘’There you go! My mother would always talk me out of reading Horror Comics. She would tell me, ‘son, don’t read this! You’re too young for this. It’s way beyond you. When I ask her, ‘why’, she would reply, ‘in age, you will understand; but for now, listen to me, John’. Windy Sound, tell me about you. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you in person!’’
Windy Sound was surprised. ‘’Meeting me in person? Are you serious?’’
‘’Yes’’
‘’Have you forgotten where you are?’’
‘’Hmmm…It seems so. But my business is…tell me who you really are?’’
Windy Sound laughed. ‘’It appears you have no idea of where you are…’’
John was not moved at all. He challenged, ‘’If you are what you claim, prove it!’’
‘’Kid, you have no faintest idea of how you came here. Yet, you have the gut to ask me your kind of question. Do you really trust your mother?’’
‘’Windy Sound, how is it your business? My mother and I have something in common, but we aren’t related to you!’’
‘’Do you know how you got here?’’
‘’How?! Tell me, Windy Sound’’
‘’Like I mentioned earlier, you are lost in the middle of nowhere’’
John felt Windy Sound make uncontrolled noise. He saw himself suspended in the wind—the space occupied by Windy Sound.
‘’If you think you’re Windy Sound, do what makes you who you are’’ John dared, despite being scared.
Windy Sound got upset. John realized he has been wrapped in the all-swallowing motion of Windy Sound.
“Evolution Device”
A kind of hymn to the origins of rock in the early 1970s, Evolution Device is also a love story between a man, a woman, and a guitar. The woman in the story is a Muse, corporeal and ephemeral. She can be both and, quite naturally, she can also fall in love.
All well and good. Except for a guitar called The Lady. Once mused, the instrument, too, becomes a mysterious source of power. So, the story is then about a threesome: the guitarist Eddie Edmunds, the muse of his dreaming psyche, and his supernatural guitar. Who gets the man? Two spirits are fighting to take possession of him and he hides from it all with heroin. Who wins?
Think of the greatest rock guitarists you know of, then throw in a bit of Jimi Hendrix or Jimmy Page. You might find you already know of Eddie: charismatic yet tragically fallible. Evolution Device is a fairytale of sorts, one that never seems unreal even though it is always fantastical.
The last notes lingered in the room. The old man brushed the guitar’s maple surface. He nodded in Eddie’s direction. “This your boy?” he asked me. “He comes for this guitar?”
“Yes,” I answered simply, but my voice was drowned out by a shout.
“No!” A man stood up abruptly in a dark corner. I couldn’t quite make out his features, but he was youngish, big and angry.
“Oh yes,” the old man countered. “Less’n you can play this dark-hearted Lady better than this gentleman can.”
“I could…” Someone yanked the man back to his seat. He settled down but I could feel the hostility from his corner. The rest of the room emanated resignation, with a few small bright sparks of curiosity here and there.
“What’s your name, son?” The guitarist tilted his head. “I want to know who’s come courtin’ my Lady.” He grinned toothlessly at me and winked.
“Eddie Edmunds, sir.” Eddie started to offer a hand to shake, but thought better of it and let it fall to his side. His fingers twitched though. He wanted to be the one holding that Les Paul.
“Hmmm. Edmunds, you say? Not the name I’m hearing in my heart. Still…” He sighed, turning his face down to look with sightless eyes at the guitar he held, absently caressing its neck as he searched for words.
“This Lady been waiting for someone,” he muttered. “She told me that right from the start, that it wasn’t me. She cried a lot about that, ‘specially in the beginning.”
I heard faint sighs from the audience as the old man lifted the guitar into position and touched a knob on its face, adjusting it minutely.
“She cried for her lover, but not for me,” he crooned as his fingers stroked the strings and the guitar wept.
“She moaned when I touched her, but it wasn’t for me,” he whispered as the guitar groaned.
“She just been passing time with me, is all. Waitin’ for the man she was born for,” he said. A pure single note rose, soaring into the smoke haze, its passing making the candles on the tables flicker. The old man raised his face to Eddie.
“Might that man be you?”
“La Puttana (The Whore)”
Kathy Marie Belfiore’s mother dumped her bastard daughter on her widowed mother when Kathy was an infant and was never seen again. Raised at a level just above starvation, Kathy graduated from High School and on her graduation day decided that the life she had lived thus far was not a life that anyone would choose. She would choose a new life for herself, and she would earn it with her looks and the fact that women are natural-born liars and men, especially wealthy men, were said to be natural-born idiots. In a romance book that stressed these facts about women and men, she had also discovered a new word, “Courtesan.” That sounded much nicer than “Whore.” Kathy would become a courtesan.
CHAPTER 1
Puglianello, Benevento Province, Italy
19…
Contessa Caterina Maria Belfiore Pirozzolo, wife of Conte Enrico Dario Pirozzolo di Fogliano, leaned back in her chair and sipped on her flute of vino frizzante, (sparkling wine.) It came from the grapes grown in Pirrozollo vineyards and the Baron would not permit the word “Champagne,” to be mentioned in comparison. He was a proud man. He was also just as proud of his Contessa.
Now, the Contessa was leaning back and watching her daughter dancing her first dance with her new husband, the Marchese di Piedimonte, and son of the Conte di Piedimonte. Seated next to her was an aunt of the groom. She was a slightly overweight representative of the Noble class who was demonstrating that the same drink in her own flute was loosening her tongue.
“Signora Contessa, It is so good to see you on this wonderful day. Your daughter is so beautiful and her gown was so special today. The principe was overwhelmed by her beauty when your husband walked her down the aisle and presented her to him. It was just like a fiaba,(fairytale.) Even without looking at you, I knew you were shedding tears of happiness for the principessa when I saw them.”
The Contessa Caterina Maria Pirozzolo was thinking the woman would never shut up. Because she was an aunt of the groom and also a Nobile, the Contessa could not tell her to just shut the fuck up. There was no need to start pissing off her daughter’s in-laws on her wedding day. The Contessa’s husband was from a much older family than that of her new son-in-law, and had one hell of a lot more money. A prince might outrank a Conte in the royal scheme of things, but financially, her daughter was marrying down. Caterina choked down some laughter that threatened to escape at the thought of her daughter marrying down.
“This whole shebang started when I made the decision to become a whore.” This time she did let her laughter erupt. Some looks came her way. She looked back at the lookers.
“I’m so happy, I couldn’t hold it in.”
That satisfied the lookers and listeners. The Contessa was acting like a normal mother would on her daughter’s wedding day.
“WAR/GAME”
Ahmed Dean is a leader of a small army of freedom fighters sent to liberate Mars. The enemy is always prepared for Ahmed’s army, and he takes take heavy losses in every battle. Fighting a losing war on a planet with a harsh climate, hazardous sandstorms and giant wurms makes it hard to rest, and he frequently blacks out from sleep deprivation. One final, desperate raid on a crucial military post is his last hope of turning the tide of the war, and Ahmed cannot afford to fail.
Ahmed Dean is a star player for a lowly basketball team during of one of their worst seasons. He wanted to change its losing habits for the better, but inept, selfish play from his teammates, clashes with coaches and the grind of dealing with the media wears on him. He often wakes up not knowing where he is, what he is doing or even what day it is. A season-defining game against his former team is coming, and Ahmed cannot afford to fail.
One of these worlds is real. The other is in Ahmed’s mind.
And Ahmed needs to figure out which is which before he takes one loss too many.
“Okay, you all got that?” Ahmed asked his company. “We’ll relay the operation to the rest of the platoon once we get out of the region.” He dismissed the company and strolled back to his tent. Something caught his eye, though. He turned to his left and peered out through one of the clear portions of the paneling surrounding their encampment. A swirling cloud of red dust, bright as fire, fine as flour, Blurred the horizon. It seemed to have neither a true beginning nor end. The closer it got, its shape and nature morphed into a sheet; a red wind cascading as a tidal wave of darkness upon the plastic shielding. Dust Devil.
“Take cover!” Ahmed yelled as he rushed back to the command tent, “Dust Devil coming!” As he approached the tent, he heard a creaking sound that sickened him to hear. He slowly turned, and saw the sturdy plastic shielding being rocked back and forth by the violent blast of sand and blood red mud.
He swore to himself and ran back to the paneling, barking at his compatriots “Support the shields! They’re not going to hold! Support the shields!” As he braced himself against the nearest panel he saw the other soldiers racing out to do the same. Only half of the men made it, as the remaining paneling splintered, broke and flew around the area, colliding with equipment and supply tents and adding deadly red explosions and debris to the crimson hail of the storm. Those who were braced held tough against the onslaught, but others weren’t as lucky. Ahmed, eyes shut against the flurry of red dust, could only listen to the trailing nasal scream of Nigel as he was caught unprotected by a strong gust of the blood wind, and sent soaring miles up and away into the thin Martian atmosphere. The next sound he heard was the sickening, dull thud of either the paneling or some of the equipment colliding forcefully with the heads of one of the other soldiers. For what seemed like the next few hours, sounds like those two were the only sounds Ahmed heard amid the chaotic whir of the blood storm, save for the occasional sound of a soldier hacking, coughing, choking and suffocating, drowning in the hurricane of crimson sand.
He braced himself against the hard plastic and grit his teeth. Soon, the only sound he could hear was the sound of wind and sand swirling around him, as if trying desperately to sweep him up and devour him. The pressure mounted against his shield, each grain of sand pelting the shield like a machine gun bullet. He heard his shield start to crack under the constant pressure. Ahmed cursed to himself. These things were designed to hold in this situation!
“Black Bear”
He holds the key to a nation’s darkest secret.
Jordan Noble’s past in military intelligence comes calling again as he receives dinner invitation from retired diplomat. Paired with a beautiful liaison officer from the Air Force, this mission should be a walk in the park. But just as the meeting begins, the diplomat is murdered before his eyes.
A national manhunt begins and Noble is suspect number one. Far from his team, the UrbanKnights, Noble reaches out to an old friend to help prove his innocence and capture the real killer. Dogged at every turn by a team of assassins, the search for any proof to clear his name yields few clues.
One is a message with the cryptic words: Black Bear.
Jordan bounced a shoulder. So, a great diplomat didn’t remember everything about him. Fine. Still, the contents of the message may have explained why he was here now.
Lloyd raised his wine glass. “Well, sir, here’s to you, eh.”
Jordan mirrored the motion with his water goblet. “And to you, Preston.”
Lloyd took a short sip. “Now, then, let’s get to the urgent business you had for me.”
Jordan stopped in mid-drink. You had for me?
“Excuse me?”
“Eh?” Lloyd’s eyes lazily came to Jordan.
“You said I had something urgent for you…”
“That’s right.” Lloyd’s brow knitted in concern and confusion. “Your letter said you had something vitally important to talk to me about.”
Jordan shook his head. “I never sent you any letter.”
The two men stared in disbelief at each other, with only the crackle of the fire to accompany them. An eternity of a second crept by. The door exploded open under the force of a booted kick. A man dressed in black filled the doorway, in his hand a gun.
Jordan rose and backed up at the same time, knocking over his chair. The gun fired two suppressed shots no louder than a handclap. Preston Lloyd gasped almost as silently. Hands went to the spot where the navy-blue jacket was violated. Jordan leapt across the room to the attacker. He caught the man’s right wrist, turning the pistol barrel to a non-threatening direction. The man in black brought his free hand down on the base of Jordan’s skull, dropping the detective to the floor. Dazed, Jordan cursed himself for such a foolhardy attack. He heard the muffled sound of another shot but did not feel the expected pain of a bullet entering his body. Instead, the next sound was a gun dropping to the floor.
He looked up, but the gunman was gone. Jordan rose and turned to Lloyd. Three neat holes were in his chest and the senior statesman was slumped in his chair. No doubt he was dead. At Jordan’s feet was the murder weapon. He noted the gun for the first time. It was a Heckler & Koch P7M, with the 13-round magazine. The same weapon lying safely in his locked safe in Detroit.
“The Ultimate Bet”
Jim Steadman is a multi-billionaire with a luxurious lifestyle. He has a beautiful wife and three teenage sons who are tall and handsome. But he’s lost his zest of life. Gambling was his only source for pleasure and excitement. But even that is now fading.
Ignis Genaro, who claims to be the devil, challenges Jim to a one-on-one poker game with unusually high stakes: If Jim wins, he gets eternal youth, if he loses, he spends eternity in hell. Initially, scoffs Jim at him. However, several incidents, which could only be supernatural events, cause him to believe that Ignis is, in fact, the devil.
Jim Steadman is a multi-billionaire with a luxurious lifestyle. He has a beautiful wife and three teenage sons who are tall and handsome. But he’s lost his zest of life. Gambling was his only source for pleasure and excitement. But even that is now fading.
Ignis Genaro, who claims to be the devil, challenges Jim to a one-on-one poker game with unusually high stakes: If Jim wins, he gets eternal youth, if he loses, he spends eternity in hell. Initially, scoffs Jim at him. However, several incidents, which could only be supernatural events, cause him to believe that Ignis is, in fact, the devil.
After thirteen grueling hours of play, Jim eventually wins. He asks Ignis why he wanted him for the game.
Jim Steadman is a multi-billionaire with a luxurious lifestyle. He has a beautiful wife and three teenage sons who are tall and handsome. But he’s lost his zest of life. Gambling was his only source for pleasure and excitement. But even that is now fading.
Ignis Genaro, who claims to be the devil, challenges Jim to a one-on-one poker game with unusually high stakes: If Jim wins, he gets eternal youth, if he loses, he spends eternity in hell. Initially, scoffs Jim at him. However, several incidents, which could only be supernatural events, cause him to believe that Ignis is, in fact, the devil.
Jim accepts the bet. At one point Jim has a little more than half the million dollars in chips he started with. He leans back and stares at the ceiling. When Ignis asks Jim if he is preoccupied. Jim says, “No. I’m just trying to remember Daniels Webster’s phone number.
After thirteen grueling hours of play, Jim eventually wins. He asks Ignis why he wanted him for the game.
“All right,” Ignis says. “I guess the best way to put it is that you’ve been in my sights for a long time. I liked your courage, your exuberance, your sense of right and wrong. I can always steal the soul of a corrupt person. Nothing to it. But you were different. You’re not a very religious person or completely pure. But you’re a good man. Snatching your soul would be a trophy.”
“That almost sounds like a compliment,” Jim says.
“It was,” Ignis replies. “That’s why I came after your soul several times, Mr. Steadman. We’ve spoken and had clashes of will. But I was never able to get you to compromise yourself. You never did anything that deserved everlasting fire.”