What if our quest to explore other worlds uncovers something that doesn't want to be found?Life has been seeded throughout the solar system and has evolved time and again only to be repeatedly snuffed out, sometimes by nature itself, sometimes by unnatural forces. Is it our destiny to explore the universe, or will the act of exploration lead to life’s demise… again?

The world is about to change. But who will dictate the future? The Shanallar, a woman cursed with immortality, plagued by guilt and driven by revenge? Or the Hand of Power, determined to bring back the golden age of magic? And of more immediate concern to the Shanallar's young quest companions, will any of them live to see it? Book 1 of 2.The Cult of Dzur i'Oth wants its magical tome back. They can’t rule the world without it.The only person who knows how to destroy the twisted tome is Meena, a testy heroine who accidentally inherited immortality from the tome’s pages centuries ago. Long turned to cynicism by the petty whims of mortals, she’s secretive and brusque, dragging her young companions into mortal danger without a second thought. Yet the magical reach of the cult leader, the Hand of Power, is long. Even from the far side of the world, he causes chaos and death in order to retrieve the key to the tome’s magical prison.A glorified librarian, a substitute prince and a secret-wielding swordsman must resolve their interpersonal conflicts in order to aid Meena in her quest. But when the Shanallar makes an unexpected sacrifice halfway to their goal, can they carry on without her? Or is the world doomed to enslavement at the hands of a magic-wielding madman?

"Lost in Glory" is a parody of heroic fantasy literature. A Hero sets out on a journey to destroy the Evil Empire. What's so evil about it? It doesn't matter.But if there's a Hero, there must also be villains. An assassin, who stabs people. Because they were alive and he had a knife. A sorceress, who puts things on fire. Because they weren't on fire before...Being a Hero is not a job. Being a Hero is a way of life. Quest is the only thing that matters. Failure? No such thing. Reason? Purely optional. Wisdom? A little wouldn't hurt...Arthaxiom the Paladin is a Hero. His quest is to destroy the Evil Empire, so that's what he's going to do. What's so evil about it? It doesn't matter. A Hero does not argue with his quests. Nor does he argue with fate. A randomly encountered dwarf? Perfect choice for a sidekick. A village girl in distress? Must be a princess.But if there's a Hero, there must also be villains. An assassin, who stabs people. Because they were alive and he had a knife. A sorceress, who puts things on fire. Because they weren't on fire before. And there would be the Emperor himself, if he hadn't ended up dead in a moat full of lions. A bunch of quarrelsome High Lords is to choose his replacement. It will surely go well.

Thinking that she'd put her runaway days behind her, Shannon Barry finds herself on the run again. Heading to San Francisco and traveling under another woman's name, she wonders if she's made the biggest mistake of her life. Thinking that playing the part of a mail order bride would be the answer to her prayers, Shannon finds out too late that she's heading toward a man who doesn't even want her.Thinking that she'd put her runaway days behind her, Shannon Barry finds herself on the run again. Heading to San Francisco and traveling under another woman's name, she wonders if she's made the biggest mistake of her life. Thinking that playing the part of a mail order bride would be the answer to her prayers, Shannon finds out too late that she's heading toward a man who doesn't even want her. Knowing there's no going back, she finally meets her husband to be, Dominic Campbell.Tall, clean shaven with sparkling blue eyes, he's everything she's looking for in a husband. The only problem is Dominic has other plans in mind and none of them include her.Can Shannon prove to Dominic that she's the girl of his dreams - or will coming clean on her identity ruin everything for her? Is Shannon always destined to be an Irish runaway? Discover all these answers now by downloading a copy. If you're looking for a mail order bride western romance to get swept away in, you've come to the right place.

non-fiction; prose

In “Home Lost”, Volume I of the the eight volume fantasy “Clarion of Destiny”, Leena receives the Garlan branch. From first contact her life is changed. After a solitary journey she returns home to find her village in ruins. Confused and alone, Leena sets out to search for her family and to discover the reason the Garlan branch selected her."Clarion of Destiny" is the eight volume fantasy tale of Leena, a young hedge witch in training selected by destiny to combat the greatest challenge her world has known. In an epic journey that leads through foreign lands and mysterious realms where demons, monsters and magic rule, this inexperienced young girl is forced to overcome a protected childhood to face challenges that would crush far more experienced adventurers. With each step, each passing day, she draws closer to a malevolent force so formidable it has defeated the mightiest armies and the strongest magic in her world. How can one lone girl hope to overcome an evil that has never known defeat?In Volume 1, Home Lost, Leena, a sixteen-year-old, half-trained hedge witch, is mysteriously selected to receive the Garlan branch, a magical item that has twice saved her world in the distant past. After a solitary journey through a frozen winter forest to seek this honor, she returns to her village. Nervous with excitement and anticipation, she rushes home to find the secure and treasured town of her youth deserted and in ruins. Confused and alone, Leena has little choice but to set out on a search for her missing friends and family. Can Leena discover why the Garlan branch selected her, in time to save the people she loves?

Aynia doesn’t remember anything, save her name. Can Aeden help her remember who she is, the love they shared, and the importance of the quest for which she risked her life? Or will the power of an evil warlock shatter all they hold dear?Making a killing in business is one thing - doing it for real is another.Private Investigator Sam Dyke turns down a job that would require skills that he doesn't have - patience, computer-literacy, tact. Then he finds that the skills he does have - tenacity, aggression, street-smarts - are exactly the ones he needs for his next case - hunting down a cold-blooded murderer who seems to know what his every step will be.To solve the case Sam must negotiate with his ex-wife, cement a relationship with a new love, unravel an office-based financial fraud and fight off an arrogant murderer armed only with a pen-knife. Altered Life is fast-paced, bitterly comic and introduces a tough new English private eye who knows what he wants and, usually, how to get it.

A Kell the Barbarian story. Any resemblance to Robert E. Howard's Kull is completely intentional. Kell, Queen of Valusia must defeat a plot by an ancient race of serpent-women and their priestesses. It is a good thing she has Brula, the stalwart spear slayer to guard her back when she goes berserk! A Gender Switch Adventure.He had two problems: a broken leg and terminal boredom. The long days and nights alone in his flat after an accident lead an incapactitated young student to renounce his aversion to the internet and take his first tentative steps into the world wide web.Before long, he finds himself entering a new kind of social network: an online self-help community called simply 'The Room'. The experience of eavesdropping on the lives of others quickly becomes addictive, and the members of The Room seem welcoming enough.But then something changes: a man called Bryan confesses to a murder. It could be a fantasy, or a sick joke, but it's not. And the terror doesn't stay online for long... The Room is a tale of murder in the age of social networking. A dark psychological thriller of curiosity and killing that has been called a Rear Window for the Facebook generation.Short story length: 4000 words approx.Also includes as a bonus feature the first chapter of Gavin Bell's full-length thriller: Halfway to Hell.

Sixty-one odd little poems created in Icon Poet, the software equivalent of throwing darts at a dictionary.The world of Myrrah is ruled by the Church of Four Orders, gathering together the separate powers of Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. But there are those with a forbidden gift, called Magic, and its use is punishable by death. The peace created when the Church of Four Orders defeated those wielding Magic is about to be tested and it all starts because of one young woman and a Priestess who fails in her duty.For years, Ria feared she held the gifts of an Elemental and would be called to serve the Church of Four Orders. But the Water Priestess who comes to claim her discovers that Ria's gift is something far worse. Becoming Ria's reluctant protector, Priestess Niri must flee from her former friends and the home she has known since childhood.The Priestess is Ria's best chance to survive the forces that hunt her, if Niri doesn't betray the girl first. With only a fragile hope given to Niri by her lover, the Priest Sinika, Niri and Ria set out on a journey to find the lost Temple of Dust. In its buried archives may lie the secret to defeating the Curse, the Church's creature which seeks to destroy 16 year old Ria for the forbidden gift she possesses. Along with Ria comes Ty and his sister, Lavinia, both bound to defend Ria from the Church of Four Orders and Niri, if they must. However, Ty has been living a life less than honest and keeping it from his sister. To survive a journey that takes them across the breadth of their world, the four must learn to trust each other before pursuit from the Church and Ty's troubled past find them. This is not your typical sword and sorcery epic. In fact in a world split by sea and storms, I like to say it has a lot to do with sailing. You will not find elves, dwarves, vampires, or zombies. Instead in Myrrah there are a myriad of unique cultures from the reclusive Kith in the Forest of Falin to the elusive Ashanti rulers of the Great Desert. The four not-quite friends find new allies, love, and forgotten secrets about an ancient war as they fight to save Ria's life.

Set in a working-class Brooklyn neighborhood in 1947, this poignant tale revolves around two of the most endearing characters in recent fiction: an 11-year-old Irish Catholic boy named Michael Devlin and Rabbi Judah Hirsch, a refugee from Prague.

"Slightly psychic" U.S. Marshal Will Castleton's tropical vacation is no escape from his past. This short story finds Will Castleton - who also appears in the novel DEATH SIGHT and THE CASTLETON FILES story collection - racing time through a hurricane to save a woman's life, the reporter who cashed in on the tragedy resulting in his psychic abilities hot on his trail.A short, fun summer romance novella. Kaliyah Simon just broke up with her cheating boyfriend, and now that summer break is here, all she wants is a quiet, boy-free summer. To focus on work, reading, and her tan. But then she meets up with her old high school nemesis, Isaiah Winters, on the way home, and he seems more interested in being friends than enemies. Can Kaliyah lower her walls and get over seven years of pushing Isaiah away and find out what it would be like to actually be with him? With her best friend going boy-crazy, a twenty-first birthday looming on the horizon, Isaiah continually showing up on her doorstep, and an ex that seems to want her back, Kaliyah’s summer promises to be anything but quiet.

Tom and Alyse get pulled into an international mystery after a chance meeting in Germany.Tom is pleased with the direction that his life has taken him, and enjoys his structured life as a young American soldier stationed overseas. Alyse is a beautiful young Canadian on summer vacation far from home. A chance meeting between the two while in Germany sets off a mysterious chain of events that will take them across continents and place them at odds with the most powerful people in the world. What the two uncover will shake their faith in the institutions that they believe in, and uncover shocking secrets that could cost them their lives.

After a thrilling three-week dance program in New York City, Jessi is invited to join the Dance NY education program full-time. Is she ready to leave Stonybrook and all her friends behind?

‘Douglas the Dragon’ symbolises The Power of Love that lives in each of us, representing the constant struggle between the forces of good and evil in the behaviour we display.The story is set in a time and place where war is waged between the human emotions of Fear, Anger and Love. The prize at stake is the greatest prize of all: control over the heart, mind and actions of every human being.The author’s works have been praised by numerous celebrities; the most notable being Nelson Mandela who described his African stories as ‘Wonderful’, the late Princess Diana who used to read the Douglas Dragon stories to the Princes William and Harry when they were aged 9 and 7 years, and a former Chief Inspector of Schools for Ofsted, who described the author’s writing to the press as being ‘High quality literature.’As the founder of Anger Management in Great Britain during the early 70s, William Forde freely gave his anger management knowledge to the world and within a matter of a few years; ‘Anger Management’ groups mushroomed across the English speaking world. After founding the process of Anger Management, William Forde spent 25 years researching his work with both offenders and non-offenders, with aggressive and non-assertive response pattern types and with adults and young people who displayed ‘involuntary response patterns’ of excessive ‘anger’ or ‘fear’. For 25 years, William Forde worked as a Probation Officer with The West Yorkshire Probation Service, during which time he operated his ‘Anger Management’ programmes in Probation Offices, Hostels, Hospitals, Prisons, Educational Establishments and Community Halls. His work in this area brought high success and national acclaim in his area of specialism.By the time he retired as a Probation Office he had established a growing interest of working with children who displayed problems with Anger Management, along with difficulty in processing and expressing other emotionally disturbing emotions such as bereavement, loss, jealousy, bullying, and an inability to possess positive self-regard and love, etc. etc.He became an author in 1989 and initially wrote books for young children that focused upon themes which involved dealing with the type of emotions his 25 years' experience as a Probation Officer had identified as creating emotional disturbance and inappropriate behavioural responses when not processed or healthily expressed. In short, he was using the medium of 'story telling' to openly and covertly acquaint his readership with ‘Anger Management’ principles and appropriate behavioural change.From the many books that he has written for child, young person and adult, his most popular has been the Douglas the Dragon stories, which have been published and republished many times since 1990 and which the next King of England had read to him as a young boy by his mother.Douglas the Dragon symbolises ‘The Power of Love’, which exists in all of us. There lives within the heart of every man, woman and child, two dragons: one is a ‘Dragon of Love’ and the other is a ‘Dragon of Anger’. Both dragons find it impossible to co-exist within the same heart and they are therefore in constant battle to be sole occupant and to control the thoughts, feelings and actions of the body they inhabit. If you want the ‘Dragon of Love’ to occupy your heart, you must evict the ‘Dragon of Anger’ from it. Only by putting ‘Anger’ out can one put ‘Love’ in! This previous sentence essentially represents the totality of 60+ years' learning for me! William Forde January 2012. The five songs that accompany this musical play and their backing tracks can be freely downloaded from www.fordefables.co.uk/audio-downloads.

Sigurd, once a minstrel and royal courtier, struggles to determine the nature of his relationship with Thegn Godric when Lord Alfric enters his life. Set in the Dark Ages of Engla-lond, the "Last Tales of Mercia" are ten short stories featuring real historical figures and characters from the "Sons of Mercia" series. Though strongly connected to the series, they can be read independently.Sir Differel Van Helsing has finally been confirmed Director of the Caerleon Order, and has begun her training to officially take over when she turns 21. Though dedicated and precocious, no one expects her to be able to do anything important for a few years yet.As such, when she awakens in the middle of the night to find that everyone in her manor house--staff, guards, and servants alike--have disappeared without a trace, she questions whether she has what it takes to find and rescue them. But she must try regardless, even if she risks succumbing to the same force.

How does one young woman handle the possibility of death? What does she teach those close to her, and possibly you, about living? Enter Sophia's garden to find out.Sophia's Garden is a short story about a young woman's look at life and her possible death. When family members are faced with the unknown, paralized by the inability to do anything but watch a loved one go through painful challenges, how does she teach them to live while looking at her own demise? What this short, poignant story might show you may change your life and those who love you if you are face insurmountable odds.

This is the story of Salim, on the engagement day with Shaheen, which is the most happiest moment of his life turns disasters after he slips while dancing and hurt his ankle, rest everything is about people surrounding himThis is my first attempt on story writing, trying to achieve black humorKeira Maddock has never considered herself a lady. In fact, she often acts in ways that would be considered downright un-ladylike. A hired killer and thief whose only goal is to provide the necessities of life for herself and her sister, she has learned to be brutally effective in her trade, with skills as sharp as the weapons she prefers. And when the head of a huge, shadowy corporation hires her to remove a powerful and wealthy opponent, Keira is happy to oblige. Until she meets him...Scott Maddock is a hardened Terenian soldier-for-life. His job, to uphold the motto of the realm: "Reliance on Citizens Makes Us Great!" Soldiers work for the Gov, and the Gov is run by heads of corporations. But where do Scott's loyalties really lie? Only he and his best friend know for sure.April Maddock is trying to make it on her own and has taken a job with a wealthy family. She has chosen not to fight the system like Keira, nor to fight for the Gov like Scott. Unlike her siblings, she recognizes the good in everyone. Even so, outside appearances can be deceiving. April knows that better than most.Infested with greed and divided by power, the realm of Terene bears remarkable resemblance to our own society. But opposite despair, there is always hope. Whereas Keira Maddock brings destruction, Guy Bensen brings promise. Wealthy and powerful, yet thoughtful and caring, he is an anomaly who throws her completely off guard. When she learns of his connections to Scott and April, Keira knows she has made the right decision in not only sparing his life but in joining his cause.In book one of the Reliance on Citizens trilogy, S.L. Wallace introduces a world divided in which not everyone is who he seems to be. In a seamless blend of action, sci-fi, romance and political suspense, we are encouraged to consider the bonds that makes us human.