Norma L is a seventh grade student at Haywood Middle School. She sees herself as somewhere between a complete oddball and Wonder Woman. Join her as she navigates through a crazy world of teenage cliques, gossip, bullies, best friends, first loves, jealousy, pain, joy, and triumph. Her life is anything but ordinary--and her world is truly extraordinary.There were four Normas in Mr. Spinoza’s seventh grade English class. One was the POPULAR Norma–you know the type–chews gum constantly, can’t shut up, knows everyone. One was the ATHLETIC Norma–coordinated, graceful, great at everything. One was the absolutely flawless and BEAUTIFUL Norma–thirteen going on nineteen. And one was the ODDBALL Norma–thirteen going on twelve. Guess which Norma I was?

Anna Lutz Abbot considers herself independent and happy, until one steamy summer when she must find a way to deal with the secrets of her unpredictable family-and her past.

Former Denver homicide cop Michael Ferris hunts for the murderer of a car salesman. Sequel to Upside Down. The Michael Ferris mysteries feature fictional Colorado characters with liberal viewpoints, the conversations are food for thought, not necessarily the author's true beliefs. The story is set in 2013. The 1/1/2014 publish date commemorates Colorado's historic milestone.An assassin foiled, a wicked step-brother beaten at his own game, Growing pains of the young and old, a woman’s desperate attempt to escape an undesirable relationship, a man’s struggle with a relationship lost, a not so victorious battle with a big fish, a lineman’s war duty, and a poignant mermaid’s tale. In this collection of short stories there’s something for everyone, including romance, suspense, comedy, history, drama and fantasy, showcasing eleven of Bluewood Publishing’s established authors and offering a taste of their creative delights to tempt the reader’s appetite.

Marvin Battles is the corporate big-shot and Scrooge. In a chance encounter with a panhandler, Joe Skives, his former boss fired for bribery and other crimes, Marvin’s bad holiday attitude gets turned on its head.A Christmas story that takes on the Corporate Monster and our ideas of true Christmas Spirit.Marvin Battles has lived a rough life but now finds himself at the top of the corporate ladder. It’s Christmas, and he is not merry with the season, a real Scrooge to say the least.In a chance encounter with a panhandler, Joe Skives, his former boss fired for bribery and other crimes, Marvin’s bad holiday attitude is turned on its head.The story ends in a real David and Goliath story as Marvin takes on the corporate monster in a real Christmas ending.

Flash fiction, short stories, novelettes, and a poem or three round out this author’s tenure in the Top Writers Block cooperative. Themes range from loneliness and poverty to out of the ashes and meringue. Yes meringue, along with stitches, pumpkins, trash day, fools rush in and why me? Comedy and romance interweave with tragedy, sometimes within the same tale.A variety of brief and not so short tales are presented in this anthology, with themes that include why me, fools rush in, trash day, loneliness, poverty, out of the ashes, stitches, meringue, and pumpkins. “The Todd Lambert Special” pays homage to the author’s Alvin’s Farm series; “He’s Among Angels” explores the memory of a beloved sibling. “Pork Fried Rice and Recessed Lights” was inspired by NaNoWriMo and kitchen renovations, while “Various Little Birds” recalls Britain and embroidery. From flash fiction and poetry to novelettes, motifs are explored via humor and tenderness, with plenty of love added for good measure.

Lore of the Underlings continues. In this episode: The three strangers -- John Cap, Morio, and their mysterious young woman friend -- find themselves locked away in a curious crooked chamber, a place with foreboding in the air and the smell of something evil. What hellish fate awaits them here as "guests" of Fyryx and his Guard? Only time (and space) will tell...Welcome back to Lore of the Underlings, a trail of tales to the end of things, and maybe a bit beyond.The lore continues. In this episode: The three strangers -- John Cap, Morio, and their mysterious young woman friend -- find themselves locked away in a curious crooked chamber, a place with foreboding in the air and the smell of something evil. What hellish fate awaits them here as "guests" of Fyryx and his Guard? Only time (and space) will tell.Within this odd prison a nighttime of wandering tales and wondering follows, at least until an unknowing Morio lets open an even darker realm...Lore of the Underlings is an epic poetry series from John Klobucher's lands of Lore. It's a bittersweet saga of gold and shadow told in classic style -- with old-world words but new-world wit. Fun for fans of puns and lyrical tongues!

Mr. Whiskers is dead. All Laney had to do was feed the cat. Too bad she hadn't known there was a cat. But an obscure spell contains the power to grant life. Just because she botches the simplest of spells doesn't mean she can't control complicated magic, right? After struggling through the spell, they find that giving Mr. Whiskers a tenth life turns out to be more than they bargain for.Mr. Whiskers is dead—muerto—shuffled off his mortal coil. All Laney had to do was watch the store and feed the cat. Too bad she hadn't known there was a cat.She has a plan though. An obscure spell contains the power to grant life, only long enough to save her job, and her vacation in Paris. Just because she botches the simplest of spells doesn't mean she can't control complicated magic, right?The mysterious new guy at school, Kody, goes along for the ride; providing emotional support and, well, let's be honest, he's just hot.After struggling through the spell—when nothing seems to be going right—they find that giving Mr. Whiskers a tenth life turns out to be more than they bargained for.

A Texas high school student who has a chance encounter with the daughter of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and thinks he is in love. He knows there is no hope for such a long distance relationship but can't shake the feeling that she is his soul mate.Trouble in Trinidad is the story of an American high school student, Kevin Wells, who is wounded while thwarting an attempted assassination of the Prime Minister of Trinidad-Tobago. While he is recovering he is visited by the Prime Minister's daughter, Kiran Shah, and falls in love. When he is summoned by the FBI to go to Trinidad he is elated because he will be able to see Kiran. What he doesn't know is that the rebel party responsible for the assassination attempt has vowed to kill him.

In this fourth volume, unknown attackers begin launching assaults in Green Bay and nearly kill Claude Jolliet. But the biggest problems arise from a flood on the Mississippi that inundates the primary shipping and supply center of Canada. Elise and Shawn have 14 days to get systems there running again before the economy of the country collapses.In this fourth volume, unknown attackers begin launching assaults in Green Bay and nearly kill Claude Jolliet. A business war also erupts between the Murphy family and Tilden Foster’s family. But the biggest problems arise from a flood on the Mississippi that inundates the primary shipping and supply center of Canada. Elise and Shawn have 14 days to get systems there running again before the economy of the country collapses. In the process they discover friends and foes as the conflict between the Catholic north and Protestant south escalates.

A new and unusual gardener brings more than a summer's cornucopia to the Richter estate.Scarecrows have a creepy mystique about them. They’re lifeless, yet resemble us. Despite their positive utility (I assume they do keep birds from eating crops though I haven’t observed a scarecrow long enough to really know firsthand), a person will usually stumble upon one that appears neglected, tattered and worn. They’re often spotted from afar in lonely, desolate, out-of-the-way places and their eyes seem to follow passersby. Did its head turn, too, or was it just that its head and neck have loosened from its stranglehold upon the post it was hung from? Their bodies are often discovered unnaturally twisted -- victimized by the elements, birds or other hungry, curious animals. Doesn’t it sometimes look that like they tried to wriggle free?Coming across a scarecrow can really help bring out the imagination! Imagine being lost or stranded with no sign of civilization around and coming across a scarecrow whose better days are far behind him. It almost looks desperate, hanging up there, angry, with nothing to lose. Patiently waiting to escape, life can’t get much worse than a scarecrow’s version of being nailed to a post eerily resembling a crucifix. The buzzing of insects and the brushing together of the wheat and corn in the swaying wind are the only sounds you hear for miles. You are more than aware that you are alone and as vulnerable as that poor bag of twisted, tormented, human straw staring down at you.You approach cautiously, then its sunken eyes suddenly open, and it comes alive. Anger lights up his suddenly human eyes. The expression on its face turns into a twisted smile. You step back, dumbfounded, as the scarecrow tears itself from its cross with one thing on its mind -- revenge. Halloween and Indian folklore can definitely make for an interesting combination!

A tribe of post-apocalyptic survivors must defend their home from a terrifying city dating back from the old world, striding atop tremendous metallic legs. But in order to win this battle, the survivors of the Plexis Tribe may have to form an alliance with the most brutal scum the wasteland has to offer.Carved from the remnants of a long dead world, Ebon has only two things on his mind from one day to the next. The first is the safety of his brother Crassus. The second is the search for home. And when he and his brother find a massive thirty-story tall technological wonderland, he wonders if fate has given them both. But what they find inside is so much more than just a house. They find a connection to the past, a family they thought impossible. But there are other things in the wasteland intent on taking it from them. Like the masters of the great walking cities. As the terrifying armies descend on the tribe's stronghold, they are given a choice. Give up your home and return to the waste, or watch your tribe ripped to shreds with terrifying cruelty. Ebon is faced with a choice that cuts to the very core of his tribe's identity. How many compromises are you willing to make to secure your safety? What monster might you call friend if it meant survival?

With steam driven gadgets such as mechanical goggles, hoverboards, and an orchestra of automatons. Steampunk Fairy Tales is a charming and unique collection of works for current lovers of the genre, and those just diving in.A toyshop owner builds a set of magic clockwork dolls that delight a factory town. A three-inch tall samurai faces a giant iron ogre with only a sewing needle and a coin. A scientist seeks an antidote to his formula gone wrong, with the help of his partner’s beautiful daughter.All of these stories and more are included in Steampunk Fairy Tales. Written by authors from three different continents, every enchanting tale combines the futuristic Victorian concept of steam and fashion with memorable stories, from the recognizable “Jack and the Beanstalk”, to other popular and unfamiliar works from Germany, France, Italy and Japan. With steam driven gadgets such as mechanical goggles, hoverboards, and an orchestra of automatons. Steampunk Fairy Tales is a charming and unique collection of works for current lovers of the genre, and those just diving in.

Darweena must choose to fight for the Forest Folk in an epic battle against the beasts. Will she choose love over her home? A short story of 3700 words.Captain Pigtail McQueue is not your average everyday pirate. Actually, he was the ship's cook until a hurricane blew the other captain overboard. Captain by default, he manages to save the the great pirate ship, The Flummery, despite the desertion of most of the crew. As the winds die down he discovers the ship has been blown slightly off course. Okay, it was blown off course, big time!The ship and what's left of the crew find themselves stranded in West Texas. With the help of a wagon master and his daughter they seek out the Wind Hag in hopes she will send them back to the Gulf. When she refuses, Pigtail does the only thing a pirate in his position can do - he seeks revenge on the Wind Hag. That means becoming land pirates and going after the Wind Hag's power sources. The crew must overcome obstacles, booby traps and legions of creatures loyal to the Wind Hag in order to gain control over the power sources. This endeavor leads to some seriously humorous situations and exciting twists and turns. Join the crew as they try to outwit the all powerful Wind Hag.

When a local kid's TV show personality and his seven trained dachshunds get kicked to the curb in favor of generic PBS programming, the discovery of a hotdog-man suit in a fast food dumpster leads to a new career as a costumed crime fighter (hey, dogs have to eat). And will the lady in his life discover his secret? Okay, let's admit it - there is no lady in his life - just lots of mooched wifi.Danny Callaway knows who killed his sister. His testimony sends Kevin Green to prison, but did he really do it? Kevin enters prison innocent, but emerges a hardened criminal bent on revenge. Soon the people Danny loves start dying. Danny must finish the job he started years ago, even if it means sacrificing a second chance at love.Review"A tale of failed justice, vengeance, and love. A wrongful conviction spawns death down through the years. Both tragic and hopeful, Two Wrongs engages the reader's emotions. I very much enjoyed TWO WRONGS." -- Barbara D’Amato is a past president of Mystery Writers of America and of Sisters in Crime, author of the Cat Marsala mystery series, as well as several standalone novels."The author vividly describes the conflict between love and revenge that threatens to tear apart the main character in TWO WRONGS. She does an excellent job of swinging between the two main viewpoints and captures the changes in the characters as they progress from young men to mature adults. She never focuses too long on either character so the tension is not lost, bringing the reader along for the ride. The research is unobtrusive to the plot line and the detailing of Chicago settings give a veracity to the story." -- Martha Powers is a freelance editor, author of the thrillers, Sunflower & Bleeding Heart, as well as several romance novels.

This is the story of a small town in America. It is a Gothic literary novel which traces the intersecting narratives of six residents of an Upstate New York trailer park. When one of them stumbles upon a young man's body in the woods, it sets them all down a path leading ever deeper into the grotesque underbelly of their decaying community.Thomas discovers more to life with the help of Merlin and voices from a tall pine tree. He offers gratitude to the world and a little bit of magic.

The offspring of Zeus the king of the Greek gods and a Greek woman named Electra. Tau possessed the strength of Zeus.Tau was bigger than the other children and stronger than the rest, at the age of 10 he was as big as a 16 year old boy, having "Sullen", "Smoldering" and "volcanic" blue eyes with a black hair in a "square-cut mane”As big as a giant and massive, his skin was bronzed from constant exposure to the sun, a tall man standing 6.5 feet tall, mightily shouldered and deep hairy chest, with a massive corded neck and heavily muscled dangerous lines of limbs. His brow was low and broad, his eyes a volcanic blue that smouldered as if with some inner fire.

The lost city of Atlantis is real. As Lieutenant Josh Pierce discharges from the military following eight tough years of service, he comes home to find his life turned upside down. Shortly after, strangers arrive to volunteer Josh for a meeting with the newly-formed Atlantis team.The lost city of Atlantis is real. As Lieutenant Josh Pierce discharges from the military following eight tough years of service, he comes home to find his life turned upside down. Shortly after, strangers arrive to volunteer Josh for a meeting with the newly-formed Atlantis team.Unlike anything you've read before, Lost City is a story of love, deception and exploration, all tied into a city that thrived thousands of years before our own civilization. As the mission of the Atlantis team slowly unfolds miles beneath ocean, Josh begins to wonder who he can actually trust?Only one thing is evident. Someone is lying.

A collection of poems celebrating life, love, and the beauty of Folly Beach, SC; while also exploring the depths of angst and despair that had to be navigated to get there. Features "Advice to New Runners," "Hard-packed Sand," "Driving into Winter," "The Magic Day," and many others.Folly Beach Love Story is a poetry collection exploring life, love, and the beauty of Folly Beach, SC. It tells the story of one man's efforts to rebuild his life and find new ways to accept and experience love. Among the feature poems are:"Advice to New Runners" "Hard-packed Sand" "Driving into Winter" "The Magic Day""Portrait of the Artist's Folly Beach Shack"and many others.

These are three stories and a poem. Two of the stories are short stories. One is a novella. It is intended for older teenagers/young adults. It does contain some material and language that is not suitable for younger readers. Love stories that are meant to touch the hearts of everyone regardless of age, because that's how love works.These are three stories and a poem. Two of the stories are short stories. One is a novella. It is intended for older teenagers/young adults. It does contain some material and language that is not suitable for younger readers. Love stories that are meant to touch the hearts of everyone regardless of age, because that's how love works. I don't like these synopsis they make us write. It's a love story enjoy it, or not, don't over think it. Sorry I'm still writing because they are making me add words. Have a Happy Valentines!

Paul and Timothy hijack and space ship for a top secret space mission for honoring Jesus.The need to hijack a space ship can be limited to two types of people: the crazies and the desperates. The difference between the two is not their actions, but their motives. A crazy may seek the thrill of almost dying or perhaps consider this sort of theft normal. A desperate, on the other hand, has thought it through. He’s reasoned it over and decided his best course of action is to steal an abandoned Kliper IV spacecraft from the Egyptian Space Agency. Paul was desperate. Timothy was both.

Growing up alone can be hard for any child.Donnie is a tale about a young man who goes through many of life's experiences. Suffering badly from being bullied at school, Donnie keeps one thing close. His dream. Only to realise, dreams are not always what they're made out to be.Growing up alone can be hard for any child.Donnie is a tale about a young man who goes through many of life's experiences. Suffering badly from being bullied at school, Donnie keeps one thing close. His dream. Only to realise, dreams are not always what they're made out to be. Donnie soon finds out, no-one can be trusted.A short tragic story of love, horror, humour all twisted together for a sharp destructive ending.