Someone is killing the members of a pseudo-outlaw gang one at a time. After a saloon brawl in a small town in the old west, the fifth of the six outlaws is murdered and the deputy sheriff witnesses the entire thing. What caused this man, dubbed as the Riata Killer to go after these men with such malice and what will the sheriff of this small western town do with him now that he has been caught?Serialized Fiction: bigger stories told in concurrent, easy to digest, smaller parts.PeeDee3, Intergalactic, Insectoid Assassin, Season One: PeeDee3 is Dead, Episode 10: Spider Murphoid, the galaxy’s deadliest Arachnoid ultimate fighter, so dangerous in fact that the sporting syndicates can’t get anyone to fight him willingly. So who better to coerce into the ring than the Kacekan with a deadly reputation and a total lack of brain matter? Spider Murphoid’s got some of the deadliest and most illegal moves in the ultimate fighting scene and eight hands and two feet to deliver the goods. This Spider’s going to murder PeeDee3.

Five years travelling faster than light in a colony transport goes slower than you think, but the credits are worth it. Captain Ona and her crew are ready to collect a tidy sum for delivering the Flock to Paradise. On the cusp of seeding the colony they encounter a force that will forever change them. This is what happens when science collides with fantasy.Five years travelling faster than light in a colony transport goes slower than you think, but the credits are worth it.Captain Ona and her crew are ready to collect a tidy sum for delivering the Flock to Paradise. On the cusp of seeding the colony, they encounter a force that will forever change them. This is what happens when science collides with fantasy. This is a short story—flash fried for busy readers who want a tasty snack.

A poem about Bobby Fischer, Jimmy Page ... and me and my dad. ... Some of the ideas came to me as I realized he was the same age as Jimmy Page, who was about to play a Led Zeppelin reunion in London when Fischer died.This is a poem about the life and death of Bobby Fischer. Some of the ideas came to me as I realized he was the same age as Jimmy Page, who was about to play a Led Zeppelin reunion in London when Fischer died. I looked back on life and remembered how I learned chess, how I saw Led Zeppelin play "Stairway to Heaven" before it was released on the album, how I followed Fischer's career over the years, and my memories of chess games with my father.

This is a book of short stories all written by Angela Koeller. She would like to beg your help. One of these stories, apart from Singing in Limbo, shall become a novel in its own right. Please submit your votes and the final tally will be taken 07.09.14.This is a book of short stories all written by Angela Koeller. She would like to beg your help. One of these stories, apart from Singing in Limbo, shall become a novel in its own right. Please submit your votes and the final tally will be taken 07.09.14. The chosen story will turned into a novel and published by 07.09.15. Thank you for your time and please enjoy these works.The Sea Girl - A lost girl may be more than she appears.One Tree in a Forest - When you bump into someone on the street, do you ever wonder how they came to be there?Unrequited - Love, when Hell freezes over.Fractured Reflections - One man's crazy is another man's every-day.Singing in Limbo - A heart can ache but still sing.Bittersweet Requiem - Under a rain cloud not far away is a man and a woman.Also included is the first chapter from Ms. Koeller's published novella, Forsaken.

April escapes the confining walls of an asylum and into the arms of a monster that changes her life forever. Seth must find the source of a serum being manufactured to change humans into monsters.April Snow was an outcast, an outsider, and lived exiled from society since she was a little girl. Given up by her mother, she never knew why or what had made her mother do such a thing, and then the darkness came. Without knowledge of what followed her, April escapes the confining walls of an asylum and into the arms of a monster—a real monster. There she finds unexpected comfort and answers to a past she never had questions for. A hidden world explodes before her, and it’s up to April in the end to bring peace to a world she barely knows. Seth Fairstone knew he came from a line of respected monsters in Iethia—the realm of monsters. Given a crucial task by his uncle, Seth must find the source of a serum being manufactured to turn humans into monsters. He soon discovers who is responsible for the serum making, but it’s too late—demons have used it, and where it failed on humans, strengthens demons. Seth must find a way to save Iethia along with many worlds from the demons that not only want out of their shadow existence, but revenge as well. Soon April’s and Seth’s world collide, and together, with the unexpected help of one demon, they will join forces and change the world of monsters forever.

Dave Trellis, world-weary steward of St Catherine’s allotments, copes nicely supporting the small, covert community of off-world visitors that live thereabouts.Dave just wants to get on, do some urgent lawn maintenance and get back to the misery. But first he must find a way to save the planet… Again.Welcome to the world of Dave Trellis…Dave Trellis, world-weary steward of St Catherine’s allotments, copes nicely supporting the small, covert community of off-world visitors that live thereabouts.What he doesn’t need is a lazy teenager growing marijuana, an imminent invasion of lethal alien insects, nor inappropriate liaisons between aforesaid lazy teen and his favourite off-world charge.That he lost his daughter to the last invasion doesn’t help, nor do the light opera loving off-world soldiers and their dog-like comrades-in-arms. Dave just wants to get on, do some urgent lawn maintenance and get back to the misery. But first he must find a way to save the planet… Again.Welcome to the world of Dave Trellis…

Once upon a time in a place called Consolacion, a peaceful place full of happy thoughts and very loving neighbors, lived a girl named Linde. Everybody in her village knew her because she was so lovely, bubbly, and a charming kid.Once upon a time in a place called Consolacion, a peaceful place full of happy thoughts and very loving neighbors, lived a girl named Linde. Everybody in her village knew her because she was so lovely, bubbly, and a charming kid. She was willing to help everyone as much as she could. Her family was not as rich as Piah’s family. Piah was Linde’s best friend. They knew each other since they were 4 years old. Linde’s mother worked as cook in Piah’s mother’s house.Linde’s parents were not well off. Linde’s father had been relieved of his work at a certain government institution. This led to the mother opting for a house help job at one of their neighbor’s house. Comparing the two families it was clear that their existed a very huge gap between the two. Pia’s father owned big firms in town and the mother also worked at a certain company. It was then that they decided to seek assistance from Mrs. Mayers, Linde’s motherIt was difficult to turn the offer down considering the family’s financial status. Mrs. Mayers woke up every morning to go to work while her husband and Linde who had just completed her high school stayed behind to take care of other duties back at home. Because of Linde’s good behaviors, everyone in the village had come to love her. She did everything to ensure that her siblings enjoyed every bit of it. There was Jao, Acy and Yuel to take care of and this she did without relenting until one day when things seemed to take another turn.

As Napoleon makes his last great bid for power, he will meet an Iron Duke and an indomitable force of English and allied troops in the fields just south of a little village called Waterloo.The events of June 18, 1815 will change the tide of world events and Sebastian Alder’s life foreverBefore Lord Somerton*, he was just plain Captain Sebastian Alder, a penniless career officer in Wellington’s army.As Napoleon makes his last great bid for power, he will meet an Iron Duke and an indomitable force of English and allied troops in the fields just south of a little village called Waterloo.The events of June 18, 1815 will change the tide of world events and Sebastian Alder’s life forever(*Lord Somerton's Heir by Alison Stuart)

Eryx is just trying to do his job when something happens that will change his life forever. The Dark is an elusive and tempting choice. This story is under 5000 words.In developed countries, social cohesion has been sacrificed on the altar of individual gratification. Individuals wanted more and better. Inventors and entrepreneurs rallied to serve our desires. We progressed – pulled along by our hunger for improvement. This strategy worked well for centuries. Survival rates benefitted more from technological advances than from recognising individual social contributions. But the paths of ‘what we want in the short term’ and ‘what is good for us in the long term’ diverged. As we moved forwards, we increasingly abandoned non-commercial activities – regardless of their contribution to social wellbeing.We’ve now reached point where the benefits of technological advances are becoming outweighed by the disadvantages. New consumer inventions make us less active. Improved food production is turning us fat. Social media is stopping us socialising. Even medical advances will become less important to the majority – focusing, quite rightly, on a shrinking minority of ill people or providing more years of relative infirmity for the very old.The wellbeing of the majority during the majority of their lives can now be improved more by positive social interaction than by technological advances. To do this, we need to amend our reward system. We need to provide additional motivation for carrying out beneficial social activity. Although many already help others altruistically, there’s no moral reason why they shouldn’t receive further tangible rewards. And tangible rewards might encourage even more people to help one another. This would deliver additional social benefits – thereby improving general wellbeing.

Twelve-year-old J.B.’s visions leave him sweaty, lightheaded, and certain he’s turning into a freak—or worse, going insane. The visions stem from a family curse. An ancestor stole the Granville fortune, and now J.B.’s entire family will suffer. To break the curse, J.B. must find and return the Granville’s stolen property.Twelve-year-old J.B.’s visions leave him sweaty, lightheaded, and certain he’s turning into a freak—or worse, going insane.The visions stem from a family curse. An ancestor stole the Granville fortune, and now J.B.’s entire family will suffer. To break the curse, J.B. must find and return the Granville’s stolen property. But he’s not the only one searching for the treasure. His journey leads to a dark forest where he’ll battle his worst fears. And when he meets two others who share the missing pieces of his visions and suffer from the same curse, the three soon realize they need to work together to break the curse before it's too late.

*She's been chosen to fight the elusive enemy among us....* Phoenix Germaine has been trying to earn back her mother's trust after going into rehab and kicking Onadyn -- the drug of choice for New Chicago teens. But when a party in the woods turns into an all-out battle with the most ferocious aliens Phoenix has never seen, she's brought home in what appears to be an Onadyn-induced state. Hello, reform school. Except, what her mother doesn't know is that Phoenix has just been recruited to join the elite Alien Investigation and Removal agency, where she'll learn to fight dirty, track hard, and destroy the enemy. Her professional training will be rigorous and dangerous, and the fact that one of her instructors is Ryan Stone -- the drop-dead gorgeous, nineteen-year-old agent she met in the woods that night -- doesn't make things any easier. Especially when dating him is totally against the rules.... Wildly imaginative, action-packed, and thrilling, Red Handed launches Gena Showalter's stunning new alien huntress series.

Every city has its wonders and mysteries. For the Pomerantz family, the most disturbing mystery at the moment is the identity and the intentions of their new neighbor, in this eBook original short story—a prequel to The City, the gripping and moving new novel by Dean Koontz. The year is 1967. Malcolm Pomerantz is twelve, geeky and socially awkward, while his seriously bright sister, Amalia, is spirited and beautiful. Each is the other’s best friend, united by a boundless interest in the world beyond their dysfunctional parents’ unhappy home. But even the troubled Pomerantz household will seem to be a haven compared to the house next door, after an enigmatic and very secretive new neighbor takes up residence in the darkest hours of the night. Acclaim for Dean Koontz   “A rarity among bestselling writers, Koontz continues to pursue new ways of telling stories, never content with repeating himself.”—*Chicago Sun-Times  * “Tumbling, hallucinogenic prose. ‘Serious’ writers . . . might do well to examine his technique.”—The New York Times Book Review  * “[Koontz] has always had near-Dickensian powers of description, and an ability to yank us from one page to the next that few novelists can match.” —Los Angeles Times   “Koontz is a superb plotter and wordsmith. He chronicles the hopes and fears of our time in broad strokes and fine detail, using popular fiction to explore the human condition.”—*USA Today  * “Characters and the search for meaning, exquisitely crafted, are the soul of [Koontz’s] work. . . . One of the master storytellers of this or any age.”—The Tampa Tribune  * “A literary juggler.”—The Times (London)

TOUCHDOWN! James Patterson will have kids busting out laughing as they follow lovable bad-boy Rafe's struggles to score big on the field--and in the social scene! In this seventh Middle School episode, Rafe heads back to the place his misadventures began: the dreaded Hills Village Middle School, where he's now being forced to take "special" classes.. He also finds himself joining the school's football team--alongside his main tormenter, Miller the Killer! But Rafe has grand plans for a better year: First, he decides to start a super-secret art project that's sure to rock the school. Then, if Rafe manages to make a play to save his team, he might have to deal with something completely new: popularity!

Starting over is never easy, but in Thunder Point, where newcomers are welcome and friends become family, it's possible to find yourself again. In this brand-new story, #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr takes us on a moving and rewarding journey as a young woman finds new hope. After losing her child, Ginger Dysart was lost in grief. But since moving to Thunder Point, a small town on the Oregon coast, and with the help of her cousin Ray Anne, Ginger is finally moving forward. Her job at the flower shop is peaceful and fulfilling, and she's excited to start her first big assignment, assisting with the Lacoumette wedding. In spite of her lasting heartache, Ginger finds herself swept up in the pleasure of the occasion. But the beauty of the Lacoumette farm and the joy of the gregarious family are ruined by an unfortunate encounter with the bride's brother, Matt. Struggling with painful memories of his own recent divorce, Matt makes a drunken spectacle of himself and Ginger when he tries to make a pass at her, forcing Ginger to flee the scene in embarrassment. But when Matt shows up at the flower shop determined to make amends, what started out as a humiliating first meeting blossoms into something much deeper than either of them expected. Discovering they have a lot in common, they form a solid friendship, though everyone around them worries that Ginger will end up with a broken heart yet again. But if Ginger has the courage to embrace the future, and if Matt can finally learn to let go of the past, there may still be hope for a happy ending.

DRIZZT RETURNS TO THE UNDERDARK!   “After a quarter of a century, R.A. Salvatore just keeps getting better and better, and The Companions is another masterful leap forward for one of the greatest fantasy epics of all time.” —Philip Athans, best-selling author of Annihilation and Writing Monsters   R.A. Salvatore Archmage The pall that had descended over the North is gone, and a new day has dawned on a victorious Mithral Hall, but no matter how bright things seem on the surface, Drizzt and his companions know that what lurks just under their feet remains steeped in evil and charged with unimaginable power. The dark elves of Menzoberranzan, including the powerful Archmage Gromph, aren’t done with Drizzt yet. And consumed by their own power struggles, feeling backed into a corner, the drow may just be desperate enough to call on demonic forces from the deepest reaches of the Abyss, and unleash a disaster even the Underdark could never have prepared for.   Archmage has everything Drizzt’s fans crave: action, adventure, characters that resonate with equal measures of warrior spirit and deep compassion, and no shortage of wicked dark elves!

Every family hides something, but Flora Waring discovered a devastating deception in hers. At twenty-two she learned she had an identical twin, Rose, who lived with the mother Flora didn't remember at all. And when Flora ended up impersonating the high-spirited, spoiled Rose, she would have to face how cruel lies can be. When she agreed to accompany Rose's fiance to meet his grandmother in a picturesque town on the Scottish coast, she would quickly fall in love with the lush green countryside, the Armstrong family, and a rare, wonderful man. But she would also confront Rose's shocking secrets and a betrayal that could break her heart.

After three blissful years of living in Pipers Cove, Adam and Charli head back to the bright lights of New York. Taking on a position at a Manhattan gallery turns out to be Charli’s dream job, but just a few weeks after starting at his father’s firm, Adam realises that practising law is his worst nightmare. Biding his time is the plan. Charli has wanderlust in her soul and he’s hopeful that sooner or later, she’ll want to go home. Riding it out isn’t hard. They’re as close as they’ve ever been and every spare minute is spent hanging out with their precious little girl. Life is good – until it’s not. When fate throws them one nasty curveball after another, Charli’s confidence is shattered and her heart is broken. After weeks of trying to make sense of the grief she’s feeling, both realise she’s out of her depth. Getting out of Dodge is Charli’s preferred MO and she doesn’t disappoint, finally deciding that it’s time to leave New York. Returning to Pipers Cove is not the quick fix they were hoping for. Some things just can’t be mended, and the way she deals with that is going to change everything.

I have arranged these poems, not according to chronology but in what I hope is the most easily readable form. Nothing has been included from the two earliest pamphlets. I date my poetic appearance from the publication of "A Private Country" in 1943. Poems from the following volumes have been included: "Poems" edited by Oswell Blakeston (Fortune Press, 1938); "A Private Country" (Faber and Faber, 1943); "Cities, Plains and People" (Faber and Faber, 1946); "On Seeming to Presume" (Faber and Faber, 1948); "Sappho: a play in verse" (Faber and Faber, 1950); "The Tree of Idleness" (Faber and Faber, 1955); and "Private Drafts" (privately printed in Nicosia, Cyprus, 1955). L.D.

Bailey Morgan isn't the type of girl who shows a lot of skin, but somehow, she ends up in a dressing room at the mall with her friend Delia applying a temporary tattoo to her lower back. Never one to suffer fashion doubt, trendsetter Delia knows exactly where she wants her own tattoo: on her stomach, right where her shirt ends—can you say "midriff"? Annabelle, the quiet one, chooses the back of her neck, and tomboy Zo plasters hers on the top of her foot. The tattoos will last for three days, and Delia's sure that with them, the four friends will absolutely kill at the school dance. Unfortunately, killing is just what someone has in mind, and Bailey, Delia, Annabelle, and Zo are in for the battle of their lives. Along with her tattoo, each girl receives a gift—a supernatural power to help them in their fight. As Bailey's increasingly frightening dreams reveal the nature of their enemy, it becomes clear to the girls that it's up to them to save the world. And if they can get Delia to stop using her newfound power to turn gum wrappers into Prada pumps, they might actually stand a chance.

A new threat faces the world of Erdas in this continuation of the New York Times bestselling series. Something ancient and evil has awoken from beneath the world of Erdas. Shrouded in shadow and older than memory, just a sliver of its power can destroy with a touch. Even the spirit animal bond, the sacred link between humans and animals that keeps Erdas in balance, is under threat. Four young heroes, Conor, Abeke, Meilin, and Rollan, are determined to stop it. Together with their spirit animals, they embark on a desperate journey that takes them deep underground and to the far corners of the world. As friends and allies fall around them, the four have no choice but to push forward and confront this darkness. If they stop to look back, they'll see the truth: Evil already has them surrounded.

The Butterfly by James M. Cain was first published in 1946. It takes place among the hills and hollers of West Virginia coal country. Cain uses his favorite form of narration, the first person confessional, in relating this unusual tale of deceit, incest and murder. Jess Tyler is a church going mountain man. One day out of the blue, his estranged daughter, Kady, shows up at his cabin and starts throwing herself at him in a most undaughterly way. At least that's the way Jess tells it. Cain leaves a few hints that Jess may not be 100% accurate as a narrator. For example, he claims to be a God fearing teetotaler. Yet he quickly shows himself to be a seasoned expert when it comes to constructing and operating a commercial still.