Chuck Veal has not heard from his brother in Georgia in over a week and nobody answers the home phone or cell. An employee at the timber mill his brother owns gives him run around answers and the local Sheriff refuses to post a missing person report. With his gut instincts screaming "trouble,"Chuck Veal has not heard from his brother in Georgia in over a week and nobody answers the home phone or cell. An employee at the timber mill his brother owns gives him run around answers and the local Sheriff refuses to post a missing person report. With his gut instincts screaming "trouble," Chuck spills his fears to a female co-worker who unexpectedly offers to help. She wants to go with him to Georgia and lend a hand searching for his brother. Little does Chuck realize, she is ESP sensitive and already knows more than she can tell.With few clues to go by, Chuck starts following his brother's clues, starting at the old family cemetery and things go downhill from there. His presence creates a head on collision with small town influencers and power brokers that have left a deadly trail of murder, deceit, and mayhem. Everything from the Atlanta drug cartel to the murderess of his Grandfather sixty years earlier, comes into play."The Beginning" anchors a full boatload of Whispering Pines books ahead about the Veal family trials and tribulations. It is a fast paced, edge of your seat thriller for all ages. Rated PG.

This fifteen page book follows best friends Maggie (an atheist) and Joan (a Christian) through illuminating situations. Each chapter sees the majesty of life from two lines of sight. Maggie finds a comfortable place in her atheism where she sees a beautiful a world without having to explain it away to a supernatural God. Joan disagrees, but they keep their mutual respect.After living what seemed to be a perfect life with the perfect man, Adrianna makes a life shattering discovery. When his supposedly dead family shows up, disturbing truths come to light. Everything about her life was a lie, especially her husband. Through powers unknown to her, Torstein controlled every move she made, every thought she had. With her life falling to pieces around her, could only focus on one thought. Not WHO her husband was, but WHAT?

A fast-paced new age adventure with a most unlikely cast of characters. An ancient Sumerian King has hired a shape shifting Raven to steal sacred objects from museum's around the world. Follow the journey to discover the key to unlocking humanity's shift into the new consciousness of 2012.Siomonn Pulla's first e-novel is a fast-paced new age adventure with a most unlikely cast of characters. This book is quirky and probably unlike anything you've ever read before. An ancient Sumerian King has hired a shape shifting Raven to steal sacred objects from museum's around the world. A Museum curator and her assistant, a young anthropology graduate student, discover that they are running out of time in this quest to restore the ancient balance of light and dark forces. Together with members from the ancient Council of Light, they must track down the shape shifting Raven, locate the stolen objects and return them to the council. Nearly out of time, they must journey to discover the key to unlocking humanity's shift into the new consciousness of 2012.As a new fiction writer Siomonn is having fun testing out ideas and working on his technique with this novel. He enjoys receiving constructive comments and his dream is to one day work with an agent and a team of talented editors to help him shape his numerous far-out creative ideas into great fiction!

Underground is a book about a creature/monster that lives in the London Underground.The book was a big hit, a massive best seller and inevitably Hollywood wants to turn it into a film. So Big Bill, a studio executive under pressure goes to London. With the pressure to get the film done in record time and under the lowest budget, chaos erupts and the real adventure begins...Underground is a book about a creature/monster that lives in the London Underground system.The book was a big hit, a massive best seller and inevitably Hollywood wants to turn it into a film. So Big Bill, a studio executive under huge pressure to make money in an age were movies are made by spotty kids with camcorders and break box office records, goes to London himself with he’s assistant Sue and an intern Frank, just out of college, to meet the writer and buy the rights for a film. The author of the book, UNDERGROUND is in a psychiatric hospital suffering from a nervous breakdown unable to cope with his new success, he’s left in the care of the Hollywood trio and even stars in the film.With the pressure to get the film done in record time and under the lowest budget possible, the pressure piles on and a chaotic scenario develops. The already vulnerable book author who plays the monster in a suit with huge sharp claws he has a nervous breakdown, taking on the monster persona he chases everyone down the corridors and tunnels. But there is a twist...I have created a story that appeals to a wide audience range and by having Americans in the story, my idea is to also make it attractive to Hollywood and the possibility of having it turned into a film. As you will be able to read I have exploited every angle possible in this book it has been 20 years in the making.I paid careful attention to highlight the differences between the two cultures (British and American) and exploit it to the maximum playing on stereotypes but without being too obvious. The way the story is written at the moment, in this format is its strength. It’s direct and straight to the point, descriptive just enough to make the characters and plot understandable without going on and [email protected]

Christian AllegoryIn an adventure reminiscent of the Christian life, one girl struggles to find her way out of the dungeon, beyond the perils of the journey, to the Kingdom that awaits.BONUS MATERIAL:Each of the six chapters includes questions for reflection, suitable for individual use, or for discussion in a book club, Bible study or small group setting.Hypotenuse: A detective and a witness become acquainted as he investigates the death of one of their neighbors.Colossus: An arctic scientist explores the habitat of the Colossal Squid, and finds a secret even larger than the cagey mollusk.Support: An Explosive Ordinance Disposal officer connects with his family as he wrestles with an especially difficult day in Iraq.Something to Say: A forensic tech examines the body of a woman murdered outside a police station.Why There Are No More Dragons Or Unicorns: A father's tale of the last dragon and unicorn.Turing's Test: A computer with a personality disorder mulls its own idiosyncratic existence with its human roommate.Only Numan: A young man with a genetic predisposition toward unstable genes is given the opportunity to become a part of governmental experiments to develop superhumans.Prisoners of War: A forensics anthropologist and a left-for-dead Marine track a war criminal, in post-war Vietnam.Raider: A woman comes to grips with her own identity and mortality while breaking into an Egyptian pyramid.Dante's Infirmity: An old man and his family struggle to preserve his humanity and independence navigating the medical establishment, as he approaches the end of his life.The Ghost Club: Mr. Houdini and Mr. Doyle explore the question of life after death.Suicide Spear: Humanity takes the battle to an alien homeworld's doorstep, after decades of a devastating war of attrition.Hang Around: A cowboy, a Buddhist monk, and others relive the results of one choice.Ghost Dust: A medical patient reflects on the aftermath of 9/11.Bloody Hands: A community shares responsibility and blame after a young boy's call for help.

Cassandra Lopez is a multi-talented 18 year old, who is going out with a rapper, but she's falling in love with a newcomer.Meet Risgan: rogue, gambler and outlawed treasure-hunter.Cursed with carrying a talisman that conveys youth or age, by strange fate, he crosses paths with a Timesmith, an inventor of remarkable engines. The relic-hunter finds himself enveloped in a series of inexplicable events and earns the wrath of the estimable ‘Time Adjudicator’—a predicament not to be taken lightly. Besieged with bizarre circumstances, the relic-monger must contend with forces more universal than he cares for.

Exciting historical novel set in 7th century Caledonia and Northern Britain. We follow the adventures of a gallant Irish warrior monk, an intrepid Irish Princess who joins the Celtic Church and a daring young Pict.Exciting historical novel set in 7th century Caledonia and Northern Britain. Life, love and loss of larger than life characters who lived in these turbulent times. We follow the adventures of a gallant Irish warrior monk, an intrepid Irish Princess who joins the Celtic Church and a daring young Pict. They combine to rescue a group of Picts who were captured by Dal Riata warriors and return them to their Hebridean homeland.

Since the online self-publishing revolution began, I've been on the lookout for great indie authors, and my efforts have been rewarded many times over. This collection contains some of the best stories by these wonderful writers. I'm grateful to all of the authors, not only for letting me re-publish their stories here, but also for all the joy they've given me through their wonderful writing.Since the online self-publishing revolution began a few years ago, I've been on the lookout for great indie authors, and my efforts have been rewarded many times over. Most of these discoveries have come from writers who have put their work out there for free. Motivations may vary, but they all share a common underlying impulse to help their stories find an audience. There is an enormous ocean of books out there, and each new one reminds me of a paper boat set out somewhere on a quiet stream full of dreams. Through various mechanisms of publicity, writers and their readers try to help those boats along their way, and I've tried to do my part. I've reviewed and blogged and tweeted and posted within my limited reach to assist these stories in their journeys. Most recently it occurred to me that I could do a little more, by gathering some of my favorites together and publishing an anthology. This collection contains some of the best stories by some of the best independent writers in the world, and also one by myself. I'm grateful to all of the authors, not only for letting me re-publish their stories here, but also for all the joy they've given me through their wonderful writing. Tom Lichtenberg

Welcome to the strange and wild world of the Zeros.In this novella, follow two men as they agree to a favor only to find themselves locked in a haunted mansion, battling for their lives against mythological beasts and murderous madmen.Ghosts, magical texts, and sea monsters fill the pages of this tale, where not all is as it appears to be...Written as a short introduction to the wild world of the Zeros, "Two Zeros and The Library of Doom!" is a novella of two heroes who took a job that sounded so easy.Gil Abercrombie and his new partner Dylan accept a simple job rescuing an aged caretaker at an abandoned sanatorium called Callowleigh. Soon, their quick task becomes a nightmare as our heroes find themselves trapped and fighting for their lives. Alone in a haunted mansion, Gil and Dylan struggle against otherworld forces as they search for the old caretaker who may be caught in something far beyond his understanding.Forced to team up with a master thief to battle dangers from man and beast, our Zeros dig deeper into buried secrets, pursuing the terrible secrets of the old hospital and the ancient books held within a very strange library.Ghosts, demons, and mythological beasts fill the pages of this novella, where not all is as it appears to be.Welcome to the world of Gil's Grimoire...

What if a stranger took over the part of your best friend? In "Life Trade," a would-be screenwriter seeks answers after his buddy is replaced by someone new. He discovers a matching website for people who want to trade places.What if a stranger took over the part of your best friend? In "Life Trade," a would-be screenwriter seeks answers after his buddy is replaced by a stranger. He discovers a matching website for people who want to trade places.In the surreal style of Her and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, this humorous short story imagines a possible future for technology -- a revolutionary online matchmaking service that can help an unhappy person find a fresh start in the life of someone else.

Welcome back to the wonderful town of Cottontail Pines! In this new adventure, a mysterious traveler pays the down a visit, and Gumdrop the mouse quickly becomes his biggest fan. Unfortunately, Flopsy the bunny worries that her best friend does not want to play with her anymore. Is their friendship really over? Find out in “The Adventurer” by T.K. Wade!“Adventures in Cottontail Pines” is a new series of children’s stories by T.K. Wade. In this fourth story, the town is paid a surprise visit by an adventurous mouse known as Rocky Road. After telling all the animals about his many adventurers, Gumdrop the mouse becomes his biggest fan and decides that she has to spend as much time as she can with him. But when Gumdrop stops visiting Flopsy, the white bunny suddenly becomes jealous of Rocky. Could this be the end of a friendship?! Read this fun new adventure and find out!

Here are twelve deeply moving short stories from the perceptive pen of Cynthia Rylant. Each captures the moment when someone's life changes -- when an animal causes a human being to see things in a different way, and, perhaps, changes his life.

When Cheri dies from an overdose, Lead Belly falls into a pit of despair. His bros in the Road Dogs motorcycle club try to help, but when they leave, Lead Belly picks up his 357 and starts playing Russian Roulette, but that's when Cave Man showed up. With death only a trigger pull away, Cave Man jumps on his spirit bike and rides, because Biker Heaven can wait, when one of the bros are in trouble.Auntie Beryl is a career optimist, unable to see the bad side of anything or anyone. But can she keep her cool in the hot place no one likes to talk about?

Einstein - Roswell - Hitler - The Annunaki – Galileo - da Vinci - The Great Pyramids - von Braun - Puma PunkuWHAT COULD THEY HAVE IN COMMON?Dr. Vicki Collins Genetic Research Takes Her on a Journey Through History That Threatens Her Life and...Could Change the Earth Forever! Her fiancé, Nick Parks, is forced to flee from her government captors who want him killed. Code X searches for answersDr. Vicki Collins Genetic Research Takes Her on a Journey Through History That Threatens Her Life and...Could Change the Earth Forever! Her fiancé, Nick Parks, is forced to flee from her government captors who want him killed. Her discovery could control the world. She must unlock mankind’s secrets to save her life.Einstein - Roswell - Hitler - The Annunaki – Galileo - da Vinci - The Great Pyramids - von Braun - Puma PunkuWHAT COULD THEY HAVE IN COMMON? CODE X Searches for the Truth..5 out of 5 StarsWith this book you have it all...Love, Hate, Action, Surprises. An excellent read. It will keep you glued to the pages waiting for the next twist and turn. A thought provoking story. Deneale's Book Buzz 5 out of 5 StarsAfter you get halfway through the book, it gets so faced paced, that you just cannot put it down, and you just have to keep reading no matter what is going on around you. You fall in love with the characters, and want them to succeed, and you want to help them make it. You can visually see everything happening, it is like: “No wait- don’t do that!” and “Hurry up!” as you’re reading you’re yelling at the book, because you are that engrossed. This book is thrill ride and a half! You will not be able to put it down, trust me on that.This book is a true five star read. A thrill ride that enlightens your mind on conspiracy theories, and truths, and the government, and what could be. And maybe even….is. You need to read this book, and see what you’re missing! Christina 5 Of 5 Stars...A Perfect Fit For Fans Of James Patterson Or Michael CrichtonThis novel focuses on a brilliant female doctor who has started to unlock the secrets of the human genome. Add in the secret government conspiracy somehow involving the brilliant minds humanity has produced, and the stealing of secrets from the military, you have a great mystery. While I love Vicki and Parks, I have to mention the supporting character of Biggins who is a hot contrast! Biggins is full of confident bristle, a larger-than-life powerhouse that steals every scene. The dialogue between her and Parks is entertaining, a brother-sister attitude of verbally sparing at one another, and had me laughing. Fair warning to the author: if Biggins does not survive this series, I will be heartbroken! Overall, a thrilling conspiracy novel - held my interest to the final page and left me wanting more! 5 Star by Elvis 654Code X is a thrill ride into what happens when science goes places science shouldn’t go. This book has a mix of everything. If you are a fan of James Rollins sigma force series this book is a treat made for you. It has all the elements of a great science fiction mystery, wrapped up in an adventure novel, packaged in a thriller. The many twists and turns that this book takes will leave you gasping until you get to the final conclusion that will leaving you wanting more. This author has the unique talent of keeping you interested and engaging your brain with the hi tech genetics information while treating your adrenaline rush addiction with heart stopping cliff hangers, and lastly little mysteries that leave you wondering throughout the novel. This novel is highly recommended it is intelligent witty, and mysterious. 5 Stars by IsabelWow! New Science Fiction Thriller Classic with twists. I could not put it down; I was glued to every page because of the surprises and twists and turns in every chapter, which becomes an out of control runaway train in the last half of the book. It left me wanting more and made me stop and think, “what if”? Is this what evil doers out of control in the government fight so hard to hide, to keep secret? I had to keep reading to find out what happens next, and it did not disappoint me. I was surprised all the way through the end.I found it difficult to put the book down especially as the danger escalated for Vicki and her fiancé, Nick Parks. For a science fiction mystery, CODE X is a fast paced thriller!

The tales of a not-so-ordinary Jack Russell dog. Just a sample of my work.Nearly 500 years ago, the War of Wizards almost destroyed the world of Melarandra. The Order of Maget was created to ensure this never occurred again. For five centuries, they have destroyed any creature, or human, who possessed magical abilities. Even as this went on, a prophecy had foretold magic's return.Royal twins Koral and Eric Traven had been told since they were children the prophecy pertained to them. The prophecy told both were needed to complete the task of returning magic, but Eric had other ideas. Always wanting to go down in history as a great hero, he planned to do it alone. Now, as their sixteenth birthday approached, the betrayal which the prophecy had foretold has occurred, setting everything into motion. Eric has gone off on his own, leaving Koral to scramble to find him. If they do not achieve the task set before them together, magic would return chaotic, and destroy the world as they know it.Now, with the help of Gillock, a wizard from the old days, and beings that are no longer supposed to exist, Koral sets out into the Central Lands. Time is already against her and she wonders if she will find her brother in time. And more importantly, before the Order does.

Free 13,000-word short story featuring Agents Jack Ross and Casey McClaren from Handcuffed to the Bear. Casey gets her first field case, investigating Bigfoot sightings on Washington's Olympic Peninsula. Are Casey and Jack about to come face to face with a real life Bigfoot, or is there more to this case than it seems?Free 13,000-word short story in the Shifter Agents series, featuring Agents Jack Ross and Casey McClaren from Handcuffed to the Bear. Casey gets her first field case, investigating Bigfoot sightings on Washington's Olympic Peninsula. Are Casey and Jack about to come face to face with a real life Bigfoot, or is there more to this case than it seems? This can be read with no knowledge of the other books in the Shifter Agents series, all of which can be found on Lauren's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Lauren-Esker/e/B012JAZL16/.

Arthur Godley, proprietor of Godley's Garden Gnomes and Godley Investments meets his maker in unusual circumstances and, in the process, learns a few costly lessons. A twenty first century version of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol".Arthur Smedley Godley - wide boy and proprietor of Godley's Garden Gnomes and Godley Investments gives lessons on money-making to a strange but very quiet visitor. Sitting in his white leather, executive chair behind his white desk, Godley pontificates about his success to the visitor who sits silently in rapt attention. Godley can talk endlessly and knows all there is to know about opportunism and money making. It started, we learn, with swindling a boy out of his sausage at school lunch. Godley's knowledge has no limits and success is there for all to see from the Bentley parked outside the front door next to the sunflowers ("they have such big heads and rise above everything else") to the thick pile Chinese carpet - given in return for once helping a Chinese man find "a bit of flooze around Harrod's in Knightsbridge". And Godley's business? Well, he runs Godley's Garden Gnomes from a rundown, old, red- brick factory around the back - but it's really the front for his main venture, Godley Investments. Godley is a loan shark with a couple of big boned salesmen and a trouble shooter - Titibola - "six foot three, huge tits and a face like Joe Frazier".And the visitor soon hears about Godley's deep business philosophy based mostly on a picture book about dinosaurs. "Sniff it out and snuff it out I always say."And being a business guru and self proclaimed "God's gift to the local economy" he decides to compare himself to the other God. And that old God made many mistakes, including being overstaffed. "He runs interviews for washed up individuals and those who have already given up hope" - and most of them pass the interview and get in.But how has Godley been so successful? Well, his own slogan sums it up: Godley's Garden Gnomes satisfies a whim, but Godley Investments feeds the greed. "They all want rid of their mortgages and overdrafts but there's no sense of compassion from the banks and so they come to me. They need presents for their kids at Christmas, a new car, a new fridge or washing machine. So, who do they ask? Debt Busters - also known as Godley Investments. Never say no, that's me. You've got to have a kind heart."With so much talking, though, his throat gets dry. No longer able to resist a drink from his well equipped cocktail cabinet and desperate to show his visitor his famous PowerPoint presentation ("where every graph points upwards") Godley starts to lean a few lessons himself as his interest in dinosaurs takes on a frightening form. His PowerPoint presentation transforms itself into a full scale, 3D spectacular - in full Technicolor - of a prehistoric jungle complete with a roaring Tyrannosaurus Rex that stumbles around Godley's desk. Finally, plunged into complete darkness, Godley hears the Voice. Terrified and unable to see anything and with the Voice appearing to know everything about him including his bank account details and PIN, he is forced to log onto his bank account and transfer its entire contents to a company called Godly Investments. So begins Godley's own lessons from someone who claims to be his Chief Executive "out on a trouble shoot." "You see, Godley," the Voice explains, "You can't just take a company name without it being ratified - particularly one called Godley Investments. I already own the trade name, the brand name and the marketing and distribution rights. With your track record, I wouldn't even be willing to grant you a franchise."Godley is no Scrooge and we never find out whether the experience changes his ways, but, like a short, twenty first century version of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", Arthur Godley certainly learns a few lessons and perhaps others might as well.

This is the story of the first person to have his brain downloaded and installed into a computer program before death.Upon death, the neurological data that composes one's personality is downloaded and installed onto computers in the next evolution from A.I.s. These programs are known as installed intelligences, or I.I.s, and they are the secret to human immortality. In recent years, the installation process has open up for the wealthy public as a means to keep family members alive after their body has died.This is the story of a man who is mistaken for dead and has his mind installed before recovering and becoming the first living person with an I.I. of him or herself.