One man’s attempt at dodging the war while on a treasure seeking mission for gold, leads him on a quest that he never imagined possible. From the timber mills of Wisconsin, into the deep South and the rugged West, nothing will keep Daniel Stone from going after what he wants. He would rather die trying to get where he wants to go, than to die with the regrets of a life unlived.One man’s attempt at dodging the war while on a treasure seeking mission for gold, leads him on a quest that he never imagined possible. As he crosses state borders from North to South, he is hell bent on determining his own path, until circumstances continue to fuel his situation beyond his control. With each tacking pace of the train, he will eventually venture into the bayous of Louisiana where he is beaten and left for dead, until he is discovered by someone that can alter the course of his destiny forever, but not before many battles are waged against him. Eventually, he is brought to a place where he must choose to live as a soldier of misfortune or discover the real reason why he began his journey in the first place. From the timber mills of Wisconsin, into the deep South and the rugged West, nothing will keep Daniel Stone from going after what he wants, neither the cruelty of strangers or the vengeful warriors of the plains, while the Civil War looms around him. He would rather die trying to get where he wants to go, than to live with the regrets of a life unlived…

When friendship is developed between a boy and a girl, there is a likelihood that one of them falls in love with the other. But due to fear of losing a friend he/she prefers to keep mum. In the process he / she suffers whole life. Can you blame the other party for not reading the other’s mind properly?When friendship is developed between a boy and a girl, there is a likelihood, one of them falls in love with the other. But due to fear of losing a friend he/she prefers to keep mum. In the process he / she suffers whole life. Can you blame the other party for not reading the other’s mind properly?Amrita and I were good friends even though we had wide gaps between our social backgrounds. She was a daughter of a senior Government official having large house in the middle of the city. On the other hand, I was from a modest background of a teachers’ family. Despite of that she was friendly with me, for that I am always grateful to her. I always used to feel comfortable with Amrita as a friend. Even after Naveen and she became lovers, my relation with Amrita remained same for four years of college life. Many of my friends used to refer her as my sister and I also never mind for such references! But Amrita's feeling for me was not limited to mere friendship!

A princess's heart is the prize in this Tolkein-esque world of dragons and knights; a blend of fantasy with a love for the ages.

After his home planet is destroyed Jeff Koenig is given the thankless task of settling a newly terraformed planet, a job that would be much easier of pessimistic Dr. Bella Lawson wasn't predicting the imminent destruction of the planet.The new colony will be out of contact with the rest of humanity for only seventy days, and by Day 1, everything has gone wrong.After alien ships have invaded the human territories, destroying planets and sending the survivors fleeing to Earth, the Terran government orders the refugees to settle a new planet. One that has just been terraformed.Jeff Koenig, one of the few survivors from the Delious system, leads a team of scientists to the planet Dauphin to rebuild his life. They have 70 days until the ship returns with the first wave of colonists, but from Day 1 everything goes wrong.As the days count down, the colonists watch the skies and pray that the Hurluk won't find them, or Earth, before they are rescued.Published in M-BRANE #5 May of 2009

When the Dark Tree comes, people start dying.Only Mirek, a tired old guardsman in Suridruun, seems to be able to see the Tree and know what it portends. His sole comfort is that the Tree always disappears after a few days, taking with it the murderous rage it instills in the hearts of men.But this time, the Dark Tree is not leaving without him.Finally Bluey surfaced and exhaled. Then Gwendolyn grasped for the surface, coughing violently, clinging to Bluey's neck. Hannah broke down and sobbed, dropping to the ground as she took in the unbelievable sight. I took Mum in my arms and we both cried tears of shocked relief. Bluey had Gwendolyn and they were both safe. He struggled against the current, as he swam in a zigzag, aiming them close to the shore at our feet. I wasn't prepared for what happened next. I will never forget it as long as I live. Bluey shoved Gwendolyn up onto the bank. She was coughing hard. When she got her breath, she screamed at Bluey, tears running down her face. "WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST LET ME DIE? NO ONE LOVES ME. I WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF DROWNED!"Bluey dragged himself up onto the bank, picked Gwendolyn up in his arms and held her shivering, frightened frame tight. He spoke softly to her, "I love you, Gwendolyn and I would give my life for you. That's how valuable you are to me and to us."One orphan child's journey through the horrors of abuse and torture at the hands of hatred. The trials and tribulations of a wounded heart and the ever present need to find the safety of a pure father's love. Aunt Tabbie's Wings is a heart warming story depicting the incredible healing and life changing power of Father’s agape love. Come on the journey and be inspired, lay down your life and set a child free. A simply delightful tale of love, adventure, struggle and redemption.

Librarian's note: This is a free downloadable novella. See the book url for more information. On board the Dolphin somewhere in the Atlantic, this day August 24th 1792, the crew will be presenting a Two Act Play: THE MIDDLE PASSAGE starring Miss Catherine Royal and Mr Billy Shepherd. Prepare to set sail for a new adventure.

science fiction adventure/warfare novel approx102,000 + wordsLight-years from home, about to carry out a survey of their designated star system. The crew of a survey vessel learn they are now at war with an unknown adversary who has destroyed a sister vessel in another quadrant. All that is known of the enemy is the side-view shape of their giant vessel. Shaped like a letter Z, they are henceforth designated as Zedds, by the Central Command War Council. This then is the prelude to the adventures and the horrors of fighting a war of survival, within a war, on an alien planet. Which would ultimately cost the lives of millions of beings. That has yet to unfold for the unsuspecting crew.

I am Morten Astley Fogarty – insurance complaint handler and all-round entertainer. I love helping customers resolve their concerns and as I’ve only received three death threats so far, I’m clearly doing something right. My girlfriend is a performer, too and a wonderful actress - our director has tried her in lots of different positions. Let’s hope she can continue to satisfy him!I am Morten Astley Fogarty – insurance complaint handler, part-time barista and all-round entertainer. My career at the Perypils call centre has really taken off since my colleagues all voted for me to leave the team and transfer to complaints; I was chuffed to bits at being chosen! I love helping our customers resolve their concerns and as I’ve only received three death threats so far, I’m clearly doing something right.On Sundays, I work with an extremely talented Chef, Joe, who trained under the calming influence of Gordon Ramsay. Joe’s party-trick is to hurl his bread knife through the kitchen hatch towards my head. He always deliberately misses, of course; we do have such fun!My girlfriend, Myra, is a wonderful actress and our director has tried her in lots of different positions. I know Myra is desperate to secure a leading part in our Christmas production, The Wizard of Oz and she has been scouring eBay for ruby slippers, size 9. Let’s hope she can continue to satisfy the director!

When I wrote A Year with the Hoopers, my only goal was to be as funny as possible. Before doing any other work on the book, I wrote more than 2,000 gags: one-liners, jokes, aphorisms, and cartoons. About 70 of those gags wound up in the book, a few others were shoved into stories and screenplays, and most of the rest were destroyed. The remaining 129 gags are in this ebook.When I wrote A Year with the Hoopers, my only goal was to be as funny as possible. Who needs plots, richly-developed characters, or the human condition? Not me! Before doing any other work on the book, I wrote more than 2,000 gags: one-liners, jokes, aphorisms, cartoons, and anything else I could think of. About 70 of those gags wound up in the book.What was I to do with the remaining 1,930 gags? For almost all of them, the answer was painfully simple: hold my nose, erase them off my hard drive, and pretend they'd never existed. I put a few of them in short stories and some others in screenplays. Yet a stubborn contingent of 129 gags lingered.Now, about five years later—as I was purging my files for an entirely unrelated reason—I stumbled upon the remaining gags again. I read them and liked them. And I thought, “Why don't I put them in a free ebook and share them with the world?” And I also thought, “Maybe publishing these gags will encourage a million people to buy A Year with the Hoopers! I'll be rich!”Benevolence and greed are a powerful combination. Thus this book was born. It's short but it's free, and you may find a laugh or two in it.

A drop out is conscripted to defend city against imminent zombov attack.A drop out is conscripted to defend city against imminent zombov attack. Buddied up with the girl of his dreams, Private Fluffy lurches his way through basic training. Will the heifferfolk be as difficult to deal with as Captain McGuire?Echoes of Catch 22, traces of Zone 1, a whiff of Adrian Mole and a dash of World War Z – what more could you want from an apocalypse novel?

Five dark fantasy and horror stories, all written in 2011 and 2012. Under Glass: horror (mirrors); Warmth in Winter: fantasy (ghosts, spies, soldiers); Sans Merci: fantasy (coffee, betrayal); Over the River: fantasy/paranormal (Halloween); Boon: Horror (zombies, apocalypse, Thumbelina). Cover image: "Window," by Lucrecia Beatrice (www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=24701)Five Stories for the Dark Months contains five dark fantasy and horror stories by Katherine Traylor, all written in 2011 and 2012. 1. Under Glass: A girl discovers the danger of being rude to a mirror.2. Warmth in Winter: A young border guard and a foreign spy must avoid pursuit while traveling through a forest full of hungry ghosts.3. Sans Merci: During a stolen coffee break, a young father meets a beautiful stranger who is much more than she seems.4. Over the River: A young woman wanders to the riverbank on Halloween and is invited to a strange party. 5. Boon: A very dark Thumbelina retelling, inspired by zombies and Norse mythology.

Free introduction to the Verity Series. Verity was orphaned as a teenager. She understand what happened. One minute life was blissfully happy then the next...poof. As an adult she thought she had let her parents go and moved on. Apparently, someone wasn't going to let her. Follow Verity in her struggle and her discovery that she is more than what she thought she was.Free introduction to the Verity Series. Verity was orphaned as a teenager. She understand what happened. One minute life was blissfully happy then the next...poof. As an adult she thought she had let her parents go and moved on. Apparently, someone wasn't going to let her. Follow Verity in her struggle to find information on her parents and her discovery that she is more than what she thought she was.

"No one believed him that the monsters were real..."This short horror story is based on a nightmare I had some time back.This short horror story is based on a nightmare I had some time back. A young boy encounters a beautiful witch who promises to take away his fears...Excerpt:No one believed him that the monsters were real. His uncle grew frustrated and impatient with the nighttime fears the boy should long have outgrown. His aunt was more sympathetic and well-intentioned, but she dismissed them as being merely nightmares. Only he knew that, at night, the truths always revealed themselves.After the lights went out and all was dark, the silence of his room was broken by quiet scratching and moans. He covered his ears against the screeches, but they grew louder and louder until they filled the air, and he could feel them even in his lungs. Then, when a scream threatened to burst forth from his throat, and he could bear it no longer, there was silence. Not one sound. It was the same disquieting nothingness as in a forest filled with animals that sensed a new predator. The monsters were still, but he knew they were there.He uncapped his ears and glanced at his little sister, asleep in the bed next to his. Quiet and undisturbed, she’d slept through it all. He envied her peaceful slumber; she always looked like an angel.Then, there was another noise. Whispers. “She’s coming,” they said. “She’s coming. She’s coming.”

"Mr. Jacobson, the old Jewish guy who lives on Bickford street, sniffs little girls' bicycle seats," eight year old Benjamin Carter announced cavalierly as though the topic made for polite dinner conversation. The family had just sat down to the evening meal. Grace Carter poured some gravy on her mash potatoes, cleared her throat and asked, "Where exactly did you learn this?"The first in a series of stories about the darker side of the life of fairies.

Haden Maxwell is scared someone knows he’s been dealing drugs. He is directed to go to a diner where he meets a mysterious woman who knows all about his dark past and informs him he must make an impossible choice. The path he walks from then on brings him to the man who ruined his life and a past he thought he had buried.Haden Maxwell is scared someone knows he’s been dealing drugs. He is directed to go to a diner where he meets a mysterious woman who knows all about his dark past and informs him he must make an impossible choice. The path he walks from then on brings him to the man who ruined his life and a past he thought he had buried.It's the second story I released to the public back in November of 2011. If you enjoy this story, check out my others. If you really loved it, look into my first novel, Void Star. Thank you so much for reading and supporting indie authors!-J.P. YagerOtterbored.com

An Ancient Adventure…When Leon begins to have dreams pointing him to the obscure and despondent land of Mordelan, he is reluctant to accept it. But when he discovers the answers to his questions, he does what no man has done in the last forty years. He picks up and journeys to Mordelan to save them from their worst enemy – themselves.Paul and Susan Spencer portray a traditional family setting, fully equipped with four children (and growing). After a typical meatloaf dinner, Susan reveals a special secret that not only surprises the family, but shakes her husband to the core. After a strange turn of events, the family isn't as picture-perfect as they let off.

Such Deliberate Loveliness is a collection of love poems spanning 10 years. The collection contains poems of loss, of wanting, of falling in love, and of staying in love.Experience the glory and drama of Impworld's Guild Wars! The future can be a dark place, but when a teenage girl gets the chance to play her Ogress Bloodskull character for the Dreadknights in Guild Wars, she also finds that she has a shot at a real future playing the game she loves on a terraformed alien world. Of course, nothing is a sure bet in Guild Wars. To win the prize, Bloodskull and her teammates will have to beat out rival guilds like the Golden Gears, Neverdeath and her old cronies in Doomsmack. Through betrayal, friendly fire, sabotage and impossible odds, Christine must prove she has what it takes both in and out of the game. But will she seize the prize or wind up toiling away in her aunt's earthbound dream of farm life? Shake the pillars of Hades! The Dreadknights are coming!

"Bronwyn looked down at his food as his mother destroyed his manhood by attempting to defend his inexperience."Innocence Shattered. A young man on the verge of seeing a dream come true is crushed by the most unexpected person.Blade of Truth is a short story that ties into the Castle Keepers series.Bronwyn looked down at his food as his mother destroyed his manhood by attempting to defend his inexperience.Innocence Shattered. A young man on the verge of seeing a dream come true is crushed by the most unexpected person.Blade of Truth is a short story that ties into the Castle Keepers series. Many of the characters who appear in it also appear in “Shadows in the Stone” and “Scattered Stones”.Follow Diane Lynn McGyver into the Land of Ath-o’Lea and live the fantasy.

1925. It's the height of the twenties and Godfrey Leduc's small farm is prospering. Trouble brews though in the form of Joe Campbell, the town drunk, and a blizzard that catches Godfrey by surprise.Ripe with the humdrum of small town life - gossip, church, Sunday dinners, and talk at the barbershop - Godfrey: Book Three is an entertaining read from start to finish.It's 1925 and Godfrey Leduc has been making great headway as an Albertan farmer. His crops have done well and he's got a sturdy one-room house. He's got a wagon, a horse, and some chickens. He's made some good friends and people know his name around town. But trouble brews...Joe Campbell, local mechanic and owner of Campbell and Sons Garage, has become the town drunk in the years since we last visited Wainwright and Godfrey's efforts to assist the Campbell family create some tension between him and his brothers.Far worse than a family feud however, is the blizzard Godfrey finds himself caught in during winter. Losing energy and struggling to breathe, will Godfrey make it out alive?Ripe with the humdrum of small town life - gossip, church, Sunday dinners, and talk at the barbershop - Godfrey: Book Three is an entertaining read from start to finish that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

Literature is found in many primitive and modern cultures, and it does have group survival advantages, and so, according to sociobiological theory, the evidence is strong that literature has a genetic base."Engaging…[A] charming debut thriller.”--Publishers WeeklyThe hilarious first book in the Bestselling Maternal Instincts Mystery SeriesA body has been dredged from the San Francisco Bay. Kate Connolly, pregnant and ready to pop, has reason to fear it may be her long lost brother-in-law. When a private investigator begins nosing around, Kate decides on a new career path. Battling sleep deprivation, diaper blowouts and breastfeeding mishaps she muddles through her own investigation, Mommy style:To do:1. Find Killer2. Figure out hideous breast pump.3. Avoid cranky cop.4. Send out Make birth announcements.5. Buy pink paper for the birth announcements.5. FIND KILLERFamily life has never been so exciting, but after Kate launches her own female detective agency, she may just get more than she bargained for.Full of suspense, this cozy is unputdownable!