Alex's job is to search derelicts for anything that may be valuable. The problem is, 'valuable' is relative, but danger is not...A collection fifteen poems (sixteen if you count the dedication)covering love, loss, and humor. These poems are based on actual persons and events in my life. These words were written between May 1992 and August 2011. I've included photos of those who inspired me the most. I have made 1 "hard copy" for myself, and wanted to share my words with others.

An ancient Hopi legend predicts the birth of a girl with pale skin, blond hair and yellow eyes. When the prophecy is misread the child is abandoned, but unexplained forces ensure she is found by a loving Christian family. As her body and mind undergo a strange metamorphosis she is faced with the revelation that the future of mankind may depend upon her.Have you ever wondered why you were born? You know deep in your soul that life has purpose, but answers to your questions are illusive. We are all searching. A million years before the Florida peninsula existed, a chain of small islands arose from Earth’s primordial oceans. Today, people call it the Florida Ridge. It was there an ancient and highly advanced civilization established a final sanctuary containing an underground library with historical records and remnants of technology. The archaeological site was discovered in 1930 by French explorer Claude Gautier, but remains a closely guarded secret to this day. Sleep was difficult for Haley King. For as long as she could remember, her nights were filled with recurring dreams of a strange civilization. Everyone in her community knew her. They all loved the little blind girl, everyone except Brian. He learned of her true identity from a strange old man with glowing eyes, but he didn’t dare tell anyone; they would laugh at him. She was the biological offspring of two full-blooded Hopi Indians, but her DNA was very different. Her eyes were fluorescent yellow, hair blond, and her skin was pale. An ancient Hopi legend predicted her birth, but the tribe’s partial conversion to Catholicism in the late sixteenth century resulted in a serious misinterpretation of what to do with her. The medicine man took Haley from her mother and gave her to the Catholic Church. Haley was adopted and moved to Florida when she was twelve years old. She became close friends with five boys who had the suspicious happening of all being born on the same day. While the boys were on a fishing trip celebrating their sixteenth birthday, their boat was struck by lightning. Four of them (including Brian) were nearly killed. A tattoo of a leafless tree was burned on their feet. The fifth boy experienced a vision of the future. They were all changed by the incident and their lives became more intermingled with Haley.

Assistant D.A. Kate Megason is about to prosecute the case of her career when someone starts sending her terrifying messages. Someone who obviously knows her deep, dark secret. Now, she needs the help of Frank Matrone--an investigator with his own shadowy past--or else Kate may have no chance of surviving a killer's brutal wrath.

There's something funny about that guy! A collection of offerings short enough for people with short attention spans.One should always have a noble reason for doing something. We are a nation of suers, and the "injured" party never says they're suing to get a lot of money, even though that's exactly why they're doing it. Rather, they always say they're suing so that nobody else will have to go through what they went through. The standard form is "so that nothing like this will ever happen again". That sounds pretty noble, so that's why I wrote this book... so that nothing like this will ever happen again!

Another collection of free poems and stories brought to you by The Indie Collaboration. This time we take you to a world of dreams. To far-away lands of magic and wonder, where ducks and children have adventures and learn about the world; where heroes help their friends and elephants get lost.So pack your lunch box, grab your coat and shoes and join us in a land of make believe.Another collection of free poems and stories brought to you by The Indie Collaboration. This time we take you to a world of dreams. To far-away lands of magic and wonder, where ducks and children have adventures and learn about the world; where heroes help their friends and elephants get lost.So pack your lunch box, grab your coat and shoes and join us in a land of make believe.I can't wait. Can you?The Indie Collaboration grew out of a group of like minded independent authors. Together, we decided to show the world how great works of fiction can be created without the involvement of any large publishing companies; creating a direct channel between ourselves and our readers is of the utmost importance to us. Each author has freely donated their time and work and are committed to the Indie Collaboration's cause of:We offer the best of indie authors in bite size pieces and wherever possible, for free.We hope you enjoy our books.

It's like watching your neighbors fight. An unemployed man tries to adjust to being a house husband and watches as his breadwinner wife starts to make all the decisions. What happens when a man loses his masculinity?Droplets of blood bloomed on my thumb. A small spot of flesh had ripped off and the fresh white meat stung whenever I quit sucking on it. I scooted myself out from under...This report is about more than just the 17 Blogging Blunders that most people make when it comes to blogging. And it’s about more than just making money blogging. I’ll cover that too, because there are millions to be made through blogging, if you do it right... The thing is, no matter what business you’re in, money is simply the byproduct of right-thinking combined with right-action. After today, your “thinking” and, if you choose, your “action” will change completely. I promise you that. But before we get going, it’s super-important to understand that this report is REALLY about one thing: “NOT”... By that, I mean how “NOT” to think and what “NOT” to do if you want to really succeed online. And before I make my next statement, let me tell you - it may be a bit hard for you to accept when you first hear it... But you can’t truly make progress or succeed unless you’re open to accepting that I’m about to tell you. So, unless you can open your mind to something that might seem a bit far fetched at first, and trust what I’m about to tell you, you might as well STOP READING THIS REPORT RIGHT NOW. NOT EVERYONE IS READY FOR THE CONCEPT I´M ABOUT TO SHARE. COME BACK AND READ IT WHEN YOU ARE READY. The thing is, whether you know it or not, you’ve been a VICTIM. A victim of a dubious, nearly undetectable disease that has you and so many other people headed in the opposite direction of success online... Tell me this: What did you picture life being like when you first got the idea of trying to create income online? Did you see yourself hunched over a computer until the wee hours of the morning, night after night, ultimately spending LESS time, rather than MORE time with the people you love?

It is three days since Andromache Jones suffered her ordeal at the hands of The Magician and she doesn't know what to do with herself. She doesn't think that she is up to working. She is not very keen on the idea of getting out of bed. In truth, all she wants is to be left alone. Unlucky for her, Jean Pottersworth is very persistent. Does she have a case that might chase away Mac's blues?It is three days since Andromache Jones suffered her ordeal at the hands of The Magician and she doesn't know what to do with herself. She doesn't think that she is up to working. She is not very keen on the idea of getting out of bed. In truth, all she wants is to be left alone. Unlucky for her, Jean Pottersworth is very persistent. Does she have a case that might chase away Mac's blues?The Apparition is the second short story in the Andromache Jones Mysteries series.

Erin Lindgren, a bright and astute woman, fails miserably when choosing a man. After a series of false starts, she gives up hope of ever finding the man of her dreams.Soon after returning to the United States from South Africa, she embarks on another move to Victoria, Canada searching for an undefined sense of fulfillment.Impulsively and despite her reservations, she joins an online dating site.Erin Lindgren, a bright and astute woman, fails miserably when choosing a man. After a series of false starts, she gives up hope of ever finding the man of her dreams.Soon after returning to the United States from South Africa, she embarks on another move to Victoria, Canada - searching for an undefined sense of fulfilment.Impulsively and despite her reservations about online dating, Erin joins an online dating site. She skips the basic membership and vaults to VIP status.Erin soon realizes that in the world of e-bachelorette she held all the aces. So she guarded her heart, calculating and plotting her moves to exacting perfection. But logical reasoning does not hold sway for very long....Will this be another false start for Erin? Or, will it take her on an adventure of a lifetime?

***Short story***When coffee lover, Beth, finds her supply empty one Saturday morning, her only solution is a trip to the store. What she gets out of that decision is a little more than the caffeine fix she was seeking. PLUS bonus first chapter of full length novel "Love Deferred" coming soon.***Short story When coffee lover, Beth, finds her supply empty one Saturday morning, her only solution is a trip to the store. What she gets out of that decision is a little more than the caffeine fix she was seeking. Plus BONUS first chapter of full length novel "Love Deferred" coming soon.*About the author* - Tamicah Maree is a busy wife and mother of six who has been writing since the age of sixteen. She has completed six novels in a series for young teens which she hopes to publish soon. We hope this short story and sneak peak of her coming novel is a stepping stone to her dreams of becoming a published author. THANK YOU for reading and please leave a review as we would love to hear your feedback. :)

The orks are a savage race who live short, hard lives. From the moment they are born to the day they die, life is a struggle for survival and honor.Tooth & Claw is about the coming of age ritual of a young ork boy who wants to become a brun. But to join the ranks of the adults, he must first prove his worth by taming the most dangerous creature in their world.For thousands of years the Dúranaki have lived in relative obscurity, sheltered within their Twilight Forest on the far side of nearly impassible mountains. Ejected from his homeland, T'vance assumes a western name and explores a world few Dúranaki ever see. He soon finds himself in the middle of a conflict that threatens not only the strange land he visits, but casts a spectre of doom even on his own homeland.Five short stories chronicle his journeys.

A old friend's disappearance sets an FBI agent on a dangerous case where the line between good guys and bad guys might turn murky.(I'm giving the whole free thing a go for a while. Enjoy. If you like the story, please leave an amazon and smashwords review.)SUBURBAN HOME EXPLODES. FAMILY VANISHES.Working for the FBI certainly isn’t a “normal” job, but Special Agent Julie Ann Davidson has never encountered a case as personal as this one. Although not officially assigned to the case, Ann and her partner, Patrick Duncan, take up the cause of finding Rachel, Jason, and Emily Collins. As if that task wasn’t enough, Ann and Patrick also have a baffling case of internet thievery to investigate. Who is Christopher Collins and what about his past is endangering his family? Where are Rachel and the kids being held? Where is God in the midst of chaos? Will Ann and Patrick arrive in time or will they find only pain?

Snow Gum River is a literary short fiction piece that unfolds around a Bushranging gang in New South Wales, Australia during the late 1800s. With the increasing effectiveness of the police, Margaret and Clarence find it growing more difficult to escape capture and punishment, forcing them to have to make decisions they never would have considered before.A Life Awakening is a chronicle about the troubled life of a young man named Ethan Elliot, as told by his spirit guide, William. In the first of this series, Whispers from Within, we join Ethan as he feels he finally has found his soul mate in his relationship with Jennifer. Little does Ethan realize that his entire world is about to be turned upside down. Yet, as Ethan's spirit guide, and with minimal intervention, William will guide Ethan to places he never expected to go, and to people he never expected to meet.Ethan's story begins in New York, when problems developed in his relationship with Jennifer. Heartbroken, Ethan, with the aid of divine intervention, decides to move on, in the hope of finding greener pastures and a new life. What Ethan discovers about himself is an important milestone, as it is to all of us when we awaken to the myriad of possibilities in the lives our souls chose to live.As Ethan listens to stories of the many people he meets from all walks of life, he slowly begins to re-evaluate his own true purpose in life. With the progression of both time and maturity, Ethan discovers the very essence of life itself, as well as the importance of those whom he considers true friends.Have you ever experienced a moment in your life when you thought everything was perfect, only to discover that circumstances were about to change abruptly? Whispers from Within will open your eyes to possibilities that at first blush you never would have considered, as you follow Ethan through his journey. All too often in our lives, we develop a preconceived notion of what the ideal should be in a life partner, a family, a job, or any of the many situations that require decisions on a daily basis. We make those decisions based on a number of factors, often just by watching what our friends and family are doing with their lives. But in life’s grand scheme of things one size doesn't fit all, so we adjust our lives based on our own life experiences.Whispers from Within, for both Ethan and the reader, celebrates life, with its many paths that lie before us. An entirely new world of options for living one’s life can be found once we drop the pretense of believing we always know what we want out of life. With the aid of your spirit guide, you will gain the ability to quiet the noise of daily life, while going deep within yourself to discover your truest motivations. Like Ethan, eventually you will begin to stop fighting the life your soul chose this time around, and begin to live a life of joy that others could only envy. In time, Ethan learns an important lesson, that a life well-lived has its own rewards, and neither Ethan, nor the lives he touches, will ever be the same.

This is a book of my original Psalms inspired by selected verses of the Biblical Psalms.They are written in the Spanish Glosa style in which the poet takes a few lines of a poem and uses it for a take off point into her own poem.This is a play written for radio but would suitably serve as a staged play. It sets to highlight the subtle new trend that is recently becoming evident amongst educated couples in emerging developing economies. The previously traditional conservative chauvinistic denial that had seen husbands out rightly refusing to let their spouses pursue every twist and turn in their preferred public careers, has been un-noticeably replaced with a highly misconstrued make-believe cooperation.It presents the modern wife with hopes that are still quite limited by her very own, age old self-shackling desire to be the good wife/mother firstly, and not practically her spouse’s economic and intellectual inability to dictate to her. He is limited to exploiting her only by relying solely on this one over-powering desire of hers.In a modern African cosmopolitan suburb reside two couples, who are very close flat neighbours. The younger couple is a newly married pair, while the much older couple already has teenage children. Though both men are gainfully employed, their equally well educated spouses are uncomfortably unemployed housewives.The articulated relationship the middle-aged couple had willingly shared with a highly principled civil society worker culminated in a genuine praxis that jarred both couples’ older and newer marriages with a reasonably honest intellectual quake of sincerity. The experience is a rude awakening for the two sets of couple and becomes a basis for the supposedly superior masculine gender to learn first hand that indeed what is good enough for the goose is good enough for the gander.The play is about only two of these couples’ normally quiet mornings.

Woe to all should the abominations breathe the sweet air of the world again. Sweat beaded Casca's brow and a feeling of dread enveloped him as he read the seer's words.The soul eaters were returning, and there were none to stand against them but a seemingly mismatched band of four. Casca knew they would need all the help they could get to save the world from plunging into a new age of darkness.Woe to all should the abominations breathe the sweet air of the world again. Sweat beaded Casca's brow and a feeling of dread enveloped him as he read the seer's words.The soul eaters were returning, and there were none to stand against them but one very frightened tavern owner and a small band of warriors. The abominations and their demonic servants were gathering at the edge of the portal. Casca knew days of blood, chaos and black sorcery beckoned, but even he was unprepared for the true depth of horror awaiting them. They would need all the help they could get to keep their very souls, let alone save the world from plunging into a new age of darkness.

A compilation of original short stories that take the reader on a journey through a murder in a small Washinton town, and onboard an alien spacecraft where an escaped prisoner is transformed into a creature capable of sucking the life out of all earthly beings. This is just a sampling of the journey on which the stories will take you. Sit back and enjoy the ride.Pathway is a collection of six short stories. The main characters in these tales will choose a path that will change their lives forever. Some will achieve happiness (The Unforgettable Dance), or tragedy (Night Visitor). Some will hope to find an easier path in life until it all goes wrong. (The Holiday Heist). And, there is a path that brings hope (Tony's Dilemma). Or a path where the character wishes to start all over again (The Precious Moment)

Tyger Pants is trapped in a terrifying library dimension, full of werewolves, dragons and spell casting armadillos - can he survive long enough to escape? Written in the first person, present tense it is designed to sit the reader behind the eyes of the narrator, right in the middle of the action. The plot is kept straightforward and linear to encourage reading and engagement.It's Take Your Kids to Work Day and Tyger Pants should be looking forward to a day off school. But his dad’s a librarian - DULL!Dull until his dad leaves his top secret iRate4 phone lying on the desk. Tyger can’t help but fiddle…Before he knows what’s happening he’s plunged into a terrifying world of werewolves, dragons and spell casting armadillos…Written in the first person, present tense it is designed to sit the reader behind the eyes of the narrator, right in the middle of the action. The plot is kept straightforward and linear to encourage reading and engagement.

Short story. Drama. Having a great grandchild should be a blessing and not something that needs to be kept secret.It had been a glorious Saturday afternoon for Neil Hannah. For the first time in a long time, he was afforded an outing to the park with his two-and-a-half year-old son, Drew. Father and son enjoyed all that Evers Park had to offer, including an endless bounty of tree twigs which Neil used to create whimsical structures, much to Drew’s delight. Sadly, the conclusion of the day climaxed with the news of Neil’s grandfather’s passing. Neil promptly slipped into a state of regret-based melancholy, brooding over the shame of never having made his grandfather aware of Drew’s existence. Neil spent the remainder of the evening on the couch, desperately seeking some relief from the deep-rooted angst. After much deliberation, the promise of relief comes in the form of an unorthodox final tribute to his beloved grandfather.

This volume contains four great works (O Pioneers!, The Song of the Lark, My Ántonia, and One of Ours) by the author who created the first autonomous and successful women's heroes in American literature. Willa Cather is one of America's most treasured writers. Her childhood in the woodlands of Virginia and on the prairies of Nebraska formed the inspiration for many of her novels, and her devotion to education provided the basis for her lifetime of achievement. Many critics have stated that Cather might have won a Nobel Prize had she not been a woman in a time of gender inequality.“The time will come when she'll be ranked above Hemingway."—Leon Edel“The thing about Willa Cather's landscape and figures is that not only were they born alive but remain so after six decades." —GuardianThe Song of the Lark (1915): “A story of something better than suggestiveness and charm—a thing finished, sound, and noble." —The NationMy...

The #1 bestseller Pop Goes the Weasel proved once again that James Patterson is an undisputed master of suspense. Now he has written his most compelling and surprising thriller ever. . . . Cradle & All In Boston, a young woman finds herself pregnant--even though she is still a virgin. In Ireland, another young woman discovers she is in the same impossible condition. And in cities all around the world, medical authorities are overwhelmed by epidemics, droughts, famines, floods, and worse. It all feels like a sign that something awful is coming. Anne Fitzgerald, a former nun turned private investigator, is hired by the Archdiocese of Boston to investigate the immaculate conceptions. Even as she comes to care about and trust the young women, she realizes that both are in great danger. Terrifying forces of light and darkness are gathering. Stepping into uncharted territory where the unknown is just the beginning, Anne must discover the truth--to save the young women, to save herself, and to protect the future of all mankind.