An anxious mother contemplates the life and choices of her troubled teenage son on the day of the Black Saturday bush fires in country Victoria (Australia).It is February 2009 - the day of the Black Saturday bush fires in country Victoria. It's early in the morning when Colleen ventures out to her verandah, preoccupied with the painful reflections on the troubled life of her young son, Guy. He's had a tough time of it, and who can blame him for his self-imposed isolation. But Colleen can't help wondering about some worrying interests that have consumed him of late. Where is he now, and what's he doing?

The Psalms of Mortality are a thematically organized collection of aphorisms that border poetry in literature style. The chapters are rich in metaphors and powerfully expressive in the existential- and psychological thoughts on liberty, elevation of self-worth, love and value of life, while placing strong critique on cultural values that suppress psychological- and social freedom.The Psalms of Mortality are a thematically organized collection of aphorisms that border poetry in literature style. The chapters are rich in metaphors and powerfully expressive in the existential- and psychological thoughts on liberty, elevation of self-worth, love and value of life, while placing strong critique on cultural values that suppress psychological- and social freedom. The theme of the story follows a mythological figure, Chronos Art, who has prayed from an unknown god to never be immortal, holy, enlightened or saintly, and to be granted freely to wander through all the kingdoms of thought. The Psalms of Mortality is completely psychological, where all the reality of the story takes place.

An archaeologist working in modern Egypt, near Luxor, wonders if she is an incarnation from the time of the Pharaohs. Perhaps she had once been a stately Queen who died while in youthful beauty. On a solitary walk towards the Valley of The Tombs of The Queens she does bridge time – and she gains insight.The great span of Egyptian history stimulates a Canadian archaeologist working in the Theban hills near the modern city of Luxor. Her original interest in archaeology had come from romantic notions of getting closer to the people of the past – of bridging time by treading the same ground, by touching the same stones as those people. In the Canadian Plains of her childhood a building was considered ancient if it had been built last century, and such antiquity was not usually considered at all desirable. Perhaps she herself was a reincarnation from the time of the Pharaohs. Perhaps she had once been a stately Queen. One who had died while in youthful beauty and had been buried in the Royal Tombs nearby. On a solitary walk towards the Valley of The Tombs of The Queens she does bridge time – and she gains insight.

Leonardo Petta is being hunted by the one organization he trusted his entire life. But before he can disappear forever, he has to do one more thing.Leonardo Petta is being hunted by the one organization he trusted his entire life. But before he can disappear forever, he has to do one more thing. Save his mother from the one place that wants him dead. Teaming up with unlikely allies and charging head first into he certain doom, Leon will do anything to save the once piece of real family he has left. But will he succeed, or just end up putting everyone in more danger?

Deleted and forgotten stories, songs, and tales from the Legacy of Princess Anlei Trilogy: The Great Succession Crisis, The Ghosts of the Past, and Princess Anyu Returns. Presented uncut and unedited in their original forms, these stories not only entertain, but offer a unique window into the world building process.The plot is lively, full of adventure...—IndieReaderHe’s trapped in a new world. She wants answers. One mystery could unravel the universe…John Fuller doesn’t have much going for him. An unhappy wife and an unfulfilling job weigh on him every single day. When he wakes up in a parallel universe where nobody knows him, he becomes embroiled in a conspiracy to disrupt the course of humanity.Sue’s father changed everything with a machine that unlocked the multiverse. Sue’s sense of wonder turns to dread when her father is killed. She’ll do anything to find out why.As Sue and John come together to find answers, they’ll discover a future neither of them believed was possible…The Parallel Conspiracy is an action-packed standalone sci-fi novel. If you like mysterious twists and turns, characters that make you cheer, and a touch of romance and humor, then you’ll love Richard Paul Lori’s unique thrill-ride.Buy The Parallel Conspiracy to travel the multiverse today!Author Interview:Q: What makes The Parallel Conspiracy different from other science fiction novels?A: I think it’s different in that it’s a very character driven story. Most science fiction novels are plot driven. While the Parallel Conspiracy’s plot is very intense and a seat-of-your-pants adventure, it’s really the characters that grip you the most as they work their way through the mystery they have to solve. Although there is lots of friction and a romantic triangle develops between the main characters, they ultimately grow as individuals and as a group from the experience. It's also a unique blend of mystery, adventure and romance all rolled into a high tech science fiction novel. I think this combination also sets it apart from other scifi thrillers you'll readQ: Speaking of characters, you have some very strong female lead characters in the book. Did you find that aspect a challenge to write. A: While I suppose it’s easier for a man to write male characters and the opposite goes for women authors, I didn’t really focus on gender differences that much. I did of course have some. You have too. What I concentrated on more though was the unique emotional state of each character; how they would grow through the intense, life and death experiences they continue to be pushed into throughout the novel. Q: You used humor throughout the book. Can you explain its role in the novel?A: The novel is by no means a comedy, but I did slip funny things in from time to time. My main male character is a computer programmer who is stepped on continuously by his wife, boss and co-workers. To get somewhat of a feeling of this ridicule, earlier scenes with him are written in a more humorous manner. As the story progresses and the character changes, my treatment of him does too. He is no longer to be laughed at but respected instead. There is of course a risk that the reader will think it’s not an intense action thriller when they start reading the novel, but it was a deliberate tactic that I used. Hopefully it works

Writer/ Photographer Steven Anton Butler's (S.A.B.)first chapbook. The Eccentricities of S. A. B. Vol. 1.Writer/ Photographer Steven Anton Butler's (S.A.B.) first chapbook is a string of poems forming a loose narrative that focuses on the young poet's life. S. A. B. builds his own platform in Homoerotic poetry through his free verse and highly engaging prose. S. A. B. adds his own twist to an old medium in literature, that every poet must tackle within their work one way or another; his "Story of my Life. "

Twenty Flash Fiction stories with a dash of Romance, Crime, Vice and Contemplative moments in the September 2015 East Africa Friday Feature.Stories from East Africa.The EA Friday Feature is a circle of 5 writers who write flash fiction stories of only 1,000 words every Friday. The September Anthology includes a collection of twenty (20) stories, spanning across different genres. From sweet hesitant romance, pyramid schemes and misjudged love to vice, crime and heartbreak, these stories will sink you into adventure.

Books written in blood.Most are lost, their Keepers with them.A curse that befell a people. A Kingdom with no King. Life couldn’t get more harrowing for the Elfies, a blend of Elves and Fairies. Or for sixteen-year-old Jules Blaze. Or could it? When the hand of evil seeks Jules out and one by one his family members disappears, he adventures into enemy land to seek for answers to save his family.Books written in blood.Most are lost, their Keepers with them.A Kingdom with no King. Life couldn’t get more harrowing for the Elfies, a blend of Elves and Fairies. Or for sixteen-year-old Jules Blaze and his family. Or could it?Jules, heir of a Keeper, suspects his family hides a forgotten secret. It's bad enough that his people, the Elfies of Reign, triggered a curse which reduced the entire inhabitants to a mere inch centuries ago. All because of one Keeper who failed his purpose. Even the King’s Ancient Books, did not help ward off this anathema. Now, Gehzurolle, the evil lord, and his armies of Scorpents, seem bent on destroying Jules and his family. Why? Gehzurolle’s agents hunt for Jules as he journeys into enemy land to seek the truth. Truth that could save him and his family, and possibly even reverse the age-long curse. Provided Jules doesn't get himself killed first.

Two short stories based in mythology that explore the intersections between the past and the present and between life and death.Two short stories based in mythology that explore the intersections between the past and the present and between life and death. In “The Birth of Apollo,” Emma returns to her decrepit birthplace in order to help a woman in a difficult labor and is forced to encounter her own past and a long-buried secret. In “Onyx and Red” Astrid not only must deal with the death of her husband but also the disappearance of his body.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER "[A]n extraordinary book, a work of staggering virtuosity. With its publication, a giant world of literature has just grown twice as tall."--Newsday From Ralph Ellison--author of the classic novel of African-American experience, Invisible Man--the long-awaited second novel. Here is the master of American vernacular--the rhythms of jazz and gospel and ordinary speech--at the height of his powers, telling a powerful, evocative tale of a prodigal of the twentieth century. "Tell me what happened while there's still time," demands the dying Senator Adam Sunraider to the itinerate Negro preacher whom he calls Daddy Hickman. As a young man, Sunraider was Bliss, an orphan taken in by Hickman and raised to be a preacher like himself. Bliss's history encompasses the joys of young southern boyhood; bucolic days as a filmmaker, lovemaking in a field in the Oklahoma sun. And behind it all lies a mystery: how did this chosen child become the man who would deny everything to achieve his goals? Brilliantly crafted, moving, wise, Juneteenth is the work of an American master. From the Trade Paperback edition.

In the fifth installment of James Patterson's action-packed Daniel X series, Daniel must now face an alien whose origins appear nearer to the depths of Hell than the outer reaches of the galaxy. Number Two is an unstoppable criminal that's slowly been amassing an underground army of disgusting, disgruntled, and dangerous aliens to help him enslave Earth's population. And it's all in preparation for the arrival of Number One, the most powerful alien in the universe and Daniel's arch-nemesis. To Daniel's horror, thousands of humans defect to the alien's side, making the odds of success that much more impossible. But for the first time in his life, Daniel isn't alone in his fight. He's connected with several military and intelligence groups--including the daughter of a prominent FBI agent--and is prepared to lead the ultimate showdown against the evil that has plagued planet Earth for so long. Readers, beware--and be prepared for a truly epic battle that evokes the ancient prophecies of Armageddon!

Switters is a contradiction for all seasons: an anarchist who works for the government; a pacifist who carries a gun; a vegetarian who sops up ham gravy; a cyberwhiz who hates computers; a man who, though obsessedwith the preservation of innocence, is aching to deflower his high-school-age stepsister (only to become equally enamored of a nun ten years his senior). Yet there is nothing remotely wishy-washy about Switters. Hedoesn't merely pack a pistol. He "is" a pistol. And as we dog Switters's strangely elevated heels across four continents, in and out of love and danger, discovering in the process the"true" Third Secret of Fatima, we experience Tom Robbins-that fearless storyteller, spiritual renegade, and verbal break dancer--at the top of his game. On one level this is afast-paced CIA adventure story with comic overtones; on another it's a serious novel of ideas that brings the Big Picture into unexpected focus; but perhaps more than anything else, Fierce Invalids is a sexycelebration of language and life. "From the Trade Paperback edition."

“The events in these stories are real. Some names have been changes so I don’t get yelled at.” —Ned Vizzini Ned Vizzini writes about the weird, funny, and sometimes mortifying moments that made up his teen years. With wit, irony, and honesty, Teen Angst? Naaah . . .  invites you into Ned’s world of school, parents, cool (and almost cool), street people, rock bands, friends, fame, camp, sex (sort of), Cancún (almost), prom, beer, video games, and more. From the Trade Paperback edition.

A master literary stylist, John Crowley has carried readers to diverse and remarkable places in his award-winning, critically acclaimed novels -- from his classic fable, Little, Big, to his New York Times Notable Book, The Translator. Now, for the first time, all of his short fiction has been collected in one volume, demonstrating the scope, the vision, and the wonder of one of America's greatest storytellers. Courage and achievement are celebrated and questioned, paradoxes examined, and human frailty appreciated in fifteen tales, at once lyrical and provocative, ranging fromthe fantastic to the achingly real. Be it a tale of an expulsion from Eden, a journey through time, the dreams of a failed writer, ora dead woman's ambiguous legacy, each story in Novelties & Souvenirs is a glorious reading experience, offering delights to be savored ... and remembered.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train, and the critically acclaimed author of Bird in Hand and The Way Life Should Be, comes a novel about friendship and the memories that haunt us—includes a special PS section featuring insights, interviews, and more. On the night of her high school graduation, Kathryn Campbell sits around a bonfire with her four closest friends, including the beautiful but erratic Jennifer.  “I’ll be fine,” Jennifer says, as she walks away from the dying embers and towards the darkness of the woods. She never came back. Ten years later, Kathryn has tried to build a life for herself, with a marriage and a career as a journalist, but she still feels the conspicuous void of Jennifer’s disappearance. When her divorce sends her reeling back to the Maine town where she grew up, she finds herself plunged into a sea of memories. With nothing left to lose, she is determined to answer one simple question: What ever happened to Jennifer Pelletier?

Beware of a kiss under the full moon. It will change your life forever. Celeste Parker is used to hearing scary stories about werewolves—Legend's Run is famous for them. She's used to everything in the small town until Brandon Maddox moves to Legend's Run and Celeste finds herself immediately drawn to the handsome new student. But when, after an unnerving visit with a psychic, she encounters a pack of wolves and gorgeous, enigmatic Brandon, she must discover whether his transformation is more than legend or just a trick of the shadows in the moonlight. Her best friends may never forgive her if she gives up her perfect boyfriend, Nash, for Brandon, who's from the wrong side of town. But she can't deny her attraction or the strong pull he has on her. Brandon may be Celeste's hero, or he may be the most dangerous creature she could encounter in the woods of Legend's Run. Psychic predictions, generations-old secrets, a town divided, and the possibility of falling in love with a hot and heroic werewolf are the perfect formula for what happens . . . once in a full moon.

All three books are written with an enduring view of the dark corners of the American psyche. Cain hammered high art out of the crude matter of betrayal, bloodshed, and perversity.

Eleanor Rigby is the story of Liz, a self-described drab, overweight, crabby, and friendless middle-aged woman, and her unlikely reunion with the charming and strange son she gave up for adoption. His arrival changes everything, and sets in motion a rapid-fire plot with all the twists and turns we expect of Coupland. By turns funny and heartbreaking, Eleanor Rigby is a fast-paced read and a haunting exploration of the ways in which loneliness affects us all.

The Perimeter is a darkly captivating dystopian tale of adventure, danger, love and redemption that will have you on the edge of your seat and up at night turning the pages to find out what happens in the end. In this fractured world, a sinister force is coming for Riley, and the only things keeping her safe are a perimeter fence and the people she loves. As her life is threatened, she must make impossible choices. But help comes from the most unlikely of places, and all Riley needs to know is: who can she really trust? Meanwhile, a repentant killer searches for peace and salvation, but what he gets is the exact opposite. Now he’ll have to make the hardest decision of his life.

What if you once had thousands of bodies and near god-like technology at your disposal? And what if all of it were ripped away? The Lord of the Radch has given Breq command of the ship Mercy of Kalr and sent her to the only place she would have agreed to go—to Athoek Station, where Lieutenant Awn's sister works in Horticulture. Athoek was annexed some six hundred years ago, and by now everyone is fully civilized—or should be. But everything is not as tranquil as it appears. Old divisions are still troublesome, Athoek Station's AI is unhappy with the situation, and it looks like the alien Presger might have taken an interest in what's going on. With no guarantees that interest is benevolent.