Newt Run is a town that shouldn't exist, a town of artists, drug dealers, miners and steam. It’s a town at the center of a broken universe, and broken universes have the bad tendency to fall apart. In this tale, a young dancer begins to question her sanity when confronted by a voice that only she can hear.Newt Run is a town that shouldn't exist, a town of artists, drug dealers, miners and steam. It’s a town at the center of a broken universe, and broken universes have the bad tendency to fall apart.Newt Run is also a novel, but the world of Newt Run was much too large to fit inside a single book. These short stories, or 'modules', extend this world, probing into its deepest, smallest secrets.In 'A Static Dance' a young dancer questions her sanity when confronted by a voice that only she can hear.

A young woman is sent on a fatal mission. Was it right to choose death over life ...?The December, 2014 issue edited by Christopher T Garry features 160 pages of never before seen stories from ten new authors, creating narratives that are variously dark, cynical, inspiring, violent and longing. Black Denim Lit is a monthly journal of fiction available on the web and eReaders.“Cataclysm” by Madeline Popelka (The death of a cat brings about the end of the world); “The Things We Hide” by Clarissa N G (Yuen deals with a haunting while mourning); “Return To Waypoint 5” by Josh Roseman (Kage seeks dangerous answers about family and connections at an old space port); “Bit by Bit” by Cheryl McAlister (An unlikely pairing highlights the need for connection); “The Patchwork Girl” by Zack Miller (A post-pandemic world doesn't change needs of a girl missing a family); “Searching” by Lisa Shapter (Three men decide the fate of a lost corpsman); “Establishment” by Ken Poyner (The local watering hole isn't just for the bone and protein crowd); “The Degenerate” by Joe Christopher (A young working man finds an unlikely reason to change direction); “Maybe This’ll Be the One That Finally Gets Me” by Ben Spies (A veteran recounts his experience in the gulf coast disaster); “Gathering Gold” by Julie Reeser (Mae deals with loss of her mother and transition to a new life)This draws from fantasy, crime, science fiction and straight drama for our selections. Such genre variety is brought together under the common thread of rich characterization. In all the stories this month, these are human beings at odds. Whether facing a gun, an alien, the choice to live or to die or the vastness of space, each of these players respond from a very deep place of truth. And regardless of which genre can be applied, the authors have surprises in store.

Enter the realm of Darkin like never before: learn the background of some of your favorite characters, go to historic battlefronts, and learn the deep history of Gaigas itself.This short story collection, the first offered by Darkin author Joseph Turkot, offers a taste of Darkin lore similar to that which you might recognize from The Silmarillion.Jake Legato was a cop. And now he stalks and kills strippers. At least, that's what the police think. Fired for putting a drug dealer's confiscated cash in his pocket, Legato has become the prime suspect in the grisly murders of a string of local strippers. With his life and freedom on the line, Legato has less than two days to find the real killer. Can he discover who's leaving the trail of bodies before getting snared into the real killer's elaborate trap?This noir thriller is filled with twists and turns that will keep you turning the page until the stunning ending is reached. If you're a fan of private investigator mystery series, you'll want to check out Kiss the Ladies Goodnight (Jake Legato Private Investigator Series 1). Subscribe to Copper Smith to check out the next book in the trilogy: The Devil's Cheap Disguise. If you dare.

After Charley Ashe is attacked is attacked by a large black dog, his life is forever changed. And when his parents start acting weirder and weirder, he has to investigate. Luckily, with the help of a dubious magician, a hero from another time, and a few friends, Charley might have a chance of surviving Undermire and the Ancients who inhabit it.Charley Ashe is a normal enough boy, or so he thinks. After he is attacked by a large, black dog, his world is flipped upside down. With his parents acting weird and odd things happening all around him, Charley is skeptical. So, along with his three best friends, he is determined to find out what exactly is going on. This leads to a meeting with a dubious Sorcerer and a hero from a different time. When he finally unravels what is going on, and that not only he but his closest friends must travel to Undermire, a world very different from their own. He is tasked with saving Undermire from the Wilting and also from a dark force that is always on the verge of finding him. What is most chilling of all, though, is the dark prophecy saying that he will become the very thing that he must try to save Undermire from. 'In the land mired in misery and hate, The one of two will be born who may slay the eldest one. Descended of ash, he will deal in fate. To cut away the ancient sickness, Ash will battle Bone. Can the hero save his light or be doomed to fall to darkness?'

The true events that inspired Goldilocks And The Three Bears! A NOVELETTE - also includes VIKING RESURRECTION PreviewThe true events that inspired Goldilocks And The Three Bears! A NOVELETTE - also includes VIKING RESURRECTION Preview "Not all stories are passed on in sincerity. Some truths have remained untold; some have been spun but false. This one must now be woven in honesty's light, for it has been twisted through the generations since its inception. The childhood favourite tells of a spoilt little girl with hair of sunlight and three speaking animals, but this belies the darker threads of its reality. She was not just some little brat, and they were not mere animals. Children: sometimes the monsters are the ones that look just like you..."

The King of Skull Island lies dying after his legendary fall from the great skyscraper. But as he begins to feel death creep into his enormous limbs, something small and nasty begins to annoy him.As the hairs rise and the goosebumps quiver, who do YOU see in the mirror?Soon after Damon moved into his house, a beautiful woman began appearing in his dreams. Unbeknownst to his fiancee, Damon and the woman carried on a year-long affair. Halloween night was to be their joyous and climactic reunion, but their celebration will far exceed Damon's expectations.

Predicting her rule was just the beginning. Malachi Obsidian has been his guild’s prophet ever since he was a child. Years ago, he envisioned a future in which his sister, Misha, ruled and the vampires’ empire was destroyed. His people have made many questionable decisions to keep their dream alive, and now Misha is finally on the verge of becoming queen of the serpiente, just as Malachi predicted. Only one obstacle stands in Misha’s way, and she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to remove it—even if it means selling a family member into slavery. When a mercenary from the vampires’ inner circle proposes a daring plan to bring down the empire of Midnight once and for all, Malachi must feign support for his unstable sister so his prophecy can be fulfilled. He must do it for his family, for his people—and for their freedom.

Praised by fans and critics worldwide, R. Scott Bakker has become one of the most celebrated voices in fantasy literature. With The Great Ordeal, Bakker presents the long-anticipated third volume of The Aspect-Emperor, a series that stands with the finest in the genre for its grandiose scope, rich detail, and thrilling story.   As Fanim war-drums beat just outside the city, the Empress Anasurimbor Esmenet searches frantically throughout the palace for her missing son Kelmomas. Meanwhile and many miles away, Esmenet’s husband’s Great Ordeal continues its epic march further north. But in light of dwindling supplies, the Aspect-Emperor’s decision to allow his men to consume the flesh of fallen Sranc could have consequences even He couldn’t have foreseen. And, deep in Ishuäl, the wizard Achamian grapples with his fear that his unspeakably long journey might be ending in emptiness, no closer to the truth than when he set out.   The Aspect-Emperor series follows Bakker’s Prince of Nothing saga, returning to the same world twenty years later. The Great Ordeal follows The Judging Eye and The White-Luck Warrior, and delivers the first half of the conclusion to this epic story. Returning to Bakker’s richly imagined universe of myth, violence, and sorcery, The Aspect-Emperor continues to set the bar for the fantasy genre, reaching new heights of intricacy and meaning.

Album provides an unparalleled look into Roland Barthes's life of letters. It presents a selection of correspondence, from his adolescence in the 1930s through the height of his career and up to the last years of his life, covering such topics as friendships, intellectual adventures, politics, and aesthetics. It offers an intimate look at Barthes's thought processes and the everyday reflection behind the composition of his works, as well as a rich archive of epistolary friendships, spanning half a century, among the leading intellectuals of the day. Barthes was one of the great observers of language and culture, and Album shows him in his element, immersed in heady French intellectual culture and the daily struggles to maintain a writing life. Barthes's correspondents include Maurice Blanchot, Michel Butor, Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, Julia Kristeva, Claude L'vi-Strauss, Georges Perec, Raymond Queneau, Alain Robbe-Grillet, Marthe Robert, and Jean Starobinski, among others. The book also features documents, letters, and postcards reproduced in facsimile; unpublished material; and notes and transcripts from his seminars. The first English-language publication of Barthes's letters, Album is a comprehensive testimony to one of the most influential critics and philosophers of the twentieth century and the world of letters in which he lived and breathed.

Bastian claims Acasia, his unwilling bride, after she spends the night carousing with friends. She’s not happy, he’s pissed off, and with a curse from a goddess thrown in, you’ll see Bastian breathe fire.Add secrets, treasure, and unimaginable heartbreak for an emotionally humorous read and discover why Dragons Don’t Cry.One pint sized human female who’s had too much to drink, not enough sleep, and absolutely no patience meets one stubborn dragon shifter with an attitude.Bastian claims Acasia, his unwilling bride, after she spends the night carousing with friends. She’s not happy, he’s pissed off, and with a curse from a goddess thrown in, you’ll see Bastian breathe fire.Add secrets, treasure, and unimaginable heartbreak for an emotionally humorous read and discover why Dragons Don’t Cry.Note From Author...This is the first book in the series but the love story is complete. Book II is about another dragon and will keep you current on what's happening in Bastian and Acasia's life.What readers are saying..."I would absolutely read this again and any others in the series." Brandy, United Indie Book Blog"I laughed a lot and even cried a little." Kyjuliano, Goodreads

Alexis Calderon-Bigglesworth the III has arrived on the moon on his way to a new home on a distant star system. A homestead which was NOT "within the jurisdiction of the Terra World Government or the constabulary thereof". Bumbling his way across the moon causing havoc and destruction.Moon Trek is an amusing jaunt out with the most pompous man in the known universe.“Evanovich…with a dash of CSI.” – Publisher’s Weekly (review of Lucky Stiff)Everyone Has a Hidden TalentFor Lucky O’Toole it’s murder…solving it.Surviving in Sin City takes cunning, a pair of five-inch heel, and a wiseass attitude. Lucky has mastered them all and has a pair of legs she uses to kick butt and turn heads.As the Chief Problem Solver for the Babylon, Las Vegas’s most over-the-top destination, mischief is in her job description.She’s good at her job.She’s less good at life. But who has time for a life when there’s a killer on the lose?WANNA GET LUCKY?A woman falls from a tour helicopter to the horror of the 8:30 Pirate show crowd.Was it suicide? An accident? Could she have been pushed?Lucky’s day began with the invasion of the Adult Video Awards and Trade show convention.It got more hectic when the spouse-swapping annual event checked in.And if adding a body to the mix wasn’t enough, Lucky’s got a new suitor. Her best friend, Teddie, a female impersonator who is pressing to take their relationship to the next level.Can she really date a man who looks better in a dress?What happened to the woman over the pirate show?Will her sleuthing skills catch the killer and save her job?Pick up a copy now and start your adventure.READING ORDER Wanna Get Lucky? (The Lucky O'Toole Vegas Adventure Series Book 1)Lucky Stiff (The Lucky O'Toole Vegas Adventure Series Book 2)Lucky in Love (A Lucky O'Toole Original Novella 1)So Damn Lucky (The Lucky O'Toole Vegas Adventure Series Book 3)Lucky Bang (A Lucky O'Toole Original Novella 2)Lucky Now and Then: Parts One and Two (A Lucky O'Toole Original Novella 3-4)Lucky Bastard (The Lucky O'Toole Vegas Adventure Series Book 4)Lucky Catch (The Lucky O'Toole Vegas Adventure Series Book 5)Lucky Flash (A Lucky O'Toole Original Novella 5)Lucky Break (The Lucky O'Toole Vegas Adventure Series Book 6)Lucky the Hard Way (The Lucky O'Toole Vegas Adventure Series Book 7)AN INTERVIEW WITH DEBORAH COONTSWhy did you decide to write humor? I’m not sure I decided to add snark to the Lucky, books, specifically to Lucky’s own voice, it just happened that way. When I was a kid, my mouth always got me into trouble. Finally, I’ve found a way to harness the sarcasm for the Forces of Good—or at least in a way not to anger my grandmother. And when Lucky started talking to me, she had a strong dose of sass in her.The Lucky O'Toole Vegas Adventure series is hard to categorize. Is that by design? When I set out to write Wanna Get Lucky?, I knew I wanted to write a romp through Las Vegas. I had the characters and the setting but no real understanding of narrative drive. So, I threw a young woman out of a tour helicopter into the middle of the Pirate Show and let the story unfold. A bit of murder to keep the plot moving, some wisecracking and Vegas mischief to make you laugh, and some romance to keep it interesting. A bit of a mash up, but it works.PRAISE FOR Wanna Get Lucky?"Evanovich…with a dash of CSI." - Publishers Weekly (review of Lucky Stiff) "As the first in a series, Wanna Get Lucky? hits the proverbial jackpot." - Booklist"When it comes to the crunch (something for a sullen teenager, hostile neighbor, unbearably saintly mother-in-law), the secret is to make them laugh. Deborah Coonts's Wanna Get Lucky? (Forge/Tom Doherty, $24.99), set at the 'most over-the-top mega casino/resort on the Las Vegas Strip,' entrusts the sleuthing to a brainy beauty who sees the lighter side of human folly." - Marilyn Stassio, NYT Book Review, choosing Wanna Get Lucky? As a Notable Crime Novel for 2010"Deliciously raunchy, with humorous takes on sexual proclivities, Vegas glitz and love, though Agatha Christie is probably spinning in her grave." - Kirkus Reviews

Once, the empire of Vhur was the world's most powerful. But that was before the Lichy plague. Now, twenty years and millions of dead later, only a few cities remain. The survivors walk a fine line between staying alive and crumbling into the grave. Come the Night of Knives, even these last few might perish.Once, the empire of Vhur was the world's most powerful. But that was before the Lichy plague. Now, twenty years and millions of dead later, only a few cities remain. The survivors walk a fine line between staying alive and crumbling into the grave. Come the Night of Knives, even these last few might perish.This Dark Fantasy Serial begins here and will be released over the course of the next 6 weekends.

Garyth is a leaf on life's wind, drifting through life, until he encounters an old woman while wandering down Glastonbury High Street. He gazes into her eyes and finds himself unable to move. Her touch sends him tumbling into a remembrance of his past lives. Reliving past incarnations reconnects him with his life's purpose. He is a Guardian, saving those lives that must be saved throughout time.Garyth is a leaf on life's wind, drifting through life, until he encounters an old woman while wandering down Glastonbury High Street. He gazes into her eyes and finds himself unable to move. Her touch sends him tumbling into a remembrance of his past life as a Paleolithic hunter-gatherer. As he relives this and other past incarnations he is reconnected with his life's purpose. He is a Guardian, saving those lives that must be saved throughout time.

Cady Garrett is shaken when neighbor, Ethan, saves her from a crazed killer. Even more disturbed when the killer slits his own throat after a vicious struggle. Cady is drawn into a world where shadows hide more than the seedy underbelly of San Francisco’s Tenderloin district. She’s become the obsession of a darker power, and no one, not even Ethan, can keep her safe from his twisted desires.Cady Garrett can't help but be shaken when next door neighbor, Ethan, shows up in the nick of time to save her from a ruthless killer, spouting mumbo jumbo. Even more disturbed when the killer slits his own throat to escape Ethan after a vicious struggle. Curiously, Ethan insists on leaving before the dead killer returns, even though he can barely stand on his feet. Nursing him back to health, Cady is drawn into a world of half truths and mysteries, where shadows hide more than the seedy underbelly of San Francisco's Tenderloin district. She has become the obsession of a darker power, and no one, not even Ethan, can keep her safe from his twisted desires.

A meeting between a mysterious man and a devout woman leads to an intimate conversation about faith and doubt, life and death, on a cold Halloween night.A meeting between a mysterious man and a devout woman leads to an intimate conversation about faith and doubt, life and death, on a cold Halloween night. Will the two strangers, within the walls of a cathedral, find pain or forgiveness?