In the first story... Useless... Unwanted... Unloved... When those closest to you see you only as a useless crippled child with no hope of a future, where do you find the strength to prove them wrong? No one believed in Cara-AabiLynn, not even her own father and the woman who raised her. Born with a stunted arm and leg, those who she loved the most saw her as worthless and withheld their love...In the first story...Useless... Unwanted... Unloved...When those closest to you see you only as a useless crippled child with no hope of a future, where do you find the strength to prove them wrong?No one believed in Cara-AabiLynn, not even her own father and the woman who raised her. Born with a stunted arm and leg, those who she loved the most saw her as worthless and withheld their love from her. Given to a cruel man to cover her father's gambling debt, Cara's life of uncertainty became one of certain hardship and despair.Based on the Dragon Rite short story series.In the first story, candidates assemble to participate in the Dragon Rite, a ceremony to bond with a dragon hatchling.Cara has a chance to break free of her harsh life and bond with one of the dragon hatchlings, only if fate will allow her.AabiLynn's Dragon Rite Series:#0 AabiLynn's Dragon Rite: Dragon's Brood - Egg Hatchlings' Ritual - Prequel Teaser#1 AabiLynn's Dragon Rite: Break Dawn Riders -Those Who Are Chosen And Those Who Are Cast Off#2 AabiLynn's Dragon Rite: Esspell, Dragon's Sorcery- Might Of Swords, Might Of Magic

It is the autumn of 1864 and Richmond is surrounded on three sides by Union troops. This time the Yankees are not going away.Things become desperate for the O'Toole family, including thirteen year-old Ryan and eleven year-old Matthew, when they help a young freeman and his father escape from the city and the people of Richmond turn against them. Then they too must escape north to freedom.It is the autumn of 1864 in Richmond, Virginia. The great and glorious capitol of the Confederacy is surrounded on three sides by Union troops. This time the Yankees are not going away.Thirteen year-old Ryan and eleven year-old Matthew O’Toole, having moved from Boston to Richmond with their father, mother and big sister only a little more than three years earlier, find themselves in a dangerous predicament. As the war rages on around Richmond and it looks as if finally the Union might prevail, some of their southern friends turn against them. The two boys are considered "dirty Yankees" now and their loyalty is suspect. When the two boys help a freeman and his son to escape Richmond, the situation only becomes worse for the O’Toole family until they too must abandon their home and begin a danger-filled flight to the north and freedom.

DARK LIBERATION is a cycle of 16 novels written over a period of forty years, from 1970 to 2010, with the theme that the key to the future of mankind lies within each individual, and not in some external salvator, be it religious or technological. While there is no need to read all of the novels, some overview of the cycle itself should deepen the reader's understanding of the novels they do read.DARK LIBERATION is a cycle of 16 novels written over a period of forty years, from 1970 to 2010. The fundamental theme of the cycle – which only became clear as the novels were written – is that the key to the future of mankind lies within each individual, and not in some external salvator, be it religious or technological. While this broad thematic stream runs through the cycle, the individual novels themselves are intended to stand alone – there is no requirement to read the works in sequence or even to read any more than those novels that take a reader’s interest. Obviously, though, some understanding of the main themes, and of the arrangement of the cycle in a series of subcycles, will help most readers increase their appreciation of whichever novels they read. For this reason, it would be worthwhile reading this short Introduction to the Dark Liberation cycle and the novels that comprise it.

To look askance suggests a questioning, sideways look at the world. Some of these twenty-five poems are lighthearted; others give expression to more serious moods. Either way, poems are best appreciated when read aloud. This is rhythmic, rhyming poetry.Insight into how we relate to our world and to one another is the theme of these twenty-five poems. The world is beautiful, but it requires us to face our common realities with courage and grace. A gentle sense of humor can be helpful, although some things are not funny. Painful truth is treated here with respect; however, it is probed with an honest eye. These thoughtful reflections are developed within the paradigm of faith and with trust in the divine plan.

Dedicated to my Youth is a collection of poems by a 20-year-old. It includes both expressive and narrative poems that lead you to a journey about dreams, disillusionment, loneliness, nostalgia, romance and confession.Dedicated to my Youth is a collection of poems by a 20-year-old. It includes both expressive and narrative poems about dreams, disillusionment, loneliness, nostalgia, romance, confession and etc. This is the first poetry collection written by me.

A short story about finding yourself and growing despite your experiences with death.Screaming Machinery are a power-trio from Manchester, playing gigs to rapturous crowds. But what their fans don't realise is that they are also mighty heroes, regularly saving the world with magic and sword.They are called upon again when Manchester comes under dire threat. Eighteen murders take place, each a node in a vast rune drawn across the city in blood. Something very large and powerful is coming through and it's up to Screaming Machinery to try and stop it ...

In TREACHERY, Janus learns from his enemies how he may save humanity with his unique gift. Features a unique take on time travel. In FORSAKEN, under the event horizon, the family confronts Father's sins, and a beguiling foe. In COUNTLESS, Jake detects thousands of distant worlds, and humanity builds a telescope large enough to photograph them. What will we discover, and what will it cost usTwo original science fiction short stories and one extended science fiction full-length story preview, including a new and unique take on time travel.In TREACHERY, Janus Thaddeus, Squadron leader in humanity's final battle of survival, falls planetside when his fleet is wiped out by orbiting atomic blasts. He is rescued by the intelligent Salamander aliens who wiped out his fleet. Salamander Commander Xenon advises him: "...you appear to be the only human gifted with the ability to merge into an alternate timestream." Salamander Assistant Commander Idan claims that Janus' human family remains alive, despite everything Janus' eyes told him. Janus is offered by these, his enemies, a chance to save his race, by way of his unique gift.In FORSAKEN, under the Event Horizon, Timothy imposes a surprise deathbed penance on Father, and the family faces a beguiling foe.In COUNTLESS (development snapshot), Jake chances on a way to discover thousands of extrasolar planets, and wields his newfound fame to persuade citizens of the world to build a ten-billion dollar orbiting telescope, to photograph distant worlds. What will humanity discover, and what will it ultimately cost them?TREACHERY and COUNTLESS (development snapshot) are written in fountain screenplay format, while FORSAKEN appears in traditional prose format. Each penned by a student of master screenwriter and independent filmmaker Richard Dutcher, they bear Hall's unique perspective from a vantage of scientific curiosity and religious ethics. The screenplays are themselves exemplary of the simple art and craft which all screenwriters should apply to the trade. Claims Dutcher of his students: "You can compete with the best of them."Also featuring fine space matte cover and interior artwork by Hall, and an introduction to fountain screen format for readers, with Hall's rationale for screen format to be the new standard of electronic fiction and publishing.

This story is about a girl named Cassie who loved her Grandpa. Grandpa Jack was a very sage man who had a way of telling stories about his beautiful young bride, Ms. Annie. Young Cassie was always ready to hear the wonderful stories that Grandpa told. Grandpa had a very unique way of bringing his stories to life, but Cassie had a way of making them real.Cassie, a young girl of ten was fortunate to have her Grandfather Jack living with them. Grandpa and Cassie did as much together as possible. Cassie could not remember her Grandmother Annie, but that was alright, because Grandpa Jack had a way of keeping her with them no matter where they were. He had so many wonderful stories to tell Cassie about his beautiful young bride and in his way of telling his stories, you would think that Grandma was always with them. The three of them would go fishing together and they always had a wonderful time. Cassie had a way with her thoughts that brought life to everything her imagination could hold.

In this offbeat satire, a high priest living in ancient Egypt’s Golden Age reluctantly comes to grips with the distracting elements of modern life and its impact on religious devotion during the grand exposition of his kingdom’s most sacred holiday.In this offbeat satire, a high priest in ancient Egypt’s Golden Age reluctantly comes to grips with the distracting elements of modern life and its impact on religious devotion during the grand exposition of his kingdom’s most sacred holiday. Through his own earnest introspection and supportive advice from Pharaoh Ramses II, will our high priest recapture his passion for his own role in religion and regain an appreciation for its workings?

Dead Man's Walk is the first, extraordinary book in the epic Lonesome Dove tetralogy, in which Larry McMurtry breathed new life into the vanished American West and created two of the most memorable heroes in contemporary fiction: Augustus McCrae and Woodrow Call. As young Texas Rangers, Gus and Call have much to learn about survival in a land fraught with perils: not only the blazing heat and raging tornadoes, roiling rivers and merciless Indians but also the deadly whims of soldiers. On their first expeditions--led by incompetent officers and accompanied by the robust, dauntless whore known as the Great Western--they will face death at the hands of the cunning Comanche war chief Buffalo Hump and the silent Apache Gomez. They will be astonished by the Mexican army. And Gus will meet the love of his life.

Delve into the stories from Amy Tan's life that inspired bestselling novels like The Joy Luck Club and The Valley of Amazement and the new memoir, *Where the Past Begins* Amy Tan has touched millions of readers with haunting and sympathetic novels of cultural complexity and profound empathy. With the same spirit and humor that characterize her acclaimed novels, she now shares her insight into her own life and how she escaped the curses of her past to make a future of her own. She takes us on a journey from her childhood of tragedy and comedy to the present day and her arrival as one of the world's best-loved novelists. Whether recalling arguments with her mother in suburban California or introducing us to the ghosts that inhabit her computer, The Opposite of Fate offers vivid portraits of choices, attitudes, charms, and luck in action--a refreshing antidote to the world-weariness and uncertainties we all face today.