Master storyteller Arthur Hailey's #1 New York Times bestseller is a turbocharged thriller about America's automobile industry, from the bottom up Ford. Chrysler. General Motors. They were the Big Three, accused by critics of greed, monopoly, and abusing the public trust. In the shadows of these towering giants is American Motors, blazing its own path to greatness. Adam Trenton, the fiercely ambitious executive in charge of project development, wants to take the company into the future with the new, cutting-edge car he's developing, but his single-minded dedication has his neglected wife seeking dangerous thrills, making Adam vulnerable to a growing web of deceit, blackmail, and organized crime.From Detroit's inner city to its affluent suburbs, from the executive suites and secret design studios to the assembly line jungle and the maximum security testing grounds, Wheels is a breakneck ride full of human drama through one of America's most complex and competitive industries.

It is the mid-eighties when a group of expatriates from Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, the United States and Japan meet and form friendships in a small country in the tropical south Pacific. Developing friendships with local people help to establish familiarity with the culture and lifestyle of the society. Over time, past lives are glimpsed and are woven into the fabric of the narrative.Another Throw of the Dice is the story of a group of individuals from different corners of the world who take a chance on a new life, as aid workers, on an un-named Pacific Island in the 1980s. Morganti skilfully unmasks them, as, pitted against the vicissitudes of island life, the forces of nature and the sinister nuclear presence in the region, they wrestle with the ghosts of lives past, bond together, embrace new lives, forge new relationships, part, depart and finally reunite at another time, in another place. It is a story of love, loss, hope, forgiveness and acceptance, told with humour, sensitivity and style..Mary Clare Morganti has a vast vocabulary and she is not afraid to use it, nor does she shy away from the complex sentence, so her writing is nuanced and fluid. She knows, too, when to hold back and when to give full reign to her talent for description. Her characters are clearly, but lightly, drawn and they speak for themselves while the bush, the sea, the island sunsets and the ravaging cyclone are boldly and lavishly painted.'Another Throw of the Dice transported me to another country, with a fascinating company of fellow travellers. It made me laugh and it made me cry. It’s a damn good read'. (Travelstripe.com)

Trio of Haunting Tales-Three short stories for quick read alouds to kids.Cyclops Clyde, computer monster, wreaks havoc both on & off screen.In Night of the Howling Werewolf, Eric Lung searches out the bullies who jumped his best friend. Everything changes on Slaughter Hill.Ghost Warrior-Connie faces rival ghost gangs that haunt the parking structure. Her karate moves are useless against ghosts.Trio of Haunting Tales offers three short stories for kids who love spine-tingling fiction. Perfect for quick read alouds at ghost-story gatherings, such as sleepovers, around a campfire, in the classroom, or at home for a night of spooky, family fun.Cyclops Clyde, a freaky computer monster, wreaks havoc both on and off screen, taunting and paralyzing his victim.In Night of the Howling Werewolf, Eric Lung searches out the bullies who jumped his best friend, Ben Tang, and stole his bike. Things get weird on Slaughter Hill, the bullies’ favorite hangout.Ghost Warrior kicks up the fright factor and will creep out even the bravest of souls. Connie worked overtime and now worries that she’ll be punished with extra pushups for being late to karate class, but pushups become the least of her problems when rival ghost gangs that haunt the parking structure claim first dibs on this mortal prey.

I Scream, You Scream. It's Alien Ice Cream!In this first adventure, heroes Abigail, Andrew, and Baby Zoë try to keep their cool on the hottest day of the year. Soon, though, they discover that not all ice cream is created equal. Some is created by aliens who have plans to take over the world.Traverse City is the home to three special superheroes.Meet Abigail, the oldest. When it comes to sports, she can’t be beat.Andrew is her twin. If it has wheels, he can ride it.Baby Zoë is the youngest but also the strongest. Don’t let the diaper fool you.In this first adventure, the heroes try to keep their cool on the hottest day of the year. Soon, however, they discover that not all ice cream is created equal. Some is created by aliens who have plans to take over the world.

A Glimpse Beyond... is an introduction to my work and more specifically to my anthology of dark poetry, Beyond the Mask. By its very nature poetry is a subjective medium and as such one person's taste is no guarantee of another's. Therefore this short collection is presented as a representative sample to allow the reader to form their own opinion rather than rely on the views of others.**Note to reader: I'm making my novel available to all in order to share my story to all those who stumble upon it. Over four years of work went into this project. Please respect the art of writing, and please, no plagiarism. Thank you. Enjoy. -Michael LoCurto.The sea is dead—fishless—and Long Island fisherman Jon Brand is to blame. With his greed of overfishing for years—he is surely the cause of the current famine. According to Jon Brand, that is.Elea, Jon’s wife, sees things differently. An oceans-worth of famine cannot be pinned down on one man alone. And she wishes Jon would man-up and find work inland if the sea can no longer provide for the family.But Jon has faith in the sea. His sea. And he cannot simply turn his back on Her.To Sea explores numerous beaches spanning across the Island where Jon seeks the answers of his fate—of his dry ocean—of his God. But the sea is silent. Time after time. Visit after visit. And with each trip to a differing shoreline passing, Jon finds himself closer and closer to a life changing revelation: To land, or, to sea.

In this second part of the series, set in 1961, as the Snyders adjust to change, Sam Ahern relives some of his Korean War experiences. Meanwhile Lynne Snyder undergoes a transformation and Stanford hosts an exhibit of Eric’s work that catapults the artist into sudden fame.Painter Eric Snyder harbors a secret known only to his wife, Lynne. When Eric’s latest disappearance raises the suspicions of best friends Sam and Renee Ahern, Lynne can no longer keep the truth under wraps. While the Aherns ponder this phenomenon, Eric embarks upon a search for his father, once again taking him far from the woman he loves.In this second part of the series, set in 1961, as the Snyders adjust to change, Sam Ahern relives some of his Korean War experiences. Sam’s wife Renee is alarmed by his candor, while Laurie Abrams reveals that his cousin Seth also served in Korea, but returned an altered man. Meanwhile Lynne Snyder undergoes a transformation and Stanford hosts an exhibit of Eric’s work that catapults the artist into sudden fame.

This short story shows Coop before he became The Hitchhiker. He was a normal boy, with a dark secret. He carried the weight of a curse with him constantly. Whenever someone touched him, their thoughts and emotions flooded his mind. The fear of being thought of as crazy by ones own parents can be traumatizing! However, God had something great in store for this young man. Not a curse, but a gift.Who was Coop before he was The Hitchhiker? Was he always confident that his ability was a gift? When did he let his parents in on the secret? How did they respond? Before Coop became The Hitchhiker, he was a normal boy, with a dark secret. He carried the weight of a curse with him constantly. Whenever someone touched him, their thoughts and emotions flooded his mind. The fear of being thought of as crazy by ones own parents can be traumatizing! However, God had something great in store for this young man. Not a curse, but a gift.. This short story covers two different instances. It goes back in time, to eight year old Coop, before his parents knew about his mind reading ability. As well as simultaneously showing him as an adult and confront his parents about using his gift for God's kingdom. The tale shows Coop change from thinking of his ability as a curse to being ready to see how God will use it for good. It is a short glimpse at Coop before he became The Hitchhiker.

A piece I wrote for a benefit for the Women's Center in Carbondale back in 2009. I am posting this free, but hope you will donate time or money to the causes the Women's Center in your town represent. Thanks, RogerNot available in uber-cheery fuchsia with glittery flecks. Sorry."Absolutely barking mad."--M. Lewis Redford , Misfits' Miscellany"Incredibly well-crafted piece of poetry." --Ian Moore, Misfits' Miscellany

“I leaned my head against the backseat window and looked up. It was dark and gloomy out there; the sun’s glow was fading behind the distant trees and houses. The cool night winds wailed all around, making the tip of my ears sting. Everything the nuns had said was true: there was a hell, and I was heading directly towards it.”Anxious for school to end and summer to begin, Justine Collins dreams the warm days of freedom away from the classroom, away from the teachers, away from the exams; splashing at the beach, enjoying barbecues on picnics, screaming on roller coasters, and relishing special moments with her family. But doubt lingers as the fear of secrets buried away turn her world upside down when that one night comes to crush her dreams before her summer even begins, and sends her spiraling down a path she could not avoid, no matter how hard she had tried to ignore it. Only when she owns up to her fears does she discover that she is not alone.

Part three of the series, containing material from the end of winter '12.Terrorist. Patriot. Take your pick. In the ruins of the United States travels Dustin Parker and his brother, trying to cross the country to get to safety. A revolution decimated the country seven years ago and forced Dustin from his home. Nowhere is safe, a truth he learns very quickly. The revolutionary Hyenas and the remnants of the American government scrounge through debris and ravaged cities to find Dustin- to find him because of a secret he keeps from both sides. One is meant to protect him. The other would see him executed. But the only question on Dustin’s mind is in regards to which will find him first.

Despite his father's desire that the imperial heir maintain a formal distance from servants, Peter finds himself drawn in friendship to the younger boy who serves as his slave. But a shocking revelation on the eve of the New Year forces Peter to confront his own motives for keeping the slave close by. And that in turn will help him understand the deeper meaning of the gift-giving festival."He could not leave this room without his father's permission. And he could not imagine going to his father and saying, 'Please let me go gather moss so that my slave can have a proper New Year for once.'"What can you give a slave who, by law, can own nothing? That is the question faced by Peter, the teenage heir to the throne of an empire. Despite his father's desire that the imperial heir maintain a formal distance from servants, Peter finds himself drawn in friendship to the younger boy who serves as his slave.But a shocking revelation on the eve of the New Year forces Peter to confront his own motives for keeping the slave close by. And that in turn will help him understand the deeper meaning of the gift-giving festival.This holiday novelette of romantic friendship and a young man's quest for true manhood can be read on its own or as part of The Three Lands, a fantasy series on friendship, romantic friendship, romance, and betrayal in times of war and peace. The series is inspired by conflicts between nations during the Roman Empire and the Dark Ages. The Three Lands is part of The Great Peninsula, a cycle of fantasy series (Young Spies and The Three Lands) about an epic battle between cultures, set at a time when a centuries-old civilization is in danger of being destroyed.ExcerptPeter looked down once more at the pathetic little object in his hand that purported to be the Balance of Judgment. Judgment weighing vengeance and mercy."We've forgotten about the Heart of Mercy," he said suddenly."I know how to make that too," Andrew replied, inspecting the tip of the clay sword in his hand."You're a wonder," Peter said, setting the lopsided Balance aside and rolling over onto his stomach. They were in his chamber, of course, which meant that the only places to sit were some stiff-backed chairs, the bed, and the floor. Andrew seemed to prefer the floor, though Peter had invited him onto the bed each day since the younger boy became his slave. Peter supposed this was due to some Koretian custom; he resolved inwardly to ask Andrew about that. After all, Peter's ostensible reason for having Andrew as his slave was to familiarize himself with his empire's southern dominion of Koretia. Peter's father – who was legally Andrew's owner – had said that mastering Andrew would help Peter learn how to rule his subjects."How did you learn to make crafts?" he asked Andrew."From a friend."Peter waited, but no further details emerged. Finally Peter said, "Was he a craftsman?""He was a boy. But he lived with the priests, and they trained him at artisan work, in case he should need such work when he grew up and—" Andrew shut his lips tightly. He bowed his head, as though concentrating all his thoughts on the clay he was flattening with his fingers.Peter felt then that he deserved the beating Andrew had received. A friend. A boy whom Andrew had known in the Koretian capital. Probably the boy had been enslaved during the final battle there, if not killed outright. And Andrew had been forced to speak of him.To Peter, Chara To Be, son of the ruler who had conquered Andrew's native land.

Dalton Trumbo’s posthumous work, this novel tells the story of an old unrepentant Nazi official named Grieben. Former chief of the Auschwitz concentration camp, the protagonist is motivated by a boundless desire for power & by what seems to be an inability to receive love. In autobiographical form, Grieben ensnares us in the sadism of his youth, the cruelty of his relationship with a woman who was half-Jewish & the indescribable horror of the Holocaust.

I’m the monster, a bloody human incapable of emotion I soon realise that my revenge didn’t make me feel any fucking better about myself, instead it pissed me off to realise that I’m in love with her. Two days later the letter addressed to me arrives in the post and the ground moves beneath my feet, because the whole truth about India is out in the open and the pain punches me so hard that I can’t breathe, darkness crawls through me, sparking all the insecurities and fears about my dead brother back to ugly reality. Then off I go with my apology, trying to fix this fucked up situation but she doesn’t want to listen. Every time I do something the guilt is burning my gut, pushing her further and further away from me. She even goes an extra mile making me feel like a prick and she gets involved with someone else just to get back at me. She pretends that the event in the restaurant didn’t mean anything to her, like she is immune to my actions. India’s pain is raw, deep and whenever I lay my eyes on her I remember the cruel things I’ve done. The next couple of months I focus on getting her back. This is the only thing that matters to me now. I must redeem myself; forget about anger, other birds and parties. India is the only person that I want, I love her and only her but the problem is that she hates my guts, so I’m the last person that she wants. I must prove to India that I’m worthy of her love.

Because she trusted him the fate of the world is in her hands… Icon of the United States of America, New York is Cara’s city—until one sunny afternoon when she wakes up in a beautiful meadow. Light clouds float in the blue sky, a mild breeze dances in the branches of a maple tree and the air smells of freshness. But New York has disappeared. When Cara opens her eyes, she finds a complete stranger standing too close for comfort and he seems to know all about her. If she wants to find her way back home she must stay with him. Obnoxious as he appears, she has to turn to him for protection when confronted with enemies she never knew she had. These enemies know of an ancient prophecy. They believe Cara is the only one who can change it and they will do anything to stop her. As Cara tries to outwit and outrun them, her heart starts to beat for the stranger. Only to discover that his heart is dead. BLADE HEART is a stand alone but takes place in the same world as THE LORD OF THE CLANS, a few months before THE LORD OF THE CLANS.