A Hero Grows in Brooklyn is a thrilling novel about Steve Marino, a junior high student seeking respect. Should he take after his violent father whose actions have flung his family into poverty? Or can he discover another way? Amidst swirling emotions, suddenly Steve discovers he must face the Skull Bones, a knife slashing gang. Armed only with courage, he takes on thechallenge of his life.Steve Marino is not seeking to become a junior high school hero. However, he is interested in “respect.” Should he follow in his father’s footsteps, a big strong man who is quick to put others down, be provoked into violence and discipline Steve with the back of his hand? Or would it be better to adopt his Uncle Rickey’s approach, a guy who is just as big and strong as Steve’s dad, but with a knack for avoiding violence and developing a friendly loyalty by participating in fun activities?Before he can decide, suddenly Steve is shocked to find his father’s approach has flung his family into utter poverty. Now, forced to move in the middle of the school year, a deeply depressed Steve tearfully asks, “How can I start all over? I put everything into making things work right in Bensonhurst. I’ve lost everything.”Things turn dramatically worse. As Steve signs up to attend his new school, two police officers and several parents show up. “Who’s gonna be the next to die!?” screams one of the parents. “Huh!? Who’s gonna be next!? Answer me! ANSWER ME!”And so begins Steve’s first bleak day at Cunningham Junior High.In this deathly atmosphere, Steve seeks to earn the respect of his new classmates while trying to come to grips with his turbulent feelings for one of his classmates, the beautiful and strange Mysterious Jane.Amidst gut wrenching swirling emotions, Steve discovers he must face the Skull Bones, a knife slashing gang. Armed only with courage, he takes on the fight of his life.

Hey I’m Priscilla, a.k.a Priscilla the Great. Usually, I like to talk about how my life got a little crazy after I learned about my special powers. Okay, it got a lot crazy. I mean, you try going through middle school with fire shooting out of your fingers. Awkward. But this time, it’s not about me. Twin Shorts is all about my little brothers, Charlie and Chester, a.k.a The Devil Twins.Jameson Longe is a forty-something, over-the-hill soldier of fortune (re: mercenary) with early signs or arthritis, a vanishing hairline, and a sharp, cynical attitude. There isn't much he won't do for money. Two parts action and one part dark humour, THIEF'S DECEPTION is the first in a series of short stories surrounding the exploits of this aged veteran.When Jameson is hired to aid in a train heist, everything seems normal. But, as often happens in his line of work, things are not what they seem. Armed guards, backstabbing bandits and more explosives than ever, this job could prove to be Jameson's last.4,409 words.

A short collection of writing and poems by Eric Paguio. Eric Paguio lives with his cat and girlfriend in Seattle, WA where he battles with aliens from mars that wear french toast body armor. Yes, they do have lasers.Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of people. When it strikes, this disease can disturb the family dynamic. Grandchildren may feel excluded from the new relationship that forms between a sick grandparent and a parent who has become the primary caregiver.Eventually, you’ll need to tell your children what is happening in a way they can understand. Author Viorel Anghel offers an approach that parents have used to explain complicated things since ancient times: magical tales …

Hailed as "not only a gifted writer, but an absolutely essential one" (The New York Times Book Review), Sandra Cisneros has firmly established herself as an author of electrifying talent. Here are verses, comic and sad, radiantly pure and plainspoken, that reveal why her stories have been praised for their precision and musicality of language.

"Taken Back" is a short story from the perspective of a young man who suddenly finds himself drafted into the Vietnam War. He finds himself struggling to come to terms with his fears and discovering what "home" really is."When a politician spends a million on himself, we rally and call him a thief. But when a cardinal spends the same amount on his wardrobe, we kneel down and kiss his hand."Atheism: Is it simply a new fad, or the natural path to enlightenment? Have you heard of Honor Killing? Did you know the Bible promotes sexism, gay intolerance and glorifies slavery? And if God truly is omniscient and omnipotent, then why does He allow the Devil to exist? Was it just a mistake? Or does God have a deeper plot set out for Lucifer, once the best and brightest of the angels?These are just a few of the topics discussed and explored, all the while telling the epic tale of a fallen angel on his path to redemption.

Plum Pie is perhaps Wodehouse's best-loved short story collection--no surprise as it features a true Wodehouse trifecta--Jeeves, golf, and Blandings Castle.

A beauty queen with everything, including a score to settle. . . . Rolanda’s glamorous home and handsome man mask a life being slowly suffocated by reality. When she’s at last pushed to the breaking point, her final revenge can only be called “twisted.”At its core, a story of two young people attending a major Christian University who, through their differing approaches to faith are outcast by the others that attend. Dejected and feeling alone fate brings them together on the very night that supernatural attacks on the college campus threaten to tear it apart.

Arthur is a precocious eight-year-old boy whose mother is a B-list celebrity more concerned with the state of her bank account than with her son's development. Then an enigmatic young nanny named Missy introduces him to a world he never knew existed.

John Sharp had just flopped in Rigoletto, down in Mexico, when he first saw Juana. Somehow, the beautiful Mexican-Indian prostitute offered him a way back, a chance to rebuild his career in New York and Hollywood. But then, like the snake in the garden, Winston Hawes, the prodigiously accomplished conductor, came back in to Sharp's life and an eternal, and lethal, triangle was formed.

A discussion of culture, design, environmental issues, and fuel economy associated with the Denver International Airport. It was originally written as part of a book inspired by the visionary thinker, Mr. Jim Starry.A discussion of culture, design, environmental issues, and fuel economy associated with the Denver International Airport. It was originally written as part of a book entitled "Simple Solutions" inspired by the visionary thinker, Mr. Jim Starry.

A short story for children of all ages with a soupçon of Sherlock Holmes.Short stories for children of all ages with a soupçon of Sherlock Holmes.On a warm spring morning, in France, Alexia’s absence disturbs a worried Walter. Happily enough for the schoolboy, he knows the perfect detective to solve this mystery: Hassan, a CM2 pupil, that is a fifth grader.Alexia’s bike is a short story aimed at primary school pupils who attempts to help them discover the world of detective stories. It was first published in French, in 2013.

In this short story/missing scene from Tiffany Apan's Descent, Reginald and Gail returned from that fateful night, a strange set of circumstances, and a world they never thought could exist.On Valentine's Day in 1932, Reginald takes her to The Florentine with plans for a marriage proposal when an encounter with Father Louis of St. Gregory the Great Church leaves a slight chill in the night air...It has only been two and a half months since Reginald and Gail returned from that fateful night, a strange set of circumstances, and a world neither ever thought could exist.Plains also seems different. Darker. While the Fleming Orphanage is quiet, evil still seems to be lying in wait. Reginald is also worried about Gail; she has been strangely quiet, a far cry from the outspoken young woman he's always known her to be. She seems to have lost part of herself.For months, Reginald has been planning a marriage proposal, already having received the blessing of Gail's father and even bought a ring with money saved from his job at the five and dime. On Valentine's Day, he takes her to The Florentine, and while Gail is appreciative, she remains distant. An encounter with Father Louis of St. Gregory the Great Church also leaves a slight chill in the air.In spite of everything, Reginald hopes for a future with the girl he loves.MADE IN HEAVEN is a short story/missing scene from Tiffany Apan's Descent (The Birthrite Series, #1).

Hello, my name is Enrique Kates! I’m a highly experienced conversational English and Spanish teacher.In the last few years I’ve had several students that excelled in their Language Learning Process.Due to my natural curiosity, I tried to analyze some of the reasons.I saw a slight connection between Healthy Lifestyles and their Language Learning Process.Hello, my name is Enrique Kates! I’m a highly experienced conversational English and Spanish teacher.In the last few years I’ve had several students that excelled in their Language Learning Process.Due to my natural curiosity, I tried to analyze some of the reasons.I saw a slight connection between Healthy Lifestyles and their Language Learning Process.Recently, I spoke with Margaret Kamalova. She is a student of mine, and definitely falls in the category mentioned above. I expressed to her my thoughts, and it caught her interest.Margaret is a professional Yoga Teacher.I asked Margaret to collaborate with me in writing an article about the connection between Healthy Lifestyles and Language Learning Process.By the way, the students I referred to before, came from different countries and did not know or ever met or spoke to each other..Thanks,Enrique C. Kates

Loanwords is the literary magazine of International Academic Alliance. IAA is an American administered international program that partners with local high schools in China. All the work in the magazine is written in English by the Chinese students in the program.Loanwords is the literary magazine of International Academic Alliance. IAA is an American administered international program that partners with local high schools in China. All the work in the magazine is written in English by the Chinese students in the program.So why Loanwords? And what is a loanword, anyway?A loanword is a term used in linguistics. It refers to a word that is taken from one language and is used in another without translation. I think it is an interesting title because a loanword is essentially a word that is the same in two different languages. I see it as a kind of bridge, or at least a place where two languages can meet amid so many differences. I think it is similar to what the writers here are doing. They are trying to say something that is true for everyone despite language. Instead of a place where two languages meet amid so many differences, the writers here are describing instances where human experience meets amid so many differences. That is, in their work they are expressing something that is true for everyone. It needs no translation because the experience is the same. But perhaps I've gotten ahead of myself because the more noteworthy part of this literary magazine is not the title, but the authors. All of our contributors are Chinese high school students who are currently enrolled in the International Academic Alliance program. They are all planning to go to college in America and have very demanding schedules. They have remarkably little free time, yet in the free time that they do have, they use to do some very creative things: photography, singing, playing music, making movies, and (of course) writing poetry. I find their submissions remarkable. The language and the approach that these student authors use is both direct and surprising. Perhaps, they have such a different and such a fresh take on language precisely because they are not native speakers. I suppose, in the end, the reason doesn't matter. Collected here are some interesting poems by young authors just beginning their search into what is true for all people – what is true beyond borders and in both their old language and their new one.

38 poems under 100 words. These poems appear in Pointed Sentences (BlazeVOX 2012), Incompetent Translations and Inept Haiku (Cerevana Barva Press 2013), The Lice of Christ (MadHat Press 2014), and Blasphemer (Lit Fest Press 2015).38 Poems Under 100 Words 1. Excommunicado 2. Bone Density 3. Nan Sequiter 4. Not That Kind of Pain 5. Chapel Access 6. A Journey of Seven Thousand Miles 7. The Lost Boys 8. Prowl Car 9. Self Alaska 10. Pain 11. Son of Uncle Sam 12. Cranshaw on a Boat 13. The Rest Nowhere 14. Bees in the Eaves 15. Pink 16. The Death of Sherwood Anderson 17. Precipice of Questions 18. The Tapeworm of Selfish Mammon Eats All the Goodwill in the World 19. Julia 20. A Piece of Him 21. Ratatouille 22. Before the Door 23. Parabola Tango 24. Sermon of Lilac 25. In My Hometown 26. Black Squirrel Poem 27. Not Enough Sin to Go Around 28. Anthropometamorphism 29. Villon, Stop Following Me Around 30. Abraham 31. Bare Ruined Palace 32. Holy Week 33. Peterson Park 34. Mad Love 35. The Separation 36. Kicking Out the Enjambs 37. Not a Villanelle 38. He Holds an Expired Visa and a Monday Grudge These poems appear in Pointed Sentences (BlazeVOX 2012), Incompetent Translations and Inept Haiku (Cerevana Barva Press 2013), The Lice of Christ (MadHat Press 2014), and Blasphemer (Lit Fest Press 2015).