In a dystopian post globalist world, grad student Zak Miller, girlfriend Kim, and their friends find themselves in an international manhunt. Facing dangers wherever they turn, they have to come together if they are going to have any chance to survive. Sweeping, stylish, fiercely intelligent, sophisticated, and expertly crafted. Powerful and explosive. A speeding train, magic and iconiAn exciting thrill ride on the leading edge of modern historical events, American students abroad become embroiled in a deadly international race to find a shadowy force for freedom able to disclose worldwide explosive revelations from deep inside China's corrupt, predatory power structure before it's too late. A fever pitched, exhilarating journey of suspense like no other, up against the gathering of darkening clouds in a world on the precipice of losing its freedom. Stanford grad Zak Miller is attending Beijing's prestigious Tsinghua University when one morning, as he studies for an exam at the University's beautiful imperial garden, an unknown man nearby is suddenly and inexplicably attacked. Zak comes to his aid. Mysteriously, as the dying man loses consciousness he calls Zak by the name Christopher Gray and slips him a thumb drive while speaking the letters U, N, K. Filled with a sense of dread, and knowing that in a country of ubiquitous CCTV, authorities will soon be seeking him out, Zak takes off across campus, depositing the thumb in a random book at the vast university library before heading to his housing complex. At his apartment Zak encounters a man who says he is Hui Lee, an officer of State Security, and his men. They attempt to detain Zak, but as they leave the building's elevator, Zak is able to elude them. Later Zak retrieves the thumb drive and finds Kim at the Library. They contact Lee and agree to meet at Muxidi bridge to hand it over. Just as they are about do so, Kim discovers that the man standing on the bridge to greet them is not actually Hui Lee, but rather an imposter. She shouts to Zak and they barely get away while being shot at. Stuck with a thumb drive that appears to motivate unknown assailants to shoot at them, Zak and Kim are left wondering who their assailant is. Figuring anyone who would shoot at them must be a criminal element, they suspect he could be a member of one of the organized criminal gangs of China, a Triad. They seek out a professor, well recognized for his expertise in the criminal underworld of China, and go to see him. Zak and Kim find Professor Wu-pen at the Public Security University nearby in Biejing. They share the thumb drive with him and he warns them that they and anyone they are in contact with are indeed in danger and probably not just from the Triads, that they must surreptitiously get out of China before being detained with the incriminating thumb, where they can fulfill the dying man's last wish by getting it to UNK. Soon, Zak and Kim are being pursued in a deadly game not only by an unfriendly Chinese Triad, but also by arms of the Chinese and American governments. Both are equally intent on supressing the information, although for different reasons. The Professor knows a friendly Triad contact in Hong Kong who can help them get out of China. In the meantime, their friends Rashida, Arjun, Ethan, Bogdan, Guillermo, Sofia, Kina, and Asobi scatter to the four winds for their own safety. Kim and Zak head to Dubai to find the mercurial billionaire Kadin Sa'd but are waylaid in Paris just as a series of lethal attacks begins one at a time on their now distant friends. Invasive surveillance and governmental control carried out in the name of national security, an over concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few, rising national militarism, government sanctioned extra-judicial assassination carried out in far distant countries, interdependence of transnational corporations and leading governments, government censorship, diminishing freedom of the press and of individual expression, collide. Zak, Kim and their friends try to turn the worldwide tide toward a vast and foolish bigotry back to one of optimism and hope in a triumphant tale very much of our time.

A few days before the 25th of December, a vicious killer roams the town, targeting men in Santa Claus costume. Clueless, the police gropes in the red.Ned Ryder studied lost monsters. The modern label, cryptozoology was a flimsy profession in world of camcorders and digital photography, but Ned soon found himself with a fairway pass to the icy arctic where a special sort of giant slept after its long trip across a vast ocean of starlight. He gazed upon the hulking heap of otherworldly metal, a damaged vessel, but the first proof that something more than our little rock buzzed about in the void.

When Liam wakes up from an odd dream that portrays his death, he is terrified to find that his life is replaying the events of the dream. Although he is able to cheat his own death once, that doesn't mean that he can keep on doing it...At the first induction to the group the facilitator handed out:‘Helpful Hints For Creative Writers’. ‘To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong’. Among other things were - keep writing – don’t edit on the run – when the inspiration stops and the pen rests that is the time to edit and rewrite. This is sound advice for any writer and finally words of wisdom:Practice, Practice, PracticeEnjoy, Enjoy, Enjoy. I hope you enjoy reading these stories.

Sometimes the game of future's past is played by bending the rules.But the citizens of the city of Atlanta have broken them all.Thomas Pepper draws close...dangerously close to discovering the answers to the three questions that every Person of Color in America wants to know: Who killed the first Black president of the United States? Who is the Caretaker? And what is the Whirlwind?Special Agent Christopher Prince and his childhood friend Dr. Angel Hicks Dupree learn that their lies and worse...all of their truths have come back to potentially destroy them both.And while one player tragically exits the game forever, another experiences a rebirth that you will have to see to believe.

From award winning crime writer R. Barri Flowers and the bestselling author of Murder in Hawaii Mysteries comes a gripping Maui mystery suspense novelette, Killer Connection.From award winning crime writer R. Barri Flowers and the bestselling author of Murder in Hawaii Mysteries comes a gripping Maui mystery suspense novelette, Killer Connection.Honolulu fashion designer Kiyoshi Yoshida had just gone through the worst year of her life after losing her twin brother and husband, costing Kiyoshi nearly everything she held most dear.In what still gave Kiyoshi chills of disbelief, her brother Sergio Matsuko, one time dedicated and decorated homicide detective for the Honolulu Police Department, had stunned nearly everyone who knew him by being identified as the Aloha Black Scarf Killer, a serial killer who had raped and murdered seven women, before committing suicide in a house fire. Seeking to escape the notoriety, Kiyoshi relocated to Maui, hoping to somehow reclaim her life while working as a saleswoman in an upscale clothing store.Connor Jansen, a bestselling true crime writer, tracked down Kiyoshi, hoping to get information on Matsuko for his latest book on the notorious island serial killer. Using a pseudonym, Connor worms his way into Kiyoshi’s life, only to have second thoughts about his deception.In the meantime, a killer has been watching Kiyoshi, waiting for the right time to add her to her list of victims.Bonus material includes excerpts from R. Barri Flowers’ bestselling Hawaii mystery novels, Murder in Maui, Murder in Honolulu, and Seduced to Kill in Kauai; as well as a glitzy contemporary suspense novelette, Kaanapali Beach Paradise.

Moonshine, mayhem, poachers, and dead people. Bitsie could handle it all.Have you ever read a book and thought, "gee I'd really like to know more about all those background characters!" Well we here at Team Pop Culture thought of that; because we're awesome, and we've got you covered. Behold, the Everything Sucks series! All of these short stories are stand-alones, and will make sense even if you haven't read the novel "Pop Culture Sucks, Manifesto of a Vampire" (*cough* it's a great book though *cough*)The series will either introduce you to, or expand on, various characters from the Pop Culture Universe. You'll get peeks at things like: Iris's time in the Underground Gary's life in the late 1940's Stitch, the Speakeasy barkeep And many all new charactersSo whether you're familiar with these guys or not, this is a series you should check out!

After a gang of sadistic, mutated thugs kidnaps a psychiatrist, Ethan is forced to chase after them. His hunt leads him through Crown City’s ancient crypts in a race against time. But what Ethan will find in the darkness is a danger he has never faced before, one that displays the worst part of the city’s underworld—the devils dwelling in the shadows.Ethan Daniels is The Guardian, the vigilante who haunts the nightmares of every criminal in Crown City. After a gang of sadistic, mutated thugs kidnaps a psychiatrist, Ethan is forced to chase after them. His hunt leads him through Crown City’s ancient crypts in a race against time. But what Ethan will find in the darkness is a danger he has never faced before, one that displays the worst part of the city’s underworld—the devils dwelling in the shadows. ---Set between the first two novels in the Dark Guardian Series, Dark Guardian & Dark Guardian: A New Dawn, this standalone, short piece story elaborates on some of Ethan Daniel’s struggles as The Guardian as he attempts to thwart the dark forces that have ruled over Crown City for so long. At the behest of readers, I hope to start to publish many of Ethan's shorter adventures and battles set between the series' novels.

On the Fourth of July, just as fireworks are about to go off in Aurora, Minnesota, Cork O’Connor and his new bride Rainy Bisonette listen to a desperate voicemail left by Rainy's son, Peter. The message is garbled and full of static, but they hear Peter confess to the murder of someone named Rodriguez. When they try to contact him, they discover that his phone has gone dead. The following morning, Cork and Rainy fly to Coronado County in southern Arizona, where Peter has been working as a counselor in a well-known drug rehab center. When they arrive, they learn that Peter was fired six months earlier and hasn’t been heard from since. So they head to the little desert town of Sulfur Springs where Peter has been receiving his mail. But no one in Sulfur Springs seems to know him. They do, however, recognize the name Rodriguez. Carlos Rodriguez is the head of a cartel that controls everything illegal crossing the border from Mexico into Coronado County. As they gather scraps of information about Peter, Cork and Rainy are warned that there is a war going on along the border. “Trust no one in Coronado County,” is a refrain they hear again and again. And to Cork, Arizona is alien country. The relentless heat and absence of water, tall trees, and cool forests feel nightmarish to him, as does his growing sense that Rainy might know more about what's going on than she's willing to admit. And if he can't trust Rainy, who can he trust?

It is the third part of a small fictional story about a couple, Arun and his wife who were struggling to live on a small island, without water and vegetation, after they had survived a plane accident. They were, along with a three-month-old baby girl, rescued by a rescue team in serious conditions.It is the third part of a small fictional story about a couple, Arun and his wife who were struggling to live on a small island, without water and vegetation, after they had survived a plane accident. They were, along with a three-month-old baby girl, rescued by a rescue team in serious conditions. Then what happened?

Will Janet find a way to clear her name of a murder she did not commit? Or will family presidency destroy their family in a whole. Find out with this new psychological thriller.Janet grew up with a silver spoon in her mouth. She grew up in the mid-town section of Manhattan in a beautiful brownstone. Janet never had to work hard for anything, due to family money. Janet’s father invested most of his money into wall street and a couple of businesses. Since Janet was an only child, she was forced to go to boarding school. Dealing with personal issues of being what felt like an outcast from her family. Janet turned to drinking her focus was looking for her next buzz. Janet’s poison of choice was hard whiskey Jim Bean, Jack Daniels, and Paul Masson. Luckily, for Janet, she lived above a very popular bar that she frequented most night when she was not working on her art or her art business. However, on this evening, Janet drunk herself into a situation that she could not remember what happened next. Would Janet go down for the murder of her neighbor or will her family money save her?Kesha J second debut book but a first psychological thriller. You can find her first short story ‘A Tragic Love Affair’ on iBooks and Smashwords for free. You can reach Kesha at iamkeshajay.com for information on upcoming releases, book reviews, photography, art and more. Also, make sure you follow Kesha J on IG: @OMGitzKesha and @ArtByKesha, Twitter: @OMGitzKesha.

He goes out on a late night drive in the wintry woods to relax and free his mind, but after he becomes stranded his mind is anything but free..."The Perfect Christian Romance Story for the Ages" Christian Romance... Sometimes life leaves you devastated, but God will always have a plan for you. Karen has her life turned upside down when her six year relationship ends suddenly, but God has a different life set out for her... She meets Gage in a remote village she volunteers to practice medicine in and sparks fly, but Gage is keeping his distance... Can Karen eventually breakthrough?

Three men disappear: one is on trial for murder, one is the copper who arrested him, and the last is a man caught between them. Set in London in 1887, "Convicted Innocent" follows the struggles of two friends kidnapped by a serial killer and their fight for survival. It is a tale of good versus evil; of fear and despair versus hope; and of ordinary men choosing the extraordinary.London, 1887. Three men vanish. One is a poor clergyman, one a workaholic policeman…and the last is a man on trial for murder.David Powell’s day is flipped head over heels when he stumbles upon an assault-in-progress, and then gets nabbed by the attackers for intervening. Clergymen aren’t supposed to have adventures like this, but David has before and has always laughed in the face of adversity.This time, however, not even his best mate’s presence can cheer him. Bit by bit, David loses everything he holds dear – until he doesn’t know where to turn to find hope in the darkness.Horace Tipple, a police detective, has hounded the Harker crime family for years. He now has a young Harker on trial for murder, and the case is strong enough to bring down all the Harkers. But the man escapes from prison, and Horace fears this will undo every shred of evidence against the family.As he races after the murderer, however, Horace begins to fear that some greater plot is afoot. Evidence suggests the young Harker’s escape is linked to the disappearance of two other men: one of Horace’s police sergeants and the sergeant’s best friend, a priest.And if Horace can’t see through whatever the game is, innocent men may die.

How many versions of you are there? If you had the chance to meet them, would you want to? What if you could see the results of all the decisions you made in life - the right calls, the wrong ones, the hard ones and the easy ones? Would you really want to? Well, would you?Paul Fields has had a rough few years: elfin mother assaulted, well-known father arrested, and unfairly turned away from his rugby club. Now, the weight of the clouds is upon him. And as Paul sits unwillingly through his younger brother’s school play, intrusive thoughts of violence assail him, demanding he act. His brother in his arms, will Paul break him to ease the suffering of all?

Mickey Haller has fallen on tough times. He expands his business into foreclosure defense, only to see one of his clients accused of killing the banker she blames for trying to take away her home. Mickey puts his team into high gear to exonerate Lisa Trammel, even though the evidence and his own suspicions tell him his client is guilty. Soon after he learns that the victim had black market dealings of his own, Haller is assaulted, too--and he's certain he's on the right trail. Despite the danger and uncertainty, Haller mounts the best defense of his career in a trial where the last surprise comes after the verdict is in. 13 hours and 56 minutes

In a stifling hospital room in a small Georgia town, Detective Lena Adams sits, silent and angry--the only suspect in a horrific murder. Soon, a hundred miles away, Police Chief Jeffrey Tolliverwill get the call that his young detective has been arrested. And Jeffrey's wife, pediatrician and medical examiner Sara Linton, has troubles of her own and little patience for Lena or her dramas. Fighting aheartbreaking malpractice suit, Sara cannot guess that within days she herself will be at the center of a bizarre and murderous case. " "For Lena has fledback to the place where she grew up hard, careening back through the shadows of her past and into a shocking underground world of bigotry and rage. And now only Jeffrey and Sara can free Lena from the web of lies andbrutality that has trapped her--as this powerhouse of a novel races toward its shattering climax...and a final, unforgettable twist.