He's one of the most dangerous creatures in the galaxy... so why can't she keep her hands off him?A junior nurse aboard the Combined Fleet Ship Valkyrie, Samara's days are usually filled with minor bumps and scraps and the occasional health or workspace check. But when a dangerous prisoner is transferred aboard, she finds herself on brig duty. Dealing with the big, lethal looking military grade cyborg should be terrifying, but one look into his green eyes and she can't think of anything other than what his big, hard body would look like under the grey ship suit...She's small, soft and fragile... he should keep his hands to himself and forget her. Captured and en route to a medical facility for dissection and study, cyborg Lyon expects nothing but pain and degradation from his captors. But Samara isn't like the others, treating his wounds with care and igniting a fire deep within.... Views: 360
Here is the first person narrative of Homer Bolton. Follow Homer as he starts out on his father's cattle ranch, then becomes a Deputy in Broken Hearts before becoming the first Sheriff of Duncan Flats. It is meant to be a light read and should take about 60 minutes.A collection of quirky verse by Barnaby Wilde which is not at all rhinoceros. (Well, maybe just a little bit, at the end). A miscellany of verses full of weak puns, old jokes and a sense of the ridiculous, including 'A pyschiatrist's guide to empathetic garden design', 'Two flies walking on a bald man's head', and 'Acupuncture is a jab well done' amongst others.And absolutely no mention of rhinoceros (OK. perhaps a very little bit at the end). Views: 360
Four short stories that are woven around Festivals and Traditions.In the twenty fourth century, a scientific experiment gave a few species the gift of intelligence, and after much struggle, they've carved out a place in society. By the thirtieth century, humans find themselves co-existing, negotiating, and residing on Earth with these animals as equals.Maya Lawton is a lonely prostitute living in this world. She gives birth to the first halfkinds, creatures who are half animal-kind, and half mankind. Since interspecies breeding is illegal, she is forced into seclusion and raises them alone. Then one day, without warning, she dies, and her death leads to their discovery. Abandoned and lost, this family of halfkinds plan to escape to a terraformed moon. But the law is after them. The order is to kill, sent by the highest authority, the United Species Alliance.The Halfkinds series is a science fiction saga filled with complex characters. It's set in a unique future where creatures are fighting for their own place in a once human dominated society. Through the point of views of several characters, you will see events unfold and think about what it truly means to have intelligence. Views: 360
Two cruisers on the Norfolk Broads discover an eerie story behind the strange pub where they tie up one night.On her twenty-first birthday, Franki Smith receives a dozen black roses and an unsigned invitation to a nightclub that doesn't seem to exist. The dark gift haunts her because of two handwritten words near the top. Little Bird. Her mother's nickname for her.Only, Franki's mother disappeared from her life without a trace exactly three years ago to the day.Who sent the mysterious invitation? Franki's need to answer this question will lead her to the doorway of a strange and dangerous new world. A world her mother went to great lengths to keep hidden.A world someone desperately wants Franki to discover.Return to the world of the bestselling Peachville High Demons series, this time from the viewpoint of a brand new, kickass heroine.Sacrifice Me is a serial new adult paranormal romance with twists and turns that will pull you in and keep you guessing until the last installment. There are six episodes total. The first two are both available now! The remaining episodes will release every two weeks. Each episode is about 17,000 words (or 60 pages).Sacrifice Me: The Demon (Episode 1) - May 12Sacrifice Me: The Dream (Episode 2) - May 12Sacrifice Me: The Darkness (Episode 3) - May 26Sacrifice Me: The Dying (Episode 4) - June 9Sacrifice Me: The Devil (Episode 5) - June 23Sacrifice Me: The Doorway (Episode 6) - July 7**Unlike the Peachville series, this is NOT a young adult story. Due to some language and sexual situations, it is appropriate for readers 16+** Views: 360
Billy Crump is the local stable boy. Fed up with mucking out horses, he sneaks into the wizard's lab, concocts a potion using all the rare and expensive ingredients, and somehow ends up with a talking book. His first thought? Sell the book ... and say goodbye to horse muck forever!A 5000 word fantasy/comedy storyBilly Crump is the local stable boy. Fed up with mucking out horses, he sneaks into the wizard's lab, concocts a potion using all the rare and expensive ingredients, and somehow ends up with a talking book. His first thought? Sell the book ... and say goodbye to horse muck forever!A 5000 word fantasy/comedy story--"Who's there? What's talkin'?"The book fluttered. "Who do you think, you two-legged disaster zone?""A talkin' book?" Emotions ran over Billy's face like drops of food dye in a goldfish bowl. Surprise was followed by bafflement, bafflement by comprehension and comprehension by cunning. "I could sell you," he said under his breath. "I could sell you an' then I wouldn't have to muck out no more stables.""Sell me?" squeaked the book. "You don't even own me!" Views: 360
A novel full of heart, humor, and charm from Newbery Honor winner Joan Bauer!
When twelve-year-old Foster and her mother land in the tiny town of Culpepper, they don't know what to expect. But folks quickly warm to the woman with the great voice and the girl who can bake like nobody's business. Soon Foster - who dreams of having her own cooking show one day - lands herself a gig baking for the local coffee shop, and gets herself some much-needed help in overcoming her biggest challenge - learning to read . . . just as Foster and Mama start to feel at ease, their past catches up to them. Thanks to the folks in Culpepper, though Foster and her mama find the strength to put their troubles behind them for good.
Book Details: Format: Paperback Publication Date: 1/5/2012 Pages: 272 Reading Level: Age 10 and Up Views: 360
On the surface, life is going well for Victorian special agent Sir Maurice Newbury, who has brilliantly solved several nigh-impossible cases for Queen Victoria with his indomitable assistant, Miss Veronica Hobbes, by his side. But these facts haven’t stopped Newbury from succumbing increasingly frequently to his dire flirtation with the lure of opium. His addiction is fueled in part by his ill-gotten knowledge of Veronica’s secret relationship with the queen, which Newbury fears must be some kind of betrayal. Veronica, consumed by worry and care for her prophetic but physically fragile sister Amelia, has no idea that she is a catalyst for Newbury’s steadily worsening condition.Veronica and Newbury’s dear friend Bainbridge, the Chief Investigator at Scotland Yard, tries to cover for him as much as possible, but when the body of a well known criminal turns up, Bainbridge and Veronica track Newbury down in an opium den and drag him out to help them with the case. The body is clearly, irrefutably, that of the man in question, but shortly after his body is brought to the morgue, a crime is discovered that bears all the dead man’s hallmarks. Bainbridge and Veronica fear someone is committing copycat crimes, but Newbury is not sure. Somehow, the details are too perfect for it to be the work of a copycat. But how can a dead man commit a crime?ReviewPraise for The Affinity Bridge: “Mann turns out a riveting page-turner that mixes the society of manners in turn-of-the-century London with a gritty and brutal murder mystery. And in the midst of all this, automatons clank about, zombies lurk in the night and dirigibles float majestically in the sky—until they crash and burn….Will leave readers clamoring for the next book.”--AM New York “A science fantasy novel that should appeal to lovers of both genres. One of the biggest surprises of the year, and I can’t recommend the book enough.”*--Fantasy Book Critic “Steampunk is making a comeback, and with this novel Mann is leading the charge…. An engaging melodrama that rattles along at a breakneck pace.”--The Guardian*About the AuthorGeorge Mann edited the Solaris Book of New Science Fiction anthology series and is the author of a number of fiction and nonfiction books, including The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. The first two Newbury & Hobbes Investigations, The Affinity Bridge and The Osiris Ritual, were his first novels. Views: 360
Every story is exactly 416 words long. They are all horror. They are all fantastic. Trust but verify. There has never been an anthology like this. A special Halloween treat. Inspired by Authonomy's contest and my genius, "416" is a unique collection of horror short shorts. You could do a lot worse than spend a few hours reading these beauties.Four Hundred Sixteen. That’s all it takes to tell a story. A scary story. At least here. Every tale of horror and suspense in this book is exactly 416 words long (you can spend your time counting or reading, that’s up to you). Every story was written by a member of Authonomy.com.Stephen King takes 1,200 pages to tell a story. We do it in half a page. Sometimes we do it better. From Arachnoids to Zombies, “416” has it all. The first fifty four stories were submitted as part of my weekly Flash Fiction Friday contest. Always a treat for the readers, this particular contest was an outstanding success. We got a lot of “new” writers as well as the old standbys. Many wrote outside their comfort zone and they did it well.So, now we have a collection of horror worthy to be on the shelves of whatever bookstores are still in business (another horror story in itself). Unfortunately, timing is everything and my Ouja board tells me that there is not enough time to get “416” on the shelves. That shouldn’t stop you from putting it on yours, however. 416 words is less than two pages. But you won’t believe what we can fit into those two pages. I know I didn’t, and I still believe in Obama. When I first asked myself to edit this book, I thought “who wants to read a bunch of stories that aren’t even written by me. But after reading the submissions, I can almost see the logic of it. Besides, there are two stories that are by me, so everyone wins.Now, here we sit. You, me, and fifty-something tales, tailor made to be read on a cold October night. Short, intense and eerie. You can take them in small doses or plow through with one eye shut and one open. It’s up to you. Don’t be shy with feedback and comments. After all, a zombie can live on brains but a writer needs attention if he or she wants to thrive and survive.Finally, if you think it’s easy, feel free to give it a try. Send me a 416 word horror story before October 30, 2011, and I may add it to this lovely tome. Thank you to Authonomy and Rachel Authonomy for inspiring all of us to rise to this challenge. Mr. King and Koontz have set the bar. You tell us if we cleared it. And yes, this introduction is exactly 416 words. Views: 360
In a story that follows the conclusion of industrialization in the average fantasy universe a terrible weapon has been crafted in secrecy. Jason Oler joins a a group of adventurers on a quest to reveal the horrific nature of the weapon to the people before it falls in to the wrong hands.Seven years after the death of her grandmother, Luna Robbins faced a dreadful task. She has to write about her grandmother. It was an easy task. There was only one problem... she cannot remember her dear old grandmother. Out of frustration, Luna walks out of the house and found herself following the scary old Mrs. Chandler from across the street. Mrs. Chandler lead Luna to a rundown building known as the Library. After reading a familiar book, voices, images, and sensations came to life in the thirteen-year old girl's mind. Eventually, she found refuge in the wreckage of books governed by a tyrant. Views: 359
What starts out as a pleasant little summer vacation for Maggie and her friends, Molly and Tim, becomes an extraordinary adventure that will forever transform their lives. These three best buddies unexpectedly find themselves thrust into the magical world of a brilliant sorceress, a mysterious bridge, and talking animals.When a severely injured Cooper Hawk begs a group of vacationing school kids for help, they find themselves drawn into a fierce battle being waged among the forest inhabitants for control of the ancient and powerful If Bridge, which has the power to undo the past.What starts out as a pleasant little summer vacation for Maggie and her friends, Molly and Tim, becomes an extraordinary adventure that will forever transform their lives. These three best buddies unexpectedly find themselves thrust into the magical world of a brilliant sorceress, a mysterious bridge, and talking animals. Manny, an old farmhand, Molly’s two spinster aunts, and her parents fight side-by-side with the three young friends in their struggle against the Wolf, the Vulture, and the Snake, who want to destroy the If Bridge. The three human friends join the Deer, the Bear, and the Hawk in their battle to prevent its destruction. Ultimately, they all find themselves fighting the age-old battle of good versus evil, defending a world of friendship and noble sacrifice against one of greed and treachery. Views: 359
Marked: City of the Damned Book 1. A brutal attack in a dark New York alleyway has left Sara marked. Pryse has claimed her intoxicating blood for himself. Until now Gedeon believed that vampires could only feel 2 emotions; lust and hunger, but Sara has him second guessing everything he had ever thought to be true. Can Gedeon break Pryse's mark and claim Sara for himself before it's too late? 18+ Views: 359
I have been a fan of Shakespeare for many, many years, and have been helping students enjoy reading his plays for over a decade. But sometimes, when a student or adult wants to enjoy Shakespeare without the benefit of a group to read the plays aloud with, it would be nice to have Shakespeare in the form of a novel.I have been a fan of Shakespeare for many, many years, and have been helping students enjoy reading his plays for over a decade. But sometimes, when a student or adult wants to enjoy Shakespeare without the benefit of a group to read the plays aloud with, it would be nice to have Shakespeare in the form of a novel. I have taken much of Shakespeare’s dialogue from Comedy of Errors and tried to add just enough scene and character identification to make the play make sense. I hope you enjoy this novel look at one of my favorite Shakespeare comedies! Views: 359
Saira has been trained from birth for this: to battle one of the Great Ones and retrieve that precious prize. But Rajani is old and clever, and like the Great Rocs before her, she is wise to the ways of thieves.A fantasy short story.Saira has been trained from birth for this: to battle one of the Great Ones and retrieve that precious prize. But Rajani is old and clever, and like the Great Rocs before her, she is wise to the ways of thieves. A fantasy short story."Clawbinder" was first published on Short-Story.Me! and is now available for the first time as an individual eBook. It also includes a short preview of the upcoming novelette "Night Feeders", a supernatural western. Views: 359
