What power does misery play in daily life? In this sorrowful yet intriguing collection of stories, Aimee Pogson explores journeys of suffering through magical realism. A preschool teacher contends with the stream of salmon that keep appearing on her windowsill, in her closet, tucked in her shoes. An invisible boy swallows nails, buttons, and tree bark in a misguided attempt to grow stronger. Spirits cling to a Ouija board, restlessly hoping that someone will remove it from the closet and ask them a question. A young girl who has an existential crisis burns her Barbie dolls at the stake. And a short, dancing man manipulates the melody of molecules in an attempt to bring his loved ones back to life. While sadness weighs heavy in The Sadness of Spirits, Pogson's writing provokes strong emotions, leaving the reader with hope and admiration as the characters are awakened to the nuance and possibility melancholy can bring. Views: 264
With her early years marked by turmoil and tragedy, GP Madeline Harrington prides herself on always being in control. Career-focused and goal orientated, she knows what she wants out of life. A job that she loves and marriage that includes the regulation 2.4 kids to her very sensible fiancé - even if they're currently on a break. Dr Marcus Hunt, naturopath, is the complete opposite. He's Mr fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants. Mr thrill-seeker. Mr footloose-and-fancy-free. Sworn off entanglements and perfectly happy to always play the uncle.They might be totally incompatible on a philosophical level but when their worlds collide their attraction is as instantaneous as it is inexplicable.An aggrieved Maddy makes it very clear to her new neighbour, that she doesn't like his approach to medicine, doesn't like his laid-back attitude - doesn't like him! But as Marcus's proves himself over and over, Madeline realises that she might have misjudged this very brilliant, very caring doctor and maybe what she needs is a little fun. Cutting the strings to her old life is liberating but when Marcus's ex-wife turns up with a shocking revelation, Maddy is rocked to her core.Marcus is determined to regain her trust but is it too late? Will Maddy revert to type or will she take a chance on the future he's offering her, the one she's always wanted… Views: 264
Something wicked this way comes—and this time, wicked is going to win. Villains are the heroines and heroes of their stories and in this anthology they are going to be the leading players—and finally find love. In these 10 stories you will find villains from fairy tale, folklore and myth. From the familiar to the fantastic. From Hades to Grendel. You'll meet: A man who gets more than he expected by binding himself to a selkie, a woman who discovers the loveable Beast in the young man she once knew, a mermaid who is not meant to be with a prince, a witch who has so much more to offer than a cabin made of sweets, a singer who has promised something she cannot deliver and gets help from an unexpected source, and more. If you've ever rooted for a witch, an evil fairy or a wolf, this anthology is for you. Views: 264
If no one sees him, does he exist? This superhero-inspired adventure story explores friendship and what it means to be truly brave. Nadia looks for adventure in the pages of her Superman comic books, until a mysterious boy saves her dog from drowning during a storm and then disappears. Now she finds herself in the role of Lois Lane, hunting down the scoop of the Invisible Boy. Suddenly she's in a real-life adventure that's far more dangerous than anything in her comic books. The Invisible Boy is a mystery and an adventure story, as well as a story about child labor trafficking. Like Katherine Applegate, author of Crenshaw and Wishtree, Alyssa Hollingsworth takes a difficult subject matter and makes it accessible for middle-grade readers. Views: 264
