Ekaterina wants to be taken seriously by the men of her village, so she sets out to hunt the greatest prey of all, the legendary Firebird. On the way she encounters three strangers who give her the gifts she needs- for a price. This short novella, inspired by Slavic folklore, also includes the short stories British Gods and Saturday's Child.This book features three complete stories and one poem from Strange Matters, a collection of short fantasy stories by Bret Allen.About the Firebird:Ekaterina wants to be taken seriously by the men of her village, so she sets out to hunt the greatest prey of all, the legendary Firebird. On the way she encounters three strangers who give her the gifts she needs- for a price.This short novella, inspired by Slavic folklore, is a symbolic fable about the importance of choosing wisely and keeping sight of the things that truly matter.About British Gods:Two strange figures watch the violence of the London riots unfold and do what they can to help, as only forgotten gods can.A humble nod to my favourite author, Neil Gaiman. This short story is based on British folklore in the modern-day style of American Gods.About Thornback:A poem about the humble hedgehog, seen through my eyes.About Saturday’s Child:Henri discovers that his afterlife is going to be even more dangerous than his first life, when he meets a predatory and beautiful stranger.This very short story is set in the world of ‘Sleepwalkers’, a setting of my own creation. In this case, I give a glimpse of the plight of a newly deceased spirit.Feel free to read these stories before checking out the full collection- Strange Matters- 20 stories and poems of fantasy, myth and magic!These stories contain some mature themes. Views: 815
The last thing Cara Halpern expected to do at the office Christmas party was fall in love. But that’s exactly what happens when she goes looking for a hiding space after her boyfriend humiliates her and finds a lovelorn admirer in the mood to confess instead. And what’s a Christmas party for, if not to humiliate yourself – or fall in love?Thrust into a war she did not choose, Sarah Fanum yearns for simpler times. Times when all she had to worry about were bad crops or bad weather. Unfortunately, fate had other plans. Set in 1776, my short story, A Christmas Crossing describes the night that changed the course of the Revolutionary War. It is not your typical Christmas story, but one that has affected every fabric of our lives as an American. I was inspired to write A Christmas Crossing after visiting Yorktown, VA. I have always been enamored by the Revolutionary War and wanted to share my love for history with my love for Christmas. I hope you enjoy it. Views: 815
Alan Gray is immature, silly, goofy, and not to be trusted. Or at least that's what Claudia used to think.
Now she's dating him.
But has Alan really changed? Claudia's not sure. She can't tell whether Alan's a dream date or a date disaster.
Alan's got one last chance. Will Claudia find love? Views: 815
'Lobster Boy' is an inspirational and compelling story of adventure and survival set against the savagery of nature and life as the underdog, from Rodman Philbrick, the award-winning author of 'Freak The Mighty'. Views: 815
Ms. Colman's class prepares for Author Day, and no one is more excited than Ricky, whose favorite author will be visiting. Views: 815
*The only thing you’ll find on the summit of Mount Everest is a divine view. The things that really matter lie far below. – Peak Marcello
After fourteen-year-old Peak Marcello is arrested for scaling a New York City skyscraper, he's left with two choices: wither away in Juvenile Detention or go live with his long-lost father, who runs a climbing company in Thailand. But Peak quickly learns that his father's renewed interest in him has strings attached. Big strings. As owner of Peak Expeditions, he wants his son to be the youngest person to reach the Everest summit--and his motives are selfish at best. Even so, for a climbing addict like Peak, tackling Everest is the challenge of a lifetime. But it's also one that could cost him his life.
Roland Smith has created an action-packed adventure about friendship, sacrifice, family, and the drive to take on Everest, despite the incredible risk. The story of Peak’s dangerous ascent—told in his own words—is suspenseful, immediate, and impossible to put down. Views: 815
On the outside, there's Violet, an eighteen-year-old dancer days away from the life of her dreams when something threatens to expose the shocking truth of her achievement.
On the inside, within the walls of the Aurora Hills juvenile detention center, there's Amber, locked up for so long she can't imagine freedom.
Tying their two worlds together is Orianna, who holds the key to unlocking all the girls' darkest mysteries…
What really happened on the night Orianna stepped between Violet and her tormentors? What really happened on two strange nights at Aurora Hills? Will Amber and Violet and Orianna ever get the justice they deserve—in this life or in another one?
In prose that sings from line to line, Nova Ren Suma tells a supernatural tale of guilt and of innocence, and of what happens when one is mistaken for the other. Views: 815
Surviving fourth grade isn’t going to be easy for Shirley—but the thought of repeating it with her younger sister is too much to bear
Shirley Basini is dreading fourth grade—if she doesn’t do well this year, she’ll be held back. Having dyslexia is tough, but having a brilliant older brother makes it even worse. When Shirley’s parents adopt a young girl from Vietnam, she’s excited to have someone whom, for once, she can teach some things.
But her new sister is actually quite adept at English and winds up in the advanced third-grade class. Shirley can’t face the prospect of repeating fourth grade—this time with her adopted sister, who might even perform better than she does. Shirley has only one talent that might prove she’s not dumb—but does she have the will to let it shine?
This ebook features an illustrated personal history of Ann M. Martin, including rare images from the author’s collection. Views: 814
Laura Sibbie is trying to find the perfect 'pigs' for her new club, Pig City: classmates who can keep the biggest secret ever! To make sure that none of them tells anyone else about the club, each one must give an 'insurance' - something totally embarrassing - to be hidden unless they break the most important law of Pig City. Views: 814
Most orphanages are horrible, but Earwig has a surprising amount of power over everyone at St Morwald’s Home for Children, and loves it there. The last thing she wants is to be adopted by the very strange Bella Yaga, demon-attended Mandrake, and talking black cat Thomas. Earwig wants to learn magic, but will need all her ingenuity and help from a familiar to survive. Expressive big eyes, twisty mouths, on stick figures flesh out the characters, action, and ravens and spiders adorn the margins. Views: 814
There is nothing lonelier than a cat who has been loved, at least for a while, and then abandoned on the side of the road.
A calico cat, about to have kittens, hears the lonely howl of a chained-up hound deep in the backwaters of the bayou. She dares to find him in the forest, and the hound dares to befriend this cat, this feline, this creature he is supposed to hate. They are an unlikely pair, about to become an unlikely family. Ranger urges the cat to hide underneath the porch, to raise her kittens there because Gar-Face, the man living inside the house, will surely use them as alligator bait should he find them. But they are safe in the Underneath...as long as they stay in the Underneath.
Kittens, however, are notoriously curious creatures. And one kitten's one moment of curiosity sets off a chain of events that is astonishing, remarkable, and enormous in its meaning. For everyone who loves Sounder, Shiloh, and The Yearling, for everyone who loves the haunting beauty of writers such as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Flannery O'Connor, and Carson McCullers, Kathi Appelt spins a harrowing yet keenly sweet tale about the power of love and its opposite, hate the fragility of happiness and the importance of making good on your promises. Views: 814
Two brothers, Michael and Stephen MacIntyre, together with their sister Sarah and the local vicar Tom Aubrey, uncover a deadly secret buried near their village. But time is short: can they prevent the awakening of an ancient evil before its powers corrupt them for ever? Views: 813
44 SCOTLAND STREET - Book 2
The residents and neighbors of 44 Scotland Street and the city of Edinburgh come to vivid life in these gently satirical, wonderfully perceptive serial novels, featuring six-year-old Bertie, a remarkably precocious boy—just ask his mother.
Back are all our favorite denizens of a Georgian townhouse in Edinburgh. Bertie the immensely talented six year old is now enrolled in kindergarten, and much to his dismay, has been clad in pink overalls for his first day of class. Bruce has lost his job as a surveyor, and between admiring glances in the mirror, is contemplating becoming a wine merchant. Pat is embarking on a new life at Edinburgh University and perhaps on a new relationship, courtesy of Domenica, her witty and worldly-wise neighbor. McCall Smith has much in store for them as the brief spell of glorious summer sunshine gives way to fall a season cursed with more traditionally Scottish weather.
Full of McCall Smith’s gentle humor and sympathy for his characters, Espresso Tales is also an affectionate portrait of a city and its people who, in the author’s own words, “make it one of the most vibrant and interesting places in the world.”
From the Trade Paperback edition. Views: 813
In this stand-alone sequel to "Lulu and the Brontosaurus," industry legends Viorst and Smith once again prove that even the loudest, rudest, and most obstinate of girls can win readers over. Views: 813
