There was a lot going on in the lives of the praise team members at Renaissance church; and worship pastor Mark was starting to find out how messy the lives of church people could be. As their stories intertwine and collide, will their passions and addictions destroy the team and the church, or will their faith bring them (and Mark) through the fire?Mark Flanders was the worship pastor at Renaissance church, and was responsible for the upcoming Christmas special. There was a lot going on in the lives of his team members though; and Mark was starting to find out how messy the lives of church people could be. As their stories intertwine and collide, will their passions and addictions destroy the team and the church, or will their faith bring them (and Mark) through the fire? When all is said and done, will they be singing a dirge of regret or a song of joy? Views: 654
Poetry from the mind, most of the poems in this collection were written whilst travelling.When two boys visit an elderly woman in the village, they are treated to a goose bump inducing ghost story. However, when they return home, they are unexpectedly encountered with the events of the story they'd just been told. Views: 654
Tom Angleberger's latest, loopiest middle-grade novel begins when M'Lady Luggertuck loosens her corset (it's never been loosened before!), thereby setting off a chain of events in which all the strict rules of Smugwick Manor are abandoned. When, as a result of "the Loosening," the precious family heirloom, the Luggertuck Lump (quite literally a lump), goes missing, the Luggertucks look for someone to blame. Is it Horton Halfpott, the good-natured but lowly kitchen boy who can't tell a lie? Or one of the many colorful cast members in this silly romp of a mystery. Views: 653
The scientists are trying to create a perfect digital copy of human mind. What if they succeed...and lose control over it?Deep in the wildwood a shining blue meadow appears, the birthplace of forest spirits with varying forms, all determined to destroy the people who live nearby. Deyant and her sister Mrinda are among the few of their folk with the power to walk the hidden paths that lead to the meadows. They alone have the ability to twist the connection between the wildwood and its spawn, killing the creature before it can emerge.But Deyant and Mrinda have grown apart as Mrinda prepares for her wedding to Johnah. Mrinda has embraced her fiance’s faith, a faith that disapproves of the magical work that has been the focus of Deyant’s life. And Mrinda has another secret that she has not shared with her sister, a secret that could put them both in danger as they walk the paths that lead to the meadow where the forest spawn awaits its birth.Will the sisters come together to defeat their ancient enemy? Or will Deyant’s anger and Mrinda’s secret bring disaster upon them both? Find out when you read this new fantasy short story by Jennifer Powell, a Clary Books presentation. (4100 words)"a truly original and enjoyable piece." Views: 647
Three works, each as different in tone as it is in style. A work of flash fiction taking place at a wedding, a free-verse poem dedicated to someone special and a short story about couple's therapy. Love, humor and a bit of drama can all be found in this debut collection.The monastery of Sindalar used to be famous for its fighting monks, and for its dragon. But the monks are few and far between and nobody sees again the girls and boys taken to feed the dragon, so they are hidden away when the monks come calling. Bandits are rife and the capital is far away as the the Ancient Kingdom of Sung fades into a backwater.Wu Gui changes matters when she meets a monk. She helps him recruit more children, and eases their fears of being eaten. Until they get to the monastery.A look at the Chinese countryside of yesteryear, portrayed in the fantasy world of Harrhein which is pretty much like earth and with similar peoples and cultures. Views: 646
The journey through M. R. Carey's "immersive, impeccably rendered world" (Kirkus) — a world in which nature has turned against us — continues in The Trials of Koli, book two of the Rampart Trilogy.The earth wants to swallow us whole...Koli never planned to set foot outside his small village. He knew that beyond its walls lay a fearsome landscape filled with choker trees, vicious beasts and Shunned men. But when he was exiled, he had no choice but to journey out into this strange world where every moment is a fight for survival. And it's not just Koli's life that is threatened. Whole villages just like his are dying out. But Koli heard a story, once. A story about lost London, and the mysterious tech of the Old Times that may still be there. If he can find it, there may still be a way for him to change his own fate - by saving the lives of those who are left.The Rampart... Views: 644
'Powerless' Chapters 1-3: a retired hero is dragged from his self-imposed isolation when an old teammate is murdered by another power and he is tasked to find his killer.'Lord of Shadow': a small boy finds solace in the darkness.'Making Gods': two linguistics experts find an awkward romance over ancient carvings.'The Colours of Jupiter': a group of scientists investigate the nature of time.A collection of three short stories that will get under your skin plus the first three chapters of the superhero novel 'Powerless'.'Powerless' Chapters 1-3: a retired hero is dragged from his self-imposed isolation when an old teammate is murdered by another power and he is tasked to find his killer.In 'Lord of Shadow', a small boy becoming emotionally detached from his parents finds solace in the darkness.In 'Making Gods' two linguistics experts find an awkward romance over ancient carvings.In 'The Colours of Jupiter' a group of scientists undertaking a radical experiment to prove the nature of time end up discovering more about their own nature. Views: 636
52 poems about life, love, death, history, and the beings we share the planet with.Metal Fatigue is an anthology of stories relating to prison, incarceration, hopelessness and hope. These are largely first person accounts of survival behind bars and give a visceral look at what it means to do time. The stories present a critical look at the prison system and the stats for those held behind bars. A child lost to the system, a father’s plea for reconnection.EXCERPT:Jimmy passed his eighteenth birthday locked inside a cold, stinky cell in the obsolete old city jail. The toilet obviously didn’t work, an issue probably for several years… running.He thoughtfully reflected on his dry-humor pun. Besides, no one locked up ever flushes the motherfucking john. Never. Revoltingly putrid fecal matter, left in desperation by prisoners with nowhere else to go, overflowed and formed a vile puddle at a low spot in the frigid concrete floor. The prison smelled like shit. Smelled worse than shit. His own more recent addition was beginning to decay.If Jimmy had been home for his birthday, no doubt his father would’ve treated him to a steak dinner at The Outback; and perhaps a ballgame at the stadium afterword. Instead, Jimmy celebrated with foul-tasting water—grey water reprocessed from sewer waste—and several slices of stale bread upon which a near-microscopic dab of something resembling peanut-butter could be found sticking near the center—if one studied it closely, of course. The rancid bread was always stale in this place, just like the air, thick with mildew and the smell of unwashed bodies. It all mixed with the reeking toilet to produce an odor more disgusting than sweaty armpit pubes set on a smoldering fire.Tonight, for the most part, a stifling quiet lingered throughout the cellblock. The only sounds being the incidental shout of a guard, the muffled moan from a prisoner, or the occasional fart from either. Every so often, a cell door clanked open, followed by scuffling noises signaling a new prisoner’s arrival.Two weeks forever, he’d sat there in solitary now. But he still wasn’t so desperate as other prisoners on the cellblock who would actually shit themselves just for a laugh. Two weeks plus three lonely days, he reminded himself, marking off another day on the wall with the sharp edge of a small stone, chipped away from a section of rotting-old concrete. He made the mark with an awkward jab of his left hand. His right arm hung broken, suspended in a dirty sling he’d torn from an old rag.Sinking down onto the cold concrete slab that served as a bed, Jimmy leaned his head against the wall and shut his eyes. He figured it might be nine o’clock… or thereabout, although he really couldn’t be sure. Maybe ten. His watch had disappeared on intake at R&D receiving the first day, along with all his other personal effects… confiscated for “purposes of security” by the prison R&D guards. Problem was, they’d never listed his expensive Rolex watch on that property receipt they’d forced him to sign under the threat of tossing him in solitary stripped naked.Any questions about time, or anything, for that matter, brought only taunts and trouble from the guards. Especially the big one called ‘Boiler Bob’—so named by the prisoners for those angry-looking boils in evidence on the back and both sides of his incredibly thick neck.“What’s time to a prison roach?” Boiler Bob would mock, his furry broken teeth bared in a cruel laugh. “Hah, I know! I bet you’re impatient for your next fine meal… is that it?” Invariably he and the other guards goaded the prisoners about the food: food so foul even the cockroaches all passed around it in wide arcs. Views: 627
In the distant future, the last remnants of humanity huddle in fragmented societies deep below ground, struggling to stay alive while threatened with inconceivable dangers. Three strong women from three different cultures are on intersecting paths, heading towards a fateful meeting which may well be mankind's only hope for survival…After negotiating a defence and trade treaty, the Australian and Japanese Prime Ministers launch the opening of a controversial new mine to supply Japan with uranium. The mine is subject to widespread protest as it is located on aboriginal land in Australia's world heritage listed Kakadu National Park. In an assault that shocks the world, a terrorist group blows up the mine causing chaos and killing the Australian Prime Minister. The main target of the terrorists, the Japanese Prime Minister, is injured but is rescued by an Australian trade official, Jake Stafford. They escape into the national park with the terrorists in hot pursuit.A few days later, an aboriginal activist and friend of Jake's father, is arrested as a suspect in the attack, but on his release from prison is killed by a hit-run driver. Jake gets involved at his father's request and discovers evidence of a conspiracy involving the development of the mine. Jake realises that the information has explosive implications and fears for his own life. With the help of a beautiful Japanese woman and a journalist friend he sets about exposing corruption and espionage at the highest level of governments in Australia, Japan and China. This international thriller set in the Australian outback is full of political intrigue and suspense and occurs at a time when tensions between Japan and China are at a flash point. Jake's quest to find the truth not only endangers himself but also those close to him and brings about a chain of events that will change his life forever. Views: 625
In her first ever story collection, Jansson revealed the clarity of vision and light philosophical touch that were to become her hallmark. From the good listener who begins to betray the secrets confided to her, to vignettes of a city storm or the slow halting of spring, these stories are gifts of originality and depth. Views: 624
An all-new Star Trek movie-era adventure featuring James T. Kirk! Investigating the massacre of a telepathic minority, Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise confront a terrifying new threat: faceless, armored hunters whose extradimensional technology makes them seemingly unstoppable. Kirk must team with the powerful telepath Miranda Jones and the enigmatic Medusans to take on these merciless killers in an epic battle that will reveal the true faces of both enemy and ally! Views: 622
Out of the thousands of letters Tove Jansson wrote, a cache remains that she addressed to her family, her closest confidantes and her lovers – both male and female. Into these letters she spilled her innermost thoughts, defended her ideals and revealed her heart. To read them is an act of startling intimacy and a rare privilege. Offering a personal narrative that is far more revealing than any autobiography, this is Tove Jansson writing in her own words and in her own time about her life as it unfolded in Helsinki's bohemian circles and the island refuge she shared with her partner, Tuulikki Pietilä. Views: 619
Reporter Bruce Martin discovers a terrorist attack using the Spanish Influenza virus with horrifying results. When he sounds the alarm a corrupt and paranoid government moves to silence him. He finds refuge at a church where he and a band of strangers are united in a common effort to survive while the world beyond their sanctuary descends into darkness.In this, the first book of a trilogy, reporter Bruce Martin stumbles upon a most subtle but lethal terrorist attack. He discovers that for months a confederacy of America's enemies have been smuggling high grade cocaine laced with the deadly Spanish Influenza virus. The secretive nature of the drug culture has allowed the virus to explode across the country without anybody realizing what has actually happened. Martin attempts to sound the alarm but a corrupt and paranoid government moves to silence him forever. With the aid of a coworker, Leah, Martin arrives at an old church property and seeks refuge. Here a little band of strangers unite in a common effort to survive in their sanctuary while the world around them descends into violence and anarchy. Eventually the virus finds its way to the church with the same lethal results. A priest also arrives, having been recalled from the Caribbean. But this is no regular priest, he is the Vatican's chief exorcist. Through conversations Martin and Leah come to realize that this is a far darker event than even the terrorist attack. The destabilization of the world's governments has set the stage for the arrival of a very dark future indeed. Views: 617
My lifetime of rhymes: my ups and downs and special moments.When you were younger, did you ever think it would be cool to control an element? Despite what you thought, this was based off of fact. The Poweras are a different "Ethnic" group of people, hailing from the planet Powiera. This particular group of Poweras are on a journey to where? Los Angeles,California. There, they must save their friend. On the way, they meet a lovely duo of gentlemen who promise that they will be friends till their destination. Lies. They want simply to have them killed by none other than the most feared man in Powera history. In short, Aqua is an adventure story with a dash of romance, a modern twist on our childhood games. Views: 616
This is a short story about a teenage girl that befriends a group of Goths. One of her new companions has her questioning, is it possible that he is a vampire?When Lieutenant Adam "Hawk" Yazzie rescues Brett Weaver during a mission in Iraq, his faith in his team’s loyalty is shaken. Someone in the team attacked Cutter and left him for dead. But who?Zoe Weaver races to her brother Brett’s bedside. He stood by her while she fought her way back from a devastating injury, and she’s determined to do the same for him. Though drawn to Hawk’s good looks and steady strength, she’s reluctant to get involved with a man in uniform. But with Brett lying in a coma, Hawk may prove the key to what happened to her brother.Hawk is torn between loyalty to his men and his need to see justice done. When he tries to save a troubled teammate’s career, he unwittingly puts Zoe’s life in danger. Can he lead the rest of the team in a rescue operation to save her? Or will one of Hawk's brothers in arms destroy the woman he loves? Views: 615
