Thomas Covenant and Linden Avery begin their search for the One Tree that is to be the salvation of the Land. Only he could find the answer and forge a new Staff of Law--but fate decreed that the journey was to be long, the quest arduous, and quite possibly a failure.... Views: 499
Fifteen-year old Melanie has run away and is lost in the Californian desert. The search party is told she is mute. But is Melanie really mute, or is there an unspeakable secret in her life? Melanie's terrifying adventure is about the difficulty of putting thoughts into words, of being heard and understood and loved.Fifteen-year old Melanie has run away and is lost in the Californian desert. The search party is told she is mute. But is Melanie really mute, or is there an unspeakable secret in her life? Yes -- Melanie’s is terrified by the thought of allowing anyone into her mind, of putting thoughts into words. And so Melanie has decided not to talk. She prefers her perfect fantasy world to the problematic reality of a broken family and bullies at school. Lost in the desert, she discovers that she isn't the only one who has problems with words. A young man doesn’t understand “No”. An illegal immigrant has no voice in America. A gay man can’t explain himself. An old man is silenced by a stroke. Melanie doesn’t talk because she is afraid of being misunderstood, but love and longing finally make her speak out. Views: 498
A Confession -- an essay by Leo Tolstoy on his religious thoughts -- shows the great author in process of looking for answers to profound questions that trouble all who take them on: "What will come of my life?" and "What is the meaning of life?" these are questions whose answers were an absolute requirement for Tolstoy. In the course of the essay, Tolstoy shows different attempts to find answers on the examples of science, philosophy, eastern wisdom and the opinions of his fellow novelists. . . . finding no workable solution in any of these, Tolstoy recognizes the deep religious convictions of ordinary people as containing the key to true answers. The first attempt at its publication took place in 1882 (Russkaya Mysl, No 5), but Tolstoy's work was removed virtually from the whole edition of the journal by Orthodox Church censorship. The text was later published in Geneva (1884), in Russia as late as 1906 (Vsemirnyj Vestnik, No 1). Views: 497
When the invincible Zeus is killed, his daughter Athena must rally her chaotic family of gods against a rising darkness, one that will not stop until Greece’s beauty is in ashes.Zeus, the immortal King of Everything, has been ruled by a prophecy that only his firstborn can kill him and take his throne. In spite of his best efforts, Athena – a brilliant warrior – is born. Instead of killing her father, though, Athena loves Zeus as much as she hates the idea of becoming queen. Meanwhile, thousands of feet beneath the world, King Hades of the Dead is jealous of the power his brother Zeus has held over him. Hungry for revenge, Hades tricks Athena into killing her father and assuming the throne. With the royalty of the gods now in chaos, Hades plans an invasion of the world that can only end with him as the supreme god, finally unchallenged. And so, with Zeus imprisoned in the depths of the Underworld, Athena must convince her unruly and suspicious family to cooperate with her, else Zeus and the world they love will become lost forever. Views: 496
Are you struggling with email? Newsletter numbers getting you down? Fewer people opening your messages? No real reaction when you launch a book?There's another way—a better way.Imagine having a large list of happy readers who devoured every email you sent. Or launching a book and activating an army of fans who did the selling for you. You could be that person, with the help of Newsletter Ninja.Newsletter Ninja is a comprehensive resource designed to teach you how to build and maintain a strongly engaged email list—one full of actual fans willing to pay for the books you write, rather than free-seekers who will forget your name and never open your emails.* Learn new ways to think about your email list* Re-energize your existing subscribers* Embrace not just the basics, but next level methods* Improve engagement and watch those open/click rates soar* Build a happy list of... Views: 496
The reporter Peter Miller investigates the world of psychics after his brother's death. He wishes to reveal them as frauds but he uncovers a conspiracy that crosses dimensions and threatens mankind.Peter Miller's brother Andy dies under suspicious circumstances. Peter's mother is advised by a psychic named Sybil that Andy's death was a suicide and they should let Andy rest. His mother agrees and wishes to close the police investigation. However, Peter will not let it go and is aggravated by Sybil's interference. Peter thinks the only way to get his brother's case reopened is prove to his mother that Sybil is a sham, so he goes undercover to investigate the world of psychics. The investigation leads him to a psychic development center called Remote View. During this time Peter has a bizarre dream that warns him of an impending danger. While at the facility, he has a dream again but it proves not to be a dream. It is a contact from another dimension telling him about a conspiracy that could ruin humanity and Peter must stop it. One big problem is that the head of the Remote View center is involved with the inter-dimensional plot. Oneiromancy is the divination of dreams and sometimes bad dreams come true. This is a satire but not a comedy. Views: 496
Do you believe that knowing about someone's childhood will help you to understand them? John Verry has become a very precise man, comfortable within his perfectly timed and arranged little world. But what led him to this? And as an author, do I really have any control over him?'John Very' is a short story playing with and enjoying the relationship between author and character.These two short stories examine the hidden lives of outsiders from society - people who are put on the outside because of mental illness. Their remarkable stoicism and the valuable contributions they can make are put on display here, for the reader to consider.We all know by now that the mentally ill suffer from cruel and crude stereotypes and stigmas of being "defective," "crazy," and "weak", as well as a still-pervasive belief that they are generally prone to committing crimes. Here are two portraits of mentally ill people that show how they often do stand aside from mainstream society, yet inject that mainstream with important insights and inspiration.In the first story, "The Exalted Mortals," Lester, a young man with schizophrenia, finds through the darkness his niche in the world of art - he makes as his subjects the mentally ill and other people with disabilities, conveying to his audiences what contributions the disabled make, and how they strive to love be loved just as others do. He finds in the efforts of the disabled remarkable examples of what the human spirit is capable of, and there is the implication that even more could be accomplished if the seen and unseen barriers to the disabled were lowered.The second story, "Strange Jill," shines a light on the unique perspective of a mentally ill school girl, who knows what "cool" really is, and tries to teach a curious schoolmate what knowing is all about in this world.Neither story contains adult or otherwise explicit content, though the themes might best be discussed with the younger reader. Views: 496
It has been nearly a year since Madison and Skyler married and moved to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Worlds away from Chicago, Morgan, and all his goons, perhaps it is time for them to find happiness. Yet, for two run-a-way miscreants, what kind of happiness can they expect? This story takes place after Where to BelongIt has been nearly a year since Madison and Skyler married and relocated to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Here, they are settling into a new life of their own. Seemingly worlds away from Chicago and Morgan and all his goons, perhaps it is time for them to find happiness. Yet, for two run-a-way miscreants, what kind of happiness can they expect? This story follows Where to Belong. Views: 496
In part three of this steamy tale we pick up where Sonnet has burned bridges with everyone close to her. Find out what happens as she struggles to survive life on Skid Row. Does she deserve a second chance? And if so, who's willing to give it to her? Will she finally learn to humble herself? Or will her selfish ways be her demise? Join Sonnet, Lexi, Cheron and the rest of the crew for this drama filled sequel to find out. Views: 496
A first-year medical student finds his dissections haunted by images of his past, as he tries to discover his dream of becoming a physician in the Land of the Living BibleIn a world where men are known not for their words but for their deeds, Wayra is trying to step beyond the long shadows of his past. Labeled a deserter and hunted like a dog, he has made his home in the most remote corners of the land. And now, after years on the run, the infamous swordsman has crept from the folds of obscurity for an opportunity that is too good to ignore. In the village of Tiger’s Paw, where the only way for a man to rise up in this world was to work for the Smoks, Wayra has emerged with a plan, and an offer.Follow the deadliest man alive as he confronts old enemies and makes a few new ones in this provoking tale of deception, vengeance, and greed. Who will be there to take the purse, and who will be left alive to enjoy it? Find out who has the quickest hand, who has the strongest will, and who will survive when faced with a deadly proposition.Old debts die hard. Views: 496
Scotland, Yule Eve, 1260.A Viking raider with mysterious powers brings change to little Clan Kilbirnie, especially to the chieftain’s daughter Rhona.Scotland, Yule Eve, 1260.A Viking raider with mysterious powers brings change to little Clan Kilbirnie, especially to the chieftain’s daughter Rhona. Views: 495
Molly and her friend the Fluffalump go on magical adventures, and take on the school bully, and a burglar. She travels with Fluff to the land of Fluffa and meets the king, and goes on a holiday to spain with Fluff.How would you proceed to survive a huge global cataclysm - though not as bad as the one at the K-T bouundary? Your government no longer exists, 60 to 80 percent of the world's population is gone. It would be difficult, No? But, that's only one of the problems facing the survivors. Turns out descendants of former earthborn humans have returned...with a plan. The plan is to enslave all who remain...or kill off those who oppose them. Dr. Jonathan Prezlee, a rogue geologist, understands about global catastrophes and helps many to learn to adapt to the new world age. Yet, his job is not done but he's no fighter, no military man yet...[Once I finished the events after 67,000 words plus I realized there would be as many words for the conclusion. That would be too much of a novel so I stopped there. It occured to me that this novel would be a great pilot for a SciFi channel series. I'm pricing it low as I have other projects and I cannot get to the conclusion of this story for a while. If you enjoy the story please be patient and if you do not like it...c'est la vie.] Views: 495
The true story of the U.S. Army's 240th Assault Helicopter Company and a Green Beret Staff Sergeant's heroic mission to rescue a Special Forces team trapped behind enemy lines during the Vietnam War, from New York Times bestselling author Eric Blehm. On May 2, 1968, a twelve-man Special Forces team covertly infiltrated a small clearing in the jungles of neutral Cambodia—where U.S. forces were forbidden to operate. Their objective, just miles over the Vietnam border, was to collect evidence that proved the North Vietnamese Army was using the Cambodian sanctuary as a major conduit for supplying troops and materiel to the south via the Ho Chi Minh Trail. What the team didn't know was that they had infiltrated a section of jungle that concealed a major enemy base. Soon they found themselves surrounded by hundreds of NVA, under attack, low on ammunition, stacking the bodies of the dead as cover in a desperate attempt to survive the... Views: 494
The conclusion of the Seeds of a Fallen Empire series. The story tells of the founding of an intergalactic Empire that controls the galaxies. But there is one immortal alien who would destroy the Empire...The conclusion of the Seeds of a Fallen Empire series. The story tells of the founding of an intergalactic Empire that controls the galaxies. There is one immortal being who takes up the task of destroying the empire. Views: 494
