Jessie's Coffee Shop

Jess is chasing down a story so she'll be back next week on The Coffee Shop

Ryan aka The Rappologist or the Real Book Spy and Jessie talk Thrillers and more

Offering an extensive look inside the history and urban problems — and how they began — in post-World War II Newark, New Jersey like never before, author Steve Bassett releases the first in the trilogy, Father Divine’s Bikes [BookBaby, April 2, 2018]. In this noir crime thriller, Bassett melds character, time and place into a mosaic that uncovers the plight of a city on a downward spiral immediately after the war, a time when our nation was basking in the afterglow of victory.A gangster war, three murders, a gun-toting paperboy, and the numbers racket lay bare a dark, compelling story in a world of poverty and hopelessness from which there is little hope of escape. In the autumn of 1945, a battle rages when the city’s competing mobs end their truce. When it gets bloody, other criminal forces are ready to move in. Citywide corruption is endemic. Bookies using Father Divine’s controversial International Peace Mission Movement as a front, recruit two Catholic altar boys, Joey Bancik and Richie Maxwell, to run numbers under the guise of newspaper routes. The boys quickly realize they are players in a dangerous game, but the easy money is too good to pass up. They are now petty criminals and being hauled into juvie court is a risk they’re willing to take. Two homicide detectives track Joey to a luxury apartment, but arrive too late to prevent the inevitable. Joey’s body lay in a pool of blood on the basement floor.

Suddenly transported to Queenston, Ontario in the year 1813 when the Americans are in control of Fort George during the War of 1812, Leo meets historical figures of the time, principally Laura Secord and her family – Loyalists who have moved to Upper Canada to start a new life.The startling transposition of time and place changes Leo in ways he will only realize when he returns home – most importantly his relationship with the two young children who become his teachers in methods of survival during a time of war. Not knowing where he is or even who he is, Leo learns quickly what living on the edge is all about. The surprise that awaits him when he returns to his own time is one he could never have imagined.

In TERMINAL LIST, Lieutenant Commander James Reece is compiling the most dangerous list in America; on it are the names of individuals at the highest levels of government and the military, each of whom has played a part in a treacherous, vicious plot that left Reece’s entire team dead in a catastrophic ambush and resulted in the murder of his loved ones. With nothing left to lose, he’ll target them in an equally brutal fashion, without regard for the laws of combat or the rule of law.Website:https://officialjackcarr.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JackCarrUSA

Witches — necromancers — inappropriate table manners!The three-hundred-year-old town of Loon Lake looks calm as a pond, but below the surface, clans of witches and wizards clash like hungry sharks.First-year student Tonya isn't privy to her family's darkest secrets, but when campus is overrun by a deadly eating epidemic, only she can resist the hidden, mind-controlling entity behind it.Meanwhile, Tonya’s new friends, artist Priya, and Digital Ninjas Drake and Zain, want to create the creepiest art installation Loon Lake Cemetery will ever know. Too bad what’s lurking in the graveyard is deadly.Untrained and overmatched by occult conspirators, Tonya will need to develop magical abilities she never knew she had. Can she uncover the mystery behind the epidemic and save her town?

Set in thirteenth-century Cornwall, on a sheep farm in the shadow of Bury Down – known for a thousand years as the land of the second sight – a healer has vowed to face flames rather than fail in her one task in this life: to bring her young daughter to vow to protect The Book of Seasons, an ancient grimoire whose power sustains the spirits of all their ancestors.On the night of her vow-taking, wanting only to become a woman of Bury Down like her mother and aunts, and drawn by an inexplicable yearning to possess her mother’s book, Megge reaches for it. But when she touches its cover, it burns her fingers and she hears it whisper, “Murderer.” Fearing that the book will make her harm those she loves, she rejects it and renounces her birthright.To what lengths will Megge’s mother go to help the child find the courage to take that vow? And how far will Megge go to elude a terrifying destiny? This newly released title, Megge of Bury Down, addresses family issues prevalent in today’s world in a tender yet cryptic setting, creating a storyworld readers of all ages will want to visit again and again.

In the first Carlisle Crimes Case, Carlisle Detective Erin McCoy battles the jitters as the first woman in Homicide partnered with Senior Detective Christopher Snow. They’re tracking a serial killer who’s stalking family members embroiled in an inheritance dispute. The elusive perp dispatches his victims with toxic chemicals. As the detectives chase clues and connect the victims, their mutual attraction blooms while she nurses him after a shooting incident. But sparks fly when FBI Special Agent Howard offers McCoy a job if she’ll train at Quantico. McCoy resurfaces in Carlisle when a co-worker tells her that she has a rival for Snow’s affections. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarlisleCrimeCases/

Set among the hills and lakes of upstate New York and told in six vibrantly distinct voices, this complex and original narrative chronicles the rippling effects of a young girl’s death through a densely intertwined community. By turns funny, fierce, lyrical and horrifying, Birds of Wonder probes family ties, the stresses that break them, and the pasts that never really let us go. Birds of Wonder is available via Amazon and other fine booksellers. To learn more visit cynthiarobinsonbooks.com and connect with Robinson on Goodreads and Instagram.

Alexander Atlas — a man who was used to winning — knows how the dating game works. He played it himself for years before settling down, and watched woman after woman fall for the same tricks. In his new, brazenly honest dating guide, The Boys You Don't Take Home: Game Secrets, Atlas takes women inside the male mind and shares his past, one-sided relationship perspective. Using colorful, lesson-packed anecdotes, he introduces readers to the "mama's boy,” the "bad boy,” the "player” and the "scrub” and shares his tips for spotting their deceitful tricks and traps. Atlas covers a wide range of topics that include:• How to identify "Mr. Wrong”• How to move on from heartache and heartbreak• The telltale signs of cheating• Dealing with rejection• How to use your relationship as inspiration for personal success• Understanding the signs of emotional abuse• How to stop wasting your time on unworthy men Readers may recognize some of their own dating mistakes and disasters between the covers of The Boys You Don't Take Home, and that's the point! Atlas wants to help women everywhere make better relationship choices.

When Jen Reid escaped a reality TV cruise with her relationship intact—if not her hair—she swore she was done with the cameras for good. Sure, she and Justin met, had their first kiss, and got engaged with tape rolling, but manufactured drama and ruthless producers have shaken them up more times than she can count. With Jen’s reality-themed bakery just getting started and her brand-new lawyer fiancé in a pile of debt, they’re a long way from glitz and glamour, and that’s fine by Jen. Until the Network calls and tells her that unless she says “I do” to a wedding special, Justin will be out of a job. Now Jen has two weeks to plan an all-expenses-paid “dream wedding”—and dodge the tricks and traps of a showrunner happy to mess up her future in the name of ratings. Luckily for Jen, she’s got plenty of experience with cake and popcorn. But when real-life drama and reality TV twists collide, the cliffhangers may just follow her right down the aisle . . . Laura Heffernan is proof that watching too much TV actually can pay off. When not watching total strangers get married, drag racing queens, or cooking competitions, Laura enjoys board games, travel, board games, baking, and board games. She lives in the northeast with her husband and two furry little beasts.Laura loves connecting with readers. Find her on her website, www.lauraheffernan.com, Facebook, www.facebook.com/lauraheffernanbooks, or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LH_writes, where she spends far too much time tweeting about reality TV and Canadian chocolate.

Time often slows and frequently even stops in the small town of Cottage Park, Iowa. In fact, time is best measured not by the hands of a clock but by the innings of a baseball game. Praying and playing baseball are two of the town's primary activities. Actually, they are one in the same in a town where baseball is a religion. Still, time does eventually flow on. Much like the Des Moines River just outside Cottage Park, time leads to the site of the 1974 Iowa high school baseball tournament. Cottage Park's Holy Trinity High School has never won the Finals, as they are known. The team's three elderly coaches vow to at last anoint themselves Finals champions before they retire in their final season. For the players, the road to the Finals is a confirmation by fire--a rite of passage before they must face adulthood looming before them. Fathers, sons, and the holy ghosts of baseball join together in the quest for the Finals. Along this journey, young and old alike ultimately learn you must sacrifice before you can gain and sometimes you must lose before you can win.https://www.facebook.com/baseballisareligion/

Known for its lavish hotels and casinos, beautiful showgirls and sumptuous buffets, Las Vegas is home to an abundance of wedding chapels. Follow Rosemary, the wedding organizer, and Buster, her dachshund with a nose for matrimony, as they guide you through the fictional stories of The Chapel of Eternal Love. Witness a Harley-riding love affair and a May-December romance. Meet a widow and widower who encounter each other at a cemetery and an Iraqi veteran and his anti-war activist bride. Walk down the aisle with two lost souls who find hope and a couple with differing religious backgrounds finding faith. Share the poignant, moving and occasionally humorous tales of the young and old, first-time sweethearts and long-lost loves. Discover the joys, sorrows and journeys that led each of them to The Chapel of Eternal Love.

Nate is caught between two dangerously hot vampires who can compel people to do whatever they want and a ruthless necromancer who wants Nate for all the wrong reasons—and that’s only the start of his problems.Escort Nate prides himself on two things: his ability to please his clients and his normality – living in the monster capital of the world, ordinary is rare. Hunter, a darkly charming vampire with more charisma than is good for him, decides Nate is just what he needs. Nate’s sympathetic nature and skill in the bedroom are put to the ultimate test. But Hunter wants Nate for someone else – his brother, Ben. Nate is immediately attracted by the control with which Ben holds his sensitive nature in force. Too afraid of becoming a monster to allow himself to feel, Ben struggles to resist Nate’s generosity of emotion. As a vindictive necromancer makes Ben his target of revenge, Nate discovers that making people feel good doesn’t compare to making Ben feel. As Nate’s normal world crumbles around him, and he desperately searches for a way to save Ben, Nate is unable to escape becoming the necromancer’s latest victim.But Nate’s death is only the beginning. Coming back to life in the bathroom of Gunn, a Department Seven officer who hates the vampire family that Ben and Hunter belong to, Nate doesn’t know who to trust or even what he is. As the necromancer’s trap pulls tighter around himself and Ben, Nate is forced to let go of normal and embrace powers he doesn’t fully understand. In defiance of Ben’s vampire sire and hunted by Department Seven, Nate and Ben finally learn to trust and rely on each other. But when the necromancer succeeds in capturing Ben, Nate alone can come to his rescue.

Barnabus’s nephew is behaving oddly. Calling upon Doctor Humphrey for assistance has not been particularly helpful, because the good doctor’s diagnosis of demonic possession is clearly preposterous. Even the demon currently ensconced on the front room couch agrees it’s preposterous. But then, how else to explain the portal to another world through which his nephew and Humphrey have just now disappeared? Barnabus knows their only chance of rescue is for Barnabus J. Wildebear himself to step up and go through that portal. Thus begins an existential romp across space and time, trampling on Barnabus’ assumptions about causality, freewill, identity, good and evil. Can Barnabus save his nephew—and incidentally, all of humanity? Joe Mahoney works full-time for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, where he’s helped make many radio shows over the years, including Writers and Company, Quirks and Quarks, and Q. He’s produced documentaries on science fiction for The Arts Tonight and The Current. He produced Six Impossible Things, a compilation of short fantastical fiction, curated by Nalo Hopkinson, for Between the Covers, and wrote and produced Faster Than Light, hosted by Robert J. Sawyer, for Sunday Showcase. He spent a decade making radio plays, working on productions such as The Merchant of Venice, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Afghanada, with some of the finest actors, directors and writers in Canada. He Five Rivers Publishing ISBN 9781988274256 Trade Paperback, 6 x 9 412 pages $34.99 eISBN 9781988274263 $5.99 engineered and story-edited Steve the First, a post-apocalyptic science fiction radio play mini-series, and its sequel, Steve the Second, which won a silver Mark Time Award. He produced and directed the pilot of Canadia: 2056, and story-edited all subsequent episodes. He is responsible for all the funniest bits. In 2007, Joe left production to join the CBC management team. These days he’s Director of Production Support. Joe’s short fiction has been published in Canada, Australia and Greece. He’s been nominated twice for an Aurora Award, one of Canada’s top awards for science fiction and fantasy, for his work on CBC Radio. Joe lives in Whitby with his wife and two daughters, and their golden retriever and Siberian forest cat.

Welcome to The Coffee Shop, on the menu today, we have an extended conversation about writing. A panel of five writers gathered around our favorite table addressed “Whats Really Wise in Conventional Writing Wisdom,” with advice gleaned from years of experience writing and marketing their work. Many of their lessons apply to new writers and multi-book authors alike.Joining us are:- Emily Carpenter (http://emilycarpenterauthor.com/), Amazon best-selling author of threesuspense novels: BURYING THE HONEYSUCKLE GIRLS, THE WEIGHT OF LIESand the upcoming EVERY SINGLE SECRET, which is coming out May 1, 2018.- Ellie Jordan (http://elliedecker.com/), writer and actress, who has developed screenplaysand appears in numerous films and TV shows, including THE WALKING DEAD.- JD Jordan (http://www.o-jd.com/), the author of the sci-fi Western CALAMITY, whichhe is now developing for television in collaboration with a production company.- Chris Negron (https://chrisnegron.com/), whose short fiction has appeared in a dozenonline and print literary publications; his first middle grade novel is currently onsubmission with publishers.- George Weinstein (http://www.georgeweinstein.com/), who is making his secondappearance in the Coffee Shop. He’s the author of five novels that span a variety ofgenres, the latest being the mystery novel AFTERMATH, which we discussed in 2017.He also is the former president of the Atlanta Writers Club (http://atlantawritersclub.org/)and runs the twice-yearly Atlanta Writers Conference(https://atlantawritersconference.com/about/).

Nick Reese wakes from a 3-year coma to find the world he once knew is gone. An ancient virus has infected two-thirds of the world's population, turning humans into either incredibly intelligent super-humans or large and indestructible animalistic creatures. For the survivors there is no government, no antidote, and no safety. With the help of a beautiful hematologist named Faith and a man they call the Commander, Nick must survive long enough to discover the origin of the virus and learn how his blood could hold the key to a cure. But he has to do it while being hunted by the infected. And failure means the extinction of the human race.

What starts as a search for a decorative Buddha statuette leads one woman on a spiritual journey that will change everything.Marla lives the good life in Los Angeles—house, pool, her own business helping Cupid find love for LA’s most discriminating singles. Her handsome and ardent hubby Adolfo performs at an exclusive steak house in Beverly Hills. He tends to scoff at Marla’s green juice, vegan diet, yoga, and daily affirmations and can be a teensy bit of a control freak.A discarded Buddha statuette that Adolfo suddenly can’t live without sends Marla searching through New Age boutiques along with her skeptical friend Julie. They are soon schooled by a charismatic “Goddess,” delving ever deeper into self-realization, conversations with angels, pendulums, candle “Magick,” Reiki, crystal healing, and more. Attend a Hindu Bajan? Sure. Orgasmic Meditation? (Wait, what…?) Maybe not that one.Growing in her spirituality, yet exceedingly frustrated with some of her persnickety clientele—aging men who see themselves as Dorian Grays, worthy of exquisite young women—Marla’s world is shifting. She achieves certifications as an energy healer and encourages Julie to sample the concoction Julie calls “green gunk” and other healthy practices to help her conquer an addiction to unavailable men. Marla deepens her communication with the Beyond while Adolfo, always so practical, asks, “Have you lost your mind? Are you hearing voices? Angels aren’t real, come on!” Matters grow worse when certain psychics warn of “dangerous low-vibrational entities” and rabidly disagree with each other.Her alternating universes give Marla spiritual whiplash, yet she discovers the LITE way to balance the human carnival with a transformational spiritual journey.For more information about Marla you can visit her website: https://marlamartenson.com/

To save his family-and the free world-Red Harmon is back in the line of fire . . .A sinister enemy is stalking elite military operator Red Harmon and his loved ones. Turning the hunter into his prey, Red uncovers a plot that spans nations and draws him into the remote snow-covered ravines of North Korea. His objective: penetrate the darkest prisons of this mysterious nation to restore national security-and save all he holds dear.Caught in the danger . . .Red's not the only one who's been living with secrets. His wife Lori is a lot more than the typical suburban soccer mom she appears to be, and she's stumbled onto something massive. The future of world peace depends on them-and on an enemy soldier with a powerful personal agenda. If Red's mission fails, the balance of superpowers may never recover . . .

Lee St. John confesses, “In my defense, I was left unsupervised.” She may not show restraint but you have to give her credit, at least she knows herself. A mayhem confessor, St. John’s SHE’S A KEEPER! series is a tell-all about mothers, husbands, boyfriends, children, friends, jobs, families, students, acquaintances, and HERSELF! No one is off-limits. Lee finds her mementos of high-jinx in her closet, attic, basement, and her former classroom. These keepsakes explode into stories she shouldn’t tell, but does. A rogue Southern Belle, she was brought up to behave better but she just can’t help herself. Bless her heart.Females in her generation will understand when she shares and reminisces about these reminders found inSHE’S A KEEPER! ~ Confessions from a Southern Girl’s ClosetSHE’S A KEEPER! ~ Anecdotes from a Southern Girl’s AtticSHE’S A KEEPER! ~Bombshells from a Southern Girl’s BasementSHE’S A KEEPER! ~ Compositions from a Southern Girl’s Classroom - This book is written by teachers, for teachers, about teachers from elementary to college about the true but naughty stories from the classroom. How many people do you know who have been kissed by a President of the United States? And what about playing golf with a Master’s Champion golfer where she, oh my stars, told him what’s what to his face. Why wasn’t she fired from teaching when she disclosed that she cussed, showed nudity, and demonstrated a lewd gesture to her students? St. John’s humorous storytelling is entertaining as all get-out. It’s wicked, deliciously scandalous, and sometimes shocking. But Lee also shares stories that will melt your heart. And like a cold drink of lemonade that is tart and sweet, Lee was raised with class but will show you her Southern sass. Why not join her for a glass?

A princess with nothing left to lose is a dangerous thing.Princess Elyra Ballantyne has lost everything important to her—her father, her position, her freedom, and the one she loves. As rebellion festers beneath the city walls, and corruption spreads throughout the palace, she’s left with two choices: accept Minister General Pantone’s rule or rise up, learn to fight, and take back her countryAmanda J. Clay is a writing YA and Adult fiction from Dallas, TX. A Northern California native, she had a fantastic time studying English and Journalism in the foothills of the beautiful Sierra Nevadas and then a very serious time slaving away for a Master’s degree in sunny Southern California. When she’s not staring at a computer screen, she spends most of her spare time on some new fitness addiction and plotting world adventures.

After years of war between Montelair and Septa, the two thrones are united by family. Victor's nephew, Morgan, is sharing the throne with the last heir of the royal line, Jacob. He and Lenore decide to travel o Montelair with their newborn daughters to help broker peace.But peace among their own people is harder to achieve. The city is tormented by a terrorist who calls himself The Tinker. He and his group of anarchists plant bombs through the city and call for the death of the new kings from every street corner.Meanwhile in Calistar, Sultiana and Devon are marching to war with Kussier. The ancient hatred between the two countries is sprung anew when Sultiana is declared heir to the Calistar throne.Waiting at the border, though, is a much darker enemy. A force from legend threatens to consume both countries, and possibly the world. I'm a speculative fiction writer. That means I write about dragons, ghosts, and space. Sometimes about ghosts of dragons in space. I write a fantasy series called Woven and a Science Fantasy series called Station 86. You can follow along with the insanity at https://paperbeatsworld.com/

A World Apart blurbBen Griers is the darling of Corinth Georgia’s Police Department—intelligent, handsome, and hardworking. Thanks to his beautiful wife and clever daughter, Ben’s family is the envy of the town. Yet desperate unhappiness is hiding just below the surface.When Donnie Saunders, a deadbeat redneck with a temper, is brought to the Corinth PD as a suspect in a hit-and-run, Ben finds himself surprisingly intrigued by the man. He quickly establishes Donnie’s innocence but can’t shake the feeling that Donnie is hiding something. When they unexpectedly encounter each other again at an AA meeting in Atlanta, sparks begin to fly.With his marriage on the verge of collapse, Ben is grateful for the other man’s affection. But he is soon struggling to help an increasingly vulnerable Donnie, while at the same time having to deal with the upheaval in his own life. Ben eventually realizes that they cannot achieve happiness together unless they confront their darkest secrets.Mel Gough bioMel was born in Germany, where she spent the first twenty-six years of her life (with a one-year stint in Los Angeles). She has always been fascinated by cultures and human interaction, and got a Masters in Social Anthropology. After finishing university she moved to London, where she has now lived for ten years.If you were to ask her parents what Mel enjoyed the most since the age of six, they would undoubtedly say “Reading!” She would take fifteen books on a three-week beach holiday, and then read all her mom’s books once she’d devoured her own midway through week two.Back home in her mom’s attic there’s a box full of journals with stories Mel wrote when she was in her early teens. None of the stories are finished, or any good. She has told herself bedtime stories as far back as she can remember.In her day job, Mel works for an NGO as operations manager. No other city is quite like London, and Mel loves her city. The hustle and bustle still amaze and thrill her even after all these years. When not reading, writing or going to the theater, Mel spends her time with her long-time boyfriend, discussing science or poking fun at each other.

A work of magical realism, the Cursed Hat tells the story of Jewish hatmakers threatened by a veil-wearing Nazi known as the “stealer of faces” who must use the god Hermes’ fabled hat to teleport out of Germany during Kristallnacht. They won’t be safer in America, however, until they break the curse that has trapped them in the hat business for sixteen centuries. Set against the backdrop of the Jazz Age, Nazi Germany, and World War II Detroit, the novel is a fantastical family saga about the fluidity of tradition, faith, and identity.Catherine Bell, author of Rush of Shadows (winner of the Washington Writers’ Publishing House 2014 Fiction Prize), called the story “[i]ncredible, overwhelming, compelling.” Terence Hawkins, author of American Neolithic (named one of the Best Indie Books of 2014 by Kirkus Reviews), says, “This is an amazing debut novel—wildly imaginative, powerfully written, funny, and deeply humane.”When not wearing my fiction writer hat, I practice consumer protection law in Washington, D.C. Rest assured your tax dollars are hard at work as I battle marketers of "modern miracles" like weight-loss earrings and penile-enhancing herbs. (Please let me know if you spot an ad for penile enhancement earrings.) I graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in philosophy, which, surprisingly, did not qualify me for gainful employment. In short, it was on to graduate school. Well, almost. I spent a year touring with a professional comedy troupe, writing and performing sketch comedy at colleges in the Mid-Atlantic States. After that frolic and detour, it was a blur of law school, falling in love, cats, marriage, a dog, children, a fish, more dogs, another fish, a chinchilla, guinea pigs, and an assortment of uninvited rodents that have since burrowed through the foundation. Storybook.I live in Kensington, Maryland with my wife, Laura, and two children, Stoney and Bay. Among my current menagerie of furry critters are a silver lab, Gracie, and a Boston Terrier, Beanie.http://www.keithfentonmiller.com/

For 20 years, wealthy socialite Eva Dennehy has borne the guilt of murdering her first husband Charlie, who was planning to leave her for his mistress.When Eva is offered the opportunity to travel back in time, and undo her crime as penance, she accepts – what does she have to lose? Back in her old life with Charlie, her passion for him surpassed only by her torment at his infidelity, she is more determined than ever to prevent him from leaving her.But her plan plunges her into a world of crime and depravity, and she soon discovers she has even more to lose this time around. Robin Storey is an indie author from the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. She is the author of 6 books so far, most in the crime/suspense genre, with many more to come. She is a certified book nerd and is useful to have on your team on trivia nights for literary questions, but not much else. When she is not writing or reading, she loves hiking (she did the Camino de Santiago in 2016) and chilling out at the beach.

Across the Potomac River from Washington D.C. lies this nation's sacred of grounds, Arlington National Cemetery, where some of our nation's finest form as far back as the Revolutionary War are buried. Over 310,000 men and women call Arlington their final resting place - from Presidents, honored statesmen, explorers, and literary figures to the common soldier and sailor along with 3,800 former slaves. Their stories beg to be heard- stories of courage against insurmountable odds, of love of brother and country, and of sacrifice. Stories of hope, faith and dreams on choices made during adversity.In this often heart-wrenching, often inspirational anthology, see how these noble souls , whether generals or slaves, influenced the world in which they lived . Their stories are still with us, bidding us to think of life, not death... a life to which , in their youth, they lent the passion and joy of spring.A Native Californian , Ron MacDonald had been an accomplished and published photographer for over 20 years. While traveling and photographing in Europe and here he visited many historical cemeteries, including Omaha Beach Cemetery, where he found his uncle's final resting place. His love of history drove him to tell the untold stories of those who reside at Arlington National Cemetery. This is Ron's first book and tells the often heart-wrenching and inspirational stories of those noble souls, told as if they themselves are telling their own stories.

Single mom Kate Michaels wants nothing more than to continue providing ahappy, stable life for her daughter, Chelsea. Until, after thirteen years, theimminent return of her college sweetheart tilts Kate’s world on its axis. Thethought of seeing Travis Cooper again sets her pulse racing—and not onlybecause he reignites the flames that once burned too hot for them. What willhappen when he discovers her secret?A realistic dream involving his recently deceased Army buddy sends Travison a journey back to Kentucky looking for answers that have gnawed at himsince his college sweetheart, Katie, sent him packing. The military-preciseconfrontation he’d planned evaporates as soon as he lays eyes on her. Will hefind it in his heart to forgive and understand?Can the spirits of his buddy and her father right some wrongs and help Kateand Travis overcome the past when the truth that could make everythingright is the same one that could destroy everything they hold dear?

"You have unknowingly been helping private investigators and others track your every move. This is your "How NOT To" manual helping you take back your privacy. Judi Sheeks, a private investigator for over two decades, shares some of her real life cases and lets you know just how she tracked down people all over the globe - and how they inadvertently helped her find them. A quick, easy and revealing read with some important lessons on how to stay safe in this digital age."Judi Sheeks is one of the most sought after and prolific private investigators in the country. She's been honing her craft for over two decades. Her success rate in "finding the unfindable" is unmatched. In this book, she chronicles some of her toughest, most interesting and sometimes amusing, cases. It’s also a modern cautionary tale on the risks and dangers of the Internet and how it’s a menace to your personal privacy.Judi is on Twitter (@Judianna), and blogs at JudiannaBlog.com and my pieces have appeared in The Federalist, New Americana and The Loftus Party.

ASTER FINLAY AND THE GREAT ELAN by Karen Ann WirtzAfter living the nomadic lifestyle of a military child, Aster Finlay’s father retires and her family settles down into a more “normal” life; however, when Aster discovers she can communicate with animals, she realizes her life is going to be anything but normal.Karen Ann Wirtz -For as long as she can remember Karen Ann Wirtz has loved to tell stories. Her third-grade teacher, Mary Matuzak, inspired her and believed in her talent for writing a good story. Karen has always loved to write poetry and short stories for the fun and entertainment of those close to her. Now she is excited to share her stories with more readers. When she’s not wrapped up in her imagination; she enjoys spending time with her husband, three wonderful children, and two rescue dogs in Medina, Ohio.

Janet Wright left tiny Graylee, Georgia at five, when her mother fled a destructive marriage. Now forty and reinventing herself after a failed engagement, Janet returns as the sole inheritor of her recently murdered father’s valuable estate. Life should be easy, but she can’t resist pulling at the threads of the apparently open-and-shut case. Before long, she finds herself tangled in Graylee’s web of secrets, lies, and scandals—and in fear for her own life.George Weinstein is the author of the historical novel and book club favorite Hardscrabble Road; the novel of forgotten U.S. history The Five Destinies of Carlos Moreno; the contemporary romance The Caretaker; and the mystery Aftermath, as well as the children's adventure novel Jake and the Tiger Flight. His work also has been published in the Atlanta press and in regional and national anthologies, including A Cup of Comfort for Writers. George is the former President of the Atlanta Writers Club and has helped over two thousand writers on their quest for publication through the twice yearly Atlanta Writers Conference, which he directs. On GeorgeWeinstein.com, you can read the first chapter George's books for free.

Ham is a man of passion and questions. He's adored his wife, Lita, since he first saw her draped in her father's fishing nets and threatened to leave with her if his father, Noah, didn't allow the marriage. She becomes his greatest comfort when Ham is at odds with his father and brothers. When Noah claims their God has commanded him to build an Ark to escape a devastating flood, Ham worries about the construction stripping the land and the community's ridicule of the family. He and Lita draw closer together as outsiders. They're shocked when the rains come and the entire family is forced into the Ark, along with the animals that appeared. Confinement and uncertainty of fate amongst the refugees exaggerate normal family tension, rivalries and forbidden love. On land, they reject efforts to reestablish traditions, feeling independent and invincible, as those chosen by their God to survive and thrive. But for Ham, there's tragedy and more doubt. Noah warns him he must yield his will, lest there be even graver consequences. Ham can't imagine anything worse and careens down the path that forever links him with depravity and harsh judgment.

The story is about a group of time travelers who discover that the end of civilization is near. After some investigation they discover that the end occurs because of global warming the result of many years of pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The time machine they use has a power source that could easily be used as a clean energy replacement. However, in order to change the future, they have to go back in time and reinvent the time machine and the power source over 150 years before it was originally built. This is actually the underlying story though. The real story is the love story that happens when two of the scientists from different times are brought together to accomplish the task. Most of the story focuses on how the couple meets and falls in love. As well as how the love they shared grows over time. There are multiple twists and turns of course and with the time travel involved it will leave you guessing as to how the couple manages to outlast the changes they have to make in order to save the human race from extinction.I'm a 47 year old software engineer, turned author living in the Dallas, Texas region. Originally a native of North Carolina, I moved to Texas in 1997 to pursue a career in the degree field that I graduated college with. The novel I have written and the stories I am writing all were stories I dreamed up from the time I was about 16. I finally sat down one day and started turning them into novels so that others could enjoy the stories I only imagined in my free time.