The City of Towers (Eberron: The Dreaming Dark, Book 1)

About the Author KEITH BAKER is a freelance writer and game designer. In 2003 his proposal for the world of Eberron was selected as the finalist in the Wizards of the Coast fantasy setting search. Baker lives in Colorado.

The Dinosaur Lords: A Novel

Review "Milán (War in Tethyr) takes the arresting idea of knights on dinosaurs and expands it into the beginning of a complex and sweeping epic...  Readers who pick this up for the gimmick will relish it for the able storytelling." - Publishers Weekly "Suffice to say, I'm already desperate for a second volume, and this one hasn't even officially hit the shelves yet! It doesn't matter whether your tastes run more towards epic, heroic, or military fantasy, so long as you have a healthy admiration for dinosaurs, you'll be completely enthralled by The Dinosaur Lords." - Bob Milne, Beauty in Ruins "[I]f you've never read about a charging line of knights mounted on the backs of duckbilled dinosaurs that can honk so loudly their enemies' lungs collapse, you haven't read a good dino war story." - Colin O'Boyle, Geek Smash "What sticks out the most for me is the excitement. People are excited about this book. Other authors are excited about this book.... The Dinosaur Lords could be the start of one of fantasy's greatest new series." Sam Wildman (preview), NERDOPHILES From the Author Almost 12 years to the day before the release date for The Dinosaur Lords, I set out to write the most entertaining novel my passion and then nearly three decades of experience as a professional writer would enable me to.I believe I succeeded. You judge.I can safely say, if you love the cover - as I do, of course - you'll most likely enjoy the book as well.Welcome to Paradise, El Mundo de los Dinosaurios. From the Back Cover "Politics and panache, style and sex - and more terrible lizards than you can shake a saber at. It's a rich and sprawling read that hooks you at the first page and keeps you guessing, gasping, and cheering all the way to the last." - Cherie Priest "A good read with attractive characters, enough action even for me - and dinosaurs!" - David Drake " The Dinosaur Lords has lords, ladies, castles, swords, eldritch Gods, not-quite-zombies, a not-quite-earth, pirates, jungles, and ... dinosaurs! It also has a complete set of varied characters who engage with their heroism and commonplace faults, and a driving plot that fascinates as we learn more about this world that isn't but should have been. And there are dinosaurs. Knights riding dinosaurs. Prepare to be entertained!" - S. M. Stirling About the Author The Dinosaur Lords is the start of a sprawling epic fantasy series by VICTOR MILÀN, best known for his award winning novel Cybernetic Samurai . In previous worlds he's been a cowboy and Albuquerque's most popular all-night prog-rock DJ. He's never outgrown his childhood love of dinosaurs…and hopes you didn't either. Read more

Prince of Fools (The Red Queen's War)

Review Praise for Mark Lawrence and The Red Queen’s War “Mark Lawrence is the best thing to happen to fantasy in recent years.”— New York Times bestselling author Peter V. Brett“Lawrence’s epic fantasy is a great summer read, full of humor, revenge, and perils that this warrior-and-coward duo must evade in order [to] save their kingdoms and themselves.”— The Washington Post “Exciting action and quick-witted dialog make it a fantastic summer page-turner.”— Library Journal (starred review) “Jalan Kendeth is a fine addition to this Loki-like roster of tricksters, knaves, and cowards: heroes and antiheroes we love to hate and hate to love...Mark Lawrence’s growing army of fans will relish this rollicking new adventure and look forward to the next one.”—The Daily Mail“As richly told as the earlier trilogy: The author makes this place, a post-cataclysm earth of the far future, feel as real as any place you’ve ever visited. For fans of the Broken Empire series and readers who enjoy a good, epic-sized fantasy story (readers of, say, George R. R. Martin), this is a must-read.”— Booklist “Shrewd Jalan and honorable Snorri make a marvelous team, lightening a very dark story with wry humor. The brisk adventure and black magic will leave readers eager for the next chapter in the series.”— Publishers Weekly About the Author Mark Lawrence is a research scientist working on artificial intelligence. He is a dual national with both British and American citizenship, and has held secret-level clearance with both governments. At one point, he was qualified to say, “This isn’t rocket science—oh wait, it actually is.” He is the author of the Broken Empire trilogy ( Prince of Thorns , King of Thorns , and Emperor of Thorns ), the Red Queen’s War trilogy ( Prince of Fools , The Liar’s Key , and The Wheel of Osheim ) and the Book of the Ancestor series ( Red Sister ).

Monster Manual II (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.0 Fantasy Roleplaying Supplement)

About the Author Jeff Grubb is an award-winning game designer whose recent credits include the D&D accessory Manual of the Planes and the three Ice Age Cycle novels, set in the Magic: The Gathering (r) world. He lives in Washington State. Rich Redman has written the Dark-Matter (tm) Arms & Equipment Guide and the D&D guidebook Defenders of the Faith . He lives in Washington State. Steve Winter has worked on numerous products as editor, designer, developer, and manager. He lives in Washington State. Ed Bonny has had many articles published in Dragon (r) magazine, including his well-received AD&D (r) Planescape (r) and Skills & Powers articles. He lives in New Jersey.

The Wise Man's Fear (Kingkiller Chronicle)

Review Praise for The Kingkiller Chronicle “ The best epic fantasy I read last year. ... He’s bloody good, this Rothfuss guy.” —George R. R. Martin, New York Times -bestselling author of A Song of Ice and Fire “Rothfuss has real talent, and his tale of Kvothe is deep and intricate and wondrous .” —Terry Brooks, New York Times -bestselling author of Shannara "It is a rare and great pleasure to find a fantasist writing...with true music in the words ." —Ursula K. LeGuin, award-winning author of Earthsea "The characters are real and the magic is true .” —Robin Hobb, New York Times -bestselling author of Assassin’s Apprentice " Masterful .... There is a beauty to Pat's writing that defies description." —Brandon Sanderson, New York Times -bestselling author of Mistborn “ [Makes] you think he's inventing the genre , instead of reinventing it.” —Lev Grossman, New York Times -bestselling author of The Magicians “This is a magnificent book .” —Anne McCaffrey, award-winning author of the Dragonriders of Pern “ The great new fantasy writer we've been waiting for , and this is an astonishing book." —Orson Scott Card, New York Times -bestselling author of Ender’s Game “It's not the fantasy trappings (as wonderful as they are) that make this novel so good, but what the author has to say about true, common things , about ambition and failure, art, love, and loss.” —Tad Williams, New York Times -bestselling author of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn “An extremely immersive story set in a flawlessly constructed world and told extremely well.” —Jo Walton, award-winning author of Among Others “Hail Patrick Rothfuss! A new giant is striding the land .” —Robert J. Sawyer, award-winning author of Wake “ Fans of the epic high fantasies of George R.R. Martin or J.R.R. Tolkien will definitely want to check out Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind .” —NPR “ Shelve The Name of the Wind beside The Lord of the Rings ...and look forward to the day when it's mentioned in the same breath, perhaps as first among equals.” —The A.V. Club “Rothfuss (who has already been compared to the likes of Terry Goodkind, Robert Jordan, and George R. R. Martin) is poised to be crowned the new king of epic fantasy .” —Barnes & Noble “I was reminded of Ursula K. Le Guin, George R. R. Martin, and J. R. R. Tolkien , but never felt that Rothfuss was imitating anyone.” — The London Times “This fast-moving, vivid, and unpretentious debut roots its coming-of-age fantasy in convincing mythology.” — Entertainment Weekly “This breathtakingly epic story is heartrending in its intimacy and masterful in its narrative essence .” — Publishers Weekly (starred) “Reminiscent in scope of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series...this masterpiece of storytelling will appeal to lovers of fantasy on a grand scale.” — Library Journal (starred) About the Author Patrick Rothfuss is the bestselling author of The Kingkiller Chronicle. His first novel, The Name of the Wind , won the Quill Award and was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. Its sequel, The Wise Man’s Fear , debuted at #1 on The New York Times bestseller chart and won the David Gemmell Legend Award. His novels have appeared on NPR’s Top 100 Science Fiction/Fantasy Books list and Locus ’ Best 21st Century Fantasy Novels list. Pat lives in Wisconsin, where he brews mead, builds box forts with his children, and runs Worldbuilders, a book-centered charity that has raised more than six million dollars for Heifer International. He can be found at patrickrothfuss.com and on Twitter at @patrickrothfuss.

The Passage: A Novel (Book One of The Passage Trilogy)

Amazon.com Review Amazon Best Books of the Month, June 2010 : You don't have to be a fan of vampire fiction to be enthralled by The Passage , Justin Cronin 's blazing new novel. Cronin is a remarkable storyteller (just ask adoring fans of his award-winning Mary and O'Neil ), whose gorgeous writing brings depth and vitality to this ambitious epic about a virus that nearly destroys the world, and a six-year-old girl who holds the key to bringing it back. The Passage takes readers on a journey from the early days of the virus to the aftermath of the destruction, where packs of hungry infected scour the razed, charred cities looking for food, and the survivors eke out a bleak, brutal existence shadowed by fear. Cronin doesn't shy away from identifying his "virals" as vampires. But, these are not sexy, angsty vampires (you won’t be seeing "Team Babcock" t-shirts any time soon), and they are not old-school, evil Nosferatus, either. These are a creation all Cronin's own--hairless, insectile, glow-in-the-dark mutations who are inextricably linked to their makers and the one girl who could destroy them all. A huge departure from Cronin's first two novels, The Passage is a grand mashup of literary and supernatural, a stunning beginning to a trilogy that is sure to dazzle readers of both genres. -- Daphne Durham Dan Chaon Reviews The Passage Dan Chaon is the acclaimed author of the national bestseller Await Your Reply and You Remind Me of Me , which was named one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post , Chicago Tribune , San Francisco Chronicle , The Christian Science Monitor , and Entertainment Weekly , among other publications. Chaon lives in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and teaches at Oberlin College. Read his review of The Passage : There is a particular kind of reading experience--the feeling you get when you can’t wait to find out what happens next, you can’t turn the pages fast enough, and yet at the same time you are so engaged in the world of the story and the characters, you don’t want it to end. It’s a rare and complex feeling--that plot urgency pulling you forward, that yearning for more holding you back. We say that we are swept up, that we are taken away. Perhaps this effect is one of the true magic tricks that literature can offer to us, and yet it doesn’t happen very often. Mostly, I think, we remember this experience from a few of the beloved books of our childhood. About three-quarters of the way through The Passage , I found myself in the grip of that peculiar and intense readerly emotion. One part of my brain couldn’t wait to get to the next big revelation, and I found myself wanting to leapfrog from paragraph to paragraph, hurtling toward each looming climax. Meanwhile, another part of my brain was watching the dwindling final pages with dread, knowing that things would be over soon, and wishing to linger with each sentence and character a little while longer. Finishing The Passage for the first time, I didn’t bother to put it on a shelf, because I knew I would be flipping back through its pages again the next day. Rereading. Considering. Certain kinds of books draw us into the lives of their characters, into their inner thoughts, to the extent that we seem to know them, as well as we know real people. Readers of Justin Cronin’s earlier books, Mary and O’Neil and The Summer Guest , will recognize him as an extraordinarily insightful chronicler of the ways in which people maneuver through the past, and through loss, grief and love. Though The Passage is a different sort of book, Cronin hasn’t lost his skill for creating deeply moving character portraits. Throughout, in moments both large and small, readers will find the kind of complicated and heartfelt relationships that Cronin has made his specialty. Though the cast of characters is large, they are never mere pawns. The individual lives are brought to us with a vivid tenderness, and at the center of the story is not only vampires and gun battles but also quite simply a quiet meditation on the love of a man for his adopted daughter. As a fan of Cronin’s earlier work, I found it exciting to see him developing these thoughtful character studies in an entirely different context. There are also certain kinds of books expand outwards beyond the borders of their covers. They make us wish for encyclopedias and maps, genealogies and indexes, appendixes that detail the adventures of the minor characters we loved but only briefly glimpsed. The Passage is that kind of book, too. There is a dense web of mythology and mystery that roots itself into your brain--even as you are turning the pages as quickly as you can. Complex secrets and untold stories peer out from the edges of the plot in a way that fires the imagination, so that the world of the novel seems to extend outwards, a whole universe--parts of which we glimpse in great detail--and yet we long to know even more. I hope it won’t be saying too much to say that there are actually two universes in this novel, one overlapping the other: there is the world before the virus, and the world after, and one of the pleasures of the book is the way that those two worlds play off one another, each one twisting off into a garden of forking and intertwined paths. I think, for example, of the scientist Jonas Lear, and his journey to a fabled site in the jungles of Bolivia where clouds of bats descend upon his team of researchers; or the little girl, Amy, whose trip to the zoo sets the animals into a frenzy--"They know what I am," she says; or one of the men in Dr. Lear’s experiment, Subject Zero, monitored in his cell as he hangs "like some kind of giant insect in the shadows." These characters and images weave their way through the story in different forms, recurring like icons, and there are threads to be connected, and threads we cannot quite connect--yet. And I hope that there will be some questions that will not be solved at all, that will just exist, as the universe of The Passage takes on a strange, uncanny life of its own. It takes two different kinds of books to work a reader up into that hypnotic, swept away feeling. The author needs to create both a deep intimacy with the characters, and an expansive, strange-but-familiar universe that we can be immersed in. The Passage is one of those rare books that has both these elements. I envy those readers who are about to experience it for the first time. Danielle Trussoni Reviews The Passage Danielle Trussoni is the author of Falling Through the Earth: A Memoir , which was the recipient of the 2006 Michener-Copernicus Society of America Award, a BookSense pick, and one of The New York Times Ten Best Books of 2006. Her first novel Angelology will be published in 30 countries. Read her review of The Passage : Justin Cronin’s The Passage is a dark morality tale of just how frightening things can become when humanity transgresses the laws of nature. The author of two previous novels, Cronin, in his third book, imagines the catastrophic possibilities of a vampiric bat virus unleashed upon the world. Discovered by the U.S. Military in South America, the virus is transported to a laboratory in the Colorado mountains where it is engineered to create a more invincible soldier. The virus’ potential benefits are profound: it has the power to make human beings immortal and indestructible. Yet, like Prometheus’ theft of fire from the Gods, knowledge and technological advancement are gained at great price: After the introduction of the virus into the human blood pool, it becomes clear that there will be hell to pay. The guinea pigs of the NOAH experiment, twelve men condemned to die on death row, become a superhuman race of vampire-like creatures called Virals. Soon, the population of the earth is either dead or infected, their minds controlled telepathically by the Virals. As most of human civilization has been wiped out by the Virals, the few surviving humans create settlements and live off the land with a fortitude the pilgrims would have admired. Only Amy, an abandoned little girl who becomes a mystical antidote to the creatures’ powers, will be able to save the world. The Passage is no quick read, but a sweeping dystopian epic that will utterly transport one to another world, a place both haunting and horrifying to contemplate. Cronin weaves together multiple story lines that build into a journey spanning one hundred years and nearly 800 pages. While vampire lore lurks in the background--the Virals nick necks in order to infect humans, are immortal and virtually indestructible, and do most of their hunting at night--Cronin is more interested in creating an apocalyptic vision along the lines of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road . Taking place in a futuristic America where New Orleans is a military zone, Jenna Bush is the Governor of Texas and citizens are under surveillance, The Passage offers a gruesome and twisted version of reality, a terrifying dream world in which our very worst nightmares come true. Ultimately, like the best fiction, The Passage explores what it means to be human in the face of overwhelming adversity. The thrill comes with the knowledge that Amy and the Virals must face off in a grand battle for the fate of humanity. Questions for Justin Cronin Q: What is The Passage ? A: A passage is, of course, a journey, and the novel is made up of journeys. But the notion of a journey in the novel, and indeed in the whole trilogy, is also metaphoric. A passage is a transition from one state or condition to another. The world itself makes such a transition in the book. So do all the characters—as characters in a novel must. The title is also a reference to the soul’s passage from life to death, and whatever lies in that unknown realm. Time and time again I’ve heard it, and in my own life, witnessed it: people at the end of life want to go home. It is a literal longing, I think, to leave this world while in a place of meaning, among familiar things and faces. But it is also a celestial longing. Q: You are a PEN/Hemingway Award-winning author of literary fiction. Does The Passage represent a departure for you? A: I think it’d be a little silly of me not to acknowledge that The Passage is, in a number of ways, overtly different from my other books. But rather than calling it a ‘departure,’ I’d prefer to describe it as a progression or evolution. First of all, the themes that engage me as a person and a writer are all still present. Love, sacrifice, friendship, loyalty, courage. The bonds between people, parents and children especially. The pull of history, and the power of place, of landscape, to shape experience. And I don’t think the writing itself is different at all. How could it be? You write how you write. Q: The Passage takes place all across America--from Philadelphia to Houston to southern California. What prompted you to choose these specific locations? A: Many of the major locations in the novel are, in fact, places I have lived. Except for a long stint in Philadelphia, and now Houston, my life has been a bit nomadic. I was raised in the Northeast, but after college, I ping-ponged all over the country for a while. In some ways, shaking off my strictly Northeastern point of view has been the central project of my adult life. This gave me not only a sense of the sheer immensity of the continent, but also the great diversity of its textures, both geographical and cultural, and I wanted the book to capture this feeling of vastness, especially when the narrative jumps forward a hundred years and the continent has become depopulated. One of the most striking impressions of my travels across the country is how empty a lot of it is. You can pull off the road in Kansas or Nevada or Utah or Texas and stand in the quiet with only the wind for company and it seems as if civilization has already ended, that you’re all alone on the planet. It’s a wonderful and a terrifying feeling at the same time, and while I was writing the book, I decided I would travel every mile my characters did, in order to capture not only the details of place, but the feeling of place. The writer Charles Baxter once said (more or less) that you know you’ve come to the end of a story when you’ve found a way to get your characters back to where they started. The end of The Passage is meant to create another beginning, and the space for book two to unfold. Q: Your daughter was the spark that set your writing of The Passage in motion. What else drove you to delve into such an epic undertaking? A: The other force at work was something more personal and writerly. One of the reasons that the story of The Passage had such a magnetic effect on me was that I felt myself reclaiming the impulses that led me to become a writer in the first place. Like my daughter, I was a big reader as a kid. I lived in the country, with no other kids around, and spent most of my childhood either with my nose in a book or wandering around the woods with my head in some imagined narrative or another. It was much later, of course, that I formally became a student of literature, and decided that writing was something I wanted to do professionally. But the groundwork was all laid back then, reading with a flashlight under the covers. Q: Did you have the narrative completely mapped out before you started, or did certain developments take you by surprise? A: I had it mostly mapped out, but the book is in charge. I split and recombined some characters (mostly secondary ones.) I tend to think in terms of general narrative goals; the details work themselves out as you go, just so long as you remember the destination. And to that extent, the book followed the map I made with my daughter quite closely. Q: When will we get to read the next book? A: Two years (fingers wishfully crossed). From Publishers Weekly Starred Review. Fans of vampire fiction who are bored by the endless hordes of sensitive, misunderstood Byronesque bloodsuckers will revel in Cronin's engrossingly horrific account of a post-apocalyptic America overrun by the gruesome reality behind the wish-fulfillment fantasies. When a secret project to create a super-soldier backfires, a virus leads to a plague of vampiric revenants that wipes out most of the population. One of the few bands of survivors is the Colony, a FEMA-established island of safety bunkered behind massive banks of lights that repel the virals, or dracs—but a small group realizes that the aging technological defenses will soon fail. When members of the Colony find a young girl, Amy, living outside their enclave, they realize that Amy shares the virals' agelessness, but not the virals' mindless hunger, and they embark on a search to find answers to her condition. PEN/Hemingway Award–winner Cronin ( The Summer Guest ) uses a number of tropes that may be overly familiar to genre fans, but he manages to engage the reader with a sweeping epic style. The first of a proposed trilogy, it's already under development by director Ripley Scott and the subject of much publicity buzz (Retail Nation, Mar. 15). (June) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Bookmarks Magazine What's not to like? was the general consensus among reviewers, who found Cronin's massive tome excessively entertaining. In a startling departure from his earlier work, Cronin has crafted an apocalyptic thrill ride filled with fantastic action sequences and brilliant characterizations. And the writing is memorable as well; the Onion AV Club noted that, "[w]hole sections of The Passage could be plucked out of the book and inserted into a Best New Horror anthology." Ultimately, The Passage is certain to keep readers enthralled and excited for the next installment--an amazing feat, considering the novel's length. From Booklist In this apocalyptic epic that begins in a gloomy near-future, gasoline is $13 a gallon; New Orleans has become an uninhabitable, toxic swamp after a series of devastating hurricanes; the U.S. is steadily losing the war on terror; and the future of humanity hinges on the actions of a young girl. Six-year-old Amy Harper Bellafonte, abandoned to the care of Memphis nuns by her prostitute mother, and her protector, disillusioned FBI agent Brad Wolgast, are at the epicenter of a battle to preserve the human species after a government military experiment to create a “super-soldier” goes awry. Using an exotic virus found deep in the South American jungle, scientists have discovered that it has the ability to bestow vast strength and instantaneous healing abilities on humans, with one serious side effect: it turns its victims into bloodthirsty (literally) monsters. This door-stopper of a novel is such an homage to Stephen King’s The Stand (in length as well as plot), along with Firestarter and even Salem’s Lot, that it required some fact-checking to ascertain it was not written under a new King pseudonym. Expect a lot of interest in this title, as the publisher intends a massive publicity blitz, including national advertising, online promotions (including a special Web site and sweepstakes), and an author tour. --Michael Gannon Review “[A] blockbuster.” — The New York Times Book Review “Mythic storytelling.” — San Francisco Chronicle “Magnificent . . . Cronin has taken his literary gifts, and he has weaponized them. . . . The Passage can stand proudly next to Stephen King’s apocalyptic masterpiece The Stand, but a closer match would be Cormac McCarthy’s The Road: a story about human beings trying to generate new hope in a world from which all hope has long since been burnt.” — Time “The type of big, engrossing read that will have you leaving the lights on late into the night.” — The Dallas Morning News “Addictive.” — Men’s Journal “Cronin’s unguessable plot and appealing characters will seize your heart and mind.” — Parade “Cronin has given us what could be the best book of the summer. Don’t wait to dive into The Passage .” — USA Today “Great storytelling . . . vital, tender, and compelling.” — O: The Oprah Magazine “Cronin gets it just right; the combination of attentive realism and doomsday stakes makes for a mesmerizing experience.” — Salon “Magnificently unnerving . . . A The Stand -meets- The Road journey.” — Entertainment Weekly “Imagine Michael Crichton crossbreeding Stephen King’s The Stand and Salem’s Lot in that lab on Jurassic Park, with rich infusions of Robert McCammon’s Swan Song, Battlestar Galactica and even Cormac McCarthy’s The Road .” — The Washington Post About the Author Justin Cronin is the New York Times bestselling author of The Passage, The Twelve, The City of Mirrors, Mary and O’Neil (which won the PEN/Hemingway Award and the Stephen Crane Prize), and The Summer Guest . Other honors for his writing include a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and a Whiting Writers’ Award. A Distinguished Faculty Fellow at Rice University, he divides his time between Houston, Texas, and Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. one Before she became the Girl from Nowhere—the One Who Walked In, the First and Last and Only, who lived a thousand years—she was just a little girl in Iowa, named Amy. Amy Harper Bellafonte. The day Amy was born, her mother, Jeanette, was nineteen years old. Jeanette named her baby Amy for her own mother, who’d died when Jeanette was little, and gave her the middle name Harper for Harper Lee, the lady who’d written To Kill a Mockingbird, Jeanette’s favorite book—truth be told, the only book she’d made it all the way through in high school. She might have named her Scout, after the little girl in the story, because she wanted her little girl to grow up like that, tough and funny and wise, in a way that she, Jeanette, had never managed to be. But Scout was a name for a boy, and she didn’t want her daughter to have to go around her whole life explaining something like that. Amy’s father was a man who came in one day to the restaurant where Jeanette had waited tables since she turned sixteen, a diner everyone called the Box, because it looked like one: like a big chrome shoe box sitting off the county road, backed by fields of corn and beans, nothing else around for miles except a self-serve car wash, the kind where you had to put coins into the machine and do all the work yourself. The man, whose name was Bill Reynolds, sold combines and harvesters, big things like that, and he was a sweet talker who told Jeanette as she poured his coffee and then later, again and again, how pretty she was, how he liked her coal-black hair and hazel eyes and slender wrists, said it all in a way that sounded like he meant it, not the way boys in school had, as if the words were just something that needed to get said along the way to her letting them do as they liked. He had a big car, a new Pontiac, with a dashboard that glowed like a spaceship and leather seats creamy as butter. She could have loved that man, she thought, really and truly loved him. But he stayed in town only a few days, and then went on his way. When she told her father what had happened, he said he wanted to go looking for him, make him live up to his responsibilities. But what Jeanette knew and didn’t say was that Bill Reynolds was married, a married man; he had a family in Lincoln, all the way clean over in Nebraska. He’d even showed her the pictures in his wallet of his kids, two little boys in baseball uniforms, Bobby and Billy. So no matter how many times her father asked who the man was that had done this to her, she didn’t say. She didn’t even tell him the man’s name. And the truth was, she didn’t mind any of it, not really: not the being pregnant, which was easy right until the end, nor the delivery itself, which was bad but fast, nor, especially, having a baby, her little Amy. To tell Jeanette he’d decided to forgive her, her father had done up her brother’s old bedroom as a nursery, carried down the old baby crib from the attic, the one Jeanette herself had slept in, years ago; he’d gone with Jeanette, in the last months before Amy came, to the Walmart to pick out some things she’d need, like pajamas and a little plastic tub and a wind-up mobile to hang over the crib. He’d read a book that said that babies needed things like that, things to look at so their little brains would turn on and begin to work properly. From the start Jeanette always thought of the baby as “her,” because in her heart she wanted a girl, but she knew that wasn’t the sort of thing you should say to anyone, not even to yourself. She’d had a scan at the hospital over in Cedar Falls and asked the woman, a lady in a flowered smock who was running the little plastic paddle over Jeanette’s stomach, if she could tell which it was; but the woman laughed, looking at the pictures on the TV of Jeanette’s baby, sleeping away inside her, and said, Hon, this baby’s shy. Sometimes you can tell and others you can’t, and this is one of those times. So Jeanette didn’t know, which she decided was fine with her, and after she and her father had emptied out her brother’s room and taken down his old pennants and posters—Jose Canseco, a music group called Killer Picnic, the Bud Girls—and seen how faded and banged up the walls were, they painted it a color the label on the can called “Dreamtime,” which somehow was both pink and blue at once—good whatever the baby turned out to be. Her father hung a wallpaper border along the edge of the ceiling, a repeating pattern of ducks splashing in a puddle, and cleaned up an old maple rocking chair he’d found at the auction hall, so that when Jeanette brought the baby home, she’d have a place to sit and hold her. The baby came in summer, the girl she’d wanted and named Amy Harper Bellafonte; there seemed no point in using the name Reynolds, the last name of a man Jeanette guessed she’d never see again and, now that Amy was here, no longer wanted to. And Bellafonte: you couldn’t do better than a name like that. It meant “beautiful fountain,” and that’s what Amy was. Jeanette fed and rocked and changed her, and when Amy cried in the middle of the night because she was wet or hungry or didn’t like the dark, Jeanette stumbled down the hall to her room, no matter what the hour was or how tired she felt from working at the Box, to pick her up and tell her she was there, she would always be there, you cry and I’ll come running, that’s a deal between us, you and me, forever and ever, my little Amy Harper Bellafonte. And she would hold and rock her until dawn began to pale the window shades and she could hear birds singing in the branches of the trees outside. Then Amy was three and Jeanette was alone. Her father had died, a heart attack they told her, or else a stroke. It wasn’t the kind of thing anyone needed to check. Whatever it was, it hit him early one winter morning as he was walking to his truck to drive to work at the elevator; he had just enough time to put down his coffee on the fender before he fell over and died, never spilling a drop. She still had her job at the Box, but the money wasn’t enough now, not for Amy or any of it, and her brother, in the Navy somewhere, didn’t answer her letters. God invented Iowa, he always said, so people could leave it and never come back. She wondered what she would do. Then one day a man came into the diner. It was Bill Reynolds. He was different, somehow, and the change was no good. The Bill Reynolds she remembered—and she had to admit she still thought of him from time to time, about little things mostly, like the way his sandy hair flopped over his forehead when he talked, or how he blew over his coffee before he sipped it, even when it wasn’t hot anymore—there was something about him, a kind of warm light from inside that you wanted to be near. It reminded her of those little plastic sticks that you snapped so the liquid inside made them glow. This was the same man, but the glow was gone. He looked older, thinner. She saw he hadn’t shaved or combed his hair, which was greasy and standing all whichaway, and he wasn’t wearing a pressed polo like before but just an ordinary work shirt like the ones her father had worn, untucked and stained under the arms. He looked like he’d spent all night out in the weather, or in a car somewhere. He caught her eye at the door and she followed him to a booth in back. — What are you doing here? — I left her, he said, and as he looked at where she stood, she smelled beer on his breath, and sweat, and dirty clothes. I’ve gone and done it, Jeanette. I left my wife. I’m a free man. — You drove all this way to tell me that? — I’ve thought about you. He cleared his throat. A lot. I’ve thought about us. — What us? There ain’t no us. You can’t come in like you’re doing and say you’ve been thinking about us. He sat up straight. —Well, I’m doing it. I’m doing it right now. —It’s busy in here, can’t you see that? I can’t be talking to you like this. You’ll have to order something. —Fine, he answered, but he didn’t look at the menu on the wall, just kept his eyes on her. I’ll have a cheeseburger. A cheeseburger and a Coke. As she wrote down the order and the words swam in her vision, she realized she had started to cry. She felt like she hadn’t slept in a month, a year. The weight of exhaustion was held up only by the thinnest sliver of her will. There was a time when she’d wanted to do something with her life—cut hair, maybe, get her certificate, open a little shop, move to a real city, like Chicago or Des Moines, rent an apartment, have friends. She’d always held in her mind a picture of herself sitting in a restaurant, a coffee shop but nice; it was fall, and cold outside, and she was alone at a small table by the window, reading a book. On her table was a steaming mug of tea. She would look up to the window to see the people on the street of the city she was in, hustling to and fro in their heavy coats and hats, and see her own face there, too, reflected in the window, hovering over the image of all the people outside. But as she stood there, these ideas seemed like they belonged to a different person entirely. Now there was Amy, sick half the time with a cold or a stomach thing she’d gotten at the ratty day care where she spent the days while Jeanette was working at the Box, and her father dead just like that, so fast it was as if he’d fallen through a trapdoor on the surface of the earth, and Bill Reynolds sitting at the table like he’d just stepped out for a second, not four years. — Why are you doing this to me? He held her eyes with his own a long moment and touched the top of her hand.— Meet me later. Please. He ended up living in the house with her and Amy. She couldn’t say if she had invited him to do this or if it had just somehow happened. Either way, she was instantly sorry. This Bill Reynolds: who was he really? He’d left his wife and boys, Bobby and Billy in their baseball suits, all of it behind in Nebraska. The Pontiac was gone, and he had no job either; that had ended, too. The economy the way it was, he explained, nobody was buying a goddamn thing. He said he had a plan, but the only plan that she could see seemed to be him sitting in the house doing nothing for Amy or even cleaning up the breakfast dishes, while she worked all day at the Box. He hit her the first time after he’d been living there three months; he was drunk, and once he did it, he burst out crying and said, over and over, how sorry he was. He was on his knees, blubbering, like she’d done something to him. She had to understand, he was saying, how hard it all was, all the changes in his life, it was more than a man, any man, could take. He loved her, he was sorry, nothing like that would happen again, ever. He swore it. Not to her and not to Amy. And in the end, she heard herself saying she was sorry too. He’d hit her over money; when winter came, and she didn’t have enough money in her checking account to pay the heating oil man, he hit her again. — Goddamnit, woman. Can’t you see I’m in a situation here? She was on the kitchen floor, holding the side of her head. He’d hit her hard enough to lift her off her feet. Funny, now that she was down there she saw how dirty the floor was, filthy and stained, with clumps of dust and who-knew-what all rowed against the base of the cabinets where you couldn’t usually see. Half her mind was noticing this while the other half said, You aren’t thinking straight, Jeanette; Bill hit you and knocked a wire loose, so now you’re worrying over the dust. Something funny was happening with the way the world sounded, too. Amy was watching television upstairs, on the little set in her room, but Jeanette could hear it like it was playing inside her head, Barney the purple dinosaur and a song about brushing your teeth; and then from far away, she heard the sound of the oil truck pulling away, its engine grinding as it turned out of the drive and headed down the county road. — It ain’t your house, she said. — You’re right about that. Bill took a bottle of Old Crow from over the sink and poured some in a jelly jar, though it was only ten o’clock in the morning. He sat at the table but didn’t cross his legs like he meant to get comfortable. Ain’t my oil, either. Jeanette rolled over and tried to stand but couldn’t. She watched him drink for a minute. — Get out. He laughed, shaking his head, and took a sip of whiskey. — That’s funny, he said. You telling me that from the floor like you are. — I mean what I say. Get out. Amy came into the room. She was holding the stuffed bunny she still carried everywhere, and wearing a pair of overalls, the good ones Jeanette had bought her at the outlet mall, the OshKosh B’Gosh, with the strawberries embroidered on the bib. One of the straps had come undone and was flopping at her waist. Jeanette realized Amy must have done this herself, because she had to go to the bathroom. — You’re on the floor, Mama. — I’m okay, honey. She got to her feet to show her. Her left ear was ringing a little, like in a cartoon, birds flying around her head. She saw there was a little blood, too, on her hand; she didn’t know where this had come from. She picked Amy up and did her best to smile. See? Mama just took a spill, that’s all. You need to go, honey? You need to use the potty? —Look at you, Bill was saying. Will you look at yourself? He shook his head again and drank. You stupid twat. She probably ain’t even mine. — Mama, the girl said and pointed, you cut yourself. Your nose is cut. And whether it was what she’d heard or the blood, the little girl began to cry. — See what you done? Bill said, and to Amy, Come on now. Ain’t no big thing, sometimes folks argue, that’s just how it is. — I’m telling you again, just leave. Read more

WILD HUNT: a vampire novella

Review "I enjoyed every drop. "Wild Hunt" is a stand-out tale. Honestly, I would pay much more than I did for that story." Lydia Peever, reviewer PostScripts nightface.ca "Nancy Kilpatrick writes with intelligence and depth, her stories both innovative and captivating. What I find most impressive in her tales is how brilliant and emotionally driven they are." Moonlight (aka Amanda), reviewer Vampires.com "Vampires from Nancy Kilpatrick's imagination become some of the most wickedly unique I have ever read." Sam Reeves review samreevesblog.blogspot.com --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

The Wives: A Novel

Amazon.com Review An Amazon Best Book of January 2020: There’s a virtual reality Harry Potter-themed ride at Universal Studios that simulates a Quidditch match. You strap in, and start flying through the air, only to swing wildly to the right, stop short, dip, and then lurch 180 degrees to the left. Reading The Wives felt like being back on that ride. Thursday is a nurse in a busy Seattle hospital, slowly getting back in the swing of things after a miscarriage leaves her without her longed-for baby and infertile to boot. Her husband Seth is there for support but only one day a week. The rest of his week is spent commuting to and from Portland where his other two wives live. Presumably. Thursday’s never met either of his other wives; all she knows is that one of them is pregnant, about to give Seth the one thing that Thursday no longer can. When she finds a scrap of information about one of the other wives—enough to identify her and locate her—the opening to the rabbit hole beckons, and Thursday is about to fall into it. Yes, the premise is about as preposterous as taking part in a Quidditch match, so if you’ve made it this far, ignore that fact and consider yourself strapped in and ready for a soapy, bumpy, twisty, exhilarating ride, set at a breakneck pace. Enjoy. —Vannessa Cronin, Amazon Book Review Review "You'll have whiplash until the very end. The Wives will leave the most sure footed reader uneasy until the last word is read." -Colleen Hoover, New York Times bestselling author of Verity"I couldn't put it down... Nail-biting, heart-clenchingly good from the start, with characters that you both root and cringe for. I loved every word. Six stars." -Alessandra Torre, New York Times bestselling author of The Ghostwriter"Fisher smoothly inserts moments of self-doubt, longing, paranoia, and triumph into her unsettling narrative as she draws the reader into Thursday's conflicted and increasingly complicated life. Suspense fans will be rewarded."--Publishers Weekly"Fisher is a slick writer who keeps a tight rein on her lightning-fast plot, and the lengths that her feisty narrator goes to in order to reclaim her life make for salaciously satisfying reading...Fisher is a writer to watch."--Kirkus"An intriguing plot takes some sharp twists in the search for the elusive truth in this fast-reading domestic thriller."--Booklist"Fans of Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl will revel in The Wives... Fisher's story, like the score of a film, builds to an emotional and psychological crescendo that will keep readers on their toes until its final page. -- USA Today "Fisher draws us in with a topic few of us are familiar with-polygamy. However, she keeps us turning the page by having us share the mind of a sympathetic character. It's a compelling story of self-loathing, revenge, and denial that will keep readers up at night with the lights on and their devices off."--BookTrib"A gripping ride that will keep readers guessing, The Wives... delivers heart-pounding suspense."-- Shelf Awareness "This is a true psychological thriller...[a] shocking ending."-- Suspense Magazine About the Author Tarryn Fisher is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of nine novels. Born a sun hater, she currently makes her home in Seattle, Washington, with her children, husband, and psychotic husky. She loves connecting with her readers on Instagram. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. The Wives By Tarryn Fisher Harlequin Enterprises Limited Copyright © 2019 Tarryn FisherAll rights reserved.ISBN: 978-1-5258-0978-1 CHAPTER 1 He comes over on Thursday of every week. That's my day, I'm Thursday. It's a hopeful day, lost in the middle of the more important days; not the beginning or the end, but a stop. An appetizer to the weekend. Sometimes I wonder about the other days and if they wonder about me. That's how women are, right? Always wondering about each other — curiosity and spite curdling together in little emotional puddles. Little good that does; if you wonder too hard, you'll get everything wrong. I set the table for two. I'm a little buzzed as I lay out the silverware, pausing to consider the etiquette of what goes where. I run my tongue along my teeth and shake my head. I'm being silly; it's just me and Seth tonight — an at-home date. Not that there's anything else, we don't do regular dates very often at the risk of being seen. Imagine that ... not wanting to be seen with your husband. Or your husband not wanting to be seen with you. The vodka I sipped earlier has warmed me, made my limbs loose and careless. I almost knock over the vase of f lowers as I place a fork next to a plate: a bouquet of the palest pink roses. I chose them for their sexual innuendo because when you're in a position like mine, being on top of your sexual game is of the utmost importance. Look at these delicate, pink petals. Do they make you think of my clit? — Good! To the right of the vaginal flowers sit two white candles in silver candlestick holders. My mother once told me that under the flickering light of a candle f lame, a woman can almost look ten years younger. My mother cared about those things. Every six weeks a doctor slid a needle into her forehead, pumping thirty cc's of Botox into her dermis. She had a subscription to every glossy fashion magazine you could name and collected books on how to keep your husband. No one tries that hard to keep their husband unless they've already lost him. I used to think her shallow back when my ideals were untainted by reality. I had big plans to be anything but my mother: to be loved, to be successful, to make beautiful children. But the truth is that the heart's desire is a mere current against the tide of nurture and nature. You can spend your whole life swimming against it and eventually you'll get tired and the current of genes and upbringing will pull you under. I became a lot like her and a little bit like me. I roll the wheel of the lighter with my thumb and hold the f lame above the wick. The lighter is a Zippo, the worn remnants of a Union Jack f lag on the casing. The flickering tongue reminds me of my brief stint with smoking. To look cool, mostly — I never inhaled, but I lived to see that glowing cherry at my fingertips. My parents bought the candleholders for me as a housewarming gift after I saw them in a Tiffany's catalog. I found them to be predictably classy. When you're newly married, you see a pair of candlestick holders and imagine a lifetime of roast dinners that will go along with them. Dinners much like the one we're having tonight. My life is almost perfect. I glance out the bay window as I fold the napkins, the view of the park spread out beneath me. It's grey outside, typical of Seattle. The view of the park is why I chose this particular unit instead of the much larger, nicer unit overlooking Elliott Bay. While most people would have chosen the view of the water, I prefer a view of people's lives. A silver-haired couple sits on a bench, staring out at the pathway where cyclists and joggers pass every few minutes. They're not touching, though their heads move in unison whenever someone goes by. I wonder if that will be Seth and me one day, and then my cheeks warm as I think of the others. Imagining what the future holds proves difficult when factoring in two other women who share your husband. I set out the bottle of Pinot Grigio that I chose from the market earlier today. The label is boring, not something that catches the eye, but the austere looking man who sold it to me had described its taste in great detail, rubbing his fingers together as he spoke. I can't recall what he'd said, even though it was only a few hours ago. I'd been distracted, focused on the task of collecting ingredients. Cooking, my mother taught me, is the only good way to be a wife. Standing back, I examine my work. Overall, it's an impressive table, but I am queen of presentation, after all. Everything is just right, the way he likes it, and thus, the way I like it. It's not that I don't have a personality; it's just that everything I am is reserved for him. As it should be. At six o'clock sharp, I hear the key turn in the lock and then the whistle of the door opening. I hear the click as it closes, and his keys hitting the table in the entryway. Seth is never late, and when you live a life as complicated as his, order is important. I smooth down the hair I so painstakingly curled and step from the kitchen into the hallway to greet him. He's looking down at the mail in his hand, raindrops clinging to the tips of his hair. "You got the mail! Thank you." I'm embarrassed by the enthusiasm in my voice. It's just the mail, for God's sake. He sets the pile down on the little marble table in the entryway, next to his keys, and smiles. There is a tilt in my belly, heat, and a flurry of excitement. I step into the breadth of him, inhaling his scent, and burying my face in his neck. It's a nice neck, tan and wide. It holds up a very good head of hair and a face that is traditionally handsome with the tiniest bit of roguish scruff. I nestle into him. Five days is a long time to go without the man you love. In my youth, I considered love a burden. How could you get anything done when you had to consider someone else every second of the day? When I met Seth, that all went out the window. I became my mother: doting, yielding, spread-eagle emotionally and sexually. It both thrilled and revolted me. "I missed you," I tell him. I kiss the underside of his chin, then the tender spot beneath his ear, and then stand on my tiptoes to reach his mouth. I am thirsty for his attention and my kiss is aggressive and deep. He moans from the back of his throat, and his briefcase drops to the floor with a thud. He wraps his arms around me. "That was a nice hello," he says. Two of his fingers play the knobs of my spine like a saxophone. He massages them gently until I squirm closer. "I'd give you a better one, but dinner is ready." His eyes become smoky, and I silently thrill. I turned him on in under two minutes. I want to say beat that, but to whom? Something uncoils in my stomach, a ribbon unrolling, unrolling. I try to catch it before it goes too far. Why do I always have to think of them? The key to making this work is not thinking of them. "What did you make?" He unravels the scarf from his neck and loops it around mine, pulling me close and kissing me once more. His voice is warm against my cold trance, and I push my feelings aside, determined not to ruin our night together. "Smells good." I smile and sashay into the dining room — a little hip to go with his dinner. I pause in the doorway to note his reaction to the table. "You make everything beautiful." He reaches for me, his strong, tanned hands tracked with veins, but I dance away, teasing. Behind him, the window is rinsed with rain. I glance over his shoulder — the couple on the bench are gone. What did they go home to? Chinese takeout ... canned soup ...? I move on to the kitchen, making sure Seth's eyes are on me. Experience has taught me that you can drag a man's eyes if you move the right way. "A rack of lamb," I call over my shoulder. "Couscous ..." He plucks the bottle of wine from the table, holding it by the neck and tilting it down to study the label. "This is a good wine." Seth is not supposed to drink wine; he doesn't with the others. Religious reasons. He makes an exception for me and I chalk it up to another one of my small victories. I have lured him into deep red, Merlots and crisp Chardonnays. We've kissed, and laughed, and fucked drunk. Only with me; he hasn't done that with them. Silly, I know. I chose this life and it's not about competing, it's about providing, but one can't help but keep a tally when other women are involved. When I return from the kitchen with dinner clutched between two dishtowels, he has poured the wine and is staring out the window while he sips. Beneath the twelfth-floor window, the city hums her nightly rhythm. A busy street cuts a path in front of the park. To the right of the park and just out of view is the Sound, dotted with sailboats and ferries in the summer, and masked with fog in the winter. From our bedroom window, you can see it — a wide expanse of standing water and falling water. The perfect Seattle view. "I don't care about dinner," he says. "I want you now." His voice is commanding; Seth leaves little room for questions. It's a trait that has served him well in all areas of his life. I set the platters on the table, my appetite for one thing gone and replaced by another. I watch as he blows out the candles, never taking his eyes from me, and then I walk to the bedroom, reaching around and unzipping my dress as I go. I do it slowly so he can watch, peeling off the layer of silk. I feel him behind me: the large presence, the warmth, the anticipation of what's to come. My perfect dinner cools on the table, the fat of the lamb congealing around the edges of the serving dish in oranges and creams as I slip out of the dress and bend at the waist, letting my hands sink into the bed. I'm wrist-deep in the down comforter when his fingers graze my hips and hook in the elastic waist of my panties. He pulls them down and when they flutter around my ankles, I kick free of them. The tink of metal and then the zzzweeep of his belt. He doesn't undress — there's just the muted sound of his pants falling to his ankles. After, I warm our dinner in the microwave, wrapped in my robe. There is a throbbing between my legs, a trickle of semen on my thigh; I am sore in the best possible way. I carry his plate to where he is lying shirtless on the couch, one arm thrown over his head — an image of exhaustion. I cannot remove the grin from my lips, though I try. It's a break in my usual facade, this grinning like a schoolgirl. "You're beautiful," he says when he sees me. His voice is gruff like it always is post-sex. "You felt so good." He reaches up to rub my thigh as he takes his plate. "Let's talk about that vacation we're taking. Where do you want to go?" This is the essence of postcoital conversation with Seth: he likes to talk about the future after he comes. Do I remember? Of course I remember. I rearrange my face so that it looks surprised. He's been promising a vacation for a year. Just the two of us. My heart beats faster. I've been waiting for this. I didn't want to push it since he's been so busy, but here it is — my year. I've imagined all the places we can go. I've narrowed it down to a beach. White sands and lapis lazuli water, long walks along the water's edge holding hands in public. In public. "I was thinking somewhere warm," I say. I don't make eye contact — I don't want him to see how eager I am to have him to myself. I am needy, and jealous, and petty. I let my robe fall open as I bend to set his wine on the coffee table. He reaches inside and cups my breast like I knew he would. He is predictable in some ways. "Turks and Caicos?" he suggests. "Trinidad?" Yes and yes! Lowering myself into the armchair that faces the sofa, I cross my legs so that my robe slips open and reveals my thigh. "You choose," I say. "You've been more places than I have." I know he likes that, to make the decisions. And what do I care where we go? So long as I get him for a week, uninterrupted, unshared. For that week, he will be only mine. A fantasy. Now comes the time I both dread and live for. "Seth, tell me about your week." He sets his plate down and rubs the tips of his fingers together. They are glistening from the grease of the meat. I want to go over and put his fingers in my mouth, suck them clean. "Monday is sick, the baby ..." "Oh no," I say. "She's still in her first trimester, so it will be that way for a few more weeks." He nods, a small smile playing on his lips. "She's very excited, despite the sickness. I bought her one of those baby name books. She highlights the names she likes and then we look through them when I see her." I feel a spike of jealousy and push it aside immediately. This is the highlight of my week, hearing about the others. I don't want to ruin it with petty feelings. "That's so exciting," I say. "Does she want a boy or a girl?" He laughs as he walks over to the kitchen to set his plate in the sink. I hear the water running and then the lid of the trash can as he throws his paper towel away. "She wants a boy. With dark hair, like mine. But I think whatever we have will have blond hair, like hers." I picture Monday in my mind — long, pin-straight blond hair, a surfer's tan. She's lean and muscular with perfect white teeth. She laughs a lot — mostly at the things he says — and is youthfully in love. He told me once that she is twenty-five but looks like a college girl. Normally, I'd judge a man for that, the cliché way men want younger women, but it isn't true of him. Seth likes the connection. "You'll let me know as soon as you know what you're having?" "It's a ways off, but yes." He smiles, the corner of his mouth moving up. "We have a doctor's appointment next week. I'll have to head straight over on Monday morning." He winks at me and I am not skilled enough to hide my f lush. My legs are crossed and my foot bounces up and down as warmth fills my belly. He has the same effect on me as he had on the first day we met. "Can I make you a drink?" I ask, standing up. I walk over to the bar and hit play on the stereo. Of course he wants a drink, he always wants a drink on the evenings when we're together. He told me that he secretly keeps a bottle of scotch at the office now, and I mentally gloat at my bad influence. Tom Waits begins to sing and I reach for the decanter of vodka. I used to ask about Tuesday, but Seth is more hesitant to talk about her. I've always chalked it up to her being in a position of authority as first wife. The first wife, the first woman he loved. It's daunting in a way to know I'm only his second choice. I've consoled myself with that fact that I am Seth's legal wife, that even though they're still together, he had to divorce her to marry me. I don't like Tuesday. She's selfish; her career takes the most dominant role in her life — the space I reserve for Seth. And while I disapprove, I can't entirely blame her, either. He's gone five days of the week. We have one rotating day that we take turns with, but it's our job to fill the week with things that aren't him: stupid things for me — pottery making, romance novels, and Netflix; but for Tuesday, it's her career. I root around in the pocket of my robe, searching for my ChapStick. We have entire lives out-side of our marriage. It's the only way to stay sane. Pizza for dinner again? I used to ask. He'd admitted to me once that Tuesday was a takeout-ordering girl rather than a cooking girl. Always so judgmental about other people's cooking skills, he'd tease. I set up two glasses and fill them with ice. I can hear Seth moving behind me, getting up from the couch. The soda bottle hisses as I twist off the cap and top off the glasses. Before I'm finished making our drinks, he's behind me, kissing my neck. I dip my head to the side to give him better access. He takes his drink from me and walks over to the window while I sit. I look over from my spot on the couch, my glass sweaty against my palm. Seth lowers himself next to me on the couch, setting his drink on the coffee table. He reaches to rub my neck while he laughs. His eyes are dancing, flirtatious. I fell in love with those eyes and the way they always seemed to be laughing. I lift one corner of my mouth in a smile and lean back into him, enjoying the solid feel of his body against my back. His fingers trail up and down my arm. What's left to discuss? I want to make sure I'm familiar with all areas of his life. "The business ...?" "Alex ..." he pauses. I watch as he runs the pad of his thumb across his bottom lip, a habit I'm endeared to. What has he done now? "I caught him in another lie," he says. (Continues...) Excerpted from The Wives by Tarryn Fisher . Copyright © 2019 Tarryn Fisher. Excerpted by permission of Harlequin Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site. Read more

Memories of Tomorrow (Nameless: Season One Book 6)

About the Author Dean Koontz is the author of seventy-nine New York Times bestsellers, fourteen of which rose to #1. His books have sold over five hundred million copies worldwide, a figure that increases by more than seventeen million copies per year, and his work is published in thirty-eight languages. He was born and raised in Pennsylvania and lives with his wife, Gerda, and their dog, Elsa, in Southern California.


Handbook of Nondestructive Evaluation, Second Edition

From the Publisher Charles J. Hellier founded and was former President of Hellier Technical Training and Consulting. After the acquisition of his Company 1998, he remained as President then General Manager until his retirement in 2003. He continued as consultant with the company until retiring again in 2011. He has been active in the Technology of Nondestructive Testing and related Quality and Inspection fields since 1957, and is currently a principal of The Summit Group, LLC a company providing management and technical seminars and consulting services. Michael Shakinovsky is an ASNT certificate holder in ultrasonics, radiography, magnetic particle, and penetrant testing. He has specialized in nondestructive testing for more than 40 years. Mr. Shakinovsky is currently the Corporate NDT Level III for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. About the Author Charles J. Hellier founded and was former President of Hellier Technical Training and Consulting. After the acquisition of his Company 1998, he remained as President then General Manager until his retirement in 2003. He continued as consultant with the company until retiring again in 2011. He has been active in the Technology of Nondestructive Testing and related Quality and Inspection fields since 1957, and is currently a principal of The Summit Group, LLC a company providing management and technical seminars and consulting services. Michael Shakinovsky is an ASNT certificate holder in ultrasonics, radiography, magnetic particle, and penetrant testing. He has specialized in nondestructive testing for more than 40 years. Mr. Shakinovsky is currently the Corporate NDT Level III for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation.

Reskilling America: Learning to Labor in the 21st Century

About the Author Callie Beaulieu has been an actress for several decades. Classically trained, she is predominantly a theater actress, and her work has been seen around the country. Callie recently returned to the US after spending nearly a decade living in the Caribbean. She is a proud member of Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA.

Metallurgy Fundamentals

Metals Handbook: Desk

Pressure Vessels : ASME Code Simplified

From the Publisher J. Phillip Ellenberger, P.E., is Vice President of Engineering at WFI International, Inc., Houston, Texas, a design and manufacturing firm specializing in machined branch connections; and a life member of ASME, for which he serves on several codes and standards committees. Mr. Ellenberger is active with the B16 F & C subcommittees, the B31.3 design task group, and the B31 mechanical design and fabrication committee. He is also the MSS Chairman of the Coordinating Committee and Committee 113, and is member of WG 10 SC67. He has taught piping stress analysis at the University of Houston, and numerous professional seminars on B31.3 and related topics. From the Inside Flap "A useful addition to any ASME Code shop...This volume does what the title promises...well-written and eminently readable." -- Welding Design and Fabrication [on previous edition] Get Up to Speed with the ASME Code Revised and updated, this classic engineering tool simplifies the tasks of understanding and applying the complex ASME Code for fabricating, purchasing, testing, and inspecting pressure vessels. Clearly explaining changes in B31.3, this Eighth Edition makes it easier to achieve Code compliance on any pressure-vessel-related project, to obtain ASME Code certification, and to meet performance goals in the most cost-effective way possible. Pressure Vessels explains the value of Code standards, shows you how the Code applies to each component, and clarifies requirements that may be confusing. This valuable text also features tables for caluclating allowable internal pressures. You'll learn how to comply with ASME standards for: * Safety procedures for design and maintenance * Inspection and quality control * Welding * Nondestructive testing * Fabrication and installation * Pressure vessels in nuclear power plants Filled with helpful solutions to typical problems, the new edition of this handy working tool will give you the expertise you need to deal with all the changes in requirements for pressure vessels. From the Back Cover Publisher's Note: Products purchased from Third Party sellers are not guaranteed by the publisher for quality, authenticity, or access to any online entitlements included with the product. "A useful addition to any ASME Code shop...This volume does what the title promises...well-written and eminently readable." -- Welding Design and Fabrication [on previous edition] Get Up to Speed with the ASME Code Revised and updated, this classic engineering tool simplifies the tasks of understanding and applying the complex ASME Code for fabricating, purchasing, testing, and inspecting pressure vessels. Clearly explaining changes in B31.3, this Eighth Edition makes it easier to achieve Code compliance on any pressure-vessel-related project, to obtain ASME Code certification, and to meet performance goals in the most cost-effective way possible. Pressure Vessels explains the value of Code standards, shows you how the Code applies to each component, and clarifies requirements that may be confusing. This valuable text also features tables for caluclating allowable internal pressures. You'll learn how to comply with ASME standards for:* Safety procedures for design and maintenance* Inspection and quality control* Welding* Nondestructive testing* Fabrication and installation* Pressure vessels in nuclear power plants Filled with helpful solutions to typical problems, the new edition of this handy working tool will give you the expertise you need to deal with all the changes in requirements for pressure vessels. About the Author J. Phillip Ellenberger, P.E., is Vice President of Engineering at WFI International, Inc., Houston, Texas, a design and manufacturing firm specializing in machined branch connections; and a life member of ASME, for which he serves on several codes and standards committees. Mr. Ellenberger is active with the B16 F & C subcommittees, the B31.3 design task group, and the B31 mechanical design and fabrication committee. He is also the MSS Chairman of the Coordinating Committee and Committee 113, and is member of WG 10 SC67. He has taught piping stress analysis at the University of Houston, and numerous professional seminars on B31.3 and related topics. Read more

The Islamic Enlightenment: The Struggle Between Faith and Reason, 1798 to Modern Times

Review "Elegantly written…’The Islamic Enlightenment’ introduces us to a fascinating gallery of individuals who would grapple with reform and modernization in theory and practice…In tracking the sinews of enlightenment through the last two centuries of Islamic thinking, this brilliant and lively history deserves nothing but praise." ― New York Times Book Review "Excellent…Mr. de Bellaigue, the finest Orientalist of his generation, does the world a great service by charting the attainments of the region’s long 19th century….Focusing on Iran, Turkey and Egypt, ‘the three intellectual and political centres of the Middle East,’ Mr. de Bellaigue tells a story that is at once new, fascinating and extraordinarily important." ― Bartle Bull, Wall Street Journal "A stylishly written, surprisingly moving chronicle of intellectual and political flourishing in Egypt, Turkey, and Iran ― ‘the brain of Islam’ ― in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries." ― Harper's "Deeply researched . . . . Beginning with Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt in 1798 and ending with the late 20th century, De Bellaigue shows how the cultural struggles between modernity and tradition unfolded in Istanbul, Cairo, and Tehran. . . .De Bellaigue is a knowledgeable guide through huge sweeps of cultural history" ― Nick Romeo, Christian Science Monitor "The book reads at times like a thriller―it is a tale of reform and reaction, innovation and betrayal, a struggle, as the author would put it, between faith and reason. . . . With such divisive views elevated to state policy, a book that examines the Islamic world’s liberalization process―at least until the French and the English carved up the Middle East after 1918―is welcome." ― Francis Ghiles, Arab Weekly "A highly original and informative survey of the clashes between Islam and modernity in Istanbul, Cairo, and Tehran in the last two hundred years. Brilliant!" ― Orhan Pamuk, author of My Name Is Red "An eye-opening, well-written and very timely book, which can help us understand better the complex relationship between the Muslim world and modernity. While both Islamic extremists and Western bigots find it convenient to stress the incompatibility of Islam and modernity, Christopher de Bellaigue shows that Islam is whatever Muslims make of it, and that at least some Muslims have made of it something very modern." ― Yuval Harari, author of Homo Deus "That there has been an Islamic Enlightenment at all will come as news to many. De Bellaigue’s account of the ‘very broad church’ of Islam in the modern world is splendid and timely." ― Anthony Gottlieb, author of The Dream of Enlightenment "Christopher de Bellaigue has long been one of our most resourceful and stimulating interpreters of realities veiled by fear and prejudice. In The Islamic Enlightenment , he cuts through the complacent opposition of Islam-versus-modernity to reveal a fascinating world: one in which complex human beings constantly change, improvise, and adjust under the pressures of history. It is the best sort of book for our disordered days: timely, urgent, and illuminating." ― Pankaj Mishra, author of From the Ruins of Empire "A brilliantly learned and entertaining study of a topic that is of far more than merely antiquarian interest: the encounter between the Islamic world and the post-Enlightenment West." ― Tom Holland, author of In the Shadow of the Sword "In this expansive historical account and commentary, de Bellaigue recounts Islam's ''painful encounter with modernity'' through the history of Turkey, Egypt, and Iran. . . . This is a text that demands attention for its splendid prose, command of an entire treasury of history, and ability to undermine the misplaced patronization of Middle Eastern Muslim nations over the last 300 years." ― Publisher's Weekly "Timely, thoughtful, and provocative." ― Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads About the Author Christopher de Bellaigue has worked as a journalist in south Asia and the Middle East, writing for the Economist , the Guardian , and the New York Review of Books . He is the award-winning author of four books, has made several BBC television and radio documentaries, and has been a visiting fellow at the universities of Harvard and Oxford. He lives in London.

Too Tall Alice

About the Author Barbara Worton has been published in national literary, consumer and business publications. Her story, London Calling was published in Memories Of John Lennon, Harper Collins. If I'm Talking, Why Aren't You Listening?, a play she co-wrote with Linda Dini Jenkins has been staged in New York City; Rutherford, NJ and Boston, MA.

Gridlock: A Ryan Lock & Ty Johnson Crime Thriller

Review 'Leaner and meaner with every book, Gridlock is as cool and sharp as a knife' - Meg Gardiner, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Nightmare Thief 'The pace of Lee Child and the heart of Harlan Coben' - Joseph Finder, New York Times Bestselling Author of Buried Secrets 'This series is ace. There are deservedly strong Lee Child comparisons as the author is a Brit (Scottish), his novels US-based, his character appealing, and his publisher the same. This is his third.' - Sarah Broadhurst, The Bookseller'Black's star just keeps on rising.' - Evening Telegraph About the Author Winner of the 2018 International Thriller Writers Award for the eighth Ryan Lock novel, Second Chance, Sean was educated at Oxford University, England, and Columbia University in New York. Two of his previous novels, The Edge of Alone, and Post, were also previously nominated for the ITW award.The Ryan Lock series has been published in French, German, Italian, Russian, Turkish, and Spanish.


Jem and the Holograms #9

Harbinger (5) (Elfhome)

About the Author John W. Campbell Award Winner Wen Spencer resides in paradise in Hilo, Hawaii, with two volcanoes overlooking her home. According to Spencer, she lives with “my Dalai Lama-like husband, my autistic teenage son, and two cats (one of which is recovering from mental ilnness)—all of which makes for very odd home life at times.” Spencer's love of Japanese anime and manga flavors her writing. Her novel Tinker won the 2003 Sapphire Award for Best Science Fiction Romance and was a finalist for the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award for Fantasy Novel. Her Wolf Who Rules was a top Pick by Romantic Times and given their top rating of four and a half stars. Other Baen books include Endless Blue and Eight Million Gods. The Elfhome series includes Tinker, Wolf Who Rules, Elfhome, Wood Sprites, Project Elfhome, and Harbinger .

OWARIMONOGATARI, Part 3: End Tale

About the Author There are few authors in Japan who have reached the heights of success as NisiOisin. Born in 1981, Nisio dropped out of Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, to pursue a career in story-telling. Initially he had ambitions to be a comic artist, but when he realized his art was not up to snuff, he began to focus on his writing, eventually winning the 23rd Mephisto Prize, for Decapitation recognizing his talents as a mystery writer, at the age of 20. Since his debut in 2002 Nisio has penned more than 50 novels and a number of comics. And he has quickly become one of Japan's top selling author's in recent memory with more than 5 million units sold since 2009. In 2014, as in 2012, he was the top selling author in Japan (outselling Haruki Murakami by more than half a million units).Nishio's works often cover themes of youth, but are framed in genres that are familiar to the masses. His works tend to mix mystery with comedy and touches or romance and/or the supernatural. He is a modern author in every sense, sometimes even experiementing with the Japanese language itself. Many of his works have been adapted into animated television series and films. His best known works are the Monogatari series and Katanagatari.

The Kobold Wizard's Dildo of Enlightenment +2 (an Adventure for 3-6 Players, Levels 2-5

From the Inside Flap Praise for Carlton Mellick III "Carlton Mellick III has the craziest book titles... and the kinkiest fans!" - CHRISTOPHER MOORE "If you like satires which are highly imaginative, subversive, gory, funny as hell and completely surreal CM3 may be your literary messiah." - RICARDO GONZALEZ DEL VALLE "Mellick is smarter than the dumbness he tries to coat his writing in; you feel like you're reading a comic or watching MTV - but underneath there is something deeper and smarter than the cartoonish presentation before your eyes." - EUCHIRD "Easily the craziest, weirdest, strangest, funniest, most obscene writer in America." - GOTHIC MAGAZINE "Carlton Mellick III is one of bizarro fiction's most talented practitioners, a virtuoso of the surreal, science fictional tale." - CORY DOCTOROW , author of Little Brother From the Back Cover If anyone out there is reading this, I need your help. I am trapped within a really terrible Dungeons and Dragons campaign and I can't find my way out. My player is a horny 14 year old loser who won't stop forcing me to have sex with slutty elf chicks instead of going on quests. The dungeon master has severe attention deficit disorder and skips large sections of description when it comes to the world I live within. Please find my character sheet and bring it to a better dungeon master, preferably a benevolent one with a vivid imagination who actually knows what he's doing. Please, I beg of you to deliver me from this nightmare, before all of my hit points run out . . . --Polo Pipefingers, level 3 Halfling Fighter

Diary of an Evil Overlord

I HATE Your Prophecy (Dark Lords Live!)

Please Don't Tell My Parents You Believe Her

Suicide Pact

Furries: A Guide to Anthropomorphism

The Unbelievable Gwenpool 1: Believe It

Outted

Courtney Crumrin Vol. 6: The Final Spell (6)

About the Author Ted Naifeh first appeared in the independent comics scene in 1999 as the artist for Gloomcookie, the goth romance comic he co-created with Serena Valentino for SLG Publishing. After a successful run, Ted decided to strike out on his own, writing and drawing Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things, a spooky children’s fantasy series about a grumpy little girl and her adventures with her Warlock uncle. Nominated for an Eisner Award for best limited series, Courtney Crumrin’s success paved the way for Polly and the Pirates, another children’s book, this time about a prim and proper girl kidnapped by pirates convinced she was the daughter of their long-lost queen. Over the next few years, Ted wrote four volumes of Courtney Crumrin, plus a spin off book about her uncle. He also co-created How Loathsome with Tristan Crane, and illustrated two volumes of the videogame tie-in comic Death Junior with screenwriter Gary Whitta. More recently, he illustrated The Good Neighbors, a three volume graphic novel series written by New York Times best-selling author Holly Black, published by Scholastic. In 2011, Ted wrote the sequel to Polly and the Pirates, and illustrated several Batman short stories for DC Comics. In 2012, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Courtney Crumrin, he wrote and illustrated the final two volumes of the series. Currently, you can find Ted everywhere: from the pages of Batman ‘66 to his newest original series for adults, Night’s Dominion. Ted lives in San Francisco, because he likes dreary weather.

Wood Sprites (4) (Elfhome)

About the Author John W. Campbell Award Winner Wen Spencer resides in paradise in Hilo, Hawaii with two volcanoes overlooking her home. Spencer says that she often wakes up and exclaims "Oh my god, I live on an island in the middle of the Pacific!" According to Spencer, she lives with "my Dali Llama-like husband, my autistic teenage son, and two cats (one of which is recovering from mental illness). All of which makes for very odd home life at times." Spencer's love of Japanese anime and manga flavors her writing. Her novel Tinker won the 2003 Sapphire Award for Best Science Fiction Romance and was a finalist for the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Fantasy Novel. Her Wolf Who Rules was a Top Pick by Romantic Times and given their top rating of four and a half stars. Other Baen books include space opera thriller Endless Blue and Elfhome, third entry in the Tinker series.

Shadows of Hyperion (Grand Central Arena series)

Doughnuts and Doom

From School Library Journal Gr 8 Up—City witch Margot Grapes is struggling with passing her spell exam at the witch hub. Her magic never cooperates, and examiner Katie Banks seems invested in her failure. Dejected, Margot takes herself and Stanley, her good-natured snake familiar, to grab her favorite chocolate doughnuts. Elena the café cashier clashes immediately with Margot, who reacts poorly upon hearing the doughnuts have sold out. Heated words and an accidental curse are exchanged, leading to Elena getting electrocuted at her band's show later that night. The girls reconcile, sparking a series of attempts to reverse the curse while nurturing a blossoming romantic connection and evading Katie's evil plans to bar Margot from the magic world. This slice-of-life graphic novel is strongest when focusing on its main characters' romance. Other elements of the plot seem thin, including the strangely intense antagonist whose motivations and plans are never rectified. Characters tend to speak in monologue, providing exposition but slowing the pace of a relatively low-stakes narrative. The muted blue monochrome palette, with charming pink accents emphasizing moments of magic and emotion, is visually appealing but saps dynamism from a story that needs it. Readers will enjoy the creative paneling that showcases Margot's airborne adventures on her broom, Stanley's endearing antics, and the excited thrum of the girls' climactic musical performance. Most main characters are cued as white. VERDICT A pleasant, additional purchase to round out YA graphic novel collections.—Ashleigh Williams Review A GLAAD Media Award Nominee!Selected for the TLA Maverick Graphic Novel 2023 Reading List! "Sweet and sapphic in every way, Doughnuts and Doom is everything my gay, witchy, baked-good-loving heart could ever want." — Sam Maggs, author of Tell No Tales: Pirates of the Southern Seas "This fast-paced enemies-to-lovers romance, filled with magic, music, and pastries, is an upbeat confection." — Publishers Weekly "Lorinczi’s whimsical illustration style and pastel blue-and-pink color scheme give this adventure a light and cozy feel... a quick and sweet supernatural romance." — Kirkus Reviews "A charming, lighthearted romantic comedy with supernatural flair." — Foreword Reviews "Readers will enjoy the creative paneling that showcases Margot’s airborne adventures on her broom, Stanley’s endearing antics, and the excited thrum of the girls’ climactic musical performance...A pleasant, additional purchase to round out YA graphic novel collections." — School Library Journal Review "Sweet and sapphic in every way, Doughnuts and Doom is everything my gay, witchy, baked-good-loving heart could ever want." — Sam Maggs, author of Tell No Tales: Pirates of the Southern Seas About the Author Balazs Lorinczi is an illustrator and graphic novelist with some animation and filmmaking background. He grew up in Hungary but now lives in Dundee, Scotland. Read more

Please Don't Tell My Parents I Work for a Supervillain

Citrus Plus Vol. 4

About the Author Saburouta is a Japanese artist best known as the author and artist of Citrus .

I Am Not Starfire

From School Library Journal Gr 7 Up—Short, chubby, white high school student Mandy feels like the opposite of her mom, Starfire, a superhero from the planet Tamaran who frequently graces magazine covers; Mandy's powers consist of making it through the school day, alongside her best friend Lincoln, the son of Vietnamese immigrants. When deadpan, goth Mandy is paired with her crush, popular Claire, for a project, she wonders if Claire might return her feelings—or if she's only being friendly to meet Starfire in person. But Mandy's problems enter the life-and-death realm when her mother's sister arrives, intent on wiping out any rivals to her power. Tamaki uses a superhero fantasy tale to tell a universal story of growing up and finding one's identity. Lincoln and Mandy face similar challenges; they're both the children of immigrants, technically. Yoshitani keeps the visual narrative lively with creative use of perspective and color; scenes from Mandy's childhood are framed in pink, while important characters are associated with signature colors (Lincoln's teal-framed glasses, Claire's orange fingernails and barrettes). One bold double-page spread appears ripped down the middle, with Mandy and her mother on opposing sides, heightening the conflict. VERDICT Filled with coming-of-age themes such as first crushes (and kisses), identity building, and fear of failure, this comic deserves a place on every teen graphic novel shelf alongside contemporary classics like Noelle Stevenson's Nimona.—Jenny Arch, Lilly Lib., Florence, MA About the Author Mariko Tamaki is an award-winning Canadian writer living in Oakland, California. Tamaki is the winner of the 2020 Eisner Award for Best Writer, her graphic novels have received Ignatz, Eisner, Printz and Caldecott Honors. She is the co-creator, with Jillian Tamaki, of This One Summer , and Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me , with Rosemary Valero-O'Connell. Her growing slate of critically acclaimed comics includes Adventure Time , She-Hulk , Lumberjanes , X-23 , Supergirl: Being Super , Wonder Woman , and Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass (with Steve Pugh).Yoshi Yoshitani is a California-based artist whose vibrant illustrations draw on inspiration from across the globe, with a particular focus on multicultural identity. Past clients include Disney, DC Comics, Valiant, Image, Dreamworks, and Netflix. Yoshi spends time researching world mythologies, listening to audiobooks, creating fashion inspiration boards, and attending comics conventions and art expos across the country.

Monster Hunter Alpha (3)

About the Author Larry Correia is the creator of the Wall Street Journal and New York Times best-selling Monster Hunter International series, with first entry Monster Hunter International, as well as urban fantasy hard-boiled adventure saga The Grimnoir Chronicles, with first entry Hard Magic, and epic fantasy series The Saga of the Forgotten Warrior, with first entry Son of the Black Sword. He is an avid gun user and advocate who shot on a competitive level for many years. Before becoming a full-time writer, he was a military contract accountant, and a small business accountant and manager. Correia lives in Utah with his wife and family.

Wicked Things

Dark Lord: The Early Years

About the Author Originally from a world beyond our own, DIRK LLOYD lives in the town of Whiteshields, England, where he spends most of his time trying to get back home to his Iron Tower in the Darklands. Some of his achievements include: building the Iron Tower of Despair, raising vast armies of Orcs and Goblins, the casting of mighty spells and enchantments (including the spell that forced JAMIE THOMSON to submit to his will and record his life story), and excelling in English, science, and math classes in school.

Deadpool: Dracula's Gauntlet

I Love My Mommy Because...

About the Author Laurel Porter-Gaylord is an artist as well as an author.Ashley Wolff is the creator and illustrator of many popular picture books.

Zero In (Nameless: Season Two Book 6)

About the Author Dean Koontz is the author of seventy-nine New York Times bestsellers, fourteen of which rose to #1. His books have sold over five hundred million copies worldwide, a figure that increases by more than seventeen million copies per year, and his work is published in thirty-eight languages. He was born and raised in Pennsylvania and lives with his wife, Gerda, and their dog, Elsa, in Southern California.

Assembling the Pieces: Supercharging Unitarian Universalist Social Action Committees

About the Author Gary D. Nissenbaum was the Chair of the Social Action Committee of The Unitarian Church in Summit from 2005 through 2012. In 2012, Mr. Nissenbaum received the Winifred Latimer Norman Award from the Unitarian Universalist District of Metropolitan New York "for extraordinary commitment and service in the area of social and racial justice." Also in 2012, the Unitarian Church in Summit received the Congregational Giving Award from the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee "in honor of exceptionally generous support" of UUSC projects in the developing world.  In 2010, the Unitarian Church in Summit received the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee's Social Action Award. It was the first year such an award was given. That same year, it was also one of only two large congregations to receive the Unitarian Universalist Association's Breakthrough Congregation Award. Mr. Nissenbaum is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey and serves as a cooperating attorney for that organization. He has published numerous articles on civil liberties issues for New Jersey Lawyer Magazine and is a frequent speaker on that topic to community groups, youth organizations and colleges. Mr. Nissenbaum is the managing principal of the Nissenbaum Law Group, a commercial law firm with offices in New Jersey, New York, Texas and Pennsylvania. He is a former Chairman of the District XII Attorney Ethics Committee (Union County) and a current member of the New Jersey, New York, Texas and District of Columbia Bars. He is also a published novelist and a Tai Chi Chuan instructor. Mr. Nissenbaum can be reached by email at gdn@gdnlaw.com.

Other Religions, Practices & Sacred Texts