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Joseph Kopel is an imaginative author who has transitioned from Sci-Fi to Space Opera and now ventures into the realm of Fantasy with his debut in the genre. What began as a hobby has grown into thirty-five years of writing. Being bilingual, he switched between English and Spanish. The greatest influences on him were the Latin American literature in Mexico City’s libraries and the most famous American Sci-Fi authors. When he is out of any fantastic realm to be in the world of reality, he enjoys his time with his wife, three kids, and his two pets. Currently, he lives in Northwest Missouri, in a small peaceful country town of only 250 people.
The Empress’ Palace The Nehel Series Book 2 By Joseph Kopel Genre: Epic Fantasy Adventure
Four years following the first book’s events.
Empress Nehel must navigate the complexities of ruling a Jyistereerk at war — the Deken Karsaker — while facing personal struggles and unforeseen circumstances.
The balance, once restored, shatters again with the loss of the continent of Ryza, all while a lost realm to the Gesha revives. Yet, a conspiracy within the Kingdom of Fenn ignites doubt as Nehel faces harsh decisions in the tragedy’s aftermath.
A story of coming of age, first love, and personal growth. This gripping tale will leave readers on the edge of their seats as they journey through a world of magic, intrigue and unexpected twists.
Disclaimer: The Ebook version is intentionally simplified for easy access on different devices and doesn’t have interior designs. The contents remain unchanged from the printed version.
Amid turmoil and despair, a new hope arises as a young empress.
The Gesha obliterated the once thriving but ailing Kingdom of Aranka, triggering an imbalance in Sankaris. Epidemics, wars, pollution, and madness plague the land as the protagonists pursue for answers.
A glimmer of faith spreads throughout the maimed world as the Promise. Her rise to power brings a much-needed balance, ensuring a fresh start and the dawning of a new era.
Will she unravel the mysteries behind these afflictions and restore the balance to Sankaris?
Join this captivating tale of humanity, resilience, determination, and the search for truths in a world gripped by darkness.
Disclaimer: The Ebook version is intentionally simplified for easy access on different devices and doesn’t have interior designs. The contents remain unchanged from the printed version.
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AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Did you learn anything from the writing of your recent book? I learned more about styles and editing, and writer’s perks from many valuable authors I haven’t done before.
Anything specific you want to tell your readers? Enjoy your life, but never stop reading. Read, read and read.
What is your favorite part of this book and why? The last chapters before the final one, considered the darker ones but also the most crucial in the characters’ development for Nehel and Alessandro.
If your book was made into a movie. Who would you like to play the lead? I still do not know who would be in the lead.
If you could spend time with a character from your book, who would it be? And what would you do on that day? I guess the Empress herself, and we would have a long conversation, mostly answering her questions about herself.
Are your characters based on real people, or did they come entirely from your imagination? Nehel, the Empress, is partially based on The Neverending Story’s empress, but my version of herself. Alessandro is a younger version of myself as he has many elements from my personality, and Fabehel is a distorted version of a classmate during Middle School, in whom I had a crush. The other characters were from my imagination.
Do your characters seem to hijack the story, or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story? Well. . . My characters seemed not to stop and insisted and keep writing more pages, but I says: “No more, the story ends here! There’s time for more!”
Convince us why you feel your book is a must read. It’s the critical point that ties the first book with the third, upcoming, as it gives a complete 360-degree turn in two of the most important characters. It is called character development.
Have you written any other books that are not published? Yes, and there are dozens of them. Over time, I will publish them.
If your book had a candle. What scent would be? Like the scents of those candles in the old churches.
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Dare to dream. Dare to believe. Dare to embrace your legacy. Orphan Pascal and his friends Paloma and Pierrot dive into the mystery of children disappearing in the enchanting land of The Vale.
Dare to dream. Dare to believe. Dare to embrace your legacy. In the enchanting land of The Vale, the grand city of Pivot stands as a beacon of innovation where scientific progress clashes with the now-dwindling beliefs in magic that the place once held. Just outside of Pivot, 17-year-old Pascal has spent his life at The Skystead Home for Orphaned Children. Life outside the orphanage seems ceaselessly interesting, and shielded from the rest of the world, he wants nothing more than to explore. Already puzzled by unanswered questions about his past, Pascal’s concern deepens as he learns about a grim mystery of local children’s disappearances. In pursuit of finding his place in life, Pascal is joined by Paloma—a street-savvy girl and former gang leader with a tragic past—and Pierrot—a silent, enigmatic companion. Together, the unlikely trio begins to sneak out of the orphanage to experience the one place that still embraces magic: the welcoming carnival. As secrets begin to unravel, the truth unveils hidden powers within each of these three young adventurers. Their friendships are challenged as they overcome demons, both inside and outside themselves. Yet, each step brings them closer to the truth: a sinister plot that threatens the very fabric of their world. Before they know it, the fate of the missing children has become inextricably intertwined with their own. The Harlequin’s Legacy is a gripping tale of adventure, friendship, and self-discovery. Pascal, Paloma, and Pierrot trust in their inner courage and resilience to reach their true potential despite trials and tribulations. This story encourages everyone to dare to dream, to believe in themselves, and embrace the legacy that awaits them. Adventure, magic, and self-discovery await! Are you ready to join Pascal and his friends as they uncover hidden secrets and embrace a timeless legacy? Witness the journey firsthand—grab your copy of The Harlequin’s Legacy today and become part of the story!
Meet Andrés Rosas Hott, an emerging voice in literature and the author of The Harlequin’s Legacy. With a master’s in Graphic Design and Illustration from Konstfack University and a background as a commercial director, Andrés blends creativity and storytelling in captivating ways. His debut novel, inspired by his favorite character, The Harlequin, combines fantasy with themes of courage, identity, and personal growth. Based in Stockholm, Sweden, Andrés balances his creative pursuits with family life, finding inspiration in both the imagination and his loved ones. The Harlequin’s Legacy is just the beginning of an exciting journey into fantasy and self-discovery.
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What are some of your pet peeves? I’m definitely a cat person. I love all types of cats—how cute and fierce they can be, how independent they are, and how everything is always on their terms. That said, I’m an animal lover in general, except when it comes to ticks!
Where were you born/grew up at? I was born in Osorno, Chile, but I’ve spent most of my life in the stunning city of Stockholm, Sweden. While I’ve always carried a piece of Chile with me, Stockholm has shaped much of who I am today, with its charming streets, vibrant culture, and long, beautiful summers. The mix of my roots in South America and the experiences I’ve had in Sweden gives me a unique perspective on life.
Who is your hero and why? I firmly believe in the saying, “Never meet your heroes,” because no one is perfect, and heroes are often just people with flaws like the rest of us. That being said, I admire people who spread love, kindness, and joy. Robin Williams is a great example. His ability to bring laughter while also showing deep compassion and vulnerability makes him someone I truly look up to.
How did you come up with the concept and characters for the book? The inspiration for my book began with my fascination with The Harlequin, a character from Commedia dell’arte whose vibrant costume, iconic mask, and bicorne hat embody a timeless archetype of cleverness, agility, and courage. His mix of mystery, playfulness, and heroism sparked my imagination and laid the foundation for the world I’ve created. I was especially intrigued by the Harlequin’s darker roots, such as the chilling depiction of “Hellequin”—a devil’s emissary chasing damned souls to Hell. This duality of whimsy and shadow
inspired me to craft a mythology where light and darkness coexist, entwined with themes of self-discovery, courage, and belonging. Set in a world where magic and progress collide, this adventure is about friendship and uncovering hidden truths. At its core, it celebrates daring to dream, believing in yourself, and embracing the legacy that awaits—even when its shape is unclear. I hope readers will be inspired by its characters, their courage, and the enduring magic of a journey that balances humor and heart with mystery and depth.
Who designed your book covers? Ary Fajriyanto also created all the illustrations in the book.
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination? Yes, the main characters, like Pascal and Pierrot, are inspired by my two sons, Pascal and Marcél. As for Paloma, she’s based on the many strong girls and women I’ve had the privilege of meeting throughout my life.
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Discover passion among the stars… Blast off to the future with this limited-edition collection of sizzling, science fiction romance stories!
Beyond Earth Romance Collections Limited Editions book 14 A Limited Edition Collection of Sci-Fiction Romance with stories by Celia Breslin, Stephanie Morris, Candice Gilmer, Leslie Chase, Alina Riley, Robin O’Connor, Sky Robert, Lola Blix
Discover passion among the stars… Blast off to the future with this limited edition collection of sizzling, science fiction romance stories!
Otherworldly seduction and intergalactic adventures await you in these high-heat, open-door tales from a diverse group of authors. Meet alien gladiators, cyborgs, AI lifeforms, psychic aliens, interstellar royalty, psy-changelings, fearless humans, and more. Visit alien worlds, travel on high-tech vessels, and immerse yourself in red-hot seduction blazing brighter than any quasar.
The Beyond Earth anthology is a pulse-pounding, toe-curling journey into the cosmos. If you enjoy out-of-this-world romance with guaranteed happily ever afters, lovers from different worlds, fated mates, enemies to lovers, grumpy-sunshine, rescue romance, and more, then you’ll love this treasure trove of spicy, steamy, futuristic stories. Order your copy of Beyond Earth to begin your passion-filled voyage into the galaxy today!
Including stories by: Candice Gilmer – NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Stephanie Morris – USA Today bestselling author Leslie Chase – USA Today bestselling author Alina Riley Robin O’Connor Celia Breslin Sky Robert Lola Blix
Celia Breslin lives in San Francisco, California, USA, with her family, which includes three feisty felines who like to stalk across her keyboard while she’s hard at work crafting urban fantasy, sci-fi and paranormal romances. Her current creature obsessions are cyborgs, the Fae, vampires, wolf shifters, and warrior-class angels, and her action-packed stories include some of her favorite tropes: fated mates, second chances, rescue romance, opposites attract, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, and more.
When not glued to her laptop, Celia likes to work out, read books (of course!), hang with her family, and binge-watch sci-fi and fantasy TV shows and movies. Matcha lattes keep her fueled for All The Life Stuff!
Sparks fly when a battle-hardened cyborg rescues a sassy human lost in the cosmos…
Earth-girl Calie is out of hope. Kidnapped, enslaved, then abandoned by aliens, she’s sure to suffer a slow death on their stupid space station. Then new trouble arrives, claiming her as their property, but hot on their heels is a grumpy guy with a big hot bod and blazing eyes… The thrill setting her skin afire has less to do with potential rescue or New Guy’s battle prowess, and everything to do with the way he looks at her.
Cyborg soldier Kaden is unamused by his enemy’s unhealthy interest in the vulnerable lone female with a sharp tongue and wild braids. Her terrible aim is complicating his rescue attempts, but her bravery, stubbornness, and velvet voice send electric need through both his human and cybernetic systems. He’ll do anything to save her.
Kaden wants to explore his attraction to Calie and claim her as his, but his sworn enemy’s relentless pursuit and Calie’s own skittishness challenge his goal. Calie appreciates all the cyborg has done for her, but she’s homesick and unsure about diving into a relationship, even if the hunky cyborg is the nicest man and best kisser in the universe.
While the enemy horde stalks them across the galaxy, can they learn to trust each other with both their lives and their hearts?
CLAIMING KADEN is a spicy, open-door, Fated Mates Rescue Romance, and the first installment in Celia Breslin’s CYBORG GUARDIANS OF THE AURORA science fiction romance series. If you like take-no-prisoners cyborgs and sassy heroines, sizzling seduction and intergalactic adventure, check out CLAIMING KADEN today!
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Celia’s Top Ten Sci-Fi TV Shows
Here are my picks for some binge-worthy TV science fiction.
Firefly (2002 – 2003): A space western with a great cast including the awesome Nathan Fillion and the hilarious Alan Tudyk. Stellar humor, action, and sci-fi tech makes it a must-watch.
Resident Alien (2021 – present): Did I mention how funny Alan Tudyk is? Why, yes, I did. If you haven’t seen his new show, it’s definitely worth a binge. Tudyk is an alien sent to kill all humans, but things don’t go as planned…
Orphan Black (2013 – 2017): A dark and gritty science fiction thriller about human cloning with Tatiana Maslany playing multiple, fascinating roles. A must-watch for dark sci fi fans.
The Umbrella Academy (2019 – 2024): Parallel universes, time travel, robots, aliens, superpowers, and unlikely heroes trained from childhood to save the world… Begin the binge!
The 100 (2014 – 2020): The Earth is gone, and 100 young adults are forced from their space ark and exiled on a hostile planet. Gripping, gritty, dark, and addictive.
Severance (2022 – present): A must-see sci-fi psychological thriller starring Adam Scott, about corporate greed and the dangerous technology used to control people via brain implants. Yikes!
Stranger Things (2016 – present): Sci-fi horror at its finest. Creepy monsters from alternate parallel dimension, telekinesis, remote viewing, telepathy, and science experiments gone terribly wrong. If you haven’t watched it yet, what are you waiting for? 😉
The Expanse (2015 – 2022): Space travel, alien organisms, worm holes, bioengineering, terraforming, and more. Humans have colonized the solar system, but is that a good thing? Compelling, hard sci-fi worthy of a good binge.
Babylon 5 (1994 – 1998): Sci-fi space opera goodness. Follows the lives of fascinating characters (aliens and humans) aboard a space station operating as a sort of United Nations. Political intrigue guaranteed.
Doctor Who (1963 – present): One of the most bingeable sci-fi classics on TV today. Dive in anywhere and join the Time Lord Doctor as he regenerates every season and time travels all over the universe. Both heart-wrenching and humorous, the Doctor never disappoints.
Bonus Pick: Farscape! I know what you’re thinking: “It’s a top 10, Celia.” Well, yes, but I couldn’t resist giving you a little bonus show. Another sci-fi cult classic, (1999 -2003) with riveting alien characters and a lone human astronaut whose mission goes horribly, horribly wrong. A fun and fascinating series.
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Douglas Smith is a five-time award-winning author described by Library Journal as “one of Canada’s most original writers of speculative fiction.”
His latest work is the multi-award-winning YA urban fantasy trilogy, The Dream Rider Saga. Other books include the urban fantasy novel, The Wolf at the End of the World; the collections, Chimerascope and Impossibilia; and the writer’s guide Playing the Short Game. His short fiction has appeared in the top markets in the field, including The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Amazing Stories, InterZone, Weird Tales, and many others.
He is a 4-time winner of Canada’s Aurora Award as well as the juried IAP Award. He’s been a finalist for the Astounding Award, CBC’s Bookies Award, Canada’s juried Sunburst Award, the juried Alberta Magazine Award for Fiction, and France’s juried Prix Masterton and Prix Bob Morane.
When Did You Start Writing? / When did you realize you wanted to be a writer? I did a lot of writing in high school, but got away from it for many years. I’d always planned to get serious about fiction “someday.” Then, in 1995, I finally decided to try. I started writing what would become my first professionally published story, “Spirit Dance,” but I really wasn’t making much progress. I’d spent, I think, all of July rewriting the same opening scene. Then, while on vacation, I came across a book called The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. It’s essentially a twelve-step program for recovering your creativity as an adult, the creativity we’re all born with and which is then beaten out of us by society as we’re told to grow up and get a real job. It’s a wonderful book and one I recommend to anyone who wants to be creative (or more creative), whether that be writing, art, music, acting, or whatever. But the real impetus for me to get serious about writing came when I returned from that vacation. and read that one of my all-time favourite writers, Roger Zelazny, had passed away from cancer at the far too young age of 56. That was it. Right then, I decided not to wait for “someday” or retirement or anything to start writing. There’s no guarantee any of us will live long enough to have a “someday.” I started producing stories regularly and sending them out to professional markets. I submitted my first story in January 1996—and got my first rejection that same month. But I kept submitting and received my first acceptance letter for “Spirit Dance” on Dec 31 that year, which was a great way to end a year and start a new one.
How did you discover the joys of speculative fiction? I had two “discovery” periods. When I was eight, a friend introduced me to Robert A. Heinlein’s young-adult SF novels — essentially rocket and ray-gun books. I devoured all of those, but then stopped reading the genre. Then in Grade 11, I had to do a paper in English comparing the works of multiple authors. Amazingly, the teacher included a group consisting of Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, and Ray Bradbury, which, of course, was the group I picked. That assignment got me back into reading SF and fantasy.
What writing has inspired you? / Major Influences? / Favourite Authors? I’d have to say my favourite author and influence on my own writing has been the late Roger Zelazny. His Lord of Light is one of the greatest speculative fiction novels ever written. His stories are often based on mythology, and I’ve always loved myths—Greek, Norse, Egyptian, Native American—so that was one attraction to his work. His prose style is lean but poetic, his stories poignant and mythic and filled with unique characters you want to spend time with. Plus, his work shows the most fantastic range of imagination of any writer I’ve ever encountered. I don’t think I write like him, but I’m sure he’s had an influence. Ray Bradbury’s short fiction was another early influence. He wrote about the fantastical hiding in our everyday lives, whether the hidden mystery is wondrous or frightening. I love his lyrical prose style, the simple humanity of his characters, and his insight into what it means to be human, no matter what our age. I reread “Something Wicked This Way Comes” recently. When I’d read it as a teenager, I remember loving the book and the kid characters, but not really “getting” the father. Reading it now, as an adult and father, I realize that Bradbury really understood both generations and the changes, choices, and regrets that come with age, and that is where the power of the book resides. I came to Hemingway late and after he was out of fashion, but his lean prose style amazed me, the way he could say so much by saying so little, and often communicating as much by what he left out, by what his characters didn’t discuss, as what he put on the page. Other favourite authors include Charles de Lint, Shirley Jackson, Emily St. John Mandel, Amor Towles, Thomas Perry, Thomas King, Ian Hamilton, Neil Gaiman, and Tim Powers. That’s a short list (but a good one). Some favourite books, including a lot on non-speculative fiction, include Station Eleven, The Queen’s Gambit, A Gentleman in Moscow, Memory & Dream, Ready Player One, Weaveworld, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, Ian Hamilton’s Ava Lee series, and of course, the spec fic classics like Dune, Stranger in a Strange Land, and LOTR. I’ve also written several short stories inspired in some way by the songs of Bruce Springsteen. He’s an astounding storyteller. In a few lines, he tells stories of everyday people struggling with whatever life has thrown at them, but with an attitude of defiance and hope despite the odds against them. And Buffy. Major Buffy fan. It remains one of the most creative shows ever to hit TV and is a writing workshop on character development and arcs and dialog.
Why start with short fiction? I started with short fiction because in spec fic, it’s been traditional to break in writing short stories. But I also think it makes sense to start with the short form before trying to tackle a novel, and I always urge young writers to do the same. Short stories let you learn the craft of fiction much faster than writing a novel. Twenty 5,000-word short stories let you experiment far more with different styles, points of view, genres, story structures, etc. than you could in a single 100,000-word novel. Plus, you’ll be able to find out earlier if your writing is at a publishable level by submitting those stories to short fiction markets. And short fiction will teach you skills you need whether you write short stories or novels—handling point of view, story structure, use of scenes, characterization, plot, pacing, dialog, setting, world building, information flow, voice—not to mention basic sentence structure, paragraphing, punctuation, grammar. I moved to novels once all my “short” stories started becoming very long stories.
What I read as a child I was reading by the time I was four, thanks to my parents reading to me every night at bedtime. It hooked me on books for a lifetime. Reading was a way to have wonderful adventures as a kid and make my world so much bigger than my house and neighborhood and school. My early favourites were animal stories, which probably led me to my love for writing shapeshifter tales. I loved A.E. Milne’s “Winnie the Pooh” books (apparently my favourite bedtime stories as a young child) and Walter Brook’s “Freddie the Pig” series (the first books I remember knowing how to find in a library). Later it was everything by Jack London. About grade 5 or 6, Robert A. Heinlein juveniles got me hooked on SF, which led to fantasy. John Creasey and Dorothy Sayers introduced me to mystery and crime fiction somewhere in there as well. I believe that parents can teach kids to love reading by reading them a bedtime story EVERY night, from the day you bring them home. Make it a fun time, something they look forward to and associate with a wonderful experience. And make books a natural thing to have around. Our kids knew we’d say “no” to games, toys, or candy when out shopping—but they could always buy a new book. And for any wannabe writers, you can’t be a writer if you’re not a voracious reader. Period.
Will Dreycott is a superhero. In his dreams…and in yours.
The Hollow Boys The Dream Rider Saga Book 1 by Douglas Smith Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
WINNER OF THE 2023 AURORA AWARD FOR BEST YA NOVEL WINNER OF THE 2023 JURIED IAP AWARD FOR BEST YA NOVEL
“Thrilling YA fantasy” —BookLife (Editor’s Pick) “A must-read story for YA fantasy fans.” —Blueink Review (Starred review) “Inventive, engaging, and boundless fun.” —The Ottawa Review of Books
Vanishing street kids. An ancient evil. The end of the world. Our only hope? A hero who can’t leave home.
At seventeen, Will Dreycott is a superhero…in his dreams. And in yours.
Eight years ago, Will’s parents, shady dealers in ancient artifacts, disappeared on a jungle expedition. Will, the sole survivor, returned home with no memory of what happened, bringing a gift…and a curse.
The gift? Will can walk in our dreams. At night in Dream, Will hunts for criminals—and his parents. During the day, his Dream Rider comic, about a superhero no one knows is real, has made Will rich.
The curse? Severe agoraphobia. Will can’t go outside. So he makes his home a skyscraper with everything he needs in life—everything but the freedom to walk the streets of his city.
Case, an orphan Will’s age, survives on those streets with her younger brother, Fader. Survives because she too has a gift. She hears voices warning her of danger. And Fader? Well, he fades.
When street kids start vanishing, the Dream Rider joins the hunt. Will’s search becomes personal when Case breaks into his tower to escape her own abduction. Fader isn’t so lucky.
As Will and Case search for Fader and the missing kids, an unlikely romance grows between the boy with everything and the girl with nothing except the freedom Will longs for.
But as they push deeper into the mystery, they confront an ancient power feeding on these forgotten kids to restore itself. And once restored, no one in the world will be safe.
To defeat this creature, Will must do the impossible.
Go outside.
Indiana Jones meets Teen Titans in The Dream Rider Saga, a fast-paced urban fantasy trilogy from “one of Canada’s most original writers of speculative fiction” (Library Journal).
Praise for The Hollow Boys: “This arresting series kickoff grips from the start as it introduces its inventive milieu, its flawed but fantastically powered hero, its playful worldbuilding, and a host of tantalizing mysteries. … [A] vigorously imaginative scenario. … Takeaway: Thrilling YA fantasy” —BookLife (Editor’s Pick)
“An assured, confident novel … A must-read story for YA fantasy fans.” —Blueink Review (Starred review)
“Inventive, engaging, and boundless fun.” —The Ottawa Review of Books “A fun supernatural tale with well-developed characters and a touch of romance.” —Kirkus Reviews Praise for Douglas Smith:
“The man is Sturgeon good. Zelazny good. I don’t give those up easy.” —Spider Robinson, Hugo and Nebula Awards winner
“A great storyteller with a gifted and individual voice.” —Charles de Lint, World Fantasy Award winner
“His stories are a treasure trove of riches that will touch your heart while making you think.” —Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo and Nebula Awards winner
Sequel to the AURORA AWARD WINNER and the Juried IAP AWARD WINNER, The Hollow Boys
“Give me the Crystal Key!”
Will Dreycott is the Dream Rider, the agoraphobic teenage superhero who can walk in our dreams but never in the streets of his city. Case is his girlfriend, a survivor of those streets who hears voices that warn her of danger. Fader is her brother, who is very good at disappearing. Together, they defeated a body swapper and a witch to save the world (The Hollow Boys).
Now, Case battles guilt over living sheltered in Will’s tower home while her street friends still struggle. Blaming his affliction for Case’s sadness, Will searches for a way to live a normal life with the girl he loves—a way to go outside.
But his efforts draw the attention of dark forces. Sinister figures hunt Will in Dream. Intruders scour the vast warehouse of antiquities “acquired” by Will’s missing parents. And a masked swordswoman attacks Will, demanding “the Crystal Key” before disappearing into thin air.
Are they all searching for the same thing? Something from Will’s parents’ shady past? For the swordswoman leaves behind a flowery scent, Will’s only memory from the lost expedition eight years ago that gave him powers in Dream but cost him his parents and his freedom.
A trail of dark secrets leads Will, Case, and Fader to a mysterious world. Trapped between warring cults willing to kill for the Crystal Key, the three friends must master strange new powers that grow stronger and wilder the closer they draw to the truth.
This time it’s not just the fate of the world at stake…but the multiverse.
~ ~ ~
Indiana Jones meets Teen Titans in The Dream Rider Saga, a fast-paced urban fantasy trilogy from “one of Canada’s most original writers of speculative fiction” (Library Journal).
Praise for The Crystal Key: “The richly inventive Dream Rider adventure continues in this second appealing entry…with an exciting plot… always enlivened by the Smith hallmarks of crack dialogue, fun sleuthing and puzzle-solving, a strong throughline of emotion, a swift pace…and a principled refusal to settle for the familiar. Takeaway: This thrilling superpowered urban fantasy series continues to grip.” (New readers should start with book one.) —BookLife (Editor’s Pick) “The engrossing second installment of Douglas Smith’s Dream Rider Saga trilogy. … Smith continues to demonstrate an ability to expertly weave multiple complex fantasy elements into a cohesive whole. … This fast-paced story delivers in a big way—and Smith has all his ducks lined up for an explosive conclusion [to the series] that readers won’t want to miss.” —Blueink Review (★ Starred review) Praise for Douglas Smith:
“The man is Sturgeon good. Zelazny good. I don’t give those up easy.” —Spider Robinson, Hugo and Nebula Awards winner
“A great storyteller with a gifted and individual voice.” —Charles de Lint, World Fantasy Award winner
“His stories are a treasure trove of riches that will touch your heart while making you think.” —Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo and Nebula Awards winner
“Stories you can’t forget, even years later.” —Julie Czerneda, multi-award-winning author and editor
The Thrilling Conclusion to the Multi-Award-Winning Trilogy
Will is the Dream Rider, the superhero who walks in our dreams but never in the streets of his own city. Case is his girlfriend, a survivor of those streets who hears voices warning her of danger. Fader, her brother, is very good at disappearing.
In The Hollow Boys, they defeated a body swapper and a witch to save the world. In The Crystal Key, they battled warring cults to protect an ancient artifact tied to Will’s affliction.
The Chakana. The Crystal Key. But the key to what? To finding answers, they hope, to the questions that rule their lives.
What caused their strange powers? And Will’s crippling agoraphobia? Can he be cured? Why did their parents travel to the jungles of Peru eight years ago? Are they still alive?
Behind every question is the Chakana. What is the mysterious relic? Why will people kill to possess it? What hold does it have on Will?
As creatures from Inca myths haunt the three friends, another attack on the Chakana threatens Will’s life. To save him and solve the mystery of the lost expedition, only one choice remains.
Return to Peru. With the Chakana.
There, they find friends and foes, both old and new. And behind it all, an unseen enemy moving them like pieces on a chessboard.
To win this deadly game, Will, Case, and Fader must master new powers to defeat the most dangerous adversary they’ve ever faced—a god.
At stake this time? Every life, every world, every universe. Everything.
Indiana Jones meets Teen Titans in The Dream Rider Saga, a fast-paced urban fantasy trilogy from “one of Canada’s most original writers of speculative fiction” (Library Journal).
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Molly, accompanied by her son and his boyfriend, embarks on a high-stakes mission to rescue her kidnapped husband, unraveling secrets while racing against the clock to prevent a technology from falling into destructive hands.
The Poseidon Project The Herb Society Mysteries Book 1 by E. William Podojil Genre: Techno Thriller, Adventure, Romantic Suspense
Molly Halloran and her friends have a secret past. Their bucolic retirement is suddenly upended when Molly’s husband is abducted and held for a steep ransom. Now she, her friends, her tech executive son, Lukas and his Air Force pilot boyfriend must race against the clock and travel halfway around the world to meet the kidnappers’ demands. But when they learn why her husband has been abducted, they realize how high the stakes truly are. Molly and her friends now must face their past in order to save the future. But not only their futures; the world’s.
E. William Podojil is an international business executive and novelist. He has traveled extensively and visited over sixty countries while living in Europe and the United States. Podojil works as an executive business advisor, and strategist while also pursuing his love of storytelling and writing. Podojil’s first novel, The Tenth Man, was published in 2004. His second novel, The Poseidon Project, was be released in August, 2024 by The Wild Rose Press, and is the first in The Herb Society Mysteries, a series of adventure thrillers. His novels and other writing are showcased on his website http://www.ewpodojil.com. Here he also writes a personal blog with humorous stories of his life and travels with his husband and three sons. He and his family currently reside in Northeast Ohio.
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What inspired you to write this book? I am a huge fan of Thrillers, Suspense, Action-Adventure and like to write in that genre. My idea for Poseidon came from a couple of areas. First, the main characters are retired women scientists who are kind of bored in retirement and they have a secret past you’ll learn about in the book. Second, I like stories that have protagonists/heroes who are not stereotypically perfect, strong, fearless and things like that. So I took the four retired women, one woman’s son who is a tech genius but complicated and afraid of getting into a relationship, the man he finally meets and all the family dynamics that go on while the mystery is playing out.
What can we expect from you in the future? Book 2 is titled Archipelago and involves the same characters and an expansion of the story and mysteries from Book 1. Archipelago is in production and will be released in 2025. Book 3 is the continuation of the storyline and is titled, Chameleon and that should be out in 2026. The storylines are complex, twisted, multi-dimensional with many surprises thrown in.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in The Poseidon Project? Molly Halloran – leader of a 4-friend group called The Herb Society, all retired women, ex-physicists, teachers and a secret mission they shared. Lukas Halloran – Molly’s son is a technical genius who works in cybersecurity. His father goes missing while on business in Dubai and Molly asks her son to help find out what happened to him. Taylor Pastore – Jet pilot, ex-Air Force Special Forces agent. He falls for Lukas while piloting Lukas in a private jet. Tory Pastore – Taylor’s daughter who is grown up and also a pilot with her dad.
Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author? I have worked in business for most of my career, always in commercial functions like sales and marketing. I lived in Europe for more than a decade and was able to travel around the world. I’d always dreamed of writing a book and finally wrote The Tenth Man and published it in 2004. For the next 20 years I dreamed about my next book (and raised three sons which kept me a bit busy), which is The Poseidon Project, published in 2024.
What is something unique/quirky about you? I’m organized and like to be on time, which normally drives my family crazy.
What are some of your pet peeves? Laziness and not doing what was promised.
Where were you born/grew up at? Born in Ohio, grew up in Connecticut and Ohio, lived 14 years in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and now back in Ohio. It’s been quite a journey.
How to find time to write as a parent? When my boys were little, I didn’t find the time to write or had no energy. I was working in an executive level job and flying all over the world and probably spent a decade in some state of jet-lag. I gave all my energy to work and family and very little to myself in terms of doing things I loved to do (not a recommended strategy by the way.) After doing everything I wanted to do career-wise and raising my boys to be adults, I finally had the time and space to start writing again.
Describe yourself in 5 words or less! Creative, Empowering, Resilient, Storyteller, Determined
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A must-read for Sherlockians, history enthusiasts, and anyone eager to uncover the hidden layers of Victorian England.
Rediscover Victorian England’s forgotten history and culture.
Volume V of The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes explores the cultural, scientific, and historical allusions found throughout Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective stories. This collection of essays unpacks twenty-four topics mentioned in the original mysteries, from everyday details like hats and plumbing to complex issues such as international spying, the binomial theorem, and relations with Russia. Through such insights, readers gain a deeper understanding of the Victorian world in which Holmes operated.
Other essays explore both the familiar and the obscure, touching on subjects like the KKK’s presence in England, the significance of whaling, and legal concepts like insanity and blackmail. Unique cultural topics—such as the role of curry in the British Empire, the rise of bohemianism, and the Victorian obsession with rejuvenation through animal hormones—reveal the rich complexity of the era. The collection also features a bonus essay on Sarah Cushing from The Adventure of the Cardboard Box, offering fresh insight into one of the most sinister characters in the Canon.
Whether examining automata, wax figures, or the legal definitions of murder and suicide, The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes provides a compelling lens through which readers gain a deeper understanding of the historical and social backdrop of the Holmes mysteries.
A must-read for Sherlockians, history enthusiasts, and anyone eager to uncover the hidden layers of Victorian England.
Sherlock Holmes, the most cerebral of detectives, finds his deductive powers put to the test in this intriguing collection of cases. Each adventure presents a web of secrets, clues, and deceptions. Only his highly honed observational skills lead him to the truth.
In a locked-room murder, did the victim succumb to “The Curse of Kisin?” And how had the daughter of Squire Northridge disappeared from her own locked bedroom? Can Holmes, an ocean away, determine if a missing treasure hunter ran off with Jean Lafitte’s fabled buried plunder? The disappearance of a beloved dog is an adventure filled with whimsy and humor, as are the return of Lady Frances Carfax and the howling dog of Baker Street.
Holmes’ unrivaled deductive powers rise to the test with each case. He shines as the consummate master of the art of detection and will captivate from beginning to end.
Liese Sherwood-Fabre is an award-winning author known for her meticulously researched works of historical fiction and mystery. With a background in social sciences, she brings a unique depth to her characters and settings, particularly in her acclaimed series The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes, which explores Victorian England through the lens of the famous detective’s world. Her essays delve into the cultural and historical intricacies of the era, uncovering hidden details that enhance her stories’ authenticity. Her fiction weaves real historical events and social insights into suspenseful plots, creating immersive narratives that captivate fans of both history and mystery. An avid traveler and lifelong scholar, Dr. Sherwood-Fabre combines curiosity and expertise to craft stories that transport readers to fascinating past worlds filled with intrigue and insight.
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A Little Texas for Sherlock
Being a native-born Texan, I was happy to find Sherlock Holmes also has some ties to Texas. Lillie Langtry, a British actress romantically linked to King Edward VII, is thought to have influenced the character of Irene Adler. Judge Roy Bean, the colorful saloon owner and self-proclaimed “Law West of the Pecos,” was so taken with the actress (whom he never met), he named his saloon “Jersey Lily” and his town Langtry, Texas. The town remains as a quirky historical tribute to her lasting charm and Bean’s unrequited admiration. A second tie comes from a ship. Holmes tracks a suspect to the ship “The Lone Star” in “The Five Orange Pips.” Even Watson knows Texas is “The Lone Star State.”
I decided to add my own Texas tie to Holmes. In Master of the Art of Detection, one story involves another of the more famous characters in Texas history. The pirate Jean Lafitte made his mark on the Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana. For several years, he used Galveston Island (near Houston) as a base to raid Spanish ships and trade goods on the black market. Known for playing both sides, he also occasionally aided the U.S., most notably by providing intelligence and supplies to Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812. At the same time, his base on Galveston Island became a haven for smuggling and piracy. Though Lafitte was ultimately expelled from Texas, his legacy continues through the legends surrounding the treasure he left buried somewhere on the island. Holmes, however, soon uncovers Lafitte’s secrets.
These ties connect Victorian England with the rough, colorful world of 19th-century Texas and bridge two seemingly different worlds whose spirit of adventure and intrigue knows no boundaries. By adding a Texas mystery to Holmes’ cases, I honor my state’s tradition of unique characters and history and make Holmes’s adventures as boundless as the Texas sky.
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Candy Crone is a Christmas Short Story standalone in the bestselling Hawthorne University Witch Series.
Candy Crone The Hawthorne University Witch Series Book 8 By A.L. Hawke Genre: Paranormal Holiday Fantasy
Candy Crone is a Christmas Short Story standalone following Shadow Cast in the Hawthorne University Witch Series.
While I’m enjoying a spicy caramel apple surprise at our local ice cream parlor, an old lady in rags rambles nonsense about candy canes to children waiting for Santa. That distracts me from prepping my young friend Cat for her college interview at Hawthorne University.
Christmas turns into creepy Halloween when all the local children, including Cat, disappear in the woods. Bryce and I search our forest but become spellbound. All this voracious casting heralds the arrival of a new witch in town. The Candy Crone.
As the Hawthorne Witch, I hold great power, but with my unborn baby kicking, the witch exploits my sins and vices through gluttony. Am I nothing more than my appetites and power as the Hawthorne Witch? Or can I accomplish something greater? If I can’t sort my stuff out, Cat, my unborn baby, Chandra, and all these innocent kids living in Hawthorne are toast.
Cadence Hawthorne returns in this Christmas novella taking place after Shadow Cast, book 6, in The Hawthorne University Witch Series. Candy Crone is a complete self-contained novella not ending in cliffhangers. Some spoilers cannot be avoided, but the story is a STANDALONE book that can be enjoyed without reading the preceding novels.
A.L. Hawke is the author of the bestselling Hawthorne University Witch series. The author lives in Southern California torching the midnight candle over lovers against a backdrop of machines, nymphs, magic, spice and mayhem. A.L. Hawke writes fantasy and romance spanning four thousand years, from pre-civilization to contemporary and beyond.
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AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time? If I’m really into a particular project, it becomes all encompassing. I prefer one book at a time but it doesn’t always work out that way. And lately, I also work on converting books to audio at the same time.
What made you want to become an author and do you feel it was the right decision? I always had ideas in my head about writing. I think I always wanted to be a storyteller my whole life.
Advice you would give new authors? Take a look at other books in your interested genre. Learn from other writers by looking at what’s been written before. And do it for the fun of writing, not for the dollar. At an average cost of $3.99 per ebook, just doing the math, this isn’t a job making writers rich. You really have to love it for the craft.
Describe your writing style. I think my books are very dialog-heavy. It’s funny because I’ve heard the opposite. Some say they were impressed with my descriptive writing, but I really feel like most of the time I’m using description as a scaffold for conversation. I’m letting the characters run the show. So, reality comes in the form of dialog. It’s what breathes life into my characters.
What makes a good story? Something engrossing.
What are you currently reading? I’m reading It Ends with Us. Heard of it? I’m giving that book a whirl.
What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first? No outlines. My characters shape what happens.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want? That’s a good question. It’s a mix. If I feel like something is successful, like my witch series has been, then I want to spend my time working with my success. That’s why I’ve written so many books in the series. But I write some books outside of my typical genre. And I like to take chances. It’s part of being an “artist” not a marketer. Because indie writers tend to be on different sides of that spectrum.
How long on average does it take you to write a book? I can write about four pages an hour. I’m very prolific and can bust out a novel in a couple of weeks. The editing process can take longer, but, in many ways editing is more gratifying. There’s no blank pages staring at you. Or you’re not looking at page count and thinking “man, I’ve only got another hundred pages to go.”
Do you believe in writer’s block? Absolutely. I suffer from it all the time. But, for me, it’s not a blank page. I can write pages upon pages, but it’s a sense that I’m struggling to get work out. If the story comes easy, it’s so much more of a pleasure and I know it’s going to be good.
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As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.
Ian Conner is retired and spent most of his adult life as a Marine and Army Infantry Sergeant. A hundred percent disabled veteran after multiple head and other injuries, he is part of a growing number of vets classified as “neuro-diverse”, an MST survivor and have several issues such regarding comprehension, concentration, and vision issues that he has OVERCOME to write several novels. After witnessing a lifetime of destruction, the thought of creating something tangible and lasting holds great appeal.
He finds writing a cathartic way to redefine himself both in his eyes and in the eyes of others. Writing for fun, Ian has completed seven novels with an eighth near done with two more ideas in the scribble/chapter phase. He has written across four genres Fantasy, Thriller, Science Fiction and Horror.
He uses ProWritingAid, Beta Readers and professional editors keep the product readable, he has recently began querying in search of a professional agent and publisher. Now living near San Diego California with his wife Bonnie, a cellist, and their two dogs, Cookie and Isabella. Conner spends his days fostering kittens, gardening, crafting beautiful stained glass and creating worlds on the page.
Dark Maiden has taken a Native American legend and created the most intense story of ghosts and horror and things that go bump in the night.
Dark Maiden by Ian Conner Genre: Historical Dark Fantasy
Haunting and horrifying, the tale keeps readers engaged all the way to the shocking end. Intertwined with Native American lore Dark Maiden weaves a seducing chilling tale. Dark Maiden grabs you at the first page the story sets us up in 16th century Maine, Onata Village. Conner gave readers a tale of a beautiful bewitching Maiden seen by the lake by four sisters under the moonlight. Dark Maiden takes you from past to present to past to tell this horrifying curse tale. Readers need to pay attention during the time transitions, but readers will be engrossed with fantastic writing you cannot put down. Dark Maiden has taken a Native American legend and created the most intense story of ghosts and horror and things that go bump in the night. Although a somber tone permeates the book, there is a recurring theme of loyalty and resilience. Each character exhibits self-determination, fortitude, and resourcefulness until the conclusion. You grow to love each person as if you belong to the fight against evil forces. Full of surprises and character growth readers will love the tale.
Would you like a chance to win a$20 Starbucks Gift Card – 1 winner, Print Copy of Dark Maiden – 2 winners! Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
The Inspiration Behind the Books
Ian’s inspiration for Dark Maiden comes from a Native American legend. Among the Wabanaki, this blight occurs when an evil sorcerer refuses to stay dead. Descendants of the Wabanaki still survive in Maine, which was one of the reasons why I set the story in the locale of Nollesemic. I felt the characters were solid enough to appeal to a large swath of readers without offending anyone. LGBTQ characters fill in the modern twists that would not have been accepted even a few years ago.
Similarly, my vampire novel Cardinals is a new take on the Stoker legend with a large dose of actual historical events. Fictional additions and twists on biblical and historical occurrences, keep the story interesting, the reader engaged. I have always been a fan of the 70’s vampire films and wrote Cardinals with that in mind. I can totally see Ingrid Pitt as Asherah. I have taken a bit of guff over casting a scandalous shadow over the catholic church, but they have given me plenty of ammunition. The faith fills in a good part of the story and fanaticism at both ends of the spectrum also gave me much to work with.
I love casting women in strong roles and minimizing the male influence. Sadly, reality has not caught up with that idea. Amy Radigan, Lilly Pham, Kellena Donnachaid, Cassie Wells, all epitomize women I have known and respect.
After being medically retired from the military in 2010, writing became a new identity for me. I take my time writing. The Long Game, for instance, took 3 years to write. Pulling from current events as I went along. Relations with China are now tenser than ever and the conflict in the south China sea is actually occurring almost following the theme of my story. I consider my readers intelligent enough to follow the multiple plot lines. I tend to keep the thrillers within the realm of possibility. Sometimes it might be a reach but nothing I write is impossible. Headlines are a big help. The saying is “You couldn’t write this stuff”. Well actually I can!
The political thriller is cathardic to write. Solaris is coming out in December, complicated story lines will keep the readers guessing. Horror is a fun genre for me and I have two ideas on paper that need filled out. I have dabbled with Science Fiction and Fantasy.
Cooper’s Ridge was another labor of love and quite fun to write. I love space travel, aliens and first contact. Throw in some dystopian end of the world themes with a huge dose of multiple conspiracies and walah you have a novel. I am a huge Star Trek fan. I love Roddenberry’s approach to everyday issues with technological spins. Solving the barriers to space travel with reverse engineering seemed obvious enough to me. The genius teenager as the underdog with a cadre of friends to help fight the faceless government what can go wrong.
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As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.
Lisa Towles is an award-winning, Amazon bestselling crime novelist and a passionate speaker on the topics of fiction writing, creativity, and Strategic Self Care. Lisa has 11 crime novels in print with her newest title Specimen freshly released in November 2024. The first two books of her E&A Investigations Series (Hot House and Salt Island) were both #1 Amazon Kindle Bestsellers. Lisa also writes standalone thrillers, such as her 2022 political thriller, The Ridders, which won an American Fiction Award. Lisa is an active member and frequent panelist/speaker of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She has an MBA in IT Management and works full-time in the tech industry. Read more about Lisa’s book on her publisher’s website.
While investigating a viral internet game, 17 year old Thea Riggs stumbles upon a series of unsolved murders and the global crime syndicate that orchestrated them. Can she alone bring down a secret crime syndicate, or is the cost of justice too high?
Specimen by Lisa Towles Genre: YA Psychological Thriller, Suspense
Thea Riggs is shocked by a dead body in the empty house she was summoned to. It feels like a setup, like she’s being framed for murder. By the time she discovers a connection between the body and the internet game everyone’s playing, it’s too late. They know she’s onto them. Now she’s their next target. Lured to an underground San Francisco lab, she pieces together the hidden agenda behind what she’s seen – scientific experiments, a secret society of operatives, a labyrinth of lies hiding a decades-old cold case. She’s in deep and knows too much, but now they’ve threatened her mother. Can she alone bring down a secret crime syndicate, or is the cost of justice too high?
Specimen is an action-packed, Young Adult contemporary thriller. Fans of Blake Crouch and James Rollins will love Lisa Towles’ technical thrill ride. Join Thea’s quest for the truth and Buy Specimen today.
A razor sharp, edge of your seat thriller”
The Prairies Book Review
“A sharp, thought-provoking examination of technology’s dark side and the elusive nature of truth”
BookView Reviews
“A rollercoaster ride of a story that readers will find exhilarating and heart stopping”
San Francisco Book Review
“A gripping thriller for readers who love mystery, suspense, ambition, betrayal, and intrigue” – Literary Titan
Would you like a chance to win a signed hardcover copy of Codex by Lisa Towles (US only) or a $20 Amazon gift card (WW) – 1 winner each! Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Prologue
“Mmmmm.” “Is that you?” I asked, unsure. Her voice sounded dreamy. And who answers the phone that way? Now an exhaustive sigh. “Lise, answer me!” “What was the question again?” I heard her footsteps on the other end, walking slowly, rhythmically on a hard surface. “Where are you right now?” “How is that relevant?” she clipped back. Salty. That sounded more like her. “Because! I’m a–” My words caught in my throat. I wiped my eyes and coughed, hoping to swallow the feeling of horror. “I’m at your house, where-you-summoned-me, where your—” Breathe, Thea. “Why did you run?” My raspy voice ricocheted against the marble walls of the colossal foyer. “I’ve got nothing to say.” “That’s not an answer.” “Well ask me something easier then.” I had no time to pause and think, to consider a strategy or explain the shocking circumstances to the part of my brain grasping for reason. “Why call me in the first place, then?” The footsteps halted. I now heard the roar of cars on the other end of the phone; she was outside. I ran to one of the front windows. No sign of her platinum hair or Burberry trench. “You’re just leaving me here?? What about the police? Who does this?” “Couldn’t be helped.” Her monotone told me she was dissociating from the situation, which might imply she was as upset as I was. Or maybe that was just a fairy tale. “What do I tell them?” I whispered. “Cops? Whatever you want. You know nothing so they won’t waste time on you.” “Cut it out.” I moved from the front windows back to the same spot inside the front door, where I’d placed the call. A safe distance from the kitchen. Then my emotions caved in, sobs rippling out through my nose and mouth. My eyes were a mess. I couldn’t wipe the tears fast enough. “Calm down, Thea.” “Calm down? Are you high? They’re gonna ask me what I know about—” “My dead mother? No kidding. Believe me, she’s better off this way. We all are.” She’d said the words finally – dead mother. So I hadn’t imagined it? Now I needed to close it up and get the hell out of here. “Lise, did you—” A thud from the kitchen yanked my attention from my phone. I felt the vibration under my feet. Maybe Lise hadn’t actually killed her. Maybe the killer was still here.
Chapter 1
Blood pooled under the mop of the woman’s dark brown hair, her skin a horrid chalky color, gray almost, body awkwardly twisted like she’d been on her way somewhere and shocked by the thrust of something blunt and resolute intended to stop the beat of her heart, or at least her intentions. As to what—I hadn’t gotten there yet. Was it a good day to die? I stared down at her body from the kitchen doorway, one hand covering my mouth to quell the shaking in my soul. I knew her. How could this possibly be real? The house was quiet except for the howl of wind, the Fenning’s giant sycamore scraping the east side of the house like a demon’s fingernail. Fitting.
Something made me turn, not a sound exactly, more like a sensation. I gazed at the upstairs landing that overlooked a foyer the size of a basketball court. A much better vantage point to say the least. I tore up the stairs and pancaked myself to the cold tiles. My erratic pulse banged in my ears. Tha-thump, tha-thump. Breathe, Thea. Breathe. Okay, my frantic brain re-engaged for the moment, I could see this was a much safer place to assess. The woman’s lower half was visible from here on the marble floor beside the island – dark gray pants, expensive black heels, one of them on and the other three inches from her body exposing a bare, grayish foot. Lying on my stomach, pain jarred me from the phone in my pocket— glass on bone. I hadn’t pulled it out yet or called for help because I needed time to gather my wits, I had no idea what I’d say and, more importantly, what if her killer was still here?
I used to think a day that began with a game of cards was destined to be good. With a father and grandfather in the Navy, of course I grew up playing cards. I could beat them both at cribbage by the time I was fifteen, or maybe they let me win. There was something about numbers that had always comforted me, like a tacit reminder of the ordered universe despite all the visual evidence of chaos. And cribbage was a game that valued numbers and pairs, and in my fragile heart that symmetry felt, somehow, like safety. Okay sure, life in the Marshall Islands was a little sheltered, but my dad wanted it that way. My mother disagreed and tried to move us all to San Francisco, where we’d have the support of her family along with the contemporary imprint of urban life. She won the battle but lost the war. My father remained five thousand miles away in Majuro Atoll, and after my brother Rudy died she and I built a new life in San Francisco’s Mission District without them. The culture and beauty of my Islander roots lives in my heart forever but honestly failed to prepare me for the spectacle of Roberta Fenning’s bludgeoned body. Could anything have? Rudy died on his seventeenth birthday, my age now, which my mother said was like being erased by the universe and twice as bad as just losing him. Now we can’t even celebrate his birthday without reliving the trauma of his loss. The closest thing I had to a brother now was Fergus Wilde, my best friend since the third grade.
“Stop dreaming and cut the deck,” Fergus had said this morning while we drank coffee on the floor of my bedroom, preparing for another game of cribbage during the lazy, summer lull before college. And I had been daydreaming while he decided which cards to throw in the crib. Nothing I hated more than wasting time. And there was nothing I wanted more than to escape reality go back to the safety of that cribbage game right now. My chin touching the cold floor of the Fenning’s second floor landing, I couldn’t make my lungs remember how to work. Sucking in air, I clawed the grout between the foyer’s white marble tiles to steady myself. That same marble downstairs in the kitchen would now be permanently stained with Roberta Fenning’s blood. Wait…why was there blood under my fingernails? I hadn’t touched the body. Not even close. Had I? I shouldn’t even be here, I realized, gasping finally like a surfer reaching air after being held down by a set wave. My nose ran and the fluid mixed with tears sliding down my cheeks. I couldn’t wipe it because whoever did this to her could still be in the house watching me right now. Stay silent. Don’t move. Two questions: would I be next and, more importantly, why had Lise summoned me if she wasn’t even here? I ignored the most obvious possibility because honestly it was too much weight on my heart. I needed to get the hell out of here before the police arrived. Had anyone even called them? Had Lise done that before she skipped out?
I went through it in my head to sort of rehearse. I entered with my own personal key to the Fenning estate, given to me by Lise Fenning, my other BFF. It’s not that I lived here, necessarily, just that the house was huge and running to answer the door every time the bell chimed was apparently too extraordinary an effort on a regular basis. So they gave me one of the spare keys. Lise should have been here to meet me, and she was scheduled to be. I’d called out for her and at least expected Nanny, the live-in cook, to be in the kitchen where I always stopped in to say hi. She’s nice, I liked her. Today the kitchen was completely closed up. No Nanny, no Roberta, only her discarded body staining the pristine tile with a pool of her blood. What if they asked me if I knew her? I needed an answer ready for that. Yes, of course I knew her, I even liked her. She was my best friend’s mother so I’d been to that house at least once a week for years. The words felt so strange in my mouth – was, best friend. Best friends didn’t do what Lise has done. Roberta was the kind of woman, the kind of mother who cared about people and wanted to know them. She’d stop me in the hallway sometimes and grasp my shoulders, look in my eyes to not just ask how I was doing but see for herself. My God. Roberta. I’d only stood in the doorway and honestly didn’t take a single step into the kitchen. But when I crouched low, I caught sight of a pooling of blood in the back of her head, mostly dried now, and the ghastliest color I’d ever seen on another person. I tried to remember if she’d been sick lately, but she was fine the last time I saw her. My God, the blood. I knew that had to mean something about the timing of her attack, but my mind wasn’t capable of critical thinking right now. I’m not sure why, but I’d snapped one quick photo of her lying there before charging up the grand staircase and dropping to the floor of the landing.
From this vantage point I could see into the kitchen, her lifeless legs visible and feet turned awkwardly inward. I might never be able to unsee the ghoulish cast to her skin, and the way rigor mortis had frozen her contorted fingers into these spectral claws belonging in a zombie movie. I felt sick and rolled onto my left side before vomiting, another assault on what had once been their pristine floor. How could this beautiful estate be habitable again after tonight? My fingertips gripped the edge of the staircase and pulled my body forward two inches, which gave me a bit more view. Some kind of leather strap stuck up beneath her on the side of the kitchen island, which I hadn’t noticed before. Was it her handbag, and why hadn’t I noticed it when I’d been in the kitchen?
My frantic brain began some basic calculations, starting with steps. An estimated thirty-seven to the lower landing and then roughly another twenty to the inner front door. Could I make it there before the killer spotted me? Wait a minute, I knew this house. There was a back bedroom. Lise and I removed part of the flooring once to access a support pole that weaved from the basement up to the second floor. If I could get to that closet, I might be able to use the pole to exit the house through the basement’s bulkhead, which would be safer than ploughing out the front door for all of Sea Cliff to see. My wet, swollen eyes blinked through these new possibilities, fingernails clicking the white marble, performing a momentary risk assessment. Had the Fennings discovered our secret escape path and blocked off the closet? If someone was still in the house, this could be my only chance of making it out alive. I tried texting Lise again. Where the fuck are you?? Don’t leave me here!
I heard the clink of China from the kitchen, a saucer upended and seesawing side to side before it came to rest.
OMG. My stomach tightened with an imaginary vice grip over my throat. That sound could mean Roberta was still alive. I pressed my hands over my mouth to suppress the urge to call out to her, because it could also mean that her killer was down there waiting for me.
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Tune in Tomorrow by Randee Dawn Genre: Humorous Pop-Culture Fantasy
A funny, thrilling and mysterious adventure into the world of alternate reality television… Perfect for fans of Jasper Fforde and Christopher Moore.
She’s just a small town girl, with big mythic dreams. Starr Weatherby came to New York to become… well, a star. But after ten years and no luck, she’s offered a big role – on a show no one has ever heard of. And there’s a reason for that. It’s a ‘reality’ show beyond the Veil, human drama, performed for the entertainment of the Fae. But as Starr shifts from astounded newcomer to rising fan favorite, she learns about the show’s dark underbelly – and mysterious disappearance of her predecessor. She’ll do whatever it takes to keep her dream job – though she might just bring down the show in the process.
Randee Dawn is an author, journalist, and lucky denizen of Brooklyn. Her first novel, the humorous pop-culture fantasy Tune in Tomorrow, published in August 2022 (Solaris/Rebellion). Randee’s short fiction has appeared in publications and podcasts including 3AM Magazine (“The View of My Brother’s Profile in the Rear-View Mirror,” 2001; “Warm, In Your Coat,” 2004) and Well-Told Tales (“Home for the Holidays,” 2015; “Can’t Keep a Dead Man Down,” 2017). Dawn’s stories have appeared in anthologies including Where We May Wag (“The Last Dog,” Writing Piazza Press, 2018), Children of a Different Sky (“Can’t Find My Way Home,” Kos Books, 2018), Magic for Beginners (“Queen Zoe and the Spinning Game,” Fantasia Divinity, 2019), Dim Shores Presents (“Rough Beast, Slouching,” 2021), Another World: Stories of Portal Fantasy (“The Way Is Clear,” SummerStorm Press, 2021), and Horror for the Throne: One-Sitting Reads (“Cat Person”). She has a short collection of dark speculative fiction short stories, “Home for the Holidays” (2014) and co-authored “The Law & Order: SVU Unofficial Companion” (BenBella Books, 2009). She co-edited the speculative fiction anthology of “what if” stories about The Beatles, “Across the Universe: Tales of Alternative Beatles” (Fantastic Books, 2019). When not making stuff up, Randee publishes entertainment profiles, reviews, and think pieces regularly in outlets including Variety, The Los Angeles Times, Today.com and Emmy Magazine, and writes trivia for BigBrain. She can be found at RandeeDawn.com and @RandeeDawn (on Twitter).
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Do you have a favorite movie? Certainly! You don’t even have to drop a hat to get me to watch The Philadelphia Story, a movie from 1940 with some of my favorite actors of all time – Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart. Ruth Hussey is also magnificent. It’s funny, it’s screwy, and it has a wonderful back story in that it helped revive Hepburn’s then-flagging career. Plus, it’s just a pleasure to watch these beautiful people on screen. In 1956, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Grace Kelley – plus Louis Armstrong! – were the stars of a musical remake called High Society, with music by Cole Porter. I’ll always pick Philadelphia first, but Society is one of those rare reimaginings that’s almost as perfect, particularly the performance of “Well! Did You Evah?” in which Crosby notes to Sinatra, “Tune in tomorrow.”
Who is your hero and why? When I was about 10 or 11, I came across something called “An Eschatological Laundry List,” by the late psychologist and author Sheldon B. Kopp. It’s a series of 43 brief sentences that starts with “This is it!” and includes lines like “All of the significant battles are waged within the self.” One that sticks with me is: “If you have a hero, look again: you have diminished yourself in some way.” I can see heroic behavior and admire it, but I do not have a single hero. We all live in the gray area, including the great people. What is heroic is loving, and admiring, someone despite their gray areas. My mother is a hero. My friend Julia – who gave me the list originally – is a hero. Everyone I love is heroic. And I strive for that, every day.
Which of your novels can you imagine being made into a movie? All of them! I’ve only had one published so far – Tune in Tomorrow – and frankly, I think it’d make a better series than a movie, but I’ll assume that’s included in the question. I write with a movie playing in my head at all times. I know what every scene looks like, where the characters are standing, and if I squint, what they’re wearing. I only include the details that matter in each scene, but there are many more I don’t include. So for me, every book and short story I write is a kind of script for the movie I want it to become. But let’s face it: the book is always better.
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Nina Soden 