Books

This collection will take you through a poet’s life in the city she has most loved. Written in an accessible style, her poems offer her reflections on this one-of-a-kind Texas town—from its local cemeteries, junkyard, Chopin Festival, to its desert flora and fauna, complete with local artwork.

Travel along with the poet through New England, Mexico, Miami, Hawaii, Venezuela, Paraguay, New Mexico, and Texas as her poems take you on an emotional journey through her special moments and to those places that have most influenced her. Plus experience the artwork of local artist Erika Martinez.

South India, 1870s. When fifteen-year-old Hemit breaks family tradition by learning the mysterious soother's gentler ways of training elephants, he unleashes his own mystical powers--powers his parents have tried to conceal, and which are capable of destroying his entire family.

What would you do for love? A disastrous marriage. An overbearing mother. Her dream of being an architect stolen by her twin. It was all too much to bear, so ten years ago, Bridget Fletcher packed up her son and her broken heart and traded Sydney for the coastal paradise of White Rocks to build a li

“Two weeks ago, I didn't even know that Niger was a country… now I am deep in its south with Doctors Without Borders, responsible for saving people's lives.” In this story of humanitarian emergency medical work as a physician with Médecins Sans Frontières in Africa, Cassandra Arnold uses spare prose and haunting images to share the heartbreak and the humor, the challenges and the celebrations of volunteer work overseas. From February 2009 to October 2013, Dr Cassandra Arnold spent twenty months in the field as a volunteer with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières. In that time, she accepted 8 posts in 5 different countries: Niger, Haiti, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Iraq. This is Niger, where it all began. Part journal, part photo album, part poem... deeply personal and deeply confronting... If you have ever wondered what this work is really like, read this book and you will know. "Follow me now into the sands of the Sahel." Profits from the sale of this book will be donated to Doctors Without Borders Canada.

Vanessa Fordella should have grown up in luxury and ease with a father that doted on her and loved her. Instead her mother stole her away and forced her into...

Evan Lawston had lived his entire life, all twelve years of it, under the shadow of the Dark Knight. The Dark Knight had reigned with a dangerous reputation of fear and respect. A parent with a reputation like that was great, what every twelve year old boy should dream of. But you have to be careful what you wish for, because sometimes your wishes come true, just not as you had hoped.

She should have grown up in a life of luxury and ease-instead, she was thrust into one of danger and deception... Forced by her scheming mother to pretend that she was a boy, Vanessa Fordella becomes Van, the Dark Knight, in twelfth-century England. But when her now-dying mother demands that she leave behind her charade and marry, Van embarks on the most difficult journey of her life. And if her new husband ever finds out the truth... After years of war, all he wants is peace and the simple life... Peter Lawston, Lord Grayweist, hopes for a shy and controllable wife to run his castle and bear his children. What arrives, instead, is a hell cat, who doesn't know the first thing about being docile or obedient. There's something familiar about his unconventional wife, but Peter can't put his finger on it. As Van struggles to let go of the knight she has been and become the wife she is expected to be, events unfold that threaten to destroy everything she holds dear, including her very life.

Alex Hollister was always one step ahead of the rumor mongers. As the reclusive A.H., she was a successful horse breeder, an unbeatable jockey, and a savvy businessman. As the fair Alexis, she was a demure and proper lady. Her life was exactly how she wanted it, and her plans were finally ready to be enacted. Everything was running smoothly until her temper landed her in a marriage with a man who didn't want her, a man who could ruin everything she had worked so hard to achieve. Marcus Clifton wanted nothing more than to outlive the falsehoods that had ruined his family's reputation. He had worked hard to get back into the good graces of the elite and had even arranged a marriage that would make the past rumors disappear altogether. He thought he finally had everything that was important to him. Then his cozy and disciplined life came to a crashing halt when an act of uncontrolled temper ended in a marriage with a woman who could destroy it all.

From an abusive home in the Minneapolis projects, Joy was labeled "unadoptable" - doomed to the foster care system. But luck or something else landed Joy in a middle-class family that was willing to survive the system with her. In her memoir, Joy shares her early nightmares and the frustrations of living as 'Property of the State' while celebrating the Wrights, her foster family.

As a djinn River Pomeroy should have been healed after he nearly died at the hands of his kidnappers but something still wasn’t right. A sense of doom he can’t escape and a meeting with a hooded man confirms his worst fear, he’s enthralled by a wish his sister Tempe exchanged for a new genie bottle. That decision could have devastating consequences for his family and the rest of the Paramortals. A violet-eyed sword-toting warrior walks into the supernatural tavern where River takes refuge. In her presence he feels a temporary lifting of his despair but it doesn’t last. She declares her mission—to kill a dragonhunter and accuses River of being in league with her target. She’s partly correct. “Taking the villain’s head” would have worked for River earlier, effectively severing their bond and eliminating the threat to his family but that was before he knew the identity of the being who owned his soul—his long-lost brother who planned to use River to destroy their family. With the kidnapping of Tempe and the dragon sheriff, River and the fae warrior join forces and suddenly the Paramortal family dynamic is rampant with conflicts and secrets. What is with the attraction he feels to this fae and what is the mysterious connection that goes back to the beginning of the Paramortals’ pact? Can they forgive the atrocities of the past to defeat their common enemy or will ancient family secrets tear the Paramortals apart forever?

Teri is on the run for her life when she unexpectedly finds herself offered haven... and a job... at a truck stop on the windswept plains of Wyoming. There she meets Mike, the young trucker who appoints himself her protector. But will her new life and her new-found love for Mike be enough when events take an unexpected turn? And can even Mike keep her safe from the past that threatens to reclaim her?

FOREWORD for The Keeper's Secret Anthology Whether it’s history itself getting lost in the stone silence of a lighthouse or the time flow of medieval armor clashing from the grave into the now of your mind, this year’s honor roll of top stories from Tell-Tale Publishing will put you up in your chair and set your pulse racing. But that’s what you want . . . isn’t it? There will be thoughtful dilemmas to keep you pondering, moral choices and choices for the oldest of reasons –love--and above all the test of love versus fate. Nowhere will fate be more exquisitely tangled than in the tale of a young woman trapped between the terror of sexual abuse and the unknowns in the magical world of a Jinn. And just as you think you’ve felt it all from the rescues and would-be rescues each twisted with karma, steel yourself for one more. Because the perfect ending might be a perfect day whose ironies will jolt you as you stare into the psychological mirror. So find that chair and open this book. You won’t be putting it down for a while. Thomas Sullivan USA Today best-selling author of CASE WHITE

FOREWORD for Secret Santa Anthology Oh, the Horror! The Horror! I've been a fan since my older sister used to wake me up so I could sneak down to watch Creature Feature when I was in elementary school! Funny, I never could seem to get back to sleep . . . While my main writing focus is the paranormal, my passion for the darker side of the scary spectrum was resurrected while working on Indie horror film, In The Woods, helping with the screenplay, writing a novelization, AND having a guest role as "Bar Extra"! That endeavor put Dean Koontz, Stephen King and Justin Cronin into my "Must Read" rotation and convinced me to watch (through my fingers) movies such as Cabin in the Woods, The Others, and Woman in Black. Tell-Tale Publishing has an eye for the macabre and for authors who know how to wield a Poe-worthy pen. I've enjoyed being one of the judges in their yearly Halloween talent search (two of the winners are in this edition!). I'm always thrilled to be thrilled by something new in the genre, and this collection fits the bill. Quick, blood-curdling reads to curl up with on a dark night, taken a deadly sip at a time, like a fine, hoarded vintage to savor and appreciate when the nights grow cold and the wind howls. That was the wind . . . wasn't it? Cheers! Happy reading, and don't forget to leave the nightlight on! Nancy Gideon, award-winning, bestselling author of the "Touched by Midnight" vampire series and the "By Moonlight" and "House of Terriot" shapeshifter series

The best anthology yet! Dare to journey through the bloody mind of a madwoman, or escape, if you can, from an underground military compound, where secret experiments may land you on the menu. Perhaps you’d like to see what the witches in Salem are doing this Halloween, or what really happened to Hansel and Gretel. Scared of clowns, vampires or puppets? Sit down and curl up with this unique collection of horror stories. You’ll sleep with the lights on for weeks. Contains: "Hans & Greta" by Elizabeth Alsobrooks

Offered an enormous sum by an anonymous benefactor for the acquisition of an ancient ceremonial relic, a sum that would keep the antiquities shop in Cairo her father left her afloat while she continued her own archaeological pursuits, Lady Isabella Valentine was distracted rather than tempted, then suspicious, when the dashing young Bedouin slipped in just before closing and promised her a deal she couldn’t refuse--for the very same relic. Despite his sensual appeal, she did refuse him, sending him away. Prince Mukhtar, son of Sheikh Abdul Kummel al-Rahman, leader of the Hassana, is on a sacred Illuminati mission for Queen Isis to retrieve something stolen from one of her temples over a thousand years ago. This mortal disbeliever though an enchanting English rose, however beautiful she might be, is clearly in the power of the Usurper and must be persuaded to help him, one way or another. But neither of them know of the evil power they are up against, or what hidden dangers await them in the tomb of the high priest.

Book Trailer for The Young Adult Writer's Journey by Janet Schrader-Post and Elizabeth Fortin-Hinds, an encyclopedia for YA writers.

Praise: The trouble with “how to” books on creativity is that they usurp creativity. Not so with this very insightful guide for YA writing. If it doesn’t become a standard or even a classic among reference books, it will be an oversight. Janet Schrader-Post and Elizabeth Fortin-Hinds have all the marinated smarts and credentialed experience to pull this off, and they do! No dictated wisdom from on high here, no grafted creativity, THE YOUNG ADULT WRITER’S JOURNEY is accessible, motivational and a clear map that leaves plenty of room to discover for anyone wanting to explore their creative side.-Thomas Sullivan, Pulitzer-nominated author of THE PHASES OF HARRY MOON Finally, an all-inclusive book on young adult fiction must-do, don’t do and how-to. If you want to write a young adult novel, you need to read this book first. Coauthored by an award-winning YA author and an acquisitions editor, both experts on kids and what they like to read, this encyclopedia contains all you need to start or improve a career as a YA fiction author. From an examination of the market, genre and its sub-genres, to mechanics and the business, everything is at your fingertips. This amazing writer’s resource is written in a relaxed and interesting style, with plenty of contemporary references and examples for clear understanding and easier application.

The Young Adult Writers Journey comes out November 23 and will fill every need-to-kn ow about writing books for young adults. Written by an award-winning young adult author and the squiring editor for Tell-Tale Publishing, this book will take you through all the ins and outs of writing for that mysterious person, a teenager. Finally, an all-inclusive book on young adult fiction must-do, don’t do and how-to. If you want to write a young adult novel, you need to read this book first. Coauthored by an award-winning YA author and an acquisitions editor, both experts on kids and what they like to read, this encyclopedia contains all you need to start or improve a career as a YA fiction author. From an examination of the market, genre and its sub-genres, to mechanics and the business, everything is at your fingertips. This amazing writer’s resource is written in a relaxed and interesting style, with plenty of contemporary references and examples for clear understanding and easier application. Praise: “The trouble with “how to” books on creativity is that they usurp creativity. Not so with this very insightful guide for YA writing. If it doesn’t become a standard or even a classic among reference Page | 2 books, it will be an oversight. Janet Schrader-Post and Elizabeth Fortin-Hinds have all the marinated smarts and credentialed experience to pull this off, and they do! No dictated wisdom from on high here, no grafted creativity, THE YOUNG ADULT WRITER’S JOURNEY is accessible, motivational and a clear map that leaves plenty of room to discover for anyone wanting to explore their creative side.”-Thomas Sullivan, Pulitzer-nominated author of THE PHASES OF HARRY MOON

My BFF is an Alien is a humor-filled young adult science fiction novel My BFF is an Alien Arthur Rhodes knows he’s a freak. Between his OCD and his family life, his only friend is Emilio Luna who has Tourette Syndrome. When Arthur’s military father forces him to go camping, Emilio accompanies him. A space life boat crashes in the deep woods on Mt. Shasta and the two fifteen-year old boys discover an alien. They take the alien home, defrost him, and enroll him in school. Overnight, the boys become popular as the alien known as Tone, takes Valley High by storm. But Tone wants to go home. They take him to Arthur’s father’s job at the Ames Research Facility which conducts experiments in conjunction with NASA. Tone tries to transmit, but they get caught and run. Now NASA knows someone tried to send a message to another galaxy. Arthur’s love interest, Ashley Green dumps her boyfriend Roscoe. When Ashley shows an interest in Tone, Roscoe decides to find out his secrets and expose him, while Arthur questions his decision to bring the alien home. Tone’s unique properties, symbiotic life forms that pass as hair, are able to reprogram human brains and act to protect Tone when he’s threatened. The programming turns out to be temporary and when the boys sneak out of Prom to return to Ames to see if Tone’s parents answered his call, all hell breaks loose. The boys have to meet Tone’s parents on top of the research center’s largest satellite dish. The only problem is they’re being chased by base security, Arthur’s father and Ashley’s ex boyfriend. Will Arthur and Emilio get Tone to his parent’s space ship in time or will NASA catch Tone and haul him off to Area 51?

Voodoo Child is Mid Grade published by Tell-Tale Publishing Voodoo Child blurb Left alone and homeless after the Haitian earthquake, Jean Benoit lives with foster parents in New Orleans. Oscar is an overweight underachiever whose mother abandoned him in Wal-Mart. He lives in the store hoping she will come back for him. Bella lives with her adoptive parents. Her parents are dead but they left her an ability she has yet to discover. Bella is a shapeshifter. Explore the mysteries of the French Quarter through the eyes of three seventh graders as they search to reconnect with their parents and avoid a nasty set of bad guys. A voodoo witch named Odette, her brother Bocor and Odette’s son, Natas, are searching for a magic amulet sent to Jean by his mother. He has no idea how to use it. He has to learn on the fly. The bad guys are after him and he needs to find his mother. Received three five-star reviews from readers favorites Reviewed By Jack Magnus for Readers’ Favorite Voodoo Child is an urban fantasy novel for young adults written by Janet Post and Gabe Thompson. Jean Benoit’s foster parents seemed to think of him as their personal manservant -- and little more. He lived in their basement with a furnace that pumped out smoke and fumes, and spent his afternoons down there doing the family’s laundry. Sad thing was, Jean didn’t mind being in the basement so much as it meant spending less time with people who didn’t seem to care about him at all. His best friends, Oscar Delgado and Bella Morgan, also had issues with their family situations. Oscar’s mom had left him in Walmart some months ago, and he was living in the store while waiting for her to come back for him. She had done this before, so Oscar was determined to stay where she could find him. Bella seemed to have it best of the three friends -- her fosters were well-to-do and gave her everything she could possibly want, except their company. They were just too busy to notice or even care about her. Jean couldn’t believe that the Paynes had actually thrown away a package addressed to him. He had noticed it that morning as he took the trash out. Getting mail would have been such a big thing for him, as it had never happened. His dad had disappeared some years ago, and he had been living with his mother’s friends when the earthquake wrecked and destabilized Haiti, where they all lived. Jean had ended up in an orphanage until the Paynes fostered him. He wondered what had happened to his parents, and how they would ever find him again. So this package represented a tie to his past that was irresistible indeed. He didn’t have time to open it on the school bus, so he put it in his backpack for safekeeping until he had some time to himself. But when bullies started to give the three friends a hard time outside the school, Jean noticed that his backpack seemed warmer than it should be. He looked inside and saw a light coming from the package. Jean’s life, and that of his friends, was about to change. There would be danger from terrifying sources and even a way to interact with his dad, but his surviving the near future was anything but guaranteed. Voodoo Child is an engrossing and beautifully written story about three kids whose bonds are tighter than those they have with the adults in their lives. I loved seeing the support system Jean, Bella and Oscar have built together, and had a grand time experiencing New Orleans through their eyes. The characters have zing and appeal, and the reader quickly begins to feel as though they are friends; and the plot is filled with action, adventure, terrifying beings and magic. Voodoo Child is hard to put down, and finishing it was both satisfying and sad. I’d love to see a sequel as these characters have too much going for them to be limited to one book. Voodoo Child is most highly recommended. The following are comments from your reviewer and do NOT appear in your final review. Usually these are concerns your reviewer had that they did not want to put in your final review. Wow!

Award winning Young Adult Science Fiction Vagrant. First book in a three book series, Vagrant is a Finalist for the International Best Book Award and won the Seal of Excellence from Apple Awards. Logan Hall is a Vagrant, one of the disenfranchised living beneath the mega city of New Washington. The Vagrants have to hide from the Company who is rounding all of them up and shipping them to newly discovered planets to work in the mines. That’s what happened to Logan’s father. Shayna is one of the privileged. She has a chip, a credit disc and lives in a shiny stainless steel and glass highrise above ground. Shayna is allergic to corn so she is one of the few above ground people who is not stoned on Sopore. Sopore is a drug found in genetically altered corn. It’s in almost all food. The Vagrants know about Sopore and avoid it. These two teens from wildly differing environments meet by accident and fall in love. Logan will stop at nothing to rescue his friend Raj, captured and sent to the moon. Together, he and Shayna will follow his dream of finding his father who was sent to work in the mines of Gliess 67. In a future where everyone is stoned on genetically altered food and being sent to work in the mines of newly discovered worlds, one boy will save his friends and escape to start a new life.

Homeless Joy: An exposé in poetry was conceived as a follow up to J.L. Wright’s first book, Unadoptable Joy: A memoir in poetry and prose. As she wrote the honest journey of growing up in foster-care, Miss Wright looked deeper at her story - not knowing if her family and her home was permanent. She further explored her own experiences of living in a tent after graduating from college, while looking for work. Discovering that having a job doesn’t mean one can afford safe consistent housing, she began to write. Motivated to address the issue of homelessness, J. L. began telling her own stories of homelessness. She shared the stories of others and looks at the issue of homelessness in more depth. The book Homeless Joy delves into several aspects of homelessness; including who, where, and why. Each aspect introduced with well researched prose, individual stories histories are developed in poetic verse. The tales of the homeless paint a rainbow of contradictions and complications, challenging the reader to grapple with their own personal beliefs and prejudices. This book captures the disconnect between the reality and fantasy of living on the edge; the chasm between questions, answers, and resolution and the ultimate decision to do something to change the future.