The short stories in this book I wrote over the last twelve years. Although I feel in my comfort zone with thrillers and horror, I experimented with a variety of genres, including romance, children's tales, and comedy. Some of these stories have been published in anthologies, but I feel I needed to include them. From tales of blackmail, murder, revenge, supernatural, mystery, fantasy, reincarnation, horror, comedy, and the holocaust, I believe I have most genres covered. Volume II will follow shortly. Thank you for sharing my dreams and I hope you enjoy.
A witty, insightful, and delightfully snarky blend of pop culture meets memoir meets real-life Devil Wears Prada as readers learn the stories behind twenty-five years at Vanity Fair from the magazine’s former deputy editor “Dilettante offers the best seat in the house into the workings of one of the great cultural institutions of our time.”—Buzz Bissinger, New York Times bestselling author of Friday Night Lights Dana Brown was a twenty-one-year-old college dropout playing in punk bands and partying his way through downtown New York’s early-nineties milieu when he first encountered Graydon Carter, the legendary editor of Vanity Fair. After the two had a handful of brief interactions (mostly with Brown in the role of cater waiter at Carter’s famous cultural salons he hosted at his home), Carter saw what he believed to be Brown’s untapped potential, and on a whim, hired him as his assistant. Brown instantly became a trusted confidante and witness to all of the biggest parties, blowups, and takedowns. From inside the famed Vanity Fair Oscar parties to the emerging world of the tech elite, Brown’s job offered him access to some of the most exclusive gatherings and powerful people in the world, and the chance to learn in real time what exactly a magazine editor does—all while trying to stay sober enough from the required party scene attendance to get the job done. Against all odds, he rose up the ranks to eventually become the magazine’s deputy editor, spending a quarter century curating tastes at one of the most storied cultural shops ever assembled. Dilettante reveals Brown’s most memorable moments from the halcyon days of the magazine business, explores his own journey as an unpedigreed outsider to established editor, and shares glimpses of some of the famous and infamous stories (and people) that tracked the magazine’s extraordinary run all keenly observed by Brown. He recounts tales from the trenches, including encounters with everyone from Anna Wintour, Lee Radziwill, and Condé Nast owner Si Newhouse, to Seth Rogen, Caitlyn Jenner, and acclaimed journalists Dominick Dunne and Christopher Hitchens. Written with equal parts affection, cultural exploration, and nostalgia, Dilettante is a defining story within that most magical time and place in the culture of media. It is also a highly readable memoir that skillfully delivers a universal coming-of-age story about growing up and finding your place in the world.
After years of serving his country, Sin reclaims his life and forms the Ares Infidels MC, with like-minded military brothers. They decide his home town of Tenillo, Texas is the perfect place to build their futures. By forming a club where they get to make the rules and determine what orders to follow.Him and his brothers think life is going great, until a conversation with the new Chief of Police and Times Served MC president, Boss. That's when they discover their town is in crisis. One that none of them plan to let continue. They join forces to make sure it doesn't.However, Sin is blindsided almost immediately by the beautiful Lyric, a high school teacher fearing for the safety of her students. She's looking for someone to help her. One meeting and she becomes Sin's enticement, his universe.As Sin works to convince her to give this former Navy Seal turned biker a chance, more crimes and shady dealings come to light. Ones that show Tenillo is in more trouble than any of them first imagined.Again, and again, danger finds them and their allies and Lyric seems to be at the center of it. Sin, the Ares Infidels, and the Time Served guys battle to protect their town, their loved ones, and their futures.Sin and Lyric's tale may end in happily ever after for them, but the trials and tribulations are far from over for these two clubs or their town. They have a town to rescue. And they'll bring the fury of the Ares Infidels down on anyone who gets in the way.
American Library Association "Best Books for Young Adults" From the author of Ender's Game, an unforgettable story about young Alvin Maker: the seventh son of a seventh son. Born into an alternative frontier America where life is hard and folk magic is real, Alvin is gifted with the power. He must learn to use his gift wisely. But dark forces are arrayed against Alvin, and only a young girl with second sight can protect him. Includes an excerpt of Orson Scott Card's new novel, THE LOST GATE! The Tales of Alvin Maker series Seventh Son Red Prophet Prentice Alvin Alvin Journeyman Heartfire The Crystal City At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
In Enticed by the Light, Sharon Beekmann discribes her descent into spiritism and her fierce battle as a Christian covert pitted against terrifying, unseen forces. The book is a revealing look at New Age practices and a story of deliverance.
"You're everything I never even thought about wishing for."After serving time in prison for killing a man, Boss is mostly content with his life in small town Tenillo, Texas. He's got his friends, his brothers from the club, his job working for his mentor, and pets who welcome him home at night. A single offhand comment to some friends changes his entire life. One glance at Jenn, and it changes even more. From inmate to in love, Boss is on a roller coaster that's got no chance to slow down. He'll work together with his MC and the friends they've made in the Ares Infidels MC to clean up the town they live in and avenge the attack on his mentor, Pop. At the same time, he's falling head over heels for the pretty woman in the fancy aprons who tastes like oranges and heaven. An unhappy marriage sends Jenn on a cross country journey to find her happiness. After landing in Tenillo, she makes a comfortable home there. Since she doesn't have children and never will, Jenn opens her heart to any stray that needs her love. Between working in her coffee truck and taking care of her menagerie of animals, there's not much time for anything else in her life until Boss comes along. Rather than pull her away from what she loves, he stands beside her and becomes part of it. When Jenn is targeted by some of the unsavory characters that Boss has vowed to get rid of, she's got to fight to save herself. Two people who, at first glance, don't seem to have much in common find out that they're more alike than they'd imagined, and realize that there is such a thing as happily ever after as long as you're both willing to work for it.
HER ONLY OPTION IS DEATH Sue Quentin has reached the end of her rope-she's desperate, and there's only one way out. Her plan doesn't include falling for Tony, the mysterious hit man she hires. He listens when she speaks and somehow convinces her that maybe her problems aren't entirely insurmountable. He even thinks her little potbelly is sexy. So he's a werewolf--everyone has flaws! Sue enjoys being coddled by Tony, and, for his part, Tony likes the way Sue moans when he touches her. She begins to think she and Tony might have a shot at a future together, despite his unorthodox profession . . . and even though she doesn't know his real name. But when Tony's enemies-not all of whom are fully human-decide Sue makes a perfect target, will Tony risk letting his darker side out during the day to save her? At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
What if Belle's mother cursed the Beast? As Old as Time is the third book in a new YA line that reimagines classic Disney stories in surprising new ways. When Belle touches the Beast's enchanted rose, memories flood through Belle's mind—memories of a mother she thought she would never see again. And, stranger still, she sees that her mother is none other than the beautiful enchantress who cursed the castle and all its inhabitants. Shocked and confused, Belle and the Beast will have to unravel a dark mystery about their families that is 21 years in the making.
The war between Exiles and Angels is on—and she's wanted by both sides. The hotly anticipated follow-up to Embrace, Entice ramps up the captivating combination of angel mythology, forbidden romance and intense action. Seventeen-year-old Violet Eden's whole life changed when she discovered she is Grigori – part angel, part human. Her destiny is to protect humans from the vengeance of exiled angels. Knowing who to trust is key, but when Grigori reinforcements arrive, it becomes clear everyone is hiding something - even her partner, Lincoln. And now Violet has to learn to live with her feelings for him while they work together to stay alive and stop the exiles from discovering the key to destroy all Grigori. It isn't easy. Especially when the electricity between her and exile Phoenix ignites, and she discovers his hold over her has become more dangerous than ever. The race halfway across the world to find the one artifact that could tilt the balance of power between Angels and Exiles brings them to the cradle of civilization, where Violet's power will be pushed to the extreme. And the ultimate betrayal exposed. The Embrace Series: Embrace (Book 1) Entice (Book 2) Emblaze (Book 3) Endless (Book 4) Empower (Book 5) Praise for the Embrace Series: "A delicious romantic triangle." —USA Today "One of the best YA novels we've seen in a while. Get ready for a confident, kick-butt, well-defined heroine." —RT Book Reviews "Strong, compelling and wonderfully flawed, Violet is the kind of heroine that will keep readers enthralled and rooting for her until the final page is turned." —Kirkus Reviews
In bestselling author Shayla Black’s electrifying fourth novel in the Doomsday Brethren series, the wizards fight their mortal enemy for the newest weapon in a bloody magical war: the one woman a warrior shouldn’t claim...yet can’t resist. Dangerously handsome Simon Northam, Duke of Hurstgrove, and his uptight brother Mason are hardly close, but crashing Mason's wedding and stealing his fiancée further aggravate their sibling rivalry. Duke's family has no notion he's a wizard, so how can he explain that magickind’s fate lies with the beautiful, tenacious bride he longs to seduce? Felicia is an Untouchable, a rare human whose presence disables magic--even the impenetrable forces surrounding Morganna le Fay's tomb. The evil witch’s malicious powers could propel nefarious wizard Mathias to ultimate world domination…if he can resurrect her. To conceal herself, Felicia must succumb to her smoldering desire for Duke, but he risks binding his life—and sanity—to a lover whose loyalties are forever torn. He faces a choice: betray his brother for ultimate survival…or lose the woman who tempts him beyond control. The Doomsday Brethren series reading order: Book 1: Tempt Me With Darkness Book 1.5: “Fated (e-novella) Book 2: Seduce Me In Shadow Book 3: Possess Me At Midnight Book 3.5: “Mated” (included in the Haunted By Your Touch anthology) Book 4: Entice Me At Twilight Book 5: Embrace Me At Dawn
