Showing results by author "S. M.M" in All Categories

The village of Slyford St. James is no stranger to supernatural happenings, as long-time residents Jed and Emma know all too well. Although Jed’s spiritual connection with the dead was once a source of pride, it now fills him with dread. When he receives an invitation to the family estate of his old army friend Simon, who wants Jed to use his gift to solve the brutal murder of his elder brother, Jed is initially reluctant, but Emma encourages him to agree, hoping that this new sense of purpose might lift him out of his melancholy, despite the circumstances.

Never having a family to call his own, Toby Mitchell grew up alone. Given away as a young child, he knew he would never be loved. He was a child caught up in the foster system, always being shuffled from one home to the next. He had no family. That is, until he was old enough to join the Marines. He finally found his family. While on a mission in Afghanistan, he sustained a job-ending injury that forced him out of the only family he knew.

Some religions state that the very universe was created by words. The nation of America was founded using words. Words established the rights and freedoms this nation enjoys. The first of those rights is freedom of speech, which implies so much more than the right to use words. This anthology contains four stories from four authors. Each story pays tribute to either the ideals held by America’s First Amendment or to the concept that the words people use hold power. These authors took the concept of words and placed it in futuristic, apocalyptic, and fantasy settings.

As a young man, Cedric discovers a terrifying defect in his nature. He has no blood loyalty, which means he can defy his king - something that has never happened in recorded history. But what begins as a flaw evolves into a strength. Citizens begin to listen to Cedric, and he discovers that if he leads, others will follow. But there's a catch. The more who follow him, the more famous he becomes. And the more famous he becomes, the more targets he finds pinned to his back.

Join your favourite Indie Horror authors for some tales about their adventures navigating the industry. The highs, the lows, and everything in between. Some of them give some tips and advice and others share their funny and embarrassing stories. This is not a "How To" book, but there are many great lessons inside if you are looking to write or boost where you are at the moment.

He has no name but is known by many. He is a Demon, surrounded by the chaos inherent in his own shadowy nature, and it is the magic of Shadow that is killing him. Unwilling to accept his imminent demise, the nameless Demon embarks on a mission to find the witches who may hold his cure. He discovers the alternative to his death may be a greater price than he is willing to accept, and what is acceptance in a world full of Humans?

Monsters are real, and Chrystal is one of them, but everyone is convinced that she’ll be the next sacrifice to save the oracle and all of Tora Darah. Prophecies are for pansies, and embracing her dark side may be the key to dragging herself out of this mess. Releasing the Blood Queen is risky, but a whole lot better than dying, and maybe with a little luck she won’t lose all the people she’s grown to care about along the way.

When Dr. Jane Lee, a recent graduate, takes her first position as a psychiatrist at Southern States Mental Institute in Memphis, she gets more than she had bargained for. The idyllic images she had created in her mind while in school of treating the mentally ill clash immediately and drastically with the reality of the practice in real life. From the filthy, creepy, neglected facility in which she now works and the attitude of those in the mental health industry itself to the haunting madness of her first-ever patient, Matilda Rose, nothing is as she had imagined it would be.

You’d never know that Shatter Cage is a were-squirrel by looking at him. Between fake fire charms and his impenetrable confidence, everyone believes he’s the phoenix he claims to be. The lie is a necessary part of his branding. He’s determined to become a Hero, blessed by the Oracles and venerated by legions of followers. For now, he’s just one more thief slinging magical artifacts on the black market, hoping for infamy to strike like lightning. But he’s never going to become canonized if Gutterman, demon and loan shark, gets his pound of flesh from Cage first.

Through a series of heart-breaking and poignant letters, come explore the 20-year journey of a child longing for the love of his mentally ill mother while facing seemingly insurmountable odds. Witness Manny's transformation in this coming of age story of a forgotten and disfigured child, born into spirit-crushing poverty in Houston, Texas, and thrust into adulthood all too soon. Crying out to the world for understanding and forgiveness, Manny battles the silent and treacherous enemy of mental illness in his mother's often erratic and sometimes terrifying behavior.

I was 16 the day Stacie died. She was the love of my life, blond hair, blue-eyed - the most amazing smile I'd ever seen. Not only did she teach me how to live and love, she taught me that the little things are the big things, and the big things...well, as I'll soon learn, the big things are only for those with courage. While I was a coward. And because I was a coward, I was not there the day Crowley found her and stole her away from everyone she ever loved, including the world.

These are the stories of Uranus. Stories of new beginnings and creation. Stories of the mysterious seventh planet in our solar system and of the God of the sky that it was named after.

Ardelia Sabine is about to attempt the most legendary heist in the solar system. The anti-communication laws that have been ruthlessly enforced for the last five years have gone too far, and the collar around her daughter's neck, which shocks anyone if they try to speak, must come off. The one time monitor of law enforcement has now assembled the greatest collection of thieves, con men, and hit men in history.

Dunstan has had big ambitions his entire life—bigger than the small lakeside town of Knockum—imagining himself heading a chorus line with a leading man he hasn’t quite cast yet. But on his way out of town for good, a gang of his classmates capture him and send him to the bottom of nearby Lake Mallion, rumored to harbor a magical door in its depths. Before Dunstan drowns, the door opens. On the other side is the Geodom of Jet and the reptilian Prince Ven, who is on the run—from his past, his destiny, and the stories people tell about him.

Krator survived his first foray into the wilds of Talos. He fought his way through bloodthirsty monsters, deadly terrain, and friends who stabbed him in the back, all so he could finally come face to face with his rival in the race for the Heart of the Wild. But now that he has it, he has no idea what he is supposed to do with it! Krator made a career out of beating dungeons, not building one, and he's up against a very real–and deadly–clock.

When Aria left Gig Harbor and its haunting childhood memories behind, she vowed never to return. But when her foster sister, Rachel, vanishes, Aria's determination is tested. Driven by resolve, she comes back to Gig Harbor, where fate introduces her to Ethan–a smoldering, tall businessman with an air of mystery that only adds to his allure. Unable to resist the magnetic pull between them, Aria and Ethan join forces to search for Rachel.

For years, Madison longed for answers about her estranged father and his side of the family. She never expected those answers to come in the form of a stranger on her doorstep with news of a will and an unsettled estate. Now there are siblings, grandparents, and a family business to contend with. Not to mention her mother, who never wanted Madison to be acquainted with the Moores, despite giving her their last name. To get the complete story, Madison must travel across the country to Black Rock Beach and confront the family she’s never known. If you like stories that explore complicated ...

A mysterious blonde in a supercar, a wine competition gone horribly wrong, and disappearing owls. Winnie Hackleshack’s week of spas, wine, and relaxation takes a back seat as she searches for a killer. After another narrow escape at Glacier National Park, Winnie Hackleshack needed a break, so when her sister offered a vacation at a resort in Napa, California, she couldn’t refuse. But after arriving, Winnie’s quest to eat, drink, and be pampered got sidetracked when she’s asked to be a guest judge at a wine competition.

Shayla is ecstatic when Madison and Nathan finally entrust her with a large project for the hotel. That is, until she discovers that they essentially want to loan her out as a private concierge for a famous performer. Since when does the Rockaway Resort offer that service? And why do they assume she has nothing better to do? Worse yet, she isn’t allowed to communicate directly with the client for privacy reasons. All of her interactions will be with the manager. Never one to disappoint the family, Shayla reluctantly accepts the assignment. It's not long before Nathan turns the one-time ...

Candice has been covering up a rocky marriage for longer than she cares to admit. While trying to uncover the issues in her relationship, she stumbles upon family secrets, long-held resentments, and betrayals. Growing up in church fostered her deep sense of commitment to marriage, but when she hits a roadblock she can’t see her way around, she decides to accept her friend Madison’s open invitation for a visit to Black Rock Beach. The sunny shores of Black Rock seem like the perfect place to heal and regroup. But when she arrives, she’s immediately thrown into the middle of the on-...