Crooked Words is an eclectic collection of short fiction in pursuit of the many different shades of what it means to live queer.A young transgender magician travels the world on a quest for a mystical talking sword. A witch wonders why her would-be lovers can’t date her the old-fashioned way. A cross-dressing man meets a suit-clad soul whose gender defies definition. A non-binary zombie wishes ze were the hero in science-fiction stories. A genderqueer manservant tries to save her mentally-ill lover with a deck of tarot cards. A boy looks at himself in the mirror and ponders the fear of telling his family that his name isn’t Susan. Crooked Words is an eclectic collection of short fiction in pursuit of the many different shades of what it means to live queer.

After the Isis Saga. Before the Temptation of John Haynes. A new beginning for the Harbinger of Death.Mortally wounded by the goddess Isis in a thrilling final battle, the demon E’steem is transported to a mysterious palace. After she recovers from her injuries she learns that Lucifer, Lord of Hell has saved her life. Impressed by the treachery she participated in to attain membership among his Elect, the Prince of Darkness promotes her to position of autonomy in his Legion. However, E’steem soon learns not to trust the subtle politics transpiring around her when dealing with the father of lies.The Politics of Hell details what happened to E’steem in between Isis and The Temptation of John Haynes. In this short story readers will learn how she somehow she recovered from near death and how she met Lucifer. A bridge between books, it’s meant to tie up any loose ends in Isis and set up the future storyline for The Temptation of John Haynes.

Christmas magic, delivered! A hilarious Christmas caper and the perfect festive gift, from bestselling author, Ben Miller. Pre-order now! All Tog wants to do is work in Santa's workshop and one wonderful day, the letter from Santa arrives: Tog has been selected as an apprentice elf! Making toys is a lot more technical and a lot less fun than Tog had imagined, and even though his new friend Holly tries to help him, he's quickly relegated to cleaning out the reindeer stables. But someone has been stealing the presents from the workshop and a case of mistaken identity finds Tog accused of being the culprit! Can Tog use his special Christmas magic to discover the real thief and save all the presents before Christmas Eve is over? A funny and heartwarming story about the true meaning of gift giving, from the King of Christmas, Ben Miller – the perfect stocking filler for all the family! Praise for BookTrust pick The Night I Met...

Every apartment has its quirks-- a door that sticks, a light switch that doesn't work, or a tenant that disappears. Sometimes there’s a reason for it and sometimes things are better left alone.For some reason the toilet is squeaking and it’s getting louder every day. Now it’s the dead of night, the girlfriend is asleep, the apartment manager is asleep and the toilet is getting worse. What started out as a pee in the night may turn into something most foul.A quirky short story that twists and turns down a path of poor choices and unforeseeable futures.

COMETH THE HOUR, COMETH THE FALLIn time, the whole world will be a graveyard, a charnel pit for billions. In time, a tiny few will be all that remains, fighting back against the terrible, rotting "greys" until none are left. In time, the Dark Judges will rule unquestioned over an empty world.But before the end of Deadworld must come the fall...

THE POLARIS AND OTHER STORIES is a collection of short stories ranging from suspense to fantasy. These stories, created by author Joshua Jackson are designed to take readers on a ride through the lives of multiple characters. Readers will learn about the fantasy world of The Polaris, the relationship between a horse and a fox, and a man who wakes up and believes his wife is missing.THE POLARIS AND OTHER STORIES is a collection of short stories ranging from suspense to fantasy. These stories, created by author Joshua Jackson are designed to take readers on a ride through the lives of multiple characters. Readers will learn about the fantasy world of The Polaris, the relationship between a horse and a fox, and a man who wakes up and believes his wife is missing."The Polaris" is a fantasy world ran by "King Darvo." After many years of battling in war, Darvo finally becomes king and renames the kingdom "The Polaris" as it sits under the north star. After many years of violence, Darvo makes his kingdom a land of peace and love. People no longer settle things with violence or hate. Citizens of the kingdom help each other build homes and make food, children play without a care in the world. It seems as if there is finally peace in the world. However Zull, a member of the kings staff does not like this new world. Zull fought along side Darvo for years and believes Darvo has changed for the worst and becomes jealous of Darvo. Will Zull try to become the new ruler? Will Darvo have to fight in one more war to insure peace in the world?"The Fox and the Horse" is a story of love and even a little drama. Farmer Jack learns of love and friendship when he sees his beloved horse Lucky become friend with a energetic fox. With not wanting any more animals, Jack turns away the fox every time he sees him. After seeing how his actions change Lucky's behavior, will Jack decide to allow another animal on the farm?"Lost" is a story of drama where Tony wakes up to find that his wife missing. He begins to search before a big snow storm hits Denver. As he searches he finds out the truth about his wife and his memory loss. However, after finding the truth, Tony still wakes up every day looking for his wife. Will Tony ever get his memory back?

A couple of dozen poems about a particular relationship, a particular planet, and a personal grab bag of memories and dreams.It's quiz night at the Red Lion - time for The Circleto pit their wits against the rest of the regulars......and each other.The sound of wedding bells is, most definitely, in the air!The story continues in the novella, Breaking Waves, and the In The Stars Part II (Cancer-Sagittarius).* * * * *In The Stars follows 'The Circle' of friends through a full year, with each episode covering the period of time indicated by the zodiac sign from which it takes its title.'Gemini' is the sixth episode of In The Stars, released in May 2014. For those readers unfamiliar with the series, 'Capricorn' (episode one) re-introduces the main characters, so you could pick it up from here and perhaps catch up with the previous books later (I hope you will!).The full novel of In The Stars Part I (Capricorn–Gemini) is also available for purchase as a paperback and ebook.* * * * *Some things are just meant to be, or sometimes it seems that way. Like old uni pals inexplicably moving to your hometown, or realising that your childhood best friend is the love of your life, or landing a star role in a hit TV series that could well be your autobiography.Fate, karma, written in the stars, or just bizarre quirks of coincidence?For better or worse, the events of the next six months will push the friends to the limits. For The Circle can expand and contract, but it is always whole; eternal.Set over the first six months of a year of The Circle, In The Stars Part I explores the day-to-day lives of nine friends from high school who are now it their late thirties, following them through celebration, loss, illness and life-changing decisions.What readers say about the Hiding Behind The Couch Series:"The remarkable characterisation in these novels is what makes them for me.""This story reminds me of my favorite movies about friendship and relationships.""Few authors have explored the depths of longtime friends within a group, or 'circle' the way Debbie McGowan has!""I have a love-hate relationship with Debbie McGowan's Hiding Behind the Couch Series. I love to read them, I HATE it when they're over."

Part 2 of All the Days of John Mann. Continues the story begun in The Stolen Days of John Mann. Choke survivor John Mann and ally Gunner travel a long and treacherous road in their search for David and revenge on the traffickers who took him. Can they outrun the unseen net that tightens around them? Danger, betrayal and death are the common coin, Mann's ability to kill or cure the ultimate prize.Part 2 of All the Days of John Mann. Continues the story that began in The Stolen Days of John Mann.Preacher John Mann is the only known survivor of exposure to the choke, the virus that has decimated humanity. As society struggles to survive and rebuild, Mann and his uncertain ally Gunner leave Keen in her brother's safekeeping while they continue on the trail of the missing boy David. Their road is full of treacherous turns that can only lead them into brutal conflict with a gang of Russian traffickers.While Doctor Russell's relentless pursuit of Mann brings her closer to her quarry, unseen, the Government's net draws ever tighter around them all.Suffering a crisis of faith, Mann is all too aware that his very existence puts all those he would hold close at risk.'His faith seemed to diminish by the mile the further he moved away from Keen, like fuel dripping out onto the road from a cracked tank.'When danger, betrayal and death are the common currency, John Mann's potential as a weapon or as the source of a vaccine is the ultimate prize that all would profit by but which he won't easily surrender.

A riveting new account of the long-overlooked achievement of British-led forces who, against all odds, scored the first major Allied victory of the Second World WarSurprisingly neglected in accounts of Allied wartime triumphs, in 1941 British and Commonwealth forces completed a stunning and important victory in East Africa against an overwhelmingly superior Italian opponent. A hastily formed British-led force, never larger than 70,000 strong, advanced along two fronts to defeat nearly 300,000 Italian and colonial troops. This compelling book draws on an array of previously unseen documents to provide both a detailed campaign history and a fresh appreciation of the first significant Allied success of the war.Andrew Stewart investigates such topics as Britain's African wartime strategy; how the fighting forces were assembled (most from British colonies, none from the U.S.); General Archibald Wavell's command abilities and his difficult relationship with Winston...

The story is centered around how a banished young lion called Ola discovered and fulfilled his destiny despite the various temptations he encountered in the paradise of lust. He was fortunate to oblige himself the opportunity life offered him while he was in the Great, Great, Wild Jungle. He however determined not to lose his focus on his destination. His destination was his destiny.This highly interesting and life impacting comical piece is a work of fiction. The author, Moses Olanrewaju Bolarin, was in a trance on Monday, July 5, 2010 when this story was revealed to him. This story is already in a short animated cartoon film format as well as in mobile phone screensaver, wallpaper, and video formats.The story is centered around how a banished young lion called Ola discovered and fulfilled his destiny despite the various temptations he encountered in the paradise of lust. He was fortunate to oblige himself the opportunity life offered him while he was in the Great, Great, Wild Jungle. He however determined not to lose his focus on his destination. His destination was his destiny.Everybody, young and old, has a lot to learn from this exhilarating story.

Terrorists Come To the Ghetto...And only One Man Can Stop them!After leading a successful mission to take out Iraqi warlord Samhal Hussein, Sgt John Williams is hailed as a Hero by the U.S Army. However, when he returns to the South Bronx he finds his neighborhood being oppressed by a neighborhood drug kingpin.With the NYPD scared, and residents feeling powerless, John realizes that he has to declare his own war on terror to save his neighborhood and protect his community.

Seven-year-old Jake has to deal with his fragmenting family after his older sister disappears.Spending the Holy Communion money is a memorable part of the Communion experience. Can you remember how you spent yours? Kathleen's Mum and Dad are taking Kathleen for a special day in town to pick up the items she has decided to buy. But, as you may know, Kathleen has two annoying little brothers. Kathleen's aunties have been left in charge of her little brothers, Tommy and Teddy, while she goes into town to spend her Holy Communion money. Unfortunately Auntie Dee and Auntie Di do not know much about children. When Tommy and Teddy are quiet the aunties do not realise that silence means trouble.

A short story of pronounced madness in a modern, mechanical world. A solitary night watchman at a museum faces his own inadequacy when compared with the museum's security system. As he sinks into depression and alcoholism, a woman appears, seemingly from nowhere, and plucks the watchman from despair in order to further her own otherworldly hobby.Chinese wisdom secretly passed through handwritten fortunes influences the lives of two men from different cultures connected by a shared source of enlightenment. Each overcomes adversity to achieve inner awareness through personal journeys. Michael Hamilton, successful San Francisco advertising executive, has his world shattered when he becomes a casualty of the 1994 California recession. He faces a bleak future: unemployed, despondent, and alone. To pull himself together he must overcome emotional obstacles and accept a broader, unconventional vision of reality. A secret mentor guides him as he opens a new business and finds romance with strong-willed, Jennie Greene. Will his fear of commitment once again interfere, keeping him stuck in the painful past? Wu, respected manager of the family-owned Good Fortune Chinese restaurant, enjoys financial security. He has been a loving husband and father, but is at odds with his aging father, Chow Lee Tong, the restaurant's bookkeeper and formerly a great scholar in his youth. Gradually, Wu neglects his wife, Anna and their sons due to his assiduous attention to business. He is too distracted to realize he is putting his marriage in jeopardy and sacrificing his family relationships in his quest for greater wealth. Wu and Michael each face challenges that, like the mirrored images of the Yin/Yang symbol, are identical yet reversed. Good Fortune awaits them, but first they must discover happiness is less tied to outward goals than inner awareness. Tong's gentle wisdom shows them the way.