If this whole saga was a fight between good and evil, then
who had won? As far as Miriam could work out, neither good nor evil had
triumphed yet. Now she was having to confront the grim consequences of Will’s
behaviour, and she was mortally afraid. Maybe he and his darkness would win
after all.
The tragic suicide of a young student starts a shocking chain of events for
William Marshall, his wife Miriam and their son, Ollie. As Will descends into
madness, a ghostly presence appears in their old house to protect Ollie.
However, when two strangers threaten Miriam and an attempt is made to snatch
Ollie, mother and son are forced to flee.
Amidst ever-present danger, they shake off pursuers to seek sanctuary in Rock
House in Dorset, where they meet Caitlin and her friends. Twenty years have
passed since Charlie Bond helped Caitlin solve the mystery of her mother’s
death. Now, it is the turn of Charlie’s sidekick, Sam Haskell, to investigate a
mysterious cult and unmask a killer.
Gill Calvin
Thomas is a retired academic who lives with her husband in Swanage , UK. She finds inspiration in the landscape around
her – the Isle of Purbeck has a spectacular coastline and beautiful beaches,
and it is whilst walking here, that Gill develops characters and plots the
twists and turns you will find in her books.
Gill’s life
experiences have informed her writing.
For example, her mother’s death when she was a small child, influenced
her first book, Vex Not Her Ghost, where the heroine has to delve into the past
to uncover the real circumstances of her mother’s death, the cover up and the
ongoing corruption. Her experiences as a
social work academic governs the plot of her second book, Sister Olive Wouldn’t
Hurt a Fly. In this book the fatal
combination of a researcher’s mental collapse and a sociopathic opportunist
give rise to a cliffhanging finale.
Reviewers
have said that Gill writes the sort of books in which you find yourself racing
to the end, whilst not wanting to finish.
Her characters are compelling, well-drawn and sensitively portrayed. In her books bad people get what they
deserve, but it is never quite what it seems.
If you love gritty dark fantasy, epic mythical battles, and
ancient gods interfering with mortals, you need to check out City at the Edge of Time by Janet and
Chris Morris!
City at the Edge of
Time
Sacred Band Series Book 5
by Janet & Chris Morris
Genre: Epic Heroic Fantasy Adventure
“An exciting and brilliantly colored sortie . . .”
– David Drake
Join Tempus and Niko on the triple shores of land, sea, and eternity . . .
Where a young girl trembles between love and sorcerous obsession . . .
Where a prince’s refusal to admit his flaws makes him a pawn of hell . . .
Where a city of immortals learn that Death has not forgotten it . . .
In the catacombs beneath a warlock’s citadel, swords and courage face the jaws
of demons — with a girl’s life and a god’s vengeance resting on the outcome.
A red
cloud rising out of the east was borne seaward on a hungry wind that howled
like a devil. It was a hot cloud, a wet cloud full of the promise of rain, and
yet it shed no drop on the forest below. It spread across the wilderness
without end, a cloud like a funnel, a cloud like a waterspout turned on its
side.
It crossed
the scorched earth between the forest and the city on the coast, low to the
ground and howling. Then it arched up like a striking snake, a hissing serpent
that ate the sky and reared high over the city’s walls.
By then no
one walked the city streets. Everywhere the city’s folk had fled indoors, even
from the courtyards of the king. No peltast stirred on the battlements; no
sentry held his ground. From within the walls of the palace, men peered out
through slits at the unnatural red storm.
Women held
each other in their boudoirs, and children sheltered under mothers’ skirts.
Noise went everywhere, carried on a wet and flailing wind that made hairs stand
up on arms and necks and dogs scramble under sturdy beds to whine.
Macon was
in his father’s stables with his sister Tabet when the maelstrom started; and
there he stayed, working with the grooms to calm the horses, lest one break a
leg rearing and kicking. Among horses, as men, hysteria travels fast.
Don’t miss the
rest of the Sacred Band Series!
The Sacred Band of Stepsons series is Homeric and heroic
fiction following the exploits of an ancient cavalry unit modeled on the Sacred
Band of Thebes. Deftly mixing history, myth, and fantasy, Morris’ Sacred Band
of Stepsons live and die in a world where gods are real and magic works —
sometimes.
Morris’ accursed cavalry commander, Tempus, first
appeared Sacred Band first appeared in the million-selling Thieves’ world
shared-universe in 1981. Subsequently, Janet Morris, first alone and
subsequently with her husband Chris Morris, take the Sacred Band into their own
series of novels, set in the fourth century BCE. Passionate, gritty, lyrical
prose and unforgettable characters make this series. Perseid Press Sacred Band
novels includes the “Author’s Cut” of the Beyond Sanctuary Trilogy and Tempus, as
well as the epic novel The Sacred Band, and The Fish the Fighters and the
Song-girl.
Best selling author Janet
Morris began writing in 1976 and published more than 30 novels, many
co-authored with her husband Chris Morris or others. Most of her fiction work
was in the fantasy and science fiction genres, although she also wrote
historical and other novels. Morris either wrote, contributed to, or edited
several book-length works of non-fiction, as well as papers and articles on
nonlethal weapons, developmental military technology and other defense and
national security topics.
Christopher Crosby
Morris (born 1946) is an American author of fiction and non-fiction, as
well as a lyricist, musical composer, and singer-songwriter. He is married to
author Janet Morris. He is a defense policy and strategy analyst and a
principal in M2 Technologies, Inc. He writes primarily as Chris Morris, but
occasionally uses pseudonyms.
Sometimes, Wilford DeBeer’s high-risk, high-reward financial plans
worked, and when they did, the clients of DeBeer Wealth Management lauded his
brilliance. Unfortunately, sometimes they didn’t, and people lost their
businesses, their retirements, and sometimes their lives. So, when Henry
Jansen, who was caddying a round of golf for DeBeer, pulled a gun and killed
him, the reason seemed obvious.
It wasn’t. Jansen had never been a DeBeer client.
Four days later, Jansen was identified as the shooter. But before the police
could locate and arrest him, he was found dead in an alley near downtown
Denver. At that point, suspicion pivoted to DeBeer’s many disgruntled
clients. One of them must have hired Jansen as their instrument of
retaliation, then killed him to cover their involvement.
This theory, too, led nowhere as the investigation stalled after three months.
Frustrated by the apparent lack of progress on the case, Lauren Beckwith,
Jansen’s cousin, hired Private Investigator Rebecca Marte to continue
the hunt. And while Rebecca apparently retrod much of the same ground as the
police detectives, she must have done something different, because before she
knew it, she was fighting for her life in a diabolical trap set by
Jansen’s killer.
About the Author
If you’re interested in what I’m like in something more detailed
than what will fit in this space, I’d say, buy any of my books. That
overly analytic guy (read geek) is me. OK, I’ve never saved the day like
the heroes in my books, but we think alike. I’m interested in technology
and psychology (my formal background) and enjoy writing about where they meet,
now and in the future. In addition to pounding the keyboard, I like to tinker
with home automation and I’m an avid hiker. When I’m not on the
trails, you’ll find me at home with my wife and our dog in Aurora, CO.
For a closer look at my writing life, book reviews, and progress on my
upcoming novels, please join me at brucemperrin.com.
Vengeance is as dangerous to a cause as to the enemy.
The murder of his wife at the hands of British soldiers prompts American
privateer Captain Jonas Hawke’s vow to make Britain pay.
A grief-stricken Jonas strikes deep into the heart of the enemy, driven by his
personal vendetta. When he raids a port city, one of his men crosses an
unthinkable line, which forces Jonas to come to terms with the anguish that
distorts his definition of justice.
Concerned his wrath will bring irreparable harm to the cause for
America’s freedom, Jonas grapples with his role as a warrior and as a
man. When he learns the Royal Navy is hunting his ship, he fears his deadly
decisions may have cost him and his crew everything. It’s too late to
turn back. Instead, he must continue on and face the inevitable perils of war.
Perilous Shores is a gripping, action-packed, and historically authentic tale
of revenge, survival, and one man’s relentless pursuit of his
country’s independence.
About the Author
Thomas M. Wing, a Naval Academy and Naval War College graduate, retired
after thirty-two years as a Navy Surface Warfare officer. A dedicated sailor
for half a century, he created the Continental Navy Foundation, served as its
executive director, and commanded its brigantine, Megan D.
Tom’s first novel, Against All Enemies, earned gold medals from the
Military Writers Society of America and Literary Titan. In Harm’s Way,
the first in the Sea Hawkes Chronicles series has also garnered several
awards.
He resides in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and daughter and a cat and a
dog. Whatever free time he has is still spent on the water.
For more about the author and to follow his blog about nautical and naval
trivia, visit his website ThomasMWing.com.
Sidney and JoJo are off to Thailand, where Mama lives.
Join them on an adventure to faraway lands-by crate, van, car, conveyor belt,
and airplane-as they discover the sights and sounds of a tropical new world.
Along the way, they meet friendly Thai people, encounter a wise dog, and gaze
in wonder at the golden Buddhas and temple cats standing guard. With a few
bumps in the road-marked by meows, tail twitches, and new surprises-they
journey onward until, at last, they arrive at their new home.
About the Author
Lauren Isaacson is an educator, business owner, and is excited to add
children’s book author to her repetoire. Inspired by the real-life
journey of her two adventurous cats during a move abroad, Lauren wrote this
story to share with her students and families around the world. She is the
founder of The Tutoring Hub: Tutoring & Advocacy, LLC, where she supports
students, families, and educators. As her students learned about her two cats
and their adventures, a desire grew to give them a story they could take home.
Lauren is excited to continue the adventures of The Tales of Sidney and JoJo.
You can contact Luaren at ljisaacson491@gmail.com.
Megan Heller is a Michigan-based contemporary artist who earned her BFA
in illustration from the College for Creative Studies. Her work blends
intricate detail with rich symbolism. Working primarily in mixed media, such
as watercolors and colored pencils, with just a dash of digital magic, her
pieces have been shown at Black Box Gallery’s Fantasy Exhibition in
Dearborn, the Midland Center for the Arts, as well as galleries and
exhibitions throughout Detroit and her hometown of Saginaw. This is her first
foray into children’s book illustration.
A scandalous Top Secret Facility built on Sacred Ground
triggers an ancient Cheyenne curse.
The Curse of Dead
Horse Canyon: Cheyenne Spirits
Dead Horse Canyon Saga Book 1
by Marcha Fox & Pete Risingsun
Genre: Native American Cross-Cultural Conspiracy Thriller
GOVERNMENT
CORRUPTION TRIGGERS AN ANCIENT CHEYENNE CURSE…
Greed and corruption have infiltrated the once-pristine
Colorado Rockies, echoes of years past when silver miners swarmed the area like
vermin, precipitating a 19th Century curse. Now a new generation delivers a
different form of pollution, among them the most corrupt entity of them all.
All Sara Reynolds remembers of the wreck that slammed their Silverado to the
depths of Dead Horse Canyon is Bryan’s dying plea to expose what he found. Why
did they kill him? What happened that fateful spring day? Will she and her dead
husband’s life-long Native American friend, Charlie Littlewolf, discover his
secret?
Ceremonies taught by Charlie’s Northern Cheyenne medicine man grandfather
decades before can connect with the spirits and reveal all things. He shunned
them then. He needs them now, like never before. Coupled with Sara’s ethereal
clues from the heavens can they find answers in time? Or will the same black
ops raiders murder them, too?
READERS’ FAVORITE 5-STAR REVIEW
“Infused with a sense of danger, the intricate plot and dramatic
storyline create a breathtaking and intense story.…An exceptional
novel complete with conspiracy, intrigue, and murder that will enthrall
everyone who has an affinity for suspenseful thrillers with just a smidgen of
the paranormal.” –Susan Sewell
THE BOOK COMMENTARY 5-STAR REVIEW
“A fascinating blend of historical mystery and the supernatural that is
as suspenseful as it is entertaining. How the past affects the present is a
cleverly handled theme, and the narrative highlights the enduring consequences
of greed and disrespect for the land. Boldly written, tautly plotted, and
expertly delivered.” –George Buehlman
AWARDS
Page Turner Book Award
Silver Medal Global Book Awards
Pinnacle Book Achievement Award
Book Excellence Award Finalist
Readers’ Favorite 5-star Review
Breathtaking drops along the road that rimmed Colorado’s
Dead Horse Canyon terrified Sara Reynolds from the start. Cliffs and gorges
stretched on and off for miles, few protected by guardrails.
“Too expensive,” Bryan explained. “Not a priority for lean
county budgets.”
His advice for dealing with roadway-induced acrophobia was simple:
“Keep your eyes on the center line. Concentrate on the road. Whatever
you do, never, ever look down!”
His words sprang from memory, recommendations moot. Ignoring the threat
didn’t make it go away. Especially when someone T-boned your truck on a blind
curve.
Their mangled Silverado teetered on a ledge twenty feet below. She stared,
incredulous, as steam twisted upward from its crumpled hood in a sultry,
hypnotic dance. Vapors crawled along the shattered windshield, then teased the
heart-shaped leaves of a young quaking aspen—the truck’s only ally against a
sheer drop of several hundred feet.
The realization she’d been the truck’s passenger only moments before sizzled
through her like lightning. Why was she weightless, brunette tendrils floating
about her shoulders like a storm cloud? Her horrified gaze shifted to her
husband, likewise weightless and wearing his signature crooked grin.
“What happened?” Her words were soundless, thought rather
than speech.
“We’re dead.”
“What? Dead? What do you mean we’re dead?”
He pointed to their truck. She gasped. Their lifeless bodies were clearly
visible through the cab’s passenger side window.
He was right—they were dead.
The tender expression in his hazel eyes embraced her heart as affection
flowed between them. An unexpected sense of peace defied what lay below.
Time froze, the forest hushed and serene as a leafy chorus offered a requiem in
the spring breeze.
What seemed an eternity later, sirens screamed through the canyon. His
demeanor shifted.
“I’m sorry, Sara. That didn’t exactly work out as planned. I know—I
should have listened to you. I love you, sweetheart.”
Renewed panic surged. “What are you saying, Bryan?”
“You must go back. Promise me. Don’t let them get away with this.
Please.”
He blew her a kiss, then his personage retreated, fading into a swirling
vortex of unearthly light.
He didn’t stop, her plea denied, his only response a wave of farewell as he
vanished into the light.
* * *
She awoke to mind-numbing pain. Her shoulder, neck, and hip screamed, spasms
twisting every muscle as if some wild beast had torn them apart. There’d been
an ear-splitting crash, a brilliant flash of light. . .
Where was Bryan? Where was she?
Unless someone knew otherwise, surely it was hell.
Somewhere far away a muffled siren wailed. Fear of the truth conspired with
her blood-crusted lashes not to open her eyes. Pain vetoed the refusal. Her
eyelids trembled open.
A sandy haired, broad-shouldered man in a blue EMS uniform sat beside her,
attention fixed on a beeping vital signs monitor. A metallic taste filled her
mouth, lips swollen and heavy, her attempt to speak a scratchy whisper.
“What. . .happened? Wh-where’s Bryan? Is he h-here?”
The man turned her way, regarding her with dark, concerned eyes.
“It’s okay, ma’am. Don’t try to talk.” He placed a gentle hand on
her shoulder. “We’re getting you to help as fast as we can.”
Her breathing quickened, ravaged muscles and nerves on fire, but the agony
consuming her heart eclipsed it all. A sob caught in her throat, words an
articulated whimper.
“H-he left me. Here….”
“Just relax.” He emptied a syringe into the port of the IV line
embedded in her arm.
The pain ebbed. Again nothing. Only darkness.
* * *
BELTON REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
April 17, Tuesday
5:37 p.m.
The sensation of motion breached the persistent fog. Her eyes cracked open
as the gurney rumbled through a portal into blinding light. Electronic
chirping, then muted voices, the smell of antiseptics.
She forced her query out from somewhere in her chest. “W-what
h-happened?”
The pretty black nurse hanging a unit of blood looked her way. “You
were in a bad wreck, darlin’. Just rest now. You’re in good hands. You’re awake
and that’s a really good sign.”
“But my husband—”
“I know, darlin’. Don’t worry about him. He’s in a better place.”
Tears flowed unbidden. It had to be a nightmare. Willing herself awake,
however, failed. Abandonment and confusion in the grip of agonizing pain
remained.
Return to Dead Horse
Canyon: Grandfather Spirits
Dead Horse Canyon Saga Book 2
THE DEAD HORSE
CANYON SAGA CONTINUES. . .
READERS’ FAVORITE
5-STAR REVIEW
“I went into ‘Return to Dead Horse Canyon’ not having read the first
book and while it does read comfortably as a stand-alone, after just a couple
of chapters I actually went back to read ‘The Curse of Dead Horse Canyon’
before restarting book two. It was an excellent decision. The building of the
Cheyenne history is critical to the story and had I not understood Sara’s
complete motivation and Charlie’s fully fleshed-out roots, I’d have missed out
on so much more than just a good read. My gosh, the depth of ethnology packed
into both novels is meticulously researched and beautifully detailed.
Co-authors Marcha Fox and Pete Risingsun are a dream team with this saga and
I’m really looking forward to the third and final installment of their
trilogy.” — Asher Syed
This epic modern Native American saga continues in this sequel to “The
Curse of Dead Horse Canyon” where Charlie Littlewolf and Sara Reynolds
discovered why her husband, Bryan, was murdered, changing their lives forever.
While Charlie swore to avenge his white brother’s death, the path to do so
remains unclear.
His job with Lone Star Operations allows him to use his college education and
earn a generous income. However, it conflicts with everything he knows to be
right, especially as he returns to the teachings of his medicine man
grandfather. Is violating the Earth wrong or not? Little does he realize that
his work will ultimately return him to the Northern Cheyenne reservation where
his true destiny will manifest in ways he never imagined.
Sara is determined to fulfill Bryan’s last request to expose the government
corruption coupled with the lethal forces that stole his life. Releasing the
scandalous Top Secret data via WikiLeaks infuriates those with much to lose,
who place a high price on her demise. When her response gets too personal, the
next attempt to silence her forever comes close to home.
While miles apart, each struggles with life-threatening situations as a result
of their dedication to Bryan’s legacy. Their lives remain entangled through a
series of fateful decisions and circumstances that define a future fraught with
dangerous unknowns for them both.
AWARDS
Pinnacle Book Achievement Award
Firebird Book Award
Book Excellence Award Finalist
5-star Readers’ Favorite Review
Page Turner Award Finalist
The Revenge of Dead
Horse Canyon: Sweet Medicine Spirits
Dead Horse Canyon Saga Book 3
The DEAD HORSE
CANYON Trilogy’s explosive conclusion!
Picking up where “Return to Dead Horse Canyon: Grandfather Spirits”
left off, we find that much to her enemy’s dismay, Sara’s life is spared, but
with a steep price. A million dollar bounty remains on her demise, motivating
another to threaten her life. Paralyzed by the last attempt to eliminate her,
her Native American friend, Charlie, promises to help restore her health so she
can walk again. Before he can accomplish that, however, the unthinkable happens,
which disrupts and redirects their plans.
To fulfill his promise to his Northern Cheyenne Grandfather to complete a
four-day ceremonial fast at the Sacred Mountain, Charlie journeys to Bear Butte
in South Dakota, known to his tribe as Novavose. A series of
startling visions reveal the full scope of his destiny. Of prime importance is
to restore the ancient Earth Giving Ceremony known as the Massaum, originally revealed
thousands of years before by their prophet, Sweet Medicine.
Has the time come at last for Native People to unite and fulfill Black Cloud’s
curse on Dead Horse Canyon? And what about those other 19th century prophecies
directed to the 7th Generation by Black Elk and Crazy Horse?
Phase I of the PURF complex is complete. A gala open house to celebrate is
scheduled around the same time as the Gathering of Indigenous Leaders.
While the underground facility is filled to the brim with corrupt lobbyists,
contractors, and government officials, not far away a host of First Nation
Americans is entrenched in a ceremony that promises to restore them to their
land.
What could possibly go wrong?
5-STAR EDITORIAL REVIEW FROM READERS’
FAVORITE
“The Revenge of Dead Horse Canyon by
Marcha Fox and Pete Risingsun stands out for its sharp writing and complete
ability to immerse readers, especially in Charlie’s spiritual transformation.
Poor Sara just cannot get a break. Attacked, paralyzed, kidnapped, and then
labeled a domestic terrorist and sanctioned! This isn’t just a fight for
survival; this is about the power of truth in the face of overwhelming
opposition. Charlie fits into this description, with a spectacular ceremony for
Sara’s healing, but also as a powerful catalyst when he is in the presence of
Grandmother Earth and the consequences of his actions. Fox and Risingsun are a
dream writing team in every way, and, culturally, this portrayal of Charlie’s
heritage is painted from the sky to the smallest pebble and the fire burning in
between. The pacing is elevated by point of view shifts and all the drama, but
also a surprising relationship transformation as well. Ultimately, this finale
succeeds with a perfect 10 landing. Very, very highly recommended.”
AWARDS
Reader’s Favorite 5-stars
Book Excellence Award
Pinnacle Achievement Award
A
sweetgrass braid ordered in 2019 connected a NASA physicist in Texas with a
Cheyenne elder living on the Northern Cheyenne reservation in Montana. That
relationship evolved from a transaction to a consultation to a co-authorship
that produced a culturally meticulous, spiritually grounded, award-winning
conspiracy thriller trilogy.
Before
publishing “The Curse of Dead Horse Canyon” Marcha wanted to confirm
her portrayal of Native American culture and the story’s protagonist, Charlie
Littlewolf, was accurate as well as respectful toward indigenous people.
Synchronicity
intervened via that sweetgrass braid and connected her with Pete Risingsun, an
enrolled member and elder in the Northern Cheyenne tribe. He offered insights
and changes, but best of all, was so taken with the story he ultimately became
its coauthor.
Marcha’s
experience as a retired NASA engineer and seasoned author of The Star Trails
Tetralogy science fiction series, melded perfectly with Pete’s knowledge of his
tribe’s history and ceremonies.
The
pair, who has never met face to face, collaborated via phone calls, text
messages, and snail mail between her home in the Texas Hill Country and his on
the reservation in Montana.
It
took five years to produce the trilogy that comprises “The Curse of Dead
Horse Canyon Saga,” the three books of which have collected a total of 13
awards.
In
preparation for writing the saga’s explosive conclusion, Marcha and Pete
conducted extensive research. In so doing, they were delighted to uncover
fascinating details of Norther Cheyenne history and ceremonies that dove-tailed
perfectly with the complex story’s plot, tying it back to numerous events in
the 19th Century.
