Gripping story of life in a boy's reformatory

The first in a series about two very different societies of people.

All his life, Ishmael O’Donnell has wrestled with family dysfunction and being possessed by the spirit of his long-dead twin brother. With a military father who has always controlled him, Ishmael has only escaped corporal punishment through his mother’s intercession. Seeking purification from his past and freedom from the haunting spirit of his brother, Ishmael eventually makes his way to the seminary. In "The Call," author Derald Hamilton creates an unforgettable cast of quirky, humorous, unorthodox, and larger than life characters as Ishmael’s fellow seminarians. While some have received a legitimate call to the ministry, others are simply fulfilling a family legacy of being clergy. Surprised and shocked by such people and even more by the disillusioning church politics he encounters, Ishmael finds his three years in the seminary will lead him down a path to purification he never could have imagined.

Inuit Tales

Nathan/Alex is the keynote speaker at a constitutional convention for black Americans. He reconnects with his friends and still changes the world

Alice is overweight, overtired, overworked and overwhelmed. Mama's had a bad stroke, Aunt Sue seems selfish, and cousin Lainie is perfect. Nobody seems to care about Alice's burdens. Then she meets Sylvia.

"Francie's Followers," by author Jannet Ridener, revolves around a group of people that are each facing their own seemingly insurmountable dilemma. Sheriff James Weaver is suffering from a severe case of boredom mixed with a dose of midlife crisis. He’s tied down by the constraints of life and doesn’t even know it. Elaine just wants to be loved, and she’d prefer if that love came from her crush, Alex, who is too busy doting on his fiancée, Mia, to realize he doesn’t actually love her. Emmett is Alex’s new friend, and Elaine’s new crush. Each of these individuals are living messed up lives but things become even more chaotic when they find themselves unwittingly involved in a battle of wills between Theron and Eugenia, the king and queen of the fairies.

There is nothing like a good story that captures a reader’s interest and imagination. A well written story, whether it is horror, suspense, adventure or drama should contain the elements that honor the genre for which it has been written. A prime example of a book that pays homage to the horror genre is The Dead of winter-The best Chilling Tales by author William P. Robertson. Author William P. Robertson is no stranger to the literary world as he has written hundreds of short stories, poems, articles and several books. Being no stranger myself to reading this genre I have found myself enamored with this book. The Dead of Winter is an exceedingly well written book that contains a thrilling collection of short stories that both enthrall and entertain. Within its pages this book contains some of the better creative and fear inducing tales that I have read. The detailed stories capture your interest and draw you into the scare imbued world of the story. Reading William P. Robertson brings to mind remembrances of other great horror writers; his writing style is unique yet resonates with the spine tingling details that great seasoned horror writers offer. Creating an environment of fear and frights that assail the reader’s senses these stories do please and are sure to keep you reading with the lights on as your senses are assailed by the realistic and fear inducing scenes in each story. While all the stories are great, there are several in particular that I found extra enjoyable; they are Estranged, Mary and Emmett, Bad Things Happen to Bad men and The Price of a Pint. I personally look forward to reading more by this author. I highly recommend this book to those with the desire to curl up with a good book, with lots of lights on during the Dead of Winter.

"Nickels" follows a biracial girl named "Little Miss So and So", from age 4-1/2 into adulthood. Told in a series of prose poems, Nickels' lyrical and inventive language conveys the dissociative states born of a world formed by persistent and brutal incest and homophobia.The dissociative states enable the child?s survival and, ultimately, the adult's healing. The story is both heartbreaking and triumphant. "Nickels" is the groundbreaking debut of Minneapolis-area author and artist Christine Stark.

Paloma Zubiondo lives the life of one of the beautiful people. In her beachfront Mediterranean home that overlooks the bay in Laguna Beach, she collects Spanish Colonial art, rare books, and plays the philanthropist. Her life is happy, safe, secure, disciplined. Like the proverbial ivory tower, her home is a fortress against the world’s evils. Then Paloma’s peaceful existence is shattered by a ringing phone that turns into a hysterical female voice; the woman sounds identical to the indigenous nanny who had raised Paloma in her native land of Ecuador. "Gathering the Indigo Maidens,"by author Cecilia Velastegui, is an exceptionally well-written tale that keeps readers enticed from the first page.