As an initiate of the order he is to serve, Virgil is about to embark on his final trial. Little did he know this was to be the easy part.As the world of man stands upon the brink of destruction, plagued by petty wars and corrupt rulers who are vying for control. Their armies cutting a bloody swath through the various kingdoms of men. Whispers of an ancient evil start to surface. It is a fragile time in the realm of man. A darkness lingers beyond the mountains to the south, as cool winds emanating from those mountains warn of the times to come. The kingdoms of men distracted to the gathering strength of enemy long forgotten. Watching and waiting for the time the world of men would be vulnerable. That time has come!Will the withering strength of mankind be able to weather such a storm? Or will this Rise of Darkness be the final conflict that exterminates all of humanity?

"The Painting" is a 2018 Scars Publications poetry and prose book with material from assorted writers and artists, as the June 2018 issue release of the literary magazine "Down in the Dirt" (http: //scars.tv/dirt). Since 2014 "Down in the Dirt" magazine is released every other month (and sometimes with bonus issues) as a 6"x9" perfect-bound paperback book, with not only it's usual ISSN# (print ISSN# 1554-9623 and Internet ISSN# 1554-9666), but also an ISBN#. Because of ISBN# releases, all issues now carry a title to accompany the new format, reflecting the writing inside the book as well as the cover design. Writers and artists included in this Scars Publications perfect-bound 6" x 9" ISBN# paperback book include Abbey Faith Serena, Allan Onik, Ana Vidosavljevic, Andy Schenck, Beau Sherman, Cathy Porter, Cecilia Kennedy, Christina Basher, Donald Hubbard, Edna C. Horning, Elizabeth York Dickinson, Erin Farias, Francis Raven, James Mulhern, Janet Kuypers, JD DeHart, Kyle Cisco, Marc McMahon, Marcus Vance, Milton Ehrlich, Mitchel Montagna, Rae Monroe, Roger G. Singer, Ron Richmond, Suki Litchfield Kristin Litchfield, Teneale Moyer, Tom Bal, Edward Michael O'Durr Supranowicz, Eleanor Bennett, Fabrice Poussin, J. Ray Paradiso, Kyle Hemmings, Lavren Le'Clore, and Olivier Schopfer

A new take on Sword and Sorcery with cultures and creatures based in Slavic mythology, and placed inside a unique world, full of strife and war.As an initiate of the order he is to serve, Virgil is about to embark on his final trial. Little did he know this was to be the easy part.As the world of man stands upon the brink of destruction, plagued by petty wars and corrupt rulers who are vying for control. Their armies cutting a bloody swath through the various kingdoms of men. Whispers of an ancient evil start to surface. It is a fragile time in the realm of man. A darkness lingers beyond the mountains to the south, as cool winds emanating from those mountains warn of the times to come. The kingdoms of men distracted to the gathering strength of enemy long forgotten. Watching and waiting for the time the world of men would be vulnerable. That time has come!Will the withering strength of mankind be able to weather such a storm? Or will this Rise of Darkness be the final conflict that exterminates all of humanity?

"Natural Light" is a 2018 poetry, flash fiction, prose, and artwork collection book from Scars Publications (http://scars.tv), one of three 2018 collection books of selected acceptances of 2018 issues of cc&d magazine (http://scars.tv/ccd) and down in the dirt magazine (http://scars.tv/dirt) from Scars Publications (http://scars.tv). Writers and artists included in this book are also listed with their writing at the Scars Publications book link (search for the book title in the books section at http://scars.tv). Writers and artists in this issue collection book include A.J. Huffmam, Aaron Wilder, Adam Kluger, Adam Nagy, Alicia Morrison, Alistair Forrester, Allan Onik, Allen F. McNair, Andrea Chancey, AndrÈe Gendron, Andrew J. Hogam, Andrew Rivera, Anita G. Gorman, Anna Kander, Anne Mikusinski, Anoop Judge, Anupama Kadwad, Aparna Pathak, Ashley Layco, ayaz daryl nielsen, Bekah Steimel, Ben Brown, Bob Strother, Bonnie E. Carlson, Brandy Montilione, Brittany Micka-Foos, Bruce Costello, Carlos Frigo, Carolyn Poindexter, Cathy Porter, Cecelia Burton, Cecilia Kennedy, CEE, Cheryl Townsend, Christina Basher, Christina Kosch, Christina M. Jackson, Christopher Hivner, Clay Carpenter, DA Gray, Dan A. Cardoza, Dan Fitzgerald, Daniel Davis, David Gershan, David J. Thompson, David Lohrey, David Michael Jackson, David Russel, David Sowards, David Spicer, DC Diamondopolous, Demond J Blake, Denny E. Marshall, Devin S, Donald Hubbard, Doug Hawley, Doug Van Hooser, Dr. Shmooz a.k.a. Daniel S. Weinberg, Drew Marshall, DS Maolalai, Edward Lee, Edward Michael O'Durr Supranowicz, Eleanor Leonne Bennett, Eli Jacqueline, Emily Strauss, Eric Bonholtzer, Eric Dreyer Smith, Erren Kelly, Eterigho Oghenekome Humphrey, Fabrice Poussin, Feston Altus, Frank Beghin, Frederick Pollack, Gabriella M. Shlyakh, Gaby Bedetti, Gary Van Haas, George K. Karos, Grace Ware, Greg G. Zaino, Hector Ramos, Helen Bird, I.B. Rad, Ian Bowman, Ian Mello, Ivars Balkits, J L Higgs, J. Ray Paradiso, Jalicia Hart, James B. Nicola, Jane Stuart, Janet Kuypers, JD Langert, John ("Jake") Cosmos Aller, John F. McMullen, John Grey, John Kaprielian, John W. Dennehy, John Yotko, John Zedolik, Judi Dettorre, K.M. Luis, Karen Schauber, Kasisi D. Harris, Kassandra Heit, Ken Allan Dronsfield, Kenneth DiMaggio, Kevin M. Grimm, Kevin Z. Garvey, Khalilah Okeke, Kristyl Gravina, Kyle Hemmings, Kyle J Cisco, L'Dia Cantu, Lael Lopez, Lavren Le'Clore, Lawrence Basher, Layla Lenhardt, Leonard Henry Scott, Liam Spencer, Linda M. Crate, Linh Tran, Liz Betz, M. E. Murray, M. Myers, M.C. Rydel, Marc McMahon, Marcus Vance, Mark J. Mitchell, Mark Joseph Kevlock, Matthew McAyeal, Matthew Roy Davey, Megan Mealor, Michael Ceraol, Michael Gullickson, Michael Mogel, Michael Perez, Mike Schneider, Miki Byrne, Millard C. Davis, Minh-Tam Le, Myisha Myles, Natalie Segura, Neil Flory, Nicole Brissett, Olivier Schopfer, Pam Munter, Patty Ayers, Pavol Janik, Peter LaBerge, Rachel B Walker, Rae Monroe, Raymond E. Strawn II, Rene Diedrich, Retta Lewis, Richard Stevenson, Richard Tatton, Robert Beveridge, Robert Ronnow, Rod Martinez, Roger G. Singer, Ron Richmond, Ronald Charles Epstein, Rose E. Grier, Ryan Pahlkotter, Sandra Cobb, Sara Codair, Sarah Henry, Sarah Webb, Shabnam Kaur, Shake the Poet, Shane Ryan Bailey, Shannon Woodard, Sharon Hajj, Sheikha A., Stephanie Madan, Stephen Matlock, Sterling Jacob, Steve Carr, Suki Litchfield, Te'Livyvonne Starks, Ted Garvin, Teneale Moyer, Terri Martin Lujan, Thom Woodruff, Thomas M. McDade, Tom Ball, Travis Green, Tyler White, Uzeyir Lokman Cayci, Veronica Grose, Vincent Bennett, Violet Mitchell, Wes Heine, Xanadu, and Zac Harris.

"Farewell to Seafaring" is a 2018 Scars Publications poetry and prose book with material from assorted writers and artists, as the (January 2018 issue release of the literary magazine "Down in the Dirt" (http://scars.tv/dirt). Since 2014 "Down in the Dirt" magazine is released every other month (and sometimes with bonus issues) as a 6"x9" perfect-bound paperback book, with not only it's usual ISSN# (print ISSN# 1554-9623 and Internet ISSN# 1554-9666), but also an ISBN#. Because of ISBN# releases, all issues now carry a title to accompany the new format, reflecting the writing inside the book as well as the cover design. Writers and artists included in this Scars Publications perfect-bound 6" x 9" ISBN# paperback book include Amy Jo Huffman, Adel Aaron, Allan Onik, Andrew Hogan, Andrew Rivera, Barry Hill, Bob Strother, Bruce McRae, Clay Carpenter, DC Diamondopolous, Dominic Lim, Don Ray Crawford, Eli Jacqueline, Gaby Bedetti, Gregg Dotoli, Isaiah Granado Finley, Jeffrey L Higgs, James Wylder, Kristyl Gravina, Kyle Donahoe, Kyle Cisco, Kyle Heger, Lawrence Basher, Leonard Scott, Liam Spencer, Marc McMahon , Megan Mealor, Michael Perez, Pam Munte, Rajah-Nee Reynold, Richard Bullard, Robert C. Weissenberg, Roger G. Singer, Sharon Hajj, W.E. Brower Jr., David M Jackson, Denny E. Marshall, Edward Michael O'Durr Supranowicz, Eleanor Bennett, Fabrice Poussin, J. Ray Paradiso, Kyle Hemmings, Olivier Schopfer, Rene Diedrich, and Westley Heine.