This debut story collection from the Tobias Wolff Award–winning author “is streaked with fantasy that deconstructs society’s lost and wasted lives” (Publishers Weekly). In these eight darkly comic stories, acclaimed author Tom Howard explores the conflicting instincts for tenderness and violence that mark his character’s lives. A brother and sister wander the pier after a deadly plague destroys most of humanity. A high school bully struggles to overcome his demons. A man in the grips of dementia is visited by his children’s ghosts. The people in these tales grapple with past mistakes, trying to navigate their way toward redemption and resurrection. Though they often fail, they strive with ferocious hearts as their voices guide us through schoolyards, cemeteries, drive-in theaters, and the rich landscapes of their own imaginations.

TRACES A CAT'S NINE LIVES THROUGH HISTORY AND IN DIFFERENT CULTURES-INCLUDES 2 PAGES OF FACTS ABOUT THE HISTORICAL ERA AND COUNTRY.

A chance encounter leads to lasting love. Jim Cage met the love of his life, Veronica, while in high school. Though after hitting it off right away, and falling madly in love, they were soon parted when a tragedy struck Jim's family. The two lovers never knew if they would see one another again, however, the raging fire of their love, never ceased. Becoming a firefighter, Jim had never given up on his dream of returning to his home town, to rekindle the romance with the one to whom his heart belonged. However, upon arriving back home, many years later, Jim found things were not the way he had once known. Reuniting with his best friend, State Police Detective Frank Cross, Jim enlists his aide to find Veronica, and soon discovers a dark shroud of secrets surrounding the life he once knew...one of which hit closer to home than he ever thought possible.

One Summer is a book for all ages. It takes the reader on a journey as seen through the eyes of a nineteen year old girl in the prime of her young life. It has something for everyone...action, suspense, but above all else - the experience and feeling of a first true love. During the summer just after she turned nineteen, Hailey, found out she was moving across the country with her family. When it came to her parents, she was a rebellious young girl, and moving from L.A. to Cedar Point, NC didn't help that fact. Not knowing what to expect, Hailey soon met a twenty-one year old man named Jack, who for reasons unknown to Hailey, took a liking to her. Having to break through a barrier of protection, Jack works his way into Hailey's life, opening her heart to the greatest love - and pain - she has ever known. Eventually, Hailey learns Jack is hiding a secret...and it could mean life or death.

Some legends are born, others are forged in the crucible of fire. For Detective Wyatt Cage, fighting a demonic crime lord was just the beginning. Plunged deep inside of a world he barely believed existed, he is swept into a fight against possibly the greatest general ever to be born of Hell's army to rescue countless children from a fate worse than death. Failure in this attempt will unleash Hell's might upon the world in a war unlike any other. Along his dark road Wyatt will discover two things - his true lineage, and something he never knew he was missing - his son. However, his fight in the realm where nightmare and reality are one may just cost Wyatt his life as he knows it.

How far would you go to save a stranger? Former hitman, Wyatt Cage, turned detective stumbles upon a mysterious woman whose only memory is her name. Their lives are quickly thrust together and soon find Wyatt's shady past threatens the woman's life in an unimaginable way. Through torment and mystery Wyatt must uncover the truth in a race against time before they're consumed by the spiritual forces pursuing them. If that wasn't bad enough, Wyatt's former boss, Damon Carver, a powerful crime lord, wants the woman as well. He would commit any atrocity to get her, as she holds power greater than anything he's ever seen. To solve the mystery and save the woman Wyatt may have to call upon a part of himself he tried to bury so long ago. Will unsealing the reality of the woman's identity come at too high of a cost for Wyatt? It appears in the battle between good and evil, the latter may have the upper hand.

In this exciting collection of noblebright fantasy, fresh new fantasy voices and award-winning authors explore grief and hope, sacrifice and heroism. Rediscover the best aspect of classic fantasy - the noblebright ideals that made heroes heroic, even when the world grew dark around them. Thieves, dragons, nightmares, fairy warriors, pookas, enchanted bear-men, and other magical creatures will delight you in these unique tales of possibility, courage, and hope. This anthology features stories from: Leslie J. Anderson, C.A. Barrett, Terri Bruce, Aaron DaMommio, M.C. Dwyer, Anthony Eichenlaub, Francesca Forrest, Chloe Garner, W.R. Gingell, Lora Gray, Kelly A. Harmon, Tom Howard, Rollin Jewett, Tom Jolly, Samuel Marzioli, Amanda Nargi, Aimee Ogden, Beth Powers, Darrell J. Pursiful, Charles D. Shell, April Steenburgh, Alena Sullivan, and Troy Tang. Edited by Robert McCowen and C. J. Brightley.

Wyatt must lay everything on the line as he attempts to save not only Jess and Natalie but also prevent a war between angels and demons. The only way is to find the Key of Light, a small amulet once believed to be a myth by The Guardian Order, now a necessity to keep innocents safe. In Maddock�s hands, the key will allow him to open a gateway straight into the heart of Heaven and unleash the full power of Hell�s might. The struggle, however, comes when Wyatt is told his daughter is the sacrificial lamb to be slain by none other than her mother, to bring forth Maddock�s own son so he may lead his father�s army against Heaven. Enraged, Wyatt leads the charge to find his family, but is warned not to give in to the power within or he will no longer be allowed to remain on earth to live the life of peace for which he so desperately longs, and will have no other choice but to return to Heaven a full-fledged angel. However, to defeat Maddock, he may have to pay with the cost of his mortal soul.

While original poems in various forms by prize-winning author, Tom Howard, are the main feature of this collection, the book also spotlights twenty-one of the poet's famous English translations of poetry produced in Spain and Latin America by such distinguished writers as Leopoldo Lugones, Rosalia Castro, Antonio Machado, Ruben Dario, Alfonsina Storni, Miguel de Unamuno, Amado Nervo, Juan Ramon Jimenez, Leonardo de Argensola, Salvador Diaz Miron, Lope de Vega Carpio, Jose Maria Eguren, Ramon Lopez Velarde, Manuel Jose Othon, the Marques de Santillana, Gustavo Alfonso Becquer, Alfonso Alvarez de Villasandino and Julio Herrera y Reissig.