A dialogue short story about the things we wake up to that remind us there are still things in this life worth waking up for. ante meridiem - [adv. & adj.] "before noon;" Abbr: A.M. Or a.m. [credit to owner of image (not me)]

Sam is the most promising swordsman among this year’s crop of Paladin trainees...and knows it. Brash, cocky, and unbeatable with a sword (well, almost), Sam is the kingdom of Thule’s best hope against the violence wrought by demons. The only problem is that Sam is really Lady Samantha, daughter of the seventeenth Duke of Haywood, and if her father has his way, she’ll be marrying a Paladin, not becoming one. But Sam has never held much interest in playing damsel-in-distress, and so she rescues herself from a lifetime of boredom and matrimonial drudgery. Pity that Tristan Lyons, the Paladin assigned to train her, is none other than the hero of her childhood. He hasn’t recognized her as Lady Samantha--yet-- but if he does, he’ll take away her sword and send her packing. Sam is not the only trainee hiding secrets: Braeden is a half-demon with a dark past that might be unforgivable. Sam, Braeden and Tristan set out for the western coast, charged with rooting out an infestation of demons that has made the West unlivable. As they travel, they uncover a deep-seated corruption of power that threatens to derail everything they stand for. Rebellion stirs, led by a rival faction of warriors who tempt Sam to join them with an irresistible offer. A war between men is coming, and Sam must pick a side. Will saving the kingdom cost her life -- or just her heart? Reminiscent of Mulan, but with a medieval fantasy twist, Paladin is a tale of adventure, action, and romance.

Nightmares and Dreams are actual creatures who invade human minds as embodied fears and joys. But with the new BlissMax pill (guaranteed to give you good dreams all night!) the Nightmares are starving. Violet doesn't use BlissMax (or any modern niceties, thanks Dad), and one night, a Nightmare—the fear of hell—enters her enticingly un-medicated mind and gets trapped. Though Violet has a penchant for creepy things, having a Nightmare stuck inside her mind causes problems: narcolepsy and yet further distance from reality, to name a few, not to mention the Nightmare begins to starve in the wake of fresh human fear. In a misguided attempt to get him home, she gets dragged into the city of Nightmares, Halloweentown on steroids. Once there, it becomes apparent the Dreams and Nightmares hate each other and getting back (alive) only tips the list of growing complications.

"Give me ten days, and I can give you ten reasons not to die." Evan paused. "And if I can't change your mind by then, you can go jump off that cliff."

Xavier doesn't speak; he writes.

Follow Tristan as he shares his story, the story of every girl he loved, of every girl he killed, and of the one love that felt impossible to end, even for him.

Princess Gabriella Persephone Almondine Jane has been angry for as long as she can remember, but one day an icky green tag-along starts to rock her world. How will she respond when her world is slowly turned upside down?

Born with a damaged heart, Leanna Weston has lived a sheltered life with little chance at adventure. When she hears that Finvarra's Circus is coming to her small town, she sneaks off to witness the magic first hand, sure that this is her only chance at experiencing true magic-even if the frightening rumors about the heartless Ringmaster, Finvarra, are true. Caught by Finvarra, Leanna is given one chance at survival: she must join the circus. As slowly she becomes part of the strange family, Leanna learns that there is more than magic to this circus, but an ancient curse that has tied Finvarra's life to its rings. If the circus fails, he dies. Leanna vows to save the circus, but when a ruthless enemy emerges, set on destroying it and Finvarra, will Leanna be able to save them both, or will her broken heart fail her just when she needs it most? Cover Artist: Lisa Rhodes

Maya has picked the absolute worse time to drive through southern Louisiana. Wet, broke-down, and desperately in need of shelter, she wanders into an abandoned plantation with the sole intention of getting through the night in one piece. Daniel, a wraith with a ghost complex, has spent the last two hundred years entertaining himself by scaring the holy hell out of the living. That all changes the moment he discovers his latest intruder can not only hear him, she can see him too! Can Daniel convince his mysterious guest to help find his remains and break the witch's curse he's lived under for the last two hundred years? Hell yeah! And he'll use any means necessary to do it....even if that means getting ghost-weary Maya to fall helplessly in love with him. Death really is only the beginning when these two forces collide. Nothing will ever be the same for either Maya or Daniel as they find themselves the target of Des's latest love connection! (A Story from The Desmond Files) **Copyrighted Material: Haunted Nights & The Desmond Files Copyright © Wendy Nelson 2013 All Rights Reserved. No part of this literary work, including characters, may be reproduced or used without written consent from the author. ***All images, videos & photos belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement or violation is intended by their use.

Hadley Jamison doesn't know what to think when she hears that her classmate, Archer Morales, committed suicide. She didn't exactly know him, but that doesn't stop her from feeling like there was something she could have done to help him. So to Hadley's surprise, on the very night of Archer's funeral, she has a run in with Death himself and is offered the chance to go back in time to stop Archer from ending his life. The catch? She only has twenty-seven days to do it. And if Hadley doesn't succeed? Well, she doesn't want to think about that.