Growing up in white-bread Omaha, Nebraska, Rachel Shukert was one of thirty-seven students (circa 1990) in Nebraska’s only Jewish elementary school. She spent her days dreaming of a fantasy Aryan boyfriend named Chris McPresbyterian, a tall blond god whose family spoke softly in public and did not inquire after his bowel movements. She spent her nights frantically plastering her bedroom with pictures of intimidating co-religionists such as Henry Kissinger and Bette Midler, hoping to repel the Gestapo officers she was certain were lurking behind the drywall. Even back then, Rachel knew she was destined for greatness. After winning the Omaha Metropolitan Area Theater Arts Guild Award for Best Youth Actress–and imagining herself as the biggest talent to come out of Nebraska since Montgomery Clift–Rachel finally arrives in Manhattan. Intent on making her mark in the glittering world of Show Biz, she isthwarted at every turn by episodes of anorexia, verbally abusive sock puppets, and a certain terrorist attack you may have heard of. She nevertheless soldiers on, as her people have done from time immemorial. In this hilarious, mordant, and moving memoir, Rachel Shukert tackles topics as diverse and weighty as life, death, love, Jewish paranoia, and errant feminine hygiene products with a fresh and irresistible mixture of humor, brains, and candor, proving that having no shame can sometimes be a very good thing indeed.

Johnny Valentine is a lonely boy who dreams of becoming a hero, just like the masked avengers in his comic books. His feisty grandmother Stella is a retired supermarket clerk and cancer survivor. Running out of time, money and options, the old lady is driven by a fierce sense of justice. Together the boy and his grandma devise a Robin-Hood style scheme to rob a ruthless retail conglomerate, stealing cash and medicine for the sick and needy. As their crime spree continues, the citizens of their town wonder how to judge the crazy young boy and his fugitive grandma. Are Johnny and Stella Valentine a menace to society? Or are they the only ones trying to save it? - Wattpad Top 10 Mystery/Thriller category - 2013 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Finalist (Action and Adventure Category)

When Life makes you invisible and Love needs a little nudge...there's a Friend for that.

Temo McCarthy works in the call center for Passion Financial. He spends his days "dialing deadbeats", convincing broke, desperate customers to pay their overdue credit card bills. Every year, Passion's CEO gives $100,000 to the top earner in the call center. Temo sees the award as a chance to give his new family the life he never had growing up in a broken home. When his main rival is gunned down in the company parking lot, Temo realizes he must find the killer in order to prove his own innocence. - Wattpad Top 10 Ranking in the Mystery/Thriller category. "Dmitri Ragano is a creative, unconventional author who knows how to tell a story that other people aren't telling. He takes the hooks of the mystery/thriller genre and fills it in with ambitious themes and compelling original characters. Prepare to be intrigued and entertained!" -- Seth Harwood, Best-selling Amazon Mystery Author.