Max Martin is more famous than you are and he knows it. A former TV star, his current re-invention in music has found him selling more albums than any living pop artist. His every move is followed by #Martinis, who fill arenas around the world. At sixteen, he is content to ride high on a wave of vapid hits, living the only like he knows - happily sheltered behind a wall of manipulative handlers and hangers-on. Until it happens. The thing that changes his whole life. The thing that challenges him to become the kind of person that he never thought he would want to be. The Spotlight is a story about what happens when the wall of fame comes crashing down; when a pop star must become a real, living human being who walks among us. How does a self-involved, former-megastar fit into a small town with a new family? And just how is he going to get that girl to see that he’s more than what she thinks he is – an obnoxious, annoying, poseur puppet. (The Spotlight is a novel work-in-progress, rolled out chapter by chapter on Wattpad. The author reserves his right to change things as they move along, but promises not to do anything too dastardly.)

#Wattys2014 Award Winner: This candid, heartfelt collection of essays addresses many of life's thorniest challenges. Whether you struggle with a perennially messy house, run away worrying, depression, an unhappy relationship, mega-stress or even the devastating loss of a loved one, give yourself the gift of The Power Of Rest. You'll find comfort, encouragement and inspiration here, and come away with a renewed appreciation of your own inner wisdom and innate desire for peace, gratitude and simplicity.

Mara Lynn is the most beautiful girl in the world. James Parker is the ordinary boy who discovers her power. Set on the beaches of Michigan in 1994, the book depicts the joys and consequences of young love as Mara and James meet, shoot a movie, fend off bullies, and explore the potential of infinite beauty. "The Accidental Siren" is a dark, contemporary fairytale available on paperback and ebook at the end of June! To learn more, check out my website at www.JakeVanderArk.com!

Reid has been homeless on the streets of New York for years now, fighting for cash in clubs and sleeping in empty buildings. With his special ability, Reid could have whatever life he wanted, but chooses not to. When Sam meets Reid on the subway, she has a hard time forgetting about him, and not only because he keeps showing up in the least likely of places. Sam doesn't know it at first, but the boy she just met is about to show her a whole other world.

A Paranormal Thriller Psychology professor Denton Reed has been pulled out of the classroom to find a killer. Bodies are turning up all over the quiet town of Bexhill. They are found dismembered and burned beyond recognition in a snow covered farmer's field, by the abandoned mill, and under the train bridge. The only clue linking the victims is the bizarre figure-eight patterns left behind in their homes. Denton must use his unique profiling techniques to uncover the murderer, who the police have dubbed Mr. 8. As he begins to unravel the mystery, a strange pattern begins to emerge. Before their deaths, each victim was seized by dark obsessions and inexplicable changes in behavior. Whatever strange forces are affecting the people of Bexhill, they may actually be more dangerous than any killer. As a wave of insanity sweeps the town, Denton will put his life on the line to get to the source of the madness and risk all to protect the woman he loves. But is it already too late? [Rated PG-13 For scenes of violence and strong language] *Cover art by Donald Cronkhite. Best RankingMay 12, 2014 - #1 Mystery/Thriller, #2 Horror

Can you survive the Exit Exam?

Amlee has to live with Walter. Amlee is in love with Walter. Walter is smartass. Walter has a problem. Amlee is the only one that can help. Let's see how this goes.

Wayward: Fetching Tales from a Year on the Road is a hilarious and heartfelt ride around the world, wherein the author eats dog, obsesses about chewing gum, gets stranded on an island, does dirty things, reveres rock n roll and muses about everything from death to Star Trek to the President Obama to jail time. Now available on Wattpad, Wayward has been a surprise hit at both iTunes and Amazon, reaching #1 on both retailers' travel charts. It chronicles a year in the life of the author, who lived in 12 countries over 12 months, one month at a time. It's kind of funny, kind of sad and kind of weird. Forbes describes the book: "Wayward isn’t strictly a travelogue or a guide by any means. The book reads like a diary, with chapters dedicated to everything from watching Obama’s inauguration in an Argentinian bar, to viewing a dubbed version of the newest Star Trek film in France and trying to understand the plot despite not speaking French, to remembering the ecstasy and pain of his first love just before breaking up with his then-boyfriend in Berlin, to eating dog in Vietnam, to his experience working with Patti Smith in New York. Gates’ lively, conversational writing style bring all the disparate pieces together for an engaging, enjoyable read."

There is an intangible magic to the secret double-lives of strangers on trains. She spends her journeys gazing out at city lights outside the window of the train. He watches strangers on the seats around him. Two strangers living off the stories of strangers, with only one journey to find their own. {Written 2013.}

A marijuana grow-op ship with two pinball machines and a pop corn maker, floats off the Halifax docks. Janitors, hot babes, cats, guns, spies and stolen guitars spin a story of success and profitable good times. Except for the dead guy, things pan out okay. The nice thing about being over fifty is I don't have to make anything up.