Marie wanted to be as good as her mother wanted. Since her older brother was diagnosed with autism, she is considered the family's "normal" child. She thus feels she must be perfect in every way, which soon turns out to be a haunting task. Desperate for love and to make sense of her mother's contradictory behaviors and spiritual changes (from her mother's infidelities and alcoholism to a strict religious cult, and back again), Marie starts a friendship with a make belief friend, Ana. Ana is beautiful, loving, all-knowing and lives in an older version of Marie's house. Ana is the best friend one could hope for...that is until she encourages you to pursue a life threatening path. A book loosely based on my life: my relationship with my mother, my father, my autistic brother and my sister; my life in a cult; and my battle with anorexia. Nevertheless, this book is a work of fiction (imaginary friend, haunted house, mystical creatures, paranormal, etc).

After bursting onto the fantasy scene with his acclaimed debut novel, Elantris, and following up with his blockbuster Mistborn trilogy, Brandon Sanderson proves again that he is today’s leading master of what Tolkien called “secondary creation,” the invention of whole worlds, complete with magics and myths all their own. Warbreaker is the story of two sisters, who happen to be princesses, the God King one of them has to marry, the lesser god who doesn’t like his job, and the immortal who’s still trying to undo the mistakes he made hundreds of years ago. Their world is one in which those who die in glory return as gods to live confined to a pantheon in Hallandren’s capital city and where a power known as BioChromatic magic is based on an essence known as breath that can only be collected one unit at a time from individual people. By using breath and drawing upon the color in everyday objects, all manner of miracles and mischief can be accomplished. It will take considerable quantities of each to resolve all the challenges facing Vivenna and Siri, princesses of Idris; Susebron the God King; Lightsong, reluctant god of bravery, and mysterious Vasher, the Warbreaker.

Born with a passion for the water and a remarkable talent for swimming, it's no wonder that Rayne Bennett spends more time in the pool than she does on land. But when family secrets become unearthed and lies are uprooted, Rayne realizes that her passion for the water goes farther back than she could have ever imagined. When Rayne finds herself moving back to her quiet birthplace of Shady Cove, things start to unravel even faster. What really happened to her mother, who had (supposedly) been killed thirteen years ago? Why does Rayne feel such an intimate connection with the ocean? The answers, as she will soon find out, come at a cost so great that her life-as well as the lives of those she loves-is in grave danger. Though she doesn't know it, Rayne is the key to unlocking the mysteries that dwell just beneath the ocean's surface. She is the answer to the secrets of the deep. [ adventure #5, fantasy #6 ]

As a Muslim girl, marriage is one of Safia's biggest dreams. All her life she kept herself pure for her faith and her future husband. Although having never had experienced love, and occasionally doubting whether she will, Safia feels herself growing impatient being single. She then sends her family to search for 'the one.' Trusting her family, she decides to say yes to the first person her family finds for her. She believes she will get married and face all her problems with her husband by her side. Is it really as simple as that? Yusuf feels a void in his heart. He tries to deny it, but he knows his mother's not proud of him. He knows she wishes he could be a little more modern like his brother. He wanted his family to find him a wife while he could focus on his deen (faith), but his idea of a wife clashes with his mother's. Seeing that his family were struggling to find him someone he likes, he decides to take matters into his own hands. But is he rushing into decisions without thinking?

Selena's life is in shambles. Isolated by most of her family, witnessing a lifelong friendship crumbling before her eyes, and being torn apart from the boy she fell so idiotically in love with, she doesn't see how things could get much worse. But once again, the universe finds uncanny enjoyment in proving her wrong. On the other end of the spectrum, Conner's not doing much better. Like Selena, his family is completely against Conner and his girlfriend's entire relationship. The only difference being, his family is on the side against him. And as if he wasn't unlucky enough, Selena's handsome and foreign almost-ex-boyfriend picked the perfect time to come and pay them a visit. With more than ever on the line, what started out as harmless fun has morphed into something entirely more heartbreaking. Even best friends have their issues sometimes, right?

This novella was a Hugo and Nebula nominee twenty years ago. I lost both to Charles Sheffield -- whom I married five years later. Life sometimes really is just as strange as fiction.

In which one night isn't enough. Non fiction - #7 Short Story - #41

Victoria Collins has finally overcome the many obstacles Cole Levingston Jr. placed in her way. As she now begins a new life in Boston with her boyfriend Sebastian, new information rises once again. Cole's back and now more determined than ever to complete his revenge on the Collins family. Through, heartaches, laughs, tears, and puzzling situations, Victoria's strength is tested. Will love, family and friends be enough to keep her intact or will she fall apart and give in? The truth will reveal itself placing Victoria in the most horrific situation, and ultimately living up to the name; Broken Princess. All Rights Reserved

For fans of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Peter Blatty, Ted Dekker, and Frank Peretti When forensic psychiatrist Abigail Lee meets a baby-killing mother who has been declared criminally insane and acquitted, she discovers something lurking beneath the surface. Something far deeper and more insidious than mere psychopathy. But can she come to terms with her own struggle with science and faith in time to confront it?

Ariel use to be a pageant girl, but now she's just a regular teen in her Senior year of High school. She meets a guy named Adriano. Ariel and Adriano fall for each other, but Adriano's mother, Irene doesn't want them together. Adriano's family has a tradition of arranged marriages. He arranged to marry Nicole. Irene and Nicole make plans to tear Ariel and Adriano away from from each other.