A collection of short stories by Hugh Howey

After escaping her past, Miranda finds herself in coastal Maine, and when she meets Owen, she must help him uncover what truly happened to his now-dead ex. ***** On the run from her abusive ex, Miranda Lewis figures a small town in coastal Maine is just the place for her to lay low. There she befriends Claire, the owner of a local cafe, and her son, Owen. A woodworker and musician, he keeps to himself, especially since the town believes he played a part in the disappearance of the town's pride and joy... a skilled artist and his former girlfriend. As the two begin to grow closer, Miranda agrees to help him uncover the truth behind what really happened, especially now that strange things are occurring again, leading all roads back to Owen. [[word count: 70,000-80,000 words]] Cover designed by Simone Northey

What is new about how teenagers communicate through services such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram? Do social media affect the quality of teens' lives? In this eye-opening book, youth culture and technology expert danah boyd uncovers some of the major myths regarding teens' use of social media. She explores tropes about identity, privacy, safety, danger, and bullying. Ultimately, boyd argues that society fails young people when paternalism and protectionism hinder teenagers' ability to become informed, thoughtful, and engaged citizens through their online interactions. Yet despite an environment of rampant fear-mongering, boyd finds that teens often find ways to engage and to develop a sense of identity. Boyd's conclusions are essential reading not only for parents, teachers, and others who work with teens but also for anyone interested in the impact of emerging technologies on society, culture, and commerce in years to come. Offering insights gleaned from more than a decade of original fieldwork interviewing teenagers across the United States, boyd concludes reassuringly that the kids are all right. At the same time, she acknowledges that coming to terms with life in a networked era is not easy or obvious. In a technologically mediated world, life is bound to be complicated.

A chance encounter in the dark leads eighteen-year-old Daniel and the girl who stumbles across him to profess their love for each other. But this love has conditions: they agree it will last only one hour, and it will be only make-believe. When their hour is up and the girl rushes off like Cinderella, Daniel tries to convince himself that what happened between them seemed perfect only because they were pretending it was. Moments like that happen only in fairy tales. One year and one bad relationship later, his disbelief in love-at-first-sight is stripped away the day he meets Six: a girl with a strange name and an even stranger personality. Unfortunately for Daniel, finding true love doesn’t guarantee a happily ever after . . . it only further threatens it. Will an unbearable secret from the past jeopardize Daniel and Six’s only chance at saving each other?

Lucy, a 17-year old slave girl, was born on the plantation, works on the plantation, and will most likely die on the plantation. She knows little of the world past the plantation, but that doesn't keep her from wondering about it. With the rare abilities to read and write, she knows there's a better life out there for her; it's just a matter of where. Deciding to find her better life, she runs away to the north, hoping to make a living for herself. But, on her way to freedom, Lucy encounters Koi, the 21-year old son of an Indian tribe's chief. He welcomes her into his tribe, showing her the ways of the world and the heart. At Koi's side, Lucy ventures beyond the cotton fields.

The horizon is wide. There is need of focus. In a journey you come across steep slopes Attention-takers are on the road's sides But on the direction you are going...Focus Be deaf to the mosquitoes' buzzing sounds Your destiny requires focus. On good deeds, focus Focus and be buoyant.

After five years of not keeping in touch, a young werewolf named Lana is invited to be the maid of honour in her best friend's wedding. Here she finds the mate she has been searching for for the past six years but when she finally meets him she can't have him, they are said to be incompatible. With more reasons for them to be apart she's about to realize that the magic in the air is nothing but smoke and mirrors.