When he was young, Thomas was a travel writer and photographer. But in his old age his children pressure him to move to retirement home. He resists until a fateful encounter with one of his fellow residents: a woman who doesn't seem to age and who definitely has a taste for blood.... *Part of why I wrote this story was to write a non traditional vampire story. The leads aren't young, one of the characters is Asian (vampires seem to be very white for the most part), and it's set predominantly in a retirement home. But that said, it's still supposed to be suspenseful and interesting. I hope!*

The first story in my collection, Vacui Magia: Stories. You can buy Vacui Magia at all major ebook retailers, or direct via Gumroad - links are on my website: http://traversingz.com/book/vacui-magia/

Before the coming of Islam the world was in a state of oppression and injustice. Pre-Islamic Arabia was a dreadful place to live in as the Arabs were a people without any set moral values. Slavery was an economic institution of the Arabs. Male and female slaves were bought and sold like animals, and they formed the most depressed class of the Arabian society. Illiteracy was common among the Arabs, as were alcoholism and adultery. Those with power and money took advantage of the poor by charging 100 per cent interest on loans. Arabia was a male-dominated society, men could marry any number of women and when a man died, his son "inherited" all his wives except his own mother. Women had virtually no legal status, for example they had no right to possess property and had little to no inheritance rights. Female infanticide was widely practiced as they used to bury their daughters alive. I think you can appreciate why this period of Arab history before the dawn of Islam is known as the period of ignorance!

A Murder Shall Commence, on the 21st of November, at 3pm. If you want to know some more, find the poppies in the garden of the Convent which is missing a Nun. This was the first message Scotland Yard received. (Well, after they had been set on the right track by a certain Alianna Winter) What did it mean? That was obvious, at a glance. But where? And by whom? And which convent was missing a nun? Allie certainly has her word cut out for her this time. -The eighth book in the Alianna Winter series. Her earlier cases: 1.Death At Scarlet Leaf 2.The Merryweather Jewel Thefts 3.A House On The Hill 4.Murder Is At Hand 5.The Incident Concerning The Alsatian Dog 6.At The Plaza Majestic 7.Madame Juror Her later cases: 9.The Impossible Poisoning 10.The Final Endgame The Toby Smart Spin-offs: What Makes A Detective What Breaks A Detective

-The second of two spinoff stories from the Alianna Winter Mysteries- It's two weeks after the fall, and Scotland Yard is in turmoil, trying to round up the remnants of Stephenson's gang while the old man himself sits quietly in custody, determinedly not being helpful. But Detective Inspector Toby Smart is on a different mission. A mission to find out the truth, because something-he doesn't know what-doesn't quite add up. He's prepared to do whatever it takes to reveal what really happened, whatever the cost.

Alianna Winter has returned to London. Her time is up. Her worst fears have been realized-she is a threat, and Stephenson needs her out of the way. Mysteries and puzzle solving are useless to her now; all she can do is try and stay ahead of the game, for her friends' sakes if nobody else. She knows she can't run forever, and that now is the time to stand her ground. Her loves, her friendships, and her life is on the line, as she's playing The Final Endgame. -The tenth book in the Alianna Winter series. Her earlier cases: 1.Death At Scarlet Leaf 2.The Merryweather Jewel Thefts 3.A House On The Hill 4.Murder Is At Hand 5.The Incident Concerning The Alsatian Dog 6.At The Plaza Majestic 7.Madame Juror 8.A Murder Shall Commence 9.The Impossible Poisoning The Toby Smart Spin-offs: What Makes A Detective What Breaks A Detective

More Alianna Winter one chapter stories, tales of Allie and all of her friends and enemies, filling in gaps and what happened afters, all because I'm a sad human being who just can't let go. Spoilers for the original series are, sadly, inevitable. THE ALIANNA WINTER SERIES: 1.Death At Scarlet Leaf 2.The Merryweather Jewel Thefts 3.A House On The Hill 4.Murder Is At Hand 5.The Incident Concerning The Alsatian Dog 6.At The Plaza Majestic 7.Madame Juror 8.A Murder Shall Commence 9.The Impossible Poisoning 10.The Final Endgame THE D.I. TOBY SMART SPINOFFS: What Makes A Detective What Breaks A Detective AUTHOR'S NOTE: THIS BOOK HAS NO SET SCHEDULE. I COULD UPDATE TWICE IN A YEAR AND THEN TWICE IN TWO HOURS. YOU WILL NEVER KNOW!

Alianna Winter was getting used to the home life. She hadn't heard from Barnes or Fisher in months, and since nobody on Praed Street was planning on getting murdered anytime soon, Allie had assumed her services as a detective would not be required. Until, one hot summer's day, that peace is shattered by the arrival of an unexpected guest. Someone who everyone especially Allie herself, didn't expect to see again. -The sixth book in the Alianna Winter series. Her earlier cases: 1.Death At Scarlet Leaf 2.The Merryweather Jewel Thefts 3.A House On The Hill 4.Murder Is At Hand 5.The Incident Concerning The Alsatian Dog Her later cases: 7.Madame Juror 8.A Murder Shall Commence 9.The Impossible Poisoning 10.The Final Endgame The Toby Smart Spin-offs: What Makes A Detective What Breaks A Detective

-The first extract from the casefiles of D.I.Hawes & D.S.Gray- Edmund Gray is already under pressure. He's just been promoted to the rank of Detective Sargeant at his job in the Oxfordshire Police, and his new boss, the infamously irritating Detective Inspector Cynthia Hawes, seems set on returning Edmund to his old life of blue uniforms, pedal bikes, and giving directions to innocent old ladies like she has many others before him. But when a Japanese student at Oxford University is found murdered in a dingy back alley, D.I. Hawes is put on the case, Edmund along with her. First weeks at new jobs don't tend to get much worse than this... Later Hawes&Gray Cases: #2. Tom Thumb #3. Lips White As Snow #4. Watch Your Back NOTE: I have gone explicit for this series, as I believe it to be necessary for the storyline, but I haven't done it much, and I really hope you all don't mind.

Every year, 7 teenagers go missing on the 7th of September during the Canberre Festival. Legend says that they are sacrificed for the holy man who lives in the depths of Rosé Woods. The holy man that blesses the town with prosperous abundance in exchange for seven young lives. Seven teens want to uncover the truth behind the disappearance. But sometimes the truth can be so deadly, it can cost more than just their lives. {short story}