Fifteen years ago, an enigmatic explosion shook the small Oregon town of Dorena, instigating global shock and an intriguing mystery as the door opened for people worldwide to learn thaumaturgy, a strain of magic. Although the cause of the explosion remains undetermined, thaumaturgy grows into a science in its own right, with lectures offered and degrees awarded in prestigious universities around the globe. Lillian is an atypically young physics student at the University of Oregon at Dorena, struggling to balance her intellect with her youthful appearance and grappling to learn the basics of thaumaturgy while those around her seem to thrive. When she receives a pair of mysterious visitors, she is abruptly plunged into the intricate mystery surrounding the explosion, discovering profound secrets about herself with the help of a small group of investigators from the Department for the Investigation of Anomalous Occurrences. The investigation leads them to inquire into the unexplained death of a young vagrant while in police custody forty years ago. What Lillian and the DIAO soon uncover could shake the very foundations of thaumaturgy- for the vagrant's look-alike appears to be wrapped up in the mystery. As Lillian's path collides with that of the enigmatic vagrant, she is forced to accept the truth about herself- a truth that could shake her place in the universe.

Rescued from the brutal streets of Victorian London, 14-year-old Maggie Power finds herself under the guardianship of one of London's first detectives, Samuel Blake. Living as a companion to Blake's recently widowed sister, Emily, she finds herself drawn into the world of Blake's criminal investigations. Her older companion, Emily, becomes increasingly unhappy with her growing relationship with Blake and, as she sees it, her unfeminine interest in the dark and violent world he inhabits. However, when a rich and powerful banker goes missing, presumed murdered, Maggie secretly aids Blake during the initial stages of the investigation. Once Emily discovers that she has gone against her advice, and is once more aiding Blake, Emily's and Maggie's relationship reaches breaking point. Amid this domestic turmoil, Maggie seeks to escape the restrictions imposed upon her and with Blake's permission embarks on a secret mission to discover the fate of the missing man, spying on behalf of a police force which knows nothing of her existence. As she and Detective Sergeant Blake move closer to discovering the fate of the missing banker, they uncover a world of greed, deception and murder. ALL THAT GLITTERS is a historical mystery set in London during the 1840s. Enjoy!

When Rhiannon Valdez, aspiring medical student and science geek, gets engaged to Theodore Hathaway, son of the millionaire entrepreneur, she was told to expect drama. But nothing could have prepared her for this. Shortly after their engagement, Theodore and Rhiannon attend a celebration held by his family to recognize his long-dead grandfather. Rhiannon receives a less-than-enthusiastic welcome from Theodore's father Alistair and his sisters Seraphine and Millicent. But the atmosphere changes abruptly when, early the next morning, Alistair is found dead- and Rhiannon shifts from simply being the undesirable fiancee to being suspected as a possible murderess. With the help of Sylvie Stein, an intern reporter with an eidetic memory and a knack for discovery, Rhiannon sets out to prove her innocence- and to enforce justice for Alistair Hathaway.

When a deadly plague spreads like wildfire, 17-year-old Bren Watts is trapped at Ground Zero of a global pandemic. ---- Bren and his classmates are stranded in New York City, now filled with thousands of murderous infected and desperate survivors. Forced into an unlikely alliance with his school bully and former friend, Logan Hardy, the two boys must find a way back home, traversing through the ravaged landscape of the United States. With their odds stacked against them, Bren has no choice but to use the skills taught by his ex-Navy SEALs father to fight and survive. But the path ahead is bloodied and broken, and if he wants to reunite with his family, Bren must tap into his darkest heart for not only the infected are capable of hatred and violence. The Bren Watts Diaries tells a dark and gritty account of the end, all narrated in the survivor's own voice as a first-hand witness to humanity's end. The story will cover the first year of the Apocalypse, depicting the beginnings of the disease, society's war against the pandemic, and the eventual collapse of civilization. [[Current word count: 450,000 - 500,000 words]] ----- The series portrays an LGBTQ+ protagonist and numerous other characters. Violence, like any medium of zombie stories, is described in detail.

"For a place called Paradise City, this island sucks. I don't think a single day has gone by that I haven't thought about stabbing the shit out of myself," he said. "Especially since I'm forced to live with you every second of every day." "Sh. I'm trying to science," I said, not looking up from my binoculars. "See anything interesting?" "Not really. My vision's a little clouded from the fog and rain clouds you constantly emit." He laughed. "You never fail to amuse me, Rea." "But you just said-" "I just said you make me want to stab myself. Interpret that however you'd like." With a love for whales and all life (besides maybe humans), Reagan Winebrenner had never even seen an ocean until her senior year in high school. But the moment she saw her first humpback, she knew she had found her passion and future career. A few years later and an invitation to Paradise City in hand, Reagan has her entire summer laid out for her, working on the project of a lifetime. But with five other students completing their projects as well, will they discover something worthwhile, or will they end up a psychology lesson for future generations? A New Adult Watty Winner 2019