Moody sixteen-year-old barista Devin Mulwray is doing his best to ignore bizarre manifestations at his job in the chilly Northern California town of Arcata. Already teased about his recurrent 'phase-outs', the last thing he needs is to get pegged as a guy who sees ghosts. It doesn't help his state of mind that his boss is a sarcastic slacker, his single dad is always on the road with clients and local occult fan girl Nayra is spreading 'ghost boy' rumors about him online. But when violent paranormal activity badly spooks teens at an abandoned estate, Devin's pushed into investigating by his eccentric friends Clive, a budding composer, and Rex, a tech head excited by ghost hunting gadgetry. At first reluctant to get involved, Devin's encouraged when Emily, one of the more empathetic girls at Grey Bluff High, is impressed with his daring. Together the friends explore the creepy Rousten manor. But as the only person able to perceive the manifestations, Devin soon finds himself going one-on-one against a powerful spirit who attacks the locals and infiltrates Devin's own dreams. Devin must face his fear of confronting the spirit world and get to the bottom of the hauntings before the specter unleashes more havoc on him and his friends. Cover art by Christopher Park of Plant Monster Studios http://www.plantmonsterstudios.com

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.

Seventeen-year-old Zelene had never believed in magic or prophecies; until the day she was attacked by an assassin with unnatural powers. Now, her life has been thrust into a war between two worlds she knows nothing about and told that she must fight against an enemy determined to snuff out her existence-all because of some ancient prophecy that claims five girls from her bloodline will unite and end the war between the worlds. As their enemies strike, the girls are forced to flee back to their home world after being hidden away for so long. There, Zelene meets Rhaya, Terrena, and Isauria and discovers the familial bonds tying them together and to the powerful Duillaine who rule over the worlds. Zelene sees this connection as a prison rather than protection and can think of a place or two she'd like to shove the crown she supposedly inherited. When she learns Ariana, her long-lost twin sister, has been captured by the rebels, Zelene's attitude changes. With whispers of Ariana being the sacrifice needed to fulfill the prophecy, Zelene knows she has to act. She doesn't know how she is supposed to go against an army of magic-wielding rebels when her own ability to manipulate the elements is still locked within her. But can she trust the Duillaine to rescue Ariana when it seems their medieval politics are what brought about the war in the first place? With all that is at stake, the answer becomes clear to Zelene. Screw the worlds. She's getting her sister back.