A professor by day, Kim Fielding transforms into an author by night, embracing her eclectic nature. She possesses the remarkable ability to write in diverse locations, often fueled by her passion for travel. Her unique superpower lies in crafting varied narratives that reflect her distinctive worldview and creative spirit.
Mike Carlson, a fiscal analyst with a penchant for spreadsheets and baseball stats, finds his rational world upended when a fertility goddess transports him to a fantastical realm. Skeptical of fate and love, he must now embark on a pilgrimage to the shrines of a death goddess to fulfill a broken promise and return to his solitary life in California. This journey challenges his beliefs and forces him to confront the intertwining of destiny and desire.
Set in a richly imagined world, this first installment of the Ennek Trilogy introduces readers to a diverse cast of characters navigating political intrigue and personal struggles. As ancient prophecies unfold, alliances are tested, and dark forces threaten the realm, the protagonists must confront their destinies. Themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the quest for power weave through the narrative, creating a gripping tale that sets the stage for an epic journey. Readers will be drawn into the complexities of the world and the characters' intertwined fates.
Carter Evans, struggling to revive his failing spec fiction magazine, faces personal and professional despair in his isolated apartment. His situation worsens as he drowns his sorrows in alcohol. A turning point comes when he receives a dismal story submission from the enigmatic J. Harper, leading him to impulsively send a rejection letter while intoxicated—a decision he quickly regrets. This moment sets the stage for a deeper exploration of his life and the potential for redemption.
William Lyon's past forced him to become someone he isn't. Conflicted and unable to maintain the charade, he separates from his wife and takes a job as caretaker at a former mental hospital. Jelley’s Valley State Insane Asylum was the largest mental hospital in California for well over a century, but it now stands empty. William thinks the decrepit institution is the perfect place to finish his dissertation and wait for his divorce to become final. In town, William meets Colby Anderson, who minds the local store and post office. Unlike William, Colby is cute, upbeat, and flamboyantly out. Although initially put off by Colby’s mannerisms, William comes to value their new friendship, and even accepts Colby's offer to ease him into the world of gay sex. William’s self-image begins to change when he discovers a tin box, hidden in an asylum wall since the 1940s. It contains letters secretly written by Bill, a patient who was sent to the asylum for being homosexual. The letters hit close to home, and William comes to care about Bill and his fate. With Colby’s help, he hopes the words written seventy years ago will give him courage to be his true self.
Elliott Thompson was once a historian with a promising academic future, but his involvement in a scandal meant a lost job, public shame, and a ruined love life. He took shelter in his rural California hometown, where he teaches online classes, hoards books, and despairs of his future.Simon Odisho has lost a job as well--to a bullet that sidelined his career in law enforcement. While his shattered knee recovers, he rethinks his job prospects and searches for the courage to come out to his close-knit but conservative extended family.In an attempt to manage his overflowing book collection, Elliott builds a miniature neighborhood library in his front yard. The project puts him in touch with his neighbors--for better and worse--and introduces him to handsome, charming Simon. While romance blooms quickly between them, Elliott's not willing to live in the closet, and his best career prospects might take him far away. His books have plenty to tell him about history, but they give him no clues about a future with Simon.
Ravaged by a horrific experience, Oliver Webb flees the smog-bound city of Greynox for a quiet seaside village and the inheritance he's never seen: a cottage called Farview. He discovers clear skies, friendly imps, and a charming storyteller named Felix Corbyn. With help from Felix's tales, Oliver learns surprising secrets about his family history and discovers what home really means. But with Felix cursed, Oliver growing deathly ill, and an obligation in Greynox hanging heavy around his neck, it seems that not even wizards can save the day. Still, as Felix knows, stories are the best truths and the most powerful magic. Perhaps the right words might yet conjure a chance for happiness.
Set against the backdrop of complex relationships, this novel explores the intricacies of love, loss, and self-discovery. The characters navigate their intertwined lives, grappling with emotional challenges and the impact of past decisions. Themes of resilience and the search for connection are woven throughout the narrative, offering readers a poignant reflection on the nature of love and its transformative power. With rich character development and engaging storytelling, the book invites readers to ponder the depths of their own relationships.
Set in the mid-1950s, the story follows Jack Dayton as he leaves his mundane life in Omaha for the glitz of Hollywood, aspiring to become a star like James Dean. However, his dreams are shattered by the harsh realities of the entertainment industry, including exploitation and disappointment. Jack's downward spiral culminates in a tragic end at a cheap motel off Route 66, highlighting the dark side of ambition and the often unforgiving nature of fame.
Love never goes out of style. Landry Bishop fled his tiny hometown and never looked back. Now his expertise in food, fashion, and décor has earned him all of Hollywood's glittering perks. But with his husband deceased and his personal assistant retired, Landry has nobody to rely on--and no one to help him indulge his secret cravings. Casual, plainspoken Jordan Stryker seems a dubious choice of a PA for someone as formal and self-controlled as Landry. Jordan's questionable fashion sense and limited kitchen skills don't exactly enhance his résumé. But as Landry soon realizes, Jordan has many attractive qualities too. With a strong pull toward Jordan, new career opportunities on the horizon, and a persistent tug from family back home, Landry is in a quandary. He can advise others on how to make their lives special, but what should he do about his own?
A chance encounter on a cold desert night changes Jimmy Dorsett's life when he picks up a hitchhiker. In his possession is a poignant letter from a dying man, reaching out to the son he has been estranged from for years. As a lifelong drifter with no home or hope, Jimmy's journey takes an unexpected turn, prompting him to confront his own past and the meaning of connection and redemption amid his transient existence.