Download or read book Unwrapped written by Lynda McDaniel and published by . This book was released on 2023-07-21 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Laurel Falls, N.C., 2012: "That diary I found sure brought a load of trouble, filled with awful stories of mistreatment and heartache." Abit Bradshaw

Download or read book Unwrapped An Appalachian Mountain Christmas Mystery written by Lynda McDaniel and published by Lynda McDaniel Books. This book was released on 2023-07-17 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The joy of Christmas lasts all year!" “This is Lynda McDaniel's best book ever! I thoroughly inhabited it…these folks have become so precious to me.” Laurel Falls, N.C., Christmas 2012: The walnut dresser I bought my son sure brought a load of trouble. Not because one of the drawers kept sticking and the whole thing needed so much refinishing. No, I could handle that, what with being a woodworker most of my life. It was the diary hidden in a secret compartment for almost sixty year that turned everything upside down. That diary was filled with stories of mistreatment and misfortune, stories that twisted up something inside of me. Especially because the teenage girl who wrote them stopped writing mid-sentence. Like someone grabbed her and took her away. Or killed her to keep secret what she’d written. I just had to find out what happened to her. I knew what a lousy upbringing looked like, but even mine couldn’t compare with what she'd faced. I needed to know she'd made it through, like I had. The timing, though, couldn’t have been worse: Christmastime and I had the boys that year. I was set on making it the best one yet, but with mean threats and truck chases and family feuds raining down on us, it was hard to squeeze in very much ho-ho-ho. And yet we did, sharing old memories and making new ones. Della Kincaid stepped in, helping with our holiday celebrations and looking into that poor girl's whereabouts. Together we traveled through the mountains of North Carolina and up into Virginia, witnessing things I never wanted to see again while treasuring the everlasting beauty of the natural landscape. ~Abit Bradshaw You'll enjoy this suspenseful Christmas mystery because who doesn't hope someone would care if they disappeared? If you love Jacqueline Winspear, Sue Grafton, and Cheryl Bradshaw (no relation to Abit Bradshaw that we know of), you're sure to enjoy the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series. Get it now—for the rich natural setting, colorful characters, and suspenseful investigations. Unwrapped is the seventh book in the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series and a standalone novel. The books in this series may be read in any order. Look for the latest book in the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series, After Dusk, coming soon! Interview with the Author Q: Where does this seventh book pick up in the lives of Abit Bradshaw and Della Kincaid? A: It's three years after Abit and Della helped a man reclaim his identity in Up the Creek. Abit is feeling more content with his lot in life, doing his woodworking and enjoying the nature that surrounds him on his farm. Della, on the other hand, is feeling unsettled, bored even, with her life at Coburn’s General Store. Q: What's new in the series? A: Abit’s mission involves discovering who wrote the 60-year-old diary he discovered in a piece of furniture he’s refinishing. He feels a strong connection with her difficult childhood. The entries are disturbing, and he has a strong need to make sure the young writer is okay all these years later. Q: Why should readers give this series a try? A: Because these are serious mysteries without over-the-top violence. And readers tell me the character development makes them eager to read more: "A pair of unforgettable crime-solving characters," one reader shared, and another wrote, "I became intrigued by and attached to the characters – Della, Abit, Alex, even the dog, Jake – and their dialogue." Q: In what order was this series written? A: Unwrapped, like all the books in the series, is a standalone, so readers won't be confused if they start with this book. The other books (in order written) include: A Life for a Life, The Roads to Damascus, Welcome the Little Children, Murder Ballad Blues, Deep in the Forest, Up the Creek, and After Dusk. Waiting for You is a free prequel novelette.

Download or read book Appalachian Mountain Mysteries Box Set Books 1 6 written by Lynda McDaniel and published by Lynda McDaniel Books. This book was released on 2022-09-25 with total page 1599 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: * SIX SUSPENSEFUL MYSTERIES * CAST OF BELOVED CHARACTERS * DOZENS OF TWISTS & TURNS * 2500+ 5-STAR SERIES REVIEWS “Terrific series! The characters are awesome! I can't stop reading! I don't want these books to end!” Take a suspense-filled Appalachian journey with Abit Bradshaw and Della Kincaid, two unlikely partners who work together to right wrongs, fight corruption, and solve crimes. Along the way, they experience love, loss, and abiding friendship. "FIVE STARS! Lynda McDaniel has that wonderfully appealing way of weaving a story." ~Deb, Amazon Hall of Fame Top 100 Reviewer A LIFE FOR A LIFE #1 "The most satisfying mystery I've read in ages." ~Joan Nienhuis, Top 1% of Reviewers on Goodreads Laurel Falls, N.C., 1985: I was done with being a crime reporter in Washington, D.C., tired of all the violence. So I packed up and moved to Laurel Falls, N.C. Peace and quiet—until I found the body. The sheriff called it a suicide. No way. Trouble was, without my usual sources, how much of an investigation could I pull off? But my neighbor Abit Bradshaw and I teamed up and cooked up a plan to solve that crime. Of course plans rarely pan out the way you think. ~Della Kincaid THE ROADS TO DAMASCUS #2 "I absolutely devoured this book! " ~Cynthia Williams Laurel Falls, N.C. 1989: I couldn’t believe I was in trouble again. I’d finally got what I’d always wanted—return to school—then lost it. It all started when a family of con artists stole our money and good intentions. Trying to find them again took everything I had—and then some. ~Abit Bradshaw WELCOME THE LITTLE CHILDREN #3 "I've come to think of these characters as cherished friends.” ~L. G. Yaldezian Laurel Falls, N.C. 1994: I would never have risked so much if it hadn’t been for Astrid Holt. She brightened things at Coburn’s General Store every time she stopped by for recipe ideas—at eight years old! So when Astrid’s mother disappeared—lost in the woods? kidnapped? murdered?—how could Abit Bradshaw and I turn our backs on her? ~Della Kincaid MURDER BALLAD BLUES #4 "A riveting mystery designed to keep readers on their toes." ~Midwest Book Review Laurel Falls, N.C. 2005: Our small town is in an uproar—there’s a serial killer on the loose in the mountains of N.C. At first we thought it was just one tragedy, but by the third murder, the FBI finally got involved. Trouble is, I know they’re looking in all the wrong places. Della Kincaid is helping, and we can only hope the FBI will listen to us … before the culprits strike again. ~Abit Bradshaw DEEP IN THE FOREST #5 “Deserves a spot in any mystery collection.” ~Midwest Book Review Hampshire, England, 2006: I should've known not to visit Nigel Steadman; trouble followed him closer than his shadow. He roped me into doing some undercover work, and next thing I knew gunslingers, kidnappers, and thieves highjacked my vacation and turned it into a nightmare. Now I’m in a makeshift jail, and it feels like I’ll never see Fiona and the boys again. ~Abit Bradshaw UP THE CREEK #6 “FIVE STARS. Lynda McDaniel writes magical stories. She brings out the very best in her characters.” ~Joyce Davis Laurel Falls, N.C., 2009: Life on the farm was pretty much one day the same as the next—until that stranger showed up. I figured that big gash on the back is what stole his memory. But how did he get that wound? And who was after him? It wasn’t ‘til Della Kincaid put her crime-reporter skills to work that we got to the bottom of everything. And I do mean bottom. Things sunk pretty low before we started getting at the truth. ~Abit Bradshaw If you love Jacqueline Winspear, Sue Grafton, and Cheryl Bradshaw (no relation to Abit Bradshaw that we know of), you're sure to enjoy the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series. Get all six books now and find out why critics and readers are praising Lynda McDaniel's unique voice in mystery writing.

Download or read book Up the Creek written by Lynda McDaniel and published by Lynda McDaniel Books. This book was released on 2023-07-17 with total page 188 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The joy of Christmas lasts all year!" “This is Lynda McDaniel's best book ever! I thoroughly inhabited it…these folks have become so precious to me.” Laurel Falls, N.C., Christmas 2012: The walnut dresser I bought my son sure brought a load of trouble. Not because one of the drawers kept sticking and the whole thing needed so much refinishing. No, I could handle that, what with being a woodworker most of my life. It was the diary hidden in a secret compartment for almost sixty year that turned everything upside down. That diary was filled with stories of mistreatment and misfortune, stories that twisted up something inside of me. Especially because the teenage girl who wrote them stopped writing mid-sentence. Like someone grabbed her and took her away. Or killed her to keep secret what she’d written. I just had to find out what happened to her. I knew what a lousy upbringing looked like, but even mine couldn’t compare with what she'd faced. I needed to know she'd made it through, like I had. The timing, though, couldn’t have been worse: Christmastime and I had the boys that year. I was set on making it the best one yet, but with mean threats and truck chases and family feuds raining down on us, it was hard to squeeze in very much ho-ho-ho. And yet we did, sharing old memories and making new ones. Della Kincaid stepped in, helping with our holiday celebrations and looking into that poor girl's whereabouts. Together we traveled through the mountains of North Carolina and up into Virginia, witnessing things I never wanted to see again while treasuring the everlasting beauty of the natural landscape. ~Abit Bradshaw You'll enjoy this suspenseful Christmas mystery because who doesn't hope someone would care if they disappeared? If you love Jacqueline Winspear, Sue Grafton, and Cheryl Bradshaw (no relation to Abit Bradshaw that we know of), you're sure to enjoy the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series. Get it now—for the rich natural setting, colorful characters, and suspenseful investigations. Unwrapped is the seventh book in the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series and a standalone novel. The books in this series may be read in any order. Interview with the Author Q: Where does this seventh book pick up in the lives of Abit Bradshaw and Della Kincaid? A: It's three years after Abit and Della helped a man reclaim his identity in Up the Creek. Abit is feeling more content with his lot in life, doing his woodworking and enjoying the nature that surrounds him on his farm. Della, on the other hand, is feeling unsettled, bored even, with her life at Coburn’s General Store. Q: What's new in the series? A: Abit’s mission involves discovering who wrote the 60-year-old diary he discovered in a piece of furniture he’s refinishing. He feels a strong connection with her difficult childhood. The entries are disturbing, and he has a strong need to make sure the young writer is okay all these years later. Q: Why should readers give this series a try? A: Because these are serious mysteries without over-the-top violence. And readers tell me the character development makes them eager to read more: "A pair of unforgettable crime-solving characters," one reader shared, and another wrote, "I became intrigued by and attached to the characters – Della, Abit, Alex, even the dog, Jake – and their dialogue." Q: In what order was this series written? A: Unwrapped, like all the books in the series, is a standalone, so readers won't be confused if they start with this book. The other books (in order written) include: A Life for a Life, The Roads to Damascus, Welcome the Little Children, Murder Ballad Blues, Deep in the Forest, Up the Creek, After Dusk, and Waiting for You (free prequel novelette).

Download or read book Silver Packages written by Cynthia Rylant and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Every year at Christmas a rich man rides a train through Appalachia and throws gifts to the poor children who are waiting, in order to repay a debt he owes the people who live there.

Download or read book The Case of The Mysterious Mansion written by Margaret Krivchenia and published by . This book was released on 2020-11-30 with total page 122 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The four cousins, Kate, Emma, Harrison, and Parker, are traveling to Asheville, North Carolina for a Christmas vacation with their parents. Their friend Tommy and his collie, Robin, will be flying in from Cody, Wyoming, to join them. They met Tommy last July when they visited JW at the Flying J Boys Ranch near Cody, Wyoming. There, they discovered the secret hidden in the Broken Arrow Mine. Now, they are anticipating a fun-filled snowy time of snowman-building, sledding, and exploring the woods surrounding their haven on the mountain. Little do they know of the blizzard that is heading their way, or that they will experience another strange and inspiring mystery in the beautiful mansion called Grey Stone Manor hidden deep in the forests, high above the Christmas village of Holly Hill. They will meet three wonderful people who reside in this majestic home: Anna, Clarence, and Agnes. Grey Stone Manor holds a secret in its forgotten depths that could save the mansion from being sold to developers who will destroy this historic house. Follow the cousins and Tommy as they race against time to discover the ancient artifact from Bethlehem. Travel with them as they descend into the scary, dark, and unexplored areas of Grey Stone Manor, seeking the miracle that will save them all, including the village of Holly Hill. Once again, they will bring healing and love and show the goodness of God in a wonderful Christmas blessing.

Download or read book The Roads to Damascus written by Lynda McDaniel and published by Lynda McDaniel Books. This book was released on 2018-02-05 with total page 283 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "I absolutely devoured this book! " ~Cynthia Williams Laurel Falls, N.C. 1989: I couldn’t believe I was in trouble again. I’d finally got what I’d always wanted ... then lost it. The trouble started when this family—a mother and two almost-grown kids—came to my school, the Hickson School of American Studies in Boone, N.C., to ask for shelter. The mother said she was dying, and they had nowhere else to go after they’d been evicted ‘cause she was too sick to work. What her son earned just wasn’t enough to live on. But that was all lies. They were just a bunch of mean-spirited, sorry con artists who stole our money and good intentions. And when they fleeced the school, they made it look like I did it! Next thing I knew, the director threw me outta school. I snuck home to get help from my neighbor and friend, Della Kincaid. She used to be a crime reporter in Washington, D.C., and I knew she’d know what to do. She did—only she told me I had to do it alone. Trying to find them again took everything I had—and then some. Along the way, I plowed through those mountains, sometimes meeting fellow victims who were yearning for justice too, but mostly tangling with bad men trying to stop me—permanently! I faced more twists and turns than the road to Damascus, Virginia. There was no telling who I could trust on that long road to justice, but I ask you: at some point, don’t you have to believe in something or someone? ~Abit Bradshaw You'll enjoy this suspenseful mystery because who can resist rooting for the underdog? If you love Jacqueline Winspear, Sue Grafton, and Cheryl Bradshaw (no relation to Abit Bradshaw that we know of), you're sure to enjoy the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series. Get it now—for the rich natural setting, colorful characters, and suspenseful investigations. The Roads to Damascus is the second novel in the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series by award-winning author Lynda McDaniel and can be read as a standalone novel. Interview with the Author Q: Why did you write a second book? What's important about it? A:To be honest, I didn't know if anyone would enjoy my stories gleaned from my life on a farm in the mountains of N.C.I found the real-life characters living there amazing, but would others? Turns out they did and do. After I kept getting mail and reviews about how much readers loved Abit, Della, Nigel, and the rest of the gang, I decided to write book two. Besides, I missed them and their abiding friendship. It's always great fun spending time with Abit and Della again. "After 'A Life for a Life' I was eagerly anticipating this sequel, and I was not disappointed. The suspense and plot twists were as riveting as before. The characters and relationships made the book so compelling." ~M. Glazner Q: What's next for Abit and Della? What can readers expect? A: In this book, I take Abit on a hero's journey, something he must do alone. Of course, Della helps him, especially at the beginning and end of the story. On his long road trip, he searches for the mother and two children who ripped him off, fleeced his beloved school, and laid the blame on him. He also experiences his first love--and heartache. Friendship, family secrets & lies, a touch of romance--they're all woven together into a suspenseful crime mystery. "Though there's a crime plot that drives 'The Roads to Damascus' forward, at its heart it's very much a character piece & a coming of age tale." ~LizTiptoft Q: In what order were these books written? A: A Life for a Life The Roads to Damascus Welcome the Little Children Murder Ballad Blues Deep in the Forest Up the Creek Unwrapped After Dusk Waiting for You (free prequel)

Download or read book Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians written by Karl B McKnight and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2013-02-21 with total page 392 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive guide to the mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians This is the first book to help general readers recognize 200 common mosses of the Northeast and the Appalachian Mountains. With just this field guide, a hand lens, and a spray bottle—no microscopes necessary—readers will be able to identify and name many of the common species of mosses growing in the region's backyards, parks, forests, wetlands, and mountains. At the heart of this guide is an innovative, color-tabbed system that helps readers pick out small groups of similar species. Illustrated identification keys, colorful habitat and leaf photos, more than 600 detailed line drawings, and written descriptions help differentiate the species. This accessible book allows all nature enthusiasts to make accurate identifications and gain access to the enchanting world of mosses. 200 species included More than 600 detailed line drawings More than 400 color photographs Innovative color-tabbed system for species identification Illustrated species identification keys Helpful tips for moss collecting

Download or read book Hillbilly Gothic written by Adrienne Martini and published by Atria Books. This book was released on 2008-08-01 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "My family has a grand tradition. After a woman gives birth, she goes mad. I thought that I would be the one to escape." So begins Adrienne Martini's candid, compelling, and darkly humorous history of her family's and her own experiences with depression and postpartum syndrome. Illuminating depression from the inside, Martini delves unflinchingly into her own breakdown and institutionalization and traces the multigenerational course of this devastating problem. Moving back and forth between characters and situations, she vividly portrays the isolation -- geographical and metaphorical -- of the Appalachia of her forebears and the Western Pennsylvania region where she grew up. She also weaves in the stories of other women, both contemporary and historic, who have dealt with postpartum depression in all its guises, from fleeting "baby blues" to full-blown psychosis. Serious as her subject is, Martini's narrative is unfailingly engaging and filled with witty, wry observations on the complications of new motherhood: "It's like getting the best Christmas gift ever, but Santa decided to kick the crap out of you before you unwrapped it." New mothers and those who have struggled with parenthood -- whether or not they dealt with depression -- will find affirmation in this story of triumph, of escape from a difficult legacy, of hope for others, and of the courage to have another baby.

Download or read book Deep in the Forest written by Lynda McDaniel and published by Lynda McDaniel Books. This book was released on 2021-10-04 with total page 303 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The characters have such depth, the stories are unique, and they keep your attention from start to finish." ~T. R. Williams Hampshire, England, 2006: I should've known not to visit Nigel Steadman; trouble followed him closer than his shadow. But I’d finally made it all the way to Dublin, and it seemed a shame not to hop across the Irish Sea to see my old friend. Besides, he’d always said for me to come stay with him in London. It wasn’t till I called from Dublin that I learned he’d moved to the New Forest in the south of England. Goodbye London before I ever met you—and hello heartache. That’s where Nigel roped me into doing some undercover work checking out the Ownbey gang he was trying to trick into telling the truth. But as you can imagine, things didn’t go the way we’d planned. Gunslingers, kidnappers, and thieves highjacked my vacation and turned it into a nightmare. So here I am in a makeshift jail, and it feels like I’ll never see Fiona and the boys again. And if the bad guys have their way, I won’t. Even when my best friend Della Kincaid flies over to help, she can’t do much. I’m in so deep, she doesn’t know where to look for me. Time to pray. ~Abit Bradshaw You'll enjoy this suspenseful mystery because who hasn’t tried to do the right thing—only to have it all go wrong? If you love Jacqueline Winspear, Sue Grafton, and Cheryl Bradshaw (no relation to Abit Bradshaw that we know of), you're sure to enjoy the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series. Get it now—for the rich natural setting, colorful characters, and suspenseful investigations. Deep in the Forest is the fifth book—and a standalone novel—in the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series by award-winning author Lynda McDaniel. Interview with the Author Q: Where does Deep in the Forest pick up in the lives of Abit Bradshaw and Della Kincaid? A: It's a year after the last scenes in Murder Ballad Blues. I’ve taken Abit Bradshaw and his family to Ireland and England. Appalachia has such strong ties to both countries, and of course his wife, Fiona, is from Clifden, Ireland. Things go smoothly while he’s in Ireland, but it’s when he heads to England to visit with Nigel Steadman that his troubles begin. It’s quite a wild ride that changes him in profound ways. Q: What's new in the series? A: Well, of course, the setting is quite different. I spent some happy times in the New Forest in Hampshire, England, and I had fun revisiting it in my mind’s eye. (I had planned to do research in person, but the pandemic put the kibosh on that!). A young boy by the name of Baldy (short for Archibald) is my favorite new character. He makes a big impression on Abit and experiences a major arc by the end of the book. Q: Why should readers give this series a try? A: Because these are serious mysteries without over-the-top violence. And readers tell me the character development makes them eager to read more: "a pair of unforgettable crime-solving characters," one reader shared, and another wrote, "I became intrigued by and attached to the characters—Della, Abit, Alex, even the dog, the villagers and their dialogue." Q: In what order was this series written? A: Deep in the Forest is a standalone, so readers won't be confused if they start with this book. Actually, I worked to make all the books in the series easy to understand, wherever readers start the series. The other four books in order written: A Life for a Life, The Roads to Damascus, Welcome the Little Children, Murder Ballad Blues, Up the Creek, Unwrapped, After Dusk, and Waiting for You (free prequel).

Download or read book A Life for a Life written by Lynda McDaniel and published by Lynda McDaniel Books. This book was released on 2016-08-15 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Five Stars! The tale immediately drew me in, into the town, into the intriguing mystery, and into the people. A real treat to read." ~Deb, Top 100 Reviewer on major retailer Laurel Falls, N.C., 1985: I was done with being a crime reporter in Washington, D.C., tired of all the violence. So I packed up and moved to the small town of Laurel Falls, N.C. It looked like heaven to me—ancient mountains brimming with tall trees and songbirds, peace and quiet. Until I found the body. The sheriff took the easy path, calling it a suicide. No way. I’d found that young woman, and I just knew she hadn’t taken her own life. I’d spent my whole career searching for the truth, and I wasn’t about to stop now. Trouble was, without my usual sources, how much of a murder investigation could I pull off? But a special kid lived next door. Abit Bradshaw, a teenager struggling to find his rightful place in the world. Hey, I knew all about that. I’d never fitted in either, but eventually I’d found something I was good at. I figured he just needed a chance too. And he got one when we teamed up to solve that crime. Along the way, we sure met some interesting characters—both bad and good. We had a plan, and we worked it hard to find that killer before we became the next victims. Looking back, I should’ve known plans rarely pan out the way you think. ~Della Kincaid You'll enjoy this suspenseful story because who doesn't dream of second chances? If you love Jacqueline Winspear, Sue Grafton, and Cheryl Bradshaw (no relation to Abit Bradshaw that we know of), you're sure to enjoy the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series. Get it now—for the rich natural setting, colorful characters, and suspenseful investigations. A Life for a Life is the first novel in the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series by award-winning author Lynda McDaniel. Look for the latest book in the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series, After Dusk, coming soon! Interview with Lynda McDaniel Q: What makes the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries Series so special? A: In addition to the suspense of a good mystery, each book includes people and stories from the years I spent on my "back to the land" farm in Appalachia. You'll meet a cantankerous laundromat owner who was just as weird as she's portrayed, a gentle giant of a beekeeper with an abiding love for his family, and Cleva Hall, who's based on a woman who taught me how to put food by. But especially Abit Bradshaw, one of the amateur sleuths along with Della Kincaid, a former journalist. Abit started in a supporting role, but I listened to my readers and gave him a starring role in the rest of the series. This book and the next two—The Roads to Damascus and Welcome the Little Children—are coming-of-age stories for Abit. Q: Why should readers give these books a try? A: Readers who prefer suspense without over-the-top violence will enjoy this series. I write in the British style, where the dastardly deed is done off stage; (similar in that way to cozy mysteries). I don't like mounting body bags, but I do enjoy the chase for justice. In addition to the crimes, readers will find vivid mountain settings, colorful characters, sharp wit, good food, and a touch of romance. Q: In what order were the books written? A: A Life for a Life The Roads to Damascus Welcome the Little Children Murder Ballad Blues Deep in the Forest Up the Creek Unwrapped After Dusk Waiting for You (free prequel) What readers are saying: "REMINDS ME OF To Kill a Mockingbird. You are a treasure of a writer." ~J. M. Grayson "THIS WAS MY FIRST BOOK BY LYNDA McDANIEL, WON'T BE MY LAST. Love a book that can hold my interest to the point I don't want it to end." ~M. Ballard "McDANIEL DELIVERS A PAIR OF UNFORGETTABLE CRIME-SOLVING CHARACTERS. She lured me into her story and kept me there." ~Virginia McCullough, award-winning author of Amber Light.

Download or read book The Stranger in the Woods written by Michael Finkel and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2018-01-30 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The remarkable true story of a man who lived alone in the woods of Maine for 27 years, making this dream a reality—not out of anger at the world, but simply because he preferred to live on his own. “A meditation on solitude, wildness and survival.” —The Wall Street Journal In 1986, a shy and intelligent twenty-year-old named Christopher Knight left his home in Massachusetts, drove to Maine, and disappeared into the forest. He would not have a conversation with another human being until nearly three decades later, when he was arrested for stealing food. Living in a tent even through brutal winters, he had survived by his wits and courage, developing ingenious ways to store edibles and water, and to avoid freezing to death. He broke into nearby cottages for food, clothing, reading material, and other provisions, taking only what he needed but terrifying a community never able to solve the mysterious burglaries. Based on extensive interviews with Knight himself, this is a vividly detailed account of his secluded life—why did he leave? what did he learn?—as well as the challenges he has faced since returning to the world. It is a gripping story of survival that asks fundamental questions about solitude, community, and what makes a good life, and a deeply moving portrait of a man who was determined to live his own way, and succeeded.

Download or read book Under the Tulip Tree written by Michelle Shocklee and published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. This book was released on 2020-09-08 with total page 400 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sixteen-year-old Lorena Leland’s dreams of a rich and fulfilling life as a writer are dashed when the stock market crashes in 1929. Seven years into the Great Depression, Rena’s banker father has retreated into the bottle, her sister is married to a lazy charlatan and gambler, and Rena is an unemployed newspaper reporter. Eager for any writing job, Rena accepts a position interviewing former slaves for the Federal Writers’ Project. There, she meets Frankie Washington, a 101-year-old woman whose honest yet tragic past captivates Rena. As Frankie recounts her life as a slave, Rena is horrified to learn of all the older woman has endured—especially because Rena’s ancestors owned slaves. While Frankie’s story challenges Rena’s preconceptions about slavery, it also connects the two women whose lives are otherwise separated by age, race, and circumstances. But will this bond of respect, admiration, and friendship be broken by a revelation neither woman sees coming?

Download or read book Hark The Herald Angels Scream written by Christopher Golden and published by Anchor. This book was released on 2018-10-23 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Eighteen stories of Christmas horror from bestselling, acclaimed authors including Scott Smith, Seanan McGuire, Josh Malerman, Michael Koryta, Sarah Pinborough, and many more. That there is darkness at the heart of the Yuletide season should not surprise. Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is filled with scenes that are unsettling. Marley untying the bandage that holds his jaws together. The hideous children--Want and Ignorance--beneath the robe of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. The heavy ledgers Marley drags by his chains. In the finest versions of this story, the best parts are the terrifying parts. Bestselling author and editor Christopher Golden shares his love for Christmas horror stories with this anthology of all-new short fiction from some of the most talented and original writers of horror today.

Download or read book The Glass Castle written by Jeannette Walls and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2007-01-02 with total page 370 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A triumphant tale of a young woman and her difficult childhood, The Glass Castle is a remarkable memoir of resilience, redemption, and a revelatory look into a family at once deeply dysfunctional and wonderfully vibrant. Jeannette Walls was the second of four children raised by anti-institutional parents in a household of extremes.

Download or read book The Birds of Opulence written by Crystal Wilkinson and published by University Press of Kentucky. This book was released on 2016-03-18 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A lyrical exploration of love and loss, this book centers on several generations of women in a bucolic southern Black township as they live with and sometimes surrender to madness. The Goode-Brown family, led by matriarch and pillar of the community Minnie Mae, is plagued by old secrets and embarrassment over mental illness and illegitimacy. Meanwhile, single mother Francine Clark is haunted by her dead, lightning-struck husband and forced to fight against both the moral judgment of the community and her own rebellious daughter, Mona. The residents of Opulence struggle with vexing relationships to the land, to one another, and to their own sexuality. As the members of the youngest generation watch their mothers and grandmothers pass away, they live with the fear of going mad themselves and must fight to survive. The author offers up Opulence and its people in lush, poetic detail. It is a world of magic, conjuring, signs, and spells, but also of harsh realities that only love - and love that's handed down - can conquer.

Download or read book The Emerald Light in the Air written by Donald Antrim and published by Macmillan + ORM. This book was released on 2014-09-02 with total page 139 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Nothing is simple for the men and women in Donald Antrim's stories. As they do the things we all do—bum a cigarette at a party, stroll with a girlfriend down Madison Avenue, take a kid to the zoo—they're confronted with their own uncooperative selves. These artists, writers, lawyers, teachers, and actors make fools of themselves, spiral out of control, have delusions of grandeur, despair, and find it hard to imagine a future. They talk, they listen, they hope, they dream. They look for communion in a city, both beautiful and menacing, which can promise so much and yield so little. But they are hungry for life. They want to love and be loved. These stories, all published in The New Yorker over the last fifteen years, make it clear that Antrim is one of America's most important writers. His work has been praised by his significant contemporaries, including Jonathan Franzen, Thomas Pynchon, Jeffrey Eugenides, and George Saunders, who described The Verificationist as "one of the most pleasure-giving, funny, perverse, complicated, addictive novels of the last twenty years." And here is Antrim's best book yet: the story collection that reveals him as a master of the form.