TopShelf Magazine - Fall 2018 by TopShelf Magazine

2016 Sales Catalog - 1

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books!

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Improved Book Spotlights Even More Book Reviews 2019 Indie Book Awards

OPENing Sept 1 TOSCA LEE talks about her latest thriller FIRSTBORN

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TOPSHELF MARKETING Let’s Talk Shelf-Talkers

FORGOTTEN TOMES

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Shakespeare’s Novel Plays

THE INSIDE SCOOP

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Quick Books: How to Write Fast Plus Exclusive Author Interviews, Reviews, Marketing Advice, Contests, and more...

August - October 2018

TopShelf Review of FIRSTBORN on Page 37

FROM #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR

BRAD MELTZER WHO IS NOLA BROWN? NOLA IS A MYSTERY. NOLA IS TROUBLE. AND NOLA IS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD.

“Not since The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo have you seen a character like this. . . . If you’ve never tried Meltzer, this is the one.”

— HARLAN COBEN Available in hardcover, ebook, audio, and large print.

B R A D M E LT Z E R . C O M

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CEO & Publisher

FORGOTTEN TOMES Shakespeare’s Novel Plays

Keith A. Katsikas Jr.

THE INSIDE SCOOP Characters Readers Love

E.V.P. & Director of Marketing

TOPSHELF MARKETING Let’s Talk Shelf-Talkers

becky@topshelfmagazine.net

AMERICAN BOOKSELLER We Visit Powell’s Books

interviews 17 19

Tosca Lee Cary Allen Stone

reviews 21 21 21 25 25 25 29 29 29 33 33 33 37 37 37

1st and Forever Blood Symbols Bound for Gold Familiar Evil Hawke’s War It’s Just So... Murder, She Wrote Safe House Sami the Magic Bear SEEDS Sister of Mine Spy Master Guilty Dead The Last Time I Lied First Born

editorial policy TopShelf Magazine is a bookseller-focused buyers’ guide packed with the crème de la crème in indie and traditionally published authors and books. There’s no junk here!

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TopShelf Magazine is offered to bookstores and public libraries across the United States free of charge, and to any bookseller and library in the English speaking world for a nominal fee to cover the cost of shipping.

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Rebecca Katsikas

Lead Editor Kyle Magnus

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Assistant Editor Rosemary Fifield

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Assistant Editor Sharon Isbell editor@topshelfmagazine.net

Creative Director Kyle Magnus

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Contributors & Reviewers J. H. Bográn Rosemary Fifield Paul Hollis Sharon Isbell Keith Katsikas Rebecca Katsikas Jon Land Sarah Noffke Tim Sunderland TopShelf Magazine is also available for free to anyone able to view the online digital version at TopShelfMagazine.net

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...books worth a closer look!

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Charity Fields has everything she’s ever wanted. Married to her childhood sweetheart and has landed her first leading role in a major motion film. But a lie and heartbreaking betrayal turns her life upside down. She moves to California to begin a new life, where she’s faced yet again with loss and betrayal. Through it all she discovers a strength she never knew she had, and even if she has to keep her new love concealed in her heart, she will survive, no matter what.

Forget fairies and unicorns, most people return from fairy world with lost memories and mental problems. Olive knows. She's the therapist who treats patients suffering from Faythander's side effects. Going back to the fairy realm wasn't on Olive's to-do list. But she has no choice. The fate of both Earth and Fairy depends on it. To complicate matters, she may be losing her heart to someone who can't love her back. Saving the world, she can handle. Falling in love--not so much.

Genre Romance Price $12.99 ISBN 978-1491232118

Genre Romance, Fantasy Price $10.95 ISBN 978-1634220767

High-flying trader Dean Harrison has it all––the London penthouse apartment, the fast car, the beautiful wife. But when the threads of his life start to unravel, they do so with alarming speed. Following the advice of a frail stranger, Dean sets off for Welnetham Hall Hotel and is plunged into the mysterious world of Room 119. How does everyone know his name? How did he take a train shut down for fifty years? And who is this man in black pursuing him?

Chances are, whether you're a seasoned author or an aspiring scribe, you've grappled with your share of rejection, setbacks, and heartbreak. However, literary agents say the number one key to writing success is perseverance in the face of disappointment. Daily Writing Resilience provides advice, inspiration, and techniques to help you navigate the ups-and-downs of your writing practice and turn roadblocks into steppingstones.

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $10.99 ISBN 978-1979854320

Genre Reference, Self-Help Price $19.99 ISBN 978-0738753430

Detective "Cadillac" Holland swore to defend his homeland against all enemies––foreign and domestic. That oath is put to the test when evil from both sides start a war on the eve of Mardi Gras, an election, and the first Super Bowl in Saints' history. Matters grow exponentially worse when he’s forced to keep peace between local heroin dealers and the cartel after the lives of his closest friends and family become threatened.

When a great-grandson inherits two aging trunks and a stack of meticulously detailed journals penned by his greatgrandfather, he sets out to fulfill his great-grandfather's last request: to tell the story of an incredible life replete with adventure, violence, and tragedy––a man whose deeds and misdeeds propelled him on an extraordinary and perilous journey from the untamed American West to the inscrutable FarEast, Latin America and Europe.

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $21.95 ISBN 978-1635877625

Genre Historical Fiction Price $14.99 ISBN 978-1494854447

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#1 WALL STREET JOURNAL AND #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHORS

A deranged killer is threatening the very lifeblood of the city that never sleeps. Special Agent SHOT DOWN Pendergast must match wits with his most dangerous foe— and survive the endless night.

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“A consistently exciting and never predictable series.” —ASSOCIATED PRESS

AVAILABLE IN HARDCOVER, EBOOK, LARGE PRINT, AND AUDIO

PrestonChild.com We’ve taken the guess work out of finding great indie books!

Photograph of city by Getty Images Photograph of cemetery by Scott Nobles 5

"Brilliantly conceived… wondrously realized.” - Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author of Strong Light of Day

“It’s slick, slippery, and deadly.” - Barry Lancet, award-winning author of Japantown and Pacific Burn

“Delivers a slow burn. Stay with it, and you might end up with blisters.” - Raymond Benson, author of The Black Stiletto series

“A first class roller-coaster ride… I highly recommend this book!” - Douglas Preston, #1 bestselling co-author of the Pendergast series

Full Page Ad The Rising POISONED TEARS - Retired Dallas private investigator Alan Knox dislikes New Orleans so much he won’t even drink Abita––the local beer. It goes back to the day he wrecked his knee, along with a promising NFL career, in a Superdome game with the Saints. But when his estranged son calls asking for help finding his missing fiancé, the guilt-ridden Texan heads for the Big Easy where he quickly steps in a load of trouble as high as his snakeskin boots. What starts as a simple missing persons case, turns into a hunt for a serial killer who uses exotic animals to poison his victims. Painfully aware that he cannot go it alone, Knox joins forces with a defunct journalist and a surly police detective before exploring the dark streets and seedy bars of New Orleans in search of a ruthless killer dubbed The Exotic Killer.

OTHER TITLES

BY J.H. BOGRAN

www.jhbogran.com www.rebelepublishers.com 2017 © Rebel ePublishers, 14344 Dacosta, Detroit, MI 48223, USA

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SHAKESPEARE’S NOVEL PLAYS To most people in the United States, reading Shakespeare is required reading. Furthermore, a vast majority would recognize the names even without opening the pages of the author’s work. The characters have transcended from the pages and they’ve become public domain in more ways than just the literary. Romeo and Juliet are the go-to romantic couple even though their romance barely lasted more than a few days and they both end up dead. King Lear, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, they all are perfectly welltold stories that have spawned countless productions on stage and in the film industry. Prince Hamlet is another example of a tragic story, a young man deciding his future, and suffering at seeing his Uncle Claudius taking advantage of his mother, only to amass political power and capture the throne. The woman is, after all, the Queen of Denmark. Spoiler alert, both Hamlet and Claudius die in the end. As a young teenager who had recently discovered the pleasure of reading novels, I wanted to elevate my reading, and upon finding a paperback edition of Hamlet I didn’t hesitate to snatch it off the bookshelf and rush home to read it. The big surprise happened when I flipped the first pages. I was thrown off by the ACT I, SCENE I heading on the page after the title as I had been expecting to read CHAPTER ONE instead. I plowed on with the story. Back then, I didn’t know I could stop reading a book if I didn’t like. I guess quitting wasn’t an option in my teens. Othello, the Moorish general in the www.TopShelfMagazine.net

weird in the beginning. The unease comes because one feels is only reading the dialogues and skipping the descriptions in the prose. Plays are, of course, the bare bones of a stage production. Reading the isolated dialogues from a novel is an excellent exercise for a writer, but that shall be the subject of another column. The purpose of this one is, after all, to motivate the reader to take a chance and read some plays. Once the initial shock wears off, reading becomes a delightful endeavor. As for where to begin, I’d recommend Romeo & Juliet in order to demythologize everyone’s favorite love story!

Gibson as Hamlet comes to mind.) In short, it seems the only people reading the playwright’s words are either actors, directors, producers or screenwriters working on an adaptation. Over time I’ve expanded beyond Shakespeare and read plenty of plays and scripts for television and cinema. Point in fact, the study of them has served to improve my one screenwriting skills. I’ve also discussed with many authors about the still current use of the three-act-structure for a novel. Reading a play as if it were a novel feels

J. H. Bográn, born and raised in Honduras, is the son of a journalist; however, he ironically prefers to write fiction. José’s genre of choice is thrillers, but he enjoys to throw in a twist of romance on occasion. He has published three acclaimed novels and is a member of The Crime Writers Association, the Short Fiction Writers Guild, and the International Thriller Writers where he also serves as the Thriller Roundtable Coordinator and contributor editor for their official e-zine The Big Thrill.

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by J. H. Bográn (TopShelf Columnist) Twitter @JHBogran | jhbogran@gmail.com

Venetian army, is another tragedy that most people know about without the actually reading the play. Othello is in love with Desdemona, and while his love is reciprocated, the story’s antagonist, named Iago, conspires to end the romance. Iago’s motives are political. He’s envious of Othello’s sky-rocketing career, which means the story is not a tired love-triangle, but an example of love suffering the consequences of political ambition. Shakespeare’s inventiveness for words and tragic situations remains undisputed. He also had a talent for humor, which The Merchant of Venice can prove. Yet, people watch his plays or film adaptations (Mel

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““JAW-DROPPING ... ... EVERYTHINGI LOVE I LOVEININAABOOK. BOOK.” EVERYTHING

JAW DROPPING

~JAMES ROLLINS, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of The Seventh Plague ~ JAMES ROLLINS #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of The Seventh Plague

What What if if God's God's most most closely closely guarded guarded secret secret found found itself itself in in the the wrong wrong hands? hands?

“A CRISPLY PLOTTED LABYRINTH OF INTRIGUE, ACTION, AND ADVENTURE.” THE LIAHONA EFFECT THE LIAHONA EFFECT ~STEVE BERRY, New York Times “AN ADRENALINE-FUELED THRILL and #1 Internationally Bestselling Author RIDE FEATURING LOVE, FAITH, MYSTERY, AND REDEMPTION. OPEN UP TO PAGE “NOTONE TO BEAND MISSED. THEFOR BESTDEAR BOOK OF HANG ON LIFE.” ~ ALLAN LEVERONE NY Times & USA TODAY ITS KIND SINCE THE DA VINCI CODE.” Bestselling Author of over a dozen novels, ~JONincluding LAND, USA Bestselling Author the TODAY acclaimed MR. MIDNIGHT of over 38 Novels, including THE RISING and the acclaimed CAITLIN STRONG Series

“A CRISPLY PLOTTED LABYRINTH OF “AN ADRENALINE-FUELED THRILL INTRIGUE, ACTION, ADVENTURE.” RIDE FEATURING LOVE,AND FAITH, MYSTERY, ~ STEVE BERRY New York Times

and #1 Internationally Author AND REDEMPTION. OPEN Bestselling UP TO PAGE ONE AND HANG ON FOR DEAR LIFE.” ~ALLAN LEVERONE, NY Times & USA TODAY Bestselling Author of over a dozen novels, including the acclaimed MR. MIDNIGHT

“NOT TO BE MISSED. THE BEST BOOK OF ITS KIND SINCE THE DA VINCI CODE.” ~ JON LAND USA TODAY Bestselling Author of over 38 Novels, including THE RISING and the acclaimed CAITLIN STRONG Series

www.THELIAHONAEFFECT.com TopShelf Publishing United States of America www.TopShelfPub.com ISBN: 978-1946865007

The ultimate bookseller guide to indie authors and books

www.THELIAHONAEFFECT.com TopShelf Publishing

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ISBN: 978-1946865007 1

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COLUMNS IN CLOSING Marketing is in my blood. There’s not a day that goes by where I’m not thinking about how to improve commercialization of the companies I work with or patronize on a daily basis. I guess that’s just the curse

Who writes the review on the shelf-talker? Anyone. Both employees and customers should be encouraged to create them. Have a contest and use the most creative designs and messaging. Who decides which books get a shelf-talker? I personally feel that any book that someone (employee or customer) is passionate about is worthy of a shelftalker. You could have a small table with blank shelf-talkers; there are several templates available online, and pens and markers. You could create a Committee of Shelf-Talkers (employees and customers) that gets together once a month to write them. If you currently hold a Book Club, you could ask them to write shelf-talkers.

of a marketing professional. Look, if anyone ever tries to sell you a magic marketing bullet for your problems, run away... fast! Truth be told, no single marketing idea will ever work for everyone. Everything we do carries with it risk. However, there is one thing I can assure you––something I can and will promise. The worst thing you can do in this life is nothing at all. Remember, do what you love, and love what you do, and the world will eventually follow.

TOPSHELF MARKETING: LET’S TALK SHELF-TALKERS by Keith Katsikas (CEO & Publisher, TopShelf)

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so customers can read them quickly,. They are creative and informative. It’s important that shelf-talkers are kept neat. The last thing you want is for a shelf-talker to look like it’s been hanging since the dawn of time. They typically have a 50 word or less review of the book they are located under.

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Put yourself in your customer’s shoes. What makes you want to buy something? Did you decide to watch a movie because you liked the title? Or buy a car because the color enticed you? Most likely, not. Customers make purchases based on research, need, and recommendations. Sometimes if I can’t choose between two items, I’ll choose the one that was personally recommended to me or that has the most noted recommendations. The same goes for books. A well-written shelftalker inspires customers to investigate a book closer and greatly increases the odds that the book will sell. If you’re not using shelf-talkers then you could be making a very big mistake. It is a fact that many people will go to a bookstore just to wander or spend a lazy afternoon. These people are looking for something to jump out at them. They want to see which books are recommended by the staff or other customers. These people want the shelves to talk to them! You may be thinking, what the heck is a shelf-talker? Well, simply put, a shelf-talker is a small sign that attaches to a retail shelf or display. Aside from actually talking with your customers (which you absolutely should do) this is the best way to communicate with potential buyers. Effective shelf-talkers have big clear fonts

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bookspotlights

...books worth a closer look! Witches, ghosts, feasts, games, dancing, hunting, jousting, and town fairs full of surprises in this journey for children ages 8-13. Emma, a pretty and kind-hearted girl, lives in a castle with her rich father Baron Geoffrey during the Middle Ages in the early 14th century. Emma and a brave young peasant Thomas have many adventures. Experience mystery and suspense as Emma and her father become targeted by thieves and the evil Lord Utredus.

With an evenly-divided Senate, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the nation's political powers. But when one Senator turns up dead, federal prosecutor Jeff Trask and a team of FBI agents and police must solve that murder, plus the death of one witness and the attempted murder of another. Further complicating matters, the trial of the killer must take place in the political swamp of DC. As Trask and his team prepare for trial, the nation's political fate hangs in the balance.

Genre Children, Historical Price $16.99 ISBN 978-0998923406

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $13.49 ISBN 978-1619848498

A high-stakes WWII thriller inspired by true events.

A disgraced agent. A missing battle plan. Will he find redemption or damage the Allies beyond repair?

You dream of being comfortable in your own skin. You dream of going after what you want with confidence and feeling happy with your everyday life. But your fear and self-doubt are holding you hostage, causing you to feel trapped and powerless to change your situation. What if there was a way to change all of that? Award-winning motivational author and teen confidence expert Jacqui Letran lets you in on a secret: you already possess the tools needed to achieve it.

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $15.99 ISBN 978-0999117309

Genre Health, Teen Health Price $14.95 ISBN 978-0997624465

If I asked you what are your top priorities in life, how would you answer? I think most people would answer by saying family and career. Everyone sees health and fitness as something that is important, but we always seem to put it off until later. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but there will never be a shortage of excuses. It's decision time! Are you ready to overcome your excuses and Make Fitness A Priority in your life...or are you too busy?

“A wondrously different world! The terms magic, enchantments, dragons and magic are common-place words in the fantasy genre. Now, with the 'discovery' of the land of Sye, Ms. Burke gives us dragonettes, Maji'kers, Enchanters and their seductively flavored kisses, which impart to the recipient the essence needed for the particular magic. Or just some peace to a wife suffering the loss of her husband. Tredan's Bane tale is a beautifully crafted tale…”

Genre Health, Fitness Price $9.59 ISBN 978-0692701232

Genre Sci-fi, Fantasy Price $15.99 ISBN 978-1477506578

"Atmospheric and tense, with plenty of treachery and a heavy dose of history." ~Steve Berry

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~Verified Amazon Review

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(TopShelf Columnist) Twitter @timthewriter | tim@rulesforgiving.com

San Francisco used to be the catch-all for everything edgy on the west coast. No longer so. Now the City by the Bay is the home to pricey hipster restaurants, the financial center of Silicon Valley, and real estate values so high that residents get nosebleeds when they pay the mortgage. All that’s edgy has migrated 600 miles north to Portland, Oregon. Any visit to Bridgetown includes a visit to Voodoo Doughnuts, home of the maple iced doughnut with two strips of bacon on it (and racier delicacies whose shapes and colors we can’t mention on these pages, but you get the point). Once you get through the 45-minute line to get your sin food, you can eat them within view of the sign on the side of Music Millennium that reads “Keep Portland Weird.” From Voodoo, it is an eight-minute walk to the corner of Burnside and 10th Avenue. Make sure your last will and testament is updated, however, because once you enter Powell’s City of Books, with its almost one million volumes, your loved ones may never see you again. Since its beginnings in 1971, Powell’s has grown to occupy the four buildings on its corner, filling an entire city block. Two of the buildings are one-story, another is three stories, and a fourth rises four floors. There are seven color-coded rooms, 75,000 square feet of retail space, and 35 different sections. Powell’s has four locations and more than 500 employees in the Portland area, but the Burnside store is by far the largest. In 2014, this location was voted one of the Ten Coolest Book Stores in the World by CNN. Powell’s started in 1971 in the most improbable of ways—as a second-hand www.TopShelfMagazine.net

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WE VISIT POWELL’S BOOKS by Timothy Sunderland

was followed by son Michael, and then granddaughter Emily. The Powell family stepped aside in 2013 to focus on longterm planning, and Sontz was brought on. She has a good handle on the retail book business, including the specter of e-books. “Screens are good for lots of things,” she said, ‘but they are not the death knell of the printed book. A lot of people, at the end of their work day, do not want to look at a screen anymore. They want the tactile experience of a printed book.” But some customers will sacrifice community for the sake of convenience, and sometimes you have to go where your competition is. Twenty-five percent of Powell’s revenue comes from online sales. But even then, the online experience at Powell’s focuses on books. “We are passionate about books,” said

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book store. A year earlier, founder Walter Powell loaned his son $3,000 to buy a usedbook store in Chicago. After spending a summer working with his son, who paid back the loan in six months, Walter saw the potential and returned to Portland. Within a decade, Powell’s was offering new books side-by-side with the used ones. What has turned out to be true,” says Powell’s CEO Miriam Sontz, “is that used books spur the sale of new books. New books spur the sales of used books. The two do not seem to have a negative impact on each other.” So how do they do it. How, did Powell’s expand to legendary status, with a weird mix of new and old, and how have they stayed relevant in what has been a tumultuous time in the retail book industry, in the face of internet retailers, and in the wake of megastores like Barnes & Noble and Borders (remember those guys?)? “Online retailers have not figured out a logarithm that creates the experience of a real store,” says Sontz. “That’s what we sell.” Next to the classics at Powell’s, you’ll find a selection of manga and graphic novels. And guess what? Readers like to touch and handle these genres before they decide on a purchase. Powell’s capitalizes on the realization that not every reader knows what their next book will be. Powell’s allows them to kick the tires. Rather than going to the large retailers, where the book table gets smaller every day, today’s reader wants a wider selection. Powell’s reportedly takes in 3,000 used books a day, guaranteeing an inventory that’s as diverse as the city it calls home. Taking in all four stores and the mail-order business, Powell’s reportedly controls an inventory of 4 million volumes. Powell’s also seeks out the smaller, independent presses, knowing that readers want more than what the New York publishers are dictating we should read. Programming is part of the mix, too. As many as 500 authors each year give readings, answer questions, and spend time with readers. Before Sontz became the CEO, the Powell family was into its third generation of family members running the store. Founder Walter

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Sontz. “That’s what we sell. I don’t know what Amazon is passionate about. They sell things, but not necessarily books.” Powell’s also realizes that with books comes community. People want to talk about what they are reading and get referrals from other people. That’s why 4,000 square feet of the first floor at Powell’s is set aside as a coffee shop called World Cup. It’s part of what keeps folks in Powell’s for hours, and the longer they are in the store, the more they are likely to buy. So, the next time you are in Portland, take any one of eleven bridges across the Willamette River (that’s why they call it Bridgetown). Stop and get your Voodoo doughnuts, then take the quick stroll to Powell’s. We hope you have three or four hours set aside. It will take at least that long, and you’ll wish you had more time. And … don’t forget to update the last will and testament before you walk in.

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bookspotlights

...books worth a closer look!

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Emerging criminal defense attorney Sam Young has always known he had a gift. Or a curse. He thinks of them as minor psychic abilities. When an attractive young nun named Camille approaches him, Sam agrees to help discover the identity of a serial killer. His psychic abilities increase as he investigates and he realizes that the enigmatic nun is not revealing the full truth. As things unravel the case reveals ancient implications beyond his wildest imagination.

“Anita Dickason’s nail biting A u 7 9 is among the best in its genre.”

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $15.95 ISBN 978-1633931794

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $8.99 ISBN 978-0996838566

They took her world… Then they took her family… Now she wants them back! When the World Alliance seizes power, it’s for the greater good. It will bring peace, equality, and prosperity to the entire planet. The people adapt as they always do. But when the Alliance steals seventeen-yearold Tess Greenwood’s family under the cover of night, she vows to do whatever it takes to get them back.

Millennia ago, beings we call angels were tasked with watching over humankind. Rather than protect humans, these Watchers decided to subjugate them, beginning a rebellion that rocked both Heaven and Earth. Defeated, the most powerful of the Watchers were imprisoned for eternity, while the weaker were condemned to Earth, relegated to the shadows that occupy human myth and legend. Until one of the Watchers escapes.

Genre Science Fiction Price $12.99 ISBN 978-1533026408

Genre Action & Adventure Price $15.99 ISBN 978-1948051156

Beyond the arctic wall of ice lies an unknown world. One man plans to sacrifice the known world and everything in it to gain immortality in paradise. Strange things have been seen in the New Mexico desert, and when an even stranger phone call leads controversial journalist Dan Sheraton on a dangerous adventure. When an insidious plot hatched by a shadowy global corporation threatens the survival of mankind the most unlikely hero emerges.

Two years ago, Akira Hamada had the chance to kill her greatest enemy. Instead, she was forced to become an assassin in his employ. Now she carries out the bloody business of the notorious crime syndicate and hates herself more and more each day. While on an “elimination” mission, a series of bizarre events reveals a possible path to redemption. However, she quickly finds herself in a relentless fight for her own life on the high seas.

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $14.99 ISBN 978-1641368117

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $13.95 ISBN 978-1975921354

Readers’ Favorite Five Star Review

What links the two largest Texas Universities to the disappearance of an ATF agent? FBI Tracker Adrian Dillard is sent to find out. But every lead ends with death. Is the missing agent a victim, or a deadly mastermind? A chilling discovery puts Homeland Security on high alert.

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Tell us a little about your exciting new novel Firstborn, and the series it’s a part of. Firstborn is the sequel to The Progeny—the story of 21 year-old Emily Porter, who has recently chosen to undergo an elective procedure to erase the last two years of her memory. Having relocated to the North Woods of Maine, she quickly learns she hasn’t gone there to start over, but to hide. Through a series of revelations she learns she’s one of the surviving descendants of historical “Blood Countess” Elizabeth Bathory, that she’s being hunted—and that everything she erased to protect is what she needs to survive. It’s a breakneck, run-foryour-life, globetrotting adventure about love, survival, and ancient secrets.

What inspired you to write Firstborn? A fan asked me to consider writing a book on Elizabeth Bathory—a fascinating noblewoman from the 16th Century thought to be the most prolific female serial killer of all time. History calls her a monster. But www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Finch in my home town of Lincoln, Nebraska, and one of my favorite signings a couple years ago when The Progeny came out happened at Malaprops in Asheville, North Carolina. I also love getting to connect with independent bookstore owners and employees at events for the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association, and the Heartland Fall Forum.

What is the biggest surprise you’ve encountered after becoming a published author?

What’s next for Tosca Lee?

The bonds you forge with your readers, and the privilege of being a part of their lives— lives they often share with me in person or in letters. I’m blown away every time someone writes to me to say that they read one of my books while recovering from an illness, going through a divorce, while caring for an ailing parent—or just relaxing. We all need healthy relief from the rigors of this world and it is my great joy to provide that and join them in those moments.

What is the most difficult part of your craft? The first draft. I have OCD, and it’s very hard for me to enter into the phase of absolute mayhem and chaos—not just in my manuscript, but life, as appointments, bills, and social obligations fall by the wayside.

What’s the best part about what you do? Working in my pajamas.

What’s the last book you read that simply could not be put down? Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. Mind bending stuff.

Do you have any advice on how to organize successful book signing events? Just remember you’re going there to sell books, sure, but you’re really there to talk to people. To meet and connect with readers and form relationships with the bookstore staff. Booksellers meet tons of authors. The ones who stand out—are the ones who write great books and are personable and friendly.

Do you frequent any independent bookstores? Any favorites? We have a new one called Francine and

My new thriller, The Line Between, out January 29 2019. (Up for pre-order now!) Here’s the teaser:

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“I’m a big geek-nerd—always have been. I grew up on the Isis/Shazam Power Hour, Justice League, Wonder Woman, and Thundarr the Barbarian. When I was a kid, I honestly believed Luke Skywalker was coming for me in his land-speeder. I remember basically feeling like a hostage on this family road trip, looking out the window toward the horizon and thinking, ‘aaaaany minute now…’ ” ~Tosca Lee

when you dig a little deeper into her life, all the allegations against her start to smack of conspiracy. I don’t know about you, but I love a good conspiracy theory! I’d just written two historical novels—one about Judas Iscariot, and one about the Queen of Sheba—and wanted to do something fastpaced and contemporary, about living right now, in the only moment that exists: this one. So Elizabeth Bathory’s legacy serves as the mythology for this story and its modern, underground European setting.

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WE CHAT WITH NY TIMES BESTSELLER TOSCA LEE

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In this frighteningly believable thriller from New York Times bestselling author Tosca Lee, an extinct disease re-emerges from the melting Alaskan permafrost to cause madness in its victims. For recent apocalyptic cult escapee Wynter Roth, it’s the end she’d always been told was coming. When Wynter Roth is turned out of New Earth, a self-contained doomsday cult on the American prairie, she emerges into a world poised on the brink of madness as a mysterious outbreak of rapid early onset dementia spreads across the nation. As Wynter struggles to start over in a world she’s been taught to regard as evil, she finds herself face-to-face with the apocalypse she’s feared all her life—until the night her sister shows up at her doorstep with a set of medical samples. That night, Wynter learns there’s something far more sinister at play and that these samples are key to understanding the disease. Now, as the power grid fails and the nation descends into chaos, Wynter must find a way to get the samples to a lab in Colorado. Uncertain who to trust, she takes up with former military man Chase Miller, who has his own reasons for wanting to get close to the samples in her possession, and to Wynter herself. Filled with action, conspiracy, romance, and questions of whom—and what—to believe, The Line Between is a high-octane story of survival and love in a world on the brink of madness. Read this and other interviews at:

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FALL2018 17

bookspotlights

...books worth a closer look! Distrustful of fate, Dr. April Branford wants to be taken seriously, but her unique ability to divine history by touching objects seriously compromises her credibility. Her latest assignment? James Addison, a legendary colonial ladies' man with a shadowy past. Without much to go on, she doesn't hold out much hope to discover the man behind the legend until the day she accidentally touches him and brings him back to life.

From USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli

Genre Paranormal & Urban Price $15.00 ISBN 978-1517397685

Genre Women Sleuths Price $4.99 (Kindle) ISBN 978-0738712666

Dr. Meenins has recurring dreams. He resists facing his guilty acts from eight centuries ago. Linda Deemer of his race of Longists is sent to help him step through painful memories of last companions. Travel companions help Dr. Meenins confront his dreams while haunted by wispy memories of faraway places and alien races. Follow his adventures on other worlds where Meenins escapes assassins of a blood feud and gathers followers to find the new homeworld.

"ACTION-PACKED THRILL RIDE." ~KARIN SLAUGHTER

Genre Paranormal & Urban Price $12.80 ISBN 978-1631922534

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $26.99 ISBN 978-1681443010

Despite their serious subject matter, the Two Hearts Wounded Warrior stories are all about hope, with happilyever-after endings.

Readers' Favorite BRONZE (2018), SILVER (2016) and GOLD (2018) MEDALS in Military Fiction.

Retired Dallas P.I. Alan Knox dislikes New Orleans so much he won’t even drink Abita––the local beer. It goes back to the day he wrecked his knee, along with a promising NFL career. But when his estranged son calls asking for help finding his missing fiancé, the guilt-ridden Texan heads for the Big Easy where he quickly steps in a load of trouble as high as his snakeskin boots. What starts as a simple missing persons case, turns into a hunt for a serial killer, dubbed The Exotic Killer.

Genre Romance, Military Price $0.99 (Kindle) ISBN B079GPRY3H

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $12.99 ISBN 978-1944077198

This #1 bestselling series has won 12 combined awards since the release of Two Hearts Surrendered, Book 1 in the series.

TOPShelf magazine “Every woman who’s ever struggled with saying no, fitting in, and balancing independence against loneliness will adore first-timer Emily.” ~Kirkus Reviews

"SENSATIONAL." ~LEE CHILD "HIGH STAKES, UP-TO-THEMINUTE REALISM, NONSTOP ACTION." ~KAREN DIONNE In the follow-up to her exhilarating debut, The Freedom Broker, K.J. Howe delivers a "riveting" and "rip-roaring" thriller perfect for fans of Sandra Brown and Lisa Gardner.

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interviews

What prompted you to broaden your horizons from your normal writing style of crime and thrillers, to writing a science fiction?

CARY ALLEN STONE Talk to us about your science-fiction book, SEEDS – The Journey Begins.

Let me first tell you what it is not. There are no aliens, worlds with bizarre names, or intergalactic wars. “SEEDS” takes place in current times, on Earth. Steven Hawking said we would have to leave the earth within the next 100 years. I use current technology and technology we’ll have in the next twenty years. “SEEDS” stands for Strategic ExtraEarth Development Site, which is a unique group of scientists who have decided not to save the world because it is far too damaged. They, instead, construct a ship to leave for Titan, Saturn’s moon. Two wealthy tech giants fund the program and use the genius of another tech giant to help launch the ship sooner than planned. The day the ship has already received 266 of the 300 colonists/ scientists, and is waiting for the remaining colonists, an unhinged President launches nuclear warheads at a small nation, which in turn causes all of the nations with nuclear warheads to get into the fight resulting in a nuclear holocaust on Earth. The ship is able to escape. The story continues explaining life on the ship during the journey, arriving at Titan, and building a colony. The second book in the trilogy will detail events that occur in the colony like discoveries made, creating a government and all things necessary to save humanity. In book three, there will be an expansion of the colony as www.TopShelfMagazine.net

How did you find your writing style changed while writing science fiction versus a crime or thriller? The most obvious thing is no one has to figure out who did it. The second thing I had to concentrate on was my new audience because I’m writing to Joe Layman, not science geeks. The technology has to be reasonable and understandable. “SEEDS” is a statement story. We ruined the planet. Everyone on the planet is frightened of each other. The leaders panic and wipe out humanity. The ship travels to a familiar world to try to start again. No one is murdered, or arrested.

So, after all your research, do you think that we are getting close to building a ship to transport a large number of people to another planet? Elon Mush will start the process early next year. He has the ships to take humans to Mars.

Speaking of research, what did you find to be the most surprising truths regarding the technology our world currently possesses now? You are only years away from Transhumans. What people don’t realize now is that their traditional employment is over. Artificial intelligence will do everything in the workplace. They are already talking about paying you a “guaranteed income”––to not

What is one made up technology from your book that you would love to see developed over the next decade or so and why?

FALL2018

INTERVIEW WITH MULTIAWARD-WINNING AUTHOR

After many years of researching crimes, crime scenes, forensics, profiling, homicide detectives, and all that goes with being a crime fiction thriller writer, I have held off on my other passion, which is science. I read science books, magazines, and visit Internet sites dedicated to scientific discovery. I thought I would try writing science fiction/ reality and see what happens. I’ve been very surprised and happy with the response. I plan to write one of each every year now.

work, sounds great until the third day of boredom. I was a commercial airline pilot for almost forty years. I flew small, medium, and large corporate and air carrier jet aircraft. The systems on board will land the plane in zero visibility weather, autobrake, and all the pilot has to do is taxi the plane to the gate. Pilots, over my career, have become obsolete. It will happen to every human soon. Coal and steel isn’t an occupation anymore.

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the ship leaves to create another colony. The whole concept of “SEEDS” revolves around the question, “What if ?” For example, “What if we had to leave now?” “SEEDS” brings a great deal of thought and debate about where we are today and the consequences of humanities failures. The story is wrapped around survival of humanity by working together in a life and death arena.

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INTERVIEWS

I only used a limited amount of imagined technology because I wanted the story to feel real. The one that I did come up with was the placing of a spare heart into one of the crew to see if it would help in the new world. On the ship, there is a competition of sorts between the two-hearted human, the Robonauts/Transhumans, the cryogenic colonists, and the normal colonists.

You spent two weeks with Ridley Scott in the Caribbean during a location scout. What is your most memorable moment from that trip? Sir Ridley, for all of his fame, fortune, and talent, made me feel like I was his best friend. He took the time to mentor my early writings. I still send him a copy of my latest books. The most memorable moment for both of us I believe was our first meeting. I flew a small corporate jet down to St. Kitts to pick up him up. I watched his crew run past me to get a good seat on the plane. They had a lot of baggage and equipment. As I stood waiting, here comes Ridley Scott around the corner and we meet for the first time. I really didn’t know how famous he was at the time, so I said to him, “I understand you are a very famous and talented director”. He replied he had a few successes. As we walked toward the aircraft, I asked if he ever did dramas. He said of course, why? I said because with the amount of people you brought, the amount of baggage, the tall mountains surrounding the small airport with a short runway––it was going to be a very dramatic takeoff. He asked if he could sit in the cockpit. I said yes. We were best friends from then on. Read this and other interviews at:

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FALL2018 19

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An overzealous journalist and his cameraman find themselves at an explosive crossroads while capturing the “perfect shot.” Months later the journalist is stalked by his dead cameraman.

. TopShelf Publishing Manchester, NH United States www.TopShelfPub.com ISBN: 978-1946865021

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magazine FALL2018

Sports

Hardcover

$27.00

AN AWESOME READ Jon Land never fails to bring on the heat and 1st and Forever is no exception. This passionate and inspirational book is not just about the love of the game of football but brings life to the lessons learned along the way through sports. Of course, football is a key element and one he wishes to share with others through commitment, dedication, drive, and passion; however, this is a heart-warming book that explores the joys beyond the game. Jon Land’s voice is passion. It bleeds from every page. Football is a sport that can be shared beyond the gridiron and brings lessons that we all carry into life. You don’t need to be a diehard football fan to love 1st and Forever.

Thriller

Paperback

$15.89

Thriller

Hardcover

$29.99

A MUST READ FOR DIE-HARD BOUND FOR GREATNESS DAN BROWN FANS! William Martin solidifies his claim as king of I have to admire the time taken in researching this intense novel. Fantastic for anyone interested in the origins of the Roman Catholic church, and its history. The attention to detail regarding architecture and localities is spectacular. The plot does often get weighed down with religious facts and dialogue about theology, which results in a somewhat sluggish flow and hazy storyline at times. All-in-all, Blood Symbols is a book worthy of any bookshelf, and a MUST READ for any die-hard Dan Brown fan. ~Michael Rowland, TopShelf Reviews

the historical thriller in the glittering Bound for Gold (Forge, $29.99, 490 pages), spiriting us back in time to the days of the California Gold Rush. Boston Yankees James Spencer and Michael Flynn embark on a journey for riches that morphs into a nineteenth century version of The Treasure of Sierra Madre. Flashing to the present, it’s left to Peter Fallon to uncover the truth behind their adventures, a truth somehow connected to a mythical lost river of gold that may not be so mythical after all. Martin displays a deft hand in mastering both timelines and the result is an expansive tale drawn on a bold and bright canvas. Bound for Gold is bound for greatness. ~Jon Land, TopShelf Reviews

~Sharon Isbell, TopShelf Reviews

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FALL2018 21

bookspotlights

...books worth a closer look!

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Roz celebrates the hidden dramas in the ordinary. Her childhood home, a giant stargazing telescope on the horizon, and a garden path disappearing under house next door. A tour guide in Glastonbury having a reallife romance with a character from Arthurian legend. A unit on a suburban business park where people are preparing to deep-freeze each other. Wry, romantic, amused. An ode to the quiet places you never realize might tell a tale.

A frighteningly plausible, fastpaced thriller about a Russian cyberattack on America, involving fake news and anonymous hackers.

Genre Humor & Entertainment Price $11.50 ISBN 978-1909905924

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $24.99 ISBN 978-1510734814

U.S. field analyst Doc and his partner, Zita, an MI6 agent, are drawn into the harrowing world of espionage where terrorism casts its ugly shadow over innocence. Doc and Zita are the most original characters to appear in years. London Bridge is Falling Down heralds the arrival of a new breed of lightning-paced, intelligent thriller - surprising at every twist, absorbing at every turn, and in the end, utterly unpredictable - right up to its astonishing conclusion.

After saving the Catholic Church in THE NEWTON PROPHECIES renowned theologian, Michael DiBianco is called upon to save yet another highly influential global religion.

Genre True Crime, Espionage Price $16.95 ISBN 978-1519232236

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $28.99 ISBN 978-1946865007

Eleanor desperately mourns the loss of her boyfriend, and on the anniversary of his death is summoned by a frightening apparition that propels her on a journey beyond anything she could imagine. She begins to experience visions of a woman and seeks to unravel the mystery surrounding her disappearance. Meanwhile, a former love reappears in her life. As their lives intertwine, Eleanor begins to question that the haunting events that brought them together.

USA Today bestselling author of more than forty novels

Genre Paranormal, Romance Price $15.99 ISBN 978-1493589630

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $26.99 ISBN 978-0765384645

The Kremlin is about to launch a sophisticated propaganda operation aimed at discrediting and disrupting the United States and ultimately restoring Russia to great nation status. But the United States has its own secret weapon: Christopher Niles

The prophet of the Mormon Church has been murdered, hung cruciform in the Sacred Grove, and a strange code seared into the man's chest may hold the key to unlocking a secret protected for thousands of years.

“Blasts right out of the chute...” ~CJ Box, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Land’s best novel yet.” ~Strand Magazine

“A real scorcher.” ~TopShelf Reviews

“The best of the Strong series . . . a must-read.” ~Booklist

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OCTOBER2017 23

When you’re the best hostage negotiator in the business, there’s always a target on your back.

“Starts at 600 mph (literally) and never slows down.” —Lee Child, #1 internationally bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series

“High stakes, up-to-the-minute realism . . . Whip-smart.” —Karen Dionne, author of the international bestseller The Marsh King’s Daughter

“Thea Paris kicks some serious ass in this action-packed thrill ride.” —Karin Slaughter, internationally bestselling author of The Good Daughter

Available April 10 The next kidnap-and-ransom thriller from the Barry Award–nominated author of The Freedom Broker

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magazine FALL2018

Memoir

Paperback

$24.00

HORRIFICALLY FASCINATING Familiar Evil tugs hard at the heartstrings in ways few books can. There isn’t a day that goes by when we don’t read in the newspaper or hear on television about this celebrity or that football coach accused of child abuse. But when it happens close to home, it shakes the very foundations of community and forces us to examine our family and friends. This eye-opening story drives home the horrors that plague the world today. The dramatic accounts that Rannah Gray penned in this harrowing book are profoundly moving. Child abuse is not an easy subject to write about, and Gray paints a masterfully crafted portrait that is guaranteed to leave a permanent, yet necessary, scare. ~Michael Rowland, TopShelf Reviews

Thriller

Paperback

$9.99

Children’s

Hardcover

$16.95

ONE OF THE BEST THRILLERS A BOOK KIDS WILL READ I’VE READ THIS YEAR AGAIN AND AGAIN! Texas Ranger Sonny Hawke rides a Dodge truck instead of a horse, but you wouldn’t know that from how he handles a particularly nasty blend of Mexican smugglers in Reavis Worthan’s Hawke’s War (Kensington, $9.99, 422 pages). This elegant thriller that reads like a modernday western conjures memories of gunfighters of lore, a tradition Hawke proudly holds up while riding the ranges of Texas’ Big Bend National Park. The stalwart Ranger finds himself the victim of a trap, outnumbered and outgunned in classic fashion, as he’s left to rely on his wits as well as his bullets. Good thing he’s a crack shot, just like Wortham who hits the bulls-eye dead center in this tale worthy of both Louis L’Amour and James Lee Burke. One of the best thrillers I’ve read this year, featuring emotional landscapes as sprawling as the physical ones.

Lizzy is nervous—new school, new teacher, new students—but by the end of the day, everything turns out wonderful. It’s Just So... is a rhythmic book packed with delightful illustrations that children will read again and again. ~Michael Rowland, TopShelf Reviews

~Jon Land, TopShelf Reviews

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FALL2018 25

bookspotlights

...books worth a closer look!

TOPShelf magazine

Blindness is just the beginning. Once the virus strips away everything remotely human, all that's left is a mindless savage predator. Hank Mason thought he had nothing left to lose, but now that he is all that stands between a young girl and a gruesome fate, he's sworn to protect her with his very life. But the virus isn't done yet. A new, deadlier terror is slowly emerging. The girl is already blind, and things are about to get a whole lot worse.

Journalist John Hunt is known for taking any risk necessary to get the story. Reporting in Syria, John leads his cameraman three miles out of the safe zone. An explosion strikes. No one should have survived. After six months of rehabilitation, John is finally out of the hospital, a horrific disfigurement is a constant reminder of that day. Already skating the edge of sanity, he is pushed further when his deceased cameraman pays him a visit.

Genre Sci-fi, Post-apocalyptic Price $11.95 ISBN 978-1925493085

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $16.99 ISBN 978-1946865052

Following the tumultuous and unexpected life of Zenaida Katzen, this biography weaves disparate threads from Russia, China, Chile, France, and St. Kitts-Nevis into a vibrant tapestry revealing a surprising and exceptional woman. Stepping outside the spinsterteacher archetype, Katzen’s story is one of a complicated, fiercely independent woman whose decades of dedication to the education of children belie an intriguing, unpredictable, inexplicable personal life.

Persuaded by a powerful old friend to go undercover for the U.S. government Billy and his wife find themselves in Mexico during the height of the violent 1910-1920 revolution. There they grapple with German spies, Mexican revolutionaries, devious political operatives, and other malefactors. Tragedy strikes and Billy vanishes leaving family and friends to wonder what happened. What provoked his decades-long disappearance is ultimately revealed.

Genre Biographies & Memoirs Price $19.95 ISBN 978-0999872406

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $18.99 ISBN 978-1545632819

Jackson, an ambitious college instructor and writer, saves nineyear-old twin girls from drowning in the Gulf of Mexico. He receives critical acclaim and a wide readership. The twins mature into beautiful but troubled young women. Jackson's success leads to a professorship at an esteemed university where his ascendant star quickly falls. Hadley marries a womanizer. Haley has an unfulfilling affair with her supervisor. Their recklessness in sex, love, and life produces wild and horrific results.

A few short blocks from the safety of the museums and monuments on the National Mall, a ruthless killer prowls the streets of Washington DC. Federal prosecutor Jeff Trask joins a team of FBI agents and police detectives as they try and solve the series of brutal murders. As the body count rises, the investigation leads to a chilling confrontation with the leader of an international drug smuggling ring, and no one is safe, not even the police.

Genre Contemporary Fiction Price $16.99 ISBN 978-1946920386

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $12.50 ISBN 978-1468180213

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Everything you want in a sprawling epic romance! ~TopShelf Reviews

Medieval Romance just doesn't get any better than this.

~Uncaged Book Reviews

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Hailed as the ‘Queen of Medieval Romance’––with good reason––Kathryn le Veque has returned with her impressive newest installment in the de Wolfe series. It’s June of 1282 and William de Wolfe, England’s greatest warrior, is led deep into southern WalesЬ right into a trap laid by their enemy, the Welsh. Hundreds of men have died, including his beloved son, James. Overrun with the enemy on all sides and three other sons to think of, William must leave the body of James behind. Several years later, a Welsh warrior named Blayth the Strong, is defeating the English in battle after battle. Fighting by Blayth’s side is a woman he is deeply falling for; Asmara ap Cader, a fierce warrior called the ‘Dragon Princess’. Rumored to be the bastard son of the last Prince of Wales, Blayth has no memory of his past beyond five-years, due to torture at the hands of the English. He’s only aware of his past because the man who saved him has told him so. But when a captured English knight looks upon him and calls him by a different name––James de Wolfe––Blayth begins to question everything. A Wolfe Among Dragons is book 8 in the de Wolfe Pack series of 13 novels.

www.kathrynleveque.com Available at these and other fine booksellers and distributors:

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magazine FALL2018

Slueth

Hardcover

Pre-Order

Thriller

Hardcover

$26.95

Children’s

Paperback

$11.99

IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT DOWN

SUPERBLY CRAFTED & WRITTEN TREMENDOUSLY ENJOYABLE

Not that there aren’t plenty of bodies. They’re showing up in locales other than Cabot Cove, the bucolic Maine hometown of mystery author and amateur sleuth, Jessica Fletcher, but they all have a link to the feisty widow. Her publisher of thirty years, Lane Barfield, has given her a manuscript to read, one that has him convinced he’s found the next big blockbuster thriller. But it doesn’t take long to learn that association with this manuscript can be bad for one’s health. Who is the unknown author of the deadly manuscript, and what makes knowledge of its contents so lethal? Jon Land has done a superb job of channeling the indomitable Mrs. Fletcher and her usual band of supporting characters. Witty repartee abounds, showcasing the mutual affection between Mrs. Fletcher and the assorted investigators who grudgingly tolerate her involvement in their crime scenes but ultimately benefit from her wisdom and sharp eye. Land’s penchant for thriller writing shines through, as well. Tension mounts along with the body count and the stakes reach well beyond Mrs. Fletcher‘s literary circles and hometown friends. His signature cliffhangers make this cozy mystery a page-turner impossible to put down.

Family dynamics are also firmly on display in Dan Fesperman’s Safe Houses (Knopf, $26.95, 416 pages), a tale that ably blends issues both big and small. We open in the height of Cold War Berlin with the CIA’s Helen Abell working a mission fraught with risk. Cut to the present where Abell and her husband are both murdered, leaving their daughter Anna Shoat to sort through the morass, both past and present, that involves her estranged brother and family secrets yanked from the shadows. The safe houses of the title become as much metaphor as plot point and wondrously interconnected at that. The result is a bracing and blistering work that rivals the best of Nelson DeMille with a touch of Jeffrey Archer tossed in for good measure. Superbly crafted and written. ~Jon Land, TopShelf Reviews

A Trip to the Hospital is another Sami the Magic Bear short story, telling the tale of a teddy bear, a present from all of her school friends, who helps a young girl stricken with leukemia ultimately fight and overcome her illness. This type of story seriously puts one's life into perspective. Very well written, with illustrations that genuinely compliment the narrative. This magical story gets across to children that there is always someone else out there worse off than they are, and that there is hope in every situation. Tremendously enjoyable and highly recommended. ~Michael Rowland, TopShelf Reviews

~Rosemary Fifield, TopShelf Reviews

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FALL2018 29

bookspotlights

...books worth a closer look!

TOPShelf magazine

Escaping instantaneous death and paralysis from a hangman's broken neck, and shattered right jaw endured in a horrific waterskiing accident is only part of the story. Follow Shellie on her journey from the Ozarks to Egypt, even the back alleys of Hollywood as she perseveres through more than her share of grueling set backs. You don't have to be a waterskier to enjoy this inspiring true story told by the first female freestyle waterski ramp jumper in the World.

Tony's coaching methods, tools and style lead quickly to finetuning your values, mission purpose, and goals. Rather than coaching through a scripted or preprogrammed path, Tony directs you toward a practice of self reflection and purposeful action. A personal journey like this is no easy ride. Be prepared to be confronted and challenged, be prepared to delve deeply into how you live, how you lead others and to answer questions other people in your life may never ask.

Genre Biographies & Memoirs Price $16.79 ISBN 978-0996366908

Genre Religion & Spirituality Price $32.99 ISBN 978-1909623576

“American History is a beautifully written, ambitious crime epic. J.L. Abramo delivers an immersive, emotional and suspenseful gem that spans eras and nations and reminds us of who we are. A page-turning pleasure.” ~Michael Koryta,

New York Times bestselling author of How It Happened

Uplifting, amazing moments, of connection––to know that whatever we feel, whatever our personal experience may be, that we are not alone. We are all interconnected. The purpose of these heartfelt, honest stories is to offer empowerment, encouragement, consolation, inspiration, laughter, love, and the motivation, courage, and sanctuary to write your own life changing experiences, your own Acupuncture for Your Soul. What are your Aha! Moments?

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $18.95 ISBN 978-1946502704

Genre Religion & Spirituality Price $25.95 ISBN 978-1627873406

On the march, around the campfire, and in the taverns, they tell incredible stories about Tarmun Vykers, the Reaper––how he's never been cut in battle, how he once defeated hundreds of men by himself, how he exterminated an entire people over an insult. These stories make Vykers like a god, but he is an arrogant, ruthless, bloodthirsty man. For all that, he may be the only thing standing between the human race and utter annihilation.

In Las Vegas homeless teens are disappearing. Darcy fears that one runaway, Pammie, has succumbed to human traffickers. Darcy befriends two young prostitutes but they refuse her offer to them leave the streets. They have fallen under the influence of a dubious, self-styled preacher. Darcy doubles her effort to end the trafficking and ultimately joins forces with local law enforcement, only to get caught between two vicious criminal factions.

Genre Horror, Dark Fantasy Price $19.99 ISBN 978-1491091753

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $19.99 ISBN 978-1524524043

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Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve taken the guess work out of finding great indie books!

“Engaging legal tale.” ~ KIRKUS REVIEWS

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magazine FALL2018

Sci-Fi

Paperback

$9.99

TRULY WORTH THE READ Over the last century, Earth began buckling under the weight of human overpopulation, the wasting of precious resources, and chemicals dumped in its waters, leading to plant and animal extinction. Fighting back with natural disasters, the earth became a wasteland. Humans believed they too could fight back through technology, but with artificial intelligence, humans became obsolete. Many have lost the will to live. Those who remain, are haunted by the consistent threat of nuclear annihilation. However, a chosen few have found the solution. They will colonize Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. This is their story. Cary Allen Stone has given refreshing life to an age-old story. SEEDS: The Journey Begins, masterfully sets the scene, showing the downfall of man and the destruction of earth, grabbing the reader within the first few pages. A story that is truly worth the read and will appeal to hardcore technical sci-fi fans.

Thriller

Hardcover

$26.99

Thriller

Hardcover

$27.99

A MUST-READ A VIVIDLY WRITTEN, CONVOLUTED TAIL THAT WILL Timely thrillers are nothing new for Brad Thor. But in the scintillating Spymaster BAFFLE AND SHOCK YOU

reminder of the wicked webs we weave.

(Atria, $27.99, 322 pages) he ups the ante considerably with a tale that’s scarily prescient. Series hero former Navy SEAL Scot Harvath finds himself on a different kind of battlefield when a wave of diplomatic assassinations strikes the globe. The carefully orchestrated plot, of course, has far more fiendish ends than murder in mind. And it’s left to Harvath and company to thwart a World War I conflagration of events leading, this time, to nuclear war. Long a master of action and pacing, Thor continues channeling the likes of John le Carre in crafting a thinking man’s thriller packed with as much brains as brawn, making Spymaster a must-read for summer.

~Patrice Benard, TopShelf Reviews

~Jon Land, TopShelf Reviews

In a world where dysfunctional relationships are hiding in every closet, this story adds yet another disturbing twist. Two sisters living in St. Margaret’s are such an example of how mentally traumatizing events in childhood can lead to absolutely horrifying adult behavior. For these sisters, the past keeps rearing its ugly head, never allowing for healthy adult relationships. Without a hero, everyone is left to play the role of the villain. Loaded with sin, but no redemption, Sister of Mine, by Laurie Petrou, is a stark

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

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Stig and Meg pass through an inter-dimensional rift from their fantasy world to 21st century England. The young couple are startled by what they find. In this sci-fi, fantasy adventure a series of clues take the pair around the Cotswolds in England where they discover all is not what it seems. They meet eccentrics, simpletons and often laugh out loud characters, finding some more willing than others to help them.

Halfway through her Ph.D., Jaine's faith has been shaken. She has become convinced that the Catholic church's authority is based on a lie. Desperate to prove herself wrong, she goes to the Vatican, only to be caught up in an international hunt for the truth. A stolen artifact, a mysterious murder, and an escaping intruder lead Jaine from the Vatican to a tiny, rundown church in Turkey, where she uncovers a secret that could change the world.

Genre Children’s Price $9.80 ISBN 978-1539515425

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $15.89 ISBN 978-0620747851

For the first time, the full and complete story of the B-17 Flying Fortress Susan Ruth is shared in unbelievable detail. For most, 70 years is a long time ago. World War II fades in importance as each year goes by. Shot Down moves history out of the footnotes into reality, keeping the stories of real people alive as they experience being shot down. You are there, almost holding your breath as Lt. Snyder gets his crew out of his B-17 when bailing out over Nazi-occupied Europe.

For the families of the victims of the St Botolph & Old Billingsgate disaster, the undoing of a miscarriage of justice should be a cause for rejoicing. For more than thirteen years, the search for truth has eaten up everything. Marriages, families, health, careers and finances. Finally, the coroner has ruled that the crowd did not contribute to their own deaths. Finally, the lies have been unravelled, hypocrisies exposed, they can get back to their lives. If only it were that simple.

Genre History, Military Price $19.95 ISBN 978-0986076015

Genre Contemporary Fiction Price $12.99 ISBN 978-0993277689

For countless thousands of years, the Morschen of Anaria have dwelt in a perpetual state of warring peace with each other, wielding their elemental magic and training massive armies that all too often find their way to a battlefield. However, an enemy, long thought defeated has awakened, threatens to destroy everything they have built. Will a world ruled by magic and sword see a hero rise? Or will everything that they have worked for come crashing down around them?

Ten years ago, Daisy left her husband, Bernard, to create a new life for herself. But now as their divorce proceedings continue to drag on and Bernard battles terminal cancer, Daisy determines she would rather be his widow than his ex-wife and decides to play with fate. In this contemporary thriller, a woman intent on ending her husband's life is propelled on a journey through her memories that leads her to an unexpected truth.

Genre Science Fiction Price $15.50 ISBN 978-1530840632

Genre Crime, Suspense Price $13.99 ISBN 978-1532013195

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“A ROLLERCOASTER RIDE OF EPIC PROPORTIONS, PACKED WITH STAGGERING TWISTS AND TURNS, ROCKETING TOWARD A CATACLYSMIC CLIMAX THAT WILL SHOCK YOU!” -TopShelf Reviews

DARK LIGHT: DAWN “A fantastic, incredible, can’t-putit-down book... A terrific read!” ~Douglas Preston, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Has everything––mystery, action, sex, violence, widescreen apocalypse and close-up chills, along with the creepiest little girl you'll never want to meet. 'I couldn't put it down' has become such a cliche but... I couldn't put it down.” ~Paul Wilson, New York Times bestselling author

"Combining the supernatural conspiracies of The X-Files with the pandemic panic of Contagion and World War Z, Dark Light Dawn is an addicting, intense, nail-biting big budget summer movie brought to the page by creator Fabrizio Boccardi and author Jon Land. Hopefully, we’ll see the return of Max Younger sooner than later." ~Forces of Geek Magazine

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

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ISBN: 978-0765328724

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You can’t help rooting for Suzanne, a truly enchanting character. I couldn’t put it down. ~Pepper O’Neal, author of the award-winning Black Ops Chronicles series

An excellent thriller, well worth the read. ~Geza Tatrallyay, author of the Twisted trilogy

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SISTER IN LAW

EXCELLENT READ The deck has always been stacked against Suzanne Dahlstrom. Born to alcoholic parents and raped by her father at age ten–– her mother shooting him dead in a fit of rage before her eyes––Suzanne’s trust in men was shattered by the man she was supposed to be able to trust the most. Today, she’s out for revenge, taking whatever she can from every man she crosses. However, when approached by a powerful Washington insider with a scheme to take down the next president of the United States, she wants no part in it––that is, until she’s offered a $1,000,000 payday. Suzanne is an enchanting creature, neither black or white, enveloping all shades of gray. Boasting a distinctive storyline, well-conceived plot, and captivating characters, Sister-in-Law is an excellent read for the more mature reader. ~ Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

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magazine FALL2018

Thriller

Hardcover

$26.99

Thriller

Hardcover

$26.99

Thriller

Paperback

$15.99

NOT YOUR MOTHER’S WHODUNNIT

STUNNING TRIUMPH OF FORM AND FUNCTION

WHAT LENGTHS WOULD YOU GO TO PROTECT YOUR CHILD?

Be prepared for the unexpected with P.J.

NOT your mother’s whodunnit!

Thriller Award winner Riley Sager’s The Last Time I Lied (Dutton, $26.00, 384 pages) might just be the perfect summer book, in large part because it’s set, well, at summer camp; specifically, one where murder turns out to be one of the listed activities. Noted artist Emma Davis returns to her childhood haunts of the newly reopened Camp Nightingale where her three best friends vanished as campers years before. That tragedy helped fuel Emma’s rising acclaim as an artist, but her one unfinished landscape remains the truth behind those disappearances. Passing through the gate’s long shuttered gates provides the opportunity to complete that tapestry, Emma hardly expecting her brush to be soaked in blood both old and new. The Last Time I Lied is a stunning triumph of form and function, a book equal parts Donna Tart’s The Secret History and Harlan Coben or Lisa Gardner at their level best. Trust me, I’m telling the truth.

Progeny, Scions, and Hunters, Oh My! Firstborn is packed with adventure. Audra and Luka, born enemies, not only have fallen in love but have borne a child––one they desperately desire to hide from a man known simply as the Historian. The Historian wants to bring down the bloodline of an ancient serial killer who’s descendants possess powers beyond the natural. Is it fear or power that drives the Historian? Lines are drawn, sides are taken. Each unsure who can be trusted, fighting for their beliefs. But Audra and Luka are fighting for something more––love, specifically, the love of their firstborn, Eva. Piecing the remnants of her life back together after wiping her memory in an attempt to protect Eva, Audra is flooded with uncertainty. Her diary offering mere glimpses of her former self. It’s the fear of losing her child that drives her to fight this relentless battle to end the cycle. The lengths she will go to give Eva a chance at life are immeasurable. But keeping Eva a secret from their friends is putting them all at even greater risk. Firstborn grips hard and keeps readers longing for just one more page. Five solid gold stars!

~Patrice Benard, TopShelf Reviews

~Jon Land, TopShelf Reviews

~Sharon Isbell, TopShelf Reviews

Tracy’s latest, The Guilty Dead. Like a runaway mountain train, this story rapidly picks up steam, throwing readers about its murky cabins as it careens relentlessly through twists and turns, culminating in a shocking, profoundly satisfying end. Along the way, we meet a variety of fascinating characters––those we love, and those we love to hate. Birth and death, love and hate, compassion and revenge––this story has it all. From Minneapolis to Aspen, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The Guilty Dead…

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bookspotlights

...books worth a closer look!

TOPShelf magazine

Deputy Mattie Cobb is in a dark place and has withdrawn from Cole Walker and his family to work on issues from her past. When she and her K-9 partner, Robo, get called to track a missing junior high student, they find the girl dead on Smoker’s Hill behind the high school, and Mattie must head to the Walker home to break the bad news. But that’s only the start of trouble in Timber Creek, because soon another girl goes missing––and this time it’s one of Cole’s daughters.

"Rich DiSilvio has written not only an entertaining story, but he has given readers an insight into history through his excellent research on the men of the 19th century. It brings to light all the struggles and victories of the workers who defined a generation … I learned a great deal from this wellresearched, informative, and entertaining book."

Genre Amateur Sleuth Price $15.99 ISBN 978-1683312772

Genre Historical Fiction Price $18.95 ISBN 978-0981762555

Danny is a ninth-grade, video game junky who daydreams in school and has no interest in art whatsoever. Yet when Danny gets home, he finds himself ensnared in a bizarre dream controlled by a creature with a huge nose and no eyes. His name: Nostrildamus. Taken on a time-traveling hunt to solve an art mystery, Danny meets strange artists, like Hippopotamus Bosch and Michelanjello, while Nostrildamus tries to impart subtle pearls of wisdom.

Underdog Hollywood Executive Assistant battles big budget boss and receives miraculous aid from an unlikely source—a shrine to Mary Tyler Moore. PLEASE HOLD offers a rare glimpse into the world of top tier gatekeepers, and serves as a reminder that spirituality comes in many forms. In this quirky slice of life story, Tricia Stewart Shiu, draws from her extensive experience as a veteran, highlevel executive assistant at one of the top six entertainment studios in Los Angeles.

Genre Teens, Fantasy Price $6.75 ISBN 978-0997680737

Genre Women’s Fiction Price $12.95 ISBN 978-0996881609

Laurie is a very active little girl. She loves school. She loves playing soccer and is even the captain of her soccer team. So when Laurie suddenly lacks energy and her cheeks lose their rosy glow, her parents take her to see the family doctor and he runs a bunch of tests. Laurie has leukemia. She is immediately hospitalized and the only visitors are her parents and they must be sanitized and gowned. Laurie becomes sad. Then her class sends her a life changing gift.

The year is 1894 and aboard the S S China Billy meets a mysterious, dazzling, and possibly dangerous German Baroness, locked horns with malevolent agents of the German government, and battled ferocious Chinese and Malay pirates in the South China Sea. Later, he is inadvertently embroiled in the bloody anti-French insurgency in Indochina–which quite possibly makes him the first American combatant in a country that eventually will become Vietnam...

Genre Children's Price $11.99 ISBN 978-2924526279

Genre Action & Adventure Price $16.99 ISBN 978-1535189538

~Patsy Glans for Readers' Favorite

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books!

“A thrilling adventure that spans decades. STRONG TO THE BONE combines compelling history and cutting-edge technology, creating a death-grip read that refuses to let go.”

~TopShelf Reviews

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