TopShelf - Holiday Edition 2018 by TopShelf Magazine

2016 Bookseller’s Sales Catalog -1 A Comprehensive Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books!

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Grand Prize

WINNER! FEATURED IN THIS HOLIDAY ISSUE

Book Award Winners & Finalists! Reviews, Reviews, & More Reviews Notable Book Releases for 2019 Author Interviews & More!

Pages 10 - 23 Pages 41 - 69

Page 25

Holiday Edition, 2018

TopShelf Review of THE DEVILS’ CRADLE on Page 69

What if Hitler had offspring? On his thirtieth birthday Oscar Brown discovers that he's the grandson of Adolf Hitler. With a Neo Nazi radical group looking up to him as a symbol, the Mossad wanting him dead, and the CIA turning a deaf ear to his plead, Oscar must now run for his life and discover the true origin of his heritage.

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"The ultimate high concept thriller. A classic tale that checks all the boxes from historical speculation, to a deadly secret, to a sinister international conspiracy. Reminiscent of Robert Ludlum, Steve Berry, and Brad Meltzer, HEIR OF EVIL is storytelling at its level best." ~Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author of the Caitlin Strong series

International Intrigue & Suspense ISBN - 978-1731582331 Available January 1, 2019

www.jhbogran.com

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

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table of contents winners’ circle

10 Grand Prize - The Devils’ Cradle 11 Interview with the Grand Prize Winning Author, Darci Daniel 12-23 1st Place Winners (by category) 23 Finalists

announcements 25 Book Releases for 2019

interview rewinds 27 31 33 37 39

Brad Meltzer Steve Berry R. L. Stine Sandra Brown James Rollins

reviews 41 41 41 45 45 45 51

Abuse of Discretion Black Sun Blood & Water Buddies Destiny by Design Executive Force Familiar Evil

51 51 57 57 57 61 61 61 65 65 65 69 69 69

Girls on the Line It’s Just So… Little! Jar of Hearts Leave No Trace Nerve Damage Operation Ivy Bells Rudolph’s Little Helper Sami the Magic Bear Somebody’s Daughter Starting Over The Au Pair The Crate The Devils’ Cradle The Robber of Youth

masthead CEO & Publisher Keith A. Katsikas Jr.

keith@topshelfmagazine.net

E.V.P. & Director of Marketing Rebecca Katsikas

Lead Editor Keith Katsikas editor@topshelfmagazine.net

Assistant Editor Rosemary Fifield editor@topshelfmagazine.net

Assistant Editor Sharon Isbell editor@topshelfmagazine.net

Contributors & Reviewers Patrice Benard J. H. Bográn Mark Cheverton Rosemary Fifield Paul Hollis Sharon Isbell Keith Katsikas Rebecca Katsikas Jon Land Sarah Noffke Tim Sunderland

becky@topshelfmagazine.net

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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HOLIDAYEDITION2018 3

featuredspotlights

...books worth a closer look!

The Iapetus Federation is a broad-ranging and fitting sequel to Slingshot and The Starchild Compact. It is an epic of international intrigue, heroic fights for survival, and the opening of the Solar System on a vast scale... and that's just for starters. This book opens the door to the galaxy and both the past and future of humans and the Ectarians.

"Aunt Sookie & Me is a heady and hilarious mixture of hardwon wisdom and Southern saltiness… the tale deals with some weighty issues including sexual identity and domestic violence, but Garvin's compassion and light touch make this a highly entertaining and enjoyable novel.”

Genre Science Fiction Price $19.95 ISBN 978-0996466936

Genre Biography, Memoirs Price $14.99 ISBN 978-1545568729

You are the greatest warrior the world has ever known, then a horrific act of treachery leaves you maimed and unable to fight just as the world teeters on the brink of annihilation. What would you sacrifice to regain your prowess? Your dignity, the lives of your companions, your very soul?

“Sherry Crandell is a great storyteller and she knows what it takes to build strong conflict with human emotions. A very delightful read, indeed!”

Genre Horror, Science Fiction Price $19.99 ISBN 978-1491091753

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~Publishers Weekly

~Readers’ Favorite

Genre Teen, Romance Price $18.99 ISBN 978-1545619209

A heart-warming story of one family’s experiences during the Great Depression, reveals the resilience of the human spirit. Hope, faith, and humor were ever-present as families shared all that they had and fed homeless people at their doorsteps. Breon’s collection of personal childhood experiences embodies the power of love, family, and friendship during the nation’s desperate decade.

"Every person with that little voice in their head―the one that tells them to write everyday––must own this book. Every page is full of hope and reality, just what we all need to keep us going.”

Genre Biography, Memoir Price $15.99 ISBN 978-1479707669

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

~Steve Berry, New York Times, USA Today and Internationally bestselling author

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books

AWARD-WINNING TRILOGY “Yates is a master of historical fiction.” ~Scott Skipper, Bestselling Author of the Star Trails Tetralogy Series

“Exclamations all OVER the place about this wonderful trilogy!” ~Heidi Mastrogiovanni, Screenwriter & Author of Lala Pettibone’s Act Two

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When a young man inherits two aging trunks and a stack of meticulously detailed journals penned by his great-grandfather, he sets out to fulfill his distant relative’s last request: to tell the story of an incredible life replete with adventure, violence, and tragedy.

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...books worth a closer look! The robots were good. The Russian thugs were evil. But then… It’s 2050, and self-learning, neurotrophic “Helper” androids have become invaluable aids to humans, efficiently making their lives easier. Built and trained by such companies as Helpers, Inc., the Domestic Helper robots manage their owners’ homes, run their errands….

TOPShelf magazine WARTIME COURAGE AT ITS BEST! Written with immense detail, Steve Snyder has procured a fantastic piece of historical literature. No detail is left out as it follows the timeline both before the start of the war and after. The stories of ordinary citizens going to extraordinary measures, risking their lives to save others, are a beautiful testament to human nature. This book is a must read for anyone who loves books on history or WWII.

Genre Science Fiction Price $16.95 ISBN 978-1939118240

Genre History Price $19.95 ISBN 978-0986076015

"Atmospheric and tense, with plenty of treachery and a heavy dose of history. What more could you ask for in a thriller? Take a walk on the perilous side and check this one out."

“A rewarding and eloquent ending to an epic adventure and well-lived life. This final account of Billy Battles does not disappoint”. ~Carrie Meehan- Chanticleer Reviews

~Steve Berry, New York Times, USA Today and Internationally bestselling author

Finding Billy Battles is the sweeping story of a man whose deeds and misdeeds propel him on an extraordinary and perilous journey from the untamed American West to the inscrutable Far East.

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $15.99 ISBN 978-0999117309

Genre Historical, Fiction Price $14.99 ISBN 978-1494854447

Children will fall in love with Snowman Paul! He is energetic and playful, he has big dreams and he is not afraid to be different.

"In this moving, compelling novel, a character who makes cider from a variety of different apples says 'I can’t help but feel that there’s some magic in the mixing.' Barbara Stark-Nemon reminds us this is true for families, too. Through its exploration of the many forms family can take and the possibility of new beginnings in midlife, Hard Cider is easy to love.”

Pick up your copy and join Snowman Paul and Dan in their amazing winter adventures!

~Gayle Brandies, award winning author, poet, and essayist

Genre Children’s Price $9.99 ISBN 978-0997389906

Genre Women’s Fiction Price $16.95 ISBN 978-1631524752

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America’s game… A spectacle of triumph and anguish. A pageant of violence and drama.

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And with its first female superstar…a grand experiment that may change the world!

"A perfect, conspiracyladen read. Blending organized crime, corrupt head honchos, and even a touch of sci-fi and fantasy, this futuristic thriller will appeal to a wide range of readers!" ~ Amazon Self-Publishing Review

Star Born Publishing LTD Science Fiction Available Now! 978-1643160153 newsspellcom.org

“Anyone that enjoys both sports and the struggles of athletes to always be on the top of their game, and the bloody and violent world of organized crime, this book is a must-read!" ~ International Review of Books

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...books worth a closer look! “A debut author chronicles a life spent overcoming family and physical problems, from her childhood in Michigan through her retirement from a notable career at General Motors. Wendy Sura Thomson chronicles a life spent overcoming family and physical problems, from her childhood in Michigan through her retirement from a notable career at General Motors.”

TOPShelf magazine America's game… A global spectacle of triumph and anguish. A grand pageant of violence and drama. And now with its first female superstar...a spectacular experiment that may change the world!

~Kirkus Reviews

Genre Biography & Memoirs Price $12.99 ISBN 978-1537137445

"100 Days of Terror is a gripping terrorist thriller with compelling characters, a novel that will, undoubtedly, put fans of the genre on the edge of their seats. Larry Temple is another master storyteller and 100 Days of Terror establishes his trademark in the terrorist thriller genre.” ~ Readers’ Favorite

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $27.49 ISBN 978-1643163727

By reading this book you will learn how to win the fight against your excuses; healthy habits everyone should follow; why everyone should do resistance training; the importance of cardio training; how to become a donut slayer; how to break through plateaus when you hit them and most importantly, are you ready to overcome your excuses and Make Fitness A Priority in your life… or are you too busy?

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $10.99 ISBN 978-1543196245

Genre Health, Fitness, Dieting Price $9.59 ISBN 978-0692701232

Tales of fantasy and science fiction. Follow these short tales of creatures as diverse as Feklaar, the white dragon forced to first contact with the dangerous Humans on his world, Princess Tulitara of the Unicats, who is kidnapped; and an Appaloosa Pegasus who triumphs over his insecurities as he comes of age, shown from their points of view.

College student Jen Maddox is a few days into her summer study aboard program and has loved every moment. She just left Mexico and is back on her cruise ship campus, ready to sail to Panama. Everyone tells her that the experience will change her life, but none of them realize just how right they really are.

Genre Science Fiction Price $7.50 ISBN 978-1480085503

Genre Fantasy Price $14.99 ISBN 978-1542745215

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Every person with that little voice in their head―the one that tells them to write everyday―must own this book. ~ STEVE BERRY New York Times and #1 Internationally bestselling author of The Patriot Threat

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“An exquisite exercise in psychological suspense... cut from the cloth woven by the likes of Lisa Gardner and Harlan Coben.” ~Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author of the Murder, She Wrote series

“Chilled me to the bone.” ~Julie Gray, Just Effing Entertain Me

“Amazingly well written.” ~Dr. Olivia Dsouza, Readers’ Favorite

On Australia’s island state, more than one species of Tasmanian Devil exists... Beneath the surface of Nina Holt’s perfect marriage lurks a life of terror inflicted upon her by her politically powerful husband Michael and his brother Greg, a sadistic detective. For over a decade they have managed to keep Nina imprisoned, using her to satisfy their every whim. Worse still, the only light in her life—her 9-year-old son, Sam—considers Michael a hero. When Sam imitates Michael’s violence by lashing out at her, Nina knows it is time for both of them to escape before Sam truly turns into the monster Michael is grooming him to become. After crashing her car in her haste to escape, kind motorist Case Herder offers her help. Unaware that he has his own plans for her, Nina accepts, igniting a deadly game of cat and mouse as they flee across Tasmania with Sam. As Michael and Greg relentlessly hunt them down to Cradle Mountain, Nina finds herself with nowhere left to run. Cornered, she has no choice but to face evil head-on.

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www.DarcyDaniel.com

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INTERVIEWS

interviews

main character yet another way of feeling ‘trapped’. I really hope people enjoy the book as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Darci Daniel won the 2011 Golden Acorn Excellence in Writing award for her first novel Playing the Part. She’s also won quite a few American screenwriting contests and now has a producer in LA shopping around her screenplays, including the script for The Devils’ Cradle. With family and friends––plus one rather energetic dog––close by, she enjoys country life in the picturesque, small historic town of Windsor in Sydney, Australia. Darci has loved reading her entire life and from a very early age, fell in love with many genres. However, she was drawn most of all to romance––particularly contemporary romance novels––leaving her thrilled when she won the Charter Oak Golden Acorn contest for Best Contemporary Series Romance.

THE DEVILS’ CRADLE just won the GRAND PRIZE in the 2018 TopShelf Indie Book Awards! Please, tell our readers a little about the book. Wow! Just, wow! I’m absolutely thrilled! Thank you so much! The Devils’ Cradle was an obsession. I just love all the characters and had such a great time writing not only the main character but the evil characters as well. They are so unlike me, which made it a lot of fun. I also loved setting the book in Tasmania––a place that is often overlooked when people think of Australia. It’s an amazingly beautiful place, and the fact that Tasmania is an island made it such a great location to help give my www.TopShelfMagazine.net

What new project are you working on now? I’m currently working on adapting another screenplay of mine into my next novel. I like to keep what I’m working on in the moment hush, hush, but I can say it’s about a man with a very special gift who hides away from the world until a special woman draws him out and brings love and purpose into his isolated life.

Do you write an outline or let the story go wherever it may? I’m 50/50 on this one. I do always know the ending, so that helps steer the story in the right direction. But I do love letting the characters run a little wild as it helps me get to know them better and they often come up with ideas I may never have discovered had I stuck to an outline. That being said, I know writing is re-writing, so I’m never scared to explore ideas, knowing they might be cut in a later draft.

HOLIDAY2018

AN INTERVIEW WITH TOPSHELF GRAND PRIZE WINNER DARCI DANIEL

The inspiration for The Devils’ Cradle actually came from an event that happened to my mum when I was about 10 years old. Back in the late 70’s, before mobile phones existed, my mum’s car broke down while she was driving alone in the countryside. When a car drove past, then turned around, she was relieved to have help arrive. A kind, middle-aged man with a pleasant manner offered to take her to the nearest service station. Even though he seemed friendly and harmless, she experienced a strong, instinctual feeling that something was very wrong. She suddenly remembered that the police were on the hunt for a killer who had already abducted and killed a number of women. At the time, my mum’s best friend was missing and they feared she may have been another of the killer’s victims. When my mum looked at the kind man’s car, she had the strongest feeling that her best friend’s mother was in the boot (trunk). Yet, even with all of those thoughts and warning bells whirling around in her head, she could feel herself wanting to accept his offer. Just before she agreed––and the odds of this happening out in the middle of nowhere are astounding!––a young man in a tow truck happened to drive down the same road and pull up behind her. The moment he stopped, the middle-aged man took off in a cloud of dust. The relief my mum experienced was overwhelming. She really believed that she had she gone with the middle-aged man, she’d have wound up dead. When I learnt what had happened and realized I’d been close to losing my mum, it had a big impact on me. The event stuck with me into adulthood and was the spark for The Devils’ Cradle. Of course, over time the story expanded and changed a great deal, but there’s still a smidgen of that inspiration in the novel today.

magazine

What was the inspiration behind this awardwinning novel?

Do you enjoy interacting with fans? If yes, please share some ways you do this? Yes, of course! I often receive emails and Facebook messages and enjoy responding to them.

Is there a marketing idea that you’ve tried that has yielded impressive results? I’ve tried quite a few things, especially with Amazon’s Kindle Daily Deals, all with varying degrees of success. The stand-out marketing that has beaten everything else hands-down is “BookBub”. It’s not cheap and it’s extremely competitive when it comes to being accepted for their daily newsletter. I think it took me three attempts before I was successful, but boy was it worth it! The day BookBub emailed out their newsletter to their subscribers I watched my rank on Amazon skyrocket. I managed to hit #2 in the Romantic/Suspense category, which was absolutely thrilling. No other marketing comes close.

What will you do with the prize money from winning the GRAND PRIZE? I know it’s boring, but I think I’d put the money away to help market my next novel with BookBub (if they accept it, that is!). Read more of our interview with Darci Daniel at:

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HOLIDAYEDITION2018 11

featuredspotlights

...books worth a closer look!

Pages 12 - 23 list all the Top-Placing Winners from the 2018 TopShelf Indie Book Awards! Action/Adventure (Fiction)

Action/Adventure (Non-Fiction)

A super-secret, off-the-books spy organization; a security clearance starting at Top Secret and going up from there; an attack by a giant squid during a thousand-foot dive while breathing exotic gas; a cat’s whisker escape from death during a three-day decompression––and that’s just the first two chapters of Operation Ivy Bells, before the action really gets underway.

Witty, observant, and full of cringe-worthy confessions mixed with heartwarming encouragement, Confessions celebrates both running and life. For anyone who has considered trying a marathon, an obstacle race, or simply taking up running for the first time, Ayers is your ambassador. If she can do it, you can too.

Price $17.95 ISBN 978-1533221773

Price $14.95 ISBN 978-0692920299

African/American

Animals/Pets

Three generations of women. A devastating connection. Can they endure their personal tragedies?

In the spirit of James Bowen’s bestseller A Street Cat Named Bob, The Kitty is a touching and inspiring story of heartfelt companionship that offers an uplifting perspective on what it means to find true friendship in this world. Anyone who has ever shared a meaningful connection with a pet will fall head over heels in love with Kitty and Shawn.

School of Hard Knocks is a poignant work of historical fiction. If you like sweeping sagas, politically-charged stories, and women overcoming adversity, then you’ll love Theresa Crater’s inspiring novel.

Price $17.99 ISBN 978-0997141344

Price $9.95 ISBN 978-0998788005

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books

2018 Indie Book Awards - Winner’s Circle

Winners are listed by category, in alphabetical order, for the category the book won. All winning books will be reviewed by TopShelf and will appear online or in future issues of TopShelf Magazine.

Anthology

Autobiography/Biography

Grab a cup of cocoa and make sure the windows and doors are locked tight as you settle in by the fire to enjoy these tales of terror, but be warned… locks have never succeeded at keeping Santa from gaining entry. If you enjoy a slice of horror with your holiday cheer, this collection of Christmas horror shorts will satisfy all your dark cravings during the holidays … and beyond.

Following the tumultuous and unexpected life of Zenaida Katzen. Stepping outside of the spinsterteacher archetype, Katzen’s story is one of a complicated, fiercely independent women who gave decades of unwavering dedication and commitment to the education of children across the globe–– an intriguing, unpredictable, and at times, inexplicable personal life.

Price $11.75 ISBN 978-0995976672

Price $15.00 ISBN 978-0999872406

Business

Children’s Picture Book (0 - 5 years)

Unsure how to market your book or feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of author platform options out there (or not even sure what that term means)? Ever wish someone somewhere could break it down for you in simple steps?

Snowman Paul knows that Dan has the best mom around ––but can Dan find a way to show her how he feels? A heartwarming and beautifully illustrated children’s tale perfect for Mother’s Day.

Take the 30-Day Book Marketing Challenge.

Price $12.99 ISBN 978-1981220793

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Price $15.99 ISBN 978-0999336199

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HOLIDAYEDITION2018 13

TOPShelf magazine

categorywinners Children’s Picture Book (6 years and up)

Set in a world where a Christmas tree’s star is actually a secret transmitter used by Santa Claus to identify all the active Christmas homes throughout the world, Off the Hook follows two groups of ornaments from opposite sides of their tree who must learn to work together to find their missing star before Santa passes their family’s house by!

Susannah Logan, a young student is having a very bad day. It all begins with homework trouble and an invitation to a sleepover where she doesn’t want to go. Would you want to go to a sleepover in a creepy house? Rather than dealing wither her problems, Susannah stuffs them into her backpack. But how much can the backpack take? Will she be able to confront her worries before the backpack bursts?

Price $11.99 ISBN 978-0997941708

Price $6.99 ISBN 978-1543034615

Children’s/Juvenile Non-Fiction

Christian Fiction

What if you grew up on a horse farm and your single passion was to become a championship horseback rider? The problem is, you were born with a disability. Doctors tell your parents you’ll never walk, let alone ride. What will happen next? What does her dad do to change her life? Will a failed racehorse and a handicapped girl become a winning team?

Matthew is young, successful, and dying, and about to propose to a total stranger. He needs a companion to ease his last days and a legal voice to enforce his wishes. Nurse Mikeaela is intrigued by Matt’s tender request, but as their friendly marriage turns into love, she rejects the inevitability of Matt’s death and prays for a miracle instead. The miracle she needs requires her to leave Matt at the hour of his greatest need. How far out on limb is Mikaela willing to go for love?

Price $9.99 ISBN 978-06928789894

Price $14.95 ISBN 978-0997204162

Christian Non-Fiction

Coffee Table Book/Photography

Offers solace to mothers who have faced traumatic birth and perinatal mood disorders, as well as a chorus of different voices––parents, experts, and researchers. All are singing the same song: while the U.S. has made strides in caring for new mothers, we still have far to go. Stigma silences women, and blinds those on the sidelines. Stories of others’ struggles are an antidote for stigma, because they let mothers know that they’re not alone.

Radio personality, Kathy Joy, a favorite D.J. in Colorado, turns her phrases to catch and tickle ears. Life as she knew it turned upside down when she lost her husband to sudden cardiac arrest. Yet, a creative mind kept her nudging forward. She began to notice at least three beautiful images every day. One day during a Breath of Joy exercise, Kathy Joy decided relief from grief is everywhere. Let’s celebrate it!

RUNNER UP! Price $15.95 ISBN 978-1946665003

Children’s/Juvenile Fiction

Price $19.99 ISBN 978-0999635315

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2018 Indie Book Awards - Winner’s Circle

Current Event/Social Change

E-Book Fiction

In its eight chapters, Saving Our Sons is a unique combination of powerful writing, new research, practical strategies, and passionate social advocacy that helps our nation act on behalf of boys and young men––one home, one school, and one community at a time.

A quiet little mountain town is hiding a big problem. When the townsfolk of Raven’s Peak start acting crazy, Abigail, is called upon to find out what is happening. She uncovers a demonic threat unlike any she’s ever faced and finds herself in a fight to stay alive. She rescues Haatim from a terrifying fate and discovers that he has a family legacy in the supernatural. Can they discover the cause of the town’s insanity and put a stop to it before it is too late?

Price $19.95 ISBN 978-0983995944

Price $12.49 ISBN 978-0997225976

E-Book Non-Fiction

Education/Academic Non-Fiction

Tony’s coaching methods, tools and style lead you quickly to fine-tune your values, mission purpose and goals. Rather than coaching through a scripted or preprogrammed path, Tony’s wisdom 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, to delve deeply into how you live, how you lead others and to answer questions other people in your life may never ask. Price $32.99 ISBN 978-1909623576

Price $19.95 ISBN 978-0983995944

Fantasy

First Novel 60,000 to 80,000 words

Abandoned at birth by her werewolf mother, hired as a teen by the vampire council of New York City to kill rogues, Secret McQueen is part of both worlds, but belongs to neither. At twenty-two, she has carved out as close to normal life as a bounty hunter can. When an enemy from her past returns with death on his mind, she is forced to call on every ounce of her mixed heritage to save herself––and everyone else in the city she calls home. Price $14.99 ISBN 978-1986104265

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“Martorana produces a compelling story starring an engaging hero…descriptions are strong. Both sides of the animal rights controversy are well-presented. A vet with investigative chops and his loyal coonhound make an appealing duo in this original story.” ~Kirkus Reviews

Price $13.99 ISBN 978-0998932606

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HOLIDAYEDITION2018 15

TOPShelf magazine

categorywinners

First Novel Over 80,000 words

First Novel Under 60,000 words

The Ocean is calling me. This is my Journey. With these words, in the spring of 2010, Susan scaled her world down to an 18-foot sea kayak and launched a solo journey that took her north to Alaska. Her adventure took her along the western coast of North America, through the Inside Passage––a 1,200-mile ribbon of water––in a journey of the sea and soul.

Floating into the air with an enormous gum bubble, Alvin lands in a strange world where everything is grey. Confronted with the mystery of the missing color, Alvin teams up with some unexpected friends to battle man-eating plants, outsmart the bumbling Crimson Guards, cross the Sugar Desert, overcome the two-headed dragon, and find the colorstealing goblins to restore color to the kingdom.

Price $24.95 ISBN 978-1935347576

Price $10.89 ISBN 978-1592988440

General Fiction/Novel Over 80,000 words

General Fiction/Novel Under 80,000 words

When Steve is framed for the killing of a San Francisco Supervisor he tumbles into a world where hard evidence depicts him as a misfit who turns to murder. To expose these lies Steve must make peace with a lifetime of painful truths. He travels from the piers of Sausalito to the penthouses of San Fran, with unlikely allies like Leonard the Human Statue, The Prophet of Market Street. And Liam the Fog Seller.

Lilly joins the Illustrious Minds Literary Society, an extracurricular club. What Lily doesn’t bank on are the monthly visits to the mysterious Theatre Imaginique and the theater’s enigmatic proprietor Lemarick, a showman with a frosty wit and who raises a plethora of questions in Lilly’s fearful mind. How does he levitate with no signs of wires or mirrors? Why do the lightning bolts that shoot from his hands look so real?

RUNNER UP!

Price $14.99 ISBN 978-0996781503

Price $17.99 ISBN 978-1505677553

General Non-Fiction

Gift/Speciality/Novelty Book

Award-winning author/ illustrator Rich DiSilvio presents a broad array of geniuses and heroes in a humorous and compelling fashion by altering their names and appearances, whereby making us see very familiar people in a very different way.

Price $9.59 ISBN 978-0692701232

Price $14.99 ISBN 978-0997680768

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2018 Indie Book Awards - Winner’s Circle Health/Wellness Non-Fiction Offers solace to mothers who have faced traumatic birth and perinatal mood disorders. While the U.S. has made strides in caring for new mothers, we still have far to go. Stigma silences women, and blinds those on the sidelines. Stories of others’ struggles are an antidote for stigma, because they let mothers know that they’re not alone.

Historical Fiction Bronze Medalist,

2016 Readers’ Favorite Choice Awards Young Adult (General) Fiction “A wonderful supplement to a school Civil War history lesson as well as an entertaining read any time for all ages.” ~Historical Novel Society

RUNNER UP! Price $15.95 ISBN 978-1946665003

Price $7.99 ISBN 978-0999048801

Historical Non-Fiction

Horror

As seen on the History Channel’s Ancient Alien Show!

Award-winning author R.L. Herron has created a spinetingling modern horror thriller, where John Burnett is the latest member of his family to confront the Cherokee curse laid upon his bloodline in 1838, succumbing to terrors of both mortal and supernatural.

Get ready to unlock the first written messages left in stone from an advanced civilization who transported goods in North America’s inland ancient lake systems to the world and then vanished without a trace 13,000 years ago!

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Price $29.00 ISBN 978-1939054456

Price $15.99 ISBN 978-1533120182

How-To

Humor/Comedy

In this book, award-winning motivational author and Teen Confidence Expert Jacqui Letran is going to let you in on a little secret: You have extraordinary Inner Super Powers that will help you find your own happiness, selfconfidence, and peace of mind––and it starts with you!

Meet Jayne & Phillip Miller, original homeowners on Juniper Court. He’s a successful attorney and she’s a flourishing blogger. Head over heels in love and approaching 50, their relationship needs a little jump start. It’s game on when Jayne challenges Phillip to a Relationship Resuscitation contest….

Price $14.95 ISBN 978-09976244

Price $8.00 ISBN 978-1722782993

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HOLIDAYEDITION2018 17

TOPShelf magazine

categorywinners

Inspirational Fiction

Inspirational Non-Fiction

Cody is a professional athlete, a decorated US Marine haunted by a dark military past. Brandi is a gutsy investigative journalist and single mom who has exposed a child-trafficking ring. When terrorists attempt to abduct her at a public theater, Cody, a stranger, saves her, but the violent incident unlocks the malignant demons of Cody’s past. A story of honor, courageous love and finding faith.

On New Year’s Eve 2014, 37 years into her struggle with cystic fibrosis, Rebecca went into respiratory failure and was placed on life support in a medically induced coma. Ray’s lessons related to relationship conflicts, personal motivation, and overwhelming obstacles. The serious subject matter is offset by his humor and wit as this self-proclaimed expert on “holding her purse like a man” takes you through an incredibly tough experience and what he learned from it.

Price $14.99 ISBN 978-0692857304

Price $17.97 ISBN 978-0692792100

Memoirs Historical/Legacy/Career

Memoirs - Other

Nowhere Else I Want to Be is the story of the inspiring women who transformed Marsh’s life. From Kimberly, who triumphs over a lifelong alcohol addiction, to Alyssa, who dies reaching out for the mother who abandoned her, Marsh witnesses the spectrum of human experience and the depth of the human spirit.

While the mushroom cloud of the Cold War hovered over us, my sister and I carried on as kids do regardless of world events. Since the daily minutiae of life provides the magic for memories to MUSHROOM WILDLY––feed your head my nostalgic recollections of growing up during the ‘60s counterculture.

Price $14.99 ISBN 978-1942645061

Price $11.95 ISBN 978-1978127258

Memoirs

Military

“Where Children Run is eyeopening, revolting, disturbing and, sadly true. David and Dennis agreed as teens if they survived their ordeals, they would one day tell their story. Where Children Run is their story. But it is unfortunately, the story of thousands of other abused children worldwide. Read it . . . if you dare and care.”

Winner of 20 national awards, Shot Down is set within the framework of World War II in Europe and recounts the dramatic experiences of each member of a ten man B-17 bomber crew after their plane, piloted by the author’s father, was knocked out of the sky by German fighters over the French/Belgian border on February 8, 1944.

Overcoming Adversity/Tragedy

~Viga Boland, author of No Tears for My Father

RUNNER UP! Price $18.95 ISBN 978-1543152715

Price $19.95 ISBN 978-0986076015

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books

2018 Indie Book Awards - Winner’s Circle

Motivational By reading this book you will learn how to win the fight against your excuses; healthy habits everyone should follow; why everyone should do resistance training; the importance of cardio training; how to become a donut slayer; how to break through plateaus when you hit them and most importantly, are you ready to overcome your excuses and Make Fitness A Priority in your life… or are you too busy?

Multicultural Fiction

Price $9.59 ISBN 978-0692701232

Price $10.89 ISBN 978-1592988440

Mystery

New Age

Drew Royce was a criminal turned into an evolved Nephilim creature known as a Windstalker. Now that Drew’s human again, he’s in hiding from he Windstalker that turned him. But soon his own criminal past catches up with him. Pulled by the supernatural world he was once part of, Drew has to decide whether to help his old sire, Sam, from doing more damage to the human world or lick his own wounds in hiding until proper death comes for him.

Price $14.99 ISBN 978-0996781503

Price $9.99 ISBN 978-1544713014

Novella

Parenting/Family Non-Fiction

Price $9.95 ISBN 978-0998788005

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When LeeAndra is told that her son, Ryan, is not considered “normal,” she and her family find a way to handle the outside world. Together, Chergey’s family and a team of therapists put in years of hard work, and eventually teach Ryan to speak and express emotions. Chergey follows her heart––and learns that being “normal” is not nearly as important as providing your child with a life full of joy, love, and acceptance. Price $16.95 ISBN 978-1631528286

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HOLIDAYEDITION2018 19

TOPShelf magazine

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Poetry

Regional Fiction

Have you ever loved, been loved, been confused about love, or suffered from loss of love? All these feelings have been captured and shared in the words of heartfelt poems, compiled over many years by a former teacher and awardwinning author.

You don’t always get what you want in life, and no one knows that better than Lizzie Baker. Her only wish is to go home, but in order to do so, she has to find the one light on Brown Mountain that transported her back in time from 1969 to 1859.

Price $12.50 ISBN 978-1946540560

Price $10.95 ISBN 978-0989464154

Relationship Non-Fiction

Religious Fiction

She has no name. She is not even a footnote. Her tale is hidden behind the well-told fable of her husband, the man who would become Simon Peter, the first Apostle. Peter lives on in history as the undaunted martyr of the carpenter. This is the untold story of his young bride. Her journey traverses villages and deserts, love and tradition, and a brewing revolution, to an awakening of faith that challenges everything she has ever known.

Price $9.95 ISBN 978-0998788005

Price $14.99 ISBN 978-1540310446

Romance No Erotica

Science Fiction

Would YOU help the traumatized spirit of a girl if she reached out to you from beyond the grave?

Sam, an ex-soldier who is trying to rediscover himself after twenty years of service, unwittingly stumbles upon a mysterious alien presence in rural Wales. He is drawn into a tangled web of intrigue, pitting him against forces bent on destruction and putting his life in peril. Feeling mentally eroded by his time in the army and having worked hard to overcome this, he is thrust upon an alien journey that will change his life and beliefs in a profound way.

If so, how far will you go to help her get revenge? Some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried… Pia has made a dead girl a promise. One that she is determined to keep. But is she prepared for the nightmare that’s about to be unleashed?

Price $13.99 ISBN 978-0994402943

Price $9.97 ISBN 978-1540536785

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books

2018 Indie Book Awards - Winner’s Circle Science/Nature/Environment The Balance Point is a story of a search for something so mysterious that the main character doesn’t even know what it is, or how to recognize it if he finds it. It touches on science, mathematics, economics, religion and spirituality, in a manner that is both illuminating and disturbing.

Second Novel Beneath the surface of Nina Holt’s perfect marriage lurks a life of terror inflicted upon her by her politically powerful husband Michael and his brother Greg, a sadistic detective. For over a decade they have managed to keep Nina imprisoned. After crashing her car in her haste to escape, kind motorist Case offers her help. Unaware that he has his own plans for her, Nina accepts, igniting a deadly game of cat and mouse as they flee across Tasmania. GRAND PRIZE WINNER!

Price $14.95 ISBN 978-0964425866

Price $10.98 ISBN 978-0992400408

Self-Help Non-Fiction

Short Story Fiction

Offers solace to mothers who have faced traumatic birth and perinatal mood disorders. While the U.S. has made strides in caring for new mothers, we still have far to go. Stigma silences women, and blinds those on the sidelines. Stories of others’ struggles are an antidote for stigma, because they let mothers know that they’re not alone.

“…collection of tales following Jonas Kirk on his crime-solving adventures … Dick Snyder provides and expressive, almost lyrical, narrative to the stalwart Jonas Kirk, and the intricate details of murder and crime-solving are arguably some of the best out there.” ~TopShelf Reviews

RUNNER UP!

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Price $15.95 ISBN 978-1946665003

Price $28.99 ISBN 978-1524683856

Spirituality

Suspense

Filled with story and rich with depth, Becoming Enough is a powerful opportunity for seekers everywhere to join her movement of change, shed the protective shield of judgement, and live a life of true wholeness.

Beneath the surface of Nina Holt’s perfect marriage lurks a life of terror inflicted upon her by her politically powerful husband Michael and his brother Greg, a sadistic detective. For over a decade they have managed to keep Nina imprisoned. After crashing her car in her haste to escape, kind motorist Case offers her help. Unaware that he has his own plans for her, Nina accepts, igniting a deadly game of cat and mouse as they flee across Tasmania.

RUNNER UP!

GRAND PRIZE WINNER!

Price $15.99 ISBN 978-0692875032

Price $10.98 ISBN 978-0992400408

TOPShelf magazine

HOLIDAYEDITION2018 21

TOPShelf magazine

categorywinners Thriller

Travel/Travel Guide

There are three sides to every story: Yours. Mine. And the truth…

Beautifully illustrated with more than 300 photographs from around the world, and featuring twelve magazinestyle travel narratives. The Photographing Tourist take you on a journey to remote corners of our fascinating world.

Max and Alissa have a fairy tale life––newlywed, madly in love, and enviously rich. Then Max is stabbed to death at their home and Alissa, miraculously, escapes with her life. But why was she spared?

Price $15.95 ISBN 978-1503941106

Price $29.95 ISBN 978-0996523905

Women’s Issues Non-Fiction

Women’s Literature

Brave, raw, and unflinchingly honest, this book is a weight loss journey, a love story, a heart beating loudly on the page. Every day we battle against something––injustice, our spouses, our weight. Allison doesn’t offer recipes, exercise tips, or advice. Instead, she shows us how to stand up, express what we want, and develop empathy for ourselves and the people we love.

When Noelle Cooke inherits a quaint English cottage and an art gallery from her famous Aunt Joy, she welcomes a departure from her San Diego routine. But the lure of Cotswolds, combined with a locked cottage room and a revealing journal, entice her to stay and discover more, including a way to save the gallery from financial ruin. And that means staying in England.

Price $6.99 ISBN 978-1632930903

Price $14.99 ISBN 9781940215327

Writing/Publishing Non-Fiction

Young Adult Fiction - 12 to 16 years

Daily Writing Resilience provides advice, inspiration, and techniques to help you turn roadblocks into stepping stones. These 365 meditations will help you navigate the ups-and-downs of your writing practice, creating positive habits that will guide you toward the success and fulfillment you’ve been seeking.

If you like sci-fi dystopian thrillers with a whisper of romance, a heavy dose of adventure, and action galore, then you’ll love Girl on Fire! Teens and adults alike are raving about this fast-paced Galactic saga hurtling through space and danger! Dark Matter meets The 100!

Price $19.99 ISBN 978-0738753430

Price $12.99 ISBN 978-0996624879

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books

2018 Indie Book Awards - Winner’s Circle Young New Adult Fiction - 17+ years When Alison finds herself suddenly set free in the world to build her life out of the crumbled ruins of her childhood, she must come to the terms with her own demons before she can make her way out of the chaos left by her mother’s life. Were people right to think she would follow the same road her mother travelled, or would Alison be able to forge a new path?

Price $15.95 ISBN 978-1948225243

TopShelf Finalists in Alphabetical Order Johannes Adendorff A Different Plan Eiman Al Zaabi The Art of Surrender: A Practical… Arleen Alleman Currents of Sin Millys Altman Year of the Flu David Appelbaum Notes on Water Michelle Argyle The Breakaway Eric Auxier The Last Bush Pilots Mary Ball Escape to Big Fork Lake Richard Bard No Refuge Julie Barker Hitchin’ Post Scott Baughman Rule of Thumb Mois Benarroch The Immigrant's Lament Sally Berneathy Death by Chocolate Sheena Binkley In Love With My Best Friend Murielle Bourdon Sami the Magic Bear Murielle Bourdon Sami the Magic Bear: A Trip to the Hospital Sandra Brannan In The Belly Of Jonah Joseph Brewer The Gangster's Son Don Broadwell Collaborative Leadership for Classroom and School

Lynn Byk Mister B: Living with a 98-Year-Old Rocket Scientist

Glenn Dyer The Torch Betrayal

Sheri Levy Starting Over

Karen Emilson Be Still the Water

Alexander Lukeman High Alert

Alesha Escobar Sin Eater

Lizz Lund Perfectly Pickled

Tamara Ferguson Two Hearts Surrendered

Wanda Luthman Franky the Finicky Flamingo

Tamara Ferguson Two Hearts Unbroken

Judy Martialay Bonjour! Let’s Learn French

Carl Fisher The Campfire Chronicles

Christopher McClean The Scavenger

Ashley Fontainne Ruined Wings

Stephanie McElligott The Gifts of Man

Rozsa Gaston Sense of Touch

Melissa McPhail Cephrael's Hand

Adriana Gavazzoni Lara's Journal

Clifford Michaels Harnessing Heaven

Mark Gilleo Terminal Secret

Avital Miller Healing Happens

Marilyn Gordon Healing is Remembering…

Ashley Mills Monaghan A Little Goes a Long Way

Tamara Grantham Dreamthief

Pawan Mishra Coinman: An Untold Conspiracy

Rannah Gray Familiar Evil

Margaret Mizushima Hunting Hour

Kay Harris Don’t Let Him Go

Barbara Mojica Little Miss HISTORY Travels to ELLIS ISLAND

Eboni Harris The Fourth Piece

Emma Calin Seduction of Combat

K. J. Heritage Vatic

Ryan Callaway Lights Out

Michael Hicks Thompson The Rector

Mikael Carlson The iCandidate Joan Carney Fated Memories Kristen Carson The Boxford Stories Victor Catano Tail & Trouble Michele Chynoweth The Faithful One Tom Combs Nerve Damage Brenda Cox Tethered: The Life of Henrietta Hall Shuck, the First American Woman… Sherry Crandell Destiny by Design

Rich Israel Groovin’ Anne Janzer The Workplace Writer's Process

V.S. Kemanis Love and Crime: Stories Leslee Koritzke Pour a Glass: The Wine and Drink Pairing Guide for Terrible Writing Linda Kovic-Skow French Illusions

Marc DiGiacomo In A Small Town

Jan Krulick-Belin Love, Bill: Finding My Father through Letters from World War II J.C. Lai Andurin On Virtue

Rich DiSilvio A Blazing Gilded Age

Yosef Lapid Snowman Paul… Winter Olympics

Ellie Douglas Hounded

Yosef Lapid The Amazing Snowman Duel

Tim Dreby Fighting for Freedom in America

Adriene Law I Am... Identity Crisis Undone

Edward Dreyfus Mickey and the Plowhorse

Karen Lee The Full Catastrophe

Barb Drozdowich The Author’s Guide to Book Bloggers

Gabriella Pannunzio Wild World Stephen Perkins Sorcerers' Dynasty Jana Petken The German Half-Bloods Marie Phillips Old Gent Carol Phipps WHAM!

Tonya Jewel Blessing The Whispering of the Willows

R.F. Kristi Vampires at Easter, Diary of a…

Steven Burgauer Nazi Saboteurs on the Bayou

Phillipa Nefri Clark Jasmine Sea

Tony Jeton Selimi #Loneliness

Lynne Dempsey Take the Dog Out!

Edward Dreyfus Shattered Direction

Michael Munz Zeus Is Dead

Benjamin Hylden Finding Faith in the Field

R.F. Kristi Dairy of a Snoopy Cat

Whitney Dineen She Sins at Midnight

Roz Morris Not Quite Lost

John Howell Circumstances of Childhood

Susan Daugherty Groupie

David Bruns Weapons of Mass Deception

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

TopShelf Finalists in Alphabetical Order

Christopher Leibig Almost Mortal

Michael Pronko The Last Train Garry Rogers Weeds of DeweyHumboldt, Arizona Carol Roman If You Were Me and Lived in... Ancient China Lilley Sue High Hopes Morgan Talbot Smugglers & Scones Sally Saylor De Smet Pages in the Wind Teymour Shahabi The Secret Billionaire Bob Siqveland The Vicissitudes of Fortune Ken Stark Arcadia Falls Larry Thompson The Insanity Plea Laura Vosika The Water is Wide Jeff Walton Final Departure; Death is never on time

Jacqui Letran I would, but my DAMN MIND won't let me!

TOPShelf magazine

Douglas Wells How We End Up

HOLIDAYEDITION2018 23

Two Friends Three Conspirators One Night

VENGEANCE HAS WINGS! THE LIAHONA EFFECT

Set in present-day Raleigh, North Carolina, Shrike is the story of one young woman's overcoming tremendous physical, emotional and logistical adversity to defeat evil incarnate. When Taryn Spire and her best friend learn that some banking executives plan a cybercrime to embezzle funds from the North Carolina State Fair, the adventure begins. A botched attempt by the perpetrators to silence them permanently leads to a dramatic transformation for Taryn - watching a television program featuring a video clip of a shrike with its prey destines her to become a crime fighter. With the help and the love of an unlikely ally (a motorcycle salesman), Taryn, as her alter ego, dispenses a unique type of justice. Crime Fiction – 978-1618421937

Available Now!

book announcements

The Coven Rescue Mar 23, 2019 – $11.99

The Alchemy of the Seven Harmonies 9780999803622 – Paperback – Jan 1, 2019 Inspirational, Self-Help – $14.99 Will help to transform negative issues into positive actions adding health, abundance, and love with joy and peace in your life.

Remnants of Ash 1790391504 – Jan 26, 2019 – $2.99

The Wondrous Wandering Acrobats 9780998232379 – April 1, 2019

Gracie’s Gone 9780578420370 – Feb 9, 2019 – $15.99

Alien Minds 9781945723599 – April 23, 2019 – $13.95

The Alchemy of the Seven Harmonies 9780964185487 – eBook – Jan 1, 2019 Inspirational, Self-Help – $4.99 Will help to transform negative issues into positive actions adding health, abundance, and love with joy and peace in your life.

Alice’s Wish 9781790547746 – Feb 13, 2019 – $13.99 Of Darkness Born 9780995283282 January 31, 2019 Crime/Horror $32.00 Four mysterious murders, one inexperienced FBIagent. What could go wrong?

The Lights of Alexandria 9780997646146 – Jan 3, 2019 – $11.99 Whatever It Takes 9780997735178 – Jan 8, 2019 – $9.99 Temptation B07KX6GWRD – Jan 8, 2019 – $3.99

The Workhouse Restaurant Mysteries Mar 1, 2019

Bitter Sweet Hell B07JDFCL18 – Jan 10, 2019 – $3.99

Winterset Mar 1, 2019 – $16.99

The Disappeared 9781912604746 – Jan 10, 2019 – $7.99

Past In Shadows Mar 1, 2019 – $16.99

Sky Parlor 9781641368100 – May 2019 Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Thriller– $24.99 Since the dawn of man, two ancient gods have waged war. In the future, Sky Parlor will be the final battlefield.

HOLIDAY2018

Strength for the Disheartened B07L47VRVL – Jan 18, 2019 – $0.99

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Murder on the Red Ball Express 9780463142752 – Jan 1, 2019 – $2.99

TOPShelf

2019 RELEASES

Big Red 9781939844606 – May 14, 2019 – $18.95 Next of Kin 9781785659133 – June 4, 2019 Crime Fiction/Mystery – $14.95 Hounded by Hate September 4, 2019 Paranormal Suspense – $10.95 Sarah is haunted by a recurring dream. But when she discovers it’s not a dream, she and her basset hound, Hanna, set out to find resolution. Escondida Spring 2019 – $9.99

The Treasure of the Sun God 9780997646153 – Jan 17, 2019 – $11.99 Cold Betrayal 9781684331963 January 17, 2019 Suspense – $19.95 Tori’s well-intentioned quest leads her through a maze of deception and duplicity as she fights for her life against an unexpected opponent.

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Music Boxes 9781939844569 – Mar 5, 2019 – $12.95 Short Stories III 9780998337586 March 15, 2019 Sci-Fi/Fantasy – $11.99 From the vivid imagination of multiaward-winning author/ artist Rich DiSilvio comes a spellbinding collection of strange, weird and Sci-Fi tales.

Stardusk Summer 2019 – $9.99 Target London TBA 2019 Suspense/Mystery – $19.95 Intelligent. Beautiful. Deadly. British SIS Intelligence Officer Hannah Ahmed is all this, and more.

TOPShelf magazine

HOLIDAYEDITION2018 25

“A heartfelt feel-good Christian novel with the perfect mix of mystery, romance, fear and love, and just the right amount of verse.”

Murder on the Red Ball Express

~ TopShelf Reviews

Full

FALSE IMPRESSIONS To escape the heartbreak of her broken engagement, Tabitha accepts a new job in Texas. But when she meets Page her newAd  employer, the last thing she wants is to take the position––it’s an experience she prays to forget, and she questions why God would allow her path to cross with the infamous Michelli mob family. Tabitha decides to make the best of the situation and elects to keep her distance from the family until she fulfills her contract and can escape Texas. However, the charming grandson of her new boss is unlike any man she has met, touching her in ways she cannot begin to understand. But this intoxicating rebel in black can’t possibly be good for her––can he?

978-1498451796

DESTINY BY DESIGN

Tabitha drags her friend Trish into her boss’s inner-family circle, and introduces her to a strangely familiar man with rogue good looks, unknowingly reopening a part of her friend’s life long past left behind. Diego’s green eyes lure Trish in. The charming grandson of Tabitha's boss who holds all of Dallas in his hands, is far from the kind of man she was looking for. Riddled with fear of ghosts from her past, Trish can’t help but feel scared and just a tad bit reluctant to jump into Diego's world. Trish turns to prayer and faith for guidance and strength. Will Trish overcome her fears and trust this charming stranger? Or will Diego's dark past––as well as her own––prove too frightening?

9 7 8 -1

5456

1920

www.SherryCrandellBooks.com

Interview rewinds

You host Brad Metzler’s Lost History on H2 that enlists America’s help in finding lost and stolen historical artifacts. What are some of the most prominent artifacts recovered from doing that show?

Brad Meltzer is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Inner Circle, The Book of Fate, and nine other bestselling thrillers including The Tenth Justice, The First Counsel, The Millionaires, and The President’s Shadow. His newest book is The Escape Artist, out March 6. In addition to his fiction, Brad is one of the only authors to ever have books on the bestseller list for Non-Fiction (History Decoded), Advice (Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter), Children’s Books (I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln) and even comic books (Justice League of America), for which he won the prestigious Eisner Award. He is also the host of Brad Meltzer’s Lost History on H2 and Brad Meltzer’s Decoded on the History Channel. The Hollywood Reporter recently put him on their list of Hollywood’s 25 Most Powerful Authors. Now, on with our discussion.

Six years ago (and I believe, again, just recently) you went on a USO trip to entertain our troops in the Middle East. What was that like? Humbling. Years ago, I went to the Middle East with the USO, then a few months back, I took another trip to entertain our troops. And that’s where I first learned about Dover and the morticians who take care of those who are on top-secret missions for the government. In their building, as you see in the book, they make sure our most honorable soldiers are shown the dignity and respect they deserve. In addition, the people there know details about hidden missions that almost no one in the world will ever hear about. Dover is a place

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Please explain a little about the wonderful children’s books you’ve written and what prompted you to write them The series was born because I was tired of my daughter thinking that reality TV stars and people who were famous for being famous were heroes. I tell my kids all the time: That’s fame. Fame is different than being a hero. I wanted my kids to see real heroes… and real people no different than themselves. We started with I AM AMELIA EARHART and I AM ABRAHAM LINCOLN. But each book tells the story of the hero when THEY were a kid. We see them as children. So it’s not just Amelia Earhart and Abraham Lincoln being famous—it’s them being just like us. We’ve since done everyone from Rosa Parks, Albert Einstein, Jackie Robinson, Lucille Ball, Helen Keller, Martin Luther King, Jr., Gandhi, George Washington, Jane Goodall, Sacagawea, Harriet Tubman…and next is I am Neil Armstrong, out in September. We all need heroes today.

It’s been about twenty years since the publication of your first book. Is there anything you know today that you wish you had known back then? I’d tell me to just stay honest with myself. Don’t be afraid to be flawed. My first few years as a writer, in every interview I gave, I said everything was okay. All great. Just thankful to be here. And I was thankful. But I was terrified to show anything wrong––as if, if I complained, it’d all go away. Now, I realize we’re all flawed. We’re all terrified

As you know, TopShelf Magazine reaches a broad spectrum of readers. However, our primary target remains booksellers and librarians. We enjoy picking the minds of authors who’ve been successful for a while, acquiring tidbits along the way that could prove beneficial to independent booksellers. Is there a marketing strategy that you’ve seen used by booksellers that has impressed you or that you know has been successful, and why?

The only reason I’m here today is because of librarians. Years ago, we didn’t have money for books. I had a library card. The librarian told me: This is your section. I thought she literally meant: These books are yours. But that woman changed my life. A few years back, I tried to track her down and say thank you. I couldn’t find her. As for strategies, the only other reason I’m here is because of booksellers. When my first book came out, it was booksellers who read it. They were the ones who built it and found it and told people. I will never stop saying thank you. It’s funny, I STILL get people who come to events and tell me: I was a bookseller when your first book came out, and you came into my store and were so nice, and I’ve supported you ever since. I owe you all forever.

HOLIDAY2018

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH BRAD MELTZER

I don’t think we’ll ever top finding the missing 9/11 flag from Ground Zero. That was our very first episode and four days after it aired, a man walked into a fire station in Everett, Washington and said, “I saw the show Lost History and I need to bring this back.” We were blown away. We spent a year working with scientists and former FBI members. Today, the flag is on display at the 9/11 Museum in New York. Go see it. It’s proof heroes still exist.

and bold and scared and amazing. All of us. All in the same day. Let it all exist.

magazine

full of mysteries…and surprises…and more secrets than you can imagine. As someone who writes thrillers, it was the perfect setting for a mystery. Plus, in today’s world, we need real heroes. The people here are the real deal.

TOPShelf

INTERVIEWS

Readers love getting to know their favorite authors. In fact, sometimes understanding more about an author can develop a lasting bond that’s very difficult to break. Is there anything you could share with us about yourself that isn’t already well known, something that may entice readers who haven’t picked up a Brad Meltzer book to give you a try? I know my core belief. I believe ordinary people change the world. I don’t care how much money you make or what your job title is. That’s nonsense to me. Why? Because my family grew up with so little and gave me so much. I became the first in my family to go to a four-year college because my dad took out 20 different credit cards and sunk himself into debt. So he could help me. He and my Mom were as ordinary people as can be––and proof that there’s no such thing as an ordinary person. Read more of our interview with Brad Meltzer at:

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

TOPShelf magazine

HOLIDAYEDITION2018 27

featuredspotlights

...books worth a closer look! WHAT WOULD YOU GIVE UP FOR IMMORTALITY? More seductive than sex. More addictive than any drug.

More precious than gold. And one man is willing to sacrifice it all to get it.

TOPShelf magazine Daisy Burns was a likable, devoted wife and mother who spent her spare time volunteering at school events. Everyone loved Daisy. So, why would someone shoot her three times and dump her body behind a Planned Parenthood clinic in North Carolina?

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $14.99 ISBN 978-1641368117

Genre Mystery, Thriller Price $14.99 ISBN 978-0692046685

Amsterdam Exposed tells the true one-of-a-kind story of an innocent exchange student who moves to Amsterdam hoping to write a book. It’s an American abroad story, and also a love story; it’s an uplifting tragedy, full of humor from beginning to end; it’s an Amsterdam survival guide; a sympathetic look at a societal problem; a little piece of policy; a sweet farewell to a world just about gone; and ultimately, as close as you can to a free trip to Amsterdam without leaving your couch.

Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong takes on a gang of neo-Nazis in Strong to the Bone, an actionpacked novel of the critically acclaimed Caitlin Strong series by Jon Land. Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong, finds herself pursuing the killer her father never caught in the most personal case of her career––a conspiracy stretching from the Nazi POW camp to modernday neo-Nazi gang.

Genre Speciality Travel Price $12.95 ISBN 978-0999355909

Genre Action & Adventure Price $26.99 ISBN 978-0765384645

Inspired by true events. Grace in Mombasa is a story about a women with amazing faith that is shattered when her life falls apart, but will God simply let her go? If you like heartfelt dialogue, stories seeped in fact and history, and memorable characters, then you’ll love Tracy Traynor’s moving and inspirational novel.

When Jewel and her friends are needed in South America, they discover a malevolent enemy zeroing in on her. How can they stop him? In their search for answers, they find unlikely allies as strange as the interplanetary races they’ve already met. Will their combined efforts be enough to rescue Jewel from a fate that would doom the planet to selfdestruct? In this exciting sequel to Triton’s Call, more prophecies are revealed, but if even one of the four is unable to help, all hope is lost.

Genre Religious Fiction Price $9.73 ISBN 978-0995687998

Genre Science Fiction Price $16.99 ISBN 978-1981237722

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books

Learn to #CHILL with this inspirational meditation guidebook and achieve the healthy work/life balance you deserve. “Bryan Robinson saved my life. He is a leading-edge voice in the listed in worldFinalists of work addiction recovery. alphabetical order  The meditations are chock full of warm and powerful wisdom, guidance, and empathy. On a personal level, I am grateful for how they have helped me on my own journey of recovery.” ~Alanis

Morissette singer/songwriter

Good health and happiness depend on the proper balance of private and professional life. In today’s hectic environment we must do more in less time and with fewer resources. Goals can feel impossible to attain. We spend all our time at the office rather than being with our families. We work well into the night and even on weekends, perfecting that presentation or just trying to catch up. Under the constant pressure to over-perform, work quickly becomes the dominant force in our lives. Stopping this cycle is difficult. But there is a solution. Licensed psychotherapist and professor Bryan Robinson explains how ending the cycle of work addiction can be achieved. Filled with wise advice, inspiring quotes, and gentle guidance, #CHILL provides the tools needed to quiet our anxiety, break our addiction to work, and bring compassion, calm, confidence, and creativity to our daily lives.

Self-Help, Motivational 978-0062896018 Available January 2019

www.BryanRobinsonBooks.com

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Interview rewinds

AN INTERVIEW WITH NY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR, STEVE BERRY Steve Berry was born and raised in Georgia and graduated from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. He was a trial lawyer for 30 years and held elective office for 14 of those years. He is a founding member of International Thriller Writers—a group of nearly 4,000 thriller writers from around the world—and served three years as its co-president. Steve is a New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of 16 novels, 12 of which are Cotton Malone adventures. His books have been translated into 40 languages with over 21,000,000 copies sold in 51 countries. History lies at the heart of all of Steve Berry’s books. It’s a passion, one he shares with his wife, Elizabeth, which led them to create History Matters, a foundation dedicated to historic preservation. Since 2009 they’ve crossed the country to save endangered historic treasures, raising money via lectures, receptions, galas, luncheons, dinners and their popular writers workshops. To date, over 3,000 students have attended those workshops. All totaled, they’ve raised a million dollars for preservation. Steve Berry has had more than a few awards come his way. In 2012 and 2013 he was recognized by the American Library Association, which named him its spokesperson for National Preservation Week. Among other honors are the Royden B. Davis www.TopShelfMagazine.net

It’s something that has to be worked at every day. Of course the most important thing for any writer is to produce the best work they can. Writing the book is the one thing a writer has total control over. So I pour most of my efforts into just that. Whether or not I succeed is a matter of debate, but I do try as hard as I can. You can never forget that being a commercial fiction writer is a constant endeavor, a full time job. You have to give it your full attention.

Is there a marketing idea you've seen bookstores do that stands out as particularly successful? The most successful marketing that stores do is working their customer base through email, newsletters, and personal contact, making sure those folks stay customers, participate in store activities, and buy their books. The most successful independent stores around the country follow this religiously.

What is the biggest mistake you have seen a bookstore make? My favorite is from about nine years ago. My book was chosen as a President’s Pick at Books-A-Million. Being selected entailed lots of free placement, marketing, co-op, and promotion at all of the Books-A-Million stores. Stuff they pay for. Talk about wonderful. At the same time Books-AMillion produced a monthly publication that it gave away in all its stores (which they also pay for). It was a newspaper like publication that highlighted what was for sale in the stores for that month. Inside that publication was a review on my novel, thrashing it. So, on the one hand the company paid lots of money in marketing and promotion to sell the book then, on the other, more money to print a review that said the books wasn’t all that good. Talk about absurd.

Promotion is paramount. They have to work their customer base and generate interest in the writers that are taking the time to come to store for an event. No promotion, no successful event. It’s that simple. Everything else springs from that.

Have you ever been part of a writers workshop or group? Was it helpful? Or a waste of time? Any advice for writers looking to start or join one?

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Please explain to aspiring authors and booksellers just how much work is required, even as a traditionally published bestselling author, to maintain your level of success?

Do you have advice for independent bookstores on how they can organize successful events in their stores?

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Distinguished Author Award; the 2013 Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award given by Poets & Writers; the 2013 Anne Frank Human Writes Award; and the Silver Bullet, bestowed in 2013 by International Thriller Writers for his philanthropic work. He currently serves on the Smithsonian Libraries Advisory Board. A 2010 NPR survey named The Templar Legacy one of the top 100 thrillers ever written.

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INTERVIEWS

I would not be a published writer today except for the writers group I attended for 6 years back in the 1990s. It was a brutal experience, but that’s where I learned how to teach myself the craft of writing. Writers groups are wonderful, if they work. Finding the right one is a matter of trial and error. I’ve heard many horror stories about bad ones. I was fortunate to stumble into a great one. I would encourage all writers to try and either create or find a good writers’ group. In my time, we had to do it all face-to-face. But, today, it can be done on-line with Facetime, Skype, and email with writers all around the world.

What’s the most important thing a bookstore can do for an author to promote sales? Obviously, every book cannot be front and center. That’s right, which is why placement in stores has to be purchased. It’s called co-op and publishers pay dearly for it. Placement is important. No question. As in real estate, in the book business three things are critical: location, location, location. But word-of-mouth from booksellers helps too. And just not in the independents. The chains can contribute there too. Hiring people who are readers, who actually know something about the product they are dealing with, definitely helps.

What advice could you give to an author about dealing with failure? There’s a saying, When you’re walking through hell, keep going. And that’s what you have to do. Keep moving ahead. Never quit. It took me 12 years and 85 rejections to finally be published. I’m living proof it can be done. Read more of our interview with Steve Berry at:

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

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featuredspotlights

...books worth a closer look!

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Forever Maude is the third book of The Dear Maude Trilogy. Thrust into the mysterious world of time travel, Emily learns to survive by baring her soul and secrets within the pages of a journal she addresses to her greatgreat-aunt, Maude, and by losing her heart in a romance that knows no boundaries, including time.

She wants a normal life. They want her dead. Alayna receives visions around water, but even her foresight couldn’t prepare her for the tragic accident that claimed the lives of her parents. With everything she loves gone, Alayana packs up and moves to the small town of Juniper Grove in hopes of starting over. Love blossoms, challenges are made, and Alayna will find herself fighting not only to survive, but to understand what she has become.

Genre Romance Price $14.99 ISBN 978-1544939940

Genre Romance Price $12.99 ISBN 978-1500769048

A Blazing Gilded Age is the epic story of a volatile nation burning with ambition, yet bleeding with injustice. It was a time of profound change; boldly transforming from an agrarian backwater into an industrial powerhouse.

Forget what you thought you knew about history, religion, politics, science, and the media–– Sorcerers’ Dynasty just might make you rethink everything!

Genre Action & Adventure Price $34.95 ISBN 978-0981762562

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $14.99 ISBN 978-1641368117

Craven Falls, OH, is a small town––a town where everyone knows almost everyone else and where nothing ever happens, until one day two children disappear. Ashley is a single mom to Lily. Ashley receives a call from her best friend, Carla, that takes her out of town. Upon her return, Ashley learns that her Lilly was abducted. A family pulls together in a time of need, but what happens when those close to you are hiding behind twisted secrets?

What if God's most closely guarded secret fell into the wrong hands?

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $12.99 ISBN 978-1541108097

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $28.99 ISBN 978-1946865007

The Prophet crucified in a sacred grove… A millennia-old secret about to be exposed… A holy relic capable of destroying the world with a single touch…

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books

Interview rewinds

Do you read reviews left by readers? If so, how do you deal with the good, the bad, and the ugly?

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH AMERICA’S #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR, R.L. STINE In case you’ve been living under a rock and haven’t heard of the legendary R.L. Stine, I’ll give you a very brief rundown. Robert Lawrence Stine is one of, if not the most famous author of children’s literature in the entire world. Often called America’s #1 Bestselling Author, R.L. Stine created the iconic children’s horror series Goosebumps, and hundreds of bestselling books for kids, teens, and adults alike––including the wildly successful teen series Fear Street, which has sold over 80-million copies worldwide. Now, with that out of the way, let’s dive right into my discussion with R.L. Stine:

You’re so well known and beloved around the world. What would you like our readers to know about you that perhaps isn’t so well-known? People think if you’re a horror writer, your whole life involves horror. I think many would be surprised to know that I have a subscription to the Metropolitan Opera and also am a big ballet and theater fan. You can’t be scary ALL the time!

In an interview with thisweeknews.com, you said, “I think anyone who opens a new independent bookstore these days is a hero.” We couldn’t agree more. How do you feel about the future of the independent bookstore industry? I’m optimistic about the book industry altogether. Despite all the entertainment distractions, more people are reading these www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Of all the series you’ve created (Goosebumps, Fear Street, The Haunting Hour, Mostly Ghostly, Nightmare Room, etc.) which has been your personal favorite to write? Goosebumps. Because the seven-twelve-year-old audience is the best audience in the world. I get my readers the last time in their lives they will ever be enthusiastic about an author.

Do you still go on book tours? If yes, how might an independent bookstore participate in one? I’ll be touring a lot this year because it is the 25th anniversary of Goosebumps. Do you believe it—25 years of these books? In September, I have a picture book—Mary McScary—that I did with Marc Brown of Arthur fame, and Marc and I will be touring for that. To arrange an author appearance, it’s best to contact the publicity dept. at Scholastic in NYC or the Simon & Schuster speakers bureau, also in NYC.

Do you have a favorite conference that you attend? If so, which one? I go to ThrillerFest in NYC every summer. I’m on the board of the International Thriller Writers, the only board I’ve ever been on in my life. I also try to do a lot of book festivals. The annual one in Tucson is a favorite of mine, and I love the Texas Book Festival in Austin.

Rainy Night Theater. How cool... Can you tell us a little about this feature on your website and what inspired you to start it? I’ve been a fan of radio drama all my life. I still listen to the great shows of the 40s and 50s. I thought it would be fun to do some short, creepy radio plays and have them dramatized by New York actors. These are for kids and adults to listen to in the dark. My son Matt is a sound designer for theater productions, and he produced the ten short scary plays at rlstine.com.

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Here’s the best review I ever got on Amazon: A 5-star Review— “The packaging was very good. And it was very easy to open.” My favorite review!

used in classrooms or by anyone who thinks it might be useful. Some of the questions covered: How to get ideas? How to avoid writer’s block? How to revise? There are many writing projects for students included. I hope a lot of people try it out.

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days, especially young people. Trade book sales actually went up in 2016. When I started in children’s publishing, it was a tiny little business, a few desks at the back of a publishing house. Now it’s a billion-dollar industry. Someone has got to be reading all those books. I’m so happy to see new independent stores opening all the time.

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INTERVIEWS

Switching gears. Our readership is primarily booksellers, librarians, and authors. My next few questions are focused on how you, as an experienced author, could help them. How much work is required, even for an author as yourself, to maintain your current level of success? I spend a lot of time on social media, mainly because I enjoy it. Twitter is a wonderful medium for keeping in touch with my original 90s readers. I hear from them all the time, and it’s very rewarding. I also do a lot of marketing on Twitter and Facebook, telling people about my new books. I think it’s smart to be where your readers are.

Are there any marketing strategies you've seen bookstores use that stand out as successful? Bookstores who build good relationships with nearby schools have led to very successful appearances for me. So many bookstores have good mailing lists now, so they can alert their customers when an author is visiting.

What’s the most important thing a bookstore can do for an author to promote sales? Obviously, every book cannot be front and center.

You have this fantastic writing program for think the key is knowledgeable salespeople teachers and librarians. Could you please take a Iwho can guide readers to books they will moment to explain a little about the program? enjoy and help them make new discoveries. This is a 16-page writing program with all my writing tips and secrets. It can be downloaded from rlstine.com for free and

Read more of our interview with R.L. Stine at: www.TopShelfMagazine.net

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featuredspotlights

...books worth a closer look!

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Decrypto is the key to opening the door to changing your life. You will gain in-depth understanding of your thoughts, emotions and life, as you discover what is happening to you and why. Your newfound self-awareness will empower you to make positive and longlasting changes, to create the life you are longing for. Be inspired to find a new direction as you ignite the passion to follow your dreams.

Genre Self-Help, Motivational Price $15.00 ISBN 978-0648299004

Genre Romance Price $8.00 ISBN 978-1722782993

Based on personal experiences by the Wall Street Journal and Amazon #1 bestselling military thriller author Jeffrey Wilson, War Torn is an inspirational novel that details a young man's crisis of faith after a tour of combat duty in Afghanistan turns tragic.

Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and the protest era of the early 1970s, a gripping novel of a power, corruption, injustice, courage, and hope––and one tenacious you man whose determination to overturn the system holds unexpected consequences for his own life.

Genre General Fiction Price $14.99 ISBN 978-1724010964

Genre General Fiction Price $16.95 ISBN 978-0999066546

Once the virus strips away everything remotely human, all that’s left is a mindless savage predator. Hank thought he had nothing to lose, but now he is all that stands between a young girl and a gruesome fate. But the virus isn’t done yet. A new, deadlier terror is slowing emerging, and even as Mason and Mackenzie battle their way from one horror, they both know their time is running out. The girl is already blind, and things are about to get a lot worse.

This book is a compendium of expert advice layered with my personal journey of taking care of my parents. It offers invaluable resources on everything from scams perpetrated against older people, handling grief, children boomeranging back home, raising our grandchildren, the transition from being a CEO to retiring, and charting our course as we “baby boomers” become the “next” generation.

Genre Science Fiction Price $11.95 ISBN 978-1925493085

Genre Parenting, Aging Parents Price $13.99 ISBN 978-1525527302

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books

“Brings heart to the Great Depression.”

~J. Kelly Poorman, Writer & Amazon.com Verified Purchase

HOLES IN MY SHOES, a heart-warming story of one family’s experiences during the Great Depression, reveals the resilience of the human spirit. Hope, faith and humor were ever-present as families shared all that they had and fed homeless people at their doorsteps. Breon’s collection of personal childhood experiences embodies the power of love, family, and friendship during the nation’s desperate decade.

Historical Biography 978-1479707669 Available Now!

www.AliceBreon.tsmag.co

Those who don't learn from the past, are doomed to face it. Full Page Ad

History believes me to be a merciless savage. A terror upon the Earth known as The Impaler. Archaic lore whispers I am the first of the vampire lineage. These claims ... are all painted in bloody truth. Now, while the world watches in fear, a war is brewing. Humans are targeting vampires in merciless attacks to force us back into the shadows. They woke me to be their weapon. They know not my loathing for my own kind. Even I cannot say for certain whose side I’m on. I have bowed before the alter of darkness rooted in the Nosferatu bloodline. Been forced to drink of its bitter sacrament. They refer to me as The Son of The Dragon, and I laugh. For I, alone, know that malevolent essence is one no man could ever tame.

Genre: Fantasy ISBN - 978-1731435828 Available Now!

www.staceyrourke.com

Interview rewinds

You were once a weather-caster and TV reporter before becoming a bestselling author. What inspired your career move? I got fired. That’s the absolute truth. I was working at the ABC affiliate in Dallas and did the weather casting every once in a while, but I also worked on a show called PM Magazine. It was a nationally syndicated program, and I was one of the local contributors. I can assure you I was not a threat to Diane Sawyer. It was a partwww.TopShelfMagazine.net

What’s the most important thing a bookstore can do to promote an author? Obviously everyone can’t be front and center. I think a lot of bookstores are doing exactly what they are there for is to read the books. There’s nothing worse than a clerk who you ask if they carry somebody and their a bestselling author and they go I’m not sure. You think to yourself this person is clueless, they should be selling tires or t-shirts or something like that. They should know their stuff. Really good independent book stores and the die hards, like Barnes and Noble and other chain stores, who really read the books they sell and are there for the love of it. They’re worth their weight in gold to an author because they will recommend. I met a young women not too long ago at a Barnes and Noble signing and she said I have recommended your books for so many years to so many readers.

To help budding authors, how much time and money do you spend marketing your books?

HOLIDAY2018

Sandra Brown is the author of sixtynine New York Times bestsellers, including Seeing Red, Sting, Friction, Mean Streak, Deadline, Low Pressure, Lethal, and the critically acclaimed Rainwater. Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into thirty-three languages. Brown recently was given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University. She was named Thriller Master for 2008, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer's Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America's Lifetime Achievement Award. Now, on with our discussion.

The best thing that a bookseller can do for an author is to read the book and recommend it one on one, word of mouth. You can do Twitter, you can pay a fortune in advertising and still a good book, a really good book, is going to be found by word of mouth. My sister and niece were over the house this morning and over coffee that’s all we did. We talked about books. What we had read and what we wanted to read. We were all writing down suggestions. The best way a good book is going to be found is through readers.

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AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SANDRA BROWN

time job; I went in a couple of days a week and recorded my segments. It was a great creative outlet and a break from being the wife and mom, but as sometimes happens in broadcasting, everybody on our crew got dismissed when they brought in all fresh faces. It left me without anything to do, and I looked around. All of my peers in the neighborhood were playing bridge and having cookie bake exchanges. They did this, and they did that, and I was like, this is not going to be the sum total of my life. So my husband, God bless him, said you’ve always told me you wanted to write and you have the time and opportunity now to do it, something you can do at home. So we set up a card table with an electronic typewriter on it, and that’s when I began. But I think, you know, I was rather crushed when I was dismissed at the television job, but it turned out to be the very best thing that could ever happen to me. Sometimes blessings come in disguise; you think it's going to turn out terrible, or it's the worst thing that can happen, but it turns out to be the best thing that can happen. I don’t know that if I just hobbled along doing part time work like that, that I would have ever plunged into writing.

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INTERVIEWS

Spend your time writing your book. This advice came to me from my editor. Even back in the caveman days of my career, I would worry––this author is having bookmarks printed up and taking them to the people who drive the trucks loaded with books to the airport. I didn’t think I was doing enough of that, you know getting out there, and I was really concerned about it. So, I’d ask questions, like, how much money should I devote, and she said if you get the world’s attention you better have something good to say. She’d say write a good book and then you can worry about promoting. Don’t put the cart before the horse. To this day, when I’m sitting here doing Twitter and Facebook and everything I think … how much thought have I given a manuscript today balanced against how much thought and creativity have I put into this? Which is more important? The book has to take priority because no matter how much you promote something if it’s crap, you’ve only promoted crap. The best thing I can do for myself and my fans is to write the best book I can write. So if that means not doing so many signings, if that means not doing so many speeches, that’s still the best thing I can do for my readers––is to focus on the book. Read more of our interview with Sandra Brown at: www.TopShelfMagazine.net

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HOLIDAYEDITION2018 37

featuredspotlights

...books worth a closer look! When Trish is dragged along to mingle with Tabitha’s new boss and his family, she is introduced to a strangely familiar man with rogue good looks. Diego holds all of Dallas in his hands. It will take all the faith, prayer, and patience Trish can muster as she straddles the line between the Michelli family and everyone else. Will Trish overcome her fears and learn to trust Diego? Or will Diego’s past prove too strong of a pull for him to leave behind?

12-year-old Jake has been suppressing his heartbreak over the loss of his mother for the past four years. But his emotions have a way of haunting his dreams and bubbling to the surface when he least expects it. When Jake learns how to take control in his dreams, he becomes a lucid dreamer, and that’s when the battle really heats up. This uncompromising novel is a magical yet honest exploration of emotional healing after a devastating loss.

Genre Christian Romance Price $16.49 ISBN 978-1498451796

Genre Coming of Age Price $11.99 ISBN 978-8494878701

An artifact gone missing. A jungle full of clues. Can one cat detective save a national treasure?

Even in Darkness tells the story of Klare Kohler, whose early years as a dutiful daughter of a prosperous German-Jewish family hardly anticipate the often harrowing lives she faces as and adult - a saga of family, a lover, two world wars, a concentration camp, and the unconventional life Klare builds in post-war Germany. As the world changes around her, Klare’s choices cross boundaries in order to protect the peoples she loves - and to save herself.

Serendipity Mystery is the 7th standalone book in the Diary of a Snoopy Cat series, which is purrfect for kids ages 7-12. If you and your child like new cultural experiences, animal detectives, and tales of teamwork, then you’ll love R.F. Kristi’s globetrotting adventures.

Genre Children’s Price $9.99 ISBN 978-0998429137

Genre Religious Fiction

GOLD MEDAL WINNER International Book Contest

~Nellie Laurie

What links the two largest Texas Universities to the disappearance of Laredo ATF agent, Stuart Dyson? When the investigation stalls, FBI Tracker Adrian Dillard is sent to Texas to find out why. Plagued by the resentment from local agents, his uncanny intuition kicks into high gear when every lead ends with a dead body. Who knows more than they are telling? Is the missing agent an unwitting victim, or a deadly mastermind? And who is staying ahead of him?

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $29.95 ISBN 978-0981762586

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $12.99 ISBN 978-0996838566

“This is a masterfully written novel, sure to be a bestseller. The author, Rich DiSilvio, knows how to weave a story that intricately develops the characters and progresses the plot in a way that leaves no cracks for anything to slip through. A highly recommended read for any fan of this genre.

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Price $16.95 ISBN 978-1631529566

A Comprehensive Bookseller’s Guide to TopShelf Authors & Books

Interview rewinds

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH JAMES ROLLINS JAMES ROLLINS is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers, translated into more than forty languages. His Sigma series has been lauded as one of the "top crowd pleasers" (New York Times) and one of the "hottest summer reads" (People Magazine). In each novel, acclaimed for its originality, Rollins unveils unseen worlds, scientific breakthroughs, and historical secrets––and he does it all at breakneck speed and with stunning insight. I had the honor of speaking with James and here is some of what he had to say.

A recurring theme in your novels seem to be the advancement of technology and how it affects us. What are your personal views on this advancement? As a veterinarian myself, I’ve always loved science, medicine, and technology, especially anything that’s cutting edge and new. In my books, it’s not so much the cogs and wheels of that new bit of science that intrigues me as it is where that technology might be heading and how it might affect our lives—good or bad. The rapid advancement of such technologies often challenges the moral compasses of society and to have that mirrored by my characters during their adventures adds that touch of relevancy to a novel. At least, I hope it does. I always love to hear from readers who have been intrigued by something I raise in one of the books and gone on ahead and pursued their own investigation into those subjects. www.TopShelfMagazine.net

Obviously, not every book can be displayed front and center in a bookstore. But, let's say you had the ability to help your favorite bookstore merchandise your latest novel. How might you ensure that your book isn't lost in the crowd? Whenever I visit a bookstore, especially independents, I love to read those staff recommendation cards that are affixed to shelves below select titles. I’ve often discovered new authors through those recommendations. So if there were any stores with workers who enjoy my novels, any such endorsements would be greatly appreciated. It is word-of-mouth that grows a readership far more effectively than any marketing campaign.

You've been a member of a critique group since your early days. How has that been helpful to your writing career? I joined my group long before I was ever published, and I’m still with the same circle of writers and readers today. They critique every page before it ever sees my editor. I’ve learned to value and appreciate their viewpoints, as each member brings their own eyes and background to the table. The group contains members with military backgrounds, PhDs, teachers, and housewives. They not only bring a critical eye, but also offer encouragement and support on the long road to composing a novel. They are my secret weapon.

As a bestselling author, do you still do any of your own marketing and promotion, and if so, how? Back when I first started writing, author websites were a rarity. Today, all of the

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When I was working full-time as a veterinarian, I made a commitment to write three double-spaced pages per day (5 out of 7 days of the week). It took me some trial and error to come to this schedule, but every writer needs to find that balance in their life. To wait for inspiration before writing is seldom a path to success. I still keep to that schedule, though my page count is higher now that I write full-time.

many outlets of social media allow an author to directly connect to a reader. It’s one of the greatest marketing tools available to us. I remember decades ago trying to tell my publishing house about this new vehicle for telling people about my books. It was called Facebook. My house said basically “Don’t bother. It’s a fad.” I didn’t take their advice and was an early adopter of the platform. And it continues to this day. I love having that immediacy with my readership, whether it’s sharing something from my day or talking about the genesis of a new book. I test titles via social media. I talk about plots and characters. It’s a great way of involving readers, of making them part of the process.

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Looking back at your previous writing process versus your current one, what advice could you offer new authors that could help streamline their efforts?

TOPShelf

INTERVIEWS Is there any advice you could give to a small bookstore that you feel could give them an edge over a large chain?

In a word: Knowledge. I know that I value the opinion of those small bookstore employees, whether it’s those staff recommendation cards on bookshelves or simply chatting up a worker about what they’re reading and enjoying. You seldom get the level of personal attention and knowledge from chain stores. I would say almost every new author I started reading was first introduced to me by an independent bookstore seller. Word of mouth sells books far better than any expensive marketing plan. And that’s where small bookstores have a huge advantage: They love and live books. That’s a well of strength and knowledge that a chain store will never match.

What was the most memorable thing that has happened to you throughout your writing career? Far and above, it was meeting my literary heroes. And I think the greatest thrill of all was being able to interview Clive Cussler on stage at ThrillerFest. I was tongue-tied and in awe, having grown up reading the adventures of Dirk Pitt. And here was the author himself, seated across from me. It’s a moment I’ll treasure forever. Read more of our interview with James Rollins at: www.TopShelfMagazine.net

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HOLIDAYEDITION2018 39

!e Ter"to"# Saga Se"als

Introducing the Territories Saga Serials Collection. This serial collection concept is based on old "cliffhanger" short films that used to play before the main feature in American cinemas. Each book in the collection is written as serial installments in a saga. Each saga is divided into five to six novellas. These books are great for anyone who wants to read an engaging story but doesn't have the time to sit and read a full novel.

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The Into the West Serial follows Elizabeth and Conner MacBride as they navigate the hardships and loss of their troubled lives. Many people cross their paths as they fight to keep the only family they still have left, each other. While most of the people they encounter have Elizabeth’s and Conner’s best interests at heart, not everyone is as they seem. The children must grow up quickly if they are to build new lives for themselves after they are taken Into the West.

Western - 978-1533198594

www.stephenburckhardt.com

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HOLIDAY2018

" Crime

" Paperback

$16.99

AN EXCELLENT, THOUGHTPROVOKING COURT DRAMA

Western

" " Paperback "

$28.99

Women’s

Hardcover

$8.99

AN UNFORGETTABLE JOURNEY O’ROURKE’S BEST WORK

Fourteen-year-old Graylin has a nude photo of a classmate on his phone, and someone has tipped off the police. Someone anonymously sent the image, and he took a screenshot. Now he faces child pornography charges. If found guilty, this straight-A student and all-around good kid will go on record as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Compounding matters are the fact that he is a child of color with an ex-con for a father and a drug-addicted mother who has disappeared from his life. Author Pamela Samuels Young is an attorney with experience in the juvenile justice system, and sex trafficking in the United States is a topic she raises to confront the grave dangers facing today’s youth. Abuse of Discretion packs a serious punch, making a thought-provoking statement about current-day sexual permissiveness in advertising, movies, and television, and its intoxicating pace makes it impossible to put down. It begs the question: how can we blame today’s children for accepting as “normal” what we have allowed to become ubiquitous in their environment?

In June of 1900, fifteen-year-old Arnulfo Triana  Benavente is working at the mines at La Mina de Ojuela in Mapimi, Durango, Mexico. His father, Juan, has been gone for years as a soldier but has returned with hopeful news. He has become a Guardia Rural and having served three of his four years; he is planning to move his family to Monclova, Mexico with the dreams of a safer life. Unfortunately for Arnulfo, those dreams are shattered when he sees his vengeful boss raping a Yaqui woman. In a fit of rage, Arnulfo kills his boss to save the woman and is forced to leave his village, running to the Sierra Madre mountains to escape an assured hanging for his crime. It is there he meets Francisco 'Pancho' Villa, takes the name of 'Indio', and begins a new life fighting the injustices of Presidente Diaz during Mexico's Revolutionary War. History comes to life in this riveting historical drama based on the exploits of Pancho Villa. A war-torn Mexico is the backdrop as the author accurately describes the atrocities that lead to Mexico's bloodiest era. Endearing characters, vivid battle scenes, and an unforgettable story make Black Sun a captivating journey of love, loss, hope, and redemption.

Once again Katie O’Rourke (Finding Charlie) has filled a book with real people, this time a single dad, the estranged younger sister who suddenly shows up in his life, a young wife struggling with multi-generational family issues, and a seemingly mismatched couple — he’s an adventure-loving motorcyclist and she’s confined to a wheelchair. All are connected in some way, and each has a story to tell, but their stories aren’t always what we think they will be. O’Rourke has a talent for putting believable characters in real-life situations. They see things through their own lenses, make regrettable mistakes, have knee-jerk reactions, and are plagued by self-doubt. Family relationships, past or present, may not be the best, but nothing is cliched. People remain unpredictable, and what you believe is going to happen may be way off base. This is a well-rounded story told from multiple points of view in alternating chapters, each revealing new facets of that specific narrator’s life as well as the lives and backstories of the other characters. O’Rourke’s references to current politics give the book a sense of timeliness without being overdone or distracting. We believe this is her best yet and look forward to more.

~Rosemary Fifield, TopShelf Reviews

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

~Rosemary Fifield, TopShelf Reviews

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HOLIDAYEDITION2018 41

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...books worth a closer look! An American soldier (Richie) and a Vietnamese woman (Linh) fall in love and have a baby during the war in Vietnam. He attempts to marry Linh but fails to get permission from the Army and is then pulled out of Vietnam. They meet again in Hong Kong two decades later and achieve their ultimate destiny.

This is an entertaining and humorously macabre collection of short tales inspired by the famous illustrations in Edward Gorey’s ‘Gashlycumb Tinies’. From Mystery to SciFi, from Drama to Fairy Tale and from Gothic, this book has something for everyone. These 26 tales tell of the misadventures of the children in Gorey’s famous illustrations. You will laugh, hope and fall in love with these children. Imminently enjoyable!

Genre Romance Price $16.95 ISBN 978-1634987004

Genre Humor & Satire Price $12.95 ISBN 978-1720861751

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. Tremendously enjoyable and highly recommended.

Grab a cup of cocoa and make sure the windows and doors are locked tight as you settle in by the fire to enjoy these tales of terror, but be warned...locks have never succeeded at keeping Santa from gaining entry. If you enjoy a slice of horror with your holiday cheer, this collection of Christmas horror shorts will satisfy all your dark cravings during the holidays...and beyond.

~Michael Rowland, TopShelf Reviews

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Genre Children's Price $22.99 ISBN 978-2924526316

Genre Horror Price $11.75 ISBN 978-0995976672

Bingo is a simple game, a format for gossip, fun and occasional windfalls of cash. Yet in Woodland Park, it seems to trigger burglaries and murder. Jonas Kirk returns from a self-imposed hiatus and finds himself working with a new and seductive personality, Sharon Cunningham. Fancy that— Lady Justice and Mr. Scales.

Silent Voices is a suspenseful and heartfelt saga about a family faced with tragic consequences. Desperate for answers, they would be left to lie in wait for the inevitable. A son’s decent into darkness and delusional rage would send him into a rampage that would shake a family and community to its core.

Genre Thriller & Suspense Price $13.99 ISBN 978-1546265245

Genre Biography, Memoir Price $14.95 ISBN 978-0986225901

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It’s just a BUNNYPALOOZA

A new title from “Lizzy’s World” is coming this Spring. From the award-winning creators of the “It’s Just So” books and the “Lizzy’s World” Augmented Reality app (iOS & GooglePlay) comes a new children’s picture book adventure. It’s just a Bunnypalooza for our protagonist Lizzy. Ever rambunctious and creative, Lizzy learns dance moves from her animal friends but is embarrassed Full Page as children giggle at herAd  over-active imagination. She then becomes an avid “non-believer” but the neighborhood bunnies organize an intervention.

“Vibrant illustrations and an engaging main character help young readers explore themes of resilience, courage, and perseverance…” – FOREWORD REVIEWS CLARION 5 STARS Best Childrens Picture Book - SILVER - FOREWORD INDIES

A picture-book sequel continues to explore the life of a rambunctious, redheaded protagonist … Lizzy is cute and relatable … this one breaks the mold. –KIRKUS REVIEWS

www.ItsJustSo.net

“Engaging legal tale.” ~ KIRKUS REVIEWS

SHOT DOWN

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“The verdict is in – Attorney Christopher Leibig offers a legal thriller for the ages... a thrilling roller coaster ride!” ~ ROBERT DUGONI #1 Amazon,

New York Times, and Wall Street Journal Best Selling Author of MY SISTER’S GRAVE

www.chrisleibig.com Lightning Source, Inc.

978-1633931794 |

LEGAL THRILLER | Available Now! | LightningSource.com

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" Crime

" Paperback

$14.99

Romance

" " Paperback "

$16.45

Thriller

Paperback

$16.00

PSYCHOLOGICAL PAGE-TURNER HEARTFELT CHRISTIAN ROMANCE GRIPS LIKE THUNDER Joey, Billy, Roy and Sam are four childhood friends who grew up in a small town in Ohio surrounded by farms. Inseparable from grade school through college, their lives took different paths as they entered adulthood. Joey, now twice divorced, jobless and having just moved to New York, wants to reconnect with the life and friends he once had. He convinces the men to begin meeting once a week and it is during one of their weekly get-togethers that the men meet Raul, a very successful man with an import business from Argentina. Raul seems to have it all; wealth, looks, style and a wife named Sasha, that any man would kill for. From the beginning all four men are enchanted with the breathtakingly beautiful Sasha, each one fantasizing of having her for their own. But what the four of them don’t know is that she is playing each of these men, confessing her love to them individually, for her diabolical end-game. Edward Dreyfus’ Buddies is an intricately woven web based on friendship, love, deceit and betrayal. Delicate prose, a clear-cut storyline, and unpredicted twist and turns create a captivating psychological page-turner, while reiterating the old message that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

Riddled with fear of ghosts from her past, Trish, is scared and alone. Determined to move forward with her life, she turns her faith and love to God. Her overbearing, self-absorbed mother offers more love to the dog than to her as she sends Trish on last minute errands and alcohol runs for her father. Trish is ashamed and conflicted with these errands, but feels the need to obey her parents. Trish’s sister is a turnstile for lovers and has had her own run in with the law making Trish the target of the gossip mill at her own hair salon. It is through divine intervention that she turns a chance encounter that she is able to open her heart and learn to trust, not only herself, but the Michelli family. But Trish isn’t the only one fighting off demons. Diego Michelli must find personal strength and come to terms with his past. Diego finds himself drawn to Trish who brings him back to the light of God. It is through Divine grace that each of them is able to find a way to love themself as well as each other. Destiney by Design is a heartfelt, feel-good Christian novel with the perfect blend of mystery, romance, fear, love, and just the right amount of verse.

A harrowing political thriller that grips like thunder, yanking readers into the chilling underbelly of modern political warfare. Author, Gary Grossman has done his research, and it pays dividends in this pulse-pounding thriller, ripe with drama, intrigue, intricately woven storylines, true-to-life characters that leap straight off today’s headlines, and just the right touch of romance. Instability and fear seize the nation. Political figures, systematically assassinated. A growing secessionist movement stirs up antigovernment fervor, creating nationwide unrest and lack of confidence in leadership. With the clock ticking, the U.S. president assigns Secret Service Agent Scott Roarke to investigate the assassinations. But with the assassin ready to claim his greatest kill, and state-after-state, priming for secession, the president must decide whether it's time to unleash America’s own secret weapon. Executive Force draws upon current topics––patriots, tired of self-serving Beltway politics, and the mounting fear of the unknown with a brutal dictator in North Korea. Be careful with this one; it will steal your breath and your life away for hours!

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

~Sharon Isbell, TopShelf Reviews

~Patrice Benard, TopShelf Reviews

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HOLIDAYEDITION2018 45

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...books worth a closer look!

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A serial killer is on the loose, and now the case is about to land in Sam’s lap. Sam has always known he was different from his peers, he has the ability to identify the intentions of a person, it’s made him one of the best Public Defenders. His expertise is put to the test when Sister Camille asks him to help Father Andrada who just listened to the confession from a murder.

Introducing a new serial book collection, The Territories Saga Serials. The concept is based on the old "cliffhanger" movie serial shorts they used to play before the main feature in theaters. Each book is written as an installment in a serial collection. Each saga serial is divided into 5-6 novellas. When the saga is complete, a single volume containing all the serial's novellas plus bonus material will be published. Titles are currently available in paperback and ebooks.

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $15.95 ISBN 978-1633931794

Genre Fiction, Western Price $6.99 ISBN 978-1533198594

A childhood shredded by evil. A demon hunter drawn back home. When the threat returns, will his tragic past end in hell? Demon King is a terrifyingly dark epic horror story. If you like spine-tingling scenes, complex twisting plots, and downright creepy action, then you’ll die for Erik Henry Vick’s award-nominated novel.

London, 1942. The world is at war.

Genre Horror Price $23.99 ISBN 978-0999079522

Genre Thriller & Suspense Price $15.99 ISBN 978-0999117309

"Characters are well developed, and the elements are assembled so seamlessly that the story feels fresh. The streets of Washington, D.C. come alive. The book's intense action, realistic tone and memorable characters will keep readers engrossed in this thriller with a superb payoff." ~Kirkus Reviews

Perhaps we all need two families: the one we are born into and the one that finds us when we really search for it. Hardships and Blessings is a tale of two parents overcoming sudden family crisis by combining their strengths to support all the children they love.

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $12.50 ISBN 978-1468180213

Genre Coming of Age Price $10.00 ISBN 978-1727132137

A disgraced agent. A missing battle plan. Will OSS Agent Conor Thorn find redemption or damage the Allies beyond repair? The Torch Betrayal is a high-stakes World War II thriller inspired by true events.

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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

www.eternalbloodlines.com

ISBN: 978-0765328724

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...books worth a closer look! A panoramic tale as uniquely American as Franklin Roosevelt and Al Capone. A multi-generational saga of loyalty and deceit, law breakers and enforcers, and families torn apart or bound together in a one-hundredyear battle for survival. American History is a historical novel and epic crime novel in the tradition of East of Eden, The Immigrants and The Godfather.

The Eye of Shiva is a fast moving story of love, revenge and intrigue, guaranteed to keep you turning pages.

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $18.95 ISBN 978-1946502704

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $12.95 ISBN 978-1502780669

Discover how to live the life you were meant to by reviewing, re-assessing and re-writing the files in the filing cabinets of your mind.

While her boyfriend Forrest searches for a job, quick witted Annet works at the Keizer Mannor. After a fight, the couple goes for walk. The beautiful sunny weather turns into a thunderstorm so violent that they get separated. The next morning, Forrest finds himself alone. So does Annet. Annet awakes in a monastery and is convinced the nuns are playing a prank on her. It can’t be the 1800s!

Uncover the importance of forgiveness and how forgiveness really does set you free. Regain your personal power, learn to live unconditionally, and finally live the life you were meant to live!

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Genre Self-Help, Self-Esteem Price $14.99 ISBN 978-1525524110

Genre Romance Price $13.99 ISBN 978-0998309804

A beautiful children's Christmas story from children's author, Daniel M Warloch, which will warm the cockles of your heart.

A youth is thrust into an adventure that leads to the king’s court. But perils await; monsters, giants and dragons prowl the land. As he struggles to survive and unravel his secret past, he becomes aware of a ruthless nemesis that has hunted him his entire life.

Genre Children’s Price $6.50 ISBN 978-1976819926

Genre Fantasy Price $14.99 ISBN 978-1944314026

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GOLD MEDAL WINNER RF International Book Contest

"DiSilvio's plot is cunning and ingenious…” ~Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

"Rich DiSilvio's novel is an action-packed thriller that is best read with your seatbelt buckled." ~Maria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

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Jack Goodwin is a savvy CIA agent oozing with charisma, yet saddled with baggage. Haunted by a dark past for fifteen years, Jack finally reveals all to his daughter, Eleanor. As an OSS agent during the war, Jack’s traumatic past involved a series of near-death experiences, from failed sorties and secret missions, to a horrifying encounter with Auschwitz, to having met and married Eleanor's mother, Veronika. But the flames of passion had died when a prying Waffen SS officer, Alois Richter, entered the fray. With an amorous eye for Jack's bride and a suspicious plea to join the OSS, Alois had sent Jack’s world into a catastrophic tailspin with tragic results. Fueled with revenge, father and daughter join forces to hunt down his long-time nemesis. But when disturbing evidence arises, Eleanor is forced to reevaluate the mission, as intrigue, murder, and suspense abound, leading to a climatic faceoff that reaches unexpected and terrifying heights. DV Books - Thriller - 978-0981762586 - Available Now!

www.RichDiSilvio.com

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...books worth a closer look! A collection of stories by Jaidis Shaw.

Blind Justice

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 Horror Price $9.99 ISBN 978-1723831355

Genre Thriller, Fantasy Price $13.99 ISBN 978-1532013195

SHORT STORIES II by Rich DiSilvio features a rich collection of mysteries, thrillers and historical works from multiaward-winning author Rich DiSilvio’s past and present. Also included are three short narratives from his acclaimed Tales of Titans series. For those not acquainted with DiSilvio’s larger works, this edition makes a fine introduction to the mysterious, historical, and thrilling mind of the author.

Fiction book for girls and boys 8-13 years of age, about a pretty and kind-hearted girl, Emma, who 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 named Thomas have many adventures together riding their horses.

Genre Anthology, Mystery Price $11.99 ISBN 978-0998337562

Genre Children’s Price $8.99 ISBN 978-0998923406

Follow the adventures of the Cats of Laughing Thunder in this funny children’s chapter book series as the cats each launch a business to earn money. Reading this book is a fun way to encourage your child to be an entrepreneur!

By all outward appearances, Henry’s new family is perfect. It isn’t long before Henry becomes a servant in his foster home. The couple that vowed to care for him instead chastise him for his “demons”. Their children devise new and terrifying ways to torture him. In the darkness of the basement where he sleeps, Henry’s disturbing nightmares send him on a frantic search for someone named Charle. But who is Charlie? And what does he have to do with Henry?

Genre Children’s Price $9.99 ISBN 978-1732329911

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $15.95 ISBN 978-1483562780

Is the sacrifice worth the reward? The Reluctant Seamstress

Some family traditions must come to an end. The House on Juniper Lane One night will change her life forever.

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HOLIDAY2018

" Crime

" Paperback

$20.95

Historical

" " Paperback "

$14.95

" Children’s "

Hardcover

$16.95

A MASTERFULLY CRAFTED FANTASTIC HISTORICAL FICTION IT’S JUST SO… DELIGHTFUL PORTRAIT THAT IS GUARANTEED Truly great historical fiction informs as well as entertains. Girls on the Line does a fantastic job of FIVE ENTHUSIASTIC STARS! TO LEAVE A PERMANENT, YET both as it takes us into the lives of young women who served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during NECESSARY, SCARE …a true delight. World War I. While books about World War II 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 eyeopening 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, scar. ~Michael Rowland, TopShelf Reviews

abound, not a lot of present-day fiction is set during the Great War. As the author notes, modern-day Europeans are much more aware of the first World War than Americans are. But 100 years ago, Americans––both men and women–– were deployed to Europe to fight “the Hun.” Among those individuals were female switchboard operators who volunteered to serve on the front lines connecting the troops with their commanding officers via telephone. Runyan has done a lot of research, including reading the diaries of women who served in the signal corps. Her story is rich with details as well as nicely developed characters whose fates we become invested in. We see independent young women struggle with the misogyny and paternalism of the era, including the arranged marriages common among highsociety families, and we witness the deplorable lack of recognition for the heroism of the “Hello Girls” as the operators were called, when the war ends.

The second in a series of children’s books, following young Lizzie as she grows and learns through adventurous discovery, It's Just So... Little! is a true delight. Explore with Lizzie as she learns the importance of caring for others, understanding emotions, relationships, love, and affection. To put it very simply, It's Just So... good, and will make a wonderful addition to any school or family library. The beautiful illustrations are seriously charming, making it easy for children to understand, and a real pleasure for parents to read. ~Michael Rowland, TopShelf Reviews

~Rosemary Fifield, TopShelf Reviews

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...books worth a closer look! Winner of the Outstanding Christian/Religious Fiction in the 2018 IAN Book of the Year Awards • 2018 Readers' Favorite Silver Medal Winner in Christian Fiction. • 2018 American Fiction Award Winner in the Christian Inspirational category.

If Nancy Drew drank Jack Daniels… Meet Jessica James.

Genre Women’s Fiction Price $12.00 ISBN 978-0999576311

Genre Humor Price $19.99 ISBN 978-0997583632

In a story taken from current headlines, a successful Beverly Hills hedge fund manager is pulled into a violent battle among China’s Red Nobility for control of billions of dollars in hidden wealth. It’s a battle that may cost him his business, his family, and his life.

Learn how-to discern the differences between collaborative leading and topdown leading; create your own leader style. One size does not fit all. Make leading exciting for students; and turn leading a classroom into a pulsating, stress-free activity.

Genre General Fiction Price $15.99 ISBN 978-1947938465

TOPShelf magazine Genes to die for––and someone does… Mystery, Suspense, Action, Adventure, Romance, and Laugh-Out-Loud Humor. What more could you want in a pageturner? A riveting suspense novel that keeps you guessing until the end.

Genre Education Theory Price $13.99 ISBN 978-1532009075

Not even the time-lord, Orlando Oversight, knows everything. But speculation can turn into a real future, and the Lush Star system, where spiderlike beings treat humans as we do animals, isn’t so very far in the future. Do Jake Baker, the self-styled “Spartacus” and his followers have a chance to become more than meat and slaves? Will Athalie have the life she hopes for with her hero?

As Book Three of the Finding Billy Battles trilogy begins it is 1914 and Billy is in Chicago with his wife, the former Baroness Katharina von Schreiber living a sedate and comfortable life after years of adventure and tragedy. That changes with a single telephone call that yanks Billy and Katharina back into a life of havoc and peril.

Genre Science Fiction Price $13.99 ISBN 978-0994219244

Genre Action & Adventure Price $18.99 ISBN 978-1545632819

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A Tale of Intrigue, Murder, and Life on the Frontier. Hermit’s Rest – Arizona Territory, 1887

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An immigrant Irish girl and a veteran lawman battle for their lives when they stand between one man’s obsession and the Lost Adams gold.

“A well-developed romance wrapped in an engaging and fast-paced Western, complete with strong protagonists, colorful settings, and superb historical details.” ~Kirkus Reviews “A wonderful meeting of Lonesome Dove and a Nora Roberts historical romance. The spunky optimistic Sarah is the very type of pioneer woman that made the West great.” ~NetGalley Review (PSusan W.)

978-1633557550 – Available Now!

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...books worth a closer look! Daisy, Bold & Beautiful is the debut novel of middle-schooler Ellie Collins, daughter of awardwinning author Stephanie Collins. Boys and girls alike will appreciate Ellie’s keen eye for the challenges of growing up that she and her friends must face. Discover the wonderful writing of Ellie now, then follow her to learn about her writing and more books to come.

Genre Children’s Price $8.90 ISBN 978-1947867154

“The scenes are evocative and sensual… [LIta Burke] has woven a story of adventure, magic, romance, passion, intrigue, suspense, murder, and religion with expertise.”

~Readers’ Favorite

Genre Fantasy Price $15.99 ISBN 978-1477506578

A novel of action, deep love, historical gossips and partnership. You will have to run fast to follow these characters through deep love and risks.

Bestseller & Winner of over a dozen National and International Literary Awards. Are you struggling with the loss of a beloved pet? Have painful feelings of grief or guilt overwhelmed you?

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $13.90 ISBN 978-1718013643

Genre Pet Loss Price $15.95 ISBN 978-1547280780

A new title from “Lizzy’s World” is coming this Spring!

Sarah Ryan’s hope for a new life in the Arizona Territory is shattered in an instant by gunfire. Suddenly, she has to rebuild an uncertain future with her orphaned nephew, Will, and take on the challenges of a cattle ranch.

It’s Just a Bunnypalooza for our protagonist Lizzy. Ever rambunctious and creative, Lizzy learns dance moves from her animal friends but is embarrassed as children giggle at her over-active imagination. She then becomes an avid “non-believer” but the neighborhood bunnies organize an intervention.

Genre Children's Price $16.95 (March 12, 2019) ISBN 978-0997085174

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Genre Romance, Western Price $16.99 ISBN 978-1633557550

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Capture the Magic of the Holiday Season with Snowman Paul!

Children will fall in love with Snowman Paul! Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energetic and playful, has big dreams and is not afraid to be different.

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Pick up your copy and join Snowman Paul and Dan in their amazing winter adventures!

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“A heady and hilarious mixture of hard-won wisdom and Southern saltiness.” ~ Publishers Weekly

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Young Poppy Wainwright feels much like a deck of cards, shuffled around from a boozing mother to a beloved grandmother. Finally bused to Savannah, Georgia, to live with her grandmother's cantankerous sister, Sookie. Through the enlightened eyes of a thirteen-year-old girl, the hilarity and insanity ensues. From the best-selling author of A Faithful Son, this rollicking romp of a ride does not disappoint. Aunt Sookie & Me: The Sordid Tale of a Scandalous Southern Belle is irreverent, hilarious, and heartbreaking. All political correctness is buried alongside the dead corpse in the family vegetable garden in this riotous book. But don't let the folksy and fresh recipe fool you, Garvin serves up a big helping of reality, cutting through smalltown bigotry and bias.

“Tackles serious issues of sexuality and domestic violence while keeping lighthearted and highly readable… Readers won't want Garvin's larger-thanlife vision to end.” ~Kirkus Reviews

978-1545568729 – LGBT Satire – Available Now!

www.MichaelScottGarvinBooks.com

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HOLIDAY2018

" Thriller

" Hardcover

$26.99

Thriller

" Hardcover

$26.00

Thriller

Paperback

$14.99

READ THIS IN A SINGLE DAY HEARTFELT CHRISTIAN NOVEL THE STUFF BLOCKBUSTERS ARE MADE OF! Thirty-year-old corporate executive Georgina Mindy Mejia is a master at creating people you Shaw is going to prison. Fourteen years ago, her best friend, Angela Wong, disappeared. But Angela’s remains have been found in a shallow grave, and while Georgina didn’t kill Angela, she knew what happened to her high school friend and never told anyone. Now she has pleabargained a five year sentence in return for testifying against the killer. But there are additional, gruesome details that Georgina continues to hide, and when she’s about to be released from prison, copy-cat murders––albeit with a twist—begin to occur. Somebody knows Georgina’s secrets, and that person is coming for her. I read this book in a single day. Everything about it held my interest—the characters, the fast-paced storytelling, the suspense, the writing style. The arresting officer’s unrequited high school crush on Georgina and his current involvement in investigating the new homicides add depth and intrigue to the story, while the author deftly reveals just enough clues to let the reader have the satisfaction of starting to figure it all out. ~Rosemary Fifield, TopShelf Reviews

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can see, feel, and touch. Maya, a newly graduated speech therapist with a rocky past, is assigned to the case of Lucas, a nineteen-year-old patient in a mental hospital. Ten years before, he and his widowed dad disappeared into the Minnesota wilderness known as the Boundary Waters. They were assumed dead until Lucas broke into an outfitter’s store and was captured. Now Maya is tasked with getting Lucas to communicate with her about where he and his father went and why. The death of a landlady occurred just before they disappeared, and the father is a prime suspect. But a bond has formed between Maya and Lucas, and Maya is torn between betraying Lucas’s trust or betraying the mentor who has seen her through thick and thin. A strong sense of place pervades this novel. The author transports us to Duluth, Minnesota, and the Boundary Waters. We feel the draw the glacial lakes have on Lucas, and we find that Maya herself is no stranger to the outdoor life. A brilliantly absorbing book that’s impossible to put down. An unexpected twist near the end was just frosting on a well-constructed cake.

It’s impossible to sleep when you have Nerve Damage! This masterfully written medical drama follows three ER doctors as they research a breakthrough treatment to regenerate damaged spinal cords––a treatment that could be worth millions to whoever holds the secrets. Author, Tom Combs, grabs hold of your jugular from page one and refuses to let go until the shocking conclusion. Nerve Damage is a lightning fast-read packed with twists and turns that will keep readers fully engaged and continually guessing. This is the stuff blockbusters are made of ! ~Rebecca Katsikas, TopShelf Reviews

~Rosemary Fifield, TopShelf Reviews

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HOLIDAYEDITION2018 57

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...books worth a closer look! "Degrees of Love is an astounding depiction of love, marriage, family and what life could be if different choices were made... The plot is distinctive and unpredictable. With an ending that will not disappoint.”

~Chick Lit Cafe

TOPShelf magazine Meet Jayne & Phillip Miller, original homeowners on Juniper Court. He’s a successful attorney and she’s a flourishing blogger. Head over heels in love and approaching 50, their relationship needs a little jump start. It’s game on when Jayne challenges Phillip to a Relationship Resuscitation contest…

Genre Women’s Fiction Price $18.00 ISBN 978-1543907216

Genre Romance Price $8.00 ISBN 978-1722782993

"I flew through The Last Bush Pilots in one sitting, keeping my seatbelt securely fastened. A fast-paced tale, thoroughly enjoyed."

This is an extremely powerful story and one that both grasps the frailties of the human person and celebrates the triumph of the human spirit over immense challenges. This is a story that lingers long in the mind after reading and it is something I can truly recommend to anyone feeling down or depressed.

~John Wegg, Editor Airways Magazine

~Readers’ Choice

Genre Travel Price $14.99 ISBN 978-1480279889

Genre Biography, Memoir Price $19.49 ISBN 978-1545631638

They’re real: fairies, pixies, werewolves, ogres! They’re aliens! … Drunken journalist Jack March can’t believe his bleary eyes when he stumbles onto a winged fairy! She vaults away into the night sky, and his unbelievable––and unbelieved––encounter leads to a stunning revelation that all the creatures of myth and legend are real!

Meet James Addison a 238 year old British lord with a mysterious past in the historical town of Kings Mill, MD. His death has never been proved. He has roamed the town’s streets for two centuries to tell his side. That one person comes in the form of a beauty and historian, with the gift of psychometry, April Branford. Her touch brings him to life. Can James convince April that Fate has brought them together for a reason?

Genre Science Fiction Price $16.95 ISBN 978-1939118301

Genre Science Fiction Price $15.00 ISBN 978-1517397685

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“A Holocaust story certain to move readers not only because of the quiet heroism of its characters, but because it rings with truth. Even in Darkness is a stunning historical endeavor.” ~ Foreword Reviews

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EVEN IN DARKNESS BASED ON A TRUE STORY, spanning a century and three continents, Even in Darkness is the harrowing saga of family, lovers, two world wars, and the Holocaust, revealing a vivid portrait of Germany during the twentieth century. It tells the story of Kläre Kohler, whose origins in a prosperous German-Jewish family hardly anticipate the second half of her long life in a loving relationship with Ansel, a German priest half her age. In the most unlikely circumstances, Kläre and Ansel not only survive, but find renewed meaning in a life with each other. Their relationship transcends the boundaries of generation, religion, and societal expectation, bearing witness to the way in which love, as redemption for pain and suffering, enters our lives in unexpected ways. 978-1498451796

HARD CIDER

978-1498451796

Abbie Rose Stone’s acquired wisdom runs deep, and so do her scars. She has successfully navigated the shoals of a long marriage, infertility, challenging children, and a career. Now it’s her turn to realize her dream: producing hard apple cider along the northern shores of Lake Michigan that she loves. But nothing can protect her from the shock a lovely young stranger delivers when she exposes a long-held secret. In the wake of this revelation, Abbie must overcome circumstances that severely test her self-determination, her loyalties, and her understanding of what constitutes true family.

“Pulled me in like a magnet and kept me in don’t-want-to-putit-down mode until the last page.” ~ BRICK Magazine

www.BarbaraStarkNemon.com

A BOOK FOR GROWING YOUNG MINDS! Full Page Ad

I WILL BE A TEACHER WHEN I GROW UP

is an educational, fun book designed to inspire children to develop their dreams at an early age. Discover what four teachers have to say about their careers, while providing hope and optimism.

Publisher: Knowledge Power Books Part of the I WILL BE series of Children’s Books 978-0-9818790-0-0 Available Now at amazon.com

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" War

" Paperback

$17.95

" Children’s " Paperback "

" $6.50

" Children’s "

Paperback

$11.99

AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN... SURE TREMENDOUSLY ENJOYABLE BRINGS COLD WAR HEROES TO TO BE A BEDTIME FAVORITE AND HIGHLY RECOMMENDED LIFE IN RIVETING ADVENTURE It was the day before Christmas and while A Trip to the Hospital is another Sami the Mention blockbuster thrillers with nuclear submarines and navy dive teams and names like Tom Clancy and Clive Cussler flood your mind. But this masterly written wartime adventure is no mere tale spun from some clever writer’s imagination. Award-winning author, Dr. Robert G. Williscroft takes littleknown pivotal events of the Cold War––true events that he personally participated in––and presents to the world this heart-pounding, riveting thriller worthy of any diehard wartime thriller fan’s nightstand. A supersecret, off-the-books spy organization; a security-clearance starting at Top Secret and going up from there; an attack by giant squid during a thousand-foot dive while breathing an exotic gas; a cat’s whisker escape from death during a three-day decompression–– and that’s just the first two chapters. Operation Ivy Bells is a fact-based novel that will be remembered for a very long time.

everyone was awaiting the birth of the newest baby reindeer, ten-year-old Holly Kiss Kiss was the most excited of them all. Rudolph was getting old and although he didn’t want additional help pulling the sleigh, after pulling a muscle in his leg, he finally agreed and a search for four young, strong reindeer commenced. That night Holly’s father comes to her with the sad news that one of the baby reindeers was born with only three legs and is very weak. He fears the poor thing will not survive the night. But Holly has faith in the baby reindeer she calls Hopper and vows that he will be helping Rudolph pull Santa’s sleigh next Christmas Eve. Daniel M Warloch has beautifully written an enchanting children’s tale packed with a whole lot of heart. Of great inspiration to young minds, that even the least likely of candidates can go on to do great things, Rudolph’s Little Helper is sure to be a bedtime favorite!

~Sharon Isbell, TopShelf Reviews

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

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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

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HOLIDAYEDITION2018 61

featuredspotlights

...books worth a closer look!

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Shannon Clarke raised a family and worked waterfront jobs in America’s oldest seaport. Her childhood dream to become a sea captain is revived when her long-lost seafaring uncle, Patrick, visits with a salty tale of their maritime family ancestry of pirates and privateers. They take to the sea in Patrick’s brigantine to follow their siren song of their ancestors.

Are you a Spirit-filled Christian married to an agnostic, atheist or half-hearted Christian? Are you trying to introduce your spouse to Jesus––only to be met with an attitude of indifference or antagonism? Are you wondering “How can I be completely committed to Jesus and my unbelieving spouse when our values are so different?”

Genre Action, Adventure Price $17.95 ISBN 978-1633936553

Genre Christian Price $19.99 ISBN 978-1775189503

Three ex-convicts, whose lives have been ruined by harsh sentences of Judge Walter McNeil. Out for retribution, they kidnap, and then torture the Judge. The lead kidnapper has other plans that involve trying to get the judge convicted and sent to jail for a long time. This creates a twisted web that connects the lives of both the criminals and the Judge. Amanda, attorney, and Aristo, detective, team up to unravel the clues and free the Judge.

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.

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $18.99 ISBN 978-1491796849

Genre Mystery, Thriller Price $15.99 ISBN 978-1683312772

The Golden Book Award 2017- Readers Choice • Book Excellence Award 2017 • Independent Publisher • Books Award 2018 (Bronze Metal) • Honorable mention at Paris Book Festival 2017 • Honorable Mention at Reader's Favorite Award 2017

A family becomes an assassin’s target after a crime lord’s sister is brutally murdered in Kaylin McFarren’s latest erotic, psychological thriller.

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $14.99 ISBN 978-1419995378

Genre Thriller, Suspense Price $13.95 ISBN 978-1975921354

B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree 2018 Global Ebook Award 2018 eLit Book Award 2018 Feathered Quill Book Award • 2017 NYC Big Book Award Winner • • • •

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There’s Something on the Ship… Something Dangerous! Jen Maddox is a few days into her summer study abroad program and has loved every moment on her cruiseship-turned-college-campus. Everyone tells her that the experience will change her life, but none of them realize just how right they really are. One night Jen goes out on deck andAd encounters five Full Page   other students. She knows Charlie from one of her classes and he’s a funny, friendly, regular guy. Picture-perfect Dani and his gorgeous wife Mariana live right down the hall from Jen, and she has seen TS, who’s built like a truck, around the ship, and recognizes the cute, but quiet Thomas as well. Then Jen sees something that isn’t humanly possible. Jen would have thought that it was all a dream, if not for the fact that Charlie, Dani, Mariana, TS, and Thomas are making every effort to cover it up. Suddenly, the five of them are everything but normal and Jen is determined to figure out what they’re hiding. When she does, her life really does change. Jen expected to spend her summer studying the cultures of Latin America, she never dreamed she’d learn about a magical culture instead. But Jen’s childhood fantasy come true is about to turn into a nightmare; there’s something on the ship. Something dangerous. Suddenly, everyone on board is threatened by a creature that Jen never even believed existed. Jen and her new friends might be the only people who can stop it! Now Jen has to learn everything she can about her new world before it kills her. And her friends. And maybe everyone on the entire ship.

YA Urban Fantasy 978-1542745215

Available Now!

www.elizabethkirkebooks.com

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Escaping the city, and her coed-chasing ex-husband, part-time journalist and fulltime failed mystery writer Emily Kincaid has moved into a cozy cabin nestled in the woods of northern Michigan. Emily spends her days writing for the local newspaper and crafting her latest forgettable novel. Then one morning her quiet life turns grisly when a severed head tumbles out of her garbage can.

“Wow! What a story! The action, the mystery, the drama, the sexy... you won't want anything else. Word of caution, though, finish whatever you need to finish before starting this story, since you won't be able to put down this story without finishing it”

Genre Mystery Price $4.98 ISBN 978-0738712666

Genre Mystery Price $0.99 ISBN B079NK8ZQV

When an injured merman is found washed up on a beach in Maine, his new doctors are at a loss of how to treat him. Worse, how are they going to keep him from the military’s eager hands?

Stop stressing and learn to chill with this mindfulness and meditation guidebook that can help workaholics and others let go of anxiety and achieve and maintain the healthy work/life balance they need.

Genre Mythology & Folk Tales Price $12.99 ISBN 978-1539428855

Genre Self-Help, Motivational Price $22.99 ISBN 978-0062896018

Set in the lawless town of Deadwood, SD, Hour Glass shares an intimate look at the women behind the legend of Calamity Jane told through the eyes of twelve-year-old Jimmy Glass.

When the solar flares first erupt, Cameron tries to rationalize the disaster away. The electrical grid will come back up. The government will reassure the panicked populace. The hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes will abate. Most importantly, Cameron’s husband and daughter will get home safely from New York City. Instead, Cameron finds herself alone as the world tears itself apart.

Genre Fiction, Western Price $14.99 ISBN 978-1944995492

Genre Science Fiction Price $12.99 ISBN 978-0692916698

~Kaye~Amazon Reviewer

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" Thriller

" Paperback

$16.00

Teens

" " Paperback "

$13.99

Women’s

Paperback

$16.00

READING ENTERTAINMENT OF SWEET COMING-OF-AGE STORY SATISFYING CHARACTERS AND THE HIGHEST ORDER LOCATIONS THAT COME ALIVE After completing the training of her first service David Bell is back with the stunningly effective Somebody’s Daughter (Berkley, $26.00, 432 pages), a noirish tale culled from the suburban nightmare world of Lisa Gardner and Harlan Coben as well. Once again, gothic overtones are firmly on display, this time from the moment Michael Frazier’s ex-wife shows upon his doorstep lugging baggage in the form of the dual revelation that he fathered a daughter who has now disappeared. What follows is a kind of thriller version of Eugene O’Neill’s A Long Day’s Journey into Night, as Michael embarks down a road marred by both shattering truths and dubious revelations. Staged on a remarkably sparse stage that belies its emotionally wrought nature, Somebody’s Daughter is reading entertainment of the highest order.

dog, thirteen-year-old Trina Ryan decides to take on an eight-week-old puppy named Colton. With her abundant love for animals, she works at the neighboring barn of Mrs. Brown, so she can ride Chancy, one of the horses. It’s her dream to one day become proficient in riding and receive a scholarship to a prestigious school. It’s at the barn she meets Mrs. Brown’s newest border, the meanspirited Morgan Hart. Morgan has everything Trina wants; money, skills, even her own horse, so why is she unhappy? But when Trina learns the secrets behind Morgan’s sadness, she chooses to help, with the consequences of her actions causing her to reevaluate her life goals in the process. Starting Over tells the tale of navigating life’s ups and downs from school, boys, evolving friendships, added responsibilities, and changing dreams, told through the eyes of a teenage girl. With superb insight and research, the author shows the dedication, patience and skills necessary to train a service dog, along with the rewards and differences they make to the lives of the persons who receive them. A sweet coming-of-age story with a wholesome protagonist, perfect for middle-school age girls.

If you enjoy books that keep you guessing right up to an ending you never saw coming, this will be right up your alley. Twenty-five-year-old Seraphine has always felt that she didn’t belong in her family. She doesn’t resemble her twin brother or her older brother. When she finds a family photo of the day she and her twin were born, their mother is holding only one baby. And shortly after that photo was taken, their mother committed suicide. Seraphine’s father has died, and her wealthy, strong-willed grandmother refuses to talk about the day Seraphine’s mother fell to her death. The one person who may have answers is her older brother’s former au pair, Laura. But when Seraphine sets out to find her, everything becomes even darker and more complicated. The tale unravels in chapters alternately voiced by Seraphine and Laura, with Seraphine documenting the present, and Laura revealing the past. The characters and the location, a seaside mansion on the English coast, come alive. Although a couple of coincidences felt too convenient, the overall resolution was complex and unforeseeable, making for a satisfying ending.

~Jon Land, TopShelf Reviews

~Kris Miller, TopShelf Reviews

~Rosemary Fifield, TopShelf Reviews

www.TopShelfMagazine.net

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HOLIDAYEDITION2018 65

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...books worth a closer look! When FBI Special Agent Mariah Connors gets injured in the line of duty, her partner, Quinn MacAllister decides Bermuda is the perfect place for them to recuperate. But when their plane goes down, and they discover that the remote tropical island now sheltering them holds a deadly secret and that an old enemy is in pursuit of the island’s mystical power, can Mac and Connors keep their companions alive and escape the mysterious island before he destroys them all?

Born to Hustle follows the lives of identical twin brothers as they learn to survive their abusive upbringing by identifying with fictional conmen, imitating behaviors of gangsters and secret agents, to become the bad-ass boys in black. With no one to protect them, the twins grow up fearful of attachments to anyone else but each other. When one brother becomes involved with a female grifter, their differences become apparent, and threatens their relationship.

Genre Action & Adventure Price $10.99 ISBN 978-1983659485

Genre General Fiction Price $16.95 ISBN 978-0692192436

Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and the protest era of the early 1970s, a gripping novel of a power, corruption, injustice, courage, and hope–– and one tenacious young man whose determination to overturn the system holds unexpected consequences for his own life.

IF Nancy Drew Drank Jack Daniels … Meet Jessica James

“Wild World is a crime novel, a love story, and a mystery all rolled into one…well written and keeps your attention.” ~Peace Corps Journal

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What if the teacher you hate wound up … murdered? What if you and your slacker friends found his body? What if it were a race against time to find the killer before he found you?

Genre General Fiction Price $16.95 ISBN 978-0999066546

Genre Mystery Price $19.99 ISBN 978-0692685358

When modern-day twists with the old texts from the creation of time, you find a story that leads a group of friends on a journey… The love of Alexander’s life was dying. And he’d do anything to save her. Even if that included treason. Even if it included defying the God he’d sworn to obey. In a race against time, Alexander scours the multiverse for the three gatekeepers who blocked the way to the only cure.

Shortly after Millie’s tenth birthday, the family breaks up. Millie, Finley and their mother move from Minnesota to Memphis. This is 1970’s Memphis. As the years fold over themselves, they mature in a manicured Southern culture where they learn what glitters isn’t gold. But what hidden variables take their shared history to leave both brother and sister at such disparate ends?

Genre Romance Price $12.75 ISBN 978-0999606513

Genre General Fiction Price $7.95 ISBN 978-1946016522

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From the Author of KHAN: A MAINE COON

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Young Murkuria discovers that the homeworld-bound Sunpyne harbors yet another stowaway. This time, it is the Human's lost pet Maine Coon cat, which is pregnant and dying from malnutrition. Murkuria succeeds in genetically altering the Earth cat's unborn zygotes so they can thrive on Aroriel's magnesium-rich foods. Seven kittens––born to surrogate mother Iggie the Matissia––bond to and communicate telepathically with Furlites of their choosing. These exotic, smart treasures which Murkuria dubs Felakoons, endear themselves so the proud Clan, proving to be far more than mere pets.

978-1475112634 – Sci-Fi – Available Now!

As the Sunpyne and Sauri return from their first mission to the stars, anticipating awe, triumph, and glory, unexpected opposition to the new "alien" life throws the planet into strife and conflict such has not been seen in centuries. Will the Felakoons earn a place in Furlitian society, or be sterilized, and die out as a species before they have even begun to live? Some sexual content.

www.mariejsphillips.com

“Boldly embraces its genre and revels in its Hollywoodmovie action scenes.”

~ Kirkus Reviews

Failure is not an option! Nick Carter, a combat-hardened former Marine with a scarred history, works for the Project, a

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secretive counter-terrorism unit reporting only to the President. The discovery of ancient gold coins in a terrorist stronghold sets the Project team on a collision course with a ruthless terrorist who dreams of an Islamic caliphate in the Vale of Kashmir. The coins are part of a legendary treasure looted from India in the eighteenth century. Stolen with the cache was a mystical jewel called the Eye of Shiva. Belief is, finding the Eye of Shiva will fulfill an ancient prophecy predicting the destruction of India's enemies, and there are some would start a war to hasten the prophecy. As the war drums begin and tensions rise on the subcontinent, Nick is caught in a desperate race to stop a nuclear war that’ll kill millions.

“Alex Lukeman writes with a cinematic feel! His novels are riveting, meat-andpotatoes storylines, and a blockbuster success!” 978-1502780669 – Thriller, Suspense, Espionage – Available Now!

~MCSFilm Review Team

www.AlexLukeman.com

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" " Holocaust "

" Paperback

$14.49

" Suspense " Paperback "

" $10.98

AN EMOTIONALLY WRENCHING AN EXQUISITE EXERCISE IN AND RIVETING TALE THAT BLEEDS PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE HEARTFELT EMOTION Given the title, I first took Deborah Vadas Levison’s The Crate (Wild Blue Press, $12.99, 358 pages) for a horror story. Turned out I was both wrong . . . and right. That’s because the Holocaust forms the backdrop for this ambitious and bracing true tale about survivors—Levison’s parents—seeking respite from their tortured past by settling in an idyllic lakeside home. They find anything but that in the contents of a mysterious crate uncovered in the basement that leads them down the road to murder and mayhem. Their obsession with solving the crime lies in vanquishing the demons they couldn’t defeat by slaying others they can. Drawn directly from her family’s own Holocaust experience and what followed, Levison has crafted an emotionally wrenching and riveting tale that bleeds heartfelt emotion on every page. ~Jon Land, TopShelf Reviews

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GRAND PRIZE WINNER!!!

The Devil's Cradle is an exquisite exercise in psychological suspense, a dark tale cut from the cloth woven by the likes of Lisa Gardner and Harlan Coben. Darcy Daniel shows us that the real monsters don't live in the big house on the hill or even the one next door; sometimes they share our bed and strike terror into our hearts at every turn. Daniel has taken the popular neighborhood nightmare thriller to a whole new level in crafting a tale that, at its heart, is about the love of a mother for her child. Timely, tumultuous and terrific. ~Jon Land, TopShelf Reviews

Literary

Paperback

$14.99

TRAGIC, DOLEFUL, AND IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT DOWN! A heartbreaking story of 15-year-old, Rosealetta who witnesses the deaths of her older brother and the only friend she ever had. Rosealetta’s mother, unable to deal with the grief, kicks her out of the only home she’s ever known, and she ends up in the foster system. Like most foster children, Rosealetta feels alone––abandoned. Case Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Melanie Cox is appointed by the juvenile court to secure Rosealetta’s best interests which are made difficult due to the child’s tragic past. Rosealetta continues to sink into darkness until an attractive, compassionate man enters her world and convinces her that she’d be happier on her own. It is a decision that forces Rosealetta to endure things no person should ever have to. Keith Julius describes what is needed and leaves the rest to the imagination. However, this may not be a good book for youth readers. Tragic, doleful, and impossible to put down, The Robber of Youth draws from Julius’s experience as a CASA representative, making it feel more like nonfiction rather than the thought-provoking work of fiction that it is. ~Rebecca Katsikas, TopShelf Reviews

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HOLIDAYEDITION2018 69

featuredspotlights

...books worth a closer look! Meet My Famous Friends is a

whimsical picture book that pays homage to great historical figures in imaginative ways.

Young Murkuria discovers that the homeworld-bound Sunpyne harbors yet another stowaway. This time, it is the Human’s lost pet Maine Coon cat, which is pregnant and dying from malnutrition. Seven kittens––born to surrogate mother Iggie the Matissia–– bond to and communicate telepathically with Furlites of their own choosing. Will the Felakoons earn a place in Furlitian society, or be sterilized, and die out as a species before have barely begun to live?

Genre Comic & Graphic Novel Price $14.99 ISBN 978-0997680768

Genre Science Fiction Price $25.00 ISBN 978-1475112634

Billy Battles is definitely not in Kansas anymore.

Gwen Adams faced a tough decision. On one side there was Alexander, the rich, powerful, devastatingly sexy man who intoxicated her with his very presence. One the other, the poor, hardworking, and gorgeous Ky, who’d earned her friendship and stolen her heart. Torn between love and lust, how would she choose between them?

As Book 2 of the Finding Billy Battles trilogy opens, Billy is far from his Kansas roots–– and his improbably journeys are just beginning. He is aboard an ocean liner sailing to the Mysterious East (Hong Kong, French Indochina, and the Philippines), among other places.

Genre Action & Adventure Price $16.99 ISBN 978-1535189538

Genre Romance, Fantasy Price $12.48 ISBN 978-0999606506

"Rich DiSilvio's novel is an action-packed thriller that is best read with your seatbelt buckled. His descriptive style is so vivid that the atrocities in Auschwitz seem to jump out of the novel's pages.”

An American soldier (Richie) and a Vietnamese woman (Linh) fall in love and have a baby during the war in Vietnam. He attempts to marry Linh but fails to get permission from the Army and is then pulled out of Vietnam. They meet again in Hong Kong two decades later and achieve their ultimate destiny.

~5 Stars! Readers’ Favorite

Genre Historical, Thriller Price $29.95 ISBN 978-0981762586

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Genre Romance Price $16.95 ISBN 978-1634987004

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“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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