TopShelf Magazine June 2023

YEAR ONE

Marina is off to a rough start in the country of her dreams. Fresh off the plane from Belarus, this eleven year old cannot seem to catch a break. Her family is split in two, she doesn’t speak a lick of English, and there is a rusty fire escape outside her grandmother’s bathroom window that terrifies her. The adults around her are convinced that, by virtue of her age, she’s immune to true hardships. After all, they have bigger things to worry about than her overwhelm. But the complicated family dynamics and the complexity of becoming a middle schooler in Brooklyn, NY in 1994 prove that nothing is as easy as it is prophesied. Marina is in for a lonely and testing ride, seeking solace in the bright colors of American television and finding company in the music played on her second-hand stereo.

What awaits Marina on this journey that is her Year One?

MARINA RAYDUN

Marina Raydun’s published works of fiction include a compilation of novellas One Year in Berlin/Foreign Bride, a suspense novel entitled Joe After Maya, as well as a two-part series, Effortless. Born in the former Soviet Union, Marina grew up in Brooklyn, NY. She holds a J.D. from New York Law School and a B.A. in history from Pace University. She is an avid music fan, a cat lover, and an enthusiastic learner of American Sign Language. Whenever she is not writing, Marina enjoys spending time with her family, catching up on Netflix, and baking.

DJINN: A WAR ON TERROR SUPERNATURAL THRILLER

In the violent aftermath of the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, a photojournalist arrives to learn the fate of the Witch Doctors, a fabled Army occult warfare unit. Holly believes her father, reported missing in action, ran this mysterious outfit that sought to weaponize black magic to win the War on Terror. fathers by holding the political class responsible.

As the Taliban advances and the national government crumbles, Holly makes a harrowing journey into the deep desert to an abandoned base, which houses a terrifying secret. There, along with a group of American ex-soldiers, themselves cursed, she will face the ancient evil the Witch Doctors unleashed…

The terrors that live in the world of the djinn. The horrors that lurk in war itself.

A modern thriller, Djinn reimagines the witch for the War on Terror era, taking the reader on a journey into the heart of darkness that is both human and supernatural.

CRAIG DILOUIE

Craig DiLouie is an author of popular thriller, apocalyptic/horror, and sci-fi/fantasy fiction. In hundreds of reviews, Craig’s novels have been praised for their strong characters, action, and gritty realism. Each book promises an exciting experience with people you’ll care about in a world that feels real.

These works have been nominated for major literary awards such as the Bram Stoker Award and Audie Award, translated into multiple languages, and optioned for film. He is a member of the HWA, International Thriller Writers, and IFWA.

At www.CraigDiLouie.com, you can find all of Craig’s major works, interviews, and hundreds of interesting blog posts. Be sure to sign up for Craig’s mailing list so you can stay tuned on new releases.

L. RON HUBBARD PRESENTS WRITERS OF THE FUTURE VOLUME 39

Check out the stories Brandon Sanderson, Orson Scott Card, Nnedi Okorafor, Robert J. Sawyer, Kevin J. Anderson, Jody Lynn Nye and others chose as the best of the best.

Be amazed. Be amused. Be transported … by stories that take you by surprise and take you further and deeper into new worlds and new ideas than you’ve ever gone before….

Twelve captivating tales from the most exciting new voices in science fiction and fantasy accompanied by three from masters of the genre. A miracle? An omen? Or something else? One day, they arrived in droves—the foxes of the desert, the field, the imagination….—“Kitsune” by Devon Bohm

When a vampire, a dragon and a shape-shifting Chihuahua meet on a beach in Key West, fireworks go off! But that’s just the background.— “Moonlight and Funk” by Marianne Xenos

The Grim Reaper, trapped in an IRS agent’s dying body, must regain his powers before he dies and faces judgment for his original sin.—“Death and the Taxman” by David Hankins

In a metaverse future, a woman who exposes falseness in others

must decide what is real to her—the love she lost or the love she may have found.—“Under My Cypresses” by Jason Palmatier

Vic Harden wasn’t lured by glory on a daring mission into the reaches of outer space—he was ordered out there by his editor.—“The Unwilling Hero” by L. Ron Hubbard

Dangerous opportunities present themselves when an alien ship arrives in the solar system seeking repairs.—“White Elephant” by David K. Henrickson

With her spaceship at the wrong end of a pirate’s guns, a former war hero must face down her enemies and demons to save Earth’s last best chance for peace.—“Piracy for Beginners” by J. R. Johnson

Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I., faces one of his funniest and most perplexing cases ever—an enlightened ogre, a salamander with low self-esteem, and a raging fire dragon terrorizing the Unnatural Quarter!—“Fire in the Hole” by Kevin J. Anderson And many, many more...

You will love this collection of the best new voices in science fiction and fantasy because, as Locus magazine puts it, “Not only is the writing excellent...it is also extremely varied. There’s a lot of hot new talent.”

THE PATIENT ROUTINE

"the patient routine is a merciless, anxietycharged, possible-apocalypse, possiblezombie thriller, long narrative poem about the body in maddening conversation with itself. luna rey hall takes us through the terrifying halls of a hospital in lockdown while deftly exploring an immensely personal journey through the shifting realities of an overmedicalized mind, a body snared in systems that do not understand or serve it. The tension between inner and outer worlds is relentless and the body horror hits all the worst/best buttons while raising philosophical questions of identity and power. What a torturously smart little book."

— Joe Koch, author of The Wingspan of Severed Hands and Convulsive Ashton is convinced they are dying. whether it be from cancer,

heart disease, or a fungal infection, they know something bad is always about to happen. after a night of health-related panic attacks, & urged by a voice in their head, Ashton decides to check in to the ER again but when another patient is brought in with an unknown ailment that puts the entire hospital on lockdown, Ashton may be trapped in their worst nightmare.

LUNA

REY HALL

luna rey hall is a queer trans non-binary writer. she is the author of space neon neon space (Variant Lit, 2022), no matter the diagnosis (Game Over Books, 2023), the patient routine (Brigids Gate Press, 2023), and loudest when startled (YesYes Books, 2020), longlisted for the 2020 Julie Suk Award. they are the winner of the 2013 Patsy Lea Core in Memorial Award for Poetry.

her poems have appeared in The Florida Review, The Rumpus & Raleigh Review, among others. they live in St. Paul, MN.

THE KILLER ENIGMA

Enough is Enough - JJ rumbled when the Paparazzi invaded dinner

When JJ and Jo recognize privacy doesn’t exist for them, they head back to Magnolia Bluff to check on their friends and recapture the small-town anonymity.

They reject the status of urban legends in favor of acceptance and a quiet, peaceful life. A supermodel needs time and space to recharge herself between jobs, and he needs time to adore his wife.

Does Magnolia Bluff hold the answers to their prayers, or will a dark past overtake them?

Past, present, and future collide in a perfect storm no one expected. JJ and Jo need to take action. Chief Tommy Jager states he likes them, but he can’t wait for them to get back to their day jobs.

Who will live or die to prevent the truth from being exposed? The answers may be in the graveyard with the fresh flowers.

Their friends are targets – Their dreams are broken – They must fight

BREAKFIELD AND BURKEY

Breakfield is a 25+ year technology expert in security, networking, voice, and anything digital. He enjoys writing, studying World War II history, travel, and cultural exchanges. He’s also a fan of wine tastings, winemaking, Harley riding, cooking extravaganzas, and woodworking.

Burkey is a 25+ year applied technology professional who excels at optimizing technology and business investments. She works with customers all over the world focusing on optimized customer experiences. Rox writes white papers and documentation, but found she has a marked preference for writing fiction.

Together these Texas authors create award-winning stories that resonate with males and females, as well as young and experienced adults. They bring a fresh new view to technology possibilities today in exciting stories. Visit their website for more information and free stuff.

THE IMPROV MINDSET: HOW TO MAKE IMPROVISATION YOUR SUPERPOWER FOR SUCCESS

We improvise every day, but how many times do we get stuck in our heads overthinking?

Now you can learn how to leverage the skills of improv for your life.

Improv isn't just for actors, comedians, and writers, but is one of today’s most powerful tools for success in business, social situations, public speaking, communication, becoming a more fearless person, and just plain having more fun in life. Being able to think quickly on your feet, be in the moment, and to roll with any sudden changes makes any person more confident.

This book will break down these techniques with exercises you can practice both at home and put to use in real-life settings. You'll learn:

• Thinking (and responding) quicker

• How to sharpen your sense of humor & creativity

• Letting go of mental blocks to become more outgoing

• Ways to initiate conversations when you don't know what to say

• Making the most out of every moment (even when you’re nervous)

• Owning your own personality and using it to accomplish your goals

You don't have to be born witty to apply these methods, you just have to be taught them and that's what this book will do.

KEITH SALTOJANES

Keith Saltojanes is the Founder of Improv-LA, the internationally known creative training center based in Los Angeles. He has taught improv techniques to everyday people in over 10 countries and for executives at some of the biggest companies around (including Disney, Netflix, Amazon, IBM). He also has a Guinness World Record for the Longest Improv Show and has written for National Lampoon and for comedians from SNL, MADtv, In Living Color, and Mr. Show.

It was not whimsy that had brought him together with this red horse to run this race. It was the justice of time.

Raised without hope or pride in his heritage to what promises to be a short life of crime, alcohol, and drugs, Nez Perce teenager Al George gets an unexpected second chance. A heist gone wrong ends up with him working on probation at the very Idaho ranch he and his “friends” tried to rob, owned by Celia Bolt, who left her own rich-but-dysfunctional family to move West many years ago, and the taciturn Morgan Kyles, who has his own checkered past.

Over the course of the summer of 1986, Celia and Morgan work out the thorny details of their relationship, while Al regains his pride and his sense of self as he works with the ranch’s signature Appaloosas, finds love—and finally, through a deep bond with one very special horse, reconnects with his Nez Perce heritage and discovers the truth of his strange, recurring dreams of an Indian brave on a very special

horse, striving to protect his people from the soldiers pursuing them.

For everyone involved, one summer changes everything.

SOULWORM

She was never meant to be sent into the strange parallel world known as Earth … but now, trapped inside the mind of a teenager like herself, she must find a way to save it from destruction.

For years, Liothel has waited in vain for her powers to manifest themselves, so that she can become a full-blown Warder, defender of the realm of Mykia from the mind-controlling spirit creatures known as soulworms. But when a soulworm escapes from the Warden’s citadel through a magical portal into the parallel world of Earth, it is her spirit that, entirely by accident, is sent in pursuit.

She finds herself, a helpless, unsuspected observer, in the mind of Maribeth, a teenage girl in the small Canadian prairie city of Weyburn, Saskatchewan, in 1984—and discovers the soulworm has possessed Maribeth’s best friend, Christine. Somehow, she must find a way to save Earth from the plague of death and destruction the soulworm and its offspring will release if allowed to spread across the unprotected planet. Only she knows the

danger—and only she can stop it..

“A wonderfully entertaining, imaginative, and well-crafted book for young adults . . . This book is well-paced and controlled and never becomes moralistic …A great read! Highly recommended.”

– Saskatchewan Book Award Judges

EDWARD WILLETT

Edward Willett is an awardwinning author of more than sixty books science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction for both children and adults. He's also host of the Aurora Award-winning podcast The Worldshapers: "Conversations with science fiction and fantasy authors about the creative process." (http://www.theworldshapers. com). He successfully Kickstarted and edited a new anthology, Shapers of Worlds, featuring authors who were guests during the first year of the podcast.

OUT OF THE BOX: A NEW WORLD

A fun and engaging children’s book about discovering new places, friendship, and exploring our wonderful world!

Welcome to Grey City! This is a city surrounded by walls with no trees, but full of factories, smog and dirt.

Brother and sister Noah and Mila have lived here their whole life.

On their daily walk, their dog Buster digs a hole under the city’s walls and escapes to the other side. Noah and Mila follow him and see a whole new world outside the little box they’ve grown up in. They discover the beautiful Green Town.

There they encounter new faces like Ali and Carol who show them what it’s like to breathe clean air, ride a bicycle and see trees everywhere you go.

Why have Noah and Mila never heard of Green Town before?

Out of the Box is the story of an adventure and discovery that allows children to connect with the environment through the eyes

It shows us the importance of greener living and how pushing for change is possible!

LUCIA MATUONTO

Lucia Matuonto is a bestselling author, host at The Relatable Voice Podcast and Uncut with Lucia by Worldauthors.org and children’s physiotherapist. Lucia’s writing journey started about 20 years ago when she wrote articles for magazines and had a successful blog. She was born in Brazil, studied and lived in 6 countries. Lucia Matuonto used to teach and treat children with motor and cognitive disabilities. The children she met inspired her to create an imaginary world, full of animals and fantasy. By observing the beach fauna in Florida, Lucia developed her characters, who are now present in many children’s lives. https://www.luciamatuonto. com/

DRAGONRIDER ACADEMY: EPISODE 9: (SEASON

The dreams have started again. This time my visions are stronger than ever before. There’s another Lost Dragon Queen out there battling corruption and I’m the only one who can save her.

The problem is, the realm I feel her from doesn’t even exist.

Killian has burns from our last encounter that won’t heal, and I have a broken rib that’s slowing me down, but class is still in session at Dragonrider Academy.

Our Specialty Training as official “Egg Hunters” begins now. A passing score?

Bring another Lost Queen home and don’t get sucked into the dark portal that I accidentally opened. Piece of cake.

Dragonrider Academy: Episode 9 is Part II of Season 2 in this epic fantasy new adult series! Look forward to epic adventures and a quest to save a Lost Dragon Queen Egg every episode with familiar

friends and unexpected twists along the way!

A.J. FLOWERS

A.J. Flowers is a USA Today Bestselling fantasy author based out of Detroit. When not creating new worlds, she's designing life-saving components on those death traps humans like to call "automotive vehicles." She loves her writing, her work, and above all, her faith and family. When not writing, you can find her saving the world from annihilation on her favorite video games side-by-side with her Dutch husband, beautiful daughter, and Blue Russian kitties named Luna and Mina.

To learn more, head on over to https://aj-flowers.com

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