In Eastern Shadows, we follow an unemployed journalist named Shane as he travels to Thailand in search of a missing girl. He is looking for Ploy Soikham, whose mother turns to him for help because of his personal connection to the country. Shane once lived in Thailand, speaks the language, and is somewhat familiar with the culture. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes a tangled web of deceit and corruption. There is far more to Ploy’s disappearance than meets the eye. Will Shane be able to find her before it’s too late?
Whisper by Alison Bellringer is an emotional story that follows Britney, a young girl growing up in a toxic environment. Her home life is unstable and unpredictable because of her emotionally and physically abusive father. Living in constant fear, Britney learns to stay quiet and avoid drawing attention to herself. When a stray puppy named Whisper finds her in the woods, he becomes a source of comfort and support. The two form a special bond and begin a journey toward healing and new beginnings.
This story centers on Billy 9F, who lives in a dystopian world where laughter is a crime. Surrounded by strict rules and harsh consequences, Billy’s natural gift for making others laugh is suppressed. He continues to pull pranks on his classmates, but every laugh triggers a painful shock from the collars everyone is forced to wear. Torn between his love of humor and the fear of his friends being punished, Billy searches for a way to stay true to himself. When a new student arrives at school, Billy discovers an ally. Together, can they find a way to bring laughter back?
Neil Kyd used to work for the CIA before trading in his badge for a quiet farm life in Kansas. Now, he’s a full-time caregiver to his terminally ill daughter, Molly. When he’s offered a chance to get her into an experimental treatment program in exchange for completing a secret mission, he jumps at it. The assignment takes him to Moscow to retrieve a video memory card, but the plan unravels almost immediately. Will Kyd be able to survive the fallout and make it back to his daughter, and will she get the treatment?
This story features Marek and Ilona, a married couple who, after five years of marriage, are beginning to notice a disconnect. Ilona has traded her smoking addiction for television, losing herself in endless binge‑watching. With aspirations of becoming a screenwriter, she claims her “research” is simply watching shows. However, this never translates into words on a page, and TV continues to consume her time. Marek has had enough. He points out her obsession, leading to frequent arguments. Ultimately, the question becomes: who will she choose, Marek or the TV?
This story begins in the Appalachian town of Bilbo. Priscilla Speaks, born into poverty and raised by an addicted mother, yearns for understanding of the world around her. From a young age, she realized she was different than her peers and struggled to make personal connections. Often bullied, she resorts to violence as a means of defending herself. At the age of 16, Priscilla finds herself on the Appalachian Trail on her own adventure.
