Authored by Donna M. Chubb
Edition: First

Talk about over reacting. Danielle knew when she got in trouble that her parents would ground her. What she didn't expect was that they would take her away from everyone and everything she knew. She and her family have left Earth and now she's living on planet Logos as part a settlement team. Danielle misses her best friend-and French fries. She just wants to go home. A discontent Danielle once again breaks the rules, but the consequences this time are both terrifyingly dangerous and surprisingly wonderful. The early surveys did nothing to prepare them for this adventure. To Danielle, it's like the planet is on steroids. Everything is super-sized; from the poison of the smallest insect to an enormous hurricane. When tempers flare and personalities change, it seems as if the viciousness of planet itself is infiltrating the team members. Then Logos reveals its most intriguing discovery of all.

About the author:
Donna lives in Hickory, North Carolina with her husband and two dogs. She has four daughters and five grandchildren, so far. Donna has taught school for twenty-two years and uses her many experiences in her writing. She loves animals as well, so she tries to include at least one animal as part of her story lines. "Animals and kids can give you fodder for many humorous situations and I love to have humor in my writing."
Besides writing, Donna enjoys working in her yard and reading. She and her husband have traveled extensively in the past, but are content to put down roots in North Carolina and have fun with grandchildren.

The Human Act and Other Stories

Angela Lam's short story collection explores the multifaceted lives of diverse people struggling to connect in a disjointed world. Lam delves into sexual identity, poverty, romantic love, parenthood, eating disorders, infidelity, and family relationships, effortlessly carrying the reader from the ghettos to suburbia. From the tough-talking, lipstick-wielding girl in "Lips," to the love struck lesbian artist in "Fistful of Love," to the stoic single mother raising a disabled son and the infatuated widow trying to relive her past, Lam illuminates the hope, fear, and longing of what it means to be human.

About the author:
During her more than 20-year career, Angela Lam has entertained and educated readers through poems, articles, essays, and novels. The Human Act and Other Stories showcases 14 of her best, award-winning short stories, including "Lips," which was nominated for a Pushcart Prize, "Ashes to Angels," a semi-finalist for fiction from the Heekin Group Foundation, and "A Toast Good-Bye" which won first place in Creativity Connection's fiction contest. A native of California, she is also the author of two chick lit novels. Visit her at www.angelalamturpin.com.

Safe to Say

Authored by James Ward

Packed with humor and insight, Safe to Say explores the gut wrenching absurdities of life in corporate America. Set in the 1980's amidst the decline of an iconic company, the story centers on the eventful careers of two characters - Harmon Wolcott and Riley O'Brian. Harmon, a young man raised in the farm country of upstate New York, joins the company to fulfill his father's great wish; Riley, a young woman raised in Jersey City, New Jersey, is intent on fulfilling her own high expectations, instilled by her strong-willed Dominican mother. Despite their differences in background, Harmon and Riley share the traits of intelligence, ambition and an aching desire for approval. Their paths converge and the stakes are raised when both are assigned to a select group charged with pleasing upper management. The story of their accomplishments, disillusionment and ultimate chance at salvation reads like a cross between Catch 22 and The Firm. If you have ever had the corporate experience, or just wondered about it, you will find Safe to Say smart, touching and funny.

About the author:
James Ward's award winning short stories have appeared in literary journals throughout the United States, in Canada, and most recently China and Africa. Safe to Say is his first novel. After a long and varied career in corporate America, he is delighted to be writing full time. He lives in New Jersey with his wife Barbara.

For The Love Of God

Authored by Meghan K. Barnes

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD tells the true story of a young girl struggling to find her identity during the confusion and deaths that followed the sudden boom of legalized gambling. She witnesses the city crumble as it is swept away by the growing casino industry of Atlantic City. An accidental fire burns down a neighbor's house, leaving nothing but their new-found gambling and alcohol addictions behind. Many are fired from their jobs and forced to leave the area, and are replaced by cheaper workers living in the newly built slum housing in the once-safe neighborhoods and parks of her childhood. Her close relationship with family and friends who also struggle with the same issues of redefining what home means to them are explored throughout this thought-provoking story.

 About the author:
Meghan K. Barnes is an English & Creative Writing instructor who holds an MFA in nonfiction from The University of North Carolina Wilmington, AWP's 2nd ranked nonfiction program in the country. She is the three-time winner of Creative Nonfiction Magazine's tiny truths contest and her work has been featured multiple literary magazines such as The Beat, Del Sol, Charlotte Viewpoint & WB Magazine as well as six anthologies: So Long, Writers Block, Yes I Can, Christmas, Christmas, Real & Thoreau's Rooster. She has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize in both nonfiction and fiction, and has sat on panels for both the American Writers and Poets Convention & The Southern Women's Writers Convention. She currently resides in coastal North Carolina with her Rottweiler, Zen.