Fiction: literary and general non-genre

Book SynopsisThey all lived through that terrible Christmas. The problem is, they remember it differently… Sisters Penny and Victoria seem to have nothing in common—except perhaps envy. Penny seems blessed with a perfect work-life balance, though only she knows how underpaid and underappreciated she is, while Victoria appears to have everything she could wish for—along with a growing list of neuroses that keep her teetering on the brink of breakdown. For years the sisters have been at odds for reasons they don’t quite understand. What they do know is that everything changed on Christmas Eve 1976, when a shocking chain of events fractured the family forever. But when a fresh tragedy strikes, it becomes clear that Victoria remembers a lot more about that horrific day than she’s letting on… As secrets from their childhood are forced to the surface, the sisters must confront the shadows of the past together. Because, as they come to learn, as long as the truth remains bottled up, their relationships with each other, and to the past, can never heal. Revised edition: This edition of The Bottle of Tears (also published as Let the Light Shine) includes editorial revisions.

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Book SynopsisAfter their lives fly off the rails, getting back on track takes everything they have left. Davis Winger has it all. A respected engineer who designs roller coasters in theme parks across the country, he is deeply in love with his wife and has a beautiful young daughter and a happy home. Until an accident strikes on one of his rides. Nothing fatal—except to his career. And to his marriage, when a betrayal from his past inadvertently comes to light. In one cosmically bad day, Davis loses it all. His sister, Molly, is at a crossroads herself. She’s coasting through a dire relationship with an incompatible man-child. And she’s a journalist whose deeply personal columns about mothers and daughters are forcing her to confront the truth about her own mother, who abandoned Molly and Davis years ago and disappeared. For these two siblings, it’s just a matter of bracing themselves for one turbulent summer in this redemptive and painfully funny family drama about making the best of the sharp turns in life—those we choose to take and those beyond our control.Trade Review“At once hilarious and poignant, A Beginner’s Guide to Free Fall explores the ups and downs of love, marriage, family, and all that life encompasses with such wit and incision, you’ll wish you hadn’t read the whole book so quickly.” —Allison Winn Scotch, New York Times bestselling author of In Twenty Years “Childhood wounds often linger long into adulthood, as siblings Davis and Molly discover in Andy Abramowitz’s wry, compelling new novel. A story about second chances and the power of family, A Beginner’s Guide to Free Fall is a potent reminder that as long as we’re alive, it’s never too late to make a change.” —Camille Pagán, bestselling author “A Beginner’s Guide to Free Fall has all the thrills, emotions, and unexpected turns of the best roller coasters. I immediately connected with these characters and couldn’t wait to see what was around each bend in the track of their story. Take a seat, pull down the safety bar, and settle in, because you are not going to want to get off this ride until you turn that last page. This is a great book!” —Elizabeth LaBan, bestselling author of The Restaurant Critic’s Wife, Not Perfect, and Beside Herself

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Book SynopsisAn ingeniously witty novel about the risks—and rewards—of opening your life to new people by Amazon Charts bestselling author Camille Pagán. No new people: that’s Annie Mercer’s vow. It’s bad enough that her boss sabotaged her chemistry career and her best friend tried to cure her with crystals. But after her fiancé, Jon, asks for space while he’s gallivanting around Paris, Annie decides she needs space too—from everyone. Yet when Harper moves in next door, Annie can’t help but train a watchful eye on the glamorous but fragile young woman. And if keeping Harper safe requires teaming up with Mo, a maddeningly optimistic amateur detective, who is she to mind her own business? Soon Annie has let not one but two new people into her life. Then Jon reappears—and he wants her to join him in France. She’s pretty sure letting anyone get close won’t end well. So she must decide: Is another shot at happiness worth the risk?Trade Review“…witty and delightful…A touching story that is perfect for fans of Maria Semple’s Where’d You Go, Bernadette and the humor of Jennifer Weiner’s novels, this book is for those who understand the difficulties of tackling life, work, and love as a millennial.” —Library Journal (starred) “The book’s format includes diary entries, texts, and emails, giving the reader a glimpse of Annie’s robust inner life—she may seem standoffish and distant, but there’s a lot going on behind the scenes…[Annie’s] journey takes unexpected, poignant turns, delving into deeper issues while maintaining a positive tone and peppy pace. Fans of Sarah Haywood and Gail Honeyman will appreciate the quirky, yet thoughtfully presented, characters.” —Booklist “This is a funny and heartfelt book about taking charge of your life and relationships that will give lots of reasons to cheer for Annie.” —The Parkersburg News & Sentinel “Quirky and lovable. Buy this one for all of your friends!” —Frolic “I’m a big fan of quirky characters and this book delivers with some laugh-out-loud moments…This was such a sweet story and had so many funny moments that I found myself reading portions out loud to my husband.” —MomAdvice “A main character you can relate to, side characters you end up loving more than you thought you would, some humor, some sadness, some intrigue, and some tough decisions.” —Anything Goes Lifestyle “…a must-read for anyone who knows the value of some me-time…Whether it’s a laugh you crave or a story with true heart and transformation, This Won’t End Well does in fact end brilliantly for the reader.” —BookTrib “Never has a quirky lead character been so lovable or well drawn as Annie, the lovelorn chemist who carries This Won’t End Well. Though she pretends to be closed off to the world, in fact she can’t stop caring—and that push-pull of who to let into her life, and under what terms, is something we all understand at a soul-deep level. Annie’s journey from oblivious in love to aware and empowered had me cheering and turning the pages madly, unable to tear myself away. If you want to laugh and lose yourself in a great read, this is the one for you!” —Kelly Harms, bestselling author of The Overdue Life of Amy Byler “Witty, wise, and of the moment, This Won’t End Well is a story of unlikely friendships, calculated risks, and taking a stand—even when it’s easier to maintain the status quo. Charmingly flawed and endearingly real characters combine with a unique format to make Camille Pagán’s latest page-turner her best book yet.” —Kristy Woodson Harvey, bestselling author of Slightly South of Simple “Camille Pagán writes with deep compassion for her characters and for all of us who try so hard to do the right thing by the people we love. Annie, the protagonist at the center of her latest novel, is no exception. Quirky and occasionally clueless, charming and vulnerable, Annie’s so real that you’ll want to make her your best friend by the time you’ve reached the last page. This Won’t End Well is Pagán at her finest—capturing readers with warmth, honesty, and keen observations about keeping love simple in a complicated world.” —Ann Garvin, USA TODAY bestselling author of I Like You Just Fine When You’re Not Around

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Book SynopsisOne lucky day will change two women’s lives—but for better or worse? When an unexpected windfall brings together strangers Shauna and Frankie, one woman is popping champagne corks—but the other just wants to cry. For her part, Shauna is pouring celebratory drinks. Since her heart was broken and her dreams shattered, she’s been ready for a fresh start. Surely she deserves some good luck at last? But Frankie knows what can happen to families when money moves in and is allowed to take over. Fearing she’ll lose the contented—if cash-strapped—life she has built with her husband and their two daughters, she wants to be in control this time. But as money rewrites their life stories and truths emerge among the treasure, both are forced to wonder if their good fortune is just bad luck in disguise… Revised edition: Previously published as Fortunate Friends, this edition of A Winning Betrayal includes editorial revisions.

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Book SynopsisA secret family history of love, anguish and betrayal. After her beloved grandmother Rozenn’s death, Morane is heartbroken to learn that her sister is the sole inheritor of the family home in Cornwall—while she herself has been written out of the will. With both her business and her relationship with her sister on the rocks, Morane becomes consumed by one question: what made Rozenn turn her back on her? When she finds an old letter linking her grandmother to Brittany under German occupation, Morane escapes on the trail of her family’s past. In the coastal village where Rozenn lived in 1941, she uncovers a web of shameful secrets that haunted Rozenn to the end of her days. Was it to protect those she loved that a desperate Rozenn made a heartbreaking decision and changed the course of all their lives forever? Morane goes in search of the truth but the truth can be painful. Can she make her peace with the past and repair her relationship with her sister?

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Book SynopsisFrom the outside, Alice’s marriage looks successful. It’s true that Ken was never her first choice, but four decades in, she’s learned to tolerate him. Their two sons have chosen their own paths, Tim as a successful banker and Matt a carefree globetrotter she can’t keep up with. But when circumstances collide to make her question the life she’s quietly accepted, Alice realises she’s been lying to herself for years. It’s time to stand up and put her own happiness first, but where do you begin when you’ve turned your back on everything? Alice craves the support of someone who understands her, but Tim won’t take sides and his trophy wife won’t give her the time of day. It seems the only person she can really rely on in her new start is herself. Unless…Can her other son come through for her? Matt’s been travelling so long that she barely knows which continent he’s on. But could his experience as the black sheep of the family be just what she needs to finally reveal the secret she’s bottled up for years—and find the happiness she gave up on so long ago? Revised edition: This edition of The Other Son includes editorial revisions.

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Book SynopsisTwo strangers—generations and oceans apart—have a chance to save each other in this moving and suspenseful novel about family secrets and the ineffable connections that attach us. In a small Northern Italian village, nine-year-old Luca Taviano catches a stubborn cold and is subsequently diagnosed with leukemia. His only hope for survival is a bone marrow transplant. After an exhaustive search, a match turns up three thousand miles away in the form of a most unlikely donor: Joseph Neiman, a rabbi in Brooklyn, New York, who is suffering from a debilitating crisis of faith. As Luca’s young nurse, Nina Vocelli, risks her career and races against time to help save the spirited redheaded boy, she uncovers terrible secrets from World War II—secrets that reveal how a Catholic child could have Jewish genes. Can inheritance be transcended by accidents of love? That is the question at the heart of This Magnificent Dappled Sea, a novel that challenges the idea of identity and celebrates the ties that bind us together.Trade Review“Plenty of heart and compassion. Biro’s ambitious dive into the mysteries of family origins will move readers.” —Publishers Weekly “Physician and author Biro examines the secrets that people carry and how they shape and distort the ways one sees the world. A story of interconnection and the boundaries that too often keep us apart.” —Booklist “David Biro has written a glorious novel about connections over time, through war and displacement, to life affirming twists of fate that change the course of the lives of Luca Taviano, an Italian boy and Joseph Neiman, a rabbi. Grief and love are intertwined in the experience of Italian Jews and this beautiful novel tells that story weaving in and out of time as secrets are revealed and redemption is lost and found. Brava!” —Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of The Shoemaker's Wife “David Biro’s fine novel is a page-turner of old secrets, new medicine and unexpected connections, in which lives in New York become entwined with lives in a small town in northern Italy. Most of all, it’s a novel of rich humanity.” —Matthew Kneale, Booker Prize shortlisted author of English Passengers “This Magnificent Dappled Sea is a superb read. It has fascinating, original characters you care about and a masterful plot that will captivate you as it slowly unfolds. But it’s more than just entertainment. On a deeper level, it’s an important novel with a beautiful beating heart. It’s the kind of book the world desperately needs right now. You’ll be a better person for having read it.” —Julianne MacLean, USA Today bestselling author “David Biro’s novel This Magnificent Dappled Sea is the beautifully rendered tale of Luca Taviano, a boy in a small Italian village who is diagnosed with leukemia, and his devoted nurse Nina Vocelli, who leads a Herculean effort to find a bone marrow donor that could save Luca’s life. This is a captivating, well-crafted story of family secrets, love, loss and forgiveness, and our inherent human connectedness.” —Jane Healey, bestselling author of The Beantown Girls

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Book SynopsisThree generations of women—and the love, loss, sacrifice, and secrets that can bind them forever or tear them apart. Millicent Glenn is self-sufficient and contentedly alone in the Cincinnati suburbs. As she nears her ninety-first birthday, her daughter Jane, with whom she’s weathered a shaky relationship, suddenly moves back home. Then Millie’s granddaughter shares the thrilling surprise that she’s pregnant. But for Millie, the news stirs heartbreaking memories of a past she’s kept hidden for too long. Maybe it’s time she shared something, too. Millie’s last wish? For Jane to forgive her. Sixty years ago Millie was living a dream. She had a husband she adored, a job of her own, a precious baby girl, and another child on the way. They were the perfect family. All it took was one irreversible moment to shatter everything, reshaping Millie’s life and the lives of generations to come. As Millie’s old wounds are exposed, so are the secrets she’s kept for so long. Finally revealing them to her daughter might be the greatest risk a mother could take in the name of love.Trade ReviewFinalist in the Fiction: Historical category of the 2020 International Book Awards “This touching story of the love and forgiveness between mothers and daughters will win fans.” —Library Journal “If you love midcentury nostalgia and novels that delve deep into family relationships, you’ll enjoy this well-crafted, historical tale.” —The Augusta Chronicle “This is a heart-warming story of three generations of strong, independent women. The love of Millie for her family is at the core of the story and some well-placed twists and turns keep the reader engaged to the very end.” —Red Carpet Crash “The book explores how one moment can shape a person’s life forever.” —STYLECASTER “This tenderly written, fast-moving tale of marriage, women’s friendships, and family reconciliation is satisfying and extremely moving.” —Historical Novel Society “A heartwarming and affecting novel centered around the love between mothers and daughters, of what we share and the secrets we keep…Whitaker brings us back to the 1950s, highlighting the old gender norms and the cost paid by those who tried to shake them…an engaging and illuminating walk through the not-so-distant past…with a worthy heroine to lead readers through a life full of loss, love, heartbreak, and, ultimately, of forgiveness.” —Karen White, New York Times bestselling author of A Long Time Gone and the Tradd Street Series “A novel about the legacies women pass to their daughters—and the price of the secrets they keep. Millie is a heroine to cheer for as she makes her journey from…working wife and mom to grandmother seeking forgiveness for her decisions—made because of jaw-dropping challenges you will never forget. You’ll miss her long after the book’s cover is closed.” —Jenna Blum, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Family and Those Who Save Us “Get ready to meet your new favorite author as Tori Whitaker moves deftly forward and back in time in a lyrical exploration of motherhood and longing, secrets and regrets, mistakes and, ultimately, absolution. This is an author with great insight into both history and the female heart, and I highly recommend this heartfelt, beautifully written debut.” —Joshilyn Jackson, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Never Have I Ever and The Almost Sisters “Tenderly told and full of heart, Millicent Glenn’s Last Wish is a deeply satisfying story that hooked me from the first page. Tori Whitaker’s debut offers a fresh and poignant perspective on motherhood, loss, and, ultimately, forgiveness.” —Lynda Cohen Loigman, bestselling author of The Two-Family House and The Wartime Sisters “Millicent Glenn’s Last Wish is a delight of a book that explores how one long-held secret can shape a family. Tori Whitaker’s characters sparkle with warmth and humanity, especially ninety-year-old Mil, whose voice rings clear and true throughout these charming pages.” —Tara Conklin, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Romantics “Written with compassion and grace, Tori Whitaker’s Millicent Glenn’s Last Wish is a nuanced debut illuminating the multigenerational strength of love, loss, survival, and the limitless power of family. I dare you to read without shedding a tear. Readers will think on these characters long after turning the last page.” —Sarah McCoy, New York Times and international bestselling author of Marilla of Green Gables “Tori Whitaker explores the depths of mother-love with insight, care, and heart-wrenching honesty in this post–World War II story brimming with exceptional historical detail. A moving and emotionally charged debut by a writer to watch.” —Susan Meissner, bestselling author of The Last Year of the War “I loved this story. Tori Whitaker has created characters who are irresistibly real and hard to leave behind! A meticulously crafted debut.” —Lynn Cullen, bestselling author of The Sisters of Summit Avenue and Mrs. Poe “Attend the debut of a bright new talent…It’s alternately joyous and sad, scary and hopeful, but always wise and warm and overflowing with the wonder of being human.” —William Martin, New York Times bestselling author of Cape Cod and Bound for Gold “A poignant and touching story of three generations of women and the secret family tragedy that unwittingly binds them. With rich settings and fully realized characters that you’ll root for, this book broke my heart—and then stitched it back together again.” —Colleen Oakley, author of You Were There Too “Tori Whitaker’s moving novel…offers a clear-eyed look at how ‘the good old days’ were not always so good, particularly when it came to women’s reproductive health and autonomy. This well-researched and timely novel made me thankful for past generations of women, who, like the titular character, fought hard for the rights I hold so dear today. An impressive debut.” —Susan Rebecca White, author of We Are All Good People Here “A beautifully told and astonishing tale of the mysterious ties that hold a family together…Rich in detail and imbued with compassion, these characters struggle toward necessary forgiveness of a shocking maternity ward tragedy that feels all too relevant, even today. Whitaker cuts close to the bone from page one!” —Kimberly Brock, award-winning author of The River Witch “Packed with midcentury nostalgia and Cincinnati local interest, Whitaker’s dual-timeline debut walks a tightrope between a mother’s yearning to be truly known with what makes her eminently unknowable: a desire to protect her daughter that was born of love. Mothers and daughters alike will not soon forget Millicent Glenn’s last wish; they’ll recognize it as their own.” —Kathryn Craft, award-winning author of The Far End of Happy and The Art of Falling “Readers, meet Millicent Glenn, a tough, savvy lady who has survived many challenges in her ninety-one years. But now she’s facing her biggest one yet…I rooted for Millicent and found the tenderness and complexity of the mother-daughter relationship so lovingly woven through this emotional and gripping story.” —Marybeth Mayhew Whalen, author of This Secret Thing and cofounder of She Reads “A page-turner…of the lives of three generations of women, spanning the post–WWII baby boom into the modern age. Each has experienced life at a different phase of emerging feminism. As the layered revelation of long-held secrets peels away, these women discover healing for years of misunderstanding, grief, and betrayal…a masterwork.” —Diane C. McPhail, author of The Abolitionist’s Daughter

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Book SynopsisA shocking crime draws accused and accuser into a complex web of secrets and lies in a twisting novel of suspense by the bestselling author of The Golden Child.When eighteen-year-old Ellie Canning is discovered wandering the countryside, dazed and traumatized, she tells a harrowing story of abduction, captivity, and escape. An overnight symbol of survival and empowerment, Ellie enthralls an outraged nation.Then authorities zero in on an unlikely suspect: high school teacher Suzannah Wells, identified by Ellie as the woman who kept her drugged and bound in a basement. The evidence against Suzannah is damning?vilified by the media, Suzannah?s only defense is that not a single word Ellie says is true. Suzannah has no reason to lie. But then again, neither does Ellie.The nightmare spins out of control as disturbing details about Suzannah?s past emerge, and the court of public opinion wants blood. Even those closest to Suzannah begin to doubt her. But how innocent is she? How innocent is Ellie? And which one has more to hide?Revised edition: This edition of The Accusation includes editorial revisions.

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Book SynopsisA witty and unexpected novel about a woman trying to keep her family vacation—and yes, her life—from going south by the Amazon Charts bestselling author of Life and Other Near-Death Experiences. It’s been thirteen years since doctors declared Libby Ross-Velasquez a goner. Yet here she is—cancer free. So why doesn’t she feel more alive? Sure, Libby’s husband, Shiloh, has been distant. One of their daughters has a serious health condition. And her father’s death hovers over Libby like a rain cloud. Still, this eternal optimist knows she’s the winner of the existential lottery. But when her forced cheer isn’t enough to keep her family from catching her blahs, she decides to fly them all to Vieques. The Puerto Rican island is where she and Shiloh fell in love—and where she decided to fight for her life after her cancer diagnosis. Where better to put their problems into perspective? Then a tropical storm strikes. Libby pretends everything’s fine, even as she fears she’s doomed her family. What she can’t see is that the worst disaster they’ve faced may be the best thing that ever happened to them. But first, they have to get through it.Trade Review“Pagán combines realistic midlife concerns with likable characters, showing that perfection is an illusion and that it’s the difficult times that truly bring us together. Fans of Maddie Dawson and Allison Winn Scotch will enjoy vacationing with the Ross-Velasquez crew.” —Booklist “Pagán delivers a relatable motherhood journey and all of the struggles that middle age bring to us. Bigger than that are the beautiful reminders of the importance of family, especially in times of struggle, that we really need right now.” —MomAdvice “A funny yet oh-so-relatable narrative.” —POPSUGAR “The Amazon charts bestselling author Camille Pagán writes with depth and soul about what makes a family whole.” —Good Morning America “An impressively crafted and deftly written novel, Don’t Make Me Turn This Life Around by author Camille Pagán is an inherently compelling read from first page to last. With having a special appeal to readers who appreciate humor and family dynamics.” —Midwest Book Review “A powerful story of family and hope—have tissues at the ready!” —Woman’s World “With her trademark wit and charm, Camille Pagán invites us back into the lives of Libby and Shiloh thirteen years after we first met them in Life and Other Near-Death Experiences. Don’t Make Me Turn This Life Around is rich, raw, and real, a new favorite…Readers like me can’t help coming back for more of Pagán’s gorgeously written stories. I loved it!” —Kerry Lonsdale, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post bestselling author “Oh my goodness! Camille Pagán has achieved such an exquisite, delicate balance, writing a profoundly moving novel that expresses both the beauty and heartbreak of loving other people. Don’t Make Me Turn This Life Around is everything: funny and warm and scary and sad and reassuring—just like real life. I read this in one sitting because I simply couldn’t stop.” —Maddie Dawson, bestselling author of Matchmaking for Beginners and A Happy Catastrophe “Camille Pagán’s latest page-turner brilliantly captures the nuances of marriage and family while tackling the tough challenges along the way. Libby is every wife and mother, and when life throws her a curveball, she finds the courage to keep moving…and keep believing. With wit and wisdom, Don’t Make Me Turn This Life Around will have you laughing and crying along with these perfectly flawed characters and asking yourself, What does it mean to have enough?” —Rochelle Weinstein, bestselling author of This Is Not How It Ends “Pagán masterfully guides us on a stormy journey through a morass of middle-age malaise and deposits us on the other side with charm, humor, truth, and a few lessons about the power of love and unbreakable family ties.” —Andy Abramowitz, author of A Beginner’s Guide to Free Fall “Camille Pagán pens another hit with the compulsively readable Don’t Make Me Turn This Life Around. I trust Pagán’s storytelling, and in her latest, she masterfully guides us through a woman’s journey through real ups and downs in marriage and motherhood.” —Tif Marcelo, author of Once Upon a Sunset “Camille Pagán once again gives us a heartfelt and relatable story about a woman on the edge. This time, Libby knows she should be feeling euphoric about beating cancer for good—and instead she finds the limits of her unrelenting optimism. She can’t stop her tween daughters from arguing, make her work more fulfilling, or insulate her marriage from the pressures of middle-age. Don’t Make Me Turn This Life Around is a lovely novel about banishing ‘shoulds’ and welcoming the adventures and inevitable pain of growing just a little bit older.” —Kathleen West, author of Minor Dramas & Other Catastrophes “Don’t Make Me Turn This Life Around is a delightful blend of humor and tension. Poignant, layered, and achingly real, we’re treated to a true-to-life protagonist we can both laugh and cry with as she navigate the anxieties of marriage and motherhood as middle age approaches. I devoured this charming, not-to-be-missed novel in a single sitting, and found myself hating to say goodbye to characters that had started to feel like friends.” —Barbara Davis, bestselling author of The Last of the Moon Girls

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Book SynopsisFour people looking for love. Four choices that could be the start of everything. At thirty-three, nurse Heather is desperately waiting for her romantic life to begin. Then she meets handsome, strong Anthony and is sure she’s found the one. Brushing any doubts aside, she projects all her hopes for true love onto him. Meanwhile, at a yoga retreat in Spain, happy-go-lucky Joe can’t believe his luck when he meets vivacious, witty Amy. She’s the sharpest, most beautiful woman he has ever dated, and the fact that she’s interested in him feels like a dream come true. But new love can be blind, and when the two couples meet, the cracks are easy to see. Will their crossed paths lead the way to happiness? Or are they all destined for heartbreak?

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Book SynopsisIn the shadow of World War II, one young woman must make an unthinkable sacrifice for those she loves. Norway, 1940. Nazis pour into Oslo, a shroud of dread looms over the city, and eighteen-year-old Ingrid Solberg fears the worst. Under German rule, harsh rationing and the exorbitant cost of medicine threaten the lives of many, including Ingrid’s mother. And when Ingrid meets a young SS officer, she’s forced to make a desperate choice. Seventy years later, after the death of Ingrid in her adopted country of Canada, her son, Arnold, finds a disturbing letter in her belongings. Though mired in his own personal problems, Arnold puts his troubled life on hold and embarks on a journey to Oslo to understand his family’s history. As Arnold confronts the past, he discovers dark secrets and the long-lasting repercussions of decisions his mother made long ago. But as disturbing as his discoveries are, he has come too far to shrink from the ugly truth now…

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Book SynopsisInspired by the true story of the World War I American Women’s Hospital, Mercy Road is a novel about love, courage, and a female ambulance driver who risks everything. In 1917, after Arlene Favier’s home burns to the ground, taking her father with it, she must find a way to support her mother and younger brother. If she doesn’t succeed, they will all be impoverished. Job opportunities are scarce, but then a daring possibility arises: the American Women’s Hospital needs ambulance drivers to join a trailblazing, all-female team of doctors and nurses bound for war-torn France. On the front lines, Arlene and her fellow ambulance drivers work day and night to aid injured soldiers and civilians. In between dangerous ambulance runs, Arlene reunites with a childhood friend, Jimmy Tucker, now a soldier, who opens her heart like no one before. But she has also caught the attention of Felix Brohammer, a charismatic army captain who harbors a dark, treacherous secret. To expose Brohammer means risking her family’s future and the promise of love. Arlene must make a choice: stay in the safety of silence or take the greatest chance of her life.Trade Review“…The World War I time frame and the vivid details about the American Women’s Hospital’s service in France make this a worthy read.” —Booklist “Creel writes with fluidity and precision…I read this in one sitting, and would recommend it to readers who are interested in the lesser known talents women brought to WWI.” —Historical Novel Society “I love the way Ann Howard Creel writes—she is as at home bringing the beauty of France to life as she is dealing with the heartbreak of war. Impeccably researched, Mercy Road has all the hallmarks of fine historical fiction. Strong, memorable characters tell the unsung story of a group of remarkable women who provided invaluable help during the First World War.” —Ella Carey, bestselling author of The House by the Lake “Mercy Road has everything a good historical novel needs from start to finish: compelling characters, wonderfully woven history, and a beautifully crafted storyline. The magic of Ann’s words transports the reader through this historical drama about the American women doctors, nurses and ambulance drivers in WWI France. Arlene is inspiring as are all the women with their courage and determination to support the war effort against many odds. Highly recommended.” —Gemma Liviero, bestselling author of The Road Beyond Ruin

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Book SynopsisA harrowing legal thriller from the bestselling author of Little Boy Lost. Judge Jim Thompson’s world is unraveling. He’s facing public backlash on a decision-gone-wrong for a young boy in foster care and, even worse, he’s just discovered that his mentor, Judge Meyer, has been murdered. Despite his self-doubt in the face of media scrutiny, Jim is determined to continue his friend’s legacy—and find his killer. As he digs into the mysterious death, Jim comes across a case that had haunted the judge for decades—a case he couldn’t let go of. Judge Meyer had worked hard to find the right solutions for foster children, but rulings in such cases are never simple, and his decisions may have cost him his life. As Jim searches for answers, he begins to see similarities between his mentor’s past and his own present. Now it’s up to him to learn from his late friend’s mistakes and track down a killer—before he loses everything that matters to him.

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestselling author Melody Anne’s sizzling novel of ex-lovers locked again in a game of hearts. There was a time when surgeon Kian Forbes would have surrendered every cent of his vast family fortune if it could make Roxie Gilbert happy. That was before she skipped town, broke his heart, and sent him spinning through a string of forgettable one-night stands. He never even knew he’d fathered a child—with Roxie’s sister, no less. But in the wake of tragedy, little Lily needs a home. And Kian wants his daughter. But Roxie’s not giving in or giving up without a fight. Fearful of her intense feelings for Kian, Roxie ran. Now that her sister’s death has brought her home, she intends to take custody of her niece and avoid Kian—easier said than done on both counts. With their wealth and power, the Forbes men are accustomed to winning. And as she and Kian are forced to spend time together for Lily’s sake, saying no to everything he wants proves impossible…even though it means risking both their hearts all over again.

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Book SynopsisIn Loretta Nyhan’s warm and witty Amazon Charts bestselling novel, a widow discovers an unexpected chance to start over—right in her own backyard. Paige Moresco found her true love in eighth grade—and lost him two years ago. Since his death, she’s been sleepwalking through life, barely holding on for the sake of her teenage son. Her house is a wreck, the grass is overrun with weeds, and she’s at risk of losing her job. As Paige stares at her neglected lawn, she knows she’s hit rock bottom. So she does something entirely unexpected: she begins to dig. As the hole gets bigger, Paige decides to turn her entire yard into a vegetable garden. The neighbors in her tidy gated community are more than a little alarmed. Paige knows nothing about gardening, and she’s boldly flouting neighborhood-association bylaws. But with the help of new friends, a charming local cop, and the transformative power of the soil, Paige starts to see potential in the chaos of her life. Something big is beginning to take root—both in her garden and in herself.Trade Review“Endearingly quirky…Emotional yet funny…Confronting grief, change, and a new way of being, Nyhan’s lovely story captures the rejuvenating power of hard work that can start right in the backyard.” —Publishers Weekly “Charming…Nyhan has fun with a bubbly satire of business culture.” —Kirkus Reviews “On the surface, this is a sweet novel about aging, grief, and redemption. But Nyhan (All the Good Parts, 2016), who has experienced loss herself, shares very insightful observations. She reminds readers that comfort and hope can come in the most unexpected encounters if the heart is open.” —Booklist “For the two years since her husband’s death, Paige has been concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other…Nyhan uses details from her own personal tragedy to harness the pain, tenderness, and empowerment of Paige’s transformation in Digging In.” —Associated Press “A warm story of new beginnings and getting over loss…This is a powerful and uplifting story.” —Parkersburg News and Sentinel “Full of life, vitality, and humor, the messy side of life, the things that aren’t pretty…Wise, witty, and affecting.” —Novelgossip “[Loretta Nyhan’s] novels are emotional for sure, but they still manage to deal with tough themes in an upbeat and hilarious way…By the end of the book, you’re left in a place of healthy, hopeful bliss, a place only Nyhan could take us to.” —The Suspense is Thrilling Me “This is a vision of love, hope, and pressing onward even when it doesn’t seem possible…Highly recommended.” –USA Today’s Happy Ever After “A compelling blend of grief, humor, and change, Digging In by Loretta Nyhan is an impressively original and entertaining read from cover to cover.” —Midwest Book Review “Nyhan has done it again! Her characters captivate and her gift for vivid prose shines in this roller coaster of a tale. My hope is that it leaps from the page to the big screen! Any reader with a heart won’t want it to end!” —Nicole Waggoner, author of Center Ring and The Act “I want to scream my love for this book from the rooftops. What a delightful, funny, authentic, wise story about the healing power of gardening and the struggle to root yourself in the untilled land of grief. With a full cast of unique characters, Digging In is a must-read for anyone seeking pure entertainment.” —Barbara Claypole White, bestselling author of The Perfect Son “I loved this one! Tender and sweet and hilarious. Packed full of wise moments, with a fresh take on what it is to experience grief. The characters seemed so lifelike I caught myself considering Googling one of them to see what she was up to in her life now! Hilarious take on split-generation offices—hipsters vs the shoulder pad brigade. Recommend this read to anyone.” —Virginia Franken, author of Life After Coffee “Digging In is the loveliest novel. The title is perfect—a metaphor for digging deep. It is the story of a woman who has been brought to her knees by the loss of her husband, the love of her life. Now absolutely everything is on the line, her job, her relationship with her teenage son, and her will to live, hangs in the balance. The unique and surprising—even to her—ways she recovers had me turning the pages, and yet I wanted to linger. In her own inimitable warm, witty, and compassionate style, Loretta Nyhan has written a wise and poignant story of recovery from grief. I loved this book.” —Barbara Taylor Sissel, author of The Truth We Bury and Faultlines

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Book SynopsisCandide, the illegitimate nephew of a German baron and student of eternal optimist Pangloss, is living a simple and sheltered life in “the best of all possible worlds.” But when Candide falls in love with the wrong woman, his uncle’s young daughter, he is exiled from the baron’s castle and suffers great tragedy and catastrophe, which leaves him disillusioned and questioning the goodness of the universe. Penned in just three days—and published in secret because of its blasphemous and seditious nature—Voltaire’s legendary satire deftly skewers religious, romantic, and political naïveté with an acerbic and ribald wit that delights to this day. Revised edition: Previously published as Candide, this edition of Candide (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.

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Book SynopsisSan Francisco, 1915. As America teeters on the brink of world war, Charmian and her husband, famed novelist Jack London, wrestle with genius and desire, politics and marital competitiveness. Charmian longs to be viewed as an equal partner who put her own career on hold to support her husband, but Jack doesn’t see it that way…until Charmian is pulled from the audience during a magic show by escape artist Harry Houdini, a man enmeshed in his own complicated marriage. Suddenly, charmed by the attention Houdini pays her and entranced by his sexual magnetism, Charmian’s eyes open to a world of possibilities that could be her escape. As Charmian grapples with her urge to explore the forbidden, Jack’s increasingly reckless behavior threatens her dedication. Now torn between two of history’s most mysterious and charismatic figures, she must find the courage to forge her own path, even as she fears the loss of everything she holds dear.Trade Review“An impressively original and exceptionally well-crafted novel by an author who is a master of character- and narrative-driven storytelling, Rebecca Rosenberg’s The Secret Life of Mrs. London is an inherently riveting and thoroughly reader-engaging story from beginning to end and feature[es] many an unexpected plot twist and turn.” —Midwest Book Review “Interesting, and based on the actual lives of the participants…Learning more about Jack London was enjoyable, as well as seeing early feminist examples.” —Historical Novel Society “…Rosenberg paints an immensely intriguing portrait of a marriage and tells it in an accomplished lyrical prose that captures each moment with poetic intensity.” —Prairies Book Review “Women of all ages and historical fiction fans will love this book.” —Online Book Club “The Secret Life of Mrs. London is a riveting behind-the-scenes look at the marriage of Jack and Charmian London, both fascinating and complicated characters with rich inner lives that Rosenberg conveys in crisp yet poetic prose. This contemporary historical fiction raises questions that are still relevant today about what makes a good marriage, and whether creativity and stability are incompatible. A rich, resonant, deeply satisfying novel sure to delight and leave readers thinking long after they put it down.” —Malena Watrous, author of If You Follow Me and Sparked!, and director of the Stanford Continuing Studies Program in Novel Writing “The Secret Life of Mrs. London is a heart-wrenching portrait of a marriage between two people who utterly depend on one another, but ultimately aren’t enough for each other. With skillful precision of language, Rosenberg weaves a narrative that defines the complexities of love, passion, and art. This is a perceptive, deeply moving novel by a great new talent about a couple who has gone unnoticed in historical fiction until now. Anyone who has ever loved another person will want to read this book.” —Victoria Kelly, author of Mrs. Houdini: A Novel “One of Houdini’s best kept secrets was his affair with Charmian London in 1918. Now Rebecca Rosenberg tells the story using an elegant blend of fact and fiction, creating a Houdini book like no other. The Secret Life of Mrs. London is a true peek behind the curtain and a page-turner.” —John Cox, Wild about Harry

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Book SynopsisFrom Elizabeth LaBan, the acclaimed author of The Restaurant Critic’s Wife, comes a captivating and very funny novel about a wife and mother’s fall from grace, and why keeping up appearances is not her biggest secret. Tabitha Brewer wakes up one morning to find her husband gone, leaving her no way to support herself and their two children, never mind their upscale Philadelphia lifestyle. She’d confess her situation to her friends—if it wasn’t for those dreadful words of warning in his goodbye note: “I’ll tell them what you did.” Instead, she does her best to keep up appearances, even as months pass and she can barely put food on the table—much less replace a light bulb. While she looks for a job, she lives in fear that someone will see her stuffing toilet paper into her handbag or pinching basil from a neighbor’s window box. Soon, blindsided by catastrophe, surprised by romance, and stunned by the kindness of a stranger, Tabitha realizes she can’t keep her secrets forever. Sooner or later, someone is bound to figure out that her life is far from perfect.Trade ReviewA POPSUGAR Winter Must-Read Selection “LaBan has written an amazingly heartbreaking yet uplifting story of a mother who is left with nothing and expected to keep going. Readers of Jennifer Weiner and Jane Green will want to try this one.” —Booklist “Not Perfect is a witty and relatable look at the secrets we keep and the quest for perfection.” —POPSUGAR “Not Perfect has a lively rom-com vibe to it—there is romance and humour and LaBan has created a likeable cast of characters...” —Toronto Star “If you haven’t read Elizabeth LaBan, her latest novel, Not Perfect, is the perfect place to start. It’s a domestic mystery starring Tabitha Brewer, a suburban housewife who wakes up one morning to find her husband gone and her life changed forever. Tabitha is a wonderfully relatable heroine, and you’ll cheer her on, despite the fact she has a few secrets—or maybe because of them! I love this book!” —Lisa Scottoline, New York Times bestselling author “Not Perfect is near perfect. Warm, but not cloying. Moral, but not preachy. A beautiful meditation on redemption.” —Kathy Cooperman, bestselling author of Crimes Against a Book Club “With humor and elegance, Elizabeth LaBan explores the burden of perfection and the futility of seeking it in Not Perfect. Funny and real, poignant and charming, Tabitha is a delight as she falls from grace, from perfect mother and wife to pilfering food and money to keep her family afloat, until she realizes that perfect is overrated. This novel is a gift for anyone who has struggled to wear a mask or keep up an appearance, which is essentially all of us.” —Amulya Malladi, bestselling author of A House for Happy Mothers and The Copenhagen Affair “Not Perfect is a captivating story about keeping up appearances, written with a perfect blend of humor and drama. Tabitha is delightfully human and flawed, and her struggle to preserve the balance of her world in the face of her missing husband (where is Stuart, anyway?) is highly relatable. A fun read that manages to also be thought-provoking.” —Kerry Anne King, author of Closer Home and I Wish You Happy “Not Perfect is a bighearted exploration of motherhood, image, and what really matters most.” —Emily Cavanagh, author of The Bloom Girls

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Book SynopsisA career-focused woman finds her life taken off course by an unexpected pregnancy. A troubled doctor abandons her family on her daughter’s birthday, the three-tiered pastel layer cake in the passenger seat beside her. A young mother must contend with how to explain her husband’s suicide to their child. In her first story collection, Lesley Trites digs bravely into the dilemmas faced by contemporary women who must be everything to everyone. Written with keen insight and deep affection, Lesley Trites’s A Three-Tiered Pastel Dream unearths pearls of wisdom from the secret lives of everyday women.

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Book SynopsisEugenie is trying, and mostly failing, to restore an inherited old farm in New Brunswick while her husband, a master carpenter, is away in Spain. The work involved overwhelms her, so she hires Dean to help bring the farm back to working order. The only problem is that Dean is a deserter from the US Army suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and he happens to be living deep in the backwoods of her property, where he's hiding out from immigration officials. To complicate matters further, Eugenie and Dean fall into a relationship, even as he is tormented by flashbacks, nightmares, and flickering memories of his wartime experiences in Iraq. And then Eugenie’s husband returns.

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Book SynopsisIn Dominoes at the Crossroads Kaie Kellough maps an alternate nation—one populated by Caribbean Canadians who hopscotch across the country. The characters navigate race, class, and coming-of-age. Seeking opportunity, some fade into the world around them, even as their minds hitchhike, dream, and soar. Some appear in different times and hemispheres, whether as student radicals, secret agents, historians, fugitive slaves, or jazz musicians.From the cobblestones of Montreal’s Old Port through the foliage of a South American rainforest; from a basement in wartime Paris to a metro in Montreal during the October Crisis; Kellough’s fierce imagination reconciles the personal and ancestral experience with the present moment, grappling with the abiding feeling of being elsewhere, even when here.

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Book SynopsisConcluding a wide-lens journey through the American West that began with Tarzan actor Johnny Weissmuller (Hungary-Hollywood Express, 2016) and continued with counter-culture poet Richard Brautigan (Mayonnaise, 2018), the final installment of the 1984 trilogy delivers a heart-rending meta-biography of a technological mastermind. With Plamondon’s alter ego, Gabriel Rivages, using his Mac computer to dig deep into the internet’s detritus to reconstruct Jobs, the author devises the story of the personal computer with episodes from the lives of numerous figures who inflected the arc of one of the twentieth century’s most influential figures.

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Book SynopsisIn turns touching and disturbing, this powerfully suggestive story describes a young boy coming of age on his father's farm while being stalked by the new, mentally handicapped employee. Set against a backdrop of abandonment, betrayal, and confusion, the novel explores the human psyche and the contemporary theme of child abuse with subtlety and masterful writing.

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Book SynopsisHalf Mohawk, half Caucasian, Marc Morris is a deeply bitter, disillusioned young man searching for purpose. He hunts and kills animals so he won't kill men, and yet he has faith-if only faith in the idea of faith, and he desperately wants to dedicate his life to something. Marc's story begins the day after his failed suicide attempt and traces back through the 10 years preceding the event, when he sets out on a road trip across North America to poach big game, find love in all the wrong places, and search for something to believe in.

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Book SynopsisIn this collection, award-winning author Austin Clarke has caught, in his characters, a sweet longing for youth and an anxiety-stricken rage at old age; an immigrant’s longing for a placid, lost home and his lust for a new high-speed motorcar life; and an intellectual’s sense of empowerment by black history even as he watches what little he knows about such history engulf him. These are intense and private lives made public by the force of their individual voices, voices that may be rambunctious and fractious but that are, nonetheless, elegant in their intent and humor and their acceptance that is never acquiescence. The volume also includes a prose portrait of Austin Clarke by acclaimed author Barry Callaghan.Trade Review“Uncommonly talented, Clarke sees deeply, and transmits his visions and perceptions so skillfully that reading him is an adventure.” —Publisher’s Weekly“Clarke has a matchless ear for dialogue. . . . He succeeds in making his pages brilliant.” —Boston Globe“He has forcefully demonstrated that distance can sharpen a writer’s focus and deepen perceptions.” —Globe and Mail“Clarke the novelist is very much in charge. He never falls into the trap of making his characters vehicles for mouthing this or that political ideology. They are no more or less than the human beings that his literary alchemy brings to life.” —Toronto Star

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Book SynopsisNew York, December 24. A stray bullet and Branka Svetidrva, who survived the snipers' gunfire in Sarajevo, is dead just days before she would have given birth. The father-to-be had never believed in love, until she had shown him the joys of a shared life. Grieving and contemplating the betrayal of hope that lurks beneath a city's glossy surface, he wanders the streets, until meeting a loving husband and wife, living by choice on the margins of society.They listen to his story and tell their own, while in the background the television news reports on astronaut Stanislas Konchenko, who has just disconnected himself from his spacecraft in a bold statement about humanity that has captured the world's attention. Marc Séguin is a master when working with events of enormous impact, and wonderfully empathetic in his revelations about the human heart.Hollywood is a tale full of fateful meetings and strange coincidences, and an exploration of those moments that stand against the hypocrisy of the American Dream, what many now consider an unattainable "made-in-Hollywood" ideal.Trade Review“How can literary writers conjure events that give their work long-lasting effect? The answer in all cases is to create events of enormous impact. If an event is external, excavate its inner meaning. If a moment is internal, push it out the door and make it do something large, real, permanent, and hard to miss. Marc Séguin succeeds in spades.” —Donald Maass, author, Writing 21st Century Fiction“Hollywood by Marc Séguin: one of Quebec literature’s great works.” —Laurence Lebel, CISM 89.3 FM, on the original French-language edition“Marc Séguin has just written a powerful book, a masterpiece that focuses on what kind of life we want to lead. The novel goes straight to the heart of the essential to move us closer to the core of another human being.” —Critiques Libres“With this unlikely love story that draws knowingly on clichés, the author depicts an America living under a bell jar, convinced that the dramas seen on TV can prepare it for the real horror. A novel in which disenchantment is poetic and lucidity is our only hope of survival.” —Anne-Marie Genest, Librairie Pantoute

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Book SynopsisThis collection contains a series of stories about travels abroad from a queer perspective, each crafted with a distinct spirit and intent and with prose that elicits a cross-pollinating of personal and emotional insight—a special achievement that enables two hemispheres to join through the epicenter of the 2004 Asian tsunami.Author Matthew R. Loney's use of language is rich in description, full of lucid and lively textures, smells, and sensations as a way to transport readers to places they might not travel themselves. Each person and place becomes a thread in a revelatory tapestry, each transition of setting a steppingstone for discovery and adventure. With striking vividness, the author takes readers from familiar departure lounges to foreign cities steeped in history, from enticing turquoise beaches for which everyone longs to desolate mountain ranges well off the beaten track, from consecrating baths in the sacred Ganges to fringe indulgences in Cambodian brothels—and back home, to a northern Canadian cabin where the father of a tsunami victim reels in the quiet aftershocks of grief as the rubble of his memories drag him toward further destruction.That Savage Water is an exceptional debut that explores the mechanisms of connectivity and the intrinsic entanglements that link people, their diverse cultures, and how they take the country they call home with them as they make their way through places they may, on their way, easily call their homes away from home. The message: anonymity while traveling in foreign landscapes can both free and isolate people through the friends they make, the risks they take, the foods and places they love and hate, and at times the depravities they face as they pass through those alluring settings called "abroad.

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Book SynopsisThis modern-day crime/psychological thriller is set against a backdrop of intolerance and narrow-mindedness, ambiguous motives and suspicious alibis. Its sinuous plot and complex characters take the reader on a suspense-filled journey of discovery. Sara, born to a Muslim mother and a Jewish father, is a Canadian archaeology student who has moved to Jerusalem. She soon realises that Israel is a country where questions of faith and religion are inextricably mixed with politics and daily life—all too often creating deeply rooted frontiers and barriers in the souls of the people who live there.As she confronts the two seemingly opposing sides of her family's origins and wonders how she can she live and love in such a turbulent environment, Sara suddenly goes missing. Her father heads from Montreal to Jerusalem to find out what happened to her. There he joins her friends, professors, and the police officer charged with the investigation in an agonising waiting game and learns that there were parts of her life she hadn't shared with anyone.Trade ReviewEmmanuel Kattan has a great talent for literature." —Canadian Jewish News"[Emmanuel Kattan] impresses this autumn with his second novel, Paths of Desire, which blends spirituality, a search for identity, and an intriguing detective story set against the backdrop of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Complex as the world itself, pure and simple as a father's love for his daughter. . . . Emmanuel Kattan intentionally leaves a lot of questions unanswered in his story, precisely so that readers are not confined to a single interpretation of reality. . . . His approach is more open, even if it frustrates some readers who would like to have every last detail of the story laid out for them—the end is tragic, but as for a guilty party, there is none." —La Presse newspaper"Kattan artfully plays with various narrative forms. Through different narrators, we discover the story of the protagonist Sara. The main intrigue, the search for Sara, is interspersed with her personal journal and the exchange of emails between Sara and her father, Daniel. Thanks to these levels of narration, we have as much information as possible, and reading becomes ever more exciting. The further we get into the mystery of Sara's disappearance, the harder it is to put the book down. Kattan dares to write about delicate subjects such as religion and war, and he does so without scandalmongering. This well-written novel manages to touch us, particularly thanks to Sara's past and the relationship she has with her parents. Sara is one of the novel's strong points because she is a magnificent character who persists in her search for freedom, acceptance and respect." —Valérie Faubert, www.pieuvre.ca

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Book SynopsisMichael Mirolla, in The Photographer in Search of Death, tells us stories that blend the explicable with the inexplicable. As if a camel were actually passing through the eye of a needle, these stories pass what is commonplace through a hyper-realistic lens into the utterly mysterious. Houses have rooms that appear and disappear. Very real objects, invaded by an unbelievable force, become believably unreal. Streets filled with everyday individuals become – in our modern technological environment – ultra ordinary. What we wish to avoid becomes unavoidable. This is a world beyond the merely “magical” – this is a binary world of becoming.

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Book SynopsisFairy tales tell us the stories we need to hear, the truths we need to be aware of. Arising from oral narrative, born of imagination, they are constantly being adapted to fit new cultural contexts. They shapeshift just like their characters. Their plots, motifs, and elements often serving as warnings. Over the Rainbow: Folk and Fairy Tales from the Margins is a collection of adult stories that invite us to imagine new possibilities for our contemporary times. And much is happening in these times! Cultural diversification and increased societal awareness of personal differences is allowing voices that tend to be silenced by mainstream society to come to the forefront. Collected by seven-time Prix Aurora Award-winning editor Derek Newman-Stille, these are edgy stories, tales that invite us to walk out of our comfort zone and see what resides at the margins. Over the Rainbow is a gathering of modern literature that brings together views and perspectives of the underrepresented, from the fringe, those whose narratives are at the core of today's conversations—voices that we all need to hear.

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Book SynopsisThe annual $15,000 Carter V. Cooper Short Fiction competition is open to all Canadian writers, with two prizes awarded: $10,000 for the best story by an emerging writer, and $5,000 for the best story by a writer at any point of her/his career. The CVC Anthology series features each year’s finalists, and is dedicated to the memory of Carter V. Cooper.From writer, artist and philanthropist, Gloria Vanderbilt, who sponsors one of the largest literary prizes in Canada, and who supports this unique Canadians-only short fiction publication: "I am proud and thrilled that all these wonderful writers are presented in the CVC Anthology. Carter, my son, Anderson Cooper's brother, was just 23 when he died in 1988. He was a promising editor, writer, and, from the time he was a small child, a voracious reader. Carter came from a family of storytellers, and stories were a guide which helped him discover the world. Though I, and those who loved Carter, still hear his voice in our heads and in our hearts, my son's voice was silenced long ago. I hope this prize helps other writers find their voice, and through inclusion in the annual anthology helps them touch others' lives with the mystery and magic of the written word.

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Book SynopsisLewis Carroll explored childlike wonder and the bewildering realm of adult rules and status, which clashed in bizarre ways. And although it seems we all know something about Alice and Wonderland, we-like Alice herself upon her first reading of Jabberwocky-find “It fills my head with ideas, but I don’t know what they are.” So as each new generation falls under Carroll’s word spells, each in turn must attempt to understand what Alice and Wonderland might mean in the context of their world and in their time. This collection of twenty-first century speculative fiction stories is inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice Through the Looking Glass, The Hunting of the Snark, and to some degree, aspects of the life of the author, Charles Dodgson, and the real-life Alice (Liddell). Enjoy our wild ride down into and back up out of the rabbit hole! Preface by David Day Authors: Patrick Bollivar, Mark Charke, Christine Daigle, Robert Dawson, Linda DeMeulemeester, Pat Flewwelling, Geoff Gander and Fiona Plunkett, Cait Gordon, Costi Gurgu, Kate Heartfield, Elizabeth Hosang, Nicole Iversen, J.Y.T. Kennedy, Danica Lorer, Catherine MacLeod, Bruce Meyer, Dominik Parisien, Alexandra Renwick, Andrew Robertson, Lisa Smedman, Sara C. Walker, James Wood

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Book SynopsisKaren Lee White holds the torch brightly as a new and powerful voice, her style and sensibility encompassing the traditional and the contemporary. In The Silence, with the Yukon as a canvas, she engages in a deep empathy for characters, emergent Indigenous identity, and discovery that employs dreams, spirits, songs, and journals as foundations for dialogue between cultures. Leah Redsky is a Salteaux/Salish woman living in Vancouver who struggles with identity and the difficult intercultural dynamics of having a non-Indigenous boyfriend and working for the government. Often conflicted, at odds with her past and current life, things unravel and she suffers a breakdown—the unexpected life twist that is the key to coming to terms with her past. Through a diary, she discovers something terrible happened, yet what that is is unclear until she begins to have dream encounters with Tlingit/Tagish spirits who she knew in the north when she lived a traditional life on the land. Leah must find the strength to accept and integrate past and present so she may move into the future. She will find her power as an Indigenous woman, heal her spiritual and psychological wounds through the resolution of previous traumas, and reconcile her ability to communicate with those in the next world as she comes to understand she has been chosen to be a Medicine Woman/Elder/Cultural Leader. As an added bonus feature, the book comes with an original music CD by the author/musician.

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Casa de Teatro Prize (Dominican Republic), Damiana's Reprieve is a fine novella distinguished by insight and sensitivity. It gives a candid look at a young opera singer-what happens backstage before and during performances, and what happens when unexpected turns in life leave one facing the not-so-clichÉ reality that the show must go on. Damiana is the lead in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, and leading up to the opening day's performance a sequence of unexpected events-from a surprise family reunion that forces her to analyze her past, to facing the consequences of the domestic abuse she and her siblings endured, and finding the answer to a very painful question-culminate to leave her world forever altered. Translated from the Spanish.

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Book SynopsisContributors to this collection include: Leanne Milech (Emerging winner: $10,000), Edward Brown (Any Point split winner: $2,500), Priscila Uppal (Any Point split winner: $2,500), Andrea Bradley, William John Wither, Mark Paterson, Christine Miscione, Martha Batiz, Bruce Meyer, Cara Marks, and Lorna Crozier.

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Book SynopsisThe CVC Anthology series features each year's finalists from the annual $15,000 Carter V. Cooper (CVC) Short Fiction competition, held in memory of Carter Cooper ($10,000 for the best story by an emerging writer, and $5,000 for the best story by a writer at any career point). From writer, artist, philanthropist-and mother of Carter-Gloria Vanderbilt, who began one of the largest literary prizes for emerging writers in Canada: "I am proud and thrilled that all these wonderful writers are presented in the CVC Anthology. Carter, my son, Anderson Cooper's brother, was just 23 when he died in 1988. He was a promising editor, writer, and, from the time he was a small child, a voracious reader. Carter came from a family of storytellers, and stories were a guide which helped him discover the world. Though I, and those who loved Carter, still hear his voice in our heads and in our hearts, my son's voice was silenced long ago. I hope this prize helps other writers find their voice, and through inclusion in the annual anthology helps them touch others' lives with the mystery and magic of the written word.

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Book Synopsis"The Star of Algiers powerfully depicts youth in distress, caught between the lure of the West and the mosque." BIBA "We share his stage fright before each new gig. We are fired with his boundless energy. And once we''ve taken off, we come crashing down with him . . . Everything is human, alive and transparent." Elle, France Moussa Massy''s ambitions extend far beyond the three-room apartment he shares with the other thirteen members of his family in Algiers. A gifted performer of modern Kabyle song, he is as inspired by Prince and Michael Jackson as he is by Arab and Algerian traditional music. His first taste of fame, however, is brief, as the conflict between the fundamental Islamic group FIS and the more progressive FLN grows more violent and the city comes to a standstill amid corruption and scandal. As his music career begins to disintegrate, like the city itself, Massy''s driving passion for music turns to unforgiving rage.In energetic, urgent prose, Aziz Chouaki vividly portrays the harsh realities of a country in constant turmoil and brilliantly shows the capacity for despair and hatred of those who have nothing left to lose. Available for the first time in English, The Star of Algiers, a novel of great passion and originality, touches on the most contentious issues of our time.A Lannan Translation Series Selection

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