Is there a ghost in your life? Do you see people who aren't there? We warn you. Don't read these tales when you are home alone. Stories by writers who understand were and when ghosts may bring good or evil to your daily routine. Or sometimes, just a laugh.

ISBN: 978-1938436079

Frank Carden

Post Office Street drops readers into the red-light district of Galveston, where crooked cops and down-on-their-luck prostitutes dwell. Yet, in this seedy part of town, Carden paints a picture of hope as his main characters seek to break free from the ruts that their lives have fallen into.

ISBN:978-0979308123

Douglas B. Carlyle

Sean Marcum is driven to find the meaning of his mother's swan song. The last words she wrote in her journal were, "Fuller Brush Man". She always communicated life's most important lessons via riddles, and he is convinced this is her finale. Sadly, Sean was never good at solving riddles, and his quest turns into an obsession, nearly costing him his marriage, and his life.

Sean's high school sweetheart, Kim, had a special bond with his mother. She was also a master at riddles. The one-time lovers have been married to others for more than 30 years. Kim's marriage has been picture perfect, Sean's not so much. Upon Kim's death from breast cancer, Sean receives a memoir she penned celebrating their failed relationship. Her book, The Road to Monticello, contains the secret to a long, happy relationship for which Sean so desperately searches. It is a lesson all of us should take to heart.

ISBN:978-1453694206

LB Cobb

A federal prosecutor, the nemesis of Washington elite, is murdered at a posh Bayou City hotel. His wife is found with the gun at the scene and her motive is obvious -- he did her wrong and she caught him in the act. The wife is arrested quickly.

Perhaps too quickly, Assistant District Attorney Virginia Rodriguez soon realizes, but a dismissal isn’t that simple. Powerful people want a conviction and more than Virginia’s career is on the line -- calculating killers have added her name to their list. Virginia is smart and sassy, and she can hold her own against Leo Zachmann, the high-profile defense attorney who has taken up the wife’s cause. But can she deliver Texas justice in a case where the truth is much more elusive than the evidence?

Promises Town delivers a rich blend of memorable characters, a fascinating view of the two-sided search for truth in criminal cases, an intriguing mystery, wry humor, and Virginia Rodriguez, a woman who has it all -- a killer of a job, a child and a dog to feed, a house to keep, promises to remember, and no Prince Charming in view.

ISBN: 0970622449

Christie Craig

Kylie Galen has spent sixteen years trying to figure out who she is, only to realize she doesn’t know what she is.  She’s sent to Shadow Falls, a camp she thought was for troubled teens, but she thought wrong.  Everyone there is supernatural—werewolves, vampires, shapeshifters, fairies and witches.  And if she believes them, she’s one of them.

Can she trust them?  As she ventures on a journey of self-discovery, two boys vie for her attention.  But she’s determined not to lose her heart until she finds her answers.  What is she?  This isn’t your average identity crisis.

ISBN:978-0312624675

Laura Elvebak

Lost Witness is the story of murder, love and betrayal, and the child who will rip open the lives of a society matron, two feuding brothers, and threaten the future of Open Palms, a Houston teen shelter.

ISBN:978-1-60318-144-0

Pamela Fagan Hutchins

Married couples with children divorce 40% of the time. In less than three years after that divorce, chances are both mom and dad are remarried, and probably each to someone who has kids of their own. The single most explosive and divisive issue in those marriages? Stepparenting.

Wouldn't it be nice if we all lived in a bubble gum and sugar plum world where, without a ripple on Lake Placid, kids embraced stepparents and appreciated their contributions? Where stepsiblings didn't compete for attention and argue over favorites and fairness? Well, we don't.

So what we need when stepparenting is a good plan. A plan for blending, or blendering if you will, the disparate stepchildren and their parents into a chunky smoothie of stepfamily goodness. How To Screw Up Your Kids helps the parents everyone predicts will fail prove all the naysayers wrong. Through the use of practical human relations principles and the achingly real and often hilarious adventures of the author's blended family, readers will learn to envision and instill a unique set of family values and culture into their new household, and by God, have fun doing it.

ISBN:978-0615633800

Jason L. Fowell

The lure of fast money pulls Aaron and Jack into a world driven by high-pressure commission sales where morals and ethics take a backseat to big paydays. Best friends since high school, Aaron and Jack are hired by a brokerage firm that begins the strict training of each broker before they are licensed. Surviving the firm's grueling interview process, harsh cold-calling and aggressive tactics, each takes a different path in an attempt to endure the shark-infested trading floor.

ISBN: 978-1450213639

Tom Glover

For nearly two decades, a top-secret NASA space telescope kept watch on the Solar System’s closest neighbor, star system Alpha Centauri, in the hopes of detecting life-sustaining planets. Inexplicably, the satellite’s orbit was beginning to decay, its mission about to come to an abrupt end as it would soon enter Earth’s upper atmosphere and vaporize. There was one man alive who could prevent the accident. Forced by his former boss into a daring rescue mission, ex-NASA scientist Dr. Frank Carver reluctantly joins the crew of re-commissioned space shuttle Discovery, with one simple objective: recover the satellite’s secret data. He would soon discover that mission was anything but simple.

ISBN: 978-1466467282

Betty Gordon

Can Desiree Roberts leave her law career in Texas and become a 1980s Egyptian? Will the country that has captivated her since childhood embrace her or will it lead her down dangerous paths fraught with deception and betrayal?

Join Desiree as she treks through shifting sands, enters portals of pharaohs’ long since entombed, and follows her dreams down the Nile. Experience her passions and obsessions as they lure her into alien territory filled with suspicious characters. Someone wants to end her fantasies. How far will he go?
Solve this suspenseful whodunit that ends in a surprising and exciting conclusion.

ISBN:978-1603182829

Karen Jennings
Lynne Gregg

Eleven-year-old Jon Walker is excited about summer vacation. He loves spending time at his grandparents' farm along the Big Cypress River, and this year promises to be a whole lot of fun. But as soon as he arrives at the farmhouse, tragedy strikes. Grandpa's beloved dog, Ole Blue, has been mysteriously killed.

ISBN:978-1440155178

Nina Godiwalla

While others in Nina Godiwalla's Persian-Indian immigrant community were content to fulfill their parents' dreams, Nina's fierce ambition pulled her from Houston to New York to become a banker. With steely determination, she bullied her way into an internship after her freshman year of college. Showered with Broadway tickets and ferried around in sleek, black town cars, Morgan Stanley recruits led a fast and flashy lifestyle, but at a steep cost. Nina worked hard, long hours to prove her worth, but to whom? Suits is a story of fathers and daughters, family pride, and the pursuit of success and honor. This unflinching memoir exposes the world of banking and finance from the perspective of a woman and outsider.

ISBN:978-1934633953

Chris Hernandez

Jennifer Hritz

Still suffering the fallout of his partner's death from AIDS a dozen years ago, Adam Atwater tailspins after his fortieth birthday as he copes with his father's terminal illness, a career from which he derives little satisfaction, and an affair with a colleague that leaves him further from his current partner than he ever imagined. As Adam cares for his father, memories of Bobby's illness resurface, along with guilt for the infidelity he incurred as his lover lay dying. Tormented by the past, Adam teeters on the brink of insanity, poised to lose everything he now holds dear.

Jack Hutchison

When a counterterror agent investigates his commander's assassination, Kirk Magnus discovers the hit men were elite Russian commandos who penetrated his unit's deep cover and struck with surgical precision. Magnus digs deep and identifies the mastermind, a psychotic sheikh who schemes to amass power by directing terror attacks against the United States and profiting from them. After Sheikh al-Masri's strike on the Port of Houston, Magnus battles to interdict the sheikh's assault on a nuclear power plant, but he is impeded by split command with his estranged lover, the hot-blooded leader of the Hostage Rescue Team. Magnus brings extreme measures into play and leads his hunter-killer unit into the Rub' al Khali desert to confront an enemy who has the power to destroy the United States.

Florence McNeil Jones

Poetic Treasures is a compilation of poems written to reflect an optimistic view of life.

“Optimists are radiant gems who triumph over life’s potential defeats,” McNeil Jones states. “However, to be an optimist is not adequate. We should share our optimism with humanity.”

She sets out to do so with this book of motivating and encouraging poetry.

Suchada Kailey

This is the story of one man's introduction to the Thai way of life, both in Thailand and America. Readers will not only enjoy the engaging plot and characters, but also learn about Thai words and phrases, fantastic Thai cuisine, Thai customs and beliefs...and what it's like for a Western man to become involved with a Thai woman.

Kathleen Kaska

It’s New Year’s Eve, 1952. Texas politicians are backslapping and ringing in ’53 at the historic Luther Hotel on the Texas Coast. Reporter Sydney Lockhart is there covering the festivities. The celebration turns sour when Sydney finds herself dancing with a dead man. With her fingerprints on the murder weapon and a police chief with his own agenda, Sydney ushers in the New Year behind bars. Soon there is another body, more damning fingerprints, and a crazy Cajun who’s been paid to feed Sydney to the alligators. Things get worse when cousin Ruth comes to town with a problem even Sydney can’t solve.

ISBN:  978-1-60977-066-8

Paula LaRocque

Paula's first novel, Chalk Line, will be published by Marion Street Press in September 2011.

Her nonfiction books, The Book on Writing, and two collections of columns and radio commentaries, On Words and Championship Writing, are available from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Marion Street Press.

ISBN: 0966517695

From Kirkus Reviews: “A sensually evocative thriller that satisfies and arouses. … A brilliant, engaging twist on the traditional crime novel.”

Eric Foster, the top student at the best perfume school in France, creates a scent based on the fragrance the Queen of Sheba wore to seduce King Solomon. When he tests it surreptitiously at a gathering of glitterati in Paris, the results surpass his wildest dreams. It's an aphrodisiac of astonishing potency.

Eric sees fame and fortune on his horizon, until he is kicked out of the school for a theft he did not commit. Disgraced, he now slogs through a mind-numbing job with a New York manufacturer of fragrance additives for supermarket products. His only respite comes from moonlighting as a forensic scent expert for the NYPD. But when a knockoff of his perfume surfaces as the only link in a series of passion-driven homicides, Eric becomes the prime suspect.

Eric’s quest to prove his innocence pits him against violent adversaries on three continents and forces him into a dark world of forgery and murderous intrigue where nothing is as it seems. In the battle for survival, his one advantage is his extraordinary sense of smell.

ISBN: 978-1477680308

J. Michael Orenduff

Mike Orenduff's mysteries are intelligent, clever, and downright funny, with a spicy Old Town Albuquerque setting and plots as pungent and twisted as a chile ristra. I'm in love with Hubie Schuze--pot thief, shopkeeper, reluctant sleuth, and cook extraordinaire. A winning series! ----Susan Wittig Albert, author of the China Bayles mysteries

ISBN:978-1610090018

Roger Paulding

Murder and mayhem with a curious twist. Set in Colonial America, this picaresque novel relates the adventures of Richard Makepeace, who escapes captivity on the eve of his own hanging, only to discover that with his new freedom comes a strange obligation to change his wicked behavior. ISBN:978-0974783994

Diego Rodriguez Romero

Meet Mrs. Flibbertigibbet, an absentminded witch married to a lazy and insensitive husband, Viscount Waternuts. Tired of her life in the castle, she packs and sets off to Hawaii. On her journey she meets Sir Edward, an ancient knight; Ammunkat, a pharaoh’s cat buried in an Egyptian tomb; and Unbearable, a bear that suffers from insomnia. Together they discover the meaning of true friendship and encounter the evil Queen of Cups in Wonderland.

ISBN 978-1 936458-01-1

Chris Rogers

In short, snappy chapters, Chris Rogers takes us from structure, plot, dialogue and action to that intangible but essential quality every editor seeks: voice. Using bestselling novels and blockbuster films to briskly illustrate story elements, Rogers entertains the reader while presenting one excellent writing technique after another. Further setting this book apart are the 12 easy brain-training secrets any writer can implement for crafting strong, emotionally charged prose faster. Imagine a dozen good story ideas in an hour: this book steps you through it. Imagine creating page-turning tension from beginning to end: you’ll read a suspense story in its entirety, then discover the words and phrases that keep the tension cord taut. Moving seamlessly between instruction and illustration, Goosing the Write Brain is an indispensible resource that both aspiring and veteran writers will want close at hand. An unexpected bonus: it’s also a great read.

ISBN: 978-1439226285

Chuck Sambuchino

Move over zombies and adolescent vampires.

There’s a new threat in town—and it’s only twelve inches tall. How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack is the only comprehensive survival guide that will help you prevent, prepare for, and ward off an imminent home invasion by the common garden gnome. Once thought of as harmless yard decorations, evidence is mounting that these smiling lawn statues are poised and ready to wreck havoc. The danger is real. And it’s here. Class 1 gnome-slayer and gnome defense expert Chuck Sambuchino has developed a proven system—Assess, Protect, Defend, Apply—for safeguarding property, possessions, and loved ones. Strategies include step-by-step instructions for gnome-proofing the average dwelling, recognizing and interpreting the signs of a gathering hoard, and—in the event that a secured perimeter is breached—confronting and combating the attackers at close range.

Katharine Sands

Today’s writers need to understand how to succeed and maximize their works in the new media and literary marketplace. Do you know how work is sold and how the writer is compensated? Do you know why the writing you do about your writing is as important as the writing itself? This comprehensive session answers these questions and provides key information on many other "must know" issues. New York City-based literary agent Katharine Sands takes participants step-by-step through the success checklist for the getting-published process. From content-creation to contract; first writes to last rights, focusing on both craft and career, you will learn essential secrets to practicing PitchCraft, including: what to do -- and what not to do -- when you set out to woo and win a literary agent, the easy-to-fix mistakes many writers make when querying agents, and seven surefire techniques that get you out of the slushpile, how to: identify your selling points and sales engines, whet an agent's appetite, get editors to say "yes," make the perfect pitch, build a media platform, and create a writing career. Also available at Katy Budget Books 281-578-7770.

ISBN:978-0871162069

Elaine Scott

Have you ever wished you could travel back in time?  Or visit a galaxy light-years away?  Or see a star being born? The Hubble telescope has allowed scientists to do just that. The Hubble’s dazzling images have transformed astronomy, shedding light on the deepest mysteries of the cosmos, sparking new discoveries and turning speculation into fact. Its gaze has helped astronomers find new galaxies, look back in time almost to the Big Bang, and verify the existence of dark energy, the mysterious force that is causing the expansion of the universe to accelerate. Through the eye of the Hubble, Elaine Scott skillfully guides readers along the evolution of our universe, investigating a question that was once unanswerable: “Where did we come from?”

ISBN:978-0547241890

Larry Thompson

What you don’t know about the big drug companies can kill you! Ripped from today’s headlines, THE TRIAL is a classic David and Goliath tale of a small town lawyer fighting the incestuous relationship of a giant pharmaceutical company and the FDA. In a fast-moving legal thriller, Thompson jerks down the curtains shrouding the drug industry in this country.

ISBN: 978-0312607357

Rodney Walther

The award-winning novel which tells the story of Jack “The Cannon” Kennedy, a suburban workaholic who doesn’t understand the importance of family until he faces life as a single parent. Set in a fictional suburban Little League, BROKEN LACES explores the importance of father-and-son relationships, the struggles of shared grief, and the redemptive power of baseball. BROKEN LACES has garnered numerous first-place writing awards across the country. Published November 2010.

ISBN:978-0982944608

Ann Weisgarber

I still see her, our Liz, sitting on a plank, dangling over that well. She held on to the rope that hung from the pulley, her bare feet pressed together so tight that the points on her ankle bones were nearly white. So begins The Personal History of Rachel DuPree, an unforgettable novel about love and loyalty, homeland and belonging.

ISBN: 0670022012

Sandra Worth

It is 1497. The news of the survival of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, has set royal houses ablaze with intrigue and rocked the fledgling Tudor dynasty. With the support of Scotland's King James IV, Richard-known to most of England as Perkin Warbeck-has come to reclaim his rightful crown from Henry Tudor. Stepping finally onto English soil, Lady Catherine Gordon has no doubt that her husband will succeed in his quest.

ISBN:978-0425238776

Bill Young

From 1966 to 1981, Bill Young served as Director of Programming for KILT AM/FM-Houston. The station was owned by the flamboyant and enigmatic radio pioneer Gordon McLendon. Under Young’s 15 year leadership -- KILT dominated Houston ratings and achieved national acclaim in industry press, including recognition as “Radio Station of the Year” and Bill’s personal recognition as “Program Director of the Year.” After leaving radio, his company—Bill Young Productions—became the standard for touring advertising in Radio, TV, Print and New Media.  Bill’s voice became the most sought after style in the music industry and has been featured internationally on  tours for Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, U2, Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Sir Michael Crawford, ZZ Top, George Strait and many others. The company he founded -- Bill Young Productions -- still provides materials for hundreds of event tours each year. As a film director, Bill directed national television ads and also created the storyline  and directed over 100 music videos -- once having directed ten straight # 1  videos on CMT (the eleventh went to # 2!).  Bill lives with his wife and three Brittany’s in Houston.

ISBN: 978-1456424671