Early Fiction

Samsee Secretsby Harper Stanwick, Sr. is a mystery novel set in central Florida during the early 20th century. Ned Mackey, a naturalist and zoologist, embarks on a summer assignment to collect specimens in the dense, shadowy forests and meandering rivers of the Samsee River valley. His quiet life takes a dramatic turn when he encounters Edith DeCoster, the spirited niece of the wealthy Carl DeCoster, owner of the grand Swampy Krags estate. As Ned is drawn into the DeCoster family's enigmatic world, he learns of an old legend about a sunken treasure guarded by a monstrous sea creature. The ...

The new gymnastics teacher likes cats, brooms, and funny rhymes, that sound awfully close to spells. Could Miss Brewbaker really be a witch?

This remarkable, newly revised collection of Ayn Rand's early fiction ranges from beginner's exercises to excerpts from early versions of We the Living and The Fountainhead. Arranged chronologically, from 1926 through 1940, these works allow readers to follow the extraordinary trajectory of Rand's literary and intellectual growth, from a 21-year-old Russian immigrant struggling to master English to the brilliant prose stylist and sophisticated philosopher she was to become in her mature work.

First to a Million explores the many advantages of FI, while explaining the secrets of investing, living frugally, and maintaining an entrepreneurial mindset. Treating your finances differently than the average teenager will put you miles ahead of your peers, and with time (and compounding) on your side, you can win the game before it even starts!

There was always something slightly dangerous about Joan. So, when she turns up at private inves­tigator Henry Kimball’s office asking him to investigate her husband, he can’t help feeling ill at ease. Just the sight of her stirs up a chilling memory: He knew Joan in his previous life as a high school English teacher, when he was at the center of a tragedy.

A magical journey to courage, calm, and self-discovery. When nine-year-old Finn’s school becomes too much to handle, he escapes to the safety of his bedroom, seeking comfort in books and video games. But this time, something magical happens—Finn is transported to the enchanting Forest of Tranquility, a world where his wildest adventures come alive. In this extraordinary realm, Finn encounters wise creatures and embarks on exciting adventures that teach him how to stay calm, manage his emotions, and find his inner courage. As he faces magical trials and real-life challenges, Finn ...

In "A Trail of Tears, step back in time to the turbulent 1830s, to when the Morgan family from Tennessee becomes entwined with the fate of the Cherokee Nation. This captivating work of historical fiction weaves a poignant tale of love, loss, and resilience against the backdrop of one of the darkest chapters in American history. Follow the Morgans as they embark on a treacherous emotional journey, finding themselves caught between two worlds, as they witness the harrowing forced relocation of the Cherokee people. Through the eyes of this remarkable family, experience the indomitable spirit ...

Vril, the Power of the Coming Race (1870) by Edward Bulwer-Lytton is an early science fiction novel. The setting is a strange subterranean world inhabited by beautiful entities that resemble the angels described in scripture. The advanced beings known as Vril-ya live underground - using the mysterious "Vril" as an energy source - but intend to reclaim the surface of the earth as their own. The narrator ends up deep inside the Earth via a natural chasm in a mine shaft.

A historical fiction book set in Cape Cod during the early 20th century. "Whispers of Cape Cod" whisks readers away to the windswept shores of Big Wreck Cove, weaving a tale marked by resilience, redemption, and the unbreakable bonds of community. In this deeply moving saga, delve into the twilight days of Captain Ira Ball and his ever-concerned wife, Prudence. Their struggle with the ailments of old age and the pressing need for assistance is brought to life with vivid descriptions, making their world tangible. Enter Sheila Macklin, a young woman disguising herself as their lost niece. ...

It's a day like any other for security chief Tracy Waterhouse, until she makes a purchase she hadn't bargained for. One moment of madness is all it takes for Tracy's humdrum world to be turned upside down, the tedium of everyday life replaced by fear and danger at every turn.

Step into a world where each whispered promise and stolen glance could be a scandal. Dive into a tale of forbidden romances set against a backdrop of strict societal norms and heart-wrenching choices. Experience the thrill and heartache of love that dares to defy the rules. Are you ready to discover if they will dare to love despite it all? Unlock the secrets of the past and begin a journey of passion and peril

Before Langston Hughes and his literary prowess became synonymous with American poetry, he was a seventeen-year-old on a train to Mexico City, seeking funds to pursue his passion. His early poems, beloved verses like “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” were written without formal training, often on the back of napkins and envelopes, and were inspired by the sights and sounds of Black working-class people he encountered in his early life. Blues in Stereo is a posthumous collection of these early works, in which we see Langston Hughes like we’ve never seen him before.

Join Imani, Tommy, and Maya on a Magical Adventure That Teaches Kids About Friendship, Self-Care, and the Power of Laughter! When a mysterious spinning wind appears on their favorite front steps, three best friends discover that adventure is calling once again. With Maya's enchanted snow globe and the help of famous aviator Amelia Earhart, they soar through the clouds to help three cousin-friends who have forgotten how to care for themselves and each other. Perfect for young readers ages 6-9, this heartwarming story teaches essential life skills: The importance of spending quality time with...

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Peppa Pig: Bedtime Stories by Ladybird, read by John Sparkes. A collection of 10 newly recorded audio stories based on Peppa Pig, the hit TV show!

From the end of the 18th century, Americans traveled west to find new homes and new lands. They brought with them the magics of plain people. It is from these roots of the American dream that award-winning writer Orson Scott Card has crafted what the Charlotte Observer called "a uniquely American fantasy." Using the lore and the folk magic of the men and women who settled a continent, and the beliefs of the tribes who were here before them, Card has created an alternate frontier America.

In the real world, England and France allowed Adolf Hitler to gobble up the Sudetenland in 1938. Once Hitler finished dismembering Czechoslovakia, he was ready to go to war over Poland a year later. But Hitler had always been eager to seize Czechoslovakia, no matter the consequences. So what if England and France had stood up to the Nazis from the start, and not 11 months later? That is the question behind the War That Came Early series.

Once upon a time, a young woman attended a Ball hosted by a Prince. Although she was attired in a fancy gown, and wearing glass slippers, by midnight she would flee in rags and missing a shoe. As the tale of olde goes, she marries the Prince, however, this story doesn't end in Happily Ever After, because her name isn't Cinderella. No, this woman is called Pandora, and this is certainly no fairytale.

When Special Agent Will Trent arrives in Grant County, he finds a police department determined to protect its own and far too many unanswered questions about a prisoner’s death. He doesn’t understand why Officer Lena Adams is hiding secrets from him. He doesn’t understand her role in the death of Grant County’s popular police chief. He doesn’t understand why that man’s widow, Dr. Sara Linton, needs him now more than ever to help her crack this case

More parodies have been written targeting Sherlock Holmes than anyone else dead or alive, fictional or real. James M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan, started it all back in the early 1890's and Sherlockian parody has been coming out regularly ever since, right into the age of the internet. While Sherlock's creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle lived, close to 400 appeared in Britain and America.

In the winter of 1846, the Donner Party was stranded by heavy snows in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The pioneers endured bitter hardships and many of them died. But some survived, including eight-year-old Patty Reed, a girl filled with dignity and determination in the face of mortal danger. This is her story, as told by Dolly, the wooden doll she kept hidden in her dress.