Eking out an existence as a scavenger in post-apocalyptic Russia, Ryska never thought she would be more than a blind, discarded military experiment. Then she ends up in the middle of a kidnapping gone wrong and must use her all her skills to save herself, and the young boy who brings back painful memories of her past.This is a science fiction short story.Eking out an existence as a scavenger in post-apocalyptic Russia, Ryska never thought she would be more than a blind, discarded military experiment. Then she ends up in the middle of a kidnapping gone wrong and must use her all her skills to save herself, and the young boy who brings back painful memories of her past.This is a science fiction short story that originally appeared in the anthology Mirror Shards: Volume One.

Single mother Queenie Hayes struggles to support her two young children and tells them stories of a world filled with sunlight instead of concrete, a world called the Veldt where magical creatures abound and her family roams free. As a social worker threatens to break Queenie's family apart, the Veldt offers her family a chance to escape if she can find the courage to reach for it.Single mother Queenie Hayes struggles to support her two young children and tells them stories of a world filled with sunlight instead of concrete, a world called the Veldt where magical creatures abound and her family roams, free from the trials of the real world. As a social worker threatens to break apart Queenie's family, the Veldt offers her family a chance to escape if she can find the courage, and imagination, to reach for it.The Scent of Sunlight is a fantasy short story by Annie Bellet.

Creole gentleman Remy Pigeon has a gift, or a curse. He can touch objects and read the past from them. He prefers to stay away from trouble, but when an attractive red-head with a serious problem and a supernatural secret wanders into his house on a hot summer day, Remy knows that trouble has just found him."Flashover" is a paranormal mystery short story.The Floyd sisters are Lynda, age 13, Cheri, age 11 and Sinda, age 8. They are amateur detectives who live with their mother. The girls seem to find themselves in sometimes scary situations which call for them to become sleuths. Lynda tries to be the responsible one while Cheri and Sinda bicker a bit like sisters sometimes do. They pull together when they need to or the situation calls for it. In Tips for the Beginning Detective, the Floyd sisters offer advice to others who may find themselves in scary or unknown situations. The girls also include a mini-mystery for the reader to solve using their newfound detective tips.

Many years ago, Ysabon made her living by the sword as a skilled mercenary. Now she lives in Westedge with her brother's children, tending to the animals and afraid of dying old and useless. When a horrible winter storm drives monsters down from the mountains, Ysabon can save her family and her village if she finds the strength to take up the sword for a final battle. (A short story.)Many years ago, Ysabon made her living by the sword as a skilled mercenary. Now she lives in Westedge with her brother's children, tending to the animals and afraid of dying old and useless. When a horrible winter storm drives monsters down from the mountains, Ysabon can save her family and her village if she finds the strength to take up the sword for a final battle."Winter's Bite" is a fantasy short story by Annie Bellet.*Bonus Material* Read the first five chapters of "A Heart in Sun and Shadow" free at the end of this ebook.

Janie thought she was a lone wolf until she met Roane. She believes he's her soul mate as he takes her into his home and his heart. But when she unlocks a hidden room, Janie discovers dark secrets that could threaten not only her life, but that of her unborn child.Broken Moon is an urban fantasy short story by Annie Bellet.Mystery writer Violet Carsten has spent most of her life behind the pages of a book, either reading one or writing one. When she inherits a house in the city she ends up getting much more than she bargained for! Through some amazing coffee, a real life mystery, an overprotective older brother, and a little bit of pepper spray, she finds the man of her dreams. Will she take a chance on love or will old fears keep her heart locked up tight?

Never fear an ending. For every end is a beginning, too. Even the darkest night is broken by the dawn...Jade Crow faces her biggest challenges yet, and the consequences just might be world-ending...This is the epic conclusion to the USA Today Bestselling Urban Fantasy series The Twenty-Sided Sorceress!

Exiled from her people, Alila lives alone in a canyon. When a pregnant princess on the run from assassins disrupts her quiet world, Alila chooses to help her reach the coast. Hounded by assassins and torn apart by distrust, Alila’s choice threatens to reveal her dark past and her terrible secret. If she and the princess survive their journey to safety.Exiled from her people, Alila lives alone in a canyon harvesting Frankincense resin with her twin unicorns for company. When a pregnant princess on the run from assassins disrupts her quiet world, Alila chooses to help her reach the coast. Hounded by assassins and torn apart by distrust, Alila’s choice threatens to reveal her dark past and her terrible secret. If she and the princess survive their journey to safety.“Delivering Yaehala” is a fantasy novelette by Annie Bellet.

Gamer. Nerd. Sorceress. Jade Crow lives a quiet life running her comic book and game store in Wylde, Idaho. After twenty-five years fleeing from a powerful sorcerer who wants to eat her heart and take her powers, quiet suits her just fine. Surrounded by friends who are even less human than she is, Jade figures she's finally safe. As long as she doesn't use her magic. When dark powers threaten her friends' lives, a sexy shape-shifter enforcer shows up. He's the shifter world's judge, jury, and executioner rolled into one, and he thinks Jade is to blame. To clear her name, save her friends, and stop the villain, she'll have to use her wits... and her sorceress powers. Except Jade knows that as soon as she does, a far deadlier nemesis awaits. Justice Calling is the first book in the USA Today Bestselling (Sept 2015) The Twenty-Sided Sorceress urban fantasy series. Readers who enjoyed The Dresden Files or The Iron Druid Chronicles will likely enjoy this series. **Review "This is a wonderful story, complete with cool quirky characters,well-thought-out magic rules, secondary characters you love and aquietly-integrated backstory that has both breadth and depth." - Prescott Librarian Staff Pick from Normalene Zeeman, Prescott Public Library AZ From the Author Want to be notified when the next Twenty-Sided Sorceress book releases? Sign up forthe new release mailing list by going to this link (copy/paste into your browser): tinyurl.com/anniebellet The Twenty-Sided Sorceress series in reading order: Justice Calling Murder of Crows Pack of Lies Hunting Season Heartache Thicker Than Blood  Magic to the Bone  Dungeon Crawl

A mute elven archer known only as Killer. Azyrin, a half Winter-orc shaman and his human swordswoman bride, Makha. Drake, the charming rogue. The pixie-goblin, Rahiel, and her mini-unicorn, Bill. These are the Gryphonpike Companions.Arriving in Strongwater Barrow, the Companions find the town riddled with plague and death. Ending the curse and saving the survivors means going into the swamps.A mute elven archer known only as Killer. Azyrin, a half Winter-orc shaman and his human swordswoman bride, Makha. Drake, the charming, swashbuckling rogue. The fireball-slinging pixie-goblin, Rahiel, and her mini-unicorn, Bill. These are the Gryphonpike Companions.Arriving in Strongwater Barrow, the Companions find the town riddled with plague and death. Ending the curse and saving the survivors means going into the swamps where monsters lurk and witches wait. Sounds like exactly their kind of day.This is an adventure fantasy novella.

The Hugo Award is one of the most prestigious speculative fiction literary awards. Every year, supporting members of WorldCon nominate their favorite stories first published during the previous year to determine the top five in each category for the final Hugo Award ballot.  Between the announcement of the ballot and the Hugo Award ceremony at WorldCon, these works often become the center of much attention (and contention) across fandom.But there are more stories loved by the Hugo voters, stories on the longer nomination list that WSFS publishes after the Hugo Award ceremony at WorldCon.  The Long List Anthology collects 21 tales from that nomination list, totaling about 180.000 words of fiction by writers from all corners of the world.Within these pages you will find a mix of science fiction and fantasy, the dramatic and the lighthearted, from near future android stories to steampunk heists, too-plausible dystopias to contemporary vampire...

A New Collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy from Annie Bellet.From a grim near future to ghostly forests on far flung planets, from lost loves to magic gone awry, this collection of ten short stories brings you fully imagined tales of science fiction and fantasy.Forgotten Tigers & Other Stories contains seven brand new and three previously published stories.Table of Contents:Forgotten TigersThe Crimson Rice JobInnocence, RearrangedFalls the Shadow on Broken StoneSinging Each to EachNos Morituri Te SalutamusSomebody Else's ProblemGhosts in the MistInfinitesimal MerciesFUBAR

The Agency by Donna AugustineDe Facto by Annie BelletVenom by Sarra CannonHoneysuckle Memories: A Scarlett Smith Memoir by Selene CharlesSpirits of Bourbon Street by Deanna ChaseThe Ghost & Mrs. MacKay by Kate DanleyFull Moon Mischief by Debra DunbarDog Days of Summer by Hailey EdwardsAtomic by C. GockelVictoria Gardella: Vampire Slayer by Colleen GleasonHighland Magic by Helen HarperContents May Have Shifted by Shawntelle MadisonIllusions by Christine PopeDying Night by SM ReineBrea's Tale: Arrival by Anthea SharpAngels and Demons by Colleen VanderlindenDragon's Fury by Phaedra Weldon