Cursed Collectibles - an Anthology

Jace lives in Arizona with my family, wife and five kids and a little dog. He writes fiction, thrillers and soft sci-fi with a little short horror on the side. He holds an MBA and work sin finance for a biotechnology firm.

Jace volunteers with the Boy Scouts, plays and writes music, and enjoys everything outdoors. He's also a novice photographer.

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Spend an afternoon antiquing and it’s not hard to figure out why picking has become one of America’s fondest pastimes. It’s treasure hunting while connecting with history. But what if those treasures hunt us back?

From old books, to vinyl records, antique mirrors, vintage figurines, or a Bob’s Big Boy piggy bank, curses have no limits.

Featuring stories from D.J. Butler, Joy Auburn, Martin L. Shoemaker, Jessica Guernsey, John D. Payne, Jen Bair, Karen Pellett, Steve Ruskin, Tanya Hales, Lauren Lang, Frank Morin, Mike Jack Stoumbous, Kelly Lynn Colby, Jace Killan, Jo Schneider, Gama Ray Martinez, Martin Greening, Chris Abela, A.J. Mayall, Heidi A. Wilde, Shannon Fox, Lauryn Christopher, and Mark Leslie Lefebvre.

All proceeds of this book go to the Don Hodge Scholarship Fund for writers

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Snippet:

After Gary leaves, I close the store and clutch the cylinder with both hands. Touching the wax, feeling the grooves cut by that madman Shachar all those years ago warms me. It’s the only thing that makes me feel warm these days, winter and summer alike. It makes me feel full, too. It’s a blanket, a mistress, food, and drink, all at once.

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Death at the Dakota: A Trudy Genova Manhattan Mystery

Marni Graff writes two award-winning mystery series: The Nora Tierney English Mysteries and The Trudy Genova Manhattan Mysteries. She teaches writing workshops and mentors the Writers Read program, and is Managing Editor of Bridle Path Press. 

Graff also writes the crime review blog Auntie M Writes, www.auntiemwrites.com.

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Nurse Trudy Genova is making plans to take her relationship to NYPD detective Ned O'Malley to the next level, when she lands a gig as medical consultant on a film shoot at the famed Dakota apartment building in Manhattan, which John Lennon once called home. Then star Monica Kiley goes missing, a cast member turns up dead, and it appears Trudy might be next. Meanwhile Ned tackles a mysterious murder case in which the victim is burned beyond recognition. When his investigations lead him back to the Dakota, Trudy finds herself wondering: how can she fall in love if she can't even survive?

Readers of Death Unscripted, the first book in the Trudy Genova Manhattan Mystery series, will find the same pleasures in this sequel: fast pacing, engaging characters, twists and turns on the way to a satisfying close. From the award-winning author of The Nora Tierney English Mysteries, this second series is a winner. Once again M.K. Graff reveals her talents in crafting this delightful mix of amateur sleuth and police procedural.

Part procedural, part cozy, Death at the Dakota is a well-crafted and highly entertaining mystery.- Bruce Robert Coffin, #1 bestselling author of the Detective Byron mysteries.  

I fell in love -- not only with co-protagonists, Trudy and Ned, the richly detailed and historic setting of The Dakota, and the unique cast of characters, but with the unusual plot of Death at the Dakota. Sherry Harris, Agatha Award nominated author of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mysteries

  
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Snippet:

          Rashid was right about one thing: the trumpet gown with horizontal stripes did make Monica look like a Slinky. That one went right back on the hanger, without debate from anyone.

          Next up, the Monique Lhullier, heavy lace fitted down past Monica’s derriere that flowed into a wide circular train. Expensive it might be, but it reminded me of the curtains from my Nana Genova’s house.

          “Too heavy, Rashid,” Monica complained. “I’m too short to carry all this around.” She didn’t mention the way it strained over her small belly.

          The Jenny Packham was so sheer it couldn’t be worn with any kind of undergarment. Made of silk charmeuse, it shimmered as Monica dropped it over her head. “Packham’s done Sex and the City, The Devil Wears Prada, and of course, Casino Royale,” Rashid gushed, adjusting a large bow under the deep-V neckline. He stepped back. “There. What do you think?”

          I thought Monica’s slightly rounded belly showed in a too obvious way. “Does it remind you of a nightgown, Alice?” I asked, raising my eyebrows and opening my green eyes wide to convey the message “help me out here.”

          “Nix this one, Rashid,” Alice said authoritatively. “She can’t wear a bra with it and you’ll never get those nipples past the censor for the TV-G rating.”

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The Temple of the Exploding Head Omnibus

Ren Garcia is a Science Fiction/Fantasy author and Texas native who grew up in western Ohio. He has been writing since before he could write, often scribbling alien lingo on any available wall or floor with assorted crayons. He attended The Ohio State University and majored in English Literature. 

Ren has been an avid lover of anything surreal since childhood. He also has a passion for caving, urban archeology, taking pictures of clouds, and architecture. He currently lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife, and their four dogs.

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Three books in one:

The Dead Held Hands

The Machine

The Temple of the Exploding Head

Starfarers and explorers, the League settled on Kana thousands of years ago. They found it to be a paradise, a perfect, virtually uninhabited planet waiting just for them in the cradle of space.

Lovely Kana … it was too good to be true …

But, all was not as it seemed. Simmering beneath the ground was a demented god who had soaked Kana in blood for untold ages, luring in victims, lying to them, and rejoicing in their suffering as they died at the hands of his dark angels.

And there will be blood again … From his Temple in the ground, the Horned God stirs.

When Lord Kabyl of Blanchefort, a young man troubled by the weight of the world, dares give his heart to a girl from a mysterious ancient household, one that pre-dates the League itself, he comes to know the shadows of the past that hover over her.

He comes to know of the Horned God, and for love he is destined to face him. All roads lead to the Temple of the Exploding Head, a place of evil and death, rooted in the ancient past, but also tied to the distant future.

“We were evil once,” she said, “and the gods are still punishing us…”

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Snippet:

“Have you ever heard of Countess Fercandia, Kay?” she asked as they walked down the corridor heading toward the eastern section of the castle, Kay’s boots clicking on the tiles.

“No, Mother, I’m sorry I haven’t.”

“She’s an old countess from long ago when the Vith still had to fight the Haitathe to survive. Countess Fercandia was a warrior who fought at her lord’s side, and she fought with a CARG, just like he did. Her CARG wasn’t big and heavy like her lord’s. It was smaller and lighter, something that she could use. It was still a CARG, just different. I wanted you to see it. I thought you might be inspired.” Her face filled with motherly love and pride. She touched his cheek. “And, maybe you wouldn’t be so hard on yourself. Look at you, just a little boy, yet so burdened. I can sense it, Kay. I know you’ve been hurting.”

“I’m fine, mother,” he lied.  

–Countess Sygillis to her son, Lord Kabyl.

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Love is Death

Born and raised in the rainy streets of the Seattle Area, L.P. Masters spent her fair share of time staring out rain-streaked windows and writing books. Masters has always had extremely vivid dreams, which often spark inspiration for her novels. In 1999, after one such dream, Masters began her first writing project. She has participated in National Novel Writer's Month every November since 2010. Writing isn't the only thing she can do with a pen in her hand, she also enjoys sketching and drawing—with varying degrees of success. Masters now lives in the slightly-less-dreary city of Spokane Washington with her husband, four wonderful daughters, and two crazy dogs.

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Gina’s plan for her afterlife is simple: survive as long as possible. The afterlife is a ghost-kill-ghost kind of place. When she meets newly-dead Alec, she can’t help her desire to protect him. Before she knows it, she finds herself falling for him, despite the little voice in her head telling her it’s a bad idea.

Alec’s goals don’t mesh well with Gina’s plans. Determined to save his living sister from a murderer, he’s willing to disobey the laws of a well-established cult in the afterlife. If the cult finds out, they’ll kill him. Again. He’s hesitant to accept Gina’s help and threaten her afterlife, but he’s guaranteed to fail without her. Together they embark on a perilous mission, but the most dangerous aspect of all is the threat of falling in love. Because in the afterlife... love is death.

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Snippet:

I knew Seattle like an old friend, but old friends sometimes have secrets, even after years of knowing them. Alec knew one of those secrets.

I had heard of Kerry Park but never had any reason to visit it. As we crested the hill and the park came into view, I wished I'd learned about it a long time ago. It was incredible. The park itself was nothing spectacular: kind of long and thin. There was a sculpture like two blocks set on top of each other, with holes drilled through them. It was surrounded by brick, bright green grass, a few benches and planters. What made Kerry Park so cool was the view.

I felt like I could have jumped onto the Space Needle from where I stood. Experience Music Project looked like someone had thrown a bunch of rags around, turned them to steel and painted them metallic red and blue. Mount Rainier was in the distance, rising as the skyscrapers fell. There were several ships in the harbor, and to my right, Elliot Bay glittered in the sunlight. It was beautiful.

I stepped over the short brick wall, then walked back a few feet until I sat against a taller fence that served as a boundary. One thing I'd learned quickly was that out of bounds was one of the best places for a ghost to relax. Less chance of getting kicked around by mortals.

Alec followed and sat next to me. Right next to me. I could feel his warmth, and it took all my self-control not to lean over and wrap my arms around him.

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King Henry's Choice

  

There are powers at play that continue to seek amalgamating Scotland to England – powers from the past and powers from the future. 

It’s the late 1800s and Queen Victoria wants more than mere access to the Scottish retreat at Balmoral Castle. But King Henry I of Scotland, direct descendent of Queen Mary Elizabeth I, the time traveling royal daughter of Mary Queen of Scots, is determined to keep Scotland free and independent and a powerful, progressive nation in its own right. 

The struggle to protect what is his by birthright becomes a battle that must be fought in the past, the present and the future and in other parts of the world. And, in the midst of each battle, there are choices to be made. Very difficult choices.

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An avid gardener, artist, musician and writer, Emily-Jane Hills Orford has fond memories and lots of stories that evolved from a childhood growing up in a haunted Victorian mansion. 

Told she had a ‘vivid imagination’, the author used this talent to create stories in her head to pass tedious hours while sick, waiting in a doctor’s office, listening to a teacher drone on about something she already knew, or enduring the long, stuffy family car rides. The author lived her stories in her head, allowing her imagination to lead her into a different world, one of her own making. As the author grew up, these stories, imaginings and fantasies took to the written form and, over the years, she developed a reputation for telling a good story. 

Emily-Jane can now boast that she is an award-winning author of several books, including King Henry’s Choice (Clean Reads 2019), Mrs. Murray’s Ghost (Telltale Publishing 2018), Mrs. Murray’s Hidden Treasure (Telltale Publishing 2019), Queen Mary’s Daughter (Clean Reads 2018), Gerlinda (CFA 2016) which received an Honorable Mention in the 2016 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, To Be a Duke (CFA 2014) which was named Finalist and Silver Medalist in the 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and received an Honorable Mention in the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards and several other books. 

A retired teacher of music and creative writing, she writes about the extra-ordinary in life and her books, short stories, and articles are receiving considerable attention. For more information on the author, check out her website at: http://emilyjanebooks.ca

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Long Excerpt #2:

He took time to study it closely, holding it reverently in his hands. Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, was a famous warrior in Scottish history, one of the first to successfully rout the English from their land and maintain his realm. His sword, the one Henry now held, was a symbol of his success as well as a symbol of the power of Scotland as an independent realm. Some even suggested it had such magnificent powers and the person who wielded the sword would be unstoppable, a force to be reckoned with no matter what weapons were used against him, past, present or future. It was an heroic sword. Forged of the strongest metals available in the fourteenth century, the sword was a marvel of both craftsmanship and artistry. The pommel was beautiful with the Cross of St. Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, emblazoned for all to see and for the bearer to feel the ethereal power of the saint, as he wrapped his hand firmly around the soft, black leather-bound grip held in place by a corded silver chain. The Lion of Scotland, plated in silver, marked the throat of the black leather scabbard with a rounded silver shoe at the scabbard’s tip. A wide belt, the leather hardened with age and sorely in need of some oil to soften it, remained attached ready and waiting for a warrior to lay claim to its powers. Was Henry the warrior of whom legend spoke?

Henry wrapped the belt around his waist, feeling a surge of energy and power as he did so. He slowly unsheathed the sword and held it high for the others to see. He ran a finger gingerly along its length, marveling the blade, unused for centuries, still sharp enough to do considerable damage. It even glistened in the flickering light from the fire in the hearth. The sword glistened with an electrical surge rippling from the tip to the pommel and sizzling along the king’s arm.

His eyes lit up. “I am ready. For Scotland. To defend my realm.”

Mary Elizabeth added the rallying battle cry of Scotland, the one she had initiated during her reign. “For now and forever.”

Henry, Edward and Cecil echoed her sentiments. “For now and forever.”

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