Arlene F Marks

Selena Watt has found a house that speaks to her-literally.A year after experiencing the inexplicable behaviour of Rafferty House, Selena isn't really surprised when the infamous McFadyen property sends a feeling of sorrow to her while she's touring it. What she's not expecting, however, is to learn from her new friend Curt Wakefield that the angry ghost of its original owner is hanging around the local museum.Nor does Selena expect her real estate agent to be found dead on the steps of the very house she now wants to buy.Presented with another real-life murder mystery, Selena is eager to dive in, but is immediately roadblocked by the police and, according to Curt, the belligerent spirit of Gertrude McFadyen.Curt has done his best to keep secret his ability to see and talk to ghosts, but the truth has a way of making itself known-and there are far more ghosts in Groverton looking for release than he realized. Untangling the sordid background of the McFadyens only raises more questions, leading Selena and her friends from one mystery to another.A century of muddled history, four unsolved murders, and one ghost whisperer. Can a quartet of amateur sleuths find answers when a long dead spirit seems to be holding all the cards and won't take no for an answer?

These aren't the vampires you know.Sixteen years have passed since the corrupt Council of the First was purged. Since then, the Nash'terel, shapeshifting essence vampires from a distant world, have resumed their quiet lives on Earth, hiding their true nature from their human prey.In small town Ontario, Travis lives with his adoptive grandpas, dividing his time between school and hockey practice. Everyone, including Travis, thinks he's an ordinary Canadian teen, until a series of uncontrolled shapeshifts and a growing telekinetic talent reveal his Nash'terel heritage. Having "superpowers" sounds great, until he has to put his dream of NHL stardom on hold and move across the country to train them.He may not be happy, but he's going to need control of those powers in order to survive. Someone has put a bounty on dashkra, the alien mineral that all Nash'terel carry inside them. While Travis struggles to adjust to his new existence, his grandpas and their contacts must work to find out who has turned their kind into prey-yet again.

These aren't the vampires you know.When the Nash'terel were hunted nearly to extinction, they fled to a distant world: Earth. Using their powers of shapeshifting, they blended in with the human population, and with their thirst for life essence, the hunted became the hunters. While the older generation remain in the shadows, associating only with other Nash'terel, their Earthborn offspring are more adventurous.Young Bilyash is tired of hiding and ready to follow his dream into the film industry. He's abandoned the traditional ways of his people and trained as a makeup artist, but two things stand in his way: assassins from the former home world, and Angie Fiore. Angie is unlike any human Bilyash has met, overflowing with the purest life essence he's ever encountered. When assassins on the hunt for Nash'terel catch up with him, both their lives are put in danger, and Bilyash and Angie are forced to run.Bilyash's uncle and his contacts can help them go underground, but it won't stop these killers from tracking them. The only chance Bilyash has to keep himself and Angie safe is to turn the tables. Yet what chance does an inexperienced Earthborn have against centuries-old assassins with nothing to lose?

When murder mystery theatre becomes too real for comfort...Firefighter Larry Holmes needs some time away. Out of other options, he agrees to take his cousin's place at a crime fiction convention. Larry doesn't like mystery novels, but he can enjoy the host resort's amenities and stay out of the way. That plan goes out the window, however, when he arrives at the venue with the convention's organizer, Selena Watt, and the close-knit Crime Club decides that with Holmes and Watt present, the game must be afoot.The convention concludes with a staged murder mystery weekend at stately Rafferty House. Neglected for decades, the Victorian-era summer home built on an island in Georgian Bay has been restored and upgraded... mostly. At first, everything goes according to script. Then, shots are fired, people get hurt, and Larry suddenly finds himself in the middle of a real-life murder mystery.Only a few people on the island could have done it. The police can't come soon enough and the Crime Clubbers are itching to practice their sleuthing skills, taking Larry along for the ride. But with a serving staff paid to lie and unexpected guests with unclear motives, who can be trusted?Only Rafferty House knows-and it is not happy.

Extraterrestrial colonies with otherworldly secrets. A science-themed art installation about to go nova. A computer shop with a truly hellish customer. These tales show a deeply personal side to the fantastic worlds they imagine, whether it's the struggle of a troubled teen roped into an ages-old battle between light and dark or the loneliness of a grieving rabbi in outer space.Arlene F. Marks, multi-genre novelist published for more than thirty years, shares eleven stories of wonder, beauty, and terror in this collection. Get ready, it's time to go on a magical ride and meet some extraordinary friends... and foes.

A sci-fi/fantasy revival 200+ years in the making. When Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm started putting out their now-classic fairy tales more than two centuries ago, their work was revolutionary. Although we can now look back on those fairy tales and see in them elements that have become cultural touchstones, there was nothing like them at the time. It was because they were so unique and so captivating that people could not get enough of them. Parents shared them with their children, grandparents shared them with their grandchildren, and friends shared them with each other. All the same, even the greatest innovations and the most engaging stories can use a refresh once in a while. That is what this compendium is about. Rather than reprinting the Grimm fairy tales that we all know and love, we have brought together eight giants of sci-fi/fantasy to reimagine and reinvigorate them. These giants are: Arlene Marks Ed Greenwood Gama Martinez LJ Hachmeister Lucienne Diver Richard Lee Byers Susan Morris Vivian Caethe Some boasting best-seller status, some emerging with voices unlike any other, each of these authors has carefully crafted a dark-fantasy or science-fiction version of a Grimm fairy tale. Within the compendium, you will find never-before-told iterations of "Sleeping Beauty," "Hansel and Gretel," "Snow White," "The Robber Bridegroom," and more. Online dating, H. H. Holmes's Murder Castle, and the malevolent forces of Hell all add strange twists to the formats that the Brothers Grimm left for us. There is a surprise on every page - and every surprise wonderfully reminiscent of tropes passed down through the generations.

When the god in the machine turns out to be a trickster hanging out in a clothes dryer...A rash of exploding pigeons (and one self-detonating rat) signal the beginning of a strange quest for Toronto Police Detective Marty Breck and undergrad student Ellie O'Toole. Brought together by her 9-1-1 call about a haunting at a laundromat, they meet an entity calling itself Demonai.Ellie and Marty quickly learn that their encounter is only the tip of the iceberg. Soon, they are launched on a search for answers, travelling across Ontario and figuratively back in time as they track down the trickster god's past victims and accomplices.Yet it seems that more than curiosity has drawn Demonai to study humanity. The continuing existence of the entire third dimension may depend on the results of his experiments, and perhaps the fate of his own kind as well.

Four years after the Corvou war, the battle for Humanity's future goes on. Drew Townsend and his surviving crew are back in business, aboard a new and improved Daisy Hub and with a new mission, one that will cement Humanity's place among the stars - but it could take years to complete. Earth Intelligence operatives have been sent to Stragon to protect the Terran colony there by heading off an impending civil war - but good and bad keep changing places, and appearances cannot be trusted. And on Earth, the Reformation has had dangerous consequences for Barry Novak and Juno Vargas, as they struggle to neutralize an old enemy - but the truth isn't what they thought it was. In the 25th century, the past is a puzzle, the present is a minefield ... and the future is a mirror, wherein Earth's true identity lies.

The Marco Polo participates in an alien-led mission to save the galaxy, and Commander Gael Dedrick struggles to clear his name after a failed attempt to keep Lania out of the hands of the Relocation Authority.

Earth's ancient past is coming home to roost, and it's making Barry Novak, the Chief of Operations of the Earth Intelligence Service, very nervous. First, a document written in an alien language surfaces at an archaeological site on Earth. Then, a Stragori defector approaches Novak, offering another old document in exchange for sanctuary. This one was stolen from the alien's home world. Once decoded, the document's contents are mind-blowing. Finally, an old enemy switches sides, bringing with him information that fills in the gaps and, if true, could rewrite the very definition of Humanity. Earth isn't yet ready to learn these truths. Making them public would cause worldwide xenophobia. So, Novak does the only thing he can think of. He sends them as far away as he can--to Daisy Hub. In this eagerly awaited sequel to The Genius Asylum, long buried secrets arrive aboard the space station, carried by a mysterious one-eyed man who calls himself Max Karlov and claims to have been assigned there. But there are things happening on Daisy Hub that need to be kept "in the family," and too many unanswered questions about this new crew member. Determined to unravel Karlov's story, Townsend and his crew of maverick geniuses start digging for the truth. What they discover will shake them to their core.

"I know where the Angel of Death plague originated, and so does every other 'patient' who left Thrygg that day..." Fourteen years ago, Thryggian scientists permitted a mass escape of test subjects from their laboratory on Thrygg, including Abner Dedrick, the youngest member of the powerful Forrand-Dedrick family on Earth. These patients all thought they'd been receiving an unapproved longevity treatment. In fact, they'd been infected with a bio-engineered virus and their escape was the first step in a horrific experiment. Now the day of reckoning is approaching. The plague unleashed on the galaxy by the Thryggians has finally been brought under control and they're on trial for this and other scientific crimes. The viral strain Abner was carrying has wiped out an entire Human colony. Only his young daughter Lania and his voice log - a damning piece of evidence if brought before the tribunal - have survived. Aboard the Earth ship that rescues Lania is Ixbeth Minegar, a lone alien who becomes convinced that Lania is part of a prophecy that could spell life or death for Ixbeth's entire race. The Thryggians are not going down quietly. They've broken planetary confinement and are determined to find and eliminate any evidence against them, even if it means entering Earth space and destroying Earth ships. Fortunately, the one carrying Abner Dedrick's log has an alien or two up its sleeve...

Earth Intelligence and Space Installation Security each think Drew Townsend is working for them. They're wrong.Sent undercover to set up a covert intelligence operation on Earth's remotest space station, Drew Townsend finds himself managing a crew of brilliant mavericks, making friends with the most feared warriors in the galaxy, and feeling more at home in the controlled insanity of Daisy Hub than he ever did on Earth. Then he learns the truth about his mission there, and it's time to choose. In the coming interplanetary conflict, which side will Daisy Hub be on?Like the clues of a cryptic crossword, each book set in the Sic Transit Terra universe contains a puzzle - perhaps a riddle, perhaps a maze or an anagram - and in each case, the answer to the smaller puzzle brings the reader and characters one step closer to solving a much larger and more important one. The Genius Asylum is '1 Across' - it initiates a multi-book story arc that addresses one of the great mysteries of life: Why are we humans the way that we are?

The Let Them Write Series is a classroom-tested, teacher-friendly resource for Language Arts teachers of grades 4 through 8. The program is organized in nine sections, each presenting a buffet of from five to nine 1- or 2-week modules. Each classroom-ready module consists of a series of comprehensive, easy-to-follow lesson plans complete with reproducible handouts and cross-curricular extensions, together creating a proven successful template for the teaching of writing and literary analysis skills. Setting and Description focuses on the effective use of descriptive writing techniques to depict a story setting. Students practice first-drafting, editing, polishing and sharing original scenes and stories set in realistically described times and places. The text can be implemented in the classroom alone or in tandem with the two other titles in the Let Them Write Series — PLOT BUILDING and CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. Also of interest for classroom teachers is the Literacy: Made for All Series ·WORDSMITHING: Classroom Ready Materials for Teaching Nonfiction Writing and Analysis Skills in the High School Grades ·ENJOYING LITERATURE: Classroom Ready Materials for Teaching Fiction and Poetry Analysis Skills in the High School Grades ·STORY CRAFTING: Classroom Ready Materials for Teaching Fiction Writing in the High School Grades

The Let Them Write Series is a classroom-tested, teacher-friendly resource for Language Arts teachers of grades 4 through 8. The program is organized in nine sections, each presenting a buffet of from five to nine 1- or 2-week modules. Each classroom-ready module consists of a series of comprehensive, easy-to-follow lesson plans complete with reproducible handouts and cross-curricular extensions, together creating a proven successful template for the teaching of writing and literary analysis skills. Character Development focuses on the creation of fully-realized, multidimensional protagonists and antagonists. Students practice first-drafting, editing, polishing, and sharing original paragraphs, scenes, and stories featuring the characters they have brought to life. The text can be implemented in the classroom alone or in tandem with the two other titles in the Let Them Write Series — SETTING AND DESCRIPTION and PLOT BUILDING. Also of interest for classroom teachers is the Literacy: Made for All Series ·WORDSMITHING: Classroom Ready Materials for Teaching Nonfiction Writing and Analysis Skills in the High School Grades ·ENJOYING LITERATURE: Classroom Ready Materials for Teaching Fiction and Poetry Analysis Skills in the High School Grades ·STORY CRAFTING: Classroom Ready Materials for Teaching Fiction Writing in the High School Grades

The Let Them Write Series is a classroom-tested, teacher-friendly resource for Language Arts teachers of grades 4 through 8. The program is organized in nine sections, each presenting a buffet of from five to nine 1- or 2-week modules. Each classroom-ready module consists of a series of comprehensive, easy-to-follow lesson plans complete with reproducible handouts and cross-curricular extensions, together creating a proven successful template for the teaching of writing and literary analysis skills. Let Them Write: Plot Building focuses on conflict, suspense and narrative structure. Students practice first-drafting, editing, polishing and sharing original scenes and stories built around these three important elements of storytelling. The text can be implemented in the classroom alone or in tandem with the two other titles in the Let Them Write Series — SETTING AND DESCRIPTION and CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. Also of interest for classroom teachers is the Literacy: Made for All Series ·WORDSMITHING: Classroom Ready Materials for Teaching Nonfiction Writing and Analysis Skills in the High School Grades ·ENJOYING LITERATURE: Classroom Ready Materials for Teaching Fiction and Poetry Analysis Skills in the High School Grades ·STORY CRAFTING: Classroom Ready Materials for Teaching Fiction Writing in the High School Grades

Literacy: Made for All is a classroom-ready, teacher-friendly resource for English and Writing teachers of Grades 9 through 12. Organized buffet style, it is designed to complement an existing English curriculum by providing a tested repertoire of strategies for teaching both writing skills and literary analysis techniques. Benefits and Features: ·tested and proven effective at all learning levels, from Remedial to Pre-AP ·provides complete lesson plans including reproducible materials ·can be implemented as is or modified to suit individual teaching styles and/or students' needs ·each skill, assignment or project begins by 'teaching the teacher', giving an inexperienced teacher the knowledge to provide effective instruction first time out and the confidence to modify and experiment thereafter ·comprised of reading, writing, literary criticism and language-study components ·moves students from writing effectively to reading analytically (approaching text from the authoring point of view), a proven, highly successful methodology ·can turn any English course into a Literacy course ·extremely versatile and cost-effective ·can deepen an existing English course or complete the framework for a new one WORDSMITHING focuses on the creation, production and sharing of a variety of nonfiction writing projects. The text can be implemented in the classroom alone or in tandem with the two other titles in the Literacy: Made for All Series — STORY CRAFTING and ENJOYING LITERATURE. Also of interest for classroom teachers is the Let Them Write Series ·CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: Classroom Ready Materials for Teaching Writing and Literary Analysis Skills in Grades 4 to 8 ·PLOT BUILDING: Classroom Ready Materials for Teaching Writing and Literary Analysis Skills in Grades 4 to 8 ·SETTING AND DESCRIPTION: Classroom Ready Materials for Teaching Writing and Literary Analysis Skills in Grades 4 to 8

Literacy: Made for All is a classroom-ready, teacher-friendly resource for English and Writing teachers of Grades 9 through 12. Organized buffet style, it is designed to complement an existing English curriculum by providing a tested repertoire of strategies for teaching both writing skills and literary analysis techniques. Benefits and Features: ·tested and proven effective at all learning levels, from Remedial to Pre-AP ·provides complete lesson plans including reproducible materials ·can be implemented as is or modified to suit individual teaching styles and/or students' needs ·each skill, assignment or project begins by 'teaching the teacher', giving an inexperienced teacher the knowledge to provide effective instruction first time out and the confidence to modify and experiment thereafter ·comprised of reading, writing, literary criticism and language-study components ·moves students from writing effectively to reading analytically (approaching text from the authoring point of view), a proven, highly successful methodology ·can turn any English course into a Literacy course ·extremely versatile and cost-effective ·can deepen an existing English course or complete the framework for a new one ENJOYING LITERATURE focuses on the close reading and analysis of prose fiction, poetry, and short nonfiction. The text can be implemented in the classroom alone or in tandem with the two other titles in the Literacy: Made for All Series — STORY CRAFTING and WORDSMITHING. Also of interest for classroom teachers is the Let Them Write Series ·CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: Classroom Ready Materials for Teaching Writing and Literary Analysis Skills in Grades 4 to 8 ·PLOT BUILDING: Classroom Ready Materials for Teaching Writing and Literary Analysis Skills in Grades 4 to 8 ·SETTING AND DESCRIPTION: Classroom Ready Materials for Teaching Writing and Literary Analysis Skills in Grades 4 to 8

The “Literacy: Made for All” series is a classroom-ready, teacher-friendly resource for English and Writing teachers of Grades 9 through 12. Organized buffet style, it is designed to complement an existing English curriculum by providing a tested repertoire of strategies for teaching both writing skills and literary analysis techniques. STORY CRAFTING focuses on the creation, editing, polishing and sharing of short stories and longer prose fiction. Benefits and Features: ·tested and proven effective at all learning levels, from Remedial to Pre-AP ·provides complete lesson plans including reproducible materials ·can be implemented as is or modified to suit individual teaching styles and/or students' needs ·each skill, assignment or project begins by 'teaching the teacher', giving an inexperienced teacher the knowledge to provide effective instruction first time out and the confidence to modify and experiment thereafter ·comprised of reading, writing, literary criticism and language-study components ·moves students from writing effectively to reading analytically (approaching text from the authoring point of view), a proven, highly successful methodology ·can turn any English course into a Literacy course ·extremely versatile and cost-effective ·can deepen an existing English course or complete the framework for a new one STORY CRAFTING focuses on the creation, production and sharing of a variety of nonfiction writing projects. The text can be implemented in the classroom alone or in tandem with the two other titles in the Literacy: Made for All Series — WORDSMITHING and ENJOYING LITERATURE. Also of interest for classroom teachers is the Let Them Write Series ·CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: Classroom Ready Materials for Teaching Writing and Literary Analysis Skills in Grades 4 to 8 ·PLOT BUILDING: Classroom Ready Materials for Teaching Writing and Literary Analysis Skills in Grades 4 to 8 ·SETTING AND DESCRIPTION: Classroom Ready Materials for Teaching Writing and Literary Analysis Skills in Grades 4 to 8