Author, playwright, and poet, Trisha Sugarek has been writing for four decades. Until recently her writing had focused on stage plays (Publisher: Samuel French, Inc.) that ranged from prison stories to children's fables. She has expanded her body of work to include two books of poetry, a group of children's books and her debut novel, "Women Outside the Walls". Newly released, a series "ShortN'Small" short plays, small casts which are used in classrooms in this country and internationally. She has enjoyed a thirty year career in theatre as an actor and director. Originally from Seattle, she has worked in theatres from coast to coast and her plays have been produced across the country and abroad. Trisha lives in Savannah, Georgia with her three golden retrievers. Trisha's plays and books can be found on her web site at: www.writeratplay.com

The 87th issue of IndyFest Magazine! is here. This August 2015 issue is one you need to read. Inside you will find in-depth interviews with: Creators of The Mediocres Toby Gibbs & Jerry Voigt Author Trisha Sugarek Creator of Source Point Trico Lutkins Writer and Editor of The Reply, Carly Ottaway Also included in this issue: Eitorial by Ian Shires A Written View by Douglas Owen When Charcters Come A'Knockin' by Trisha Sugarek Sneek Peek: KROS * HALLOWED GROUND * Djinn Tales Purity Ring Published by Ian Shires, Dimestore Productions Managing Editor Ellen Fleisher Circulation Coordinator Douglas Owen Cover Art Cyril Browng IndyFest Magazine spotlights the creative efforts of artists taking control of their work. Each month you will find interviews, how toos and great advice from talented artists. Not stopping there, the magazine interviews the most amazing people and uncovers what it takes to be on the cutting edge of Self-Publishing. All this - and it is FREE Don't forget to tell your friends!

Alma, Kitty and Hattie have one thing in common. The men that they love and married are in prison. Wives visit their men behind bars every day and wonder how their lives brought them to this place. This story focuses on three of these women. Alma is an exotic dancer who seems, at first glance, to be a bit of a nitwit. But on closer inspection she has a street-smart wisdom and humor. Hattie is a hard working African American with four children who is trying to keep her family together. Then there is Kitty, a wealthy socialite, who in spite of the shame and embarrassment of visiting a prison where her husband refuses to see her, doggedly visits every other week. In a series of flash backs we see these women when they lived normal lives with their husbands and children. The plot explodes when Chelsea, Alma and Charlie's daughter, disappears. One visiting day something happens that will change each of their lives forever as the visiting room erupts with violence and heartbreak. This story is based in truth and was inspired while the author was at the Dixon Correctional Facility in Dixon, Illinois, waiting to visit a confessed murderer. It was heart breaking to observe the women and children waiting to see their husbands, fathers, sons and brothers who might be incarcerated for a few months or for life.

Will he betray or save the world’s only unicorn? A novelist and journalistic investigator, Oliver is on a mission to expose the secrets of a clinic that dared to perform illegal experiments on humans. Against all laws and morals, there are doctors making monsters, and it has to stop. Humanity itself is at stake, which is why he must destroy the knowledge of their creation and eliminate any living threats. Then Oliver meets Emma, a former patient, living within the ruins of the clinic. She’s sweet and gentle, pretty, too—despite the horn projecting from her forehead. It seems Oliver has found one of the monsters, and she’s like nothing he imagined. Will he go through with his plan to eradicate those changed by Chimera’s secret, or save Emma for love?

An airship. To a new country and yet another new school for twelve-year-old Emma Quinne. Her mother promises that the star-shaped, ancient Volegrim Academy is the right place for Emma. Even with its—as Emma comes to learn—hidden secrets. Like her new friends Jack and Aveline, and their secrets. But what's with Aveline's dark glasses? And Jack's big fear of Volegrim's headmistress? Then there's the language everyone speaks at Volegrim. Not the English. Not Aveline's fine French. The other language… And what did Professor Fluvius say at Assembly? Students aren't allowed to… Transform? Confused and determined, Emma learns all she can about Volegrim. Soon, she has her own run-ins with Headmistress An Long. Then the danger really grows when the trio of friends stumble upon a sinister plot against Volegrim. Emma fights to expose the plot and save her friends, but there's more she must face—a tremendous force long-buried beneath her own skin.

Magic, adventure, and friendship collide in warm and funny novel about the power of self-acceptance to change the world. Jewel's your average eighth grader. Awkward relationship with a cute boy, ex-BFFs with a popular girl, mom issues at home. You've read it all before. Except for one thing: Jewel has a unicorn horn on her head. (Okay, and one other thing, but it's just too weird to mention here!) Jewel tries to stay invisible at school, looking forward to the day when she can finally leave her small town behind, making art with her fellow weirdos, and obsessively reading graphic novels with her best friends. But when she's selected to represent her school at the regional French speaking competition, she decides she's had enough of the shy life. The horn needs to come off. What happens when you have the ability to become the girl you've always wanted to be? When you don't know your true self, how do you know your true friends? What happens when everything in your life—your biggest struggle, your greatest joy, and your dearest friends—all combine in one calamitous adventure? With a sparkle of magic, a treasure trove of true determination, and help from all her friends both real and invisible, Jewel just might survive this year with her heart—and her head—intact. THE ULTIMATE EMPATHY READ: The unicorn horn in this book is a perfect symbol for all the ways every young person feels strange, different, or unusual in any way. While readers' specific situations may differ from Jewel's, her struggle for self-acceptance will resonate with readers of all stripes, circumstances, and backgrounds. A RICH, FANTASTIC FANTASY: At the heart of this book is a rich, multi-layered fantasy adventure that will have all readers thinking twice about the stories they read, the friends they have, and the superpowers they may not even know they possess. IRRESISTIBLE MIDDLE SCHOOL DRAMA: Catty ex-friends, terrifyingly unapproachable boys, embarrassing dance proposals, inspirational teachers—this book has all the hallmarks of everyone's favorite middle grade fare. UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTERS: Readers won't want to leave this world behind! The main characters and the families in this book are real, warmly drawn, and endlessly relatable. Readers will return to the book just to live in the world for a little bit longer. RELATABLE FAMILY ISSUES: Jewel's family deals with situations that will be very familiar to most readers: high hopes for the future, never having enough money, and the distance between what we want and what we have. The family dynamics are relatable, too: Jewel's single mom works a low-paying job, and they live in an apartment with Jewel's grandma. The warmth of this family despite their difficulties will stay with readers long after they close the cover. Perfect for: tweens, fans of unicorns, fantasy readers, parents, educators

From bestselling authors Maggie Stiefvater and Jackson Pearce comes the second installment in a series bursting with magical creatures, whimsical adventures, and quirky illustrations. Some things Pip and Tomas will find when dealing with unicorns:SHOW-OFFS STAMPEDES MYSTERYA UNICORN WHO'S AFRAID OF EVERYTHINGSome things Pip and Tomas will not find when dealing with unicorns:PEACE AND QUIETPip Bartlett has a way with magical creatures. But even she's challenged by Regent Maximus, a unicorn who's afraid of everything. With the help of her friend Tomas, Pip has to get Regent Maximus ready for a big unicorn competition-even if Regent Maximus would rather do anything than compete. Making matters worse, someone mysterious is trying to win the competition by cheating-and if Pip and Tomas don't stop the bad things from happening, it's not only Regent Maximus who'll have reason to be afraid.