This is the story of a couple who embark on a two year cycle ride through 15 countries, without backup or support, through areas not usually visited by tourists. The author, approaching retirement age, shows that anyone with a dream, ambition or life-long goal can make it a reality.

The New York Times bestseller “The Shadow of the Wind is ultimately a love letter to literature, intended for readers as passionate about storytelling as its young hero.” —Entertainment Weekly (Editor's Choice) “One gorgeous read.” —Stephen King Barcelona, 1945: A city slowly heals in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, and Daniel, an antiquarian book dealer’s son who mourns the loss of his mother, finds solace in a mysterious book entitled The Shadow of the Wind, by one Julián Carax. But when he sets out to find the author’s other works, he makes a shocking discovery: someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book Carax has written. In fact, Daniel may have the last of Carax’s books in existence. Soon Daniel’s seemingly innocent quest opens a door into one of Barcelona’s darkest secrets--an epic story of murder, madness, and doomed love.

A taut, lyrical portrait of four people thrown together on a single day in rural Argentina The Wind That Lays Waste begins in the great pause before a storm. Reverend Pearson is evangelizing across the Argentinian countryside with Leni, his teenage daughter, when their car breaks down. This act of God or fate leads them to the workshop and home of an aging mechanic called Gringo Brauer and a young boy named Tapioca. As a long day passes, curiosity and intrigue transform into an unexpected intimacy between four people: one man who believes deeply in God, morality, and his own righteousness, and another whose life experiences have only entrenched his moral relativism and mild apathy; a quietly earnest and idealistic mechanic’s assistant, and a restless, skeptical preacher’s daughter. As tensions between these characters ebb and flow, beliefs are questioned and allegiances are tested, until finally the growing storm breaks over the plains. Selva Almada’s exquisitely crafted debut, with its limpid and confident prose, is profound and poetic, a tactile experience of the mountain, the sun, the squat trees, the broken cars, the sweat-stained shirts, and the destroyed lives. The Wind That Lays Waste is a philosophical, beautiful, and powerfully distinctive novel that marks the arrival in English of an author whose talent and poise are undeniable.

‘Face the Wind’ is a term used by Native American men to demonstrate their prowess in battle, at winning against odds, and succeeding in their endeavor. The term carries succinct relevance to the Smith twins and their resolute spirits. In this Tenth historical fiction novel of The Checker Board Series, in 1898, Dave Smith moves his family into Sheridan, Wyoming in order to take over the district court judgeship. It requires a period of adjustment, particularly as his old partner, Jim Bowen shows up to open new objectives in quelling the criminal element that inhabits a large part of the very district in which Dave Smith is a judge. Old law business resurfaces in which specific objectives are set as well as locating more information in order to capture wrongdoers. Even Butch Cassidy, notorious outlaw, confounds Dave to the point Wyoming’s Governor threatens to remove Dave from his judge’s position. This novel is historical as it describes the early build-out of Sheridan, including the railroads, coal mining, and the early stages of the local water treatment plant. Even a remote dinosaur dig creates a momentous find while at the same time evades an outlaw gang on their own home turf of the Hole in the Wall hideout. This book is a ‘Coming of Age' story that includes the separate lives of the Smith twin’s, Seth and Seamus, and how their courses diverge, each with his own approach to life. Seamus endeavors to learn about water control while working as an apprentice for the Sheridan water works engineer. His studies include engineering school in Boston. Seth attempts to shine at polo only to learn how disastrous is the sport. After a catastrophic riding accident, Seth meets Willow, a lovely Cheyenne girl trained as an herbalist and horse healer. Willow captures Seth’s heart and must state her intents to Dave Smith in order to be accepted. Remaining on the ranch, Seth and Willow learn more about horse breeding and training. Cheyenne Indian Sam Eagle Feather, Dave’s old partner, maintains a delicate tightrope strung between being free or relegated to the reservation. Sam confronts rustlers who attack his small ranch which start a cascade of adversity for all concerned.

It’s 1923 in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, where a risky romance between a mistreated young woman and a boxer owned by the mob motivates self-discovery, loyalty toward passions, and a life-threatening struggle for freedom. A mundane life is far from Angelina’s only suffrage. Pitying the monster that once loved her as a daughter is just as much a captivity as his fist to her face. Fear locks her door; daring to dream is her key. For fisherman Vincent, unsought ties with the world of organized crime have him boxing in a speakeasy notorious for its gambling on the fights. To maintain the security and success of his father’s longtime fishing business and the well-being of everyone close to him, Vincent must remain enslaved to a ruthless and powerful mob leader. Face to the Wind is a tender romance, a “jazz-age” journey that unfolds through the eyes of two young lovers with a timeless determination to be together.