Charts the developments of music boxes from the invention of the first one in 1796 through today.

A mysterious music box from the Haunted Museum follows a young girl home in this spooky read by the author of The Titanic Locket. Don’t touch anything in the Haunted Museum! Emma would rather be at her ballet class than at the Haunted Museum, but she can’t miss her best friend’s birthday party. In a spooky exhibit of music boxes, she’s drawn to a particular one, in which a pair of dancers spin slowly to a haunting melody. But that very night, the music box shows up at her door—like it’s following her. Emma dances better than she ever imagined when the music box is playing. But that’s not all. Sometimes the music speeds up, and the dancers seem to move on their own. Emma finds the lid open, music playing, even when she knows she’d shut it before. And then an eye appears in the mirror inside the lid—someone is watching Emma! The more Emma learns about the history of the music box, the more she realizes she needs to break the hold it has over her before it’s too late. But the better she dances when the music plays, the less she wants to! Praise for The Titanic Locket “Hair-raising. . . . Weyn keeps unexpected chills coming. . . . A quick, jittery read.” —Publishers Weekly “Weyn ratchets up the eeriness . . . and quickly builds to a stormy climax.” —Kirkus Reviews

The Music Box Kingdom A monarchy stuck in a music box, with its own power battles and royal intrigue. In Summary An old music box that seems to have been lost over time is found by a little girl named Lily in a dusty corner of an attic. It turns out to be more than it seems. Once Lily winds up the music box's delicate mechanism, she is swept away to the center of the machine, where tunes and harmonies rule a bright and magical world. The so-called "Music Box Kingdom" is in danger. This group's future is in danger because the music that makes it appealing is going away. The realm is a beautiful magical place where Lily has to solve puzzles and find secrets. As she enters the world of song, she sees how bad things are there and how important it is for her to bring it back to life. Lily's unplanned trip turns into a very important task. A magical glowing flute leads her on a quest to find the Lost Melody, which is the key to keeping the kingdom's music alive. Along the way, she meets many people who live in the country. There are funny sprites by the Rhythmic River and whispering trees in the Whispering Woods. They all teach her to be wise and kind. These relationships make her more determined, and they also show the way to unity. Lily's adventure, in which she faces the Guardian of Silence and persuades the Symphony of Shadows to share their lost songs, shows how powerful harmony can be and how music can last forever. With the Lost melody in her hand, she brings back the kingdom's tune, creating a bond between herself and the magical place that will last forever. The Music Box Kingdom comes back to life with color and tune after almost dying of lack of activity. A song about bravery, friendship, and the lasting power of music is its only comfort. Chapter 1: What was found in the attic. Lily's house had an attic tucked away in a quiet corner. It was full of old memories and mysteries just ready to be solved. There were a lot of boxes in the attic. Lily chose to check out this empty place one day because she was interested and wanted to go on an adventure. As she climbed the creaky stairs, dust danced in the light beams that cut through the darkness. This created a strange atmosphere that spelled magic and mystery. In all the mess and spiderwebs, Lily saw a very strange thing: a music box. This wasn't any old box; it seemed to be filled with magical energy. It looked very old and had elaborate carvings that told stories of faraway places and times long ago. The music box was interesting; it looked like it had been waiting for Lily to find it. Lily reached out and gently wound the music box. She was so excited that her hands were tingling with anticipation. The first sounds flew into the air, and something amazing began to happen. It wasn't just music; the song was a key to another world. The box's sounds spun around Lily, making a tune that made her feel like she was in a warm hug as the attic around her became fuzzy. Before Lily knew it, the dull attic was gone, leaving behind a world she had never seen before. This was not a normal country; the whole world was singing. As the trees swayed, their leaves rustled in time, making a soft drumming sound. The music made the blossoms bloom at the same time, and their colors were bright and alive. There were notes in the air that made the sky look like it was dawn or dusk. Lily thought the music box took her deep into its heart, where harmony and song were the most important things. The sound of music filled Lily's heart with unimaginable happiness, and her eyes were wide with awe. The music box's hypnotic powers are shown by how smoothly it takes you from the sad attic to this beautiful paradise. It looked like the scene was alive and full of energy because music and color were everywhere she looked. This realization was the start of Lily's biggest journey. She had found a way to get to a world where music was life itself, not just a music box. It was a strange feeling, like you were in a dream world where each note was a paintbrush stroke on this bright globe. Lily knew at that moment that she was about to go on a journey like no other. This adventure would help her find the mysteries inside the old music box and show her the true power of music. Chapter 2: The Salutation of the Queen Lily felt more and more amazed as she explored the music box's bright world. It had beautiful scenery, and the people who lived there were different from anyone she had met before. Nobody else lived in the Music Box Kingdom like them, and happiness and music came to them like air. They danced and sang about Lily. Their voices were like a friendly chorus, and their moves were like a welcome ballet. When Lily was greeted with such warmth, she felt like she had joined a family she had no idea existed. One person stood out from the crowd; they were brighter and more majestic than the others. King Harmony was the ruler of the Music Box Kingdom. Just being around, him was as relaxing as a nice tune. As he got closer to Lily, his smile seemed to light up the whole world. King Harmony was more than just a king; he was the music that made this magical land go. His eyes sparkled with the beauty of a thousand songs, and his robes moved with the ease of a symphony. King Harmony greeted Lily kindly and told her how happy he was to have her here. After that, he told her the secret that had kept their kingdom alive: music wasn't just art or pleasure, it was the main force behind everything. The air was filled with harmonies and melodies that made everything in the land grow. The trees, the wind, and the water all loved them. When Lily understood that music could be more than just nice sounds, she had an epiphany. In this case, music was the very essence of being. But the king told them a scary truth, and his mood got worse. The music that kept the kingdom alive had started to lose its power. The music was not only getting less beautiful, but it was also a threat to the Music Box Kingdom's very survival. The kingdom would lose its color, joy, and life very quickly without music. It was sad to think that such a lively atmosphere could become dull and quiet. Lily was deeply affected by what King Harmony said. She became more determined as she looked around at the happy faces of her new friends, the dancing leaves, and the singing rivers. The kingdom had welcomed her with open arms, but it now faced an existential danger. Lily knew she couldn't just stand there and enjoy the beauty and music at that moment. She had to do something. She was greeted with open arms by the people of the Music Box Kingdom. Now it was her turn to thank them by helping them when they needed it.

Read this edge of your seat police procedural thriller with just enough creepiness to keep you up at night. If you love CSI and Criminal Minds and books with a paranormal twist, serial killers, and cold case mysteries with strong characters, and the feel of real-life murder investigations, then read this book and series today. Lullabies and murder. When a women is found with her throat slit and a music box left at the crime scene, the FBI worries a killer from the past is back. Agent Derek Reed has an uncanny ability to solve cases that no one else can. When his friend Dr. Chelsea begs him to take over the high-profile case, Derek knows this case may ruin his career. As the investigation unfolds, some have questioned how Derek knows things that only the killer or the victims would know. He tells everyone it’s just his way of looking at things. But his team suspects there is more to it than that. Faced with coming to terms with a gift he never wanted, he has to learn how to control it. If he doesn’t, not only could it cost him his job, a job he can’t live without, it could cost him so much more. It may cost him his sanity. The Music Box Killer - Book 3 in the Derek Reed Series. Buy your copy today! Victoria M. Patton combines forensics and police work with just enough humor. Her unique way of writing will have you on a roller coaster ride of emotions and keep you turning pages well past your bedtime. Visit her online to learn more about her and sign up for sneak peaks of her books, what murders she’s plotting, and what whiskey she is currently drinking.

Live in Tucson or plan on visiting soon and (this is important) have wads of cash and/or credit burning fresh holes in your designer jeans? Susan L. Miller's weekly column appeared in the Tucson Shopper for over two years. Focusing on locally owned, independent businesses, she outlines dozens of irresistible opportunities to unload excess funds and exercise your plastic when the cash runs out. Put the laughs back in your shopping cart...whether it's food, hobbies, art, music, books, pets, gifts, pawn shops, vintage clothing, tools or cars, you'll find it here. And don't miss the small but satisfying "Protecting the Family Jewels" Chapter. Email Susan at: [email protected]

This book introduces readers to the most significant technological developments in music making and listening, including such topics as metronomes and the development of music notation as well as synthesizers, the latest music collaboration apps, and other 21st-century technologies. Rather than focusing on technical and mechanical details, Music and Technology: A Historical Encyclopedia features the sociological role of technological developments by highlighting the roles they have played in society throughout time. Students and music fans alike will gain valuable insight from this alphabetized encyclopedia of the most significant examples of technological changes that have impacted the creation, production, dissemination, recording, and/or consumption of music. The book also contains a chronology of milestone events in the history of music and technology as well as sidebars that focus on several key individual musicians and inventors.