Consider this book. Beyond these pages is my collection of stories centered on mental health and multigenerational relationships. This is my first book since the one I finished in high school, Mr. Rot’s Garden (2018). It may seem curious there’s just nine short stories I’ve tucked in here, but I am quite proud of all of them and feel they well represent my strengths as a writer. The first I’d like to mention is “An Assessment In Frailty” which picks up right at the end of a home tour. Eighty-four year-old Franklin Sprawl is put down by homeowner Robert Lash who claims the senior hasn’t made any meaningful contribution to society during his lifetime of work. This spark’s Sprawl’s relentless need to prove lash wrong by making an art piece that says more about Lash’s flaws than anything else. The second, “Surface Street Shades,” follows Elderly widow, Geraldine Fade, who drives in a weathered truck with a distinctive gash on its tailgate. The old woman is aghast when a white SUV is stalking her, though she manages to lose them momentarily and sets upon inviting her handyman over to do work and quell her stress, she learns the hard way about the many faces of appreciation. Thirdly, my title story, "Threat Along The Homestretch" concerns an anxious young adult, with unbidden urges, who just wants to get home. But when road work redirects him away from the shorter path to his house, he must enter a senior center where he thinks he is increasingly susceptible to striking out. “The Welcoming Bench,” shows a young teen boy’s perspective change thanks to a story an old Quaker gives him about her dear deceased friend Nanette Looking. It’s a cozy premise with memorable characters which tackles greater themes of religion and universal needs for companionship.

Roz the robot discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island with no memory of where she is from or why she is there, and her only hope of survival is to try to learn about her new environment from the island's hostile inhabitants.

Get your spurs and saddles on and ride alongside the heroes, cowboys and outlaws in the Wild West. E-artnow presents this meticulously edited collection of the carefully selected - best and most exciting Westerns: Rebel Spurs (Andre Norton) Ride Proud, Rebel! (Andre Norton) The Bandit of Hell's Bend (Edgar Rice Burroughs) Riders of the Purple Sage (Zane Grey) The Rainbow Trail (Zane Grey) The Spirit of the Border (Zane Grey) Winnetou (Karl May) The Untamed (Max Brand) The Night Horseman (Max Brand) The Seventh Man (Max Brand) The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains (Owen Wister) The Last of the Mohicans (James Fenimore Cooper) The Prairie (James Fenimore Cooper) Chip, of the Flying U (B. M. Bower) The Flying U Ranch (B. M. Bower) The Flying U's Last Stand (B. M. Bower) Cabin Fever (B. M. Bower) Rimrock Trail (J. Allan Dunn) The 'Breckinridge Elkins' Series (Robert E. Howard) The Outcasts of Poker Flat (Bret Harte) Heart of the West (O. Henry) White Fang (Jack London) The Wolf Hunters (James Oliver Curwood) The Log of a Cowboy: A Narrative of the Old Trail Days (Andy Adams) The Two-Gun Man (Charles Alden Seltzer) The Law of the Land (Emerson Hough) The Short Cut (Jackson Gregory) Whispering Smith (Frank H. Spearman) A Texas Cow Boy (Charles Siringo) The Desert Trail (Dane Coolidge) Hidden Water (Dane Coolidge) That Girl Montana (Marah Ellis Ryan) A Voice in the Wilderness (Grace Livingston Hill) The Rules of the Game (Stewart Edward White) Paid Off (Walt Coburn) The Lonesome Trail (John Neihardt) Spawn of the Desert (W. C. Tuttle) A Texas Ranger (William MacLeod Raine) Gunsight Pass (William MacLeod Raine) The Conquest (Oscar Micheaux) John Brent (Theodore Winthrop) The Lone Ranger Rides (Fran Striker) The Heart of Canyon Pass (Thomas Holmes) The Lions of the Lord (Harry Leon Wilson) Raw Gold (Bertrand William Sinclair) The Valley of the Giants (Peter B. Kyne)...

Many of the world’s major cities sprang up on the banks of rivers. Used for water, food, irrigation, transportation, and power, rivers sustain life and connect the world together, but most of us think of them simply as waterways that must be crossed on the way to another place. Using four European and two North American rivers as examples, A Story of Six Rivers considers the place of rivers in our world and emphasizes the inextricable links between history, culture, and ecology. Peter Coates explores six rivers, chosen as examples of the types of rivers found on the planet: the Danube, the second-longest river in Europe; the Spree, which flows through Berlin; the Po, which cuts eastward across northern Italy; the Mersey in northwest England; the Yukon, which runs through Canada and Alaska; and the Los Angeles in California. Creating a series of river biographies, Coates gives voice to each of these bodies of water, exploring how rivers nurture us, provide cultural and economic opportunities, and pose threats to our everyday lives. He challenges recent narratives that paint rivers as the victims of abuse, pollution, and damage at the hands of humans, focusing on change rather than devastation. Describing how humans and rivers form a symbiotic—and sometimes mutually destructive—relationship, Coates argues that rivers illustrate the limits of human authority and that their capacity to inspire us is as strong as our ability to pollute them. An intimate portrait of the way these bodies of water inform our lives, A Story of Six Rivers will make us reconsider the streams and tributaries we traverse each day.

Ralph Delahaye Paine's 'The Praying Skipper, and Other Stories' is a collection of riveting tales set against the backdrop of the sea. Paine's prose is characterized by vivid descriptions of maritime life, offering readers a glimpse into the danger and beauty of the open ocean. Each story within the book is meticulously crafted, immersing the reader in a world of both adventure and reflection. Paine's literary style is both engaging and informative, making this collection a must-read for lovers of nautical fiction. Paine's work is deeply influenced by the tradition of seafaring literature, with echoes of Herman Melville and Jack London present throughout the stories. Through his exploration of courage, sacrifice, and the power of the sea, Paine creates a compelling narrative that is sure to captivate readers. 'The Praying Skipper, and Other Stories' is a testament to Paine's skill as a storyteller and his dedication to capturing the essence of life at sea. Readers who enjoy tales of high seas adventure and human resilience will find this collection to be a rewarding and immersive read.