When Pierre Omidyar launched a clunky website from a spare bedroom over Labor Day weekend of 1995, he wanted to see if he could use the Internet to create a perfect market. He never guessed his old-computer-parts and Beanie Baby exchange would revolutionize the world of commerce. Now, Adam Cohen, the only journalist ever to get full access to the company, tells the remarkable story of eBay's rise. He describes how eBay built the most passionate community ever to form in cyberspace and forged a business that triumphed over larger, better-funded rivals. And he explores the ever-widening array of enlistees in the eBay revolution, from a stay-at-home mom who had to rent a warehouse for her thriving business selling bubble-wrap on eBay to the young MBA who started eBay Motors (which within months of its launch was on track to sell $1 billion in cars a year), to collectors nervously bidding thousands of dollars on antique clothing-irons. Adam Cohen's fascinating look inside eBay is essential reading for anyone trying to figure out what's next. If you want to truly understand the Internet economy, "The Perfect Store" is indispensable.

This lyrical debut novel celebrates the joys and tears of love lost and found, and of a life renewed--in a most unexpected place. . . At thirty-four, Brian Duncan has it all. A trendy Manhattan life, a high-powered PR job, and a gorgeous fiancée with an exciting future of her own. Then, in a single moment of deception, Brian's world crumbles. Bitterly betrayed, he decides to toss away all he has worked for. Irresistibly drawn to the road, he leaves the city's busy streets behind. . . On a hillside along New York's Hudson River Valley, Brian is transfixed by the beauty of an enormous windmill. Running toward it is a lovely little girl and her alluring mother, Annie Sullivan, who owns the windmill. The two strike a chord in Brian's heart and soon he discovers the small-town charms of Linden Corners--and of Annie, whose elusive quality matches his own questions about life. And as their relationship deepens into passion, through the force of nature and the hand of fate, Brian will learn that love comes in unexpected ways. Pittman's debut novel is a feel-good fantasy. . . a nice feel for pace and place."--Publishers Weekly

Pick a card. Any card. With this trademark phrase, along with a wink, a winning grin and a handful of entertaining card tricks, Mr. Mercury Ecks has come to town. Windmill, Indiana, to be exact. And while the citizens of this 1950s Midwest farm town are naturally wary of strangers, they soon fall prey to the drifters principal charm. For Mr. Ecks knows things . . . Things about the people in town: Things that can help them: Help solve their problems. Relieve their fears. Remove their obstacles. And all he asks in return for sharing what he knows is a fee, a small fee. Or so at seems at first. But the small fee turns out to be much larger. Too late do the towns citizens learn Mr. Ecks secret purpose: The destruction of lives. The destruction of communities. The destruction of Windmill itself. For Laura Connerson, newly returned to Windmill, Mr. Ecks gift of mind-reading is especially tempting: Her young daughter has recently gone missing, and the stranger seems to know something about it. Or more specifically, seems to know something hidden in Lauras mind about it: Some bit of evidence, lost in the depths of her memory. A memory, a clue, waiting to be retrieved by him. For a price. The grinning, prancing drifter offers to help Laura probe her memory for the clue to her daughters disappearance. But what he asks in exchange for his service is more than she is willing to pay. Unless she can beat him at his own evil mind games . . . I am going to penetrate you, Laura. First your mind. Then the rest of you. Welcome to Windmill is the first book in a series about quaint but luckless Windmill, Indiana: A town that misfortune seems to favor, but whose citizens nevertheless manage to survive, and even thrive. Three years after Mr. Mercury Ecks disastrous visit, another stranger, Nathan Devlin, arrives with an old chest full of curious objects for sale . . . Curious and, some would say, magical. But once purchased, these seemingly-innocent curios begin to work more than magic on the good citizens of the town . . . And trinkets that seem quaint at first turn dangerous. What is behind their power? And why has this stranger brought them? In Rabbits Foot, a mans bitterness and confusion over an old heartbreak wreaks new havoc on Windmill . . . Until an ordinary rabbits foot reveals the truth of Nathans lost love Julia . . . And leads the two aged lovers to each other for a final reconciliation. Yet three years later, another stranger, Norma Swann by name, sets up shop in Windmill: A tea shop, to be exact, called Sweet Dreams. The citizens of Windmill, by now weary of strangers bearing strange gifts, try to avoid her shop with its tempting assortment of tea, cookies, candles, and bright knickknacks. Norma, however, will not be ignored: She has a special Gift, and she plans to share it. For Norma can send dreams to you in your sleep. Be nice to her, buy her tea, chat with her, and you will get good dreams, happy dreams, sweet dreams. But if you should happen to offend her . . . Well, prepare to be driven sleeplessly, horribly mad. Read all about Mercury, Nathan, Norma and the people of Windmill, Indiana Where bad things happen to a good town. Write to the author at [email protected] Cover photograph by Judy Butz. Cover design by Bill Ferguson, Judy Butz and Anne Shepherd.

It is the year 1914 in rural West Kentucky. Twelve-year old Emma Mae and her ten-year old brother Edward have traveled across the county to visit their church friends Evelyn, aged eight, and her brother Ted, aged eleven. While visiting their large farm, unusual happenings occur, including the disappearance of the family dog and the threat of a kidnapping. As the children search for the missing dog, a strange sound lures them to the top of the farm windmill. When they reach the top, the wind is so strong they are blown off . . . only to land beside a Dutch windmill with four huge blades in the country of Holland! After getting to know a Dutch family there, they discover that there can be danger, even in another part of the world. Will they be able to save the Dutch princess from kidnappers? And what about saving the other "princess" when they return home? IF they return home?