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  The Ghost in the Cupboard Room -...

  Wilkie Collins

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  Wilkie Collins was born on 8th January 1824 in Marylebone, London.  
  The family moved several times in his early years before, at 12, they travelled to France and Italy for 2 years where the sights and atmosphere made a deep and lasting impression on him. 
  He resumed his education at Mr Cole’s private boarding school in Highbury, Islington.  Here, he began his literary career under unusual circumstances: the school bully would give him no peace until he had been told a bedtime story.  This ‘little brute’ helped create one of England’s greatest writers.  
  On leaving school, in 1841, he became a clerk at a tea merchant before, 2 years later, publishing his first short story.  However, his first novel was rejected and remained so during his lifetime.  
  A brief stint at Lincoln’s Inn to please his father and to acquire a steady income was halted by his father’s death.  Collins then wrote and published his fathers’ memoirs.  He then completed his legal education though he would never practice.  
  In March 1851, he was introduced to Charles Dickens and there now started a period of sustained literary output and a remarkable lifelong friendship.  His stories were published in Dicken’s magazines, and he toured with Dicken’s theatrical before the two of them travelled to the Continent. 
  By the early 1860’s worrying signs of ill-health appeared with rheumatic gout.  As it worsened, he sought respite and cures in German spa towns and gave up writing to help his recuperation. 
  His personal life had become very complicated.  He was living with the widowed Caroline Graves and conducting an affair with a much younger Martha Rudd.  With the serialised release of ‘The Moonstone’ and vicious attacks of gout Caroline left him and married another.  Collins was now prescribed opium and was soon its lifelong dependent.  Martha bore him two children and with the return of a now divorced Caroline Graves he now divided his time between the two women. 
  In 1874 he set aside writing to tour North America on a reading tour. 
  Throughout his later years he continued to write and publish.  In all 30 novels, 14 plays, 60 short stories and over a 100 non-fiction essays as well as many more collaborations with Dickens. 
  In 1884 the Society of Authors elected him as it’s Vice-President. 
  Wilkie Collins died from a paralytic stroke on September 23rd, 1889, in London. He was 65.

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  Postcards From Stella Maris -...

  Susan M. Boyer

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  For Fans of the Liz Talbot Mystery Series… Postcards From Stella Maris  is a collection of five short stories for fans of the series who might be interested, for example, in Colleen's backstory. I wrote the short story “Common Knowledge” for myself years ago, as a way to explore what happened to Colleen. As you might imagine, it's not as light as the series in general. This story has never been published anywhere before. “Eviction” is the story of how Liz first met Rhett, her golden retriever, back when she was married to Scott the Scoundrel. This story is also not lighthearted, and it likewise has never been published before. “Hogwash” originally appeared in Spinetingler Magazine. This is a fun little case which introduces the character of Zeke Lyerly, who appears in Lowcountry Bonfire. “Highlights and Hot Lead” originally appeared in The Petigru Review. This is a Stella Maris slice of life story featuring Shannelle Johnson, a local judge's wife, and it takes place entirely at Phoebe's Day Spa. “Everything is Relative” is a peek inside a Talbot family Thanksgiving. A few of Mamma's recipes are included at the end. If by chance you’ve stumbled on this collection of stories, but you’ve never read a Liz Talbot mystery, I would encourage you to start with   Lowcountry Boil (A Liz Talbot Mystery, Book 1)   and come back to these stories later. I so hope you enjoy these glimpses into Liz Talbot’s formative years, her unfortunate first marriage, and her life between major cases. Warmly, Susan M. Boyer

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  The Sea-Wolf

  Jack London

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  When literary critic Humphrey Van Weyden is rescued from a shipwreck by the seal-hunting schooner Ghost, he enters a world far removed from his sheltered existence. At the helm of the ship is Wolf Larsen—a brutal, brilliant, and enigmatic captain whose philosophy of survival and dominance challenges everything Van Weyden believes. Trapped aboard with a crew ruled by fear and violence, Van Weyden is forced to confront both the physical hardships of life at sea and the psychological warfare of Larsen’s ruthless worldview. 
  A gripping tale of man versus nature, intellect versus instinct, and morality versus might, The Sea-Wolf is one of Jack London’s most powerful and enduring novels. This audiobook brings the storm-lashed Pacific and its unforgettable characters vividly to life in a classic high-seas adventure that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling. 
  Cover Photo by Nayla Charo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/bird-flying-over-the-sea-wave-4799392/

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  Penny and The Monsters

  Ridhhaan Jaiin

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  About Book 
  The book "Penny and The Monster" is a story of a girl named Penny who moves to a new house and slowly discovers there are monsters in the house. It’s a combination of horror with a touch of humor and has a moral "how one can overcome their fear." 
  About Author and Narrator Ridhhaan Jaiin 
  Ridhhaan Jaiin is one of India’s youngest and most talented authors. At just 9 years old, he is already an accomplished author, audiobook narrator, and motivational speaker. He is also a passionate child philanthropist, using his platform to raise awareness and funds for causes close to his heart. 
  His parents encouraged him to put his thoughts to paper, and he created magic! His first book – ‘Once Upon in My Mind’ – was published when he was just 8 years old, making him one of India’s youngest authors. 
  In 2022, three more books by Ridhhaan were released: “The Mirror and The Greedy Man”, “The Despicable Virus”, and “Penny and the Monsters”. All these stories have happy endings with good morals, adding values. He has also narrated audiobook of same titles. 
  As a motivational speaker, Ridhhaan has visited numerous schools, clubs, events and hosted motivational sessions for over 1000 children and 250 adults.  
  Ridhhaan Jaiin is an author who believes in giving a platform to other children to express themselves through story writing. In 2022, he founded a story writing competition for children aged 5 to 12 and sponsored the book publishing of all the winners.  
  Ridhhaan also donates portion of his income from audiobooks with blind students for their welfare. Additionally, Ridhhaan is officially signed as Brand Ambassador of BVJSS Foundation, an orphanage based in Pune providing shelter and education to children of 6 to 16 years of age.

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  Anathema - From their pens to...

  Alexander Kuprin

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  Alexander Kuprin was born in Narovchat, Penza in Russia on 7th September 1870. 
  At 3 his Father died and he and mother moved to Moscow. By 10 he was enrolled at the Second Moscow Military High School and there his interest in literature began. The Alexander Military Academy followed and two years later he was a sub-lieutenant and posted to an Infantry Regiment for a further four years. 
  Despite his duties he was a now a keen writer and published his first short story at this time. His military duties also garnered him experiences for his breakthrough work ‘The Duel’.  Leaving the military he left for Kiev to work for local newspapers.  He continued to publish both stories and novels and by 1901 he was in St Petersburg becoming part of a group that included Chekhov, Ivan Bunin, Maxim Gorky and Leonid Andreyev.  
  In the years that followed further controversial works and acclaim followed.  His comments on the regime meant he was also put under secret police surveillance.   
  As World War I erupted, Kuprin opened a military hospital but was then given command of an infantry company in Finland. He was soon discharged on grounds of ill health.  
  The October Revolution saw him praise Lenin, but he warned that the Bolsheviks threatened Russian culture and might cause further widespread suffering to the peasants.  As Civil War raged he took his family to Helsinki and then on to Paris. 
  Exile saw his talents decline further and his succumbing to alcoholism. He became lonely and withdrawn. The family's poverty increased his malaise.   
  In May 1937, the Kuprin’s returned to Moscow.  He now saw his work published but wrote almost nothing new.  In 1938 his health rapidly deteriorated.  Already suffering from a kidney problems and sclerosis, he had now developed cancer of the oesophagus.  
  Alexander Kuprin died on 25th August 1938.

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  A Waiter Made of Glass - Stories...

  Verlyn Flieger

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  Award-winning author Verlyn Flieger takes readers through a series of insightful short stories exploring tragic aspects of human nature. A few of the tales are dark, others a bit lighter, but all celebrate the creativity of storytelling. The second part of the book is a collection of new poetry unearthing the wonders of language, the mundane, and grief and mourning as part of life—the dark spot within the light. Death is the inevitable, inescapable result of mortality, and grief is the price the living pay for that condition. Readers are invited to join in the journey, take some comfort in the knowledge of shared darkness, and know that even within the dark moments, there is always at least a speck of splintered light.

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