Ghost Books

Hands-down, this is the absolute best Halloween book for young children. We bought this when it first came out in 1997, and it still has an honored spot on our shelves. Every year, we pull it out and revel in the fanciful pictures, catchy rhymes, and joy of the season.

We started reading this when my son was only a few months old, and now that he's almost 9, it's still a favorite -- and our younger two kids love it just as much. Don't miss this book!

This book is great for Halloween! Our children really enjoy repeating the rocking, rythmic sounds made in this graveyard!

This great book is meant to be read aloud. This is a humorous book, which makes friends of the goblins and ghouls, by making them party through the night with all the local neighbors. The rhythms are great, the words are funny and this is a book designed to make the tongue dance and the teeth tap. The pictures are wonderful and in full color. Read it at bedtime around Halloween and your kids will be filling in the rhythms and rapping along with you in a Halloween treat.

My daughter (age 3) likes this book so much that I have to read it to her at least twice a day. This has been going on for over a month and luckily, I'm not really tired of it yet!

Rattlebone Rock is so fun to read. Children love the rhythmic text and really get into the book by making the spooky sounds the author writes of. Read it through once to a class of K-3 students. Then read it again and again, and have them chime in during the graveyard ghostly parts! This has been a hit with the k-3 students I have read it to. They will love the text and the great illustrations. A Halloween Book I wouldn't be without!

This anthology is full of variety. Most every tale is dark in tone and packs a visceral punch, but the inspiration behind each story is different and it makes for a great package. Never mind that I'm in it; I was laid up in the hospital when I got my copy, and READ BY DAWN II made the time fly. Not a dull moment!

I was particularly impressed with Scott Brendel's contribution, The Seventh Green AT Lost Lakes. I thought it was a well written, suspenseful, and interesting.

Read by Dawn was a fascinating read. Michele Lee rocks socks. Various dark and chilling stories to keep you up and looking at shadows all night long.

Let's just forget for a moment that I have a story in this anthology (Read by Dawn volume 1) and say it just happened to be an Amazon.com order mistakenly delivered to my house. I'm not going to go over story (because there are 27 of them), as I do with magazines. Instead I'm going to highlight a few stories that stood out to me. In the order they appear in the book these are:

# Last Day on the Job by Jeff Jacobson- I loved the imagery of the world of skyscrapers which so many take for granted raining down upon the bug-like people below. The ending sort of fizzled, but the middle was creepy and amusing, a combination I love.


# The Seventh Green a Lost Lake by Scott Brendel- Golf horror. I love it!


# Lessons by Katherine A. Patterson- One of the creepiest stories in anthology. It's troubling on many levels, with a just desserts style ending and centers entirely on family dynamics, not violence per se.


# Popee by Justin Madison- My co-favorite in the anthology. I love dark humor and I can't even look at the title anymore without picturing a old man zombie gnawing on his grand son, being shoved back and leaving his dentures behind. When I go back through this will be the first one I read.


# The Bloom of Decay by Patricia McCormack- This one wins the creativity award in my opinion. It takes a strong veer from the rest of the stories. The horror in this one comes not from something that happens, or something the character has earned, but from who the character really is. I'm not sure it's flattering to the author, but I'd consider it flattering if someone said it of me, but this story inspired a little story of my own. This one most definitely made me think.

# Final Girl by Joe L. Murr- This one is my other co-favorite. (Hah! And you thought it was going to be my own.) This one caught me by surprise. It's so wrong but so right. It all makes sense with those last few lines, but the situation isn't the only horrible aspect of this tale.


# Frankie by Matt Wedge- This one wins the "I'd need therapy" award. In fact, just browsing the story again as I thumbed through the book to do this review made me put the book down fast, lest I reread a disturbing scene. I'll tell you one thing, these horror writers know human behavior too well. No wonder why normal people are scared of us. We use them against themselves.


# The Woman Who Coughs Up Flies by David Turnbull- This kind of story gives me hope, as a writer. The plot I guessed close to the beginning, but the sheer beauty of the writing sold me this one. It give me hope when I see those "the plot was too predictable" rejects.


# Special Offer by John Llewellyn Probert- I will never channel surf by HSN or QVC again and not think of this story. I really like that it gives a physical pain to people who spend recklessly, either due to a psychological problem or to plain old greed. I know many of these people who show off their neat new playthings while my family makes sure all bills are paid first and fully. I wonder if they would still act the same if they had the consequences presented in this story.


# Body Hunt by Chet Gottfried- Had the above mentioned "Popee" not been in this collection this tale would have won my humor vote. Amusing and dark but a natural dark, not forced. It almost reads like a dark sitcom.


# What Betty Saw by Joel Jacobs- A nice story at the end about the end. I would not have placed this story anywhere else in the collection as it does a fantastic job of bringing the anthology to a very final (burning) end.


I'd also like to note that there were no bad, poor, or even fair stories between these white covers. Every story had it merits, some merely connected better with me than others. My complete reading only serves to make me more proud of being including among these fantastic writers' tales. I am definitely putting volume two on my to buy list, as I will not be within it pages.

Good luck to Bloody Books and all the authors who have been included within their publications. May you receive the recognition you deserve.

READ BY DAWN: Volume 1
This has been a great year for anthologies. First we got Lee and Wilbanks' knock out collection, "Damned Nation", and then Skipp's long awaited zombie anthology, "Mondo Zombie", and now from Bloody Books we have READ BY DAWN. Put together by Adele Hartley, Director of "Dead By Dawn", Scotland's International Horror Film Festival, the anthology showcases writers from around the world, including Finland, America, Scotland, Canada, and Australia. If there is an international language for horror, this anthology is it. Among the 30 stories within, I consider only a few to fall into the mediocre category, most go straight to my favorite short stories of the year list. If this collection doesn't sweep the International Horror Guild and the Stokers awards next year, and get some respectable page space in Ellen Datlow's "Year's Best Fantasy and Horror", there is no justice.
Some of my particular favorites- I mean the ones that downright made me gasp aloud or shiver while reading them- were "Bloodwalker" by Michelle Lee, an alternative universe tale of practical evil, "The Face in the Glass" by Brian G. Ross, and Rayne Hall's "The Bridge Chamber" (take that, The Descent). I'd also like to call attention to Samuel Minier's "Stuck" as a particularly well-written piece, subtle and heart wrenching, even to the bloody end. And I liked the way Lavie Tidhar takes the Alice In Wonderland theme across the world and plops it into war torn Germany in "Eine Kleine Nachmusik (1943)". But I think if I had to choose a favorite it would be "The Kylesku Trow" by Stefan Pearson; the tale's last riddle will haunt me for many years to come.
Bloody Books knows how to package. The austere red, white, black and gray cover draws you in, and the font is easy reading despite the size of the slim volume. I have only one complaint with the book's construction: There are no author names listed with the tales themselves, neither in the Table of Contents or the traditional top of the page of each story. If one needs to find the author, one must either go back to the first page of the story, or scan the tiny print of the copyright page. But this is such a small thing compared to the fine stories this volume gives us. My hope is that subsequent volumes will fix this issue. But in the professional hands of the editor, I think the next volume will be even more engrossing and bring to light some of the new names in horror. And the U.K.'s most respected living horror author, Ramsey Campbell, must think they've got what it takes to become something quite special, as he adds a touching story of his own to the collection and provides a wrap around piece as well. "The Place of Revelations" seems to be his nod to the new voices in the genre and is, as usual, brilliantly written work from a master of the craft.
In the absence of so many beloved ongoing anthology series, this is one to keep your eyes on in the future to give you the well-written, exciting horror fix you need.

--Nickolas Cook

The stories are great to read aloud to children and all of the children in my reading group were especially intrigued by the illustrations. Hope to see more books by this talented duo!

We made this book are favorit book of the year. The book teaches us new words. It is scary and humorous. In Straw we talked how can things be true if they are not believed and God. In the House of Untold stories we talked on whats fair and being writers and write are own stories. You shold read it to.
Third Grade All Saints Elementary
- The children were drawn in by the thrilling and suspensful stories, and the richness of the language. The book is an excellent primer for moral discussion, and has wonderful applications for Creative Writing and Language Arts.

I liked this book. Five good stories for kids. I liked the first and third the best.

These five stories are wonderful for children ages 6-12. They're truly intriguing and told in a casual, convincing voice. Adults will enjoy reading them to smaller children.

The stories in this book are creative and fascinating. My kids (ages 7, 10 and 13) listened spellbound and repeatedly begged for "just one more" story. The stories are scary without being gory or terrifying. The characters are interesting and just believable enough to keep your interest. Highly recommended!

Bruce Steinberg (The Widow's Son), writing as B.R. Robb, has given us a mystery with a complex and thoughtful protagonist, a biracial man who as a small boy witnessed the brutal murders of his parents. When DNA evidence exonerates the man that he identified as the murderer sixteen years earlier, he must deal with the incident, his past, his co-workers, his blessed Aunt Doria, and the community of Red River Falls in ways that he has always sought to avoid before. In doing so, he not only solves the mystery of what happened in Red River Falls, but he banishes the ghosts that have kept him not only separate from others, but truly alone. Bruce has a masterful way of expressing emotions and imagery which sets this mystery apart from cozies and thrillers and who-done-its and makes it instead a somber and disquieting literary gem with an ultimate message of hope and love. Given the literary quality of this book (which resulted in a rare, starred Kirkus review comparing Bruce's writing to that of Alice Sebold), the biracial protagonist, the Chicago-area author, the timeliness of the DNA and hidden racism storylines, and the affirming and uplifting spirit of the novel, many people may be asking why Oprah isn't reading "River Ghosts" and interviewing Bruce on television, but the more important question is: Why aren't you reading it? Buy it, borrow it, ask your library to get it, but you must read this book. Donald J. Bingle

An exciting and entertaining story for the intelligent reader. River Ghosts features a biracial protagonist, a rarity in the mystery genre. Robb's tightly crafted prose and deft pacing move this book into the select realm of literary mystery writers such as Ed McBain/Evan Hunter. The novel examines important issues including DNA testing, religion and the inaccuracy of eyewitness testimony. After a DNA test clears the man imprisoned for his parent's murders, Richard Hill - now a cop -- must find the truth. The novel is fast-paced and intriguing yet touching. This book is so beautifully written that you will be tempted to read it slowly, savoring every moment.

B.R. Robb gives a reader much to think about. From the opening pages to the exciting ending, the reader remains captivated by the cat and mouse game played between the hate-filled antagonist and his counterpart, the emotionally damaged protagonist. These characters come off the page to involve you in their struggle. The battle they wage is an old one, yet one that, unfortunately, remains strong in today's world--racial hatred and intolerance.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants an intelligent story with strong character relationships, and a surprise ending. Enjoy.

River Ghosts is highly deserving of the starred Kirkus Review and Amazon reader raves, although I must correct a previous post: BOTH the protagnonist's parents die on page 1. This is worth citing because so much of the story and fine prose deals with Richard Hill's feelings of loneliness and isolation in the aftermath of the heinous hate crime, added to the displacement he already felt as a biracial child. River Ghosts is billed as a mystery, but it's more of a well-crafted and well-written work of contemporary fiction that will appeal to readers who demand both for their time and money. The author clearly knows his way around the legal system, and displays the same ease with his characterizations, whether through conveying the intimate thoughts of central figure, or in the quiet details--a gesture here or a turn of speech there-----that speak volumes. I'm can't wait to read more from this author.

River Ghosts is an intense, spell-binding mystery that is more about the character of protagonist Richard Hill than about shoot-em-up action. Robb's main characters are complex in their personality makeup and certainly not stereotypes. His short chapters were a plus for me, because for the first two-thirds of this 300 page novel I had to take early breaks to absorb the intensity of the story. But for the last 100 pages I couldn't put the book down, intense or not. The story line begins with Hill, as a boy, witnessing the rape of his mother and the murder of both parents. The man convicted of the crime, largely on Hill's testimony, is a white supremicist, and 16 years later he is pardoned by the governor, based on DNA evidence. Hill struggles first with the pain and the accuracy of his memories. Then he tries to find out why the DNA apparently was wrong. As a man with a racially mixed background living in an overwhelmingly white town, Hill fights prejudice on several levels---his law enforcement colleagues (Hill is a policeman), many of the townspeople, and a white supremicist cell that has existed for decades in the community. You won't predict the ending, which is what a good mystery is all about. River Ghosts is a very good mystery!

This has been one of the most unusual and beautiful tales that I have ever had the pleasure to read. Linda is clearly a writer who sits down to write all the magical and warm feelings in her heart for the joy of writing, not because she wants to write a book. Rose and the Pyramid is a glorious tale of love that is like a bridge between two exotic places, a tale so rich and beautiful that my hair stood on my arm, wondering how this author got in my head and soul and whether she knows all there is to know. For the reader that likes to be caressed with each and every single word this is the tale that will tantalize the senses and leave the conscience hungry for more. I felt deep connection between the written world of Linda's imagination an my own, luckily I am happily in love with the best person on this planet and Mya the heroine is madly and deeply in love with Ben, her other half, the ying to the yang that will melt with her own heart beat to support the future of man kind.

In this tale Mya is a princess on planet Kashmir, watching Ben, an Earthling whom stirs warmth in the deepest chambers of her soul, who makes her skin crawl with desire and her fingers drum out love beats and poems in his behalf. Pure and innocent like glacier snow, Maya is extremely intelligent and powerful, she is the future savior of our planet that chose a mate with whom to make peace on Earth and bring people the end of suffering and eternal happiness. She must travel to our planet and meet with Ben to convince him to join her mission to solidify joy and let humans choose their own fate. Karma is something that the human race let be their stone, the heavy weight they carry around but it is something that glorious Mya wants to change. She loves opulent fabrics, silver and pink, sweet smelling roses, elegant decor, powdery incense and rich marble floors and wants nothing but happiness and harmony to fill the souls and set all the human souls on an infinite quest for ultimate bliss.

I have to agree with other reviewers that his novel is a rich tapestry of love on a quest for ultimate embrace of what life is. Life is a rare gift, for those who are aware enough to realize the precious drops slipping every day , its their time to take the rainbow of good into their own hands and direct their own life story. For the fans of novel and sci fi, fiction and romance and books in general this tale is about the ultimate sacrifices that love takes in order to help everyone else. Mya is a princess from another planet that needs Ben to join her on a quest to open a portal of fusion of colors that will free the souls that suffer and live in the dark. She is the catalyst that will transform the thoughts of thousands, sway millions in the direction of the sun and leave the reader changed forever with sweet thoughts of deep philosophy and a happy outlook on life after the book is read.

This felt like so much more than a book, more than pages with words written on them, I felt deep nudges in my heart as I read the book, so many things true and great were spoken of, that made me think deeper and breathe slower, embracing each day I have as a gift, using my heart and soul to fill with a crescendo of the symphony called life, thank you Mrs. Shelnutt for creating this masterpiece, I only wish it was re-published and available for the masses to drink from, because your book is like the fountain of life and I feel forever changed.

- Kasia S.

I could tell you that "The Rose and the Pyramid" is the story of a young woman from another planet who wishes to be with an Earth man and to live life as an Earth woman.....and this simple sentence can only give the potential reader the most basic structure of the story without revealing the true heart of the story that encompasses the author giving free reign to her imagination in attempting to explain why things here on our earth are the way they are....and how they might one day be changed for the better.

Be aware that this is a book that will stay with you...it is a book that you will think of often...it is a book that will influence the way you look at the world and the people in it. This is not a work of light fiction that one would read to casually pass the time and then a week later have trouble remembering even what the title of the novel had been. This is one you will remember!

Mya Rose Gem, a female on Kashmir, is able to see Ben, an Earth man, in her dreams as she lies on her bed sleeping surrounded by her many pillows. She is determined to travel to Earth and live there as an Earth woman in the hopes of becoming one with Ben. Mya does not understand that she and Ben have met before in the distant past, and that their future relationship will significantly change Earth's future. In spite of the danger that the Earth represents to a being of light and energy such as herself, Mya will not let the world of physical matter known as Earth and the negative energy thereupon prevent her from her attempts to fulfill her destiny by joing with Ben, the Earth man who is an individual mentally basing his worth upon his control of physical matter...so unlike a being of light and energy.

While I deeply respect the author's attempts to address the issues of the basic nature of evil and the complexity of redemption in this novel, I cannot agree with all the conclusions she reaches.... However, I also understand that this does not make it a bad novel, simply because there are conclusions she reaches that I don't agree with. These conclusions refelct a reality that, while fictional, are both thought-provoking and somewhat disturbing in their unconventionality. Even for someone like myself who's read a lot of fantasy and science fiction, the reality of Kashmir and of Earth in "The Rose and the Pyramid" is difficult to grasp without pausing occasionally to mentally process the new ideas and catch up emotionally to what is taking place. This is a novel for those who like to travel to strange and foreign lands and try out new and unusal foods... Those who only want to stick with what they know and don't like to read new ideas should pass on this novel... I'm sure glad I didn't!

I ask you....when is the last time you read a novel that challenged you? When is the last time you read a novel that presented you with even one new idea that made you have to pause to stop and think? This is why I give this novel five stars....because I found it to be original, challenging, thought-provoking, controversial without being offensive, positive, and adding far, far more value to my life than the cost of buying the book and the time spent reading it.....and, what more could a reader ask of a book?

I gradually stopped reading books about 7 years ago. I don't know why, I used to be a big reader. So, although the blub on the back cover (which I'm going to quote) caught my eye and made me want very much to read this book, alas I probably never will. But maybe. I love to read. I ache to read. There are so many wonderful things to be read and reread, but I just don't do it.

The back cover:

The Rose And The Pyramid is a novel of great mystery and enchantment, which occurs on several levels at once. Mya, the heroin, who comes from the planet Kashmir, which bears little resemblance to Earth, decides to pursue Ben, her lover, to our denser world of travail, where the age-old paradigm seems to be suffering, a suffering in part based on a misunderstanding of karma and density.

From her purer world of energy and color, she descends, but not merely as a visitor. Mya must take up a life here, a new person, she must surround herself with harsher and more puzzling realities, as a citizen of our world.

But why is she really here? What is the wider meaning of her attraction for Ben? And what of her deep friendship with Rotar, her mentor on Kashmir? Through undulations of great beauty, the novel expands to include Mya's destiny: the transformation of this planet and its inhabitants.

The ultimate establishment of a new paradigm for consciousness on earth involves a stunning confrontation with that being whom some have called The Devil - its surprises provide startling proof that life on earth has been stunted by a deeply ingrained and flawed conception of reality.

From this moment on, the story speeds to an irrevocable climax, in which the nature of Earth's reality and the quality of Mya's love are transformed forever.

*

I did however read the poems. They are very beautiful. Their form reminds me of "Bridge of Sighs." They are a combination of free verse and rhymes. The rhymes are scattered and random, which make a very pleasant effect. I noticed one identical rhyme (time/wine), but since it is used in several places, I suppose it is not meant to be a true rhyme. Or else has some particular significance. It would be difficult to say what is an identical rhyme and what is not in the style the author uses, what is meant to rhyme and what is just a chance similarity of sound.

The poems are rough and rugged, as opposed to slick and glib, and I like that very much. They satisfy both the longing for form ("order out of chaos") and the contemporary lack of it. (In today's world of modern "art," everyone who can scream is called an "artist," or who can afford a pen is called a "poet." No skill, no intelligence, no talent, no practice, no good.) The poems are warm and interesting. One poem that seemed to have been written by a man seemed to derive from the plot, but it was comprehensible and feeling in its own right. In fact, all the poems could be read and enjoyed independently of the novel.

Many of the poems concerned lovers, either trying to get or to get back one's lover. Many also had much conflict in them, particularly a struggle with whether to say "yes" or "no" to oneself or to someone or something else. The love poems were soothing to me, and the poems about struggle affected me personally for reasons of my own. As well as feeling, these are poems about ideas. But they are not intellectual, and the ideas don't intrude. The flow of the poems is even and smooth despite their lack of formal sophistication, the language is musical, the rhymes are as I said random and scattered and blend in with the general euphony of the songs.

I never as I said read the novel. Probably I never will. But I would very much like to read more poems by this author, perhaps a book of them.

I know sadly I've given only a general overview of the content of the poems, and haven't commented on any poems in particular. That's because I don't feel well today.

The non-corporeal existence of Mya Gem is soon to be brought to an end. Her eons of life on the utopian planet of Kashmir, located near Alpha Centauri, have been ultimately blissful yet, somehow lacking as her desire for an elusive destiny has remained unfulfilled. However, one fateful day, the true desire of her heart is revealed as she looks down to Earth to see Ben, the man with whom she shall revolutionize time, philosophy, and find her true love. From this point forward, this novel takes the reader on a fantastic voyage through the essence of time, meaning of love, and the crucial choices that will alter the very fabric of existence.

The transcendental aspects coupled with the expert characterization, captivating plot, thought provoking ventures, and general ambiance of the story culminated to entrance the reader to the utmost degree. Each aspect of the novel, like a tapestry of great price, interwove to create a sparkling eclectic tale that encompassed a myriad of themes from the bizarre to the astoundingly beautiful. The author never failed to weave the various themes together to create a beautiful creation sparkling with vivaciousness and colorful descriptions. These aspects caused the novel to exceed a mere fantasy/science fiction tale and enter into the realm only available in thought provoking heavily affecting pieces of literature. For those considering embarking upon this journey into a phantasmagorical dreamlike realm, do not expect the typical fantasy novel. Rather expect to be mesmerized by introspective philosophy, relevant issues, symbolic circumstances, and other astounding attributes contained only within serious works of literature.

While I was encompassed by numerous elements of this contemplative work, I found one element so enthralling that I felt it especially worthy of mention. This element was displayed in the highly complex character of Ben and his particular supernatural understanding of the personality inherent within certain structures such as buildings. While this element may at first appear to be another general theme of a fantasy novel, I found it to be most thought provoking to believe that buildings may have a certain aura that enables them to acquire a personality, a certain distinct feeling belonging only to them. How many times have we entered a building that caused us to feel a distinct emotion whether fear, bliss, boredom, or a multitude of other equally effecting emotions? Whether this distinct feeling is due merely to human invention by personifying non-living objects or whether places do actually retain a certain atmosphere may be purely theoretical. However, upon reading further concerning this aspect, I found myself laying the book aside to continue speculating on this captivating philosophy that may indeed have merits within the realistic world. After all, mentions of this phenomenon have been speculated on before most notably in the Bible where Jesus Christ stated that if those who would wish to silence the claims of His divinity attempted to do so, even the rocks would cry out proclaiming that He is our sovereign Creator. Also, the story of Cain and Abel, where the ground cried out that God revenge Abel's death further displays this fascinating concept so interestingly pursued in this novel. Many times, I have experienced moods when entering buildings and I suspect that many others have as well. The author's ability to address this issue that so many feel and to express it so eloquently is certainly note worthy and an excellent example of the type of interesting and thought provoking ideas displayed throughout this literary epic. This element is an accurate demonstration of the conceptual attributes pursued throughout this mesmerizing tale.

As the protagonists pursue their ultimate goal for the revolution of the world, the story follows their adventures through numerous situations ranging from various different philosophies both grand and ordinary ultimately speculating upon a wide range of issues and thus prodding the reader into a contemplative mood. Although the major proponent of the story itself, Ben and Mya's mission to awaken a fairly unconscious world, was unique to the extreme, I found myself most captivated with the side stories where the author so eloquently expressed her thoughtful feelings regarding separated situations that proved most entertaining.

Another note worthy aspect of this avant garde tale is the characters of Ben and Mya not to mention the host of secondary characters, who although not concentrated on solely, never failed to imbue the novel with dashes of their powerfully potent personalities. The protagonists, Ben and Mya, were both fascinating characters, and I found my interest growing concerning their developing relationship. Although their personalities were ultimately different in that Mya was more emotional and introspective and Ben more adventurous and practical, the combination of their differing idiosyncrasies and the ensuing drama proved most entrancing. As the novel progressed leading the reader deeper into the world of light and energy, the characters' beliefs and ideals were revealed in full. Mya's idealism and compassionate nature caused her to be my favorite character overall, and I feel that few will be able to resist her feisty personality and her wild nature that makes her ultimately endearing.

Another attribute of the characters that I found most original was the names chosen for them. The name "Mya" is particularly evocative of the ancient Mayan empire filled with colorful jewels and towering ziggurats reaching toward the cool blue of the sky. The seemingly ordinary name "Ben" was an interesting choice as his personality was far from ordinary thus creating a paradoxical element that leads to much pondering on the reader's part. Other well chosen names worthy of mention are "Syad" and my favorite, "Oliviandra".

Pulchritudinous rainbow colors surround this novel as the author wisely chose to imbue her fantasy adventure with descriptions of the beauty of the planet Kashmir, where Mya originates from. The vibrant use of colors more dazzling than anything ever experienced on this planet further add to the atmosphere of this novel and is a worthy addition to The Rose and the Pyramid.

The writing style is both unique and euphonious. The melodious authorship enables the novel to flow expertly from chapter to chapter expressing complicated philosophies in a simple and understandable form thus expressing thoughts that many have pondered yet been unable to express accurately through the medium of writing. Also, the author includes several poems throughout the story thus expressing details of Mya's existence in an astoundingly poetic language further enhancing the distinctly existentialistic nature of this novel.

The philosophies embraced in this novel are well expressed and delve into the bizarre, poignant, and to some, the sacrilegious. While I do not embrace all the philosophies presented, I found them well presented and thought provoking. It is my belief, that no two people will view this novel in the same way. Each person will come away from this transcendental tale with a different conclusion thus adding to the worth of the novel. This aspect dramatically adds to the personal experience of the individual in a unique manner.

In closing, I feel it appropriate to quote some of my favorite lines from the novel. Hopefully, this will reveal the astounding qualities inherent in this epic tale:

"Have you ever been so sad
You were glad to sleep,
Glad to have someone mad
At you,
So you could cry about something else
For a change?
I'm sure you've been sad too.
You look at the sky
And wonder why
They have so much stuff
To fluff
White misty trees
Or Viking ships afloat,
A white changing boat of mystery. . .
Off white t.v.'s changing
Channels to leaves drifting by up in the high blue sea.
Yet, be careful what you say
To the clouds today . . .
Your mood could be seen as grey.
Then the clouds may say, "Don't watch;
Stay away . .
I don't want to be caught
In your need."
That's pretty bad,
When the clouds have had
enough no of your blues.
Having been rejected at sight
By the clouds tonight,
I begin to write,
Having a fight to see
What's bothering me.
By finding words,
To have myself heard,
My eyes aren't so blurred by tears."

Located on page 80-81 of The Rose and the Pyramid

- Ravenova

This is one of the most unusual books I've ever read, undoubtedly written by an author who is a deep thinker and very intelligent, with the proper credentials for writing this particular novel.

THE ROSE AND THE PYRAMID is the enchanting story of Mya Rose Gem, from the peaceful planet of Kashmir, and Benjamin Michael O'Shea, from the long-suffering Planet Earth. From her purer realm of energy and color, Mya has visions of Ben and falls in love with him.

In this creative author's universe, Mya is pure energy, energy that reaches its apex when she's sitting in her beloved garden of roses beside a huge golden pyramid where all is color and light ... a harmonious atmosphere. She gives it all up to be with the man whom she believes to be her soul-mate, yet doubting his ultimate response to her and her main reason for traveling to Earth.

Will Ben join in her altruistic quest ... or will he fail to understand her and her earth-changing goal? Readers will be eager to know about Mya's goal, but I can't divulge that without spoiling the story-line. Although I can give a clue: it has something to do with the crystal paradigm of both planets, and a lot to do with peace, joy, and love.

Although Mya travels the long, difficult journey to Earth alone, she is not really alone; she has the full, spiritual support of her family and another male friend, all beings of light, back home on Kashmir. Even though they have no wish to be transported to Earth with her (she's the "chosen one" for this fathomless venture), they have mental capacities far surpassing the earthlings, and can visit her spiritually. It's up to Mya to determine whether Ben has this same capacity ... or any outstanding gifts.

As Mya and Ben grow in their relationship, wondrous emotions and spiritual bondings take them well beyond the realm of human love ... into fantastic heights of pure spirit. But that's okay ... this IS a fantasy, one the author created because of her unlimited real-life desire for universal peace and harmony. It's quite far-fetched in philosophy, but becomes believable as you follow the strange courtship of these two marvelous, mysterious beings. The reader will no doubt divine that Ben--who loves buildings as though they had souls of their own--is the PYRAMID of the title, while Mya, a pure being of light and color, is the ROSE.

One highlight for me was when Mya's philosophy transformed the Devil, the most evil being ever created. This is only one twist out of many twists-and-turns in store for the readers of this book.

As this very-much-in-love couple nears their goal, you will be asking yourself these seemingly anti-religious questions: Is Mya a goddess who has been present since the beginning of time? Was Ben there too? Could one of them be THE God who created the universe? The last question is almost like the age-old question: Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Well, which did come first? Read this astonishing novel and come to your own conclusion. It's a lovely, entrancing story ... er ... make that "song."

The author has also incorporated some inspiring poetry into the plot; at first the poetry distracted me, but as I got into the flow of the story, I became aware that poetry is essential to the harmony of this unique book; without it the book would be incomplete for the particular audience the author had in mind when penning her "love song."

What becomes "crystal" clear as one reads this book is that Author Linda Shelnutt draws upon many years of her personal spiritual, philosophical, and metaphysical quest to understand human nature. And to share what she's learned with the world, she has written this mysterious, very romantic, science-fiction fantasy.

This book is more than a love STORY between Mya Gem, from the planet of Kashmir, and Ben, from Planet Earth ... it's a love SONG for the universe.

There are few books that attain the dynamic freshness of THE ROSE AND THE PYRAMID. Would that it were not a fantasy. ... "Life could be a dream ..." as the old song goes.

(SPECIAL NOTE: The bad news: This book was published in 1987 and is only available on the secondary market. A previous one sold for $99.95, but I was lucky enough to find one for $35.95. The good news: This author informs me that she is hoping to republish the book in the near future. Keep checking this page from time to time. Meanwhile, she has a short story coming up on Amazon Shorts within a few weeks. To sample her style, read COAL AND COCA-COLA, as soon as Amazon Shorts posts it.)

This quasi-fantasy tale relates the story of 15 year-old Franklin whose Japanese-American girlfriend is killed in a car accident, then returns to him in spirit form to guide him through his grief. Hawes' young adult story would be bibliotherapuetic for a young teen who has experienced the loss of a loved one. The story also speaks to intercultural relationships and tolerance. Franklin's mother is raising him alone, and begins dating; which is another emotional challenge for Franklin, who is already dealing with more than a fair share of problems. The writing itself makes use of poetry and beautifully descriptive prose, providing young adult readers with a lesson in descriptive writing.

I so loved this book. I'm a big fan of what I guess you could term supernatural romances and this is one of the best I have ever read.This book shows that true love never dies, not even after death.It lives on. The book is fiction, but I was still so deeply touched by it.It could have been real. Pick this book up. You will love it.

Rosey In The Present Tense was an awesome book! This bookteaches you about how to cope with death, but not only that, but abouta a boy that won't let go of his girlfriend's death. Franklin just can't imagine life without Rosey in it, and he thinks he sees her...but is this a dream, or is it reality? Read the book to find out what happens next! This was an awesome book, and I encourage you all to read it! It makes you laugh, it makes you cry....all around, its a GREAT BOOK for young adults!

This book is a very great book. It was rosey who is this beautiful girl who has long black hair and she is very nice. There's this guy who had fell in love with her. He sleeps thinking of her, when he is a wake he just yhinks of her evry day and night.oh, and how great it felt to be with her, how deliget to hold her. It was like a dream had come true. He found rosey and automatical just fall in love. Rosey had felt the exact same way as her boyfriend. The sad thing is that they didn't really spend their life together for a long time. Rosey went and left him behind. She went up to heaven, but david always think that she is there still with him. David new that she was gone, but he just doesn't want to think that she had left him about two years ago. Rosey and david is very much in love, but their love is not close as it use to be. Yet still they still got each others in the heart.

Not because the book was unrealistic or overly romantic, but because it centered on such a genuine relationship. This short book was funny, touching, rich. One more example of what fine writing is being done for young adults in this country! I'd recommend it to anyone of any age.

I live in Los Angeles but have been on the Roswell Ghost Tour and now, after reading this book, all I want to do is go back! The thing I love about this book is that Dianna gives you background to the story. A scary story just isn't as scary without a little history. The movie "Psycho" wouldn't be as much fun without the story of the owner of Bates Motel!! This book is not only for those who live in the area. This book is for all lovers of the paranormal! I highly recommend it!
Dage Baker

My husband and I moved to the Atlanta area just this past May and one of the first things we did was go on the Roswell Ghost Tour with Ponyboy as our guide. Being new to Georgia it was great to hear about some of the history of this very interesting city as well as learn of its paranormal activity. We have been on other ghost tours, but Roswell is our favorite and we plan on going again. When I found out Dianna Avena had written a book on Roswell I eagerly awaited its publication and after reading it, it did not disappoint me. The stories were written in the order of the actual tour. It was well written and gives a good sense of Roswell's history along with the hauntings that so many people have experienced. The pictures were a good supplement to her stories. Whether you have taken the tour or not, this book is very entertaining and informative for all of you "ghost hunters" out there. I thoroughly recommend this book and look forward to more tours and books from Dianna and her crew.

The book is a wondering weaving of history and storytelling. Dianna's writing style is an easy read and kept me wrapped in the pages from beginning to end.

I found the book to be well written and very informative about both the history of Roswell, Georgia as well as the paranormal activities going on in this town north of Atlanta. I have lived in northern Georgia since 1990 and did not know a lot of the history of Roswell. This book educated me on both the history of Roswell as well as some of the "creepy" things going on in some of the locations around Roswell. If you live in or near Georgia and/or interested in the paranormal, this book is a definite must read. Two thumbs up! Now, I am going to go take the Ghost Tour of Roswell that is offered by the author! Wish me luck!

I found that the book was full of details and laid out in a way that it was easy to read and understand the content. It also had good pictures to go along with the stories so it made you feel as if you were there, not only through words but with the visuals as well.
It's very apparent that the author is very knowledgeable about the subject she wrote about!

An incredibly entertaining read.. this book was attached to my hand for a couple of days because i couldn't put it down. gary goshgarian is an extremely talented writer and should be put up there with the best.. i recommend this book to everyone and those that read it.. thank me.. if you like this book.. read "elixir" by gary braver (new pen name for gary goshgarian). his work is brilliant.. simply stated.

Gary Goshgarian should be right up there with Stephen King!
I could NOT put this book down. It was exciting/disturbing, yet intelligent. Lots of twists.

I made the mistake of reading the first chapter of Gary Goshgarian's Rough Beast at work. This is NOT a book one puts down lightly. The Hazzards, the family caught up in an environmental tragedy, are sympathetic and believeable. Matty, the son who goes through horrific changes as the result of the pollution, is drawn with compassion, but also a clear-eyed look at the torture of his condition. And Jerry Mars, the consummate assassin, is a wonderfully shivery bad guy. I highly recommend this book.

One major element in Goshgarian's writing that surfaces time and again is his amazing capacity to create real charcters that real people can identify with. Instead of letting action determine characters, in Rough Beast and others by Goshgarian, he creates tense situations one can't wait to see the characters react to. Another thing: few male authors write convincingly from the female point of view, but Rough Beast's main female character exemplifies the female perspective when confronted with the calamity circumstance brings upon her family. His scientific explanations also further the book's frightening edge by avoiding a plummet into psuedo-science. Goshgarian's eventual scientific explanations suggest real possibilities for a very real dilemma. Rough beast IS a cautionary tale. And this book keeps you guessing -- none of the predictablity typical of suspense thrillers. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I did Goshgarian's latest, and recommend it to anyone interested in a page turner. I read it in two days!

A very disturbing, fast-paced thriller. The evil character Jerry Mars was quite twisted, and so fearless that he would introduce himself, not even making up an alias but using his real name, to his victims before killing them... The Boston background was pretty convincing. Either Gary Goshgarian lives here in Boston, or at least he did his homework. I wondered if this book was in any way inspired by the true story behind "A Civil Action", because they both take place in precisely the same region, with the same theme, etc. Being half of Italian descent myself, I was slightly taken aback at the portrayal of the Italian-American "goombahs" who gathered every weekend to sick their dogs on each other in an arena. Maybe that is an authentic subculture of the Italian-American experience, but I've lived around Boston for most of my life and I've never run into it.

But that is a pretty minor point. Primarily this book deals intelligently with some of the issues raised by biological warfare, and really makes you feel the pain and confusion of some of the characters. It is remarkable well-written, considering the genre. Gary Goshgarian must have some kind of serious background in professional writing, it doesn't seem as though this level of skill is likely to be a one-shot deal. Great stuff.

Set along the desolate coast of the Pacific Northwest, Shadow Coast, conjures up a wonderful supernatural story involving ghosts, fear of the unknown and Native American mythology.
Mark Sayles sails to a remote island off the Washington coast to visit his wife who has been working on an archeological site. A powerful storm sinks his ship and two of his crewmates are killed. Half drowned Sayles is rescued by local islanders but once he recovers from the accident his world is thrown upside down when he discovers his wife is missing, and she isn't the one.
Then the mist and fog envelopes the coastline and Sayles and the town's folk begin seeing visions of people that should not be alive. The story develops with Sayles having to accept his wife's disappearance and probably death as he wrestles with the fact that supernatural forces may be at work and that no one is safe from the town's past or the superstition of a mythological deity that comes in with the mist to cleanse the town for long ago misdeeds.
The physical descriptions of the area are magnificent. I have never been to the Pacific Northwest but through Mr. Halderman I could envision myself standing along the bleak rocky coastline, with thick forests standing behind me and I can envision the fog as it forms over the sea and moves inland--I get scared just thinking about it.
Hopefully, Mr. Halderman has some more stories for us in the future and I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a great supernatural tale. One word of caution: Don't read this book if you find yourself alone on a remote island and the fog starts to roll in.

James Clifford
Reviews Editor, Northwoods Journal
Author, Double Daggers

I love this book, it is quite simply the best thing I have read in a really long time. I am recommending this to everyone I know. The story is exciting, eerie and chilling. The writing is wonderful and the characters believable. I cannot wait for Mr. Haledman's next book!

My husband read the first chapter and made the mistake of putting the book back on the coffee table. I was curious about the book, picked it up and could not put it back down. I even got up an hour early one morning to read more - and I am not a morning person... At night, I turned my daughter's nightlight on because I was too afraid to sleep in the dark.

This is a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Very fast paced, very descriptive, very entertaining and may I say - addictive. I loved the writing style and character development. And I got that little kick in the butt which is always nice...

California architect Mark Sayres is on his way to the Pacific Northwest to retrieve his wife, Maggie, when the yacht he's traveling on is in a terrible accident at sea. Mark is hoping to get to Maggie as soon as possible; she's working at an archeological dig near the small island town of Neah Bay, and the last time he spoke to her she sounded strange. After recovering at the home of Sandra Torrel, Mark learns that Maggie has disappeared from the island without a trace. Hundreds of volunteers have been searching for her for days, with no luck. Maggie, though, is only the most recent person to disappear from the island; Sandra Torrel's husband is also missing, along with a string of others. And then, as the fog moves over the island, cloaking it to the point of invisibility, the missing begin to reappear against all odds, and there are whisperings that an ancient Native American evil has awakened from a century-long slumber...

SHADOW COAST's real strength lies in author Philip Haldeman's breathtaking physical descriptions, which evoke mist-laced beaches, verdant, dark forests, and an eerie coastal town brilliantly. These stunning descriptions are relayed with better-than-average prose in a tale of quiet horror. The novel moves along at a nice pace, and I could really feel the tension and fear in the narrative. The inclusion of Native American mysticism in the novel just made it ten times scarier for me.

While the novel's eerie atmosphere is clearly its strength, the characters are also well-fleshed-out and engaging. Haldeman does an excellent job of balancing Mark's grief with his desire to find out the truth, and he effectively relays Mark's internal struggle. Some of the more minor characters are equally fascinating; I really found myself trying to uncover some of the more mysterious characters' motivations and secrets.

SHADOW COAST isn't an in-your-face horror novel, not by any means. The horror here is quiet, subtle, soft as the fog in which it comes. It's psychological horror as much as it is physical, and it is relayed in a way that will send chills down your spine. And SHADOW COAST'S ending just blew me away; it almost reads like a really good horror movie ending -- twisty, unexpected, slightly repulsive, something you'll be thinking and talking about for days to come. SHADOW COAST was a deliciously scary treat, and I can't wait to see what Philip Haldeman does next!

A fantastic book. At once relentlessly paced, eerie, and terrifying, it's easily one of the most memorable horror novels I've read. The claustrophobia of a small town, the bleak forests and coastline, the mysterious mythologies of the Native American culture, and the increasingly bizarre and horrifying storyline combine to create something seriously original and engaging. Great, great stuff.

It is difficult to describe all the reasons one might be taken in by this story about necrophilia, but it is a wonderful read indeed. Insightful and hilarious, creepy and serious all at the same time. The protagonist, Warren Piece (pun intended, like many of the other names, puns and pranks in this book), pushes and pulls the reader in his quest for loving the dead. Imagine a cross between Ignatius O'Reilly from Confederacy of the Dunces, Ben Flesh from The Franchiser, a dash of Dorothy Parker and a frolic through Freud's Civilization and Its Discontents. I love this book!

Excellent! I couldn't put this book down until it's done. With its dark humor about human nature and their tastes for oddities.
Mr. Bent has hit the spot about a person's shocking love of dead people.

This book is beyond sick and distrubing (especially the detailed descriptions of the main character's post mortem [nec]romances). It is also one of the funniest, sharpest, wittiest books I have ever read. Love him or hate him, the main character's observation of the living is just as detailed and on the money as those of the dead. This book is not for the week-stomached. If you like the dark humor of "Six Feet Under", you'll dig this novel. Cannot recommend it enough!

Don't let the cover of this book fool you! This COMEDIC novel is the "bizarrest-of-the-bizarre" and is the only book I have ever read that has actually made me LAUGH OUTLOUD. With Warren Piece (pun intended) as the Protagonist, "Silent Partners" is a guaranteed escape from the fast-paced world of our everyday life. Put your nose in it and read it.

Wow! As wild as I thought, but funnier than I expected. This book is like nothing else. I tell my friends I really enjoyed reading about a guy who makes love to dead people, and they think I'm crazy. You have to read it to understand what I mean.