FreeForm Combo: Beginnings & Reborn


Book Description

Two Thrilling SF Books in One An unseen invasion: the ultimate threat... When a mysterious spacecraft is uncovered in the North Carolina mountains, agent Pat Vogt's life begins to look increasingly alien. Betrayed by her own government, she's forced to unravel a conspiracy that holds implications for existence on Earth...and beyond. Years later, Vogt returns to find the mountain town of Waynesboro fostering secrets much darker than she'd ever imagined. Even her closest ally, Dr. Allen Pritchard, withholds crucial information, and his desire to mend a painful past may jeopardize the human race. Who is genetic engineer Fredic Homlin, and what connection does the Biogentrix Corporation's chilling technology touted as the 'play dough of life' represent? Can one headstrong woman reveal the truth in time, or will something else be sown? Beginnings is the shifting shape of much that lies ahead... And A new physique. An old façade... In light of what she's seen, former ufologist Pat Vogt is reluctant to conceal the nature of Allan Pritchard's seeming nephew. TJ isn't as he appears, and the boy's history could mean a bleak future for mankind. Are Pat and Allan instilling humanity or nurturing a malevolent force? Would the true monster be borne by betrayal? As TJ learns to harness his powers, the stakes mount ever higher. Meanwhile, hidden away in a backcountry cave, another lifeform is growing...exponentially. With the help of a shadowy benefactor known only as 'Aeo', Doctor Homlin's plans have received new breath. Soon to emerge is Val, a hungry incarnate that won't rest until its progenitor's vision becomes reality. Ex-operative James Stepp may hold the key to salvation, but how much responsibility can be entrusted to a mercenary...? Building upon its own powerful predecessor, Book II of O.J. Bradford's FreeForm Series thickens the plot, dials up the tension and doubles-down on a rallying cry for excellence in modern SF. Readers that hope to be whisked away, prepare for a brisk abduction.




The Fringe Candidate


Book Description

A race against evil . . . and time — Delivering a simple truth can be the most courageous act — — Exposing evil rulers is a game of life or death — Led to the brink of destruction by its corrupt POTUS, Amberica is bleaker than ever. Who could hope to unseat Oscar Wellian, a fascist who wields the full force of martial law? Plenty are willing to try, but only one entrant has what it takes to give Oscar a run for his ill-gotten gains. Enter Angeline Tarkington . . . the people’s final hope. Despite her heart of gold and concrete ideals, it won’t be easy. Is Tarkington’s integrity enough to combat systemic corruption and heal a hemorrhaging nation? An amalgam of corporate interests known as ‘The Triumvirate’ will stop at nothing to silence her, and Tarkington can’t expect victory without sacrifice. Tarkington’s ability to transform those around her will be put to the ultimate test, as new allies may mean the difference between victory and defeat, but will they join her? In any case, she’ll need to tread very carefully. Unmasking a monster will be an invitation to an all-out duel with the nation as the prize. With The Fringe Candidate, Brad Swift offers readers a picture of untold possibilities. The Amberica series is visionary fiction from a dreamer’s apex—dark and doubly daring for its optimistic soul. Pick up your copy today and begin to hope for a better future today! Early Reviews: Are You Kidding Me! Terrific and timely political fiction laced with humor. In 2020 one candidate for the Presidency could change everything The Fringe Candidate, by Brad Swift, is inspired by Marianne Williamson, a candidate in the 2020 elections against Donald Trump for the Presidency. While this is a fictional story, it is 100% on the mark with regards to the state of America’s political system, showing without apology or pulling any punches, that it has clearly been hijacked by those with money and power. Knocking you out of your sox. I simply had to smile a number of times what with the naming convention followed in the naming of the major characters. Oscar Wellian? Orwellian allegorical in nature? However thinly disguised the naming convention, there is no disguising the fact that The Fringe Candidate is a major political commentary on American elective procedures. If judging on the first book, The Fringe Candidate, the Amberica series is going to knock a whole lot more readers out of more than just their sox. You'll laugh, scream, throw the book, cry, and who knows what else? I mean, let's face it, the names are... well, they're not very well disguised. The President who tweets constantly, with the Orwellian (clearly) name and complex (also clear)... The complete unknown who comes from nowhere to take on the fight to win the Presidency... there's so much to dissect here, it's hard to really get into, and without spoilers? Yikes! The Power of Truth and Desire I loved the intrigue and the ease with which the story flowed, first. Secondly, I liked how what seems impossible can become possible. I think we all need models of that in our lives, certainly, I do. Most of all I enjoyed seeing how the love or desire for something can make a huge difference in one's life. Laugh, curse, and a good story to enjoy This is very closely tied to our election process, for better or worse. A good insight into what happens behind the scenes. It will make you laugh, piss you off and make you want to read it. Enjoy and vote. A great read I really enjoyed this story and the way that it gave a look at what our government is doing. The editing was done very well throughout the book, to me it was more worth read and I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.




Craft in America


Book Description

Illustrated with 200 stunning photographs and encompassing objects from furniture and ceramics to jewelry and metal, this definitive work from Jo Lauria and Steve Fenton showcases some of the greatest pieces of American crafts of the last two centuries. Potter Craft




Myths of the Mirror


Book Description

Twenty years past, the governors plotted murder. Ruled by avarice, they imprisoned the winged dragons of Taran Leigh in the black cells of a stone lair. Tormented by spine and spur the once peaceful creatures howl, immense webbed wings beating beneath iron bars. Those who raised their voices in protest were banished--skyriders, the men who rode the dragons--vanished to the distant mountains of the Mirror.Now, Treasa, the daughter of exiles, seeker of secrets, dreams with the lair's dragons, her heart torn by her love for the winged creatures and a man who masters them. She must choose her path with care. The lair's black -garbed riders sense the dragon's growing savagery. Yet one, Conall, longs to grasp their power, subdue them and soar, unaware that winged flight, merged in harmony, is his for the asking. Then, a curved talon rends Conall's flesh and dragon scale, rattling against white ribs and the world shifts. As hearts once parted bind, Terasa and Conall join forces to fight for the dragon's freedom. Alliances form, old myths are revealed and new myths are born.




Designing Virtual Worlds


Book Description

This text provides a comprehensive treatment of virtual world design from one of its pioneers. It covers everything from MUDs to MOOs to MMORPGs, from text-based to graphical VWs.




Game Architecture and Design


Book Description

A guide to computer game design, architecture, and management explores the application of design principles, shares the experiences of game programmers, and offers an overview of game development software.




Life On Purpose: Six Passages to an Inspired Life


Book Description

Your journey along the road to self-discovery does not have to be so long and torturous Cut decades off the process of finding your life purpose by following the six steps outlined in Life On Purpose. Infuse purpose, passion and play into every aspect of your life. This is a truly excellent book on how to discover your life purpose. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to gain clarity with respect to their core reason for being here. Steve Pavlina, personal development expert & author of Personal Development for Smart People. Decades ago, Dr. Brad Swift appeared successful from the outside, but inside, he was burned out, wracked with emotional pain, and ready to end it all--because he was living at odds with his true life purpose. But then he turned his life around to follow his true life calling--and in the process, invented this six-step method to determining one's life purpose. He has since made a difference in the lives of thousands through this proven, systematic, and practical process. “Brad has created a simple and easy way to become crystal clear about your reason for being on this planet. Life On Purpose is your road atlas to live a more purposeful, passionate and playful life.” -Mark Victor Hansen, Co-creator, #1 New York Times best-selling series Chicken Soup for the Soul® In Life On Purpose you will find a step-by-step process for clarifying your life purpose and then designing your life to be a true and authentic reflection of that purpose. A Proven Process that Works! Prepare for the Journey Along the Purposeful Path: As with any challenging journey, it’s best to thoroughly prepare yourself for your travels along the Purposeful Path. This includes accurately determining where you are starting from and where you intend to end up, as well as knowing some of the obstacles that could possibly get in the way of completing the journey. Start on the Purposeful Path with the Life on Purpose Perspective: It’s important to begin your journey on the path that will get you where you want to go most expediently starting with rethinking the whole notion of what a life purpose is that has kept most people looking for their purpose is all the wrong places. Uncover What Has Been Shaping Your Life: Another key passage is clearly identifying the powerful force based in fear, lack, and a need to struggle to survive that has been shaping your life and keeping you from living on purpose. Many who have already traveled along the Purposeful Path feel that this passage is one of the most powerful, transforming parts of the process. Clarify and Polish Your True, Divinely Inspired Purpose: After cleaning the slate by identifying and beginning to be responsible for your Inherited Purpose, the real fun begins as you go through a process called Priming Your Passion to clarify your true, Divinely Inspired life purpose. The process can be not only life affirming, but also life transforming. Learn the 16 Tools for Living on Purpose: Now it’s time to begin to live true to your life purpose with the 16 Power Tools for Living on Purpose. You will use these tools to begin to design your Life on Purpose. Master the Tools for Living on Purpose: In Passage 6 you will learn how to master the art and science of creating a life that is shaped by your true, Divinely Inspired Life Purpose.




Reckless Refuge


Book Description

There were shadows I was running from. Ones that haunted and taunted. Ones that made it so I had no choice but to disappear. I’d spent years hiding from the world. My little island haven, the only assurance of safety. It all changed the moment he showed up at my door. The hint of pain in his eyes told me that something haunted him, too. And I couldn’t help but be drawn closer. But finding the person I needed most came with risks I never expected. And when our ghosts find us again, neither of us may make it out this time. ***** Read what reviewers are saying about Reckless Refuge: “Addictive, truly suspenseful, and utterly romantic, this is a top read of the year!” - Samantha Young, New York Times Bestseller “Beautiful, emotional and riveting. Catherine Cowles pens a romantic masterpiece that remained in my heart long after the final page was turned.” - K.C. Lynn, Bestselling author of the Men of Honor series "Reckless Refuge is absolutely UNPUTDOWNABLE! Beautifully written. Flawlessly executed. An unforgettable 5-Star MUST READ!" - A.L. Jackson, New York Times Bestselling Author ***** Read what others are saying about Catherine Cowles: "I fell in love with these characters, with the writing, and with this unexpected story. I can't recommend it enough!" - Alessandra Torre, New York Times Bestseller “Heartwarming, romantic and with an added bit of suspense, Beautifully Broken Pieces had me glued to every page! Catherine Cowles, meet your newest super fan.” - Devney Perry, USA Today Bestseller “Cowles writes fresh, addicting, and intensely beautiful stories!” - Susan Stoker, New York Times Bestseller "Catherine Cowles has a way of pulling the reader into the world she has created and leaves you there for days after you have read the last page." - Kelly Elliott, New York Times Bestseller “I walked away knowing I would read every single thing this talented new author ever writes." - Natasha is a Book Junkie *** Perfect for fans of Kristen Ashley, Corinne Michaels, Nora Roberts, and Devney Perry.




Storyplaying


Book Description

Incontestably, Future Narratives are most conspicuous in video games: they combine narrative with the major element of all games: agency. The persons who perceive these narratives are not simply readers or spectators but active agents with a range of choices at their disposal that will influence the very narrative they are experiencing: they are players. The narratives thus created are realizations of the multiple possibilities contained in the present of any given gameplay situation. Surveying the latest trends in the field, the volume discusses the complex relationship of narrative and gameplay.




Sexiled: My Sexist Party Leader Kicked Me Out, So I Teamed Up With a Mythical Sorceress! Volume 1


Book Description

Tanya Artemiciov is a talented Mage-class adventurer who just got kicked out of her party by a sexist scumbag. So what's a girl to do? Go to the wasteland and blow stuff up of course! One small problem though: she inadvertently frees a mythical Sorceress named Laplace who was sealed away for the past 300 years... Surprise! Turns out this so-called "wicked" Sorceress is actually pretty cool. Laplace wants to start a party of her own, Tanya wants revenge, and the solution is obvious: team up. It's time to kick ass, kiss girls, and dismantle the patriarchy!