Science fiction and fantasy is one of the most challenging--and rewarding!--genres in the bookstore. But with "New York Times" bestselling author Philip Athans and fantasy giant R. A. Salvatore at your side, you?ll create worlds that draw your readers in--and keep them reading!

Just as important, you?ll learn how to prepare your work for today's market. Drawing on his years of experience as one of the most acclaimed professionals in publishing, Wizards of the Coast editor Athans explains how to set your novel apart--and break into this lucrative field. From devising clever plots and building complex characters to inventing original technologies and crafting alien civilizations, Athans gives you the techniques you need to write strong, saleable narratives.

"Plus!" Athans applies all of these critical lessons together in an unprecedented deconstruction of a never-before-published tale by the one and only R. A. Salvatore!

There are books on writing science fiction and fantasy, and then there's this book--the only one you need to create strange, wonderful worlds for your own universe of readers!

Monsters are more than things that go bump in the night... Monsters are lurking in the woods, beneath the waves, and within our favorite books, films, and games--and there are good reasons why they appear so often. Monsters are manifestations of our fears and symbols of our society--not to mention they're a lot of fun--but each should serve a purpose and enhance the themes and tension in your fiction. In Writing Monsters, best-selling author Philip Athans uses classic examples from books, films, and the world around us to explore what makes monsters memorable--and terrifying. You'll learn what monsters can (and should) represent in your story and how to create monsters from the ground up. Writing Monsters includes: In-depth discussions of where monsters come from, what they symbolize, and how to best portray them in fiction Informative overviews of famous monsters, archetypes, and legendary creatures A Monster Creation Form to help you create your monster from scratch An annotated version of H.P. Lovecraft's chilling story "The Unnamable" Whether you write fantasy, science fiction, or horror, your vampires, ghouls, aliens, and trolls need to be both compelling and meaningful. With Writing Monsters, you can craft creatures that will wreak havoc in your stories and haunt your readers' imaginations--and nightmares.

The Wild West and The Final Frontier Collide in the latest digest anthology from Pro Se Productions- SIX GUNS & SPACESHIPS A new sheriff tries to tame a lawless colony in the middle of an alien blood feud A group of bandits plan to pull off the greatest train robbery ever What appears to be a simple salvage job erupts into a desperate battle for an incredible prize Join Best Selling Author Philip Athans, noted New Pulp Author Joel Jenkins, and writer Robbie Lizhini as they saddle up and fly high with three quick drawing, rocket blasting tales Six Guns and Spaceship is a charming book that puts you right there alongside Doc Holliday, Doc Savage, and Doc Smith. Mike Resnick, Five Time Hugo Award Winner Featuring an awesome cover by Marc Guerrero, cover design and print formatting by Sean Ali, and ebook formatting by Russ Anderson, SIX GUNS & SPACESHIPS, edited by Morgan Minor and Nikki-Nelson Hicks is a guaranteed wild ride to the stars and beyond From Pro Se Productions