"Rite of passage. Passage of rights. Both are dangerous." In 1900, Mama Cats gave birth to a daughter and named her Toledo. Now Toledo is 21 and Mama Cats has done all she can to raise her to be a good woman and a midwife. On a clear night in March 1921, Mama Cats decides it's time to tell Toledo the truth about her birth and reveal her plan to join Toledo's father. Her mama's confession and the events that follow leave Toledo with more questions than answers; more grief than joy. But just as she is worrying about how to tell her long-time soul mate, Hanover Fist, about what happened, a knock at the door reveals a man with glowing red eyes. Meanwhile, at the New Orleans police precinct, Hanover Fist stops by to see Duncan O'Malley after a long hot day walking the beat. O'Malley is hard at work trying to solve the case of a negro child found comatose from severe burns. The only clue they have to go on is a tattoo newly inked onto the child's skin and the fact that the child was found not far from Ring of Life Herbs and Charms, a shop belonging to Mama Cats. Although Hanover doesn't believe that what she does is voodoo, there are some on the police force who call it that. Could Mama Cats actually harm a child? Hanover doesn't believe so, but he also knows he might have a hard time proving it unless he can discover who is responsible. The Reunion is the Book 2 in the main story arc of the Dime Store Novel series, an urban fantasy novella about a world that appears normal unless you look close enough to see the fairies and the goblins. The story happens 21 years after From the Gator's Mouth. If you haven't read From the Gator's Mouth, you can start the series with The Reunion and then go back and read the prequels. The prequels in the Mama Cats story arc are: Rips in the Weave The Desert Rose

Is it reasonable to hope to thrive, not just survive, after the loss of a loved one? With the loss of a loved one, comes grief. With grief, comes many questions. Within the pages of this book many of the more commonly asked questions are addressed by those who have traveled the path of grief and have worked their way back to an enjoyable life. The stories are true. They are not just stories of loss and grief...they are stories of hope, strength, faith, courage and encouragement.

"When a god gives you rainbows, should you trust him? " In the summer of 1897, Delilah Cats is over-the-moon about her engagement to Laurent. However, her sister Sassafras remembers Laurent as the kid who was all-too-obsessed with pain. When Delilah does not return after going off to New Orleans with Laurent, Sassafras worries. However, she has much more to worry about than her willful sister's sadistic beau. There is war brewing in other realms and the weave that separates the realms is tearing. The spiders spin furiously to try to close it, even as the God of Pain prepares for his assault on the mortal world. A dragon appears in the skies amidst a terrible thunderstorm. And Agatha, the earthbound goddess of the swamps awakes from her long sleep and summons her nymphs. Grumwald, the kind of the goblins, is willing to take a bet that Delilah is tangled up in all of this realm business. But it's going to take more than one glass of whiskey to convince Delilah's brother Jesse that she's in trouble. Rips in the Weave is the first book in the Mama Cats story arc of the Dime Store Novel series, an urban fantasy novella about a world that appears normal unless you look close enough to see the fairies and the goblins. It is the prequel to The Desert Rose.

"Something strange happened down in the Louisiana bayou and it didn't involve banjoes." Nothing aggravates the earthbound goddess Agatha more than intruders in her swamp. Fortunately she's a shapeshifter and in her alligator form, she has more than one way to get rid of trespassers. Unfortunately, on February 14, 1900, she gets rid of one, only to have the girl he was with give birth right there in her swamp. The odd thing is, the baby disappears. She has a strong suspicion that Caprice, the goddess of chaos, is involved. But why should some mortal child concern her? Swampy knows nothing about the missing baby or any goddess, earthbound or otherwise. He's enjoying a perfectly fine April morning, when a pesky fairy shows up. Or is it a goblin? Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference. Next thing he knows, he's out on the swamp, chasing after some half-sunk flat-bottom boat, when the biggest gator he's ever seen nearly sinks his own. What would the mother of all gators want with him? If you ask the goblin, the answer's dinner. If you ask Agatha, the answer's on her tongue. From the Gator's Mouth is the Book 1 in the main story arc of the Dime Store Novel series, an urban fantasy novella about a world that appears normal unless you look close enough to see the fairies and the goblins. To learn more about what happened leading up to this book, read the two books in the Mama Cats story arc: Rips in the Weave The Desert Rose The sequel to From the Gator's Mouth is The Reunion.

"Sometimes what looks like an angel really is one. Sometimes it's not." As a teenage boy, Duncan O'Malley moved from Ireland to New York, looking for a new start. As an adult in the 1890s, he believes he's accomplished it. What Irish immigrant could want more than to own a boxing gym with his charming, and only somewhat annoying brother? But one sweltering day in Hell's Kitchen, all of that changes when an old acquaintance shows up and informs him he is now a cop. Maggie Bloom is a young, fiery red head. She is also engaged to a man with money, the drive to succeed, and a temper. He also has a dark secret -- his connection with a New York gang. When she decides to disguise herself as a boy to learn to protect herself, she never suspects that decision will change her life. Angels in Hell's Kitchen is the first book in the O'Malley story arc of the Dime Store Novel series, an urban fantasy novella about a world that appears normal on the surface. However, as Duncan finds out, normalcy is only an illusion. Are there demons in the shadows? Or only evil men?

Dive into the darkest recess of madness and experience the facets of fear reflected in the seven stories of Mind of a Mad Man. The Dance is a modern day ghost story, a tale of possessive love and religious intolerance. When a young novelists' grandmother dies, she inherits the house. Her first night there, she is visited by a lady in an old-fashioned ballgown who invites her to dance. In The Bar a young bartender weaves a tale about the night his life was changed forever. Did you ever pick up the phone and there was only static? What if you heard a faint voice in the static? Reading Shadow Call will make you quiver when the phone rings. In Avenging Angel a man has the chance to make things right. Or does he? Amber is held prisoner, forced to dance, even to the point of injury. When the music plays, terror reigns. Will there ever be a Last Dance? The book also includes stories from the Dime Store Novel series. Experience the genesis of Hanover Fist and Toledo Cats as they embark on their lifetime of adventure in From the Gator's Mouth and The Baptism. To view an excerpt from each story, visit http: //www.mindofamadman.me.

Bones of the Woods is a collection of 8 short stories that will make your skin crawl, even as you ponder the power of the forces around us, both natural and supernatural. The stories included in the book are: The Bones of the Forest -- A young girl leaves the safety net that was erected around the cities after an uprising. She finds a journal and discovers not only what happened in the past, but also raises fears about the present. The Hangman's Tree -- Bill has been Death for many years. During that time, he's judged people the best way he knew how. Now he's tired. When Tom decides to kill himself, Bill figure's he's a good a candidate as any to take over the noose. His Last Shot -- Lance Corporal has been an assassin for many years and he is one of the best. One night he can't pull the trigger and ends up at a diner, watching people come and go, reflecting on the events that made him "Coldsnap." Immortal -- A meeting between a psychiatrist and a patient turns the tables on what is real and what isn't. Is the patient delusional? Or has he found the key to immortality? In the Air Tonight -- Robbie lives a sheltered life with his Aunt and Uncle. A video game competition provides him with the chance to realize his dream -- traveling to space. Is the prize worth the price of competition? The Leaf Man -- An artist is haunted by a face that stares back from the canvas even when she tries to paint him out. Just who is Leafman? And can she trust him? The Protectors -- Two shapeshifters recall their lives together, including how they met during the Holocaust, as they race to find a lost soul before it's too late. The Thaw -- An amnesiac's past unravels. But will she remember in time to keep the same thing from happening to another girl? "Finger Fear"