Feature: Secret Histories: Stories of Courage, Risk and Revelation

The Book

“Step into the secret lives of 25 writers . . . and witness the stories that shape us.

Open the pages of Secret Histories to explore pivotal experiences in the lives of 25 writers. Share a life-or-death moment as a woman hitchhiker faces an angry, explosive driver.
Climb to a sacred Tibetan mountain pass on a pilgrimage to renewal—and discover the cost of choosing life as a healer. Witness grief mixed with deep joy as a sister chooses to be her dying brother's caretaker. Flinch at a young woman’s shock as she discovers her father is a CIA spook. Watch the world shrink into a nightmare existence through the eyes of a young Japanese-American girl imprisoned in an American concentration camp during World War II.

These are just a few of the intimate life events that make SECRET HISTORIES an unforgettable collection of stories.
As each of the 25 contributing writers peels back layers of experiences either momentary or long-term, their individual stories form a powerful web of understanding, acceptance and love,”

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It’s been exciting to be part of process from conception to publication. We watched “our baby” grow as stories were crafted, some from mere ideas, to polished perfected stories. They wove together into a beautiful tapestry of compelling, heartfelt, sometimes riveting and always truthful personal testimonies-our anthology.

We received the following glowing endorsements from two New York Times best-selling authors Kim Barnes and Clair Dederer.
"These gifted and generous authors bring to the page courage, risk, and revelation, but also something much larger. By breaking the silence, they allow us to believe that we are not alone in our wonderments, failures, and confusions. They give us permission to share our own stories, to leave a map of true experience so that others might find their way." - Kim Barnes; Author of In the Wilderness: Coming of Age in Unknown Country

Claire Dederer, author of Poser: My Life in Twenty-Three Yoga Poses
“These gifted and generous authors bring to the page courage, risk, and revelation, but also something much larger. By breaking the silence, they 
allow us to believe that we are not alone in our wonderments, failures, and confusions. They give us permission to share our own stories, to leave a map of true experience so that others might find their way.”

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Excerpt

Tell Me a Story” by Kathy Opie

An Italian immigrant grandmother enchants her young granddaughter with stories of the Old Country and coming to America. Forty years later, the granddaughter learns that many of the stories were false and has to come to terms with why her Nonna lied.

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About Kathy Opie
Kathy Opie has been published in the Northwest Sarcoma Foundation Newsletter and the Go4theGoal Pediatric Cancer Foundation Newsletter, as well as Northwest Cable News.
She is currently working on a book for caregivers and writes a blog. Learn more at www.alittlesomethingtochewon.com.
She also writes YA book reviews for Goodreads and co-writes a weekly newsletter for her company. Kathy has an M.S. in Psychology and M.Ed. in Educational Psychology.

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Promo: When The World Ends by J.J. Marshall [Excerpt]

About The Book

“We’re here as a terrorist cell looking to bring down the Board of Officials that essentially controls the entire Human Race. Those on Earth may have their own figures of authority in the Spheres but whether they ultimately live or die depends on decisions that the Board make. If we take them down then Humanity after they’re gone can only be better” At the dawn of the 22nd Century, the Earth is dead. A lethal alien organism has rendered the planet uninhabitable and a small fraction of humanity has retreated to Space and the Moon.

Those that remain on Earth are trapped in huge Spheres that encompass entire cities, tinted to defend against the deadly UV radiation that the atmosphere no longer protects Humanity from. 17-year-old Alec Corbett lives aboard the adapted International Space Station. One ordinary day in his mundane life he transforms his potential when he discovers information that could expose the corruption of the Board of Officials that now controls humanity. Armed with nothing but knowledge and his friend Jonah Jones by his side, Alec’s righteous judgement leads them on a merciless and unforgiving path. For there is one key problem – the information comes from his father Landon Corbett; a member of the Board. Pitted against his own flesh and blood, Alec finds himself in a unique position to end the Board of Officials’ dictatorship over Humanity.

However, all is not as it seems and as the stakes grow increasingly higher, Humanity reaches the brink of all-out-war. Only Alec and his group of friends can peacefully negate the situation, but it all depends on whether or not anyone will listen to a 17-year-old boy.

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Excerpt

‘They’re running out of space across the human empire’ Andrew said. His voice was deep and thick and Alec imagined that if he were to shout the sound would reverberate well. ‘Which is ironic considering we’re surrounded by it’.

‘It’s like they’re giving up on Earth’ Lola said. Her voice was laced with heavy traces of a Spanish accent and Alec wondered if she spoke the language. He hadn’t heard another language other than English…ever, he realised.

‘They are’ Alec confirmed. ‘They’re leaving them to it. As far as the Board of Official’s see it, people left on Earth have their Spheres and there’s just no room left’.

‘But the Spheres were never a long term solution’ Riley said. ‘In fact, they were never a solution at all. They were only supposed to be a temporary measure until more Moon bases were constructed. The Spheres aren’t sustainable; they’ll burnout after another ten years or so’.

‘By the sounds of it, it’s a sacrifice that the Board is willing to make’ Jay sighed heavily.

Their conversation was interrupted by a loud, metallic ringing. Alec looked around bewildered whilst everyone else turned to the handset that was fixed to the wall in the kitchen.

‘No one ever calls’ Andrew frowned, causing his glasses to slip down his nose slightly. ‘Not since we discovered that calls were always monitored’.

‘Must be important then’ Jay said, stepping from the carpet to the linoleum and picking up the receiver that hung from the wall. Alec recognized the attachment as something which he had once seen in an old-Earth film but he couldn’t recall the name of the device. ‘Hello?’ Jay said, taking the oblong-shaped gadget and holding it against the side of his head. One end reached towards his mouth whilst the other end was pressed against his ear.

Jay remained silent and listened, nodding to himself and saying ‘yes’ or ‘okay’ on the odd occasion. After a few minutes he thanked the caller and placed the device back on the wall.

‘Who was it?’ Riley asked unable to contain her anticipation.

‘Apparently this habitation just won a lottery which we were entered into on our last food order’ Jay said, his eyes dull and his voice flat. ‘Our reward is a place on MoonBase1’.

Everyone’s expression fell slack and they stared in disbelief.

‘It’s begun’ Alec realised. ‘They’ve already started the scheme!’

Jonah turned around and opened the front door. Out in the corridor people were already chatting excitedly, the hot words on everyone’s lips being ‘lottery’ and ‘MoonBase1’.

‘They’ve already called the people they’re going to transport’ Jonah said, unable to bring himself to state their true destiny.

‘We have to stop this’ Alec said adamantly. Every muscle in his body was clenched and everyone else had also tensed in anger against what the Board was planning on doing. ‘We can’t allow this to happen’.

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About the Author:
"I am currently studying a B.Sc. Physical Geography Degree at the University of Reading in Berkshire, England, with the intention of pursuing a career in teaching secondary school pupils.

I was born and raised in England and am presently twenty years old. "When the World Ends. . ." is my first publication and I'm incredibly excited to be working with the people at AuthorHouse in bringing my story to real, tangible pages! Writing has always been a hobby and a passion of mine from a very young age; I can recall writing a novel on my first family computer which was inspired (as well as a being blatant rip-off!) of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. It was really this book; the first full novel I had ever read by myself, that inspired me to write for myself and to create worlds beyond our own and fictions that can redefine the past or give suppositions about the future.

I would list J.K. Rowling as one of my top inspirations, as well as the likes of Anthony Horowitz, Ian Banks, Charlaine Harris and Suzanne Collins. I also draw inspiration from T.V. shows and scriptwriters, such as Joss Whedon, J.J. Abram, Maurissa Tancheroen, Steven Moffat and Jane Espenson. Their work and the way that they construct characters and stories spur and challenge me to create my own little realities. So welcome to one of my little realities! I hope you enjoy it.
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