Laura DeLuca

Dragons in the Clouds by David Blair is a delightful middle-grade fantasy novella that sparks wonder and adventure for young readers. Told as a charming bedtime story a father shares with his daughter, the tale creatively reimagines the origins of thunder and lightning through the secret lives of dragons hidden in the clouds above the Kingdom of Albion. When a king orders the destruction of all dragons, the wise wizard Merlinius protects a family of gentle, plant-eating dragons with a magical spell of weightlessness. Their fiery breath becomes lightning and their roars become thunder as they soar safely among the clouds. A young boy named David and his loyal dragon friend Rago are drawn into an exciting clash involving friendship, courage, and the struggle between good and ambitious forces. The premise is inventive and heartwarming, blending Arthurian-inspired elements with themes of loyalty, seeing beyond appearances, and the magic that can hide in everyday storms. It’s a quick, engaging read ideal for ages 8–12 (and nostalgic adults who still love dragons), full of imagination that leaves readers looking up at the sky with a smile. Reviewers have praised its exciting pace, appealing characters, and ability to make fantasy feel accessible and fun. @Davidblr7777 - Amazon: amazon.com/Dragons-Clouds-Da… Bookshop.org (supports independent bookstores): bookshop.org/p/books/dragons… - Apple Books: books.apple.com/us/book/drag… Also available at Waterstones, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers (search the title + author for current editions and formats). About the author David Blair is the creator and writer of *Dragons in the Clouds*. Inspired by the atmospheric storytelling of Rod Serling (*The Twilight Zone*) and the heartfelt narratives of Charles Dickens (*A Christmas Carol*), he crafts tales with a touch of the paranormal and wonder. He began storytelling at age 14 with a student film called *Destination Destiny* and later worked as a production supervisor for EnterAktion Studios. This imaginative fantasy marks his debut in writing for young readers, bringing a cinematic flair and genuine enthusiasm for magical worlds to the page. #Authors #Artists #Creators

Time’s Pendulum Swings Again by Joy M. Lilley Jenny is working as a nurse when she meets Seb. She is young, living with her mother, and has had a strict religious upbringing. Seb is a handsome, successful surgical registrar, and Jenny cannot resist his charms. They fall in love, buy a flat, and move in together—against Jenny’s mother’s wishes. Then one day Seb confesses that he is already married, with two young boys waiting for him in Nepal. Can a heartbroken Jenny pick up the pieces of her life? Set in Leeds, this Firebird Award–winning novella is a bittersweet hospital romance about forbidden love, cultural difference, betrayal, and whether the pendulum of time will ever swing them together again. Buy links - Amazon (Kindle ebook): amazon.com/Times-Pendulum-Sw… - Amazon (paperback): amazon.com/Times-Pendulum-Sw… - Author blog: joymlilleyauthor.wordpress.c… About the author Joy M. Lilley (Joy Gerken) is a British author and retired registered nurse. A grandmother living in Kent, she turned to writing after a long nursing career. Her books include *Figs, Vines and Roses*, *The Liberty Bodice*, *Spy and Villain*, *A Boy Called Archie*, and *Bleeds When Broken*. She also writes and blogs about stories drawn from life, travel, and family. X handle: @joygerken #Authors #Artists #Creators

At The Edge of the Stairs by Phil Stephens is a heartfelt paranormal romance that celebrates a love strong enough to bridge life, death, and dimensions. When young Crystal Maiden Arabella is trapped in a deadly house fire, rookie firefighter Abraham Gallagher bravely rescues her from the edge of the stairs. Their immediate connection blossoms into deep love during her recovery, and they make plans to marry. Tragedy strikes when Maiden is killed in a car accident just two weeks before the wedding. Dying in Abraham’s arms, she vows to reincarnate and return to him. Nearly twenty-three years later, her extraordinary journey unfolds as she seeks to reunite with her soulmate. Stephens weaves romance, suspense, and supernatural elements into an emotional story of enduring devotion, second chances, and the power of promises that transcend the physical world. Readers praise its imaginative premise, engaging characters, and the way it leaves a lasting impression of love’s resilience. Buy links Amazon (paperback): amazon.com/At-Edge-Stairs-Ph… Amazon (Kindle ebook): amazon.com/At-Edge-Stairs-Ph… Amazon (alternate edition): amazon.com/At-Edge-Stairs-Ph… - Also available via Barnes & Noble and the author’s site (philstephenspublications.com). About the author Phil Stephens is an Indiana native and graduate of the Indiana University Kelley School of Business and the Dale Carnegie Course. He spent many years working in Fortune 500 companies. Raised in a solidly Catholic family, he attended Catholic grade schools in the 1960s and served as an altar boy. His writing has appeared in local newspapers and literary magazines. Passions include reading (history and horror), cooking, exercising, and the environment. *The Altar Boy* (his award-winning debut) was followed by this paranormal romance, marking a shift from historical fiction. X handle: @psteph55 (nitter.gq/psteph55) #Authors #Artists #Creators

To the reader who knows Washington’s marble face and Jefferson’s phrases—and still has not met the irascible Yankee who would not stay home — this is for you. John Adams by David McCullough Winner of the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Biography The Pulitzer Prize–winning biography of America’s second president—and the book behind the HBO miniseries. McCullough follows John Adams from Massachusetts lawyer to revolutionary, diplomat, vice president, and president: brilliant, fiercely independent, often irascible, always honest. Jefferson called him the “colossus of independence.” Some thought him out of his senses. He spared nothing for the Revolution, rose to the presidency, and kept the country out of a war he judged unnecessary. At the center is his marriage to Abigail Adams—one of the great love stories in American history—and a correspondence that also includes one of the most extraordinary exchanges in English, with Thomas Jefferson. This is history on a grand scale: politics and war, but also human nature, faith, virtue, ambition, friendship, and betrayal. Buy links - Amazon (paperback): amazon.com/John-Adams-David-… - Amazon (hardcover): amazon.com/John-Adams-David-… - Amazon (Kindle ebook): amazon.com/John-Adams-David-… About the author David McCullough (1933–2022) twice won the Pulitzer Prize, for *Truman* and *John Adams*, and twice won the National Book Award, for *The Path Between the Seas* and *Mornings on Horseback*. His other books include *1776*, *The Great Bridge*, *The Wright Brothers*, and *The Pioneers*. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Humanities Medal. Website: davidmccullough.com