A riveting, must-read, year-in-the-life account of three teachers, combined with reporting that reveals what’s really going on behind school doors, by New York Times bestselling author and education expert Alexandra Robbins.
Alexandra Robbins goes behind the scenes to tell the true, sometimes shocking, always inspirational stories of three teachers as they navigate a year in the classroom. She follows Penny, a southern middle school math teacher who grappled with a toxic staff clique at the big school in a small town; Miguel, a special ed teacher in the western United States who fought for his students both as an educator and as an activist; and Rebecca, an East Coast elementary school teacher who struggled to schedule and define a life outside of school. Robbins also interviewed hundreds of other teachers nationwide who share their secrets, dramas, and joys.
Interspersed among the teachers’ stories—a seeming scandal, a fourth-grade whodunit, and teacher confessions—are hard-hitting essays featuring cutting-edge reporting on the biggest issues facing teachers today, such as school violence; outrageous parent behavior; inadequate support, staffing, and resources coupled with unrealistic mounting demands; the “myth” of teacher burnout; the COVID-19 pandemic; and ways all of us can help the professionals who are central both to the lives of our children and the heart of our communities.
Meet Alexandra Robbins
Alexandra Robbins is the author of five New York Times bestsellers and a Goodreads Nonfiction Book of the Year,
SHE KNOWS THEIR SECRETS. THEY’LL STOP AT NOTHING TO SILENCE HER. “Drama, romance, and a deadly pursuit keep the pages flying in this sizzling speed ride of a thriller.” — DIRK CUSSLER, New York Times Best-Selling Co-Author of the Dirk Pitt Series Officer Sadie Lynch’s world was a simple one. She served her community in a Kansas City suburb, keeping people safe and catching the bad guys. It was a lonely life with only her elderly grandfather for companionship, but at least everything made sense. That world came crashing to an end the day a mysterious assassin tried to murder Grandpa in his nursing home. Before Sadie could blink, she and Grandpa were on the run for their lives, and nothing was simple anymore. Friendly suburban housewives were shooting at them, good guys were stealing cars to stay alive, and Grandpa’s former career working for the government was turning out to be something far more sinister. Their only hope for saving themselves lay in a forbidding ex-Navy SEAL. But could anyone be trusted when their shadowy adversary had eyes and ears everywhere they ran? Get your copy of the Clive Cussler Grandmaster Finalist, On the Run to find out if tough and determined Sadie has what it takes to survive.
Meet Maranda Collins
With a flair for the dramatic and a tendency toward exaggeration, it makes perfect sense for Maranda Collins to write novels. After years of writing scientific articles, educational proposals, and sales copy, Maranda made the jump to fiction and capturing the stories burning holes in her brain. Maranda lives in Chanute, Kansas with her high school sweetheart and now husband, Wade, along with a menagerie of critters on their small farm. Her passions include agriculture, exercise/nutrition, reading, and traveling. She is the proud mother of two adult children, Sage and Lawson.
“When the waters bleed and the walls fall, I will come for you. We will destroy them all.” Apocalyptic visions haunt Eero Laine, unveiling a future he’s trying to avoid. All the warring, diseases, and natural disasters the voice prophesied to him have begun to transpire. Every day of Eero’s incarceration, the voice’s lust for death grows. It demands Eero claim his rightful place atop the ashes of a dying world. Together they will demolish its regimes and build a unified civilization in their image. Why the voice chose him has always been a mystery to Eero, but he stopped worrying about that long ago. The only thing he cares about now is saving the last family he’s got. The people who murdered his little brother and sent him to prison now hunt his older one. To save him, Eero must escape. One gang possesses the skill to pull it off, the Kaval. If Eero joins them though, he’ll start down the sordid path the voice set forth for him. He despises the monster he could become, but embracing the darkness is the only way for his brother to stay in the light.
Meet Mike Moon
Mike Moon is a native Illinoisan who’s always had a love for writing. From concocting short stories about monsters and aliens as a child to detective mysteries in high school, creating fiction has long been his passion. In his free time, he enjoys reading, hiking, and going to concerts, just to name a few. Most importantly though, he loves hanging out with his wife and animals. He released his debut novel, The Kaval Rises, in December 2022.
Dick Thornby is not Hollywood’s idea of a spy. He’s a new kind of spy for a new kind of world. In his rough and tumble job there are no tailored Italian suits, no bimbos eager to please, and no massive underground fortresses built by evil overlords seeking world domination—just an endless series of sinister threats to the safety and security of the billions of mundane citizens of the planet. Sure, Dick’s tough and he knows a few tricks to help him get out of a tight spot, even if his boss accuses him of over-reliance on explosives. But he’s also got a mortgage, a wife upset by his frequent absences on “business” trips, and an increasingly alienated teen-age son who spends way too much time playing in gaming worlds on the computer. In the end, Dick can save his partner, save his marriage, save his son, or save the world, but he can’t do it all. Says Spy Guys and Gals: “What a terrific ride … action, great characters, interesting twists, and enough suspense to make you both hold your breath and turn the page” Says Game Knight Reviews: “This is a spy novel that intersects with the world of MMORPGs and combines a set of topics I haven’t seen before. It is a bit of The DaVinci Code with some James Bond and a modern virtual reality spin.”
Meet Donald J. Bingle
Donald J. Bingle is the author of eight books and more than seventy shorter works in the thriller, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, horror, steampunk, comedy, and memoir genres, including the Dick Thornby Thriller Series (Net Impact, Wet Work, and Flash Drive) and the near-future military science fiction thriller Forced Conversion, about which Hugo and Nebula Winner Robert J. Sawyer said: “Visceral, bloody–and one hell of a page turner! Bingle tackles the philosophical issues surrounding uploaded consciousness in a fresh, exciting way. This is the debut of a major novelist–don’t miss it.” More on Don at www.donaldjbingle.com or follow him on FB, Twitter, and TikTok @donaldjbingle.
“…a new political cyberespionage novel with a fierce female protagonist who also happens to be a single mom, providing a thrilling and relevant read that is also an inspiration to women everywhere.” – The Review Wire
Still grieving the loss of her husband, CIA Agent Isabella Bendel is excited about her promotion to Chief Supervisor. It will finally take her out of the field and allow her to spend more time with her young twins. However, the promotion put a giant target on her back and it’s clear someone wants her out of the way. When an attempted hit goes wrong followed by the kidnapping of her children and mother, Isabella’s world is completely shaken and she’s not sure who she can trust. With the full resources of the CIA looking for her family, Isabella must keep her calm and piece together a puzzle which points towards a Russian attack on the US. Time’s running out and Isabella must save her family and stop those hell-bent on destroying the United States before it’s too late.
Meet M.C. Fox
As a writer, I’ve long been fascinated by the world of espionage. Living in New York, I’m constantly inspired by the sights and sounds of a large city, and how that forms the perfect environment for a fast-paced thriller. Given our unstable political climate, as well as the Russian hacking of the election, I knew that it was the time for a spy story set in the world of political cyber-espionage, led by a fierce female protagonist.
In the frozen wastes of a new ice age, a boy must become a man. Having forgotten who he is, this youth must accept his destiny to lead, fight, and die if necessary for what he believes . . . or a magic from a lost era will destroy them all. As a tyrannical empire rises, he and his childhood companions must band together as warriors to battle against savage creatures, an army of zealots, and an evil they are only just beginning to understand . . .
Heirs of BjornsGaard ~
A thousand years ago, on the Day of Cataclysm, the world changed. Mountains rose from plains, continents fell into oceans, colossal tempests obliterated civilizations, and jotun, creatures of legend and superstition, rose up. The New Ice Age began, blanketing the world in snow and an army of draugr, dead warriors, walked the earth destroying every remnant of the old age.
From the ashes, the Church and the Clan BjornsGaard united humanity behind their banners, rallying knights and heroes to face this new world. Under their leadership, mankind overthrew the draugr and retook control of its destiny.
In the centuries since, the Church grew into an empire, controlling most of the continent. Though its origins were noble, the Church State grew based on greed, racism, and slavery. Only two militant orders of knights, the Hospitalars and the Tau, allied with the islands of the BjornsGaard Commonwealth stood against the Church States expanding pogroms. But during the intervening years, the Kings of BjornsGaard had grown corrupt and weak. In one night, the entire family was assassinated, opening the way for the Church to expand spreading its suppression and holocaust.
But in BjornsGaard’s farthest northern island, hope is dawning. In the Hospitalar’s Northern Compound five orphans, physically and intellectually gifted and trained by the Hospitalar knights to fight, to heal, and to reason, grow up together. With a bond tighter than normal siblings and forged stronger by pain and loss, these five will grow to challenge the Church State and accept their destiny as leaders in this new age.
*Disclaimer* Heirs of BjornsGaard is a clean fantasy adventure series, meaning that there is no sexual content, nudity, or language. However, it does contain some violence and mature subject matter that may not be suitable for younger readers. Discretion is advised.
Meet RJ Redmond
About the Author R.J. Redmond told his third-grade teacher that when he grew up, he wanted to live in a cabin on the water and write stories. Throughout his life, this dream has remained the same. Mr. Redmond holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Washington State University and a Juris Doctorate from the Gonzaga School of Law. A. Elaine Dunlap-Redmond is Mr. Redmond’s business manager, agent, and partner in all things. They live together on the Puget Sound in Washington State. For more information on this book and others, visit Votes4Sasquatch.com.
Milgorry turned cold eyes upon Tiernan. ‘Say it,’ he demanded. ‘If you do this, I’ll hunt you down and return your dead body to the Creator. That is the law, and I’m bound by the law. I am a Guardian. I’ll have no choice,’ his voice dropped to a whisper. ‘There’s always a choice,’ said Milgorry. ‘If this is such a problem why don’t you return me right here and right now? You know you can!’‘ Because you’ve not done anything wrong yet,’ said Tiernan, sounding insecure.‘ But you can see into my mind! You know I’m going to do this!’ Tiernan’s shoulders sagged. ‘Please don’t do this. There must be another way.’‘ I don’t see any other way,’ Milgorry said bleakly. ‘Then go. But think hard on this before you act. You say there’s always a choice, but I’m not Free. For me there’s no choice. So be assured, if you do this, I will come after you. And I will find you. And I will return you.’ Milgorry was startled to feel the depth of pain emanating from the Guardian. ‘I’ll think on it, but if I find no other way to save my people, I’ll do what I have to do, and you can hunt me down and return me if you must.’ He ran down the stone steps, dodging Borgulnay, Timbul and Araas as they passed by. ‘Mil!’ Timbul called after him. ‘Where are you going? ‘Home,’ said Milgorry, not looking back. Disease ravages the land of Nyinaku, bringing the physically superior race known as the Fallen to their knees. Unable to watch his people die, Milgorry of Tarl, the land’s foremost cunning and deadly warrior, defies Tiernan, Lord of the Guardians, and returns to Nyinaku, intent on sharing the forbidden gift of healing with the Fallen race. Constrained by the laws of the Guardians, Tiernan struggles with the fact that he is required to disregard their friendship and hunt down the most dangerous Fallen warrior he has ever known. Meanwhile, knowing the illness will spread like wildfire and cripple neighbouring countries, an army of Fallen warriors prepares to use the opportunity to their advantage, and defying the orders of Prince Garran, they gather for war against the humans in the land of Alkira and their Guardian allies. In the Kingdom of Alkira, young King Kelian races against time to find a cure for the disease as it decimates his people, whilst preparing his nation for a war he knows he will not win.
Meet Danielle O’Sullivan
Danielle (Dan) O’Sullivan is a writer of fantasy fiction who has published 4 books in the Daoine Maithe series. She was born in 1971 in Emerald, Queensland, Australia, and her family relocated to Toowoomba at the age of 8. After marrying an Australian man of Irish descent, she became interested in the idea of a world with a fusion of Australian and Irish mythological history, hence the combination of interesting names, places, and language in her books. O’Sullivan is currently working on a fantasy trilogy for middle grade children, titled The Ruby Key. Her hobbies include amateur astronomy and teaching classical ballet, jazz ballet and tap dancing at her own dance studio located in her home suburb of Highfields. She is an avid fan of the works of JRR Tolkien and Raymond Feist. She has a particular interest in fantasy fiction for middle grade children and is working towards publishing The Ruby Key trilogy in the coming year.
For a shifter……being stuck in wolf form is torture.
The moment I shifted; my life changed.
After witnessing a traumatic event at a young age, nine-year-old Forrest shifted into her wolf form – and was unable to shift back. Years later and suffering at the hands of her malicious step-brothers, she stubbornly clings to the hope that she’ll turn back into the girl she once was.
But when her magic returns at the moment she needs it most, Forrest is thrust back into the world of humans. There’s only one problem. Her pack is out to kill her.
Struggling to learn how to walk and talk again, Forrest finds herself on the run from the cold-blooded shifter council. But hidden deep within her human form lies a secret – a powerful magic that has the potential to set her free.
If only she can stay alive long enough to master it…
If you love high-octane Urban Fantasy with shifters, suspense, and one young woman fighting for her independence amid a dangerous patriarchal world, then you won’t want to miss Cursed Wolf. This thrilling novel strikes the perfect balance between humour, friendship, and slow-burn romance. Grab your copy now!
Written in British English.
Meet Brogan Thomas
Brogan lives in Ireland with her husband and their eleven furry children: five furry minions of darkness (aka the cats), four hellhounds (the dogs), and two traditional unicorns (fat, hairy Irish cobs).
In 2019 she decided to embrace her craziness by writing about the imaginary people that live in her head. Her first love is her husband then number-one favourite furry child Bob the cob, then reading. When not reading or writing, she can be found knee-deep in horse poo and fur while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.
