These poems are about my life experience. They are a glimpse into my journey of reclaiming my life. I began writing poetry as a way of releasing stress, loneliness, and sadness. When I moved to Calgary I had no one to talked to. I felt very alone and out of place, and I had no idea what I was going to do with myself. All of my friends were in Montréal, along with everything I had ever owned. I only had five hundred dollars in my wallet, and two suitcases full of toys, clothes, and important documents....

“When capture or surrender means that your life is forfeit, failure is not an option.” A young lady and her lord arrive in the New World with the promise of stability and an expanse of land to claim as their own. Surrounded by the beauty of the Appalachians, they count themselves amongst the blessed. When the colony's Governor General is recalled to Europe, rumours spread like wildfire that conflict is just over the horizon. The prosperous peace that brought them here is suddenly in danger of collapse. What does this mean for the lady of the house? When tensions escalate, she finds herself isolated from all that is familiar. Desperate to survive, alone in the dark, and in a world unspoiled by the greed of men, what can she do? Despite insurmountable odds, this young woman must risk traversing unfamiliar and hostile territory to find help. As you read, be sure to consider: When capture or surrender means that your life is forfeit, failure is not an option.

2022 SFWC YA Fiction Writing Contest Winner "The tightly wound plot flows effortlessly from one moment to the next.... readers will find themselves inspired by the future Sparrow creates for herself and those around her." — Kirkus Reviews "Young Sparrow's dilemma had me wondering how she was going to make her way through such a tension-filled situation. I could almost see her growing up, finding unexpected allies, and using her mama's native skills as she faced the political firestorm of the 1840s in California." —Stephanie Foster, author of Take Action: Fighting for Women & Girls In 1844, fifteen-year-old Sparrow fears what dilemmas her grown-up life will encounter. Sparrow's mother is from the Chumash nation whose territory borders the Pacific. Her father is an American trapper and trader sent by his government to explore the rich California land owned by Mexico. Sparrow's difficulties are compounded when she learns her father also has an American wife and daughter. Then, she overhears him making plans to overthrow the Mexican Governor of Alta California and acquire the Mexican lands for the United States. Sparrow's tribal family and indigenous customs are threatened. She must decide if she will keep her father's secret and lose her homeland, or warn her mother and the Mexican authorities but suffer the loss of her father's love.

On September 27, 2014, Tetrice was violently assaulted and stabbed more than 50 times. Broken Promises is her story. After learning to walk again and struggling to overcome nightmares, she began to write about her experience. Tetrice told her story in her own words and was encouraged by those who insisted she had a meaningful story to tell. Many women die from such assaults, and Tetrice is grateful to be alive and helping others by sharing her story.

Broken Promises follows the main character, Beebe, who falls in love with the man of her dreams. He literally sweeps her off her feet with promises of happy ever after. We have heard the saying ´things are not as they seem´, ´sometimes, people are too good to be true.´ That is exactly what we find in Desmond Carlisle. He takes Beebe on an emotional roller coaster ride to the point that she almost loses herself in the process. Were it not for the love of a close family, her belief in God, and her own common sense, she finally allows the blinders to come off in order to see what she has been hiding from herself. The person that she married never really existed. She fell in love with his representative. Now she had to figure out a way to dig her way out of the mess she has allowed herself to be in. However, she had to tread carefully because she had no idea who she was dealing with...Who was this man who had stolen her heart and ripped it apart like pieces of common paper...

Tonea Melvin gets home from a hard day at school. She looks to one of her many talents, writing, as an outlet to get any emotional stress out. She decides to pick up a pencil, get some paper and starts to just writing about herself. She realizes that she has a story that she is finally willing to let out, and is going to use the many poems and short stories to help portray everything she wants her audience to know. This 15-year-old sophomore rediscovers herself while going into deep details about herself using her most powerful talent.

Viner traveled to various Eastern European countries to interview women of all ages and circumstances who are willing to do anything to get to America. The revealing and often unsettling tales of these women, told in their own words, shine a light on a growing population in the U.S.

There’s a saying that goes: “where there’s smoke, there was fire”. Well I believe that in my case it is where there was love, pain and deceit, only hate can be left. Yes, because I hated him with all my being and that would never change. My nightmare, it had come back to my life, and how. One direct order from the President of the United States himself forced me to coexist twenty four seven with him, and very closely. My name is Isabella Farrel, I am a federal agent. My mission is to “protect the man I hate the most”. Hard, isn’t it?

"Originally published in Australia in 2015 by Hardie Grant Egmont"--Title page verso.

Anna didn't know how much life could throw at her she was dodging bullets and life she was trying to save the happiness she once had she wouldn't stop until she got it living with out a real family to call her own what life she built she had to fight for she wanted to open a resturant of her own she had some support from her friends she could do anything she wanted if she tried. Eric loved his family and work he also had many secrets when promises are broken it hard to get them back he was going to do everything in his power to keep his family