Books published by LIGHTNING SOURCE INC

Please Note: This is a Special Edition cover with new interior formatting, but the story is still the same. There is no bonus material.Long before the world bowed down to the band Whispered Words, they bowed down to me.I was a simple girl in a small town, working two jobs and juggling college full-time-all in the name of a better future.Until them...Kieran. Cal. Ash. Rad.They marched into my world like a hurricane, infiltrating every aspect of my life and taking control until they owned every inch of me.I became their obsession.Their toy to use.And I ate up every second of it.Looking back, I should have run in the opposite direction the moment they mentioned my family name. West. I should have known they were only chasing me for my father, Corbin West's multi-million-dollar music legacy.But I didn't. I stayed. I loved. And then I was wrecked.Every fortified wall I erected, they beat down until I was left in shambles, and then they shattered me to pieces.Music. Lies. Love. Betrayal. S*x. Money. Rock and roll. It all amounted to a whirlwind romance full of deceptive destruction and betrayal.My name is River West, and this is the story of how Whispered Words loved me, used me, and tore my heart in two, leaving me when I needed them most.*Bitter Notes is book 1 of 2 and will end in a HEA.*Bitter Notes is a full-length mature, contemporary, new adult romance. Full of love, spice, rock and roll, and betrayal. This book is meant for a mature audience and is recommended for 18+.*Bitter Notes is a whychoose novel, meaning the FMC has more than one love interest. FMMMM

The poem below sets out to restore the ancient context of the Narcissus myth, followed by commentaries drawn from the primary sources and modern discussions of the figure as it appears in contemporary psychodynamic therapy and social theory.

Este libro "Querida yo: El arte de amarte" es un viaje hacia el autoconocimiento, en él encontrarás ejercicios y actividades que te enseñarán a sanar tus heridas, aprenderás como estar en paz contigo misma y a amarte desde el autocuidado. En él, la autora cuenta historias basadas en su propia vida, momentos muy duros y llenos de aprendizaje. Temas relacionados con la aceptación, el autocuidado, el amor propio, la autoestima, el perdón, los traumas, los patrones y el autoconocimiento se unen para crear esta maravillosa obra. "Desde niña soñaba con dejar una huella positiva a la humanidad, y este libro es eso, una huella de amor".

The Book of Queer Saints Volume I returns in this revised and updated collector's edition, featuring new cover art and a new introduction by editor Mae Murray. Inside, queer villains, monsters, anti-heroes, and outlaws are brought to life by some of the best queer horror writers in the genre, including Stoker Award winner Hailey Piper, Stoker Award nominee Eric LaRocca, and Shirley Jackson Award nominee Joe Koch. James Bennett's "Morta" was the recipient of the 2023 British Fantasy Award for Short Fiction. Joining them are the innovative visions of Briar Ripley Page, Nikki R. Leigh, Joshua R. Pangborn, Eric Raglin, Belle Tolls, Perry Ruhland, LC von Hessen, K.S. Walker, and George Daniel Lea. A fresh blend of transformative body horror, crimson-coated romance, and monstrous eroticism, this British Fantasy Award nominated anthology is sure to satisfy your every depraved itch.

"Discover 'Mama, I Got A Dollar!' - a fun children's book by Rella B. Join the adventure of learning valuable money lessons from family members. With delightful storytelling and playful illustrations, it's a must-have for teaching financial basics to kids in an enjoyable way. Get ready for a delightful journey into the world of money!" Get your hardcover copy today!

In the Iguaca Aviary, a captive parrot is seeking to be released into the tropical rainforest of Yunque. He's happy, but will the wild flock accept him once he is free?

Miserere Mei is translated simply as "have mercy on me," and has the same root as myrrh, or healing oil. Artist Georges Rouault channeled this healing energy in his powerful series Miserere et Guerre, a collection of prints created amidst World War I in France. This stunning series of images still beckons the viewer on a healing journey. As an artist, therapist, and spiritual seeker, author Joel Klepac explores themes of suffering, grief, love, and hope in the first 33 plates of the Miserere series (images included). He does not shy away from Rouault's Catholic spirituality inherent in the pieces, but rather appreciates the resonances with his own Eastern Orthodox Christian background, and connects them with universal human experiences of psychological and spiritual exploration and growth. Prepare to go on a journey into the subtle nuances of Rouault's images as well as the author's experiences in Romania, Russia, and India harmonizing with Rouault's themes. As an Internal Family Systems trained therapist, Klepac leverages his clinical training to guide the reader into their own connections with the images making available both written and audio versions of the guided meditations based on those themes. As you move through the Miserere series, you are invited into the compassionate gaze of Georges Rouault, to be illuminated and healed by his vision of humanity and inspired in your own way to embody compassion. "This publication shows how poignantly relevant Rouault's art is to the lives and sufferings of real people then as well as today." -Dr. Soo Kang, Professor of Art History, Chicago State University and author of Rouault in Perspective and coauthor with Holly Flora of This Anguished World of Shadows: George Rouault's Miserere "This book is a spiritual journey that goes deeply into Rouault's art--exposing the depths of despair, loneliness and hope. And Rouault's visionary art gives Joel Klepac eyes to pay attention to his own life as a therapist, missionary and spiritual director. The result is a moving meditation on the darkness and light that keeps company with all of us who seek to follow Christ." -William Dyrness, Senior Professor of Theology and Culture, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California. Author of Rouault: A Vision of Suffering and Salvation and, most recently of Facts on the Ground: A Wisdom Theology of Culture (2022)."A unique and influential book! This is a powerful journey of self-discovery from multiple perspectives, beautifully interwoven. Joel is masterful in bringing together in his writing his artistic vision, missionary heart and his Internal Family Systems (IFS) wisdom.--- Ioana Popa MD, BCC, MTS, certified Internal Family Systems Practitioner, Team For The Soul(R), Coaching, Consulting & Spiritual Care "Part art encounter, part memoir, part theological reflection, and part contemplative meditation, Miserere Mei shows the formative power of art to reveal, comfort, and disrupt. In doing so, Klepac brings new life and vibrancy to George Rouault's artistic contribution in the modern world." -Wesley Vander Lugt, Director of the Leighton Ford Initiative in Theology, the Arts, and Gospel Witness at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and author of Beauty Is Oxygen: Finding a Faith that Breathes"Klepac's astute and precise reading of Rouault's dark images lead us into the actual darkness of the world. After vivid descriptions of his own experiences with street boys, the homeless and prisoners, in Romania, Russia and the Czech Republic, Klepac guides readers into a study of their own inner abandonment and forsakenness. A deep meditation on many levels." Br. Paul Quenon, OCSO, entered the Trappists in 1958 at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, where Thomas Merton was his novice master

An old man and a teenager get acquainted in a museum. They discuss World War II and how wars affect ordinary families. The old man tells the teenager about two little children who grew up on opposite sides of the world and fell in love despite the mayhem that wars had caused in their young lives.

"But You've been aheadYou've already seenWhere this sufferingAnd the unknowns lead."It's easy to have faith when life goes your way. What happens when everything you worked for crumbles overnight? This is the place where the testing of your faith produces perseverance, character, and hope. In her third poetry collection, M.M. Bylo explores the physical, emotional, and spiritual toll of living with chronic illness and pain. Unflinchingly honest, the author dives deep into the hard questions: where is God when we suffer? Does God have a plan despite life's hardships?Yet even in the inevitable suffering of life, hope is not far away. Because after the darkness of the night, the dawn will surely arrive. Until then, we wait in expectation for a new day.Content details: -Personal but relatable poems about the author's life-Topics: chronic illness, chronic pain, suffering, disappointment, faith, and hope.-Clean, uncomplicated writing style-Story-telling in verse form-Gracious, honest, and hopeful themes and tone-Self-reflection and growth-Biblical worldview and beliefs-Scripture references page

An introduction to photography through a conversational story for inquisitive kids. It explains how a camera works through everyday objects like a mirror, magnifying glass, and even the pupil of your eye. Alex and her mom, two scruffy dogs, are packing for their New York City trip when they realize mom's camera is lost. While searching for the camera, Alex asks her mom "how does a camera work?" Alex learns through everyday objects like a mirror, magnifying glass, and even the pupil of an eye. Mom shows Alex her NYC photos while explaining key photography concepts like aperture, shutter speed, zoom, composition, and more.

Darrin is a hard-working architect who finds comfort in his routines. It's work, sleep, and family obligations for him. With Easter just around the corner, his company puts out a call for a two-week assignment in Poland. After careful contemplation and with a nudge from his intuition to go outside his comfort zone, Darrin puts in an application for the job. A tad nervous, a tad excited, Darrin steps off the plane ready to challenge himself. The one thing he didn't expect, though, was to find himself attracted to his beautiful Polish interpreter. Sofia loves her career. She works for Warszawianka Construction as an interpreter. She's also focused on her family, especially during Easter when old-fashioned traditions mean a lot to her. Sofia has no intention of disrupting her life and its rhythms, despite Darrin's sudden appearance. Both Darrin and Sofia can't deny their attraction. It's that uncomfortable feeling that keeps them up late at night contemplating what's next. A date? A kiss? Are they both willing to go outside their comfort zones and trust in a higher power that they can make it work despite an ocean between them?

At the birth of the church the apostles and others among the first generation of Christians could be viewed as miracle workers. They had authority from God to heal at will and exercised that authority. There are several persons today who profess to exercise the same kind of authority and claim some measure of authority or ability to miraculously heal people similar to the apostles. In recent years even within non-charismatic churches, a willingness to accept the possibility of miracle workers today is growing. As biblical illiteracy increases in the churches, the desire to debate the issue seems to decline. The younger, post-modern generation is less willing to take a stand for or against the issue. Instead, they are more willing to allow the possibility because of their valuation of personal experience over absolutes. So how are we to address this issue today? Can we be dogmatic? How should we relate to those who disagree with us or are unwilling to take a stand on the issue? The answer lies in the evidence of church history as well as the information we can learn from the biblical record, not only in Acts but in the epistles as well. Finally, the work of the Spirit in the church today, in non-Charismatic as well as Pentecostal/Charismatic churches does speak to the issue.To this date, the debate continues within the evangelical community concerning the possibility of present-day miracles and miracle workers. The range of opinion is spread between those who believe that God continues to work miracles today in the same manner and numbers as the first century and those who see miracles as a first-century phenomenon. Between those views are those who are open to miraculous gifts but cautious about their use in the church. This range of views was described well in the book, Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? from Zondervan's Counterpoints series. So, what questions should we address today?It is not the intention of this book to address every area of the modern faith-healing debate. Rather, this book is written to provide questions and answers based on the testimony of Scripture, which challenges specific claims of that movement. It is easy to claim that God wants to heal everybody and that healing is in the atonement. But how well can such claims stand in the face of unhealed saints of the Bible, men who walked with Paul, who had healed others earlier in his ministry?

Joanna Maneckji's Letters to My Grandfather is a beautifully written, illustrated tale that provides families with a way to address the difficult issue of grief with young children. Read more at letterstomygrandfather.com.

The year: 1967. The place: Hollywood. The script: impossible. * A blizzard hits America in July. Why? * She hates him. Can she get away with poisoning his coffee? * Why did the world's greatest theater director vanish? * Two small-town lawyers fake a murder. Are they equally guilty? * You will find these tales and more inside this funny and moving collection of new short stories by David Rowlett.

Nuggets of nascent internet nonsense? Or profound philosophical propositions?Memes.Fifty more fabulous facets of foolishness presented within by characters from the popular indie comic book, The Saga of Evil Monkey Man!

The Dragon has vanished, leaving Earth grappling to understand its place in the cosmos. As governments retreat into isolation, focused on their own survival, the world faces an uncanny vacuum of authority. The burgeoning religion, the Worshippers of Enlil, seizes the opportunity to step in and extend its influence. Masquerading under the veil of benevolence, they bring relief to those neglected in the Dragon's aftermath. Yet, a shadowy faction within the Worshippers harbors a perilous agenda, scheming to reconnect with the celestial Anunnaki and perpetrate a crime that sends shockwaves around the world. In the heart of New York City, George Isaacson finds his voice as the people's champion, committed to unmasking the true motives of the Worshippers. With unyielding zeal, he challenges their dominance and the indifferent governments, risking all to prevent their ascendance. Halfway across the globe, under President Zhang's firm hand, China rallies to fortify its defenses against the anticipated return of the Anunnaki. With the nation's full might, Zhang sets in motion a bold plan whose true extent remains shrouded in mystery. "Worshippers," the riveting second book in the God Protocol series, transports readers back to a transformed Earth four years after the Dragon's intervention. This adrenaline-charged thriller navigates a world in transition, weaving a narrative that spans continents and promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Most of life is lived and imagined outside of numbers. Vignettes of memoir framing the language of self-awareness and parenting in the way activities of daily living describe self-care.Where you are now may not be inside your control but where to go and how you plan from right now is going to be an accumulation of choices that are still in front of you. Create a personal framework to acknowledge your personal values and use of time.

The world was ready to defend against an asteroid of epic proportions... but nobody was ready for what came after.On the last day of normality in Mackinaw, Illinois, Oliver McCallister thinks his worst problem is figuring out how to come clean to his wife about the secret he's been keeping from her. Zoe McCallister thinks her worst problem is squeezing in an errand at the courthouse before another long day of nursing classes-and worrying about whatever Oliver is hiding from her. Oliver has just started his garbage route when an emergency broadcast announces the arrival of a ten-kilometer-long asteroid. A nuclear strike successfully destroys the asteroid and turns the sky into a canvas of crimson clouds. People cheer. They dance in the rust-colored rain falling from the clouds. It seems the apocalypse has been avoided. But the apocalypse isn't happening to people, it's happening inside them. First their eyes bleed. A ravenous hunger consumes them. Their sanity breaks. Then they become... the undead. As the apocalypse unfolds, Oliver battles the undead to rescue a wise-beyond-her-years six-year-old named Jurnee and make his way back home, where he hopes he'll find Zoe and safety. Before they can be reunited, Zoe must band together with a group of survivors to dodge the infectious red rains and escape a zombie-infested courthouse. Will Zoe's medical knowledge, Oliver's protective instincts, and Jurnee's indomitable spirit be enough for them to find safe refuge in this new and frightening world? Will Oliver and Zoe be able to repair their strained marriage, or will this dire situation push them further apart? Rust-Colored Rain is the first book in a thrilling new science fiction zombie series from the author of the award-winning God Stones series. If you're yearning for a character-driven thrill ride, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and brain-craving zombies, then you'll love Otto Schafer's Rust-Colored Rain.

Bamboozled is a fictional adaptation of a true story, one that lures the reader into the nitty gritty of survival for those born into poverty. It delves into the underworld of human trafficking showing how easy it is for unscrupulous charlatans to trick the impoverished. In this story, Edith Santos, a 20-year-old Filipina from the Visayas region of the Philippines has been pushed to the brink of financial distress and is desperately searching for ways to support herself and her family. A fast-talking con man has come to her village of Palo, telling of lucrative overseas opportunities for Filipinas in the Middle East. Lured by the recruiter's false promises of big paychecks, plush living conditions, and exciting jobs, Edith is easily convinced to sign a 2-year contract believing this is her best opportunity to succeed financially. It is anything but. She thinks she's being hired as a professional housekeeper for a well-to-do Middle Eastern family and is anticipating the promised position as its professional housekeeper. She quickly learns that instead of being hired, she has been bought, literally becoming this family's domestic slave, subject to whatever cruelties all its members, including its children, wish to inflict upon her. Under Syrian law, overseas workers like Edith have no human rights, therefore there is no recourse to appeal to the authorities. Escape is always on her mind. But even if she manages to escape the house, she cannot leave the country without an exit visa which needs approval by the employer from whom she is escaping. Edith has definitely been bamboozled. It is estimated that 60% of Filipina women who work in the Middle East are subject to the kafala system, which generally binds migrant workers to their employers, resulting in the confiscation of their passports and often leading to their imprisonment and the ravaging of their mental and physical health until their contracts come to an end. Try as good people might to eradicate human trafficking, the issue of poverty must be addressed first. The desperation that poverty inflicts on women like Edith and thousands of Filipinas like her, causes good women, mostly mothers, to take desperate chances that lead them into the dens of thieves and wolves known as the web of human trafficking. Bamboozled hopes to keep a spotlight on this travesty.

In the heart of New York City, as the new millennium dawned, the world of Blood Magic was trapped in a cycle of blood and impending warfare. Amidst this darkness, an unexpected legend was reborn in a distant place - Kinguan, nestled within Ethiopia's Simien Mountains, protected by ancient runes and blood magic. Here, King Anu, the enigmatic Great Unifier and Unseen Emperor of the World, ruled with an ancient spell of Blood Magic. Onyx Eyes, a leader of a brewing rebellion, was prophesied from the early years after the Blood Wars. The King had a special interest in this legend, for he had silenced its creators and eliminated any threats to the Empire's fragile peace. For five centuries, the Empire enforced the Outlaw Spawn Act, eliminating anyone deemed a threat to the court, even their offspring, to maintain the Empire's stability against numerous enemies. New York's winter nights were bitterly cold, especially in its unforgiving ghettos, home to ruthless individuals. Enter Enkill Jones, recently released from prison, driven by a vengeful ambition. He would stop at nothing, using drugs, robbery, and murder to gain power in the ghettos. Could there be a more fitting vessel for the transformative blood of the Kingu? Infused with the essence of a deceased elder, Enkill possessed extraordinary powers, even defying the sun's rays as a Perusu. They say power corrupts, but what does it do to those who were already corrupt to begin with?

When you find out your new husband has been alive for centuries unaliving people, you should probably run. But I've always identified as the final girl, and I'm looking to woo myself a monster. Getting engaged is a big deal in my family, and I'm only doing it because my dad insisted. Big money has big responsibilities. And, you know, I'm willing to keep up appearances to get them off my back so I can focus on more important things- namely ridding this planet of some scum. The guy's hot, has a huge, spooky mansion, and keeps to himself. So what's the harm in playing along? Trouble is I had no idea when we said "till death do us part," he'd take it so literally. Good thing I'm not your typical bride. Till Death Do Us Part is a dark monster horror romance. It contains themes suited for adults and is not for all audiences

Obesity is a chronic disease that is caused by a number of factors such as diet, genetics, physical inactivity, and poor dietary habits. This book is the product of a research which focused on how income affects obesity among a target population in the African American community in Durham, North Carolina (NC). It has been noted that chronic diseases that are diet-related, for example, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, affect African Americans disproportionately, especially those who earn low income. Some studies have also reported that those who make higher income have higher rates of obesity. This inconsistency and gap in the literature prompted research on this topic. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to study the relationship between family income and obesity among African Americans. The study sought to address the key factors that contribute to low family income among African Americans in Durham, NC and the ways those key factors contribute to obesity among African Americans in Durham, NC. This study employed a qualitative approach by using an individual interview method to glean the lived experiences of participants in Durham, NC. Thirty participants were interviewed and themes from the interviews were analyzed. The health belief model was chosen as the theoretical framework for this study to understand the data and explain beliefs, attitudes, and health behaviors. Key results indicated that low family income contributes to obesity. The study contributes to social change by recommending that policy makers advocate for an increase in national minimum wage, encourage educational approaches to prevent obesity, promote good eating habits, and promote adequate physical activity among African Americans.

What does it mean to do good? What does it mean to have purpose? What does it mean to contribute to the human endeavor? This book presents a humanist motivating philosophy aimed at answering these questions from a secular and ardently, human focused, position. The Sober Altruist is a deep dive into the obligations and missions we should hold towards the prosperity and continuity of our communities, civilizations, and the human species at large. While at first these aims seem lofty and even unreachable to some, the difference between the layman and the Sober Altruist is only this; a choice - a choice to contribute to the great engines of human continuity and advance; a choice to operate in our world with conscientiousness and direction, severity, and aim. The world born, following the historically recent industrialization of our species, requires a different and human-centric worldview, it requires us to hold values that stand in defense of individuals and the species. Our world, though more comfortable and more prosperous than ever before, is in crisis. From predatory technologies reshaping the very landscape of our societies to the very real potential that we may be the hands that craft the implements of our own demise, it is essential that we order our values such that our sprint towards the technological and cultural unknown does not lead us into apocalypse, absolute depravity, or inhumanity. This book has one aim: facilitating the choice to become a Sober Altruist; to become one who stands vigil over our future, our prosperity, and our humanity.

ITS OFFICIALIn the early chapters of our lives, it's all too easy to take time for granted, to drift along with the currents of life without a compass or a map. This story resonates with many, a story one individual lived through, like so many of us. In this Autobiography, Po Dean recounts his odyssey through the hazy days of youth, where parties and spontaneous adventures seemed to fill the hours endlessly. Time, as they say, flies when you're having fun, and our protagonist was certainly having his share. Yet, amid all the revelry, they never paused to set goals or plan for the future. The consequences of that oversight weigh heavily on them now.As they reflect on their past, regrets and missed opportunities surface. Po Dean wishes he had made wiser choices, invested his time more judiciously, and forged his path to success. Instead, he devoted himself to others, leaving his aspirations alone. But life, as they say, is a series of moments, some bright and brilliant, others tinged with regret. This narrative is a collection of lived experiences, showcasing Po Dean's lapses and his moments of joy, humor, and resilience.Join us as we journey through the pages of this book, exploring the highs and lows of a life lived fully, though not always wisely. Through candid self-reflection and introspection, Po Dean invites us to contemplate our choices, the use of time, and the paths we forge.This poignant memoir is an inspirational call to action, urging us all to seize opportunities, take control of our destinies, and embark on the adventure of self-discovery.

An action filled memoir from the fastest stick horse in the Dakota's as a child, to Air Force fighter aircraft supersonic speeds to later in life, sailboat speeds. From Air Force Top Gun flying to later Airline International widebody 747 flying and cockpit fine dining. From farm boy cowboy boots to combat boots; then penny loafers and now boat shoes. And now, so importantly, my quest to Honor Our Creator "Abba" or "Daddy" of all mankind, for all my blessings that are available to all as well, by Honoring Our "Inner 'small' Voice."There is always an "In the Beginning" for everyone and even for Our Creator. Our Creator's Universe beginnings are superbly spelled out in Our Creator's Word, or His Book of Genesis. There are numerous books canonized into Our Creator's Word, and is surely the greatest, most complete "Memoir" of all times!!! And so important, is that Our Creator's "Memoir" does not need to be a religion, nor become a religion. It is respect for His Deity and it is a standalone, beautifully done lifestyle guide from Our Creator Father to reveal His nature; plus, our assured life pathway back to Himself, and guaranteed by His Son, Sir Jesus, via His empty Cross signature.My memoir is for the benefit of my precious grandchildren and also share with the world, my perceptions how Our Creator gets things done within His Universe, and the means that He used to create all that is both tangible and intangible, and all that is both visible and invisible as well. Our Creator created transmutable energy within our Universe, or which can transfer from one form to another, but never lost.. Electrically natured cnergy is one form and can be measured, but invisible until needed and applied. Our Creator also created His human creation with an internal, electrically natured neural circuitry; thus, as recorded in His Book of Genesis, we humans were created "in His image" and by Our Creator's intended design, we humans are spiritually reachable and can converse with Our Creator Father via our inner voice.Summarily, the very same energy that Our Creator used to create all that "is," is the very same energy that can return "we" humans to His eternal, spiritual realm by simply asking. All that is needed according to His Word, is enough spiritually positive, electrically natured energy in the size of a "mustard seed." All guaranteed by His Son, Jesus, upon the Cross!!! And "in my opinion," additionally notarized by His created Cross upon His servant Donkey's back during His "In the Beginning." Thus, this book is dedicated to the Donkey!!!

Nuggets of nascent internet nonsense? Or profound philosophical propositions?Memes.A collection of memes presented within by characters from the popular indy comic book, The Saga of Evil Monkey Man!Newly expanded volume one contains even more inane foolishness.