Carrie Ingalls The Forgotten Sister by Clarissa Willis #NonFiction #ChapterBook

Non-fiction Chapter Book Juvenile Fiction

Date Published: 10-30-2025

Publisher: Solander Press

While her sister Laura chronicles their life on the frontier, Carrie Ingalls forges her own path. This is the story of the “forgotten” sister, a frail child who grows into a resilient woman of the American West. From the hardships of pioneer life, Carrie emerges as an independent journalist, newspaper editor, and landowner, quietly shaping the futures of fellow homesteaders and proving that strength comes in many forms.

Excerpt

 Chapter Six A Single Bag of Wheat

On October 15, 1880, a fierce blizzard struck the Dakota Territory. It soon became clear that the Ingalls family could not survive the coming winter in a one-room shanty.

First, Charles took his haystacks to town in the wagon. Then he returned to the shanty, and he and Caroline packed the wagon with their few pieces of furniture, bedding, and clothes. They returned to town and moved back into the rooms above the small store Charles had built. The good news was that Laura and Carrie could go to school.

A lot had changed over the summer while they lived in the shanty. The school had been completed and opened on November 1, 1880. Laura and Carrie were two of the first fifteen students to attend De Smet School. When another blizzard hit during a school day, Laura and Carrie struggled to find their way back to where they lived.

Settlers depended on the train for their supplies. Not only did they get food delivered daily by train, but they also received mail and, most importantly, coal for fuel. Charles and the other men from town often shoveled snow from the tracks so the train could reach the station.

As the blizzards continued into January 1881, the railroad made a decision that significantly affected Carrie and her family. They would not deliver more supplies until spring and would cease operations for the winter.

The school was shut down because there wasn’t enough coal to keep the children warm, and soon food became scarce in the town. Food prices rose sharply, with flour costing $50 a pound, and the last few pounds of sugar selling for $1 a pound. Without coal, the Ingalls burned hay twisted into bundles. As their kerosene ran low, they burned the oil lamps less and less at night. But a good deed by Charles may have saved the family.

About the Author

 

 Award-winning author Clarissa Willis writes children's books. She has authored four picture books and one chapter book. Bloomers on Pike’s Peak, the story of Julia Archibald Holmes, received a Will Rogers Medallion Award and was a finalist for the Women Writing the West 2025 WILLA Literary Award in Children's Picture Books. Her book Fast as the Wind: The Story of Johnny Fry Pony Express Rider won a Will Rogers Medallion in 2023. The Three Little Pigs and the Not So Big Bad Wolf, released in early 2025. It tells a familiar story with a new twist. She believes childhood is a journey and strives to make it joyful through her books and public speaking.

Clarissa loves traveling and has a special connection to the American West. She finds inspiration in the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona, and the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. In fact, her next book, Not from Around Here, is set in Sedona and chronicles an unusual friendship between a young cowboy and his friend from far away.

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Kennedy Sloan Gets Scooped by Caila Klaiss #Romance #Giveaway

Contemporary Women's Fiction/Contemporary Romance

Date Published: November 6th, 2025

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

Faster than details break in a news story, Kennedy Sloane gets scooped.

On a rainy Manhattan afternoon, career-obsessed writer and news producer Kennedy loses the interview that was guaranteed to catapult her to senior producer status. Hours later, revered and feared book editor Muffin Evans, aka the Manuscript Eater, shelves the publication of her promising debut novel.

Over a night of tears and too many glasses of wine, Kennedy responds to an internet ad for a villa on the picturesque island of Hilton Head. She books a five-week “hiatus from life,” to focus on herself, free from distractions.

However, soon after arriving on the island, J.P. Long catches Kennedy’s hesitant eye. Despite a series of serendipitous encounters around the romantic oasis, Kennedy knows there’s no room in her life for a charming professional golfer turned businessman who is battling his own personal and professional insecurities.

But maybe he’s worth the trouble.

If there’s one thing Kennedy’s learned, it’s that life rarely happens as expected, and sometimes, the best stories unfold when you stop chasing the perfect headline.

  

About the Author

 

 A graduate of Fordham University, Caila Klaiss is an award-winning network news producer who spent seventeen years crisscrossing the country to cover breaking and developing stories for platforms across ABC News. The bulk of her career was spent producing true crime documentaries for 20/20.

Since making the difficult decision to leave a career she loved, Caila has pursued her other life-long dream of becoming a writer. When she is not reading, writing, or researching, Caila recharges by practicing yoga.

Born, raised, and currently living in northeastern Pennsylvania, Caila is a New Yorker at heart whose happy place is a warm sandy beach, under a palm tree.

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EXTRATERRESTRIAL NOIR by Rich Leder #SciFi #Giveaway

 

BLURB:

 

A PSYCHO-CRIMINAL EXTRATERRESTRIAL ON A SUBURBAN CUL-DE-SAC

 

A FAMILY ON THE BRINK OF ALL-ENCOMPASSING INSOLVENCY

 

A TWELVE-YEAR-OLD UBER-GENIUS DAUGHTER IN THE LINE OF FIRE

 

CAN SHE SAVE THE FAMILY, NOT TO MENTION THE PLANET?

 

An extraterrestrial crashes into a suburban cul-de-sac Colonial, absorbs every binary bit of information ever chronicled in all of human history, rearranges its molecules and presents itself as a couple of late and legendary film noir superstars, then immediately displays an appetite for debauchery, depravity, decadence, and destruction, seducing the family into its psychopathic criminal orbit with irresistible Hollywood panache, alluring sexual charisma, and inconceivable intergalactic powers.…all in the name of saving the family from their emotional, marital, and financial ruin.

 

But uber-genius-daughter Mike Devine figures out fast that the extraterrestrial’s principal plan is to employ its unfathomable interplanetary muscle and implode the planet. Which leaves the fate of her family, not to mention the world, in her twelve-year-old hands.

Excerpt Three:

 

“Forget the meteor,” Peter said. “Where’s the hole?”

 

“There it is,” Lazlo said. But he was pointing at the ceiling, at the same size and shaped hole that ran in a line at a forty-five-degree angle through the house. The cul-de-sac husbands all looked up at the hole, through the dining room, the master bedroom, and the attic to the sky. Only Maggie followed the path down to its conclusion.

 

“What in the world is that?” she said.

 

And then the room went silent, as if all the air had been sucked out of the house through the succession of small rectangular holes.

 

Connie and Maggie had decided on white oak floors when they’d finished the basement, and then covered them with colorful Karastan rugs. Lying on a deep-red-and-brown rug, five feet in front of the giant flat-screen television, surrounded by debris from the various ceilings and floors that followed it down as it smashed through the house, was a silver box. 

 

It was, like the holes it created, the size and shape of a Frye cowboy boot box, but smoother along the edges. Perfectly smooth, in fact. It wasn’t particularly polished, more matte finish than shiny, and was completely unmarked. There was simply no evidence whatsoever that it had burned through the atmosphere and smashed through a suburban Colonial at a million miles an hour.

 

“It’s like somebody bought a pair of boots and left the box on the floor,” Bill said.

 

“Doesn’t look like it came crashing down,” Peter agreed.

 

“Looks like it came in for a landing,” Maggie said.

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Rich Leder has been a working writer for more than three decades. His credits include eight novels for Laugh Riot Press and 19 produced movies—television films for CBS, Lifetime, and Hallmark and feature films for Lionsgate, Paramount Pictures, Tri-Star Pictures, Longridge Productions, and Left Bank Films.

 

He’s been the lead singer in a Detroit rock band, a restaurateur, a Little League coach, an indie film director, a literacy tutor, a magazine editor, a screenwriting coach, a wedding consultant (it’s true), a PTA board member, a HOA president, a commercial real estate agent, and a visiting artist for the UNCW Film Studies Department, all of which, it turns out, was grist for the mill.

WEBSITE: https://www.richleder.com

 

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https://bookshop.org/p/books/extraterrestrial-noir-rich-leder/22774708

  

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One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

 

 

RATTLER by Anne Kane #MCromance @ChangelingPress

(Riptide MC)

 

Motorcycle Club Romance, Age Gap, Suspense

Date Published: November 7, 2025

 

Lily ran from a nightmare straight to Rattler's arms. He’s all leather, muscle and lethal promise. Dare she hope for an HEA?

 

Lily -- Abusing me was bad enough, but when my a**hole of a boyfriend threatened to shoot a tiny kitten, I brained him with a pot of spaghetti sauce and ran -- straight into the arms of the tattooed VP of the Riptide MC. He’s everything my ex isn’t, and that gives me hope. He promises to keep Scrapper and I safe, but my ex isn’t the forgiving kind. He said he would kill me if I left him and I know he’s going to come looking for revenge.

Rattler -- She might be younger than me in years, but there’s a world of experience looking out of those gorgeous eyes, and it isn’t the good kind. When she pulled a gun on me, I knew she was my kind of woman. She’s on the run from an a**hole who used her as a punching bag. He might have the local law enforcement in his pocket, but me and my brothers in Riptide have military experience, and sometimes vigilante justice is necessary.

 

Trigger Warning: This is an MC action thriller romance. It contains violence, abuse, coarse language, vigilante justice, and adult situations. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after. Enjoy!

EXCERPT

 

Rattler

Thor and Janet were actually going to tie the fucking knot! I suppose I should have seen it coming, but they’d been playing friends-with-benefits for so long I guess I thought that’s all they’d ever be. And now here I was -- sitting in a bakery waiting for a box of frilly wedding-type cupcakes to take back to the clubhouse for the old ladies to sample. Not sure how I got conned into playing fetch. I was happy for them and all, but you’d think they could have sent a prospect, not the fucking VP.

The bell on the door tinkled, and I looked up as a woman came in. She looked rough. More than rough. One eye was black, and through the open collar of her coat I could see a circle of greenish yellow bruises on her neck. Her clothes looked like she’d slept in them, and she had a bulging backpack slung across one shoulder. She looked young, too young to be stuck in the kind of relationship those bruises indicated.

She glanced in my direction and quickly looked away. Yeah, she was scared of something. Or more likely, someone. She walked up to the counter, and I noticed a slight limp. Probably from the same incident that gave her that black eye.

Maybe I was wrong. Ace always chided me for jumping to conclusions. She could have been in a car accident or tripped and fallen down a flight of stairs. The problem was, in my experience, that only happened once in a very long while. I’d bet my bottom dollar there were more bruises hidden under her clothes, in varying shades of blue, yellow, and purple. Evidence of an ongoing series of attacks.

Impotent assholes who beat up on their women were one of my triggers, and I looked outside to see if maybe this was my lucky day. Maybe the asshole was here with her.

She asked the woman behind the counter for a coffee, and when the lady turned to get it, she grabbed a muffin and stuffed it in her pocket. The attendant turned back and sat the cup of steaming coffee on the counter and rang in the purchase. Pulling a few bills out of her bra, the newcomer paid the bill and hurried back outside, gulping the coffee down as she went. I watched as she turned the corner and headed down the alley beside the bakery.

Standing, I strode over to the counter. Tossing a couple of bills on the counter, I smiled. “For my coffee, and the muffin you forgot to charge my friend for.”

“Your friend?” Her brows raised in disbelief.

“That’s right. She must not have seen me waiting for her. I’ll be back in a few minutes for those cupcakes.” I pivoted and strode out the door before she could ask exactly how anyone could miss seeing someone as big as me.

I turned the corner and saw the woman crouched down at the far end of the alley, petting a kitten that had its head poked out of her backpack. She gave me the side-eye as I sauntered toward her, trying to look as unthreatening as possible.

I obviously didn’t do a very good job. She waited until I was about ten feet from her, far enough away not to touch her but close enough to block the view of anyone who happened to walk past the mouth of the alley. Then she straightened up and pulled the gun out from under her shirt. She made damn sure I saw her flick the safety off.

“Don’t come near me.” She pulled the backpack a little closer as if to protect the tiny scrap of a kitten in it.

Did I seriously look like the kind of guy who’d hurt a kitten?

Apparently, she thought so. I held my hands up. “I just wanted to talk. I’m not going to harm you.”

She didn’t look convinced. “Tim send you?”

I frowned, taking in her battered appearance. “Tim the guy that did that to you?”

She didn’t answer for a moment, and the gun didn’t waver. “Fuck off.”

I had to work at not smiling. The swear words sounded cute coming out of such a tiny thing. “No, I have no fucking idea who Tim is. I just saw you come in and nick that muffin and wondered if maybe you needed a hand. I paid for the muffin, by the way, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

She snorted. “Not high on my list of worries right now.”

“Fair enough.” I gestured at the ground. “Doesn’t look all that comfortable down there. Care to come back into the bakery and we can talk?”

“Why would I want to talk to you?”

I shrugged. “I’m a nice guy. No offense, but it’s pretty obvious you’re running from someone. Maybe I can help. Do you have somewhere to go? I can offer you and your little companion there a ride.”

Her eyes narrowed, and I could see her calculate the odds of me being a serial killer. “I’m looking for the Riptide MC. Do you know where to find them?”

 

About the Author

Anne Kane lives in the beautiful Okanagan Valley with a bouncy little rescue dog whose breed defies description, a cantankerous Himalayan cat, and too many fish to count. She spent many years trying to fit in and act normal, but finally gave up the effort. She started writing romance in 2008, and her fate was sealed when she won a publishing contract with Red Sage Publishing and just a month later Changeling Press accepted her first submission. Since then she has published more than thirty stories in a variety of sub-genres, all with a happily ever after.

She has two handsome sons and six adorable grandchildren and enjoys spending time with them whenever she can. Her hobbies, when she’s not playing with the characters in her head, include kayaking, hiking, swimming, playing guitar, singing and of course, reading.

 

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Hush Little Baby Anthology #HolidayHorror

Horror, Holiday Horror (various subgenres)

Release Date: October 31

 

 

Santa’s making a list. He's checking it twice. And if you've been naughty... run. Because Krampus is real...but the legend never told the whole story. In this eclectic anthology, multiple authors unleash the Alpine myth in unexpected ways. He's a monster. A protector. A lover. A nightmare. Sometimes charming, sometimes deadly, always unforgettable. From vivid poetry to spine-tingling terror to sinful spice, every story peels back another layer of the creature who passes judgment on the naughty ones...and what happens next. This multi-author collection features stories with varying tones and heat levels. Graphic content is clearly labeled for your reading pleasure.

ALL proceeds from the sale of this anthology go to Quill Cottage Wildlife, a 501c3 wildlife rehabilitation

 

Featuring Works By

Jodee Jean Daniels, Luna Nyx Frost, C.L. Hart, Spiros Katsaras, Jayce Maxwell, J. Noble, Jenna O’Malley, Kay Parquet, Melissa Power, Alyce Reads, E.L. Summers, Jason M. Spencer, Kyle Thomas, Cass Voit

Excerpt

Crimson Retribution by C. L. Hart

Hashim led Donata to a clear spot where a cluster of trees blocked the wind. After relieving herself, she returned to his side.

"All right, let's see the fabulous view you've been raving about."

"Would you like a pair of binoculars?"

"Certainly. I've always enjoyed pretending I was a bird flying above the world."

"Or an angel," Hashim proposed.

"I imagine I have a few more miles left in this aging body before God or whoever calls me home."

"Darling, you're always my angel."

"What are you angling for with all this flattery, Hashim?"

"I'm only trying to make things right, my love. I don't want a divorce. I love you, and even though Libby is biologically Javed's daughter, I've always thought of her as my own."

"No matter what happens between you and me, you will always be Libby's father. I'm open to working things out, but you need to understand that I will not put up with any more abuse, either verbal or physical, and I won't abide any more cheating."

Hashim handed Donata the binoculars.

"Gaze through your magic spectacles and tell me what appears to your wondering eyes, my snow queen."

"I believe this is what Santa sees from his sleigh as he swoops down on a quiet Christmas Eve night. There are fantastical decorations, and the multicolored lights make everything look festive."

"You always had an amazing imagination."

Hashim reached behind the seat of the sleigh, retrieving an axe.

"Picture being here with Libby on Christmas Eve. Imagine walking out on the deck with her to marvel at the lights and look for Santa flying overhead."

"Oh, there's a house with a life-size Santa on the roof! He and the reindeer seem so real. Rudolph's nose flashes bright red, and Santa is waving to the people below. I can almost hear Christmas carols playing and taste hot spiced cider."

 

About the Author

C. L. Hart, also known as The Terrible Old Woman, is an editor who writes. She enjoys creating holiday stories with a twist, usually in either the dark fantasy/horror or sweet romance genres. Her short stories have appeared in several anthologies, and she has self-published her own works as well, including four poetry volumes, a novella, a fix-up novel, and several short stories.

Ms. Hart lives in a tiny town on the Northeastern Colorado plains with her adult son, cat daughter, and cat grandson. She doesn't mind cooking, but she hopes one day to hire elves to do the housework for her.

Ms. Hart can be found online at naughtynetherworldpress.start.page

 

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