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Cast of Characters: A Novelists Inc Anthology
TWENTY-EIGHT LEADING VOICES IN FICTION -
INCLUDING ELEVEN NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHORS -
JOIN TOGETHER IN A CELEBRATION OF GREAT STORYTELLING
We love fiction. It's in our blood and it's in our souls. Great stories thrill us and inspire us in a way that nothing else can. If you're like us, then we invite you to revel in this anthology of all-original stories we've created for you.
In CAST OF CHARACTERS, you'll meet a collection of unforgettable personalities. The devoted wife who discovers her husband's devastating secret. The Black Death survivor who reinvents herself. The woman who finds love in the arms of a dark, dangerous artist. The devoted scientist faced with a daunting ethical dilemma. The woman who hears ghosts. The gorgeous but fated young man. The small-town beauty queen with a world-class mean streak. The inventor who fears his invention. The man seeking a reunion decades later with his first love. The stalker who understands too late who he is stalking. The dreadful athlete who gets one opportunity to win. The man who loves a woman society will not allow him to love. These are only a few of the figures who will leap from the page and take residence in your heart.
In addition, CAST OF CHARACTERS is highlighted by several "events" you won't want to
- #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander delivers her first short story with a contemporary setting - as does New York Times bestselling author Tanya Anne Crosby.
- New York Times bestselling author Jo Beverley brings back the hero of her novel Forbidden Magic.
- New York Times bestselling author Angie Fox creates a new Biker Witches story.
- New York Times bestselling author Heather Graham writes her first story with her son Jason.
- New York Times bestselling author Katie MacAlister tells the story of one of her most beloved teen characters as an adult.
- National bestselling author Julie Ortolon tells the beloved Pearl Island story her fans have been clamoring for.
- National bestselling author Diana Peterfreund offers the origin story for one of the most important magical items in her "killer unicorn" series.
A huge volume of twenty-eight stories ranging from romance to suspense to fantasy to comedy to poignant character pieces, CAST OF CHARACTERS is a must-have book for everyone who loves fiction.
INCLUDING ELEVEN NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHORS -
JOIN TOGETHER IN A CELEBRATION OF GREAT STORYTELLING
We love fiction. It's in our blood and it's in our souls. Great stories thrill us and inspire us in a way that nothing else can. If you're like us, then we invite you to revel in this anthology of all-original stories we've created for you.
In CAST OF CHARACTERS, you'll meet a collection of unforgettable personalities. The devoted wife who discovers her husband's devastating secret. The Black Death survivor who reinvents herself. The woman who finds love in the arms of a dark, dangerous artist. The devoted scientist faced with a daunting ethical dilemma. The woman who hears ghosts. The gorgeous but fated young man. The small-town beauty queen with a world-class mean streak. The inventor who fears his invention. The man seeking a reunion decades later with his first love. The stalker who understands too late who he is stalking. The dreadful athlete who gets one opportunity to win. The man who loves a woman society will not allow him to love. These are only a few of the figures who will leap from the page and take residence in your heart.
In addition, CAST OF CHARACTERS is highlighted by several "events" you won't want to
- #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander delivers her first short story with a contemporary setting - as does New York Times bestselling author Tanya Anne Crosby.
- New York Times bestselling author Jo Beverley brings back the hero of her novel Forbidden Magic.
- New York Times bestselling author Angie Fox creates a new Biker Witches story.
- New York Times bestselling author Heather Graham writes her first story with her son Jason.
- New York Times bestselling author Katie MacAlister tells the story of one of her most beloved teen characters as an adult.
- National bestselling author Julie Ortolon tells the beloved Pearl Island story her fans have been clamoring for.
- National bestselling author Diana Peterfreund offers the origin story for one of the most important magical items in her "killer unicorn" series.
A huge volume of twenty-eight stories ranging from romance to suspense to fantasy to comedy to poignant character pieces, CAST OF CHARACTERS is a must-have book for everyone who loves fiction.
- GenresAnthologies
484 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 16, 2012
8 people are currently reading
361 people want to read
About the author
Lou Aronica
53 books89 followersI have been associated with the book publishing world since August 1979, when I started as an assistant in the Managing Editor’s Department at Bantam Books. Prior to founding The Fiction Studio, I served as Deputy Publisher of Bantam and Publisher of Berkley Books and Avon Books. During this time, I launched the premier science fiction and mystery imprints in the business, and also presided over the largest growth period to date in the history of the #1 single-title romance program.
My earliest publishing experiences were in the field of science fiction and fantasy. I started my first publishing imprint, Bantam Spectra, at the age of 27 and published my first New York Times bestseller with that imprint a year later. My first editorial acquisition, David Brin’s Startide Rising, won the field’s two highest awards, the Hugo and the Nebula. I subsequently published New York Times bestsellers with Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, David Brin, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, Raymond Feist, William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, Neil Gaiman, and others, while also acquiring five consecutive winners of the Nebula Award. In addition, I created the “Full Spectrum” anthology series, which won me a World Fantasy Award in 1994.
My biggest commercial accomplishment in the field of science fiction and fantasy was my acquisition and design of the Star Wars book publishing program. Started at a time when licensing interest in the movies was very low, the book publications consistently hit the New York Times list (as high as #1) while also jump-starting the entire Star Wars franchise.
In the nineties, I moved beyond science fiction. As Mass Market Publisher for Bantam, I launched the Bantam Crime Line mystery imprint and was closely involved in the development of several bestselling authors, including Elizabeth George, Robert Crais, and Diane Mott Davidson. I launched the Bantam Fanfare romance imprint, which led to the development of bestselling authors such as Amanda Quick, Tami Hoag, and Iris Johansen.
In 1994, I left Bantam to become SVP and Publisher of the Berkley Publishing Group. The two imprints I started there, Boulevard (a media imprint) and Signature (a literary imprint) had New York Times bestsellers within their first year. I also acquired and edited the bestselling futuristic mysteries by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts).
In 1995, I moved to Avon Books to spearhead a turnaround of that company as SVP and Publisher. I supervised significant changes to the company’s industry-leading romance program, which led to the largest growth period in the program’s history to that point. Committing the company to a profitable path of publishing for dedicated readers, I launched a series of imprints focused on science fiction, literary fiction, mystery, pop culture, health, history, and teen literature. Most of these imprints had bestsellers very quickly.
In 1999, I left Avon after the acquisition of the company by The News Corporation. The creative investment I made in that house continues to pay significant dividends, however, as writers whose publishing programs I developed became breakout bestsellers, including Dennis Lehane, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, J.A. Jance, Stephanie Laurens, Lisa Kleypas, Bruce Feiler and Peter Robinson.
In addition to my current role with The Fiction Studio, I am a novelist and nonfiction writer. My novels, The Forever Year and Flash and Dazzle appeared under the name Ronald Anthony. My nonfiction books include the New York Times bestseller The Element (written with Sir Ken Robinson), the national bestseller The Culture Code (written with Dr. Clotaire Rapaille), Conscientious Equity (written with Neal Asbury), Miraculous Health (written with Dr. Rick Levy) and A Million Thanks (written with Shauna Fleming).
Finding myself missing the publishing side of the business, in 2008, literary manager Peter Miller and I started a small book imprint called The Story Plant. Right now, it’s a tiny opera
My earliest publishing experiences were in the field of science fiction and fantasy. I started my first publishing imprint, Bantam Spectra, at the age of 27 and published my first New York Times bestseller with that imprint a year later. My first editorial acquisition, David Brin’s Startide Rising, won the field’s two highest awards, the Hugo and the Nebula. I subsequently published New York Times bestsellers with Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, David Brin, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, Raymond Feist, William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, Neil Gaiman, and others, while also acquiring five consecutive winners of the Nebula Award. In addition, I created the “Full Spectrum” anthology series, which won me a World Fantasy Award in 1994.
My biggest commercial accomplishment in the field of science fiction and fantasy was my acquisition and design of the Star Wars book publishing program. Started at a time when licensing interest in the movies was very low, the book publications consistently hit the New York Times list (as high as #1) while also jump-starting the entire Star Wars franchise.
In the nineties, I moved beyond science fiction. As Mass Market Publisher for Bantam, I launched the Bantam Crime Line mystery imprint and was closely involved in the development of several bestselling authors, including Elizabeth George, Robert Crais, and Diane Mott Davidson. I launched the Bantam Fanfare romance imprint, which led to the development of bestselling authors such as Amanda Quick, Tami Hoag, and Iris Johansen.
In 1994, I left Bantam to become SVP and Publisher of the Berkley Publishing Group. The two imprints I started there, Boulevard (a media imprint) and Signature (a literary imprint) had New York Times bestsellers within their first year. I also acquired and edited the bestselling futuristic mysteries by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts).
In 1995, I moved to Avon Books to spearhead a turnaround of that company as SVP and Publisher. I supervised significant changes to the company’s industry-leading romance program, which led to the largest growth period in the program’s history to that point. Committing the company to a profitable path of publishing for dedicated readers, I launched a series of imprints focused on science fiction, literary fiction, mystery, pop culture, health, history, and teen literature. Most of these imprints had bestsellers very quickly.
In 1999, I left Avon after the acquisition of the company by The News Corporation. The creative investment I made in that house continues to pay significant dividends, however, as writers whose publishing programs I developed became breakout bestsellers, including Dennis Lehane, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, J.A. Jance, Stephanie Laurens, Lisa Kleypas, Bruce Feiler and Peter Robinson.
In addition to my current role with The Fiction Studio, I am a novelist and nonfiction writer. My novels, The Forever Year and Flash and Dazzle appeared under the name Ronald Anthony. My nonfiction books include the New York Times bestseller The Element (written with Sir Ken Robinson), the national bestseller The Culture Code (written with Dr. Clotaire Rapaille), Conscientious Equity (written with Neal Asbury), Miraculous Health (written with Dr. Rick Levy) and A Million Thanks (written with Shauna Fleming).
Finding myself missing the publishing side of the business, in 2008, literary manager Peter Miller and I started a small book imprint called The Story Plant. Right now, it’s a tiny opera
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 23, 2012
Includes my epistolary killer unicorn story "Hammer of Artemis" -- set in Renaissance Rome.
September 5, 2012
I have a love/hate relationship with short stories. I love them, and yet hate them because they are often left with an open ending and I ALWAYS wish they were longer. BUT this was a fun read.
Want to read
December 28, 2015OVERALL:
Cheryl Griffin AKA Victoria Alexander - Between The Lines
Vicki Hinze - Invidia
Rosemary Edghill - The Woman Who Lied To Cars
Heather Graham & Jason Pozzessere - A Child's Cry
Jo Beverley - Saint Agnes And The Black Sheep
Carole Nelson Douglas - Don't Breathe
Jody Lynn Nye - Small Sacrifices
Patricia Rice - Ghostel Montenegro
Barbara Bretton - Waiting
Kate Kingsbury - A Walk In The Rain
Greg Herren - And Arrow For Sebastian
Laura Resnick - The Story Of My Life
Julie Compton - Gift Horse
Deb Stover - When It's Wright
Marianna Jameson - Killing Time
Victoria Strauss - A Dream Of Flight
Angie Fox - I Brake For Biker Witches
Julie Ortolon - A Peal Island Wedding
Karen Tintori - Down Under
Ashley McConnell - The Thief-Taker
Diane Whiteside - Vanished
Catherine Anderson - Autumn Treasures
C.J. Lyons - Tunnel Vision
Steven Womack - Goldfarb's Red Scarf
Katie MacAlister - Tell Them Herbert Sent You
Wayne Jordan - Timeless
Diana Peterfreund - The Hammer Of Artemis
Tanya Anne Crosby - Lady's Man
Cheryl Griffin AKA Victoria Alexander - Between The Lines
Vicki Hinze - Invidia
Rosemary Edghill - The Woman Who Lied To Cars
Heather Graham & Jason Pozzessere - A Child's Cry
Jo Beverley - Saint Agnes And The Black Sheep
Carole Nelson Douglas - Don't Breathe
Jody Lynn Nye - Small Sacrifices
Patricia Rice - Ghostel Montenegro
Barbara Bretton - Waiting
Kate Kingsbury - A Walk In The Rain
Greg Herren - And Arrow For Sebastian
Laura Resnick - The Story Of My Life
Julie Compton - Gift Horse
Deb Stover - When It's Wright
Marianna Jameson - Killing Time
Victoria Strauss - A Dream Of Flight
Angie Fox - I Brake For Biker Witches
Julie Ortolon - A Peal Island Wedding
Karen Tintori - Down Under
Ashley McConnell - The Thief-Taker
Diane Whiteside - Vanished
Catherine Anderson - Autumn Treasures
C.J. Lyons - Tunnel Vision
Steven Womack - Goldfarb's Red Scarf
Katie MacAlister - Tell Them Herbert Sent You
Wayne Jordan - Timeless
Diana Peterfreund - The Hammer Of Artemis
Tanya Anne Crosby - Lady's Man
October 12, 2012
Interesting little character vignettes. Shorter than short stories. Much less interesting was the author blurbs and bios; they were too long and unnecessary
April 11, 2013
If I could give it a no star I would...
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews