Classic Storytelling

After forty years, John Irving returns to the world of his bestselling classic novel and Academy Award–winning film, The Cider House Rules, revisiting the orphanage in St. Cloud’s, Maine, where Dr. Wilbur Larch takes in Esther—a Viennese-born Jew whose life is shaped by anti-Semitism...

Winner of the 2025 Audie Award for Short Stories/Collections Includes an afterword written by Stephen King and read by Sean Patrick Hopkins Includes a bonus story, “The Music Room” NAMED A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW TOP 10 HORROR BOOK OF 2024 WINNER OF THE GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD FOR HORROR...

“The Twelve Films of Christmas: Stories, Surprises, and Secrets from Holiday Cinema’s Greatest Hits” is a gripping journey into the emotional heart of December—told through the movies people cannot stop watching. This book uncovers why Christmas films strike so deeply, exposing the private hopes, fears, and longings people carry into the season. Through vivid storytelling and powerful reflections, it reveals why snow feels like memory, why candlelight feels like healing, why music feels like home, and why certain films become emotional lifelines when life grows heavy. Drawing from ...

Discover the inimitable genius of Ray Bradbury as he explores the art of writing, the power of creativity, and the timeless appeal of storytelling in this collection of essays that are part masterclass, part memoir, featuring a new introduction by Dan Chaon. In Zen in the Art of Writing, Ray...

Based on a true story, this sparkling and witty novel whisks you to 1956 Manhattan, where famed director Alfred Hitchcock is hosting a star-studded party in an allegedly haunted house…only for the soiree to be interrupted by a ghostly party crasher. After fleeing her mundane life in the...

One Elegant Evening, A Deadly Secret, A Stolen Birthright, Murders, Deception and Lies, - And a Woman Determined to Unravel it All!Lexi never thought a posh charity ball would be the scene of a high-stakes murder and an elaborate plan to hide deadly secrets. But when a millionaire drops dead in the middle of a glamorous evening, Lexi finds herself thrust into the heart of a tangled web of deceit, high-society secrets, and disappearing documents. With the help of Sheriff Will Carter and her witty friends, Lexi Hart's detective skills are put to the ultimate test. Within the story, there are ...

“The Table That Holds Us Together: True Stories of Family, Faith, and Food” is a breathtaking journey into the heart of Thanksgiving—where laughter, silence, and the scent of home-cooked meals become the language of love. Through the voice of Jasmine, an African American woman devoted to family and tradition, the book weaves powerful stories that reveal how food, memory, and forgiveness bind generations together. Each chapter unfolds like a shared meal—rich with nostalgia, spiced with tension, and sweetened by grace. From the grandmother who cooked through segregation to the mother ...

Step into the heart of medieval England with this masterful modern translation of Geoffrey Chaucer's immortal Canterbury Tales Journey alongside a colorful band of pilgrims as they travel the road to Canterbury, sharing tales that have captivated readers for over six centuries. This volume presents eight unforgettable stories in clear, accessible modern English while preserving the wit, wisdom, and timeless appeal of Chaucer's original masterpiece. Featured Tales Include: The Franklin's Tale - A revolutionary exploration of marriage, honor, and sacrifice that challenges medieval conventions...

Telling stories is as old as language itself. Before humans learned how to write, the only way to communicate was through telling stories. In today's world, most of us regard ourselves as bad storytellers. What happened? Telling great stories is a skilled art. Almost anyone can become a first-class storyteller, and you can learn the secrets.

Dive into the enchanting world of "Echoes of Elegance," a captivating collection inspired by Jane Austen's timeless classic, Pride and Prejudice. Immerse yourself in 15 short stories that reimagine the beloved characters and explore alternate paths in Regency-era England. From the transformative journey of Mr. Darcy, as he reflects on his pride and anonymously aids the Bennet family, to Elizabeth Bennet turning the tables with a bold proposal, each story weaves a tapestry of intrigue, redemption, and enduring love. Witness Mrs. Bennet's surprising transformation, Lady Catherine's unexpected...

From basic training to World War II to the Gulf War, America's veterans share their funniest stories in this collection of Reader's Digest's popular "Humor in Uniform" column. Beneath the horror of war lies a rich tradition of comedy and satire, and these anecdotes have entertained fans for decades.

The fate of the earth hangs in the balance as H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds is transformed from the work of one writer’s imagination into a terrifying reality for all mankind. 1898. New York socialite Emma Harlow agrees to marry well-to-do Montgomery Gilmore, but only if he first accepts...

Have you ever thought that you wished you had time to read A PASSAGE TO INDIA, or to feel your heart pound as you read ROMEO AND JULIET. Have you ever regretted not reading IM or ILCDM while you were in school? Thanks to Masters of Storytelling now you have no more excuses. Dive into the most famous classics of literature summarized for you in a readable and engaging format. Masters of Storytelling discover the 7 wonders of the classic literature in just one day.

Step beneath the klieg lights and into the beating heart of old Hollywood. From its dusty beginnings as a Spanish pueblo to its transformation into the world’s dream factory, Shadows and Sunshine tells the sweeping story of Los Angeles and the birth of the film industry that defined the twentieth century. Author Jack Mobley transports readers through the glitter and grit of the Golden Age—an era when ambition, innovation, and illusion fused under the California sun to create modern celebrity and American mythology. This is a vivid, cinematic history that captures both the shimmer and ...

All the Way Back Home and A Small Sea Rises: A Rain Press Double Two powerful tales of loss, redemption, and the long road home. All the Way Back Home Shaye Fox has fallen as far as a man can fall. Once a respected dentist with a family and a future, he’s now a drunk living alone in a mountainside cabin—until a bloodied, dying white dog stumbles into his path on a rain-slick highway. The dog, War Daddy, has survived the unthinkable. Smuggled across the world and left for dead, he’s a fighter with a past as extraordinary as his will to live. Saving him gives Shaye one last purpose—...

Songs of a Sourdough is the first published volume of verse from the man who would become "The Bard of the Yukon", Robert W. Service. This volume contains 33 verses exploring characters, landscapes, and life in the early days on Canada's last frontier. From the hardships to the humanity, and from harlots to the heart, Service's work breaks trail to a new way to look at Klondike.

Once, when young Nasruddin was acting up in class by distracting his classmates with endless antics, jests, and stories, his irate teacher uttered a curse: ''Whatever you do or say, wherever you go or stay, whether it's night or day - people will only laugh at you.'' Now, eight centuries later, people everywhere are still laughing at the immortal Mullah Nasruddin, one of the world's most beloved folk characters.

What is your favorite childhood fable? You may remember stories that concluded with an insightful moral based on life's common teachings such as, "slow and steady wins the race." This wonderfully illustrated book of fables follows in the age-old tradition. It uses fascinating animal behavior to illuminate the timeless lessons to our younger generations, so they themselves can grow to be wise grandparents. In delightful style, each fable is preceded by a poem. The stage is then set in an alternate location; however, always founded on a conversation between a grandparent and grandchild. This ...

The perfect gift for all ages, Pinocchio as you’ve never seen him before: telling his own story through the master storyteller and award-winning author of WAR HORSE. “Now – there’s no point in pretending here – I was, and still am deep down, a puppet. Everyone knows Pinocchio is a...

From the internationally bestselling author of The Disappeared comes a profound meditation on the cultural impact of storytelling and testimony in five intimate and illuminating essays. In this moving collection, critically acclaimed novelist Kim Echlin examines how we turn to literature to...