Central Kansas Library System

As Hallowe'en approaches, take a guided tour through the prep room of a mortuary. Let the mortician himself explain how difficult or easy is the preparation for each person. Well, former person. Don't miss his take on the delivery people, those of fewer skills who bring his clients to his place of business. And don't miss his knowledge of the various kinds of waste. And why it often is a shame.

This short story is excerpted and adapted from the novel Leaving Amarillo, the fourth novel in the Wes Crowley series. Western Z Crowley has left the Rangers and is searching for his errant lifelong friend, Otis "Mac" McFadden. As he's riding from El Paso to Las Cruces late one night, would-be banditos are lying in wait. Were they sent by someone, or are they acting alone? We won't know for sure until a later novel, but Wes solves the current situation...

Everybody needs friends. But friends come in all shapes and sizes. When World War II aviator Archibald "Packy" Burkhalter seeks out a long-lost friend, he gets a great deal more than he bargained for.

Why is the waitress in this small town opening up to this newcomer? What do rotten sardines have to do with homemade pie?

This is the entire Wes Crowley saga in one book. The overall Wes Crowley Saga spans almost 50 years. It chronicles the adventures of Wes from before he joined the Texas Rangers. Come along as he fights Comanches and Comancheros, endures the worst kind of betrayal, falls in love, loses almost everything, goes on a vengeance trail, and eventually ends up deep in Mexico. Major characters recur through the series, and minor characters become major characters...

What happens when two writers head out for a camping trip in the Gila River Lower Box wilderness? Well, they have to eat. But neither of them eats alone. Each has a full array of characters from which to draw when necessary. Come along and see what happens when these two stop in at the El Charro Café for a bite of breakfast.

Jonathan Kirski is tasked with the job of mining bones from the Siberian death fields. It shouldn't be a problem. After all, it's just ore, from which will be derived a calcium extract. But Jonathan's past says otherwise.

In "Sanctioned" the reader is drawn into a seventh-floor walkup. About fifteen minutes before midnight, the telephone rings. The gentleman in the apartment is annoyed, waiting for his favorite state-sanctioned program to come on television at midnight. But this is a phone call that will change his life. Or maybe give it back.

This is the second book in the Future of Humanity (FOH) series. The Ark has departed lunar orbit. Unfortunately, and despite the intensive screening process for the crew of The Ark and the repopulation passengers she's carrying, wherever humans go, they will bring along their flaws and foibles. And there are always the self-righteous, willing to harm thousands to promote their cause. What sort of trouble will arise? Come along and see where you fit...

When you've been severely psychologically and physically abused for much of your childhood, it's easy to want to strike back. The funeral, perhaps. Delivering the eulogy. That would be the perfect time, wouldn't it? Or maybe not.