Set against the very real refugee crisis on the beautiful, sun-drenched Greek islands, Fire on the Island paints a nuanced and loving portrait of a community in crisis while shedding light on the challenges of life in contemporary Greece.After a string of mysterious fires breaks out on a small Greek island, undercover FBI agent Nick Damigos arrives to investigate, showing up just in time to save a beloved truffle-sniffing dog from the most recent inferno. ...

Navigating constantly changing social and familial relationships, the characters in M. Jay Smith’s stories strive to hold everything together and stay true to their convictions in the process.Cantaloupe! brings us nine juicy stories about trying (and failing) to do the right thing – about yearning to stay true to yourself in a culture that demands compromise. With razor-sharp prose and a bit of slapstick humour, M. Jay Smith contemplates how identities smudge into each oth...

In a brilliant, original rendition, Monsters of the Gévaudan revisits a spellbinding French tale that has captivated imaginations for over two hundred years, and offers the definitive explanation of the strange events that underlie this timeless story.In 1764 a peasant girl was killed and partially eaten while tending a flock of sheep. Eventually, over a hundred victims fell prey to a mysterious creature, or creatures, whose cunning and deadly efficiency terrorized the reg...

**** "Sharply drawn characters, rich dialogue, and a clever conclusion bode well for any sequel." —Publishers Weekly **** “Smith skillfully bridges police procedural and espionage fiction, crafting a show-stealing sense of place** and realistically pairing the threats of underworld crime and destabilized regimes.” -- Booklist **For International Espionage Fans of Alan Furst and Daniel Silva, a new thriller set in post-Soviet era Po...

A man. A leash. A second chance.When Sarah hires a dog walker, she’s expecting someone quiet, invisible, forgettable. She’s not expecting a man who seems to understand her grief without words.The Dog Walker is a quiet, emotionally resonant novel about the people who enter our lives when we stop expecting anyone to stay. It explores the fragile beauty of connection, the complicated strength of men who choose gentleness, and the kind of love that doe...

Long ago, before shimmering cities and humming machines, there was water. It flowed in rivers, danced in the rain, and filled the oceans—a silent, steady force that carried life in every droplet. For centuries, humanity has respected this precious gift, but as time passed, it was forgotten. The rivers grew polluted, the lakes dried up, and the rain became a rare visitor. Then, one day, something unimaginable happened: the water began to disappear. In "The Day Water Vanished: A Drop of Life...

In the Bay Area, 2020, a strange event occurs—the sun fails to rise with its usual warmth, leaving the sky a dull, smoky gray. Birds don't sing, flowers don't bloom, and a heavy silence hangs in the air. This is not a simple anomaly but a poignant message from a hurting Earth. "The Day the Sun Slept" is a powerful fable about the delicate balance between humanity and nature. The Sun is hiding, not out of malice, but because the Earth is weary, wounded by years of carelessness and neglect. ...

Give yourself the gift of time—and learn how to utilize it.More and more Americans are choosing to take time off from work to relax or re-examine their priorities, so they can ultimately return to work energized. Some companies offer formal sabbatical programs, but how can the average person take enough time off to evaluate their direction, explore their passions, and make time for the things that are really important?Whether you're burned out in your career,...

Conflict is the very heart and soul of drama, and Smith's latest work explores character conflict and the various ways to portray it both in scripts and on the stage.

**For lovers of crime fiction and the allure of the Greek islands, Fire on the Island is the perfect summer read.** "Smith offers the perfect blend of intrigue, romance, and travelogue."**—Publishers Weekly **FIRE ON THE ISLAND is a playful, romantic thriller set in contemporary Greece, with a gay Greek-American FBI agent, who is undercover on the island to investigate a series of mysterious fires. Set against the very real refugee crisis ...

"Istanbul Crossing" is not just a thriller but a powerful exploration of identity, courage, and the human spirit. Smith's ability to weave a narrative that is both thrilling and deeply humane makes this novel a standout read.— Alan Warren, bestselling author and host of House of Mystery and Inside Writing radio shows.In this coming-of-age literary thriller, Ahdaf, a gay Syrian refugee, after watching his c...

To most people, he's cold. Aloof. Unreachable.He's the alluring, strange guy with striking features, but endless mystery. His family just relocated to a foreign country. Now he's navigating uncharted territory on top of his demons. He seeks to blend in, avoid drawing attention and speaks very little.Eva is the warm, bubbly neighbour from across the street with a killer smile and undeniable persuasion. From day one, she's enchanted by his presence, yet he seems to live in hi...