“Illuminating.… An eloquent testament to a doomed city and its people.” —The Wall Street JournalIn early 1945, General Douglas MacArthur prepared to reclaim Manila, America’s Pearl of the Orient, which had been seized by the Japanese in 1942. Convinced the Japanese would abandon the city, he planned a victory parade down Dewey Boulevard—but the enemy had other plans. The Japanese were determined to fight to the death. The battle to liberate Manila resulted...

“Dark and mysterious. . . . A novel whose daring is found in its bleakness. . . . The plot unfolds with a weighty languor reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy. . . sparse, elegant. . . haunting.” — New York TimesSet in rural New York state at the turn of the twentieth century, superb new talent James Scott makes his literary debut with The Kept—a propulsive novel reminiscent of the works of Michael Ondaatje, Cormac McCarthy, and Bonnie Jo Campbe...

From the acclaimed Pacific War historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist, the harrowing story of America’s bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the dramatic struggle to end World War II.At 9:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945, an American bomber pierced the skies over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The single bomb it dropped unleashed an atomic hurricane that toppled homes, vaporized birds in flight, and carbonized humans. Three days later, a second bomb flattened the port ci...

Breaking the Devil's Chains of Deception is a raw, soul-stirring memoir by James Scott, a man who endured abandonment, religious manipulation, childhood abuse, and spiritual confusion-but rose to become a man of strength, wisdom, and unshakable faith. Through brutal honesty and emotional storytelling, James reveals his journey from brokenness to spiritual freedom, from silence to truth, and from trauma to healing. His life is a testimony to the power of resilience, divine interven...

A powerful secret and a fresh approach to writing bestselling fiction!What's the best way to write a "next level" novel? Some writers start at the beginning and let the story unfold without a plan. They are called "pantsers," because they write by the "seat of the pants."Other writers plan and outline and know the ending before they start. These are the "plotters."The two sides never seem to agree with each other on the best approach.But wha...

Now, learn the master key for writing great short stories, and the strategies for using them to advance your writing career!As most writers will tell you, the hardest fiction form to master is the short story. To be successful, a short story needs to have "emotional wallop," and in under 7,000 words.Not easy to do.In this book, #1 bestselling writing teacher James Scott Bell explains the essential ingredient for a successful short story, no matter t...

“One of the most profound and illuminating studies of this century to have been published in recent decades.”—John Gray, New York Times Book ReviewHailed as “a magisterial critique of top-down social planning” by the New York Times, this essential work analyzes disasters from Russia to Tanzania to uncover why states so often fail—sometimes catastrophically—in grand efforts to engineer their society or their environment, and uncovers the conditions common t...

A #1 INDIE BESTSELLER! SIX STARRED REVIEWS!A humorous and touching tale of the unexpected friendship that blossoms between a peaceful skeleton and a persistent cat. Told in five short and charming stories that will remind you of Frog and Toad.Skeleton lives alone in lonesome bliss. She reads books, drinks tea, and tends to her garden. It's simple and peaceful. Until, one day, a cat knocks on the Skeleton's door..."Can I ...

“One of the world’s most widely read social scientists” (New York Times) offers his most personal and accessible book—a celebration of how ordinary people can resist oppression and injusticeJames Scott taught us what's wrong with seeing like a state. Now, in his most accessible and personal book to date, the acclaimed social scientist makes the case for seeing like an anarchist. Inspired by the core anarchist faith in the possibilities of voluntary coopera...

Craft an Engaging PlotHow does plot influence story structure? What's the difference between plotting for commercial and literary fiction? How do you revise a plot or structure that's gone off course?With Write Great Fiction: Plot & Structure, you'll discover the answers to these questions and more. Award-winning author James Scott Bell offers clear, concise information that will help you create a believable and memorable plot, including:• ...

On the day (9/11) that the World Trade Center was destroyed by terrorists, many lost colleagues, friends, and family. Later, terrorist lost their caliphate and their leaders. NEITHER SIDE LOST ITS THIRST FOR REVENGE.On the eve of Ramadan, thieves steal a U.S. nuclear device. Was it stolen by home-grown terrorists bent on setting the Middle East ablaze, or is it in the possession of Middle East terrorists who intend to detonate it on U.S. soil?A Pentagon col...

Max Geller: Target of the Kremlin, MI6, and the CIAFired for bias against the U.S. president, ex-CIA Russia expert Max Geller gets a chance to redeem his reputation and make a fortune when he is hired to investigate the president's incriminating ties to Moscow. Jill Rucker, an undercover CIA agent, is assigned to work with him—and she does—when she's not pursuing her own conflicting goals.The search takes them to England, Russia, Panama, and Switzerland. Alon...