Christmas -- the very word conjures up memories of the most wondrous childhood holiday of all--filled with the glitter of colorfully-wrapped presents, family visits, carols, photographs, decorating the tree, attendance at church to celebrate the birth of the Christ child, and tummy-stuffing dinners tucked with treats seen at no other time of the year. But the yule holiday has been celebrated for at least two centuries in North America, and our writers have been producing memorable stories ...

The Quad Cities have a rich history of brewing that started with the influx of German citizens in the 1800s. Breweries were established on both sides of the Mississippi River. Some of these historic breweries managed to reopen after Prohibition, but national competition ultimately closed the last of these stalwarts in 1956. In 1989, Iowa created a special class "A" brewpub permit, and the first of many brewpubs in the area, Front Street Pub & Eatery, opened in 1992. Blue Cat Brew Pub, on t...

Like the mighty Mississippi River that cleaves the Quad Cities, the region's history can trap the unwary in some unexpected eddies. Peer through the fog of the past to catch a glimpse of the Tinsmith Ghost of Rock Island or the river serpent with a price on its head. Get the back story on the Banshee of Brady Street, read the 1869 report on a Bigfoot sighting near East Davenport and run the numbers on local UFO activity. From phantom footsteps in the Renwick Mansion to a mausoleum heist in...

Michael McCarty has played a major role in defining a uniquely modern American attitude to cooking, dining, and entertaining since 1979, when he opened his first acclaimed Michael's restaurant in Santa Monica, California. McCarty's approach, now enjoyed on both coasts with the opening of Michael's New York in 1989, has always been refreshingly simple: start with the best ingredients, cook them in simple ways that highlight their natural qualities, pair them with great wines, and serve them...

College is broken. The institution that once nearly guaranteed a successful career is now a pay-to-play industry.Every year millions of students graduate college with high honors. Instead of landing jobs at leading technology companies, institutions, or distinguished universities, they float into unfulfilling careers. College has forced society to compete at the games which no longer align with the skills required to succeed in life.In College Coup, McCarty & McCarty unfold...

"Michael McCarty's 'A Little Help from My Fiends' truly shines. His collection of short stories is a lovingly created, watered with blood and harvested at the peak of ripeness kind of work. The approach to the collection is so fresh that -- were it a steak -- you would note still a bit of warmth and even a faint pulse. You see, each story in this collection is co-authored with another excellent storyteller. Mark McLaughlin, Terrie Leigh Relf and Dave Miller, to name a few, make appearances...

A haunted history of this Midwestern region filled with supernatural lore . . . Includes photos!Divided by state lines and the Mississippi River, the Quad Cities share a common haunted heritage. If anything, the seam that runs through the region is especially rife with spirits, from the Black Angel of Moline's Riverside Cemetery to the spectral Confederate POWs of Arsenal Island.Of course, the city centers have their own illustrious supernatural residents—t...

Fear and desire are extreme emotions that haunt both the mind and the heart. 'Fear & Desire' is a poetry collection by five-time Bram Stoker Finalist Michael McCarty and poet / author S. A. Gambino. In this book you will find primal emotions of terror and temptation with such poems as: "Darkman" by S.A. Gambino, "No Escape" by Michael McCarty, "Zombie Love" by S.A. Gambino, "Not One Of Us" by Michael McCarty, "Twisted Love" by S.A. Gambino, "That Night" by Michael McCarty, "Her Eyes" by S....

Throughout history, people have been fascinated by the seductive allure of vampires. We read about them in books, watch stories about them on television and in movies -- but do we know all there is to know about them? Of course not. These creatures of the shadows have kept their most shocking secrets hidden . . . until now."Dracula Transformed & Other Bloodthirsty Tales" features eleven vampire stories by Bram Stoker Award-winning author Mark McLaughlin and Bram Stoker Award finali...

Fear and desire are extreme emotions that haunt both the mind and the heart. 'Fear & Desire' is a poetry collection by five-time Bram Stoker Finalist Michael McCarty and poet / author S. A. Gambino. In this book you will find primal emotions of terror and temptation with such poems as: "Darkman" by S.A. Gambino, "No Escape" by Michael McCarty, "Zombie Love" by S.A. Gambino, "Not One Of Us" by Michael McCarty, "Twisted Love" by S.A. Gambino, "That Night" by Michael McCarty, "Her Eyes" by S....

Clare Snyder's husband died three years ago, leaving her with six boys, ages seven and under. The four youngest are quadruplets. When the new assistant pastor, Drew Young, tells her to get her husband to discipline her children, she knows she's not welcome at the church. He finds out about her situation and tries to help her, but helping someone get past their grief to live again is harder to do than either of them had expected. Finding a heart of peace can only be accomplished by realizin...

Christmas--the very word conjures up memories of the most wondrous childhood holiday of all--filled with the glitter of colorfully-wrapped presents, family visits, carols, photographs, decorating the tree, attendance at church to celebrate the birth of the Christ child, and tummy-stuffing dinners tucked with treats seen at no other time of the year.But the yule holiday has been celebrated for at least two centuries in North America, and our writers have been producing memorable sto...