Alan Orloff

Sometimes a pool noodle is just a pool noodle. Other times... In two short weeks, Nick Carlin will be old enough to get his driver's license, but there's a catch-a huge one. His mom says he must first pass a swimming test, and Nick takes to the water as well as a flying fish pilots a jumbo jet. It's one more challenge as the Summer From Hell comes to an August crescendo: his slacker friend Miller is worried about "failing life," and the older girl Nick's crushing on-his robo-hottie swimming instructor-is leaving for college. But the cherry on top of the stress sundae? His mom's low-life moocher boyfriend has just moved in, and Nick is supposed to be happy about it As Nick struggles to get his life in shape (and master the freestyle), he learns that the best solutions aren't always the easiest ones. If he wants to relieve his friend's anxiety, shield his mom from heartache, find happiness with the right girl (hint: not the robo-hottie), and score the keys to the Bugmobile, he'll have to step up his game, big-time.

Motel proprietor Mess Hopkins is more interested in helping others than turning a profit, so he opens the doors of the Fairfax Manor Inn to those seeking refuge from a bad situation. But when his cousin Finn shows up in trouble, his world is rocked, because Mess had thought Finn was dead, having run away six years earlier. Unfortunately, Finn was in the wrong place at the wrong time and saw the wrong thing-an incident with deadly consequences. It's up to Mess, his girlfriend/newspaper reporter Lia Katsaros, and buddy Vell Jackson to solve the crime before some bad men achieve their goal-killing the only eyewitness. Mess's frightened cousin Finn.

Mess Hopkins, proprietor of the seen-better-days Fairfax Manor Inn, never met a person in need who couldn't use a helping hand-his helping hand. So he's thrown open the doors of the motel to the homeless, victims of abuse, or anyone else who could benefit from a comfy bed with clean sheets and a roof overhead. This rankles his parents and uncle, who technically still own the place and are more concerned with profits than philanthropy. When a mother and her teenage boy seek refuge from an abusive husband, Mess takes them in until they can get back on their feet. Shortly after arriving, the mom goes missing and some very bad people come sniffing around, searching for some money they claim belongs to them. Mess tries to pump the boy for helpful information, but he's in full uncooperative teen mode-grunts, shrugs, and monosyllabic answers. From what he does learn, Mess can tell he's not getting the straight scoop. It's not long before the boy vanishes too. Abducted? Run away? Something worse? And who took the missing money? Mess, along with his friend Vell Jackson and local news reporter Lia Katsaros, take to the streets to locate the missing mother and son-and the elusive, abusive husband-before the kneecapping loansharks find them first.

All's great for sixteen-year-old actor Dalton Black as he portrays a teen killer on a crime reenactment show. That is, until he realizes someone is stalking him. When that someone turns out to be Homer Lee Varney, the man convicted of the murder, things take a dark turn, and Dalton is afraid for his life. What does Varney want? Some sort of twisted revenge? Or something even worse? Can Dalton and his drama friends discover the truth, before they become the killer's next victims? Stay tuned to find out Praise for I PLAY ONE ON TV: "Drama, teen actors and an intriguing mystery rolled together. Fans of Harlan Coben's Mickey Bolitar series, this one is for you " -Joelle Charbonneau New York Times bestselling author of The Testing and Verify "Fans of true crime will love this gripping YA thriller, but Orloff also spins a touching tale about growing up and coming to terms with one's dreams." -Richie Narvaez, Agatha- and Anthony Award- nominated author of Noiryorican "With snappy dialogue, a high stakes plot, and a teen actor turned detective you'll root for from the first page, I Play One on TV is a YA thriller you won't want to miss " -Tom Ryan, award winning author of Keep This To Yourself and I Hope You're Listening

When Anderson West takes on the pro-bono case of Jessica Smith, a twenty-something restaurant hostess being stalked, the last thing he expects is for his investigation to spiral into breaking and entering, assault, and legal threats from the suspects and the victim. But that's what happens when you run a private investigation firm with your rule-breaking, loose-cannon sister at your side. While Anderson spends his time deducing and interviewing possible suspects, Carrie handles interrogations in her own unique--and personal--fashion. And it seems like everyone is a suspect. There are Jessica's ex-boyfriend and current boyfriend, her incredibly creepy boss and the suspicious reverend at her church who definitely seems to be hiding something. Or someone. The closer Anderson and Carrie get to an answer, the more danger Jessica finds herself in. Her stalker's notes become increasingly more threatening, trading the scary phone calls and text messages for terrifying photographs and notes at her gym, work, and home. To make things even more complicated, Jessica's backstory begins to unravel, and the secrets of her past could potentially solve everything...if only she'd let Anderson and Carrie in. With time ticking down, will the brother-sister investigative team be able to solve Jessica's case before she tries something foolhardy, like facing up to the tenacious bastard on her own, armed only with a handgun and a prayer?

Black Cat Mystery Magazine is a new journal devoted to the best in mystery short fiction. Crime? Noir? Cozy? Private eye? You'll find all genres present and accounted for--with new tales by the best writers of today The fourth issue features the following lineup: SOMETHING FISHY, by Michael Bracken INSEPARABLE, INSUFFERABLE, by Alan Orloff USE OF THE AWKWARD HAND, by Julie Leo UMBERTO SCOLARI AND THE FEAST OF PARADISE, by Dayle A. Dermatis MOE'S SEAFOOD HOUSE, by Ramona DeFelice Long MUD SEASON, by Su Kopil MESSIN' WITH THE KID, by Steve Liskow ASSASSIN'S SCROLL, by Tais Teng TROUBLE IN MIND, by Cynthia WardPlus a bonus poem: THE TIMELINE MURDERS, by Janet Fox

Trey Powers never killed a cop before. Never had to. But after his cousin Jimmy has been framed and murdered by Officer Karla Cheng, one of Hafton Police Department's finest, Trey has no choice. He must avenge Jimmy's death, one way or another. To get closer to his quarry, Trey joins the police department's Citizen Action Team, and when a rival team member is killed, fingers point at Trey. Now, he's the hunted one, and the harrowing race is on: Can Trey bring Cheng to justice before she frames him for murder? Or does something even worse? Ultimately, Trey finds his life in jeopardy-along with the lives of those he loves-after embarking on a terrifying ride-along with Jimmy's cold-blooded murderer. Trey Powers never killed a cop before. Never had to.