David Khalaf

A Mexican folk hero with supernatural courage. A mysterious stone with the power to raise the dead. And an ancient Aztec legend that foretold of their meeting - and the chaos that would follow. Pancho Villa is the Centaur of the North, the Cockroach that Cannot Be Killed, the hero of the Mexican people - and he's losing the revolution. Short on soldiers and weapons, Villa makes a plea to Xipe Totec, the Aztec god of gold who seems to answers his request by way of a strange stone pyramid that has the power to raise the dead. Villa doesn't know what the stone is or where it comes from, and he doesn't care so long as it helps him win the revolution and protect the future of his newborn son, Panchito. But what Villa doesn't realize is that the Aztec gods are tricksters, and what they demand in return will destroy everything Villa has fought for. This standalone novella is the third book in The 16 Burdens Action Adventure Series. Read this fantasy adventure as part of the series or read it on its own. The 16 Burdens Fantasy Adventure SeriesHoudini's Last Trick, Book 1 (prequel novella)The Mystery of the Sixteen Burdens, Book 2Pancho Villa's Aztec Death Stone, Book 3 (standalone novella)The Secret of the Unknown Burden, Book 4

There's an indestructible, 500-year-old maniac on the loose-and that's just the start of Gray Studebaker's problems. It's tough being the only one of his friends without a supernatural talent, especially when no one believes Gray that he's having visions of Vlad the Impaler and his homicidal trail of destruction. Having been plucked from an orphanage, Gray hasn't taken to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood life, even though his once-estranged mother is silent film actress Mary Pickford and his good friend is comedian Charlie Chaplin. And to top it all off, Elsie, the girl he maybe sorta likes, has just become betrothed to her childhood sweetheart from England. To protect his supernaturally talented friends known as the Sixteen Burdens, Gray must leave the familiarity of Los Angeles and venture east to the vibrant, gritty streets of Harlem, where he hopes to hunt down a killer of supernatural strength and save Elsie from a romance that's not what it's cracked up to be. But he has the unique talents of musician Louis Armstrong and inventor Nikola Tesla to help him navigate hidden speakeasies, exclusive nightclubs, tangled subway systems, and secret interrogation rooms filled with ruthless FBI agents. Gray finally discovers what it means to be the Unknown Burden, and the revelation may cost him his life. The Unknown Burden is the second book in David Khalaf's historical fantasy series. If you like The Night Circus, The Paper Magician, or Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, then you'll love Khalaf's page-turning period-piece adventure with a fantastical twist. Buy Houdini's Last Trick to read the first in Khalaf's award-winning series today The 16 Burdens Fantasy Adventure SeriesHoudini's Last Trick, Book 1 (Prequel novella)The Mystery of the Sixteen Burdens, Book 2Pancho Villa's Aztec Death Stone, Book 3 (standalone novella)The Secret of the Unknown Burden, Book 4

Same-sex marriage may be legal in America, but its still far from the accepted norm, especially in Christian circles. So where can LBGTQ Christians who desire a lifelong, covenantal relationship look for dating and marriage advice when Christian relationship guides have not only simply ignored but actively excluded same-sex couples? David and Constantino Khalaf struggled to find relational role models and guidance throughout dating, their engagement, and the early months of their marriage. To fill this void, they began writing Modern Kinship, a blog exploring the unique challenges queer couples face on the road from singleness to marital bliss. Part personal reflection, part commentary, and full of practical advice, Modern Kinship explores the biblical concept of kinship from a twenty-first-century perspective. This important resource tackles subjects such as dating outside of smartphone apps, overcoming church and family issues, meeting your partners parents, deciding when and how to have children, and finding your mission as a couple. Modern Kinship encourages queer Christian couples to build God-centered partnerships of trust and mutuality.

A FINALIST for the JukePop/Black Hills Press Summer Writing ProjectHarry Houdini has a hidden talent unlike any other-and it isn't magic. The world's most famous illusionist has escaped death countless times because of his supernatural ability to see potential outcomes. But his secret ability is about to be revealed and his true identity compromised. When a man on the run seeks out the magician for help from a deadly pursuer, the only outcome Houdini sees is death. Even so, he must perform his most dangerous illusion to lure a supernaturally strong man to Hollywood, where he and a band of other uniquely gifted friends can confront him. It's a risky move that will force Houdini to decide who can live and who must die. An origins story of The Sixteen Burdens, this award-winning novella kicks off the adventure of the series, taking place fifteen years before Gray Studebaker finds himself in the middle of the hunt for Newton's Eye. The 16 Burdens Fantasy Adventure SeriesHoudini's Last Trick, Book 1 (Prequel novella)The Mystery of the Sixteen Burdens, Book 2Pancho Villa's Aztec Death Stone, Book 3 (standalone novella)The Secret of the Unknown Burden, Book 4

What if humanity's great historical figures weren't just talented-they were supernaturally talented? In this fresh spin on urban fantasy, history's illustrious leaders, thinkers, warriors, and entertainers all share a secret...and a perilous destiny. Chosen as 2016 Editor's Choice (Historical Novel Society) and named a Favorite Indie Book of 2015 (Self-Publishing Review). The year is 1939, and everyone who's anyone has descended upon the glamorous streets of Hollywood. It's a great place to be if you're an actor, singer, politician, or businessman. Not so much if you're Gray Studebaker, a young guttersnipe stuck selling movie-star maps on the street corner. But then Gray never wanted to be rich or famous-he'd be happy just being left alone by his tyrannical caretaker. During a rash of celebrity kidnappings, Gray discovers the stars on his map are hiding unusual talents for which they are being abducted. When Gray tries to solve the crimes on his own, he finds himself caught up in a battle for power that stretches back to the beginnings of humanity. The hunt begins for an ancient tool that can rescue celebrities the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks from an indestructible maniac who wants to steal their talents to create an invincible army. But Gray has a secret of his own, a mysterious disease that will either save the others or destroy them all. The Sixteen Burdens is the story that inspired Houdini's Last Trick, a 2015 finalist for the JukePop/Black Hills Press Summer Writing Project (available now on Amazon). Original artwork in the book by artist Francesca Baerald.