From the Projects to the Penthouse As the only Jewish family in the Ramona Gardens housing projects, Kenny tells the spellbinding story of being the oldest child of two small-time carnival thieves who make their living as traveling gypsies and then graduate to dealing heroin from their cockroach-infested apartment. It's an inside view of carnival life, of living in a cocaine-selling shooting gallery apartment and of surviving a gang-dominated existence in one of L.A.'s worst neighborhoods. It's also a story of the grit and determination of one small child, a child named Kenny Kahn, who saw education and hard work as the golden path and the only sure way to escape his tortured environment. Mr. Kahn has written his story in plain language in order to make it easily readable not only adults but by young people who feel trapped by their delinquent parents, and to offer hope for escaping to a better life.

During that wonderful golden age of local children's television, many talented people pooled their skills to enthrall and edify the impressionable, appreciative viewers. Yet with no disrespect intended toward any of the others, one person stood out in his ability to spin gold out of straw: Bill Jackson. Bill's legion of fans still cherish his amazing adventures with the memorable puppet characters that sprung from his fertile imagination on programs such as Cartoon Town, The BJ and Dirty Dragon Show, and Gigglesnort Hotel. These programs remain as fresh and entertaining today as they did when they were first broadcast, and belie their meager budgets and restrictive production schedules, thanks to Bill's artistic integrity and his coterie of hard-working crew members. Now, Bill steps out from behind his familiar TV persona to reveal a poignant personal journey filled with struggles, heartaches, and triumphs. The Only Kid on the Carnival chronicles the indomitable spirit of a young man who became one of television's most creative and gifted talents, and does so in a boldly engaging manner that touches the heart and the soul. As always, Bill Jackson does not disappoint his audience. Ted Okuda, "The Golden Age of Chicago Children's Television"

From an author described by Kirkus as “lively, surprising” comes Five O’Clock Shadow with its puzzler of a plot tied to colorful New Mexico. As the great balloon bearing the image of a clock swoops across the River Grande, Pauly Caton watches her husband of four days fall from the sky. Who is the naked child who scrambles from the gondola when it strikes a sandbar and flees? Did she just imagine it? Why would he have been up with Randy and the pilot on the honeymoon ride she was too chicken to join? Who, in fact, was meant to die? And meant to die it was — her hastily snapped photos of the scene show a masked sharpshooter stationed high up in a tree. As Pauly tries to put her shattered life together, she discovers the lies. The first in the morgue. How else had Randy deceived her? Had he told her anything that was the truth? Were his partners in their get-rich company any more honest? Pauly knows she hadn’t signed any of the documents the lawyer presents to her. Maybe she’ll insist on becoming an active partner. Pauly’s flamboyant Grams, the much-married carnival queen, offers her only grandchild a place to recover, a retreat on Albuquerque’s west side that’s home to fifty odd folks complete with clowns, a handsome tattoo man — and the snakes. And then Pauly finds out she’s rich — money that she swears could not have been Randy’s. Where did he get it? Who was the son he apparently adopted? A trip to El Paso uncovers more mysterious acts and points her towards the truth. But will she live long enough to find it? Susan Slater reveals the same sharp offbeat plotting skills, the zest for language, and colorful scenes that marked her caper Flash Flood where “troubles buildlike thunderheads over New Mexico skies.” [Publishers Weekly]

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us About Being Human Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Iron Man, and the X-Men—the list of names as familiar as our own. They are on our movie and television screens, in our videogames and in our dreams. But what are they trying to tell us? For Grant Morrison, one of the most acclaimed writers in the world of comics, these heroes are powerful archetypes who reflect and predict the course of human existence: Through them we tell the story of ourselves. In this exhilarating work of a lifetime, Morrison draws on art, archetypes, and their own astonishing journeys through this shadow universe to provide the first true history of our great modern myth: the superhero. Now with a new Afterword

Kees Madden, a young writer steeped in film history, suddenly finds himself living in the Hollywood he always imagined existed just beyond the shadows, an alternate Hollywood of malicious ghosts and the famous phantoms of filmland's past. The city has the power to shift time and space and is capable of ironic response when confronted by Madden's overactive imagination. It is also the city's perverse pleasure to confront him with a diverse cadre of Hollywood ghosts. Although enthralled by this bizarre new world, Madden finds himself eager to escape, while the unseen forces behind Dead Hollywood have other plans. In pursuit of the city's boundaries and arcane secrets, Madden encounters three enigmatic humans: a clever, sinister man and two intriguing, beautiful women. As they lead him through a fantastic dream/maze of Hollywood past and present, Madden is severely tempted by the two ladies. Although they seem to be polar opposites, could Madden be capable of falling in love with them both? Or are they only malevolent ghosts, eager to imprison Madden in their depraved Hollywood hells? Peter Beckman grew up in the northern California town of Carmichael where, at age 11, he became an actor in local theatre and college productions. In his early twenties, he attended the California Institute of the Arts, where he studied screenwriting with legendary director Alexander Mackendrick ("The Man In The White Suit," "The Sweet Smell Of Success"). Beckman has also appeared in films as varied as "Echo Park," "C.H.U.D. II" and Orson Welles' still-unreleased masterwork, "The Other Side Of The Wind." Beckman lives in Los Angeles where, under the pseudonym Anthony Landor, he currently provides voices for many of the world's most popular videogames, including "Street Fighter IV" (Zangief) and "Dissidia: Final Fantasy" (Golbez). He can also be heard as the voice of General Wolf in the Sci-Fi Channel's hit anime series "Monster." Dead Hollywood is his first novel."

Welcome to Side Show: Tales of the Big Top and the Bizarre. Be warned that this is not a medley of happy clowns, rainbow coloured carousels, and cotton candy, but rather an assortment of highly unusual characters and oddities, a sinister smorgasbord of eerie delights intended for those who love the dark and all that dwells there. The writers showcased here are from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Spain, Switzerland and Brazil. Cover art by Chad Savage; cover design by Cathy Buburuz Funded by Tyree Campbell, editor-in-chief, Sam's Dot Publishing http://samsdotpublishing.com

Published here for the first time, the scripts to "The Book of Daniel, Ragtime" and "Loon Lake" reveal a new aspect of Doctorow's remarkable talents and offer film students insight into the complex relationship between literature and motion pictures.

A poignant and humorous reflection of carefree childhood in the 1950s. A chronicle of capers and shenanigans of two boys, running free and straight into danger and life’s lessons

Daniel P. Mannix's father and grandfather were distinguished navel officers who expected Daniel to keep up the family tradition. Daniel tried, he really did, but when all those attempting to mold him into a respectable cadet eventually gave up, well, what else can a navel academy flunkie do — TA DA! Join a carnival, of course. Inspired by the perseverance, bold imagination, and showmanship of the performers, Daniel was soon eating flaming torches, swallowing swords and neon lights, walking on knives, assisting as a mentalist, and writing stories about all he experienced. From the pen of a man who lived the life and loved and respected carnival folk, Step Right Up! will take the reader on a comprehensive and highly entertaining excursion into the vanishing world of sideshow performers. Fire-eating and sword swallowing are not tricks, ladies and gentlemen. Allow the talented Daniel P Mannix to explain!