"You . . . beeelong to us now, bitch!" The giant's voice boomed across the windswept beach. "Get out here . . . now!" The retched gargoyle bounded onto the porch, snorting through the wood-and-thatch walls of the cabin. "We are gonna cutcha and gutcha after we play with ya!" he roared. "Get out here, bitch!" The giant belched his commands, staggering from the porch and bellowing from the windblown sand. Dan searched frantically for a weapon. His rifle had been in the skiff, and they had it. His .45 was on the porch . . . someplace. He couldn't make a fight of it . . . there were too many. They might shoot him and get to Claire. Dan rifled the kitchen drawers and chucked all the cutlery onto the floor. Sorting through it, he found a big carving knife. At least he could take one of them down as he died. "Give it up, slug. We told ya, the money or the bitch. No money . . . well, she gets us! Haaaaaaaaaa! Yeaaaaaaah! Give it up!" The redheaded ogre was wild with rage! As the wind whistled through the eaves of the cabin, Dan felt fear beyond anything he ever felt, even when Saigon was overrun in '75. The pounding grew louder, and the splintering of the walls made it clear they had only minutes, maybe seconds. Then the firebomb hit the door. They had closed and locked the storm windows, the heavy boards that protected glass in case a typhoon struck. Though a major storm would blow the walls away, it would leave windows, roof, and footing alone. It seldom happened, but Dan was attempting to be prepared. But there was no way to prepare for this.

Swifty King’s adventures have been detailed in five previous novels. He is the proprietor of Swifty King, Advice (SKA), and along with his partner, retired businessman Kyle Faust, he provides the kind of advice and negotiation that governments and private citizens cannot do on their own. Recently, the two men, along with some special colleagues, put a stop to an international conspiracy to influence minds using all forms of media, including video games. The intent was to inspire creative souls on the edge to work together to upend society as we know it. The evil mind behind this plan was thwarted once, but now he is back. Somehow, he has gained release and has continued his evil plan. Swifty and Kyle are involuntarily sucked into this world again. Swifty is kidnapped, tortured, and reintroduced to an old friend by a sadistic enforcer. The “brain’s” new man really enjoys inflicting pain and indiscriminate murder. All the while, the guys have to deal with the business, which includes bailing out a movie producer and finding an answer to the kidnapping of his wife. It is an almost insurmountable challenge that takes these characters halfway around the world and nearly costs Swifty his life! Along the way, Swifty bonds with a former target, and Kyle finds a new love. It is harrowing, dangerous, and sometimes fun but never dull. Swifty and Conspiracy Control is intense and fast. Enjoy it!

SWIFTY KING and his partner KYLE FAUST are in the ADVICE business. The “Razzle Dazzle” has them advising a woman with a sordid past how to deal with an anonymous threat, received in a mysterious, Chanel laced, Pink Envelop. As she struggles to protect her family business and a high powered son, who plays fast and loose in high finance, the boys have to pull the truth from the family in order to protect them. The effort leads them into strange territory. While dealing with Millie Corkley’s issues, the guys have a challenge with Kyle’s former corporate pilot, who is on the run from partners who have hired a “hit man” to force him to conform with an agreement. The Pilot, Marco, makes it tough for our heroes as he gets mixed up with a female felon who is very hard to handle. Both adventures, lead Swifty and Kyle to employ the “Razzle Dazzle” in order to deal with this convoluted mess.

Swifty King and Kyle Faust are lured by a former nemesis into the search for a program that progressively influences behaviors and could threaten the world. Aided by a tough, smart pal named Kelly, the fellows chase all over the world, searching for the Synthenet and its financial master. In their quest, the boys use another former adversary as bait and almost get her and Swifty killed. Kyle takes out his first bad guys, and both guys screw up their love lives. What’s new? Just another (figurative) day at the office for Swifty and Kyle. This time, their office turns out to have the smell of cordite and salt. Swifty King gets lonesome, so he invited his pal Kyle Faust into the “advice” business. It turns out that Kyle fits well because they are both a little nuts. Kyle is busy trying to solve a problem for the son of one of his ex-wives when he and Swifty eventually discover there is a nexus between the kid’s dilemma and this strange Synthenet thing. In the process, Swifty has a near-death experience, and Kyle ends up having to shoot back when he encounters bad guys. As usual, with these gents, it is mile-a-minute fun and games with a twist around every corner. Imagine how a couple of senior citizens who still think they are thirty deal with the aches and pains of age while they measure up to the challenges of today. The adventures are never in short supply with Swifty Inc., and neither are the convoluted switches and changes. Come join us again!

You . . . beeelong to us now, bitch! The giants voice boomed across the windswept beach. Get out here . . . now! The retched gargoyle bounded onto the porch, snorting through the wood-and-thatch walls of the cabin. We are gonna cutcha and gutcha after we play with ya! he roared. Get out here, bitch! The giant belched his commands, staggering from the porch and bellowing from the windblown sand. Dan searched frantically for a weapon. His rifle had been in the skiff, and they had it. His .45 was on the porch . . . someplace. He couldnt make a fight of it . . . there were too many. They might shoot him and get to Claire. Dan rifled the kitchen drawers and chucked all the cutlery onto the floor. Sorting through it, he found a big carving knife. At least he could take one of them down as he died. Give it up, slug. We told ya, the money or the bitch. No money . . . well, she gets us! Haaaaaaaaaa! Yeaaaaaaah! Give it up! The redheaded ogre was wild with rage! As the wind whistled through the eaves of the cabin, Dan felt fear beyond anything he ever felt, even when Saigon was overrun in 75. The pounding grew louder, and the splintering of the walls made it clear they had only minutes, maybe seconds. Then the firebomb hit the door. They had closed and locked the storm windows, the heavy boards that protected glass in case a typhoon struck. Though a major storm would blow the walls away, it would leave windows, roof, and footing alone. It seldom happened, but Dan was attempting to be prepared. But there was no way to prepare for this.

This story features Gary “Swifty” Olson. Swifty has been Kit Andrews partner in their company for several years. After receiving a phone call from his sister notifying him of his father’s death, Swifty takes time off to see his mother and attend the funeral. When he gets to the family ranch in Cody, Wyoming, he visits the scene of the auto accident his father died in. What he finds doesn’t make sense, so he begins to snoop around and ask questions. The answers are elusive, and he finds clues his father may have been murdered. This is a story of a son searching to find out who may have murdered his father and why. In his search for answers, Swifty encounters old friends like veterinarian Ann Dexter, sheriff’s clerk, Melinda Swanson, and high school chum Lefty Phillips. He also runs into old enemies and manages to make some new ones in the course of his investigation. After a frustrating search for information, he gets a clue from his favorite Aunt, Judy Vannoy and soon finds himself face to face with a grandfather he had never met, and thought was dead. Swifty embarks on a search for the truth and seeks revenge for his father’s murder. A task that becomes more and more dangerous both for Swifty and his friends.

Laced with intrigue and surprise, this Swifty adventure takes the hero into the depths of Somali Pirate country, back to Vegas, and into the inner workings of an exotic criminal organization. Blackmail, betrayal, mystery, and secrecy abound in this tale of friendships gone awry and family members shunned and exploited for pay. Swifty spent two years in federal lock up and was forced to change his name. Unable to find a regular job, Swifty put his jail house education to work. His profession takes him to strange places, but it is right back home when he tries to help his old friend, Count Montecello the Magician, that he finds himself immersed in a caldron of corruption he may never escape. Swifty is aided by the usual cast of characters who enrich this tale of deceit, murder, blackmail . . . and strange friendships.

"ROGER F. GREAVES grew up in the Los Angeles area. During his more than five decades involved with the business community, government and the military he has come in contact with many unique personalities. He chronicles some of them in the Swifty novels. Roger is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach. He is an air force veteran, a private pilot and a compulsive story teller. Roger and his wife Erika reside with their two Westies Scottsdale, Arizona. They are active in business, political and community affairs in Arizona and California."

Many Broadway stars appeared in Hollywood cinema from its earliest days. Some were 19th century stage idols who reprised famous roles on film as early as 1894. One was born as early as 1829. Another was cast in the performance during which Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. One took her stage name from her native state. Some modern-day stars also began their careers on Broadway before appearing in films. This book details the careers of 300 performers who went from stage to screen in all genres of film. A few made only a single movie, others hundreds. Each entry includes highlights of the performer's career, a list of stage appearances and a filmography.

For decades, Screen World has been the film professional's, as well as the film buff's, favorite and indispensable annual screen resource, full of all the necessary statistics and facts. Now Screen World editor Barry Monush has compiled another comprehensive work for every film lover's library. In the first of two volumes, this book chronicles the careers of every significant film actor, from the earliest silent screen stars – Chaplin, Pickford, Fairbanks – to the mid-1960s, when the old studio and star systems came crashing down. Each listing includes: a brief biography, photos from the famed Screen World archives, with many rare shots; vital statistics; a comprehensive filmography; and an informed, entertaining assessment of each actor's contributions – good or bad! In addition to every major player, Monush includes the legions of unjustly neglected troupers of yesteryear. The result is a rarity: an invaluable reference tool that's as much fun to read as a scandal sheet. It pulsates with all the scandal, glamour, oddity and glory that was the lifeblood of its subjects. Contains over 1 000 photos!