The second book of the popular fantasy series and follow up to The Healer's Legacy, also by Sharon Skinner “If we turn our backs on who we are, who knows what danger we ourselves may become?” Determined to discover the truth of her heritage, Kira resumes her journey following the events of The Healer's Legacy. Together with Milos, and accompanied by her loyal companions, Kelmir and Vaith, she sets sail for the strange land across the Faersent Sea. But when she arrives in her mother’s homeland, what awaits her is not the welcoming arms of loving relatives, but a land filled with political strife, dark intrigue, and a family secret that could shatter everything. Accolades- "This is the second book I've read by Sharon Skinner – this is the sequel to the first book of hers which I read, The Healer's Legacy – and like the first, this one's going on the Keep Forever shelf." - Theoden Humphrey "Another amazing book from Sharon Skinner! This book is the 2nd in the trilogy of Kira's saga and it is just as good as the first, "The Healer's Legacy", which is saying a lot!" - Dawn V. "The second book of the series was just as fantastically well written as the first. Mrs. Skinner has a special gift for writing characters that are so easy to get attached to, while at the same time giving us at least one that we love to hate." - Birbitt

Faced with a threat half a world away, Tavara finds herself confronting an adversary that has even gotten the attention of Queen Victoria. Tavara must race against the Black Airship to save the lives of countless innocent people... and Johnathan as well. The second Steampunk tale of the series.

The anthology series for authors published by Brick Cave Media, Futurewords features short stories in the science fiction and fantasy gernres. The first collection, Futurewords: A Brick Cave Anthology, was released in 2017. Futurewords II features: The Pond by Sharon Skinner Sometimes the dark wants more than we are prepared to give. Bloodlines by J.A. Giunta What if you found out magic WAS real… and you would be hunted in the knowing? Good Neighbors by Bruce Davis Good neighbors can come from anywhere. But they are still neighbors. Titan Resolute by Bob Nelson Humanity is rising to the stars... but someone else may already be there and prefer we not interfere.

In the third and final book of The Healer's Trilogy fantasy novel series, Sharon Skinner brings the story of Kira to an epic conclusion. "You are who you are because of your choices," Heresta’s voice whispered in her head. "You cannot walk another’s path." With the Matriarch dead and Eilar’s protective barriers devastated, Kira’s homeland is at risk. Amid the resulting aftermath of fear and insecurity, mounting tensions cause a rift in the Eilaran leadership. Against the ruling council’s will, Kira embarks upon a hazardous quest to discover the workings of her mad half-brother Kavyn’s shattered focus stone. But will the strange stone turn out to be a boon for the imperiled land, or unleash a bane that will ultimately destroy Kira and the land and people she is determined to save.

From the author of The Healer's Legacy and Collars and Curses comes a new middle grade steampunk adventure that invokes the spirit of J.M. Barrie. In the smoke-covered, steam-powered city of Landings, the filthy streets of the lower city are rife with criminals. It’s a rough place where orphans and lost children known as streeters struggle to survive by banding together, forming rival crews. Gage dreams of earning passage to a better place while Wynd has a promise to keep, the last one she ever made to her father. When their fellow streeters begin to disappear, Gage and Wynd must put aside their long-standing rivalry and work together to rescue their mates from a crew of ruthless, kidnapping smugglers. But can a pact made under pressure be trusted?

The follow up to the wildly successful fantasy middle-grade The Nelig Stones, also by author Sharon Skinner. Stefani and Robbie have grown closer since their adventure in Anoria, but their friendship has become strained. Stefani is having troubling dreams. A voice is calling for help, calling her and Robbie back to Anoria. She has no idea why they need to return, or what may await them when they do. If they can figure out how to get there. But Robbie has troubles of his own dealing with his grandfather’s strange behavior. Anoria has become sick and in need of healing. While trying to help, Laurel Silverbark, last of the Treemages, has become trapped in a deep slumber that only one person can rouse her from; The Awakener. No one knows exactly where the Awakener is, nor what form they have taken. As Stefani and Robbie search for a way to heal the sickness that is draining the land, they learn that sometimes hope can be the greatest strength, and that even those who seem lost have something to offer. Join Stefani and Robbie as they journey back to Anoria, to attempt to set things right and save their friends. More than a quest adventure, Return to Anoria is a story about facing fear and learning to accept others as they are.

Tavara and Johnathan must pursue a faceless enemy across an ocean in order to stop the owners of the Black Airship before they ignite a war that will engulf the world. Johnathan is forced to confront his unpleasant past while Tavara is faced with the threat of losing someone she holds dear. The third story in the Chronicles of Tavara Tinker follows our heroes through an alternate historical steampunk reality, thrusting them into a world of shadowy intrigue and pitting them against a dangerous foe bent on destruction.

A historical Steampunk adventure, this story introduces Tavara Tinker and her band of friends that are wrapped up in an alternative Victorian era world. By day, a proper Victorian Lady. By night, deep in the heart of industrial London, she maintains a research laboratory and a steam-powered factory where she creates the clothes and weapons for a new generation of adventurer. Join Tavara as she visits Paris to collect rare cloth for a client, and finds out she's not the only one that has interest in it.

Katie J. Woolstenhulme considers the pertinent questions: Who were 'the matriarchs', and what did the rabbis think about them? Whilst scholarship on the role of women in the Bible and Rabbinic Judaism has increased, the authoritative group of women known as 'the matriarchs' has been neglected. This volume consequently focuses on the role and status of the biblical matriarchs in Genesis Rabbah, the fifth century CE rabbinic commentary on Genesis. Woolstenhulme begins by discussing the nature of midrash and introducing Genesis Rabbah; before exploring the term 'the matriarchs' and its development through early exegetical literature, culminating in the emergence of two definitions of the term in Genesis Rabbah – 'the matriarchs' as the legitimate wives of Israel's patriarchs, and 'the matriarchs' as a reference to Jacob's four wives, who bore Israel's tribal ancestors. She then moves to discuss 'the matriarchal cycle' in Genesis Rabbah with its three stages of barrenness; motherhood; and succession. Finally, Woolstenhulme considers Genesis Rabbah's portrayal of the matriarchs as representatives of the female sex, exploring positive and negative rabbinic attitudes towards women with a focus on piety, prayer, praise, beauty and sexuality, and the matriarchs' exemplification of stereotypical, negative female traits. This volume concludes that for the ancient rabbis, the matriarchs were the historical mothers of Israel, bearing covenant sons, but also the present mothers of Israel, continuing to influence Jewish identity.