Carol Hightshoe – författare

Science can rebuild the world, but only hope can save it. Centuries after a devastating war shattered Earth's ecology, humanity clings to survival under the doctrine of "e;The Balance"e; a belief that nature must recover without human interference. But Gwendolyn Robbins, Director of Genetics at the Wildlife Foundation, sees a dying world that cannot heal on its own. Defying the Council's orders, she dares to recreate the creatures of legend, pegasi and unicorns, from the genetic remnants of the Ancestors. As politics, fear, and faith collide, Gwendolyn's work may hold the key to restoring life, or doom what remains of it. When myth and science intertwine, hope itself becomes the most dangerous creation of all. In a world where the line between legend and reality blurs, one woman must decide whether to obey a dying law or help humanity believe in magic again.

Cursed by jealousy. Redeemed by love. When Leathan's wedding night ends in horror, he's left to wander the darkness as a beast—cursed to sing his sorrow beneath the moon for eternity. In a valley sanctified against him, his mournful song echoes through the years…until the spirit of his lost bride returns. Guided by a compassionate priest, Leathan and Adairia must confront the curse that has bound them for generations. To break free, one must let go of the other. But can a love that defied death itself ever truly be released? A haunting and beautiful tale of love, loss, and redemption, Midnight Song blends gothic romance with the timeless tragedy of the werewolf myth. Where even in the darkest night, hope may yet rise with the dawn.

Her curse made her a pawn—her choices will make her a queen. When the uninvited sorceress arrives at the royal christening, her curse sets destiny into motion. But not even Malei, the exiled sister of the king, can truly foresee how her spell will shape the life of the infant princess. Sixteen years later, a rain-soaked girl arrives at Malei's mountain stronghold, seeking vengeance for the family she believes murdered. The witch sees more than anger in her eyes; she sees potential. Trained in the arts of strategy, combat, and command, the girl known only as Pawn learns what it means to wield both power and restraint. Yet the greatest test will not come from the sword, but from the truth behind her past. In a world where magic, loyalty, and ambition intertwine, one young woman must decide whether she will remain a pawn in another's game; or rise to become a queen in her own right. A compelling re-imagining of the Sleeping Beauty story, Pawn's Gambit explores destiny, free will, and the choices that define who we become.

In the Sword's reflection, all faiths become one. When the High King Uther Pendragon dies without an heir, Britain once again teeters on the edge of chaos. The sacred Sword of Power, gift of the Goddess and symbol of unity, has vanished, stolen by those who would twist its purpose to serve their faith alone. Viviane, Lady of the Lake and High Priestess of Avalon, must reclaim the lost sword before the balance between Goddess and God is broken forever. Her quest brings her face-to-face with priests who see her as a heretic, and visions that reveal a deeper truth: the divine has many faces, and the harmony of faiths may be the key to saving both Avalon and the mortal world. As mist and miracle intertwine, destiny forges a path toward the birth of legend and the one who will be worthy to wield Excalibur. A lyrical reimagining of Arthurian myth, The Sword of Power blends spiritual insight with timeless magic in a story of unity, faith, and the enduring strength of belief.

When despair consumes the hearts of mortals, one guardian remains to bring hope. From the dawn of creation, the gods entrusted humanity with a chest of divine blessings. But when curiosity led to its opening, all but one gift was lost. That final blessing, Hope, was placed under the protection of the unicorn Elpis, who walks between worlds whenever humanity's light begins to fade. Across ages of myth and history, from the battlefields of Troy to the ruins of modern tragedy, Elpis bears the burden of rekindling hope in a world drowning in sorrow. But as darkness spreads and the last guardian falters, even hope itself may be extinguished…unless it can find rebirth within the hearts of humankind. A timeless tale of loss, renewal, and the endurance of light, The Final Blessing reminds us that even in our darkest moments, hope endures.

In the silence between stars, legends still whisper Captain Dewi Fokke never believed in curses. At least not until her ship, De Nederlander, went dead in the region spacers call the Sargasso Sea. Stranded with a mysterious passenger named Van der Decken, she soon discovers the legends of the Flying Dutchman have followed humanity into the stars. Armed only with her ancestor's sword, Dewi must face the ghosts of the past and uncover the truth behind the curse binding them all.

Selaynia - an Alliance operative was branded a traitor during the war with the Confederation. Now that the war is over, she wants to return home - to escape from the exile that led her first to the Alliance and then to the Confederation.She finds herself on a small mining station - headquarters of the growing rebellion - and also finds her former lover who offers her an apparent way home.However, there is truth in the old saying - "e;You can never go home again."e;

Bound by honor. Forged in fire. Eternal defenders of Texas. Trapped between life and death, a lone rider relives his greatest failure; the night he fell before reaching the Alamo with a warning that could have changed history. Each time, his ghostly horse carries him through the streets of San Antonio de Béxar, doomed to repeat his futile ride. But this night is different. The battlefield is empty, the flag above the Alamo flies Mexican colors once more, and something stirs among the restless spirits of Texas. When a new threat arises to reclaim the land, the fallen heroes of the Alamo, Goliad, and San Jacinto rise again: bound by duty, fire, and honor. Together, they will fight one last battle to defend the freedom they died for. Because even in death, Texas has its defenders.

To serve the Great Mother, he must prove he has the heart of a dragon When Andrinor's beloved returns from the outer lands carrying new life, his thoughts turn to marriage and a peaceful future. But the Great Mother of Dragons has other plans. Summoned to her temple, Andrinor must undergo a series of divine trials: living, fighting, and soaring as one of Her children—to prove his worth as a true draconic warrior. Through fire and frost, faith and doubt, he learns the meaning of courage, compassion, and sacrifice. Yet even when transformed by divine power, Andrinor must confront his greatest challenge; not in battle, but in holding to his humanity and the love he left behind. A Chaos Reigns story.

A spark of Order born from the heart of Chaos In the kingdom of Taladar, the gods have fallen silent and the Overlord's tyranny has lasted for centuries. Myrith, a tavern server bound by survival, never expected her defiance to spark a reckoning. Imprisoned, rescued by thieves, and thrust into the heart of an ancient struggle, she discovers that her bloodline ties her to powers long thought lost. The followers of Geladas—the forgotten god of justice—see in her the possibility of balance restored. The Overlord sees a threat he must destroy.As secrets of her birth unfold and divine voices whisper once more, Myrith must decide who she truly is: the daughter of tyranny or the spark of a new beginning.A Chaos Reigns story.

In the halls of power, the goddess Bast demands respect—or vengeance. When the President of the United States begins acting…strangely, basking in sunlight, hissing at his dog, and even purring, his longtime aide Michael is forced to confront a mystery that defies reason. The odd behavior seems harmless at first; until foreign dignitaries are involved, and a simple gift from an Egyptian aide sparks whispers of ancient magic. As Michael races to uncover the truth, he finds himself caught in a battle between modern politics and old gods. The cat goddess Bast has returned and her judgment may change the course of history. Witty, eerie, and full of political intrigue with a supernatural twist, The President's Meow explores what happens when divine retribution stalks the halls of power.

A clever thief. A perilous quest. A goddess no one should cross. When Hendandra, a quick-fingered thief with more wit than luck, sets her sights on a mage, she expects an easy mark; until her target catches her in the act. Instead of turning her over to the guards, the mage offers her a dangerous job: infiltrate the temple of the dark goddess Ballan and recover sacred artifacts stolen from a rival deity. For a thief who's made a living skirting divine wrath, breaking into a god's temple feels like begging for it. But the promise of gold and freedom is too tempting to refuse. As Hendandra navigates magical traps, divine rivalries, and treacherous companions, she must decide whether she's still just a thief…or something far greater than she ever imagined.A Chaos Reigns story.

Blamed for mankind's ills—she carries its greatest gift. She has been called Pandora. Eve. The First Woman.And for millennia, she has borne the blame for humanity's fall.But the truth is not what the legends say. Tired of being maligned by patriarchal myths Pandora is ready to tell her own story. From her awakening on Olympus to the fateful moment she opens the box, Pandora recounts the creation of humanity's greatest trials…and its most precious treasure. For within the darkness she released was one final light—Hope. A lyrical and thought-provoking retelling of one of the world's oldest myths, The Gift of All explores the cost of divine manipulation, the strength born from suffering, and the enduring power of hope that even the gods cannot extinguish.

One woman's choice that gave humanity its soul. Eve—first woman and the first to truly live. For centuries, patriarchal faiths have painted her as the downfall of man. But in this intimate retelling, Eve reclaims her voice to reveal the truth behind the legend. How a single act of courage awakened free will, knowledge, and the power to choose between good and evil. Guided by the dragon who whispers of wisdom, guarded by unicorns who mourn innocence lost, Eve steps beyond paradise to discover what it means to live, love, and grow. To Live offers a fresh, mythic reimagining of humanity's first story. It's one that celebrates balance, freedom, and the divine spark of choice itself.

When faith becomes ego, the apocalypse begins. Reverend James Smallman believes he speaks for God; until the day a divine messenger calls him to account. Confronted by powers beyond comprehension, he is offered a terrifying honor: to become the catalyst for the Second Horseman of Revelation. As zeal ignites and the world answers his final sermon's cry, "e;Let the cleansing begin!"e;, James must face the truth behind his faith and the judgment he helped unleash. A chilling and thought-provoking tale of conviction, consequence, and the peril of mistaking belief for truth.

Named by the spirits. Bound to the hunt. She is the shadow of the wolf. Born under the watchful eyes of the wolf star, Wolf Shadow was never meant to live an ordinary life. Named by the shaman Star Wolf and chosen by the spirits, she defied her tribe's traditions to become a warrior. She is one who walks between the living and the dead. When betrayal stains the lands of the Comancheria, Wolf Shadow and her spectral wolves ride beneath the moon to bring justice to those who prey upon the innocent. Guided by the whispers of ancestors and the cry of the wind, she hunts the betrayers of her people. Men whose sins can only be cleansed by the spirits' claws and fangs. Blending Native legend with the haunted mystique of the Old West, Wolves of the Comancheria is a tale of destiny, vengeance, and the eternal bond between warrior and wolf.

Life eternal—paid for in blood. When Roman captain Maurus is ordered to escort Joseph of Arimathea and a priestess of Avalon to a secret ceremony, he expects only another tedious duty in the wilds of Britannia. Instead, he witnesses a rite that binds the powers of three faiths: the Cup of Christ, the Sword of the Goddess, and the Tear of the Dragon. Fascinated by tales of eternal life, Maurus betrays his oath and steals the sacred cup. But the water he drinks is no blessing—it is blood, and it transforms both him and his men into creatures neither mortal nor beast. Cursed with immortality and a thirst that can never be quenched, Maurus becomes the first of a new kind of predator; one who walks between the old gods and the new, forever haunted by what he has done. A dark blend of myth and legend, The Cup of Life explores the price of faith, the danger of greed, and the origins of a timeless curse.

Even in the wake of ruin, the gods may grant hope When a mischievous kappa decides to teach humankind a lesson in gratitude, his theft of the Dragon King's sacred Tidal Jewels unleashes a catastrophic tsunami upon Japan. What began as a prank to remind mortals of divine blessings becomes a tragedy that shakes heaven and earth. Now, haunted by guilt and forbidden help from the gods, the kappa seeks redemption in a single, selfless act by calling forth the celestial kirin, bringer of justice and hope. Rooted in Japanese mythology, A Story of Inyodo is a timeless tale of balance, consequence, and compassion—where even a spirit of mischief may discover the true meaning of grace.

Chaos claimed her. A curse follows her. A forgotten truth binds them both. Arielle once walked the forests as a ranger devoted to Frayrith, Lady of the Forest. But when she is captured and forced into the service of Thynitic, the unpredictable and merciless Goddess of Chaos, Arielle becomes entangled in a struggle far older and deeper than she understands. Thynitic's interest in her is fierce, obsessive…and strangely personal. Even when Arielle renounces the goddess, the bond between them does not fully break. Thynitic curses Arielle and her bloodline with unending Chaos. Frayrith, who Arielle once turned her back on, marks her with a silver sigil; binding Arielle's descendants to oppose the darkness rising in Thynitic's wake. Caught between divine wrath and divine purpose, Arielle steps into a fate shaped long before her birth—one she is only beginning to glimpse.A Chaos Reigns Story

She reached for Order…but Chaos consumed her Torliana was born an elf—wild, free, and ruled by instinct. Yet she sought order in the temple of Hellavar, God of Law and Fire, determined to master discipline and forge purpose from passion. Under the stern guidance of Keeper Eglis, she rose swiftly through the ranks, her devotion matched only by her growing feelings for her human mentor. But when her trial by flame ends in failure, a whispering voice offers her another path—a goddess of Chaos calling her by name. Tempted by power and consumed by rejection, Torliana's yearning for balance becomes a descent into madness and divine fire. Now, bound to the Lady of Chaos herself, Torliana must face the price of her choice—and the truth that even Chaos has its order.A Chaos Reigns Story

A broken sword. A forbidden power. A destiny reborn. Born in the aftermath of war, Delavan seeks to honor his family's legacy by joining Bretinia's city guard. But when his long-suppressed gift for magic erupts during training, it brands him as a traitor. The son of a mage who once aided their elven enemies. Condemned to exile with the arms master who dared defend him, Delavan must choose between denying his nature or embracing the power he was taught to fear. When an ancient elven artifact tied to the goddess of Chaos resurfaces, only the broken sword once wielded by his knightly grandfather, and the fragile balance between order and chaos, may save their world from destruction. Can Delavan master the power within him before it consumes him—and the city he swore to protect?

They came to conquer. They got taken on a snipe hunt. Billy Ray and his cousin Jimmy Lee know the truth about "e;snipe hunts"e;. Nothing more than harmless pranks meant to fool the gullible. But in the aftermath of the last great war, when strange lights blaze across the sky and "e;mutants"e; stalk the night, even an old joke can turn deadly serious. When a group of alien hunters crash-land near their swamp, Billy Ray sees a chance to turn the tables. He sets about luring the scaly invaders into the deadliest "e;snipe hunt"e; of all. But outsmarting off-world predators takes more than country cunning…and the bayou has a few surprises of its own. A sharp blend of post-apocalyptic grit and backwoods humor, Snipe Hunt proves intelligence isn't always measured in technology. And sometimes, a good ol' boy with a burlap sack can outwit an alien invasion.

To serve the Alliance, she must become its greatest traitor. For fifteen years, Selaynia and her telepathic wolf partner, Shadowmist, have served the Centauri Alliance with unwavering loyalty. But when the secretive Omega Division decides the best way to win a war is to deceive its own allies, Selaynia is given an impossible order. She is ordered to defect. Her mission: convince the enemy she's a traitor, infiltrate the Confederation, and feed intelligence back to Omega. Her survival depends on maintaining the illusion, even as she's hunted by both sides and haunted by the lives her deception endangers. As the lines blur between loyalty and lies, Selaynia must decide who she truly serves: the Alliance that made her, or the conscience that may yet save her soul.

Nowhere in all the worlds or planes is there no pain, torment or chaos. All we can do is accept those strikes which cannot be avoided and give back chaos and pain to those who offend. Kindness should be the only companion to pain and will increase the intensity of suffering and the chaos surrounding us. Do not ignore the sudden whim of compassion; let it always come, but only seldom as to give those who suffer a sense of hope. Hope is consort to chaos and torment is their offspring. Unending torment destroys pain and this in turn destroys the chaos that nurtures us. Act alluring to trap those who would never seek the Lady on their own. Confuse those that think they know the ways of the world around them. Bring pain and torment not only to those who enjoy it, or to those who deserve it, but also to the innocent and those who do not anticipate it. The lash, fire and cold are the three physical pains that never fail the devout. Love, jealousy and hatred are the three pains that should follow in the footsteps of her devout. Spread Thynitic's theology whenever pain is meted out and chaos swirls. Wherever pain is, there is Thynitic. Wherever chaos is, there is Thynitic. Embrace the pain and chaos. Embrace Thynitic.Trapped in a place where they are constantly faced with new opponents and challenges, Kyrianna and her friends, will also have to face the Goddess Thynitic and her Chosen Torliana.Kyrianna finds Thynitic whispering in her mind, calling her deeper into the chaos. In order to save her friends from the evil goddess, will she finally Embrace the Chaos and accept her place as a Daughter of Chaos or will she succeed in renouncing Thynitic forever? And if she does, what will the cost be?