Book Excerpts
Exclusive excerpt from “Going to Trinidad”: A patient arrives at a gender-confirmation crossroads
For 41 years, Dr. Stanley Biber's practice made the southern Colorado town a destination for the surgery. Upon her arrival, Claudine Griggs reflected on how she got there.
In this excerpt from “No Man’s Son,” the author recounts her husband’s final day
Michael Chowdry, a Pakastani immigrant, built a cargo airline and a life in Colorado. It all ended too soon when he and a journalist died in a crash.
“The Three Mrs. Wrights” explores how protagonists fell victim to an emotional grifter
In this excerpt, one of the women enchanted by the same unscrupulous guy awakens from a dreamlike nap to a whirlwind romantic wedding on a Mexican beach
“Runes for Writers”: How solving writer’s block is kind of like recalling where you left your keys
Though it may sound "a bit woo-woo," author Marc Graham writes that understanding where stories live in our minds can help us tell them better
In “Beware the Eyes of Mars” an android starts to fall for a human under its surveillance
Author Jodi Bowersox puts a unique spin on relationships in this passage about a robot assigned to keep an eye on a beautiful -- by human standards -- criminal suspect
A selection of poems from Art Elser’s collection “It Seemed Innocent Enough”
These excerpts cover meditations on being drawn into poetry, appreciating nature, remembering love's spark and even the cosmic significance of a spider's death
In “Scholars of Mayhem,” a real-life WWII secret agent’s exploits remained hidden for years in a tin box
Co-author Daniel Guiet knew from an early age that an aura of mystery surrounded the man he called Dad, but it wasn't until years later that his stories could be told
In “Feeling Left Behind,” the widowed author recounts the persistent trauma of a mundane errand
Simple trips to the grocery store nearly brought Kim Murdock to her knees, and to the realization others shared her feelings
“Soyala: Daughter of the Desert” brings to life the great migration of the Pueblo people
Through historical fiction, Cindy Burkart Maynard tells the tale of the 13th-century people in the Four Corners region and why they may have left
In “The Body in Griffith Park,” a period-piece mystery combines interrogation with romance
While the authorities seek to unmask a killer in early 20th-century California, two of the questioners mix police work with flirtation
In one selection from her collection “Lucid Life,” the poet offers a father’s wish for his daughter
In a second poem, Catherine R. Berra reflects on the process of growing older and wiser -- but not alone
In this sci-fi fantasy, the imposing WindRunner arrives to call Owen to a dangerous quest
Dragons, magic and evil lie ahead as the giant stallion prepares to transport the uncertain son on a journey to find his parents, missing soldiers and an amulet
Jared Smith evokes sunrise across America in the title piece of his poetry collection
In a few dozen lines, the poet describes the glitz and especially the grit of the nation as it awakens, from sea to shining sea
In “To Walk Humbly,” a historical novel, the Ku Klux Klan’s influence is on display
Author Laurie Marr Wasmund invokes 1920s Denver landmarks in an excerpt where the Klan appeals to the business interests of prospective members
In “Sweet Twisted Pine,” a man on a quest to find his missing sister struggles to adapt to the Old West
Author Lori Hodges introduces readers to an eastern transplant who has been making progress -- until he's introduced to a frightened porcupine
In “A Perfect Eye,” a bizarre murder scene reveals puzzling artistic touches
The excerpt from Stephanie Kane's mystery paints a grisly picture of a crime that seems inspired by suitable-for-framing aesthetics
“Immigrants, Ornaments and Legacies” recounts the 1950s rise of Christmas bulbs
Post-war America and its new-found disposable income fueled a rapidly developing market for holiday decorations, with some of the early standards brought to the U.S. by immigrants
“Church of the Graveyard Saints” introduces old flames reunited in southwestern Colorado
Protagonist Addie Decker's return to her hometown will reunite her with old boyfriend Colt. Here, author C. Joseph Greaves introduces him.
In “Ambush,” a detective seeks a young Iraqi boy with secrets — and so does a ruthless killer
Protagonist Sydney Parnell, blood-stained from her brush with the killer Alpha, continues her search just one step ahead of danger
