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  For more information about Annie, go to www.annie-reed.com.

  THE UNCOLLECTED ANTHOLOGY STORIES

  The Library of Orphaned Hearts is part of the innovative Uncollected Anthology series.

  Every three months, the talented group of UA authors picks a theme and writes a short story for that theme. But instead of bundling the stories together, each author sells their own. No muss, no fuss—you can buy one story or you can buy them all. (We’ll be honest; we hope you buy them all!)

  This time around we’re thrilled to feature a story by USA Today bestselling guest author Dean Wesley Smith!

  If you’d like to keep reading more fine stories with this issue’s theme—Magical Libraries—click on the following links:

  THE LIBRARY OF ATLANTIS

  Dean Wesley Smith

  (featured guest author)

  Poker Boy specializes in asking stupid questions. But sometimes even stupid questions need answers.

  To save the fabric of all things from unraveling, whatever that means, Poker Boy must go to the Library of Atlantis and do something that no one ever accomplished before.

  Poker Boy saves all things. Again!

  “[The Poker Boy] series is unlike anything else out there. It’s quirky and a lot of fun.”

  —Amazing Stories.

  THESE CHAINS

  Dayle A. Dermatis

  Madeleine works at a secret library beneath the New York Public Library, serving her final magical-juvie sentence. If she keeps her head down and does her time, she’ll finally be free. But when the most prized—and most dangerous books—are stolen, the ancient ones affixed with chains, all eyes turn on her.

  Because her girlfriend—the girl she thought was her girlfriend—clearly had her fingers all over the job.

  The Magical Council tells Madeleine to sit tight; they’ll handle it. Madeleine, however, isn’t any good at waiting for someone else to solve a problem. She has to get involved, even if she ends up being found guilty for doing the wrong thing for the right reasons…yet again.

  KITTY OF DEATH

  Michele Lang

  When you lose a Library Cat, the late fees are murder...

  Corrie the Cat Librarian leads an orderly life in the strange little town of New Castle, Connecticut. As Keeper of Feline Deities, Corrie lends her cats out to magicworkers who need a familiar to complete their spells.

  A safe and rather boring existence...

  But when Idris, a minor Egyptian deity, goes missing, Corrie and the formidable litigomancer Elizabeth Royall must battle an evil, medieval necromancer bent on capturing death itself. And in the process, Corrie discovers the deadly power of a quiet magic.

  “Lang is a writer to watch.” — Booklist

  THE MIDBURY LAKE INCIDENT

  Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  Mary Beth Wilkins knows she made a mistake the moment she sees her beloved library burn. She also knows what she must do next to protect herself and her secret. And although she failed to save this library, she has a more important purpose to fulfill—a magical purpose. If she acts fast.

  “Rusch is a great storyteller.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  ALL THE WORDS IN ALL THE WORLDS

  Leslie Claire Walker

  When Chris Garcia reads the magical morning Metro section of the newspaper, one and only one article stands out: a girl named Alice must find something precious she’s lost before nightfall or go to Hell. Chris figures his newfound magical skill of finding the lost will save her. Instead, he walks straight into a trap. If he fails to find a way out before the sun sets, he dooms Alice—and himself—forever.

  Table of Contents

  Start Reading

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  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  THE UNCOLLECTED ANTHOLOGY STORIES

  THE LIBRARY OF ATLANTIS

  THESE CHAINS

  KITTY OF DEATH

  THE MIDBURY LAKE INCIDENT

  ALL THE WORDS IN ALL THE WORLDS

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