Shade of Wings is a speculative young adult novel about a
family of New York City crows struggling to survive the outbreak of West Nile
virus during the sizzling summer of 1999.
Shade of Wings
by Pam McGaffin
Genre: YA Teen Animal Fiction
For fans of Laline
Paull, a speculative young adult novel about a family of New York City crows
struggling to survive the outbreak of West Nile virus during the sizzling
summer of 1999.
Four-year-old Duncan needs to hurry up and find a mate—at least, according to
his sister, Cloud. But she doesn’t know about the mistake that’s preventing him
from leaving their family to start another.
Though he’s the eldest, Duncan doesn’t see himself as a father. Yet that’s what
he must become when both his parents die of the mysterious illness that’s
killing crows across New York City. He devotes himself to caring for his
siblings, including three fledglings—but he soon discovers he can’t protect
them from the “blind death.”
Meanwhile, a zoo pathologist’s worst fears are realized. It starts with dead
flamingos. Then critically ill New Yorkers start showing up in hospital
emergency rooms.
Some blame the crows.
A profound story
of loved ones sticking together in the face of tragedy and hardship.” - Kirkus
Reviews
An amazing and
heartfelt read. McGaffin confirms what so many of us already know, that humans
should learn from the smart ones around us, even if they're crows." - Lori
Matsukawa, TV News Anchor and author of Brave Mrs. Sato
"Utterly
original! I’m in awe of Pam McGaffin’s deft storytelling—she makes a family of
crows both fascinating and deeply relatable. I love a book that leaves me
seeing the world with fresh eyes, and Pam accomplishes that in spades.” -
Andrea Ezerins, author of When the Forest Dreams
He
and Sky went to the fountain to forage before dusk. The longer they take, the
more she thinks he’s getting back at her for making him wait. She still feels
the spot on her breast where his kick landed. She’d never seen him so angry. He
became someone she didn’t know. Now she’s not sure she knows herself.
Everything she thought she understood about being a number two helper—second to
Duncan—was thrown into doubt when he attacked . . . as if she were the enemy.
Before, when they still had parents, she shrugged off their sibling squabbles,
crow fights being more common than play. Sometimes the two got confused. Either
way, you forgave and moved on, no harm done. But this was different. This
marked a before and after in their relationship, their roles. His eruption was
perhaps the inevitable result of too much pressure, from all they had lost, all
that had changed in just a few days. But why take it out on her? He seems to
think that he alone bears the weight of that shift. He doesn’t know that every
time she closes her eyes, she relives the soft rustle and thump of their
father’s fall to the ground and Mother’s wailing cry, followed so quickly by
her passing, silent and unmarked. And hanging over it all is the fear that
they, too, might succumb to a sicknessthat’s as random as it is deadly.
Still, there’s nothing to do but carry on. The
fledglings’ drop from the nest was only the first of many trials to come. Until
they can fly and do their own foraging, they will demand constant attention.
Worm, in particular. He and Duncan had taken so long to get down the tree. She
and Sky tried to keep Kyra and Lucas calm and still as they waited. And waited.
And waited, the fledglings growing crankier and crankier. And who could blame
them in this heat? Then Sky, who never complains, said she was “dying” of
thirst. They all were. So, Cloud led them down to the riverbank for a drink and
a dip. The fledglings loved splashing in the water once they overcame their
fear. Lucas, that rascal, found a tire and was happily playing in its pool of
green sludge until Cloud ordered him out.
Pam McGaffin always knew she would write books when she grew
up.
So, at age 51, after a long career in journalism and
public-relations, she quit her day job and went to work. After seven years,
countless rewrites, and a seat-of-her-pants course in modern publishing, she
released her debut novel, The Leaving Year, with SparkPress Aug. 14, 2018.
Set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest where she grew up,
The Leaving Year, is a coming-of-age story about love and loyalty, family and
friendship, and the stories we tell ourselves in our search for meaning.
For her second novel, Shade of Wings, she looked to New York
City to tell the story of the West Nile virus outbreak from the point-of-view
of the first US victims – American crows. She hopes readers fall in love her
hapless hero, Duncan, and his plucky crow family. She certainly loved giving
them life.
Before tackling novels, Pam wrote short stories and
articles. Her short fiction has appeared in the online literary journals,
Eclectica and Amarillo Bay, and her articles have been published in many Puget
Sound-area publications and websites, including The Daily Herald (in Everett,
WA), Bicycle Paper, the MS Connection newsletter, and Seattle Children’s Story
Project.
She has a BA degree in Communications Journalism from the
University of Washington and certificates in fiction writing and advanced
literary fiction from UW Extension.
When she isn’t writing or thinking about writing, she likes
to read, walk the dog, swim, bike, garden, and watch birds.
**Get 10% off signed copies at ChangingEarth.com with the code
ChangingEarth **
Day After Disaster
The Changing Earth Series Book 1
by Sara F. Hathaway
Genre: Postapocalyptic Family Drama Thriller
When a mega-quake buries Sacramento in toxic floodwaters,
Erika Moore emerges from a bomb shelter—burned and alone, she’s desperate to
find her husband and son. A country girl with a martial arts background, she
fights to survive a lawless Sierra Nevada, battling gangs and saving a lost
girl, Star. In a The Road-like wasteland with The Last of
Us grit, every choice tests her: help others or herself? Desperate to
reclaim her family, she presses on—until disaster strikes again. With raiders
and waves rising, her reunion teeters on ruin. A post-apocalyptic tale of
courage and chaos—will she outrun the next catastrophe?
Jane stood there watching her go. Just as Sam closed the
gate behind her, Jane heard Doug’s crew coming down the side of the mountain
from the right-hand side.
Moving the gate was a slow process. It slammed with a bang as people flooded down the
mountainside. There was no way to open it again in time to get Jaclyn safely
inside before the attackers ascended upon them.
Jane screamed to Jaclyn, “Run, Jaclyn, run and hide! They’ll
catch you!”
Jane was frantically pulling the gate open. Jaclyn started
to run along the river's edge, where the flowing water pulled back the mud and
left less slippery stone. Thinking fast, Erika ran to Artaz. Star was already
mounted, and Erika jumped up in front of her.
“Whatever you do, don’t
let go!” Erika yelled while driving her legs into Artaz.
Artaz leaped forward. In a flash, they flew around the edge
of the wall, splashing through the river. They hit the beach and galloped. The
mud flew in the air as they pounded along the river bed. Then, she saw Jaclyn
running in fear as fast as she could. Artaz was soaring now; his hoofs were clacking across the rock. Somehow, he
found solid footing every time. Erika was a short distance from Jaclyn. They
were going to make it. Then, all of a sudden, a truck came into her view from
her left. The engine roared as the truck bound across the mud. They were
closing in on Jaclyn! Erika realized she would never make it before the truck
and pulled back hard on Artaz, causing him to come to a sliding stop.
As Artaz spun around on his heels to scamper back to the
compound's safety, Erika heard Star scream, “They have her.”
“There’s nothing we can do now except get out of here,”
Erika shouted. She was out of her head to be running after Jaclyn. All that
would come of it was her and Star getting captured as well. Then she heard the
men from the truck shouting.
“There it is! The horse. That girl is riding it. Get it!”
They quickly turned and started chasing Erika down, but before they could get
their truck rolling through the deep muck, Erika was back around the wall,
galloping toward the bridge.
Erika raced across the camp. They tied Jaclyn up like an
animal in the back of the truck. The men were laughing at her and hitting her.
She screamed in horror for someone to help her, but there would be no help. She
would become another victim in a world that no longer had sympathy for the
defenseless.
Erika could not help her now. Too much time was wasted
already. The giant hooks were pulling on the walls. Some were starting to fall.
She watched Sam and Jane retreat to the designated point for the final attack.
The marauders were shooting guns and throwing spears at Jane and Sam. Jane and
Sam were firing back, but their ammo was limited, and Erika knew it. Sam ran
back to the cover point. Erika was forgotten in the fray. The bridge would be
blown, and Erika was on the wrong side!
She dug her heels deep into Artaz. They galloped toward the
bridge. She could see Jane getting ready to hit the switch, but in a second,
Jane was standing there with a spear directly through her eye, and it was
coming out the back of her head. Screaming for Jane, Sam shot the spear thrower
dead in his tracks. Sam went to fire again, but the only sound was: click. . . click. He was out of bullets and the marauders were closing in.
Erika jumped off a galloping Artaz and rolled over to the generator. Artaz hit
the brakes quickly on the bridge when he felt Erika jump. Star instinctually
moved up and gripped the reins. Yanking on one rein, Star wheeled back around
toward Erika. A group of men were closing in. She hit the switch. As she looked
back, she saw Artaz with Star at the reins.
Erika leaped up in front of Star, and they tore across the
bridge that was blowing up almost underneath them. They turned to get Sam and
saw a bullet rip through his chest. Debris rained down on them as the bridge
and the men exploded.
Artaz was now in a wild gallop, completely panicked from the
barrage of gunfire aimed at them. He barreled up the hill uncontrollably. Star
suddenly clenched Erika tightly and screamed. Artaz shied violently, and it
took all of Erika’s strength to stay seated in the saddle. He dodged left and
right, fear fueling his wild scramble up the mountainside. He ran like never
before. Halfway up the hill, he collapsed into a lifeless mass.
During the crash, Erika and Star were launched through the
air. They were knocked unconscious. All that could be heard was the quiet of an
unbelievable night. As Erika lay there somewhere between reality and
unconsciousness, she told herself, this is all just a horrible nightmare, and I’m going to wake up. What is this
life?
**Currently getting
made into a tv series!**
The Lost Vegas Years
The Changing Earth Series Book 1.5
In the wake of the Great Quake, Las Vegas lies in ruins,
transformed into a federal refugee camp where survival is a daily struggle.
Amidst the chaos and despair, Erika Moore fights to protect her family from the
government's iron rule. With her husband Vince by her side, they must navigate
a world filled with danger and betrayal. As their defiance sparks whispers of
Erika being the camp's "Savior," each act of resistance threatens to
tear their family apart.
But Erika is not alone in her fight. Vince, the camp's quiet hero, builds
aquaponics gardens to feed the starving, a symbol of resilience in the face of
oppression. As the government pushes for extreme measures and family adoption
programs, Erika and Vince's covert training and unwavering determination become
their greatest weapons. From the ruins of Sacramento to the dusty streets of
Vegas, their family's bond is tested by loss, sacrifice, and a rising
revolution that could destroy everything they hold dear.
For fans of post-apocalyptic thrillers like The Road and The Hunger Games, Back
to the Lost Vegas Years is a heart-pounding journey into a world of survival,
resistance, and unbreakable spirit. In the midst of a dystopian nightmare, one
woman's fire and one man's roots may be the key to saving their family and
sparking a revolution. Don't miss this gripping installment in the Changing
Earth series.
If you enjoyed The Road and The Hunger Games, you'll love Back to the Lost
Vegas Years.
Nine years trapped in a FEMA camp have crushed Erika
Moore—once a legendary survivor, now a shadow haunted by a failed riot and
iron-box torment. Her family—husband Vince and their kids—is her lifeline in a
world of forced infertility and despair. A rescue squad gig offers escape, but
betrayal and floods unravel her fragile hope. In a The Handmaid’s Tale-esque
nightmare with The Last of Us’ brutal edge, Erika battles a tyrannical system
to free her loved ones. Every step risks everything—submission or salvation.
This post-apocalyptic clash of grit and defiance hooks like a dystopian
thriller—can Erika shatter the walls? Dive into the next chapter of survival.
Erika and Vince Moore lead their family north through a
quake-scarred Sierra Nevada, nature reclaiming the ruins, fleeing feds andmercenaries for freedom. Hunted and frail, a drifting haven spares them
starvation’s grasp—but storms and peril nearly claim young Daniel. In a Station
Eleven-like world of fragile renewal and The 100’s fierce
survival, Erika fights on as Vince teeters on death’s edge from brutal wounds.
Her spirit snaps, marching toward doom to shield her own. Allies Bennet and
Virgis offer refuge—until she’s summoned to a governing board to unveil a
decade of horrors and a new quake looms. This post-apocalyptic tale of grit and
sacrifice hooks like a rebel’s stand—will Erika break the chains? Dive deeper
into the fight.
Erika and Vince Moore trek south to warn of a looming
disaster, risking all to save her mom and friends in a crumbling Las Vegas.
Hunted by feds and mercenaries, they rally with a Texas militia through
hurricanes and heartbreak—until a vengeful shadow from Erika’s past strikes. In
a The Passage-like sprawl of ruin and resolve, with Snowpiercer’s relentless
fight, Erika battles storms and betrayal, her spirit forged in sacrifice as
foes close in. Allies crumble, cities teeter, and a desperate stand looms. This
post-apocalyptic epic of grit and loyalty grips like a survivor’s last cry—will
Erika save her own against the next calamity? Dive into the battle’s fierce
soul.
Riding rebel victories, Erika Moore guides her family to a
Denver homestead, a fleeting calm eclipsed by a brewing disaster. Hunted by
feds and bounty hunters, her cover shatters amid betrayal and bloodshed—old
bonds strain and new threats surge. In a Parable of the Sower-like
weave of raw resilience, with The Walking Dead’s brutal chaos,
Erika fights to safeguard her own as the West frays at the seams. A desperate
clash for the city tests her soul, with ruin closing in. This post-apocalyptic
epic of courage and survival grips like a rebel’s last breath—will Erika defy
the dark days? Dive into the fray of loyalty and loss.
Bound in a bounty hunter’s den, Erika Moore grips a shred of
defiance, her spirit bruised yet fierce. Hunted by feds and a merciless captor,
she mourns her lost family—until echoes of their resistance stir her fight. In
a The Road-like sprawl of stark desperation, with Swan
Song’s epic struggle, Erika endures TJ’s mind-breaking torment, her
will forged as he twists her soul. A storm churns outside, hinting at
salvation. This post-apocalyptic tale of grit and redemption cuts like a
survivor’s final plea—will Erika pierce the endless night? Dive into the
tempest of loyalty and ruin.
Arriving in Dallas, Erika Moore battles the mental scars TJ
Swenson left behind, her mind grasping for clues of the past while facing the
present. With Vince at her side, she claws toward recovery as a fractured
resistance wavers—still haunted by TJ’s relentless glare. In a Station
Eleven-like weave of fragile hope, with The Book of Eli’s unyielding
resolve, Erika defies cravings to rally her people, her son Dexter rising to
steady their cause. A northern refuge offers peace, but peril stalks their
path. This post-apocalyptic tale of grit and renewal lifts like a survivor’s
quiet cry—will Erika reclaim the horizon? Dive into a fight for family and
light.
Erika Moore stands fierce in Pine Springs, a rebel leader
hunted by TJ Swenson, a tyrant who claims her soul. With Vince and their son
Dexter at her side, she guards a fragile west against an ice age and TJ’s iron
grip. In a The Walking Dead-like clash of brutal stakes, with The
Hunger Games defiant spirit, Erika strikes at TJ’s core, her family
chasing secrets to shatter his reign. A last stand looms as ruin encroaches.
This post-apocalyptic epic of grit and defiance roars like a survivor’s final
cry—will Erika forge freedom from the bitter end? Dive into a saga of rebellion
and resolve.
Sara is an author, a fighter, a mother, and a wife. Her
writings’ central philosophy is that anyone can be confident in any
survival situation with the right skills and mental attitude. She wants people
to learn through a fictional experience just how fragile our manufactured
society is.
She practices these philosophies by training in various
martial arts disciplines and homesteading with her family. Sara graduated
from the California State University of Sacramento with a Bachelor of
Science in Business Administration and published her first novel in 2014. She
hosts self-defense seminars and avoiding abductions and sexual assaults.
Sara currently lives in the piney forest of east Texas. As a
happily married woman with two boys, she delights in quality family time
hiking and camping. Besides writing and fighting, she raises chickens,
tends to her garden, and works as an insurance agent during the week.
Best-selling author Libby Kay’s sweet
fireman romance Flash Point is a bad boy redemption story perfect for
fans of B.K. Borison’s Lovelight series.
Javier “Javi” Ortiz never has trouble finding a date. The confident
fireman enjoys the perks of no-strings hook-ups and his bachelor lifestyle. Yet
when a certain blonde moves to Pinegrove, the idea of casual dating fizzles
out. Javi is finally ready to settle down, but will he be able to charm his way
into her life? Or will his reputation ruin his chance at real love?
Lola Peabody has given up on love. She doesn’t have time for men and
their empty promises, especially with her hands full being a single mom and
running her own photography business. Her plans do not include finding a man,
even a charismatic fireman who treats her and her daughter like queens.
But Pinegrove is a small town, and the pair can’t stay away from each
other. From photoshoots and romance book club to quiet walks in the woods, Lola
and Javi spend more and more time together.
Could this be happily ever after? Or
will their romance burn out faster than a five-alarm fire?
Libby Kay lives in the city in the heart of the Midwest with
her husband. When she’s not writing, Libby loves reading romance novels of any
kind. Stories of people falling in love nourish her soul. Contemporary or
Regency, sweet or hot, as long as there is a happily ever after—she’s in love!
When not surrounded by books, Libby can be found baking in
her kitchen, binging true crime shows, or on the road with her husband,
traveling as far as their bank account will allow.
Libby cohosts the Romance Roundup podcast with Liz Donatelli
where they recommend romance books and interview authors, influencers, and
publishers. Check it out for your weekly dose of romance!
