Books with author Jo Franklin

Declared “the best survival book in a decade” by Outside Magazine, 438 Days is the true story of the man who survived fourteen months in a small boat drifting seven thousand miles across the Pacific Ocean.On November 17, 2012, two men left the coast of Mexico for a weekend fishing trip in the open Pacific. That night, a violent storm ambushed them as they were fishing eighty miles offshore. As gale force winds and ten-foot waves pummeled their small, open boat from all sides and nearly capsized them, captain Salvador Alvarenga and his crewmate cut away a two-mile-long fishing line and began a desperate dash through crashing waves as they sought the safety of port. Fourteen months later, on January 30, 2014, Alvarenga, now a hairy, wild-bearded and half-mad castaway, washed ashore on a nearly deserted island on the far side of the Pacific. He could barely speak and was unable to walk. He claimed to have drifted from Mexico, a journey of some seven thousand miles. A “gripping saga,” (Daily Mail), 438 Days is the first-ever account of one of the most amazing survival stories in modern times. Based on dozens of hours of exclusive interviews with Alvarenga, his colleagues, search-and-rescue officials, the remote islanders who found him, and the medical team that saved his life, 438 Days is not only “an intense, immensely absorbing read” (Booklist) but an unforgettable study of the resilience, will, ingenuity and determination required for one man to survive more than a year lost and adrift at sea.

The new "nonfiction"—the adaptation of storytelling techniques to journalistic articles in the manner of Truman Capote, Tom Wolfe, and John McPhee—is an innovative genre that has been awarded virtually every Pulitzer Prize for literary journalism since 1979. And now Jon Franklin, himself a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and undisputed master of the great American nonfiction short story, shares the secrets of his success. Franklin shows how to make factual pieces come alive by applying the literary techniques of complication/resolution, flashback, foreshadowing, and pace. He illustrates his points with a close analysis and annotation of two of his most acclaimed stories, so that the reader can see, step-by-step, just how they were created. This lively, easy-to-follow guid combines readability and excitement with the best of expository prose and illuminates the techniques that beginning journalists—and more experienced ones, too—will find immensely helpful:Stalking the true short storyDrafting an effective outlineStructuring the rough copyPolishing like a proand the tips, tools, and techniques that will put your stories on the cutting edge

“The classic trifecta of talent, heart, and a bone-deep sense of storytelling….A masterful performance, deftly rendered and deeply satisfying. For days on end, I woke with this story on my mind.” — David Wroblewski “A new Tom Franklin novel is always a reason to get excited, but Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter is more—a cause for celebration. What a great novel by a great novelist.”—Dennis Lehane A powerful and resonant novel from Tom Franklin—critically acclaimed author of Smonk and Hell at the Breech—Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter tells the riveting story of two boyhood friends, torn apart by circumstance, who are brought together again by a terrible crime in a small Mississippi town. An extraordinary novel that seamlessly blends elements of crime and Southern literary fiction, Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter is a must for readers of Larry Brown, Pete Dexter, Ron Rash, and Dennis Lehane.

It’s not every day a girl learns she’s not entirely human.Ava Michaels’ once-hidden powers are strong enough to make even the First Race take notice. After surviving an attempted kidnapping and standing up to the Race’s Ruling Council, Ava returns to college and what she hopes is a normal life. But for Ava, normal may not exist anymore.The Council wants her under their control, and they’re not the only ones. The mysterious Rogues have a plan of their own, and it turns out Ava’s a big part of it, whether she wants to be or not.On top of that, her boyfriend, Caleb Foster, has disappeared—accused of betraying the Race—and Ava herself stands implicated in a crime she didn’t commit.Clearing both their names will mean uncovering a web of deceit with Ava woven right in the center. To unravel the strands, she joins forces with some unlikely allies; a Protector who once haunted her nightmares, a young girl with secrets as unexpected as Ava’s, and a group of rebel Guardians who have their own fight against the Council.Together they stand in a battle to find the truth, bring Caleb home, and secure Ava’s freedom—not to mention save her life.Download this action-packed installment in the complete MORE Trilogy now!

Take over the world… or try to save it? Can Ava fight her destiny?It’s only been a few months since Ava Michaels discovered her ties to an ancient race of people living in the shadows of the human world, despite their superior gifts and abilities. A select few don’t like hiding, however, and think it’s time to take over.Now Ava’s caught up in a conspiracy in the works before she was even born. She’s one of the Twelve, the most powerful Race ever created, and they were created for a deadly purpose.Ava, however, doesn’t like being told what to do.Along with her boyfriend, Caleb Foster, Ava must forge alliances with former allies, seek out powerful new friends, and infiltrate the enemy stronghold to try and learn exactly what the Twelve and their power-hungry leader are up to—and then find a way to stop them.In the end, Ava must decide if her destiny lies in her DNA or in her conscience. If she can turn her back on what she was born to do, and do what is right. If she will save the ones she loves, or save the world.Or if her ties to the Twelve mean she has no choice at all.The MORE Trilogy is perfect for lovers of heart-stopping supernatural thrillers with strong characters and pulse-pounding romance. Download all three books in this complete series today so you can binge the complete action-packed trilogy tonight!

They’re gifted. They’re powerful. And they're after her.Ava Michaels isn’t sure what’s real anymore. She’s haunted by terrifying nightmares of a huge, hulking man with mismatched eyes. But then that same man shows up on her doorstep and tries to abduct her – and her mild-mannered physics tutor, Caleb Foster, appears out of nowhere to come to her defense.And she has no idea why.On the run for her life, Ava discovers a secret, ancient race with amazing gifts and abilities. But they see her as a threat, and now her life is on the line. She can’t hide forever, and must find a way to survive – with or without Caleb’s help.Along the way, Ava learns she’s not really normal. In fact, she’s not simply human.She’s a little bit MORE.MORE is the first book in a complete, action-packed trilogy. If you like heart-stopping adventure, awesome supernatural abilities, kick-butt heroines, and a touch of romance, then you’ll stay up all night flipping the pages of T.M. Franklin’s MORE Trilogy.Buy MORE to start the super-powered journey today!

“The best survival book in a decade” (Outside magazine), 438 Days is the true story of the fisherman who survived fourteen months in a small boat drifting seven thousand miles across the Pacific Ocean.On November 17, 2012, a pair of fishermen left the coast of Mexico for a weekend fishing trip in the open Pacific. That night, a violent storm ambushed them as they were fishing eighty miles offshore. As gale force winds and ten-foot waves pummeled their small, open boat from all sides and nearly capsized them, captain Salvador Alvarenga and his crewmate cut away a two-mile-long fishing line and began a desperate dash through crashing waves as they sought the safety of port. Fourteen months later, on January 30, 2014, Alvarenga, now a hairy, wild-bearded and half-mad castaway, washed ashore on a nearly deserted island on the far side of the Pacific. He could barely speak and was unable to walk. He claimed to have drifted from Mexico, a journey of some seven thousand miles. 438 Days is the first-ever account of one of the most amazing survival stories in modern times. Based on dozens of hours of exclusive interviews with Alvarenga, his colleagues, search-and-rescue officials, the remote islanders who found him, and the medical team that saved his life, 438 Days is an unforgettable study of the resilience, will, ingenuity and determination required for one man to survive more than a year lost and adrift at sea.

It's 1911 and the townsfolk of Old Texas, Alabama, have had enough. Every Saturday night for a year, E. O. Smonk has been destroying property, killing livestock, seducing women, cheating and beating men, all from behind the twin barrels of his Winchester 45-70 caliber over-and-under rifle. Syphilitic, consumptive, gouty, and goitered—an expert with explosives and knives—Smonk hates horses, goats, and the Irish, and it's high time he was stopped. But capturing old Smonk won't be easy—and putting him on trial could have shocking and disastrous consequences, considering the terrible secret the citizens of Old Texas are hiding.

In the 1970s, Larry Ott and Silas "32" Jones were boyhood pals in a small town in rural Mississippi. Their worlds were as different as night and day: Larry was the child of lower-middle-class white parents, and Silas, the son of a poor, black single mother. But then Larry took a girl to a drive-in movie and she was never seen or heard from again. He never confessed . . . and was never charged. More than twenty years have passed. Larry lives a solitary, shunned existence, never able to rise above the whispers of suspicion. Silas has become the town constable. And now another girl has disappeared, forcing two men who once called each other "friend" to confront a past they've buried for decades.

Harley lives in a high rise flat on an inner city estate, but his passion is for free running and survival skills. So when he sees an advert for a Bushcraft Survival Competition with his hero Mr. Wilderness, he is determined to enter! But he has never fended for himself in the wild, and his competitors are very experienced and all resolved to win . . . whatever it takes. Does Harley have the skills and courage to survive the weekend and win the competition so he can fulfill his dream and meet Mr. Wilderness himself?

When your living room window starts giving you visions of the future... you better pay attention.Chloe Blake’s campus rental has it all: a retro Victorian vibe, a beautiful picture window, and a perfect view of Ethan Reynolds—the guy who broke her heart and lives across the street. But when disturbing visions of death slide across the panes, she’s convinced she’s glimpsed Ethan’s future. She’ll stop at nothing to change fate and save him… even if it means everyone thinks she’s crazy.Then, one by one, others appear at the house, drawn by an ancient power to seek out the powerful talismans hidden in the attic. Together, they must discover the house’s secrets and unlock their hidden powers to take down the shadowy specter that haunts their premonitions and leaves chaos in its wake.And soon, they learn it’s not only about saving Ethan.It’s about saving EVERYONE.Super Humans is the first book in The New Super Humans, an edge-of-your-seat contemporary fantasy series. If you like original magic systems, startling suspense, and fast-paced action, then you’ll love TM Franklin’s riveting thrill ride.Buy Super Humans to unlock an imaginative fantasy adventure today!

Emily Doe dreams of the sun. In the underground city of New London, there is precious little to dream about, and seeing the sun is as likely as escaping her life as a tunnel rat, but a girl can dream. Then, the earthquake hits…Communication and power from the life sustaining solar towers on the surface goes down, bringing food production to a halt.In the resulting chaos, Emily stumbles into the opportunity of a lifetime – joining an expedition to the surface. If successful, her dreams could become reality, but the surface is a frozen wasteland filled with unknown dangers. Emily fears the journey is a one-way trip. None of the rag-tag crew of tunnel rats is prepared, however, for what they find on the surface. Suddenly, the environment is the least of their worries.