Books with author R. J. MacDonald

War is threatening. The grey parrot with the bright red tail named Kasuku is flying as fast as he can to reach the village of Kiritiri and the hut of the powerful and aging warrior, Chief Pachunga. But if Kjaz-Barbaroi, an evil leader with designs on ruling Africa, gets to the hut first, it will be too late for all of them.Kasuku carries orders from Olugbala to tell the chief, who has been held prisoner for three rainy seasons, that he must raise an army to fight against Kjaz-Barbaroi and his contingent of Dark Creatures. Pachunga and the parrot narrowly escape the village, and with Kjaz-Barbaroi close behind, they face constant danger. Joined by Muriel Sniggins, the trio travels through the jungle, descend into a cave system inhabited by a long-lost race of people, and finally reach the savannah. As they journey, Pachungas army continues to grow person by person, group by group. In the meantime, Kjaz-Barbarois army also gets larger and larger. Each day brings them closer and closer to the final battle. Pachunga wonders if his army will be large enough, strong enough, and brave enough to defeat the evil Kjaz-Barbaroi.

It's summer vacation! A time to unwind and hang out with friends on the beach. No worries. Just lazy sun-drenched days by the water. At least for every other teenager in Florida but Skyler Stoerm--stuck on a sailing trip to the Bermuda Triangle with only his father and menagerie of pets for company. No Wifi, no Internet, and no friends. Unfortunately, boring doesn't describe Skyler's journey for long, and he finds himself alone and stranded at sea after an attack by a sea serpent straight out of Norse mythology. Help comes by way of a group of fallen heroes on their own path toward redemption. They travel with Skyler to Asgard where the teen learns of his Nordic lineage (cool!). But being the grandson of a Nordic god isn't all muscles and lightning bolts--it comes with an excess of enemies (not cool at all!). To save his father, Skyler must find Odin's lost book of Blood Runes (while dodging harpies and dragons and even a few demigod stalkers).

A for . . . Achoo?B for Bump, Bang, and Bop?C for Crackle, Clank, and Crunch?This is truly an alphabet with attitude, created by that master of raucous humor, Ross MacDonald. In this hilarious book you'll see clothes ripped off an intrepid game hunter by a ferocious lion (ROAR! RIP! RUN!); a little boy who manages to pin the tail on his father, rather than the donkey. (NO! OH! OOPS! OW!); and an exceedingly plump Santa being crammed down the chimney (JINGLE! JINGLE! JINGLE!).But wait! There's more! All the words in this book where set in 19th-century wood type and printed in blazing color on a handpress, creating extraordinary visual effects. An endnote accompanied by photographs describes the process and serves as a fascinating introduction to a disappearing craft

In The Chill a distraught young man hires Archer to track down his runaway bride. But no sooner has he found Dolly Kincaid than Archer finds himself entangled in two murders, one twenty years old, the other so recent that the blood is still wet. What ensues is a detective novel of nerve-racking suspense, desperately believable characters, and one of the most intricate plots ever spun by an American crime writer.From the Trade Paperback edition.

Ten years ago, an order of magic-resistant peacekeepers crushed an uprising of starlight magicians. A fragile balance has settled over the world. Despite the anger simmering within the five families, they have lived in a truce with the starless under the careful watch of the peacekeepers—until now.Someone is killing magicians. The murders have disrupted the balance and thrown the islands into chaos, and the factions are readying themselves for another war. But meanwhile…AHRYN, eldest child of an Astral house, abandons her studies and hunts the assassin who slayed her family. But her starlight magic is wild and untrained—dangerous.EZAI is lost, a victim of the corruption that plagues his order, and a stain on his family's legacy. Seeking purpose, he promises a grieving father to bring justice one last time.TAKHA, a commoner and master of manipulation who never had a family, latches onto the winds of rebellion surging through the people in his endless search for power.Each has a part to play in the coming conflict, but none knows of the danger forgotten by time stirring on the horizon, and it will take a union of starlight, steel, and faith to find salvation.A. M. Macdonald writes science fiction and epic fantasy.REMEMBER THE DAWN is the first book of the STARSINGERS, a sword and sorcery saga that takes place in a world with a distinct magic system and an elaborate and expansive history.Follow his blog and find updates on his work in progress at http://www.dybsy.ca or via @therealdybsy on Twitter.

From a beloved master of crime fiction, The Deep Blue Good-by is one of many classic novels featuring Travis McGee, the hard-boiled detective who lives on a houseboat. Travis McGee is a self-described beach bum who won his houseboat in a card game. He's also a knight-errant who's wary of credit cards, retirement benefits, political parties, mortgages, and television. He only works when his cash runs out, and his rule is simple: He'll help you find whatever was taken from you, as long as he can keep half. "John D. MacDonald was the great entertainer of our age, and a mesmerizing storyteller."-Stephen King McGee isn't particularly strapped for cash, but how can anyone say no to Cathy, a sweet backwoods girl who's been tortured repeatedly by her manipulative ex-boyfriend Junior Allen? What Travis isn't anticipating is just how many women Junior has torn apart and left in his wake. Enter Junior's latest victim, Lois Atkinson. Frail and broken, Lois can barely get out of bed when Travis finds her, let alone keep herself alive. But Travis turns into Mother McGee, giving Lois new life as he looks for the ruthless man who steals women's spirits and livelihoods. But he can't guess how violent his quest is soon to become. He'll learn the hard way that there must be casualties in this game of cat and mouse.

What would you do if you left home to go to the mall and two hours later woke up in a strange city a century in the past? This is how it all begins for Alfred William Mason, an ordinary 12-year old who hates history, but finds himself in the middle of an extraordinary time traveling adventure. As Alfie is hurled about through time, he gets himself involved in major events of historical significance. Along the way, he meets up with his great-grandfather as a boy, helps an immigrant family come to realize the American dream, and discovers he's tougher and more resilient than he ever imagined. While the scientists at the lab frantically work to bring him home, Alfie comes to realize even the smallest actions of the past can have far reaching implications for the future.

Mr. Fred used to be an unhappy office manager, until he received a letter from his long lost uncle MacDonald, who gave him an amazing challenge: Fix up the old family farm, and it would become his inheritance! Looking for a change of pace, Mr. Fred quickly became Farmer Fred, and took up his uncle's challenge. He now has one year to learn how to live off the land, restore his family's ancient farm to working order, and make enough money to secure his future. Arriving at his family's farm, Farmer Fred finds it in disrepair. The fences are broken, the farmland is full of overgrown trees, the land needs to be tilled and planted, the greenhouse is broken, and there is so much more work to be done! Adjusting to his new life, Farmer Fred decided to keep a daily journal, detailing his efforts towards restoring the family farm and helping the local community. What kind of adventures will Farmer Fred have as he adjusts to life on the farm? How will he learn the skills needed to survive and thrive? How will he turn this ruined farm into a thriving business? Read this exciting series of books to find out!