"I have always had faith that the best writers will rise to the top, like cream, sooner or later, and will become exactly as well-known as they should be-their work talked about, quoted, taught, performed, filmed, set to music, anthologized. Perhaps, with the present collection, Lucia Berlin will begin to gain the attention she deserves." -Lydia Davis A MANUAL FOR CLEANING WOMEN compiles the best work of the legendary short-story writer Lucia Berlin. With the grit of Raymond Carver, the humor of Grace Paley, and a blend of wit and melancholy all her own, Berlin crafts miracles from the everyday, uncovering moments of grace in the Laundromats and halfway houses of the American Southwest, in the homes of the Bay Area upper class, among switchboard operators and struggling mothers, hitchhikers and bad Christians. Readers will revel in this remarkable collection from a master of the form and wonder how they'd ever overlooked her in the first place.

In this acclaimed psychological thriller, a man is haunted by a killer who terrorized his rural Southern hometown: “a tour de force” (Michael Connelly). Georgia, 1939. In the small community of Augusta Falls, twelve-year-old Joseph Vaughn is devastated to learn of a female classmate’s brutal murder. She had been his friend—someone Joseph loved—and she was far from the killer’s last victim. A few years later, Joseph is determined to protect his town, but he is powerless in preventing more murders—and no one is ever caught. Ten years later, a neighbor is found hanging from a rope, surrounded by belongings of the dead girls. The killings cease. The nightmare appears to be over. Plagued by everything he has witnessed, Joseph sets out to forge a new life in New York. But even there the past won’t leave him alone—for it seems that the murderer still lives and is killing again, and that the secret to his identity lies in Joseph’s own history.

"Do Angels Live in Trees?" could not be more timely! Millions of people suffer from scars of childhood and emotional trauma inflicted by others. Too little emphasis is placed on those who are seen as not important to society. This story unravels with the mind of the child wrapping herself in fantasy and visions of angels who live in trees. This is her way of survival and teaches how faith and determination can change one's life. This book will open eyes to see the deep hurt and needs of the unwanted child. "Do Angels Live in Trees" may be cross-referenced in several ways. It not only provides spiritual undertones but also addresses child abuse issues. Readers who have concerns for the welfare of children will find it most entertaining and enlightening. It could also easily fit into the self-help category. It is a true biography of the author. The general population will find this book full of intrigue, hope, and a determination to survive, no matter how difficult the circumstances.

The New York Times–bestselling author of So Long contemplates the human condition in this short story collection for fans of Grace Paley & Alice Munro. The elusive nature of happiness is a compelling theme in Where I Live Now. The survivors in these stories—many of them society's marginal or excluded people, fighting alcohol or drug addiction, bearing emotional scars—recognize it all too well. They mourn the lost dreams of youth, the roads not taken. They suffer the damage life inflicts: the ache of loneliness, the pain of separation, the fear of death. Set mainly in Los Angeles, Lucia Berlin’s gritty working-class stories bridge the gap between the Americas—rich and poor, North and South, Anglo and Hispanic. While her style has been compared to Raymond Carver’s, and her dream- and drink-addicted characters to Richard Yates’s, her fictional territory and fatalistic humor are hers alone. Praise for Where I Live Now “Berlin’s literary model is Chekhov, but there are extra-literary models too, including the extended jazz solo, with its surges, convolutions, and asides. This is writing of a very high order.” —August Kleinzahler, London Review of Books “This remarkable collection occasionally put me in mind of Annie Proulx’s Accordion Crimes, with its sweep of American origins and places. Berlin is our Scheherazade, continually surprising her readers with a startling variety of voices, vividly drawn characters, and settings alive with sight and sound.” —Barbara Barnard, American Book Review “Berlin is marvelously successful, placing her memorable characters in gripping situations, plumbing their messed-up lives for pathos and allowing us to see deeply into their souls.” —Publishers Weekly

Courting Pippa is a heart-warming romantic-comedy. It is a surprisingly whimsical story that will leave you smiling days after you finish reading it. Courting Pippa brings us back to the age of innocence. Since joining the New South Wales' Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit as a desk jockey, Pippa Mitchell has made a rule for herself: She won't date cops. Even her crush, Officer Paolo Joshua Domini, was off limits. Over time, their friendship had deepened to the point Josh called on his childhood friend, ex-girlfriend Abigail Senna to help sort out his feelings for Pippa. His visit revealed Abigail was dying with a few months to live. Her concern was for him was to experience life fully and to find lasting love. After the time spent with Abigail, Josh was convinced it was time to pursue Pippa, the woman of his choosing. Would he be able to convince her to give him a chance? Pippa continued to play hard to get and kept him at arm's length, but he was drop dead gorgeous, adork-able, and funny. Would she be able to keep resisting him? Or would she fall for his charm? This exquisite tale of love and friendship is swoon-worthy and addictive! Get Your Copy of Courting Pippa Now.