By Norah S. Bernard

Clive is an 11-year-old computer whiz, “internet entrepreneur” and occasional player in the “Warhammer Ancient Battles” game (screenname “Clinkspell”). He receives a “spam” email and decides to “scam” the “spammer” by beating him at his own game—but a surprising turn of events has it working out in a way he never imagined! Clive is also a chess whiz who wipes up the competition in the quarter-finals of the regional chess championship tournament—then finds an unexpected “distraction” at the semi-finals.

Brie is Clive’s 13-year-old sister—a good student and member of the Spanish Club, she also plays the viola in the school orchestra. In spite of her usually good judgment, Brie gets caught up in her own foibles when she accepts an invitation to the Hootin’ Holler school dance from a handsome older high school boy—a spoiled rich kid with a shady reputation. She doesn’t quite understand why he asked her, but realizes later that she should have trusted her better instincts.

Their mother, Constance, is a “stay-at-home-mom”—a former schoolteacher with a beautiful singing voice, who used to star in her high school musicals. Constance frequently gets “volunteered” to do things she would prefer not to—such as accompanying a friend to an audition for a part in a local community play, Beauty and the Beast...and ends up getting the starring role!

Their father, Guy, has problems of his own. He finds an antique pistol in the attic, originally owned by his grandfather. Before disposing of it, he decides to clean it according to the instruction manual that came in the case with it. Big mistake! But he finds even more “danger” when his wife’s cousin comes to town and sets her sights on him!

It all comes together in a surprise twist of events on the opening night of Beauty and the Beast!

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May be Ordered at Amazon.com or any retail book seller Paperback 232 pages $12.95

Also by Norah S. Bernard, for adolescents and young adults:

Virus 2.0* By Norah S. Bernard A petite red-headed computer whiz discovers a computer virus that is fatally infecting computer users all over the country--But other users suddenly discover that they have strange new powers! All are beset by frightening nightmares of a wizened old creature they call “The Gray Man.” It is he who beckons them to the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina and reveals his fate for them...and the world! *Originally published as “Tommy's Crackers”

Paperback 220 pages $15.95

…and for adults:

Sinners & Social Workers By Norah S. Bernard This is the story of eight individuals whose lives ... and deaths ... overlap, as they meet again on the "other side." There, each is given a choice of fates, guided by a variety of characters: priests and rabbis, angels and saints -- and cajoled by the devil himself!

Paperback 232 pages $15.95