They'll open these books again and again.

From nine to ninety-nine, books make great presents for people of all ages. And even if (God forbid!) you should give a book to someone who doesn't love to read, you'll be presenting them with a first-edition, signed copy of a good book made in Alabama by a good old Alabama girl.

Alabama Arts is a book to linger over.

Meet the artists of Alabama -- dancers, poets, painters, sculptors and more.They are captured here in 128 full color pages, a collaboration of the Alabama State Department of Tourism, The Birmingham News and author Karyn Zweifel. The variety and depth of talent hidden away in our state is revealed as she travels to every corner of the state to interview people with a passion for what they do. Alabama is rich with art and those who create it, and Alabama Arts is a celebration of that fact. Pottery makers with a 200-year history, innovative art initiatives for inner city kids, concerts on the ground of a decommissioned army base. There are artists all around us; all we have to do is open our heart and see.

Southern Vampires now available, on its fifteenth birthday!

Deep-fried, blood-curdling -- they're back! All those real Southern Vampires, like Spearfinger, the Native American woman who wants your liver, Madame LaLaurie who draws blood with a whip, and the ubiquitous blood sucker no one can avoid. Rare, first edition, autographed copies are now available for a limited time. Soon to be reissued in a new format -- so these copies from the mid-nineties will be gone for ever! Get one now, and you'll have a piece of Southern history. Plus, you'll be making it possible for the humble author to buy a cup of coffee. C'mon, have a heart. Buy two and I'll get a bagel. $20 each, limited quantities.

A Very Special, Very Short Offer

Covered Bridge Ghost Stories sold thousands of copies while it was in print...and could have sold more. Karyn Zweifel will soon republish this lyrical, (dare we say haunting?) account of spirits in and around some of our country's most notable covered bridges. Would you cross Cry Baby Bridge to Scarum's Bluff? How about a midnight meeting on a dark bridge where the shadows sometimes come alive? Don't miss these 13 stories and their bridges, lovingly painted in words by storyteller Karyn Zweifel. Available now are a rare collection of first editions, and once they're gone, they'll become a one-of-a-kind treasure.

If you love dogs, you're gonna love this book!

When the first cover design was shown to the author, it was dominated by a snarling, frightening hound highlighted against the moon. The design was all wrong for the stories she had collected: the ghost dogs she found risked their lives to save their masters, prevented disasters with their heroism, or made their stand for all eternity as a faithful companion. Some dog ghosts can be scary, it's true: unfaithful husbands shouldn't be caught on River Road after dark, and those who would abuse animals should stay safely in the light. But for the most part, these dog ghosts are companions you'll want to curl up with late at night, with a cozy cup of tea by your side. Suitable for ages ten and up.