ArcaMax

What would you do if you know your exact point of death? What if death is encoded into our DNA at birth? Imagine the possibilities. They’re hard to grasp, right?

John H. Thomas delves into those very questions in his new novel, "The Terminal Gene." The novel’s far from an existential crisis, but instead it is wrapped around a techno-...Read more

Some losses feel like mountains you’ll never climb. Some griefs linger in the quiet corners of your heart. And some questions have no easy answers. Yet in those moments, certain books become companions, guides, even lifelines.

The following memoirs do exactly that. They explore grief, faith and the stubborn courage it takes to keep moving ...Read more

'MARTY SUPREME'

Rated R for language throughout, sexual content, some violent content/bloody images and nudity.

What it’s about: A table tennis phenom in 1952 New York City wants to become the greatest player in the world.

The kid attractor factor: This is a drama for adult audiences, not much appeal for younger ones.

Good lessons/bad ...Read more

Q: My ex and I just broke up. I know, great time of year. Obviously, it was a surprise to me. So, here's what I am facing: I've been invited to a New Year's Eve party and I'm sure he'll be there with his new girlfriend. I want to go, but I already feel embarrassed and awkward, and I have no idea how to handle it. What's good ex-etiquette?

A: A ...Read more

If you’ve had a cold recently, you know the drill: You drag yourself to the store and prepare to spend the next four days scanning row after row of cold meds. By the time you find the meds that fit your symptoms, your cold will be gone.

All the fine-print ingredients and warnings on the boxes, bottles and origami folded sheets of paper inside...Read more

'AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH'

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, bloody images, some strong language, thematic elements and suggestive material.

What it’s about: The third installment in the "Avatar" saga sees Jake Sully and his Na'vi clan continuing to fight to protect Pandora, with the added complication of another warlike ...Read more

Q: The holidays are coming, and this is my first-year post-breakup. I'm stressed, more emotional than I have ever been, and overwhelmed and not looking forward to interacting with my children's mother. What's good ex-etiquette when you're trying to manage your own stress while co-parenting through the holidays?

A: The holidays amplify ...Read more

Q. Our kids seem overwhelmed since the breakup. This is their first holiday in two separate homes, and they are having trouble even knowing how to talk about the holidays. They're also clingier during exchanges, waking up at night and constantly asking who they'll be with. We keep telling them everything will be OK, but nothing is helping. What'...Read more

The labor and delivery portrayed in the Christmas story has been highly sanitized. We have softened the realities of Christ’s birth with pillowy mounds of straw, cattle gently lowing, moonlight streaming in through strategically placed windows and an inexperienced husband attending the birth like a seasoned OB/GYN who has delivered hundreds.

...Read more

"Thunderbird Rising" by John H. Thomas launches listeners into an alternate history thriller set in September 2001. Former Army Ranger Maxx King is pulled into a covert conflict between the U.S. and China after a violent encounter with a spy. At the center is a mysterious device capable of triggering catastrophic natural disasters … and every ...Read more

"The Chronicles of Durajan" invites readers into a sprawling yet deeply intimate fantasy world where exiled outcasts band together to create something extraordinary.

In the remote canyons of the Durajan – a harsh land of banishment where the “branded” are cast away – a new settlement called Dothemia is born from the hopes of those who ...Read more

ATLANTA -- Anxious, depressed, isolated and worthless — that’s how the DeKalb County School District said its 91,000 students increasingly feel. From TikTok to YouTube, Georgia’s third-largest school district points to a $4 million social media addiction problem.

Now, paired with new research from the University of Georgia, phone use is ...Read more

'ELLA MCCAY'

Rated PG-13 for strong language, some sexual material and drug content.

What it’s about: A young female politician navigates the demands of her new job as governor, her chaotic family life and her desire to make change in the world.

The kid attractor factor: This is an adult dramedy, not much appeal for kids.

Good lessons/bad ...Read more

I talked to Santa by phone today. Truly. He was in St. Louis getting ready to head out for an afternoon shift at the mall and after that a couple of runs on the Polar Express.

Mrs. Claus was helping with the custom-fit red and white suit (which his daughter makes for him), the belt, the hat, the boots, the gloves and the signature beard.

Santa...Read more