Alice lives with her husband, who sometimes subjects her to the occasional bout of violence. After the latest attack, something is unlocked inside her...A Short Story of approx 2,400 words.Time travel has always been a subject left to fiction writers and movie makers. The concept is arbitrary at best and to many it is incomprehensible. Froth with paradox, the subject of time travel simply put is mind boggling.World population exceeded seven billion On March 12, 2012. Assuming a moderate population growth of 1% annually, world population numbers a mere five hundred years later will exceed one trillion people. If you think the government isn't aware of this you should perhaps remove your head from the sand.In the very near future, wars will be fought, not for the purpose of gaining political control, not to seize control of natural resources, but for the sole purpose of reducing the population of our planet. Citizens of this world are unaware that governments are even now considering annihilation of the masses by using nuclear weapons on their own population.Time travel has always been a subject left to fiction writers and movie makers but maybe the origins of life and the sustaining of life in our universe have more in common with time travel than you think.

Once a person is turned, they become more 'animal.' Follow the girls as they struggle to keep control of their new instincts and their new lives while protecting the lost children they saved from the streets.This is a collection of three short stories with a common thread of the supernatural. "The Man with Three Names" is unquestionably "literary" fiction in that it is carefully crafted to be confusing, and leave the reader to decide what it means. "684 Feet" is more light-hearted, except for the attempted suicide foiled by what may or may not be an angel. "Butterfly" is a flash fiction piece that is as insightful as it is is devastating. I have included this piece because no one seems interested in publishing it, and I feel it illustrates my skills excellently.Included in the book are coupons for my upcoming book "Love Transcends" that I hope to release for Valentines day, and my current novel "Murphy's Second Death." The book is free, and the coupons will save you 50%. Enjoy.

Stepping Out on A Limb is a collection of new stories “with refreshing ideas.” A summary of taking the stories one more step or to the edge of exciting reading. The flavor is exciting and the plots are rewarding.ONE NIGHT STANDWhen two strangers meet in an Atlanta bar they indulge in a one night stand. Unknowingly, later on, it will involve them in an experience they never expected. JUNCTION 447, US HIGHWAY 10A surprising event unveiled in this story causes the truths of a group of people to be exposed. The awakening moments spiral out of control and cause them to take a loss.EXIT 537Each of us is on a journey, taking life as it come to us. What lies ahead appears from where we have been, directing our ways as we go. No one knows where the chips will fall. Life is unexpected; you have to be ready at all times.THE WITHERING VINEIn the valley of Uz, near the plains of Omar, a young man name Aaron lived. He was a keeper of the ground and the Lord watched over him. He was truly blessed with an enriched life until trouble came. Would he endure to the end or give up? That is his test.THE CURSE OF THE SCARECROW MURDERSThree young men start off with a bullying incident that leaves a town in ruins. The night fires and the raging flames haunt the night sky and lurk over the town as the smell of death lingers in the air.

Durel lived alone with his power for ages. He also lived among the people during other ages, hate was slowly consuming him. Until the day he found his little white dog, no magic could teach him to love the way she did. After fifty years death came despite his magical spells. From that moment on Durel vowed he would be the only human to contact and destroy death himself. The lies would be removed.Field Manuals (FMs) are the bibles of the Army. They provide instruction and step-by-step procedures for just about anything and everything. There are well over 500 currently in use, with subjects ranging from infantry tactics, to knot tying, to nuclear operations...all the fun stuff. There's even one with the title, War and Operations Other Than War (FM 100-15), which pretty much sums up the all-encompassing nature of Field Manuals. Because of their general usefulness and utility, there is often crossover usage of FMs outside of the military in the civilian world. They are for the most part written in a straight-forward and easy-to-read manner, and usually have pictures and illustrations to go along with the text. Some folks use them to figure out a sound way to cross a river, how to read a map, or how to overthrow a dictator and start a revolution while cooking a mean batch of biscuits and gravy. Others like to flip through various FMs, such as the one on First Aid for Soldiers (FM 21-11), and its Appendix B, which deals with aid-and-litter carrying techniques, and for no particular reason, recaption the illustrations to tell a crude love story…

This is a book of poems about unemployment, the economy, and the 99% vs. 1%.WARNING! This is a Zed Lab Experiment! "The green points" description:An evening in summer to the beginning of the years '80, a teen-ager and one friend of his of a few older years are found on a bench of the public gardens to speak of the future. Alternating serious and joky tones, the two young people share certainties, doubts, hopes and fears, preparing himself to the entry in the adult phase of their lives in a historical period marked by deep social changes, political and of custom that will characterize the years to come in general in Italy and in the world.

This, DaNeo's 2nd 1980s set novel, follows Little Spirit. The USed Wonz are a UK mixed-sex 4-piece rock band touring America. But someone is either out to ruin them or Linda, their delightful booking agent. Highly compelling, the story tells of Johnny's brutal upbringing which developed his ability to handle challenges and explains his romantic obsession with one particular older women.In a dressing room in Wichita minutes before show time Johnny feels like a caged animal. His English band The USed Wonz mightn’t be enjoying the same degree of success Stateside that Little Spirit are in England but they believe they’re doing well. Records and concert tickets are selling. But Johnny knows that the American recording conglomerate that markets and distributes their album could be having a change of heart and might terminate their contract. They need a second album. But Johnny has jeopardised that by gambling the money they’ve been advanced to pay for its recording.Believing he’s ruined his band’s chances of further success he contacts the only person in America who would care.Alone and working late in her office Saturday, Linda the band's delightful agent picks up Johnny’s call. Unfortunately she has problems of her own. The booking agency she’s spent years developing is in trouble. Can she help the band anyway?Johnny and The USed Wonz is DaNeo Duran’s second novel and begins on the day Little Spirit ends. Deeply emotional, Johnny and The USed Wonz takes the reader back to 1970s England when a teenage boy escapes the violence of an alcoholic father. Love the child who grows into a martial artist and musician and who as a young man leads his band into the 1980s towards the promise of success in the USA.Set in the UK and America the writing is both mature and sensitive. As with Little Spirit, aspiring musicians will enjoy Johnny and The USed Wonz as well as fans of romance and drama.

The 1st in a collection of 14 short stories by Abbie Joules about her brother, Bendigo, as they grew up on an east Texas Farm. Ben's life ended tragically in Abbie's company at the age of eighteen, and she is determined that his memory not vanish forever. She as sculpted an image of a bygone era in which her brother stars in riveting tales, filled with humor, adventure and love.Bendigo Joules, raised on a small farm in east Texas in the 40's and 50's, scratched out a life filled with the joys, surprises, trials and love that only an adventurous and giving spirit could produce. His life ended tragically in his sister's company at the age of eighteen, and Abbie Joules is determined that his memory not vanish forever. Fortunately 'words work' is her specialty, and she has sculpted an image of a bygone era in which her brother stars in riveting tales filled with humor, adventure, and the full warmth and foibles that humanity has to offer. You will not soon forget the life of Bendigo or his loving sister, Abbie, nor the many characters she paints with both sensitivity and vivid colors: Price and Pleasure Walker, Booptriska Kazmierski, Ziggy Pugh, Cat-Fish and Fish-Cat, and many others. It is a book for readers of any age who want their day to feel warm, bright and friendly."I figured I was a goner," Corrinth said. "That car was going over the edge of the dump, right down into that filth and--BLEWY! I was going to cook, right along with the rats. Can you imagine? On my first date with Ben?" (from The Rat Stomp)Dirk Palowski snatched up Ziggy and chucked him under his arm like a wiener pig, then ran around the track like a tramp hauling a stolen ham, with all the boys in hot pursuit. For the first time in his life, Ziggy was in demand. (from Five Seconds For A Winner)

The story centers around Marie, a modern day 40-something housekeeper and Katriena, an 18th century slave girl of about 15 years old.Katriena is pregnant with her white master's baby, which she desperately wants to save.Marie, who is Katriena's only remaining descendent, is the baby's only chance of survival.Marie is a 40-something housekeeper leading a pretty humdrum existence in modern day Saltriver, Cape Town.She has regular church meetings, a grown son and a husband she barely talks to.Marie starts having excruciating back-ache and eventually loses track of parts of her day.Katriena is a 18th century slave-girl of about 15 years, who is pregnant with her white master's baby and desperate to save her unborn child.Johannes, a medicine man, promises to help her do this, using her link to Marie who is Katriena's only living descendent.

Bryce Carlisle had sold his youthful ambitions of great wealth for a comfortable living selling the looted trinkets of dying Mars. Then the package from a forgotten friend arrived, and his old lusts were awakened by the promise of unbelievable treasures in the vast wastes.Because our nation has entered “an age of post-constitutional soft tyranny” and because I have been casting about for something I could do to help restore “ constitutional republicanism and preserving the civil society from the growing authoritarianism of a federal Leviathan” I wrote this in order to garner interest within the Conservative community to coalesce around a workable plan to reclaim the Constitution and restore our Republic.While we slept the Barbarians have breached the gates. The Statists, also know as the Progressive-Left, have been chipping away at the Constitution for 100 years. Their effort has culminated in this President and his Rommel like blitzkrieg to 'fundamentally' change America. Hopefully we will find a Patton-esque leader to reverse this Obamanation.

This is the story of two 12-year-old best friends growing up on the mean streets of Philadelphia. It chronicles their friendship and tells the remarkable, untold true story of how Babe Ruth came to their local parish to play in one incredible baseball game. That September day in 1923 would forever change the lives of these two friends.This is the story of two 12-year-old boys who were best friends growing up on the mean streets of the Kensington section of Philadelphia. It chronicles their friendship and the conflicts that they faced. It also tells the remarkable, untold true story of how Babe Ruth came to their local parish to play in one incredible baseball game. On a September day in 1923, Babe Ruth was whisked away from the Yankees game to play charity baseball to raise money to pay off the debt for their field. That day would forever change the lives of these two friends.Coming of age in the era of prohibition two young boys find themselves facing the many challenges and dangers of the inner-city. Their love of baseball is their guiding light and source of hope. The improbable events that unfolded during Babe Ruth’s appearance at Boger Field have been lost in baseball history. From the moment Babe put on the Ascension of Our Lord Parish uniform and took the field against the Lit Brother’s team baseball folklore was made.

My mind is more than I have left.I’m not alright,But I’m okay.You’re gonna leave me alone,Anyway.The air is dry, the heat unbearable, and Lord Malspire Ronsteim is being flogged. Fractious and rebellious they say, yet he considers himself just craven and weakly, the crippled son of a Lord Admiral and pale twin to the heroic Ajator. His bent body is tied to the frame where he is lashed to within an inch of his life. The spiteful and bitter Captain Crosp, wants Malspire's life.His wounds heal and Malspire befriends the crew who teach him the ways of the sea. Crosp is enraged and seeks yet another opportunity to rid himself of the cripple. Malspire is called upon to rescue a merchant from pirates. The fight is desperate and Malspire can tell that they are losing when he spies the enemy captain. He challenges the man to a duel. Although vastly out-skilled, Malspire is lucky or fate has a greater plan, for he survives and saves the beautiful Veinara with whom he falls in love. He knows he is bent and ugly but she seems to like him and offers him the hope. Malspire is not to win her heart however as his brother, Ajator, is awaiting him at port. When the perfect Ajator and Veinara's eyes meet, Malspire knows he has lost her. Out of loyalty and pride, the heart broken Malspire keeps his feelings to himself.The Wraith Deep is the name of the steam frigate taken as prize and given to the now newly promoted Captain Malspire. The ship is a wreck and the ragtag crew he is given hardly enough to even set sail let alone fight the rebellion, yet Malspire is elated and high on dreams of adventure and discovery.Malspire puts to sea in his new ship. The rebels are amassing a fleet for an attack on the Empire’s western most port, but the Empire needs more intelligence. Malspire plans to take a rebel codebook. With the ship of a privateer the plan is simple: Sail into a rebel port in disguise and snatch one from under their very noses. Madness perhaps, but Malspire has little to lose and much to prove.Through cunning and luck, Malspire and his ship make it to the rebel port where he tricks a rebel officer, assumes his identity and steals aboard a rebel battleship. Here Malspire is forced to kill in order to take the book. Trapped and out of options he climbs over the side of the ship and swims for safety and comes within only a single breath of drowning. He has a copy of the codebook, so the Wraith Deep makes full speed for home but not before witnessing the rebel armada about to launch its strike.Pushing the ship and crew beyond all tolerance, Malspire takes the news directly to the High Admiral aboard the flagship, the Grand Oak, who together with the enigmatic secret agent of the Emperor, Lord Mornight Pavantu, orders Malspire to capture a rebel watchtower so that the Imperial Fleet can ambush the enemy.With the aid of a dainty beauty more deadly than arsenic, Malspire and his men overcome the watchtower. Malspire however is not satisfied, and decides to join the fleet. The night-time, epic battle that follows is a thunderous vision in black and white of hell and fire, and sees Malspire and his men make the ultimate sacrifice by using their ship as a battering ram to stop the rebel flagship from destroying the Grand Oak. Victory is theirs.Malspire, now a hero, and his victorious crew return home where fate twists and turns its unjust course. He is instantly placed under arrest by Lord Mornight Pavantu! The crime however is not Malspire's but his brother's. Ajator has attacked the master of the Secret Servants. Ajator is called a traitor and Malspire is now under the burning scrutiny of the feared Secret Servants. Pavantu however does not suspect Malpire, and helps him escape.Malspire is close to panic. His beloved brother, the great hero, is being called a traitor. Not only this, but Veinara arrives in the hope that Malspire will search for Ajator.Together with his crew and the now pregnant Veinara whom Malspire still secretly loves, they set off in search of Ajator. He must find his brother before the Empire does!

In a hive mind plagued by viral attacks, a special agent is sent in a mission to collect intelligence about their origin from a defector. But will he win the battle of wits against him?A man of the written word, he has made himself a name in the literary community in the year 2035. But someone has dared to plagiarize his work. When he confronts the culprit, he learns that it was not a person but a computer programmed to replicate his identity. Trapped on all sides by an encroaching world of technology, he tires to escape in any way he can. When he can't do it, he acts out violently against the machines. They become the focus of his rage, and he tries to rally the world to his mission: to save humanity from itself.

Eleven year old Jacob longs to be strong. He longs to be a hero, and living in service to one of Cairemia's mightiest knights you would think he'd have the chance. But alas, he is only a servant. That is, until danger strikes and he is the only one who can heed the call. His life endangered, his courage tested—he'll find out if he knows... How to Be a Hero.Eleven year old Jacob longs to be strong. He longs to be a hero, and living in service to one of Cairemia's mightiest knights you would think he'd have the chance. But alas, he is only a servant. That is, until danger strikes and he is the only one who can heed the call. His life endangered, his courage tested—he'll find out if he knows... How to Be a Hero.Set in the ancient land of Cairemia, How to Be a Hero is a short story that gives a glimpse into the exciting world of the upcoming Treasures of Darkness - Treasures of Light series as seen the through the eyes of one of book one's most beloved characters.Enter a medieval world of mystery and adventure.

Chapter 4 : Sacred Warriors The Carpati believe in myths. Their moon has an atmosphere with clouds and visible oceans. At night strange strings of light are visible, and sometimes they change place, or disappear all together. To the Carpati they are light-fairy nests.Some believe that in ancient times a warrior class of the Bitani were sacred warriors, with the light-fairies their bitter enemies. This is a story encouraged by the Bitani, even taught in school, but Andee resents it, until he meets the mysterious Brothers of the Bitani. Are they the true sacred warriors?Lightship Chronicles is a young adult adventure set on a mysterious world. Carpatia is a harsh desert land, but one with spectacular vistas and populated by two very different yet resilient people, the Carpati and the Bitani. Both believe in competing myths of their history. Myths of great ancient battles fought over by a clan of mysterious Sacred Warriors against magical Light-Fairies. Under the glowing warmth of their red-giant sun, it's easy for the Carpati to believe in their beautiful myths. They spend most of their long 36 hour days living a simple farming lifestyle in the Township built on the lower slopes of the mighty Table Mountain. The Bitani meanwhile rule over the Carpati from their futuristic city atop the massive pillar-like tabletop of a mountain, and have a very different, and quite mysterious perspective. For the Carpati the only respite from the drudgery of their simple days are the monthly lightship races. The hovering lightships speed at more than 700kph over a 600km course that runs up the sides of mesas, through the canyons of the Crags, over the 10m waves of the Great Salt sea, over the Long Straight, the Dunes, and through the Eastern Hills and its many giant Baobab threes. It's a spectacular race unlike anything else and the favorite pastime of Andee and his little brother Mykee. Both dream of being lightship pilots while watching the race from their favorite hangout, the 1000m high Outcrop overlooking The Crags. Join the adventure now, because this is growing into an epic tale years into the making. Visit LightshipChronicles.com for more in depth details of the race circuit, including images of the course, the outcrop, and the lightships.

A story about a child's grief of the death of her father. And whether she will be loved without him.The works of Amser Studios fit together like a puzzle. To see the timeline of this unique universe, please visit AmserStudios.comI hope that you enjoy this and all other Amser Studios reads and ask that you PLEASE REVIEW on sites like goodreads, amazon, barnes and noble, etc as they are being made free temporarily for your convenience. Thank you.Lucifer's Symphony, the novella set directly after this short story is also available (for free) on Smashwords for a limited time!

Keith Marksman is stuck between a job he doesn't like and the threat of unemployment. He's one of the last six human workers in a factory that has been systemically automated. And things aren't great at home either. Keith soon finds himself spiraling down into a rebellious rage when his wife leaves him for a sexbot.33 year-old Rachel Payne is on her way to start a life new. Divorced, childless, and penniless, Rachel has nothing to show for her life, and nothing to lose. The life she has been living never felt right to her. She went to college, got a job, got married, had a house and cars, tried to have children but couldn't. While she tried to fit the mold of a “normal” woman in society, she always felt there was something else out there, waiting for her.The 51 hour train route from Chicago to San Francisco proves to be the most dangerous trip she’s ever taken. Plagued by nightmares and unable to eat or sleep, she begins to feel like she's losing her mind. Then, she and six other passengers become trapped in a train car by a sadistic, demon-possessed young man. Rachel is faced with betrayal and death as the demon exposes the passengers' deadly sins and threatens to murder them all. Armed with only an innate ability to identify the demon for what it is, Rachel endures the first of many horrors that will inevitably consume her life.

Who can save your world, when your gods have abandoned it?Aedlem is one of the few left in Panlithia who believes they are not really gone. In fact, the rising generation doesn't believe they ever really existed. When a cruel alien species invades and enslaves the population, can Aedlem's faith in the mysterious Ghosts of the Sky help him lead his people to freedom once again?Pel has a story to tell. There's the girl who grew up destitute, addicted, single mother to a son she can't protect; the father who left the family, then disappeared; the old family friend, angel and demon both; the Dandelion Knight. But why tell it tonight, before a crowded theater in a city under siege? A companion novella to THE DANDELION KNIGHT.

A Rare Finds tale. Gilbert Solomon, a finder of rare objects, is hired to locate a prototype 50s-era robot. He soon finds it, but its owner won't give it up except in exchange for a rare issue of a men's magazine. When Gil finds a copy of the magazine, its owner likewise won't give it up except in trade, and so on and so on, the job threatening to become an endless chain of trades. 8400 words.A Rare Finds tale. Gilbert Solomon, a finder of rare objects, is hired to locate a prototype 50s-era robot. He soon finds it, but its current owner will let it go only in exchange for an equally rare item: one of the few surviving copies of a controversial men’s magazine. When Gil tracks down a copy of the magazine, its owner likewise insists on a trade. And so it goes, the job threatening to become a never-ending chain of trades, a job that winds up including everything from inept literary agents to nymphomaniac porn stars, from chocolate-cherry cheesecake to…kittens? Awww… 8,400 words

Short Story.A boy with fantastic ability is desperate to showcase himself, but will pride come before a fall? His simple trial to display an adolescent's grasp of the all powerful Potency should be straightforward. It isn't always.Short Story.A boy with fantastic ability is desperate to showcase himself, but will pride come before a fall? His simple trial to display an adolescent's grasp of the all powerful Potency should be straightforward. It isn't always. The three species graced with god-like abilities have finally reached a tentative symbiosis after millennia of war and destruction – giving their respective worlds a peaceful order. The Potent take pride in their new found self restraint, which goes against their natural want for all.Atmospheric, escapist, dark, mysterious, surreal science fiction/fantasy. Second part of a space opera series. (This part is ~3000 words).

With her shining gift for "exquisite and enchanting" (BookPage) storytelling, Jude Deveraux sweeps readers away in a breathtaking follow-up to her beloved New York Times bestseller, The Summerhouse — where a marvelous new adventure awaits. Magic most definitely resides in the Maine summerhouse where the mysterious Madame Zoya has granted the innermost wishes of its visitors. Now, three women have come to this special place with one thing in common: a painful past they would each like to rewrite. Amy, who hides a heartbreaking loss behind her seemingly perfect marriage and family...Faith, a widow in her thirties whose deepest grief is for a man from years ago...and Zoë, an artist shunned by her hometown for reasons she doesn't know, after a traumatic night erased her memory. With their mystical powers, Madame Zoya and her sister Primrose are about to transport the trio to eighteenth-century England to alter Amy's ancestry. But although surprises await each of them, will stepping back in time bring the women the happy endings they seek?