A humorous fantasy short story set during the American Civil War about a hapless Irishman who is pressed into service and must call upon supernatural help, and his own wits, to survive a pending major battle and the war.After uncounted decades of writing poems, Lenny has sifted out his ten best short ones, so that readers won't have to spend more than fifteen minutes reading them.

After the death of her husband, Sir Differel Van Helsing decided to take some time off and tour the English back-roads on a motorcycle, and rethink her life. Unfortunately, paranormal threats are everywhere, and she cannot ignore them. This is a short story.Sir Differel Van Helsing once believed she would never have a family of her own. It just seemed inconceivable that she would ever forge an emotional tie to another human being that could leave her vulnerable and thus compromise her ability to run the Caerleon Order.Then she met a good man who genuinely liked her for herself. Despite her attempts to resist, she eventually fell in love with him. They married and conceived a child, and she came to believe they would be together forever.When he was assassinated by a rival monster-hunting organization, her whole world fell apart. Though she recovered in time, she came to question her commitment to running the Order. She knew she could not be an effective director if she had any doubts, so she decided to take some time off to reconsider her life's choices.Taking a cue from her parents' premarital activities, she bought and refurbished an antique motorcycle so she could tour the English country back-roads alone as an outlaw biker. She plans to spend whatever time she needs to work through her dilemma, because she realizes that whatever decision she makes will be final and irrevocable for the rest of her life, and she wants to make sure it is the right one.Unfortunately, paranormal threats are everywhere, and try as she might she cannot ignore them, or her duty.

A short Christmas story to cheer the heart.Tessa's come to the end of her strength as a single mom. Christmas Eve fills her with sadness because she can't provide a festive day for her kids. When they all go out to buy some stationery to make Christmas decorations, the whole family is in for a surprise when they meet Clark, an assistant closely resembling Santa Claus.Before Snow White fled...she fell. A mirror is unveiled, a young woman is corrupted. A great king falls prey to a mysterious illness and war sweeps through the land. These are the events that set the stage for EVERMORE: THE RYLAKIAN HEIR.

King Dramon desires an heir above all else, but not just any heir. His mind is set on expanding the borders of his dominion and increase his power. Martina has been having the terrible dreams once more and is certain that it is a warning for things to come. Her fears may yet be confirmed bringing about the inevitable.An unexpected reunion between the two, unravels events.Akia de Wolfe was quickly becoming known as one of Boston's finest. After closing the Silent Ripper case, a promotion soon followed. For the first time since running away from home a decade ago, her life was perfect, until a ghost from her past, a mistake that she had fought to forget, calls. Coming home to Haven wasn't something she ever wanted to do again, but her father needed her. A serial killer was loose on the small island her family called home, and trying to pin the gruesome murders on him. Facing her demons won't be easy, but in order to clear her father's name and catch a killer she must.

A marriage goes up in smoke at a tobacco tasting factory. A comedic play set in the real-life Yelets tobacco factory which still employs cigarette tasters, when the head taster dies, a married couple must compete for the coveted position.Inventor Theo Duval appeared to be having the perfect life. A locked room with the only key in the decedent’s pocket, a book on hypnotism, and one very rich and very dead inventor, present Inspector Gilles Maintenon of the Surete with a problem. Why would a young, healthy, successful man, one with a beautiful fiance, and a thriving company ever want to kill himself?Mystery lovers will also enjoy 'Redemption: an Inspector Gilles Maintenon mystery,' and 'Blessed Are the Humble' as well as The Handbag's Tale, the original noir novella that inspired the series. Available at most major online retailers.

A collection of over 250 poems that reflect on man as the poet and the actor who handles the helm of his affairs, on a timed cruise. His abilities compose and steer his story, as his capabilities and fate enables him. It encapsulates the essence of poetry, using eloquent words to convey the poet’s thoughts and experience. The poet mans the helm, and the cruise is his composed poem.This is a collection of over 250 poems that altogether seeks to reflect man as both the poet and the actor who handles the helm of his own affairs, on a timed cruise, down his very own banked personal river. Using his abilities to compose and steer his poetic story, faring only as suitably as his capabilities and fate enables him.The essence of poetry is in its use of eloquent apt words to convey the poet’s exact thoughts, as they are felt or experienced by him. Like it is the actor’s ability to apply specific skills to portray a scripted character reveals a story, it is likewise the poet's grant to create the content and set the beauty of the words.If the soul is scripted, if the mind can think, if the heart does feel and the body is specific; then every individual distinctively roams on a course throughout their lives that can be manipulated to fit their own different experience, but not actually change it. For the poet mans the helm, and the cruise is his composed poem.

Holly Harlow is intelligent, courageous and independent.And she works as a London call girl.When a client is murdered in her bed, she has to find the killer - before the police arrest her for the crime. Holly's trail leads from human trafficking to unbridled celebrity egotism and the corridors of political power.What she discovers is almost unimaginable."Where did you find the dress! Tell me! Where did you buy this?""A tailor, in the woods. Let go of me, woman. What is with you? What is this about?""What was the name of the shop! You must tell me, Gregory!"He tried to undo her claw-like grasp on his arms but to no avail. She was digging her fingers in for dear life."Tell me!""The Verdant Egress! Why?"Caralynne turned to flee the room, meaning to head for the door once more, but Gregory was quicker. His hand shot out, drunk or not, and he turned her back towards him."You can't go out at this hour alone! It's unheard of!""Let go of me!" Caralynne squealed, pushing at him."Caralynne, I can't let you leave…not like this!"For a moment, she paused and looked up at him. In his cups or no, he was stronger than her. This wouldn’t be easy for her to say, but there was much at stake. And she would give anything to leave the house in this very moment. There was no time to spare."If you…if you let me leave, I shall return…"Her hands were gentle as she pressed them lightly to his velvety vest and pushed him away from her. She saw him swallow at the merest hint of heat in her touch, but still he didn't let go of her arms."When I return, I shall…I shall find you. In your…bedroom…"Lord Esteban's eyes widened at the suggestion. Caralynne nodded, knowing he had made the connection she intended. Whether she would keep that soft agreement she had just made or not, she didn't care. But she needed to leave. Now."When you return," Gregory said carefully, "I'll be in my bedroom. Attend me there. Like a wife should…"Caralynne nodded this time and slowly, Lord Esteban let her go. Then she turned and left the room, running for the door that a servant was already opening for her. With barely enough time to draw her cloak hood up over her head, she ran out into the rain and into the night.

Long ago, the ancient lady in the darkened bed had been the first white woman to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Or had she been the first to walk around it? Whatever the truth, that legend from her lifetime would soon die with her. Unconscious on her deathbed, scenes from her life run through her head while caregivers chatter around her. [1976]A short story about hunting waterfowl in Northeastern Wisconsin. If you've ever wondered what it might be like to head out to the lake on a cool November morning in search of waterfowl, this is the story for you!Also included is a short preview of Derrek's upcoming YA Fantasy novel, Threshold.

Nora knows the secrets behind the horrifying things happening on Fear Street and reveals the dark legacy that marked the start of the terror three hundred years earlier, when a young girl was burned at the stake.

In late December 1864, Sherman's troops occupy Savannah which is full of Confederate spies. Luke, Chester and Julia collide once again. Luke is a Union spy with a mission: He must spread the dis-information that Sherman intends to move next on Augusta and Charleston, when actually Sherman's next target is Columbia, the capitol of South Carolina.In late December 1864, Sherman's troops occupy Savannah which is full of Confederate spies. Luke, Chester and Julia collide once again. Luke is a Union spy with a simple mission: Spread the mis-information that Sherman's will next move on Augusta and Charleston. This will have the effect of consolidating Confederate militias in those two cities and leaving the center of South Carolina open for a rapid move to Sherman's actual target; Columbia.Luke discovers Chester and Julia attempting to spy on a Union strategy meeting. He has a decision to make.

A fast paced action thriller, a roller coaster ride of adventure and double cross. It will keep you on the edge of your seat till the very end.Dave Roberts is ex-army, forced out of the job he loved after a Friendly Fire accident in Iraq. He contemplated becoming a British Jack Reacher and chancing his luck on the open road, until a phone call from an old army friend put him right back where the action is - Iraq. What they found would blow their minds! What was under it could blow them away?Join the team on their “Scavenger Hunt”. The trouble is who do they trust not the police. To die was not an option! Or so they thought…

There may be life on other worlds... Will we ever find it? Will we destroy it in the process of looking?There may be life on other worlds. There may even be life on worlds close to our own. There are, without question, many unknown life forms right here on Earth, right now. Many of these are wiped out by our own actions long before they have the chance to be discovered.What secrets do they hold?There may be life forms on other worlds, maybe even on the moon. Will we find them, or will we trample over them like we have so many on our own world?

Meows is a curious black kitten. He is a problem solver, and loves adventures. In this story, Meows sets out on a quest to see the ugliest fattest toad in a nearby swamp. On the way, he meets a tiny green frog. The frog is in great trouble. Can Meows help?Nine Books. One Boxed Set. Endless Adventure.Find your next favorite YA series in Stranger Worlds. This urban fantasy collection includes nine full-length, first-in-series books. Gods and ghosts, portals and shifters, werewolves and fairies... there’s a magical new world waiting for every reader. Explore them all!Stealer by A.M. YatesWhen Dee chases a thief out of her house, she ends up with a whole new set of troubles... in a whole new world. Now, all she wants is to get back home again.The Portal and the Panther by R.A. MarshallAll Jon Parker really wants is to graduate high school and escape his sleepy little hometown, but everything changes one day when he stumbles into the boys' bathroom and transforms into a panther. Without choice, he's thrust into a world in which alternate universes exist, people control the elements with a mere thought, and somehow it's his job to protect our world from interdimensional "intruders". But whether or not it's a job Jon will accept... well, that remains to be seen.Undraland by Mary E. TwomeyStill reeling from the deaths of her parents and brother, Lucy is trying to get her life back on track — until short-tempered, handsome Jens saves her from a bear attack. Soon, Lucy is swept away to an enchanting world where Scandinavian fairytale creatures run wild... and adventure is for the taking.Crystal Magic by Madeline FreemanReading people’s thoughts and making things move with her mind is nothing new for Kristyl, but she hopes to leave her past behind when she moves to Clearwater. But when a curse threatens her aunt’s life, she must do anything for a cure—including tapping into the magic that terrifies her.My Fair Assassin by C.J. AnayaAfter a childhood of foster families and being labeled freakish for her strange looks and eating habits, Crsyta is emancipated and providing for herself. Just when it seems she's finally settling into the normal life she always wanted, a dangerous man with lethal intent breaks into her apartment. But has this enticing stranger come to kill her or to protect her from others who will?A Brush With the Moon by Raquel LyonWhen Sophie moves away to university, she isn’t expecting to be thrown into a world where supernatural creatures are real, nor is she expecting to attract the attention of the most eligible werewolf in town.Soul Slam by Allie BurtonOn her first heist, sixteen-year-old Olivia steals an ancient Egyptian amulet and inadvertently receives the soul of King Tut . . . and the curse that comes with it. But Xander believes it’s his place to inherit King Tut’s soul. Now, he must deal with the thief who stole the amulet. When the two find themselves up against a secret society that wants to use the curse to rule the world, they reluctantly join forces to end the curse before it turns deadly.Ghost Hand by Ripley PattonOlivia Black has a rare birth defect. Instead of a hand made of flesh and blood, she was born with a ghost hand. And when her hand goes rogue, doing things she never imagined possible, Olivia must run for her life from a group of men bent on taking her power for their own nefarious purposes.Daughter of Chaos by Jen McConnelLena’s on the run, struggling to master the forces of chaos she now controls while at the same time staying out of the way of the crazy gods and goddesses who want her to use Red Magic to cause chaos. Turns out, Red Magic is real…and deadly. Will Lena learn enough about her power before it’s too late, or will she become a walking disaster?

This is the first part of the serialized story of the Rail-Walker. A woman caught in the dying world of humanity's future. Will she be able to escape the slow decay of her artificial home? And more important still, can the rest of mankind be saved?This is the first part of the serialized story of the Rail-Walker. A woman caught in the dying world of humanity's future. Will she be able to escape the slow decay of her artificial home? And more important still, can the rest of mankind be saved? She must uncover the lost knowledge of the origins of man, so that she might find a future for us all. If she cannot then the last great haven of the human race will die a slow death under the glare of an increasingly hostile sun.

An "Atmospheric Suspense/Horror," Speak Rain is the story of a man lost after the death of his wife and loss of his job, stuck in a small town, suffocated by prolonged and unnatural rain. Through supernatural forces he is led to a partner in discovering the truth behind the rains and in finding a new life. See the Trailer @ https://youtu.be/_QLHs_rvZycDaniel Tremon sought a stable and quiet life in the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains after the passing of his first wife. But not long after he arrived, the rains started falling.After more than two straight months of rain the townsfolk are going a little crazy, and acting like zombies under the depressing atmosphere. Daniel seeks a change of scenery after receiving a vision. On his travels he meets a young woman seeking change herself. Together they discover the truth behind the unnatural rains and the dark soul that tried to keep them apart, and who has something more sinister in mind for Daniel.

childrens short story about a tooth fairy. two little girls find a fairy in the woods.In the beginning of Earth’s history, mankind is quickly spreading across the lands. Adam and Eve’s children grow in numbers and increase in knowledge, subduing everything before them even the great dinosaurs. With increasing imagination of the arts and the shaping of stone, they build great cities of magnificent splendour. They master the forging of steel and make great weapons of war. Slowly they forget their Creator, as their strength leads to pride and evil desires. They gather and conquer with war.As the sons of Cain increase in wickedness, the sons of Seth stand against them with great faith in their Creator. Stories turn to legend as one sword rises to infamy. Said to be forged by the hand of God, it gives the wielder great victories and possibly immortality.

Abby is lost inside a mad, mad world. Only one she has encountered in nightmares. When she meets people who are, too, trying to save their lives and find their way free, she must decide who to trust and how to free herself. Is she dreaming? Or has her nightmare become her reality?Here is the translation of the cult book, written in the spirit of the parable.Rami Yudovin, Israeli author of scientific and theological works on bible researches and ancient history, represents the novel parable about the good and evil, about a duty and a freedom of choice.He put some question in his book: Can a person be under the shadow of God’s grace, being outside the church? Does he recognizes the freedom of choice or should follow his calling? Should human reflect, ponder and doubt himself, friends, and even Providence? Is he able see a difference: whether he is а performer of divine Predestination or just is used by forces taking kind of "Angels of Light".For readers also might be interesting another point: How and where prophecies are born? How they affect people. Who has the right and privilege to unravel them? Whether has a person his choice, if he has been led by evil so that to create divine deeds? Despite the "visible" storyline is quite simple, the novel is exciting fiction. In the book there are no names of places and heroes. They all have symbolic character. The Stranger, having come across the ancient prophetic text about upcoming arrival of the Enemy, experiences the feeling similar to the wind. He tries to understand the meaning of it. He hears a voice ordering him to follow into the City. Stranger realizes that should execute special mission and he needs people with unusual abilities for that. He finds the Soldier, a person with a special intuition to distinguish danger, and the Seer, a telepathist and a hypnotist. However the Seer considers that the Stranger poses a threat to the residents of the City and decides to stop him…

A tale of a Princess and her enchanted mirrors, Little Mirror and Big Mirror.All the mirrors in the palace where the Princess lived had been instructed to never let her catch a glimpse of her own reflection. The Princess never went outside the Palace, and thus had no idea that she was ugly. In fact, she thought that she was quite beautiful. She had been told so by the Big Mirror in the dining room. The Big Mirror had a pretty red cherry wood frame, in which it could rotate. Every time the Princess approached, the Big Mirror would do a swift about-face, creaking a bit on its hinges, for it was rather old.

Three, short, less than 3000 word, competition winning story entries by 'Anderson I: The Acute Case of Anthrax' author O.K. Alleyne. Showcase has been written as a thank you to everyone who has supported me in my first year of publication.A modern adaptation of Aesop's Fable The Lion and The Mouse. Neil is a typical high school freshman. He follows the rules and hangs out with his friends. Neil also has a bully problem. Dennis is a senior with some anger issues. Dennis likes to make Neil's life hellish. When Dennis gets into some trouble of his own, it's up to Neil to help him out.