Two weird, funny, horror stories. "Gingerbread House," which originally appeared in Weird Tales in 2010, involves a reality show in which contestants live in a house made of cake in the middle of nowhere."Joey's Undead Dog" deals what happens when a young necromancer suddenly comes into his powers.Two weird, funny, horror stories. "Gingerbread House," which originally appeared in Weird Tales in 2010, involves a reality show in which contestants live in a house made of cake in the middle of nowhere. A competition to find the best baker turns into a challenge to survive when the contestants lose contact with the rest of the world and have cope with the rapidly approaching winter.In "Joey's Undead Dog," a boy discovers his necromantic powers when his dead dog, Buddy, comes back to life. Joey enlists his best friend Conner to help him, as they both flee the zombie roadkill who now find Joey irresistible.

Cat Royal finds herself homeless, travels to Paris, becomes an underground reporter, nearly gets hung for being a traitor to the revolution, and is baffled by attention from numerous suitors - all the while being disguised as a prissy ballerina! As the French Royal family flee, Cat discovers the power of the people.

The suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat short story, "Faith", by Mark Elswick-mostly known for his LOL humor-is available 9-5-13.. While outlet sparks ignite their house, Mom and sister run out; Ty, unknowingly, is stranded upstairs. Will the 6 y/o escape?Will he jump?Brace yourself to become passionately attached.This is a fictional, heart-wrenching story of love and anticipation.Mark Elswick, author of the side-splitting Padman: A Dad's Guide to Buying...Those and other tales, begins his quest to dominate the eBook world. "Faith" is an extremely suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat short story. When an elderly neighbor calls 911 because she sees flames shooting from the Scott house, the story begins dripping with adrenaline and anticipation. But, did she notice too late? Danni (mom) and Pammy (18-mo. old sister) escape. Unfortunately, 6 y/o Ty is left upstairs, accidentally. Read as the panic-stricken mother and community, which has gathered around the house, beg God for mercy, asking for some sort-of miracle. Also, the fire crew's sense of urgency is nearly unprecedented as the firefighters frantically fight to save Ty.This is not religious nor political. It's just a passionate, fictional story about everyday life, detailing how a small word like "Faith," is so important to everything we do.Undoubtedly, Ty will work his way into the souls of readers as the approaching flames and his cries for help thrust him into your heart.Don't be surprised when you're reading the story and cheering for the little guy to get out, somehow.But, will he?And, how will he?The fire is quickly closing in. His screams are softly heard, but deafening. . . . Hurry!

Bored and needing some entertainment, a small group of friends agrees to play a game based on a dark legend. The friends quickly learn that the Midnight Man is among them and that they are not playing a game. They are fighting for their lives.Stay alive and avoid the Midnight Man... Do that and you win. Bored and needing some entertainment, a small group of friends agrees to play a game based on a dark legend. The friends quickly learn that the Midnight Man is among them and that they are not playing a game. They are fighting for their lives.Some say the Midnight Game is an old pagan ritual that allows you to manipulate evil spirits, some say it invites dark and malevolent entities into your home and others say it's nothing more than a child's game that plays upon your own fears and paranoia. So which description of the game is the right one? Come play the game and find out for yourself.

Think outside the box – That is what Brenda Bloomington has come to face, having led a sheltered life, and coming from a very strict Christian family. Her father, Reverend Robert Bloomington, is totally devoted to his profession, and has little time for his wife, Gale, or Brenda. Brenda is learning that things she believes to be concrete aren’t, and she is beginning to question everything.Think outside the box – That is what Brenda Bloomington has come to face, having led a sheltered life, and coming from a very strict, devout Christian family. Her father, Reverend Robert Bloomington, is totally devoted to his profession, and has little time for his wife, Gale, or Brenda. For years, Brenda’s mother has harped to her daughter about finishing school and attending college before ever considering marriage. She doesn’t want Brenda to make the same mistakes she has. Brenda promises her mother that she will, but then Greg Townsend’s family moves to town, and Brenda is smitten by him almost immediately, but it is not until a few years later, when Brenda has matured into a pretty young woman, that Greg really notices her for the first time. It isn’t long, and Greg asks Brenda to marry him. When Gale learns of the engagement, she is furious and walks out on Brenda and Robert. Brenda marries Greg, but soon begins to really fathom why her mother left. Brenda starts to rebel, and that is when everything really begins to change. Suddenly, she is learning that things she believes to be concrete aren’t, and she finds herself questioning everything.

PeeDee3 stops by Dollarworld’s overstocked arsenal outlet with a mighty long shopping list (he’s completely out of red herring grenades) and a coupon for uncle Nezbit’s Spicy Brain Sauce burning a hole in the pocket of his quadra-sleeved trench coat. But the, buy the brain extractor, get the sauce free offer just might be too good to be true. Does anyone else smell a trap?PeeDee3, season 1, episode 7If there’s one thing PeeDee3, intergalactic, insectiod assassin, hates it’s chase scenes, especially when he’s the one being chased. Lured in by the offer of some free spicy brain sauce, the bug blundered into the arsenal outlet on the planet Dollarworld like a little larva. Out maneuvered, outgunned, and out-programmed by a ten spindled decadroid armed to the cogs the only thing the big, bad bug can do is run, but that doesn’t mean he won’t fight. Someone set him up, someone’s programming the deadly decadroid, and, if PeeDee3 survives, he’s going to put that mysterious someone into a whole lot of pain…or something even worse. Still, with his quadra-sleeved trench coat on fire and half of his personal arsenal out of action, that’s a mighty big if. PeeDee3, Season One, Episode Seven, Chase Seen Seven (Int Arsenal Outlet), Take One. Old PeeDee3 is dead, as dead as a toe-nail. Long may he rot. File under Science fiction noir comedy serial

Wales – a bit of Great Britain that has punched above its weight globally but which has a population of not a lot more than two million people. So how much government does it need? The answer would seem to be 'a lot', qualified, sadly, by 'but not necessarily good government'. That and financial services regulation are the themes explored here.There are three essays in this work: a commentary on the Welsh Government's economic development strategy, another on elections to that Government and a third, unrelated, on the position of financial services providers in Britain generally.It is easy to be critical, but these essays offer constructive alternatives to the status quo drawn from years of practical, day-to-day experience.

A girl trapped in the afterlife is compelled to visit her old boyfriend each Halloween. This visit will be different.Marshall, a former gang member and new father is struggling to make ends meet with the love of his life Sarah. After he's fired from his a job an opportunity to make some extra money surfaces, the only problem is that it involve's stealing money from a Mars exploration program. When the plan goes awry and things take a turn for the worst Marshall gets into trouble with the law. Marshall's mistake will trigger a series of events that will lead to a big decision, a decision of freedom or confinement, a decision that could change his life as well as the people he loves forever.

Esperynzia, a world of diminishing magics, is populated by the Elementals, Esperentials, and Mundainants. Drewth, Gaedian knight of Light Element, is torn by the murderous betrayal of Syndirin, the Gaedian king's Arbiter wizard.Vengeance alters Drewth's soul and Element into the mythical Darkened Light, and he fatefully converges paths with several others, to escape Gaedia and defeat Syndirin.Four decades had passed since the last Relic war ravished the oppositional lands of Windpass Isles and Gaedia – a war that ceased in a bloodied truce.Drewth is a Light Elemental and Commander knight under Western Gaedia’s lordship, Syndirin - a high wizard and the king’s Arbiter. Syndirin, with questionable and unclear motive, promotes Drewth as his apprentice, and commences the personal training of Drewth in the ways of magic. Drewth then becomes the unwitting subject of Syndirin’s experimental meddle with the mythical powers of Darkened Light, despite the danger, and despite what sacrifice.Torius, a castle knight in Southern Windpass Isles kingdom and Mundane-born, is taken captive by a conspiratorial clique under Lord Syndirin, where he discovers from these captors their insidious campaign to rekindle the long dead Relic war, in pursuit of Relic’s power.Enflamed by an unforgivable betrayal of Syndirin, vengeance transforms Drewth forever within – his Element undergoes a rare alteration, he turns renegade to Gaedia, and allies with Torius, the escaped prisoner of Syndirin’s clique. Together they battle for their lives out from the now enemy territory of Gaedia.They find themselves fatefully party to a band of peasant prisoners with rare abilities invoked from the trials they face in their likewise escape from the treasonous Arbiter, Syndirin.And if odds turn to favor in their fight for survival, there is still threat to hand of a devastating magic war, a campaign in itself to acquire both kingdom’s all-powerful Relics in the wake of their mutual destruction.

There's a legend...about a party...hosted by vampires. An event so exclusive - the invitation is by word of mouth - with strict rules that must-be-followed. So what happens when your best friend is invited and practically begs you to go along with her?You go, of course!Everyone's having fun...at first...There’s a legend in Providence...and there’s only one way to find out if it’s real.Once every ten years there’s a secret party - based entirely on this legend. An event so exclusive - the invitation is by word of mouth - with strict rules that must-be-followed. According to legend, the hosts of this gathering are supposed to be Vampires… So what happens when your best friend is invited and practically begs you to go along with her?You go, of course!Stepping over the edge of darkness and deep into the secret world of vampires, twins, Elizabeth and Melinda discover that their friend, Fiona was right: the legend is real.Everyone’s having fun at the masquerade party, except for Elizabeth. All she wants is to get through the night and return to her charming new love interest. However, as the evening grows ominous, chances are, they may never get home… Melinda is getting drunk, Fiona’s gone missing, and a nightmarish clown is stalking Elizabeth. And even more terrifying - this sinister vampire thirsts for much more than what’s flowing through her veins.Instead of a carefree evening of dining, dancing, and drinks - there will be danger, there might be hard decisions, and there may be despair.But…there definitely will be blood.

A short story about Brian, an actor who moves from Chicago to New York City with his girlfriend, Diana. The adjustment to life in New York City takes Brian a while, but he keeps trying out new opportunities.Camp Deerfield offers delights innumerable for the young camper: nightly dances, grade-school turf wars, and a three-story robot that doubles as a toilet.A short memoir about children misbehaving.

A meeting of chance. Outcomes are various. Sometimes people assume randomness and miss out on what the world intended. Kismet can sting for a lifetime.Aspirations and desires that were once out of reach are nowavailable with a brief word search.Feeling the weight of the world? Float above it in a Body Balloon.Need an angel to rescue you from the purgatory of an offspring?The dog with the smiley face will show you how.Or just want to crochet a different dimension?Click "pay now" and change your life.

Skelmersdale has always been a testing ground for pilot schemes.Nathaniel Myra innocently visits to investigate how the latest trial is going, but discovers that all is not as it seems in the quiet, dull town...The holidays can be overwhelming for anyone, but Zoey is ready to explode when Maurice, her closet-monster roommate, takes celebrations to the extreme. When Zoey ducks out for a little fresh air, she finds a boy with a big problem -- a problem only a mythical creature can have and only Zoey can solve.This story also appears in the short story collection, Transmonstrified.Hidden Holidays takes place between Monster Haven book two, Pooka in My Pantry, and book three, Fairies in My Fireplace.

The CIA recruit a young lieutenant, Eric Ritter, to search for a kidnapped operative. Ritter's connection to the kidnapper is the only chance to rescue the operative before it's too late. Deep inside a hostile city, Ritter will learn what it takes to fight the cloak and dagger war against a merciless enemy, or die trying.Months after 9/11, a covert arm of the CIA summons young Lieutenant Eric Ritter to Pakistan. Al Qaeda holds an American operative, and Ritter’s connection to the kidnapper is the key to rescuing the operative before it’s too late.While the CIA need Ritter’s help, they consider him an expendable asset and throw him into a battle he isn’t ready for. Deep inside a hostile city, Ritter will learn what it takes to fight the cloak and dagger war against a merciless enemy, or die trying.Contains an excerpt from INTO DARKNESS, the first full length novel of the Eric Ritter Spy Thriller series.

Zombie Invasion (Zora Baker #2)What does it take to be a hero? Better yet, what does it take to be a survivor of a zombie apocalypse? What if the zombie virus didn't come from man? What if it came from space? What if it wasn't a dastardly plan by aliens to clear the Earth for colonization, but instead an accident, bad luck? This is a prequel and leads up to Zora's arrival at Camp Vix.Zombie Invasion (Zora Baker #2)What does it take to be a hero? Better yet, what does it take to be a survivor of a zombie apocalypse? What if the zombie virus didn't come from man? Not the government, not doctors, not mad scientists, not radiation. What if it came from space? What if it wasn't a dastardly plan by aliens to clear the Earth for colonization, but instead an accident, bad luck? What can we do?Book 2 will take a look at the beginnings of Zombie Earth by focusing on the early lives of Zora, Brittany, and Jones and what molds them into the champions they are. It will also reveal the origin of the outbreak, taking the zombie story in a uniquely surprising direction. This is a prequel and leads up to Zora's arrival at Camp Vix before they begin the adventures of book one.

In the old city of Suzhou, China, Redding realized that he wasn’t the only one intent on recovering the missing cello painting. Joran had proven himself a serious threat, and Lin Ming had become a distraction that Redding couldn’t afford. In the grasp of greed and self-preservation, the paths of three individuals cross causing each to confront their own desperate and uncertain lives.Compelled by the wreckage of his life, Redding had little choice other than pursuing the cello painting. The artwork had been seen in the old city of Suzhou, China, but the sighting was hardly definitive. With Lin Ming as his guide, he planned to scour every square inch of the ancient city, but on that first day when he ran into Joran, he knew the painting would cost him more than blood and sweat. A long way from his New York City art gallery, Joran’s streetwise way of handling business had proven equally effective in China. He didn’t care who got hurt as long as it put the painting in his hands. It was worth millions and he knew people who would pay for such an exclusive possession. Although Redding’s interest in Lin Ming hadn’t waned, she regretted her involvement. She had suffered through one horrid marriage and never intended to lie with another man again. In the grasp of greed and self-preservation, the paths of three individuals cross in a search for an acclaimed painting, causing each to confront their own desperate and uncertain lives.

When three master races can be king. They come to a truce to take turns with the rule, but when one race decides it's their birth right there's only one thing that can happen, war. A short storyIt began with an explosion in the station.Frank was there. He heard the shooting and saw the police giving chase. He was caught up in a gas attack that put him in hospital.But the government deny everything.They say it was an accident.Frank knows they’re lying.The question is why?As Frank tries to uncover the truth of what happened, he discovers a mysterious and sinister conspiracy that is so huge in scale and terrifying in its implication, the government will stop at nothing to keep it hidden.

In a world faraway, in an era lost in time, an entire civilization was deceived by a powerful spell. A land where powerful magicians perform fantastic magic so easily that they didn’t realize so, beings with such a huge power that they are consumed in an endless series of indifference, vanity, and ignorance. It is vain to hope for a hero who will never do what everyone has to do for himself.In a world far faraway, in an era lost in time, an entire civilization was deceived by a powerful spell. A land where powerful magicians perform fantastic magic so easily that they didn’t realize so, beings with such a huge power that they are consumed in an endless series of indifference, contempt, vanity, and above all, ignorance. It is vain to hope for a hero who will never do what everyone has to do for himself. Will be a salvation or they all will succumb at the sweet illusions of magic which ultimately sucks all the life energy of these so indolent living beings.By the way, don’t be mad with me, just take another cup of coffee, or tea, as you desire, my friend.

You begin in a dark hallway. There are no instructions, only a blinking cursor at the bottom of the screen. It invites a response. It draws you in. Now it is too late to turn back.Room 127, a novella told entirely through e-mail, explores a mysterious computer game connected to a series of grisly crimes. How far would you go to get it out of your head?You begin in a dark hallway. There are no instructions, only a blinking cursor at the bottom of the screen. It invites a response. It draws you in. Now it is too late to turn back.Room 127 is just a computer game. Or is it? Steve Norman thought that he had landed his dream internship: writing about video games for the popular website GameCore.net. But when a mysterious disk from an unknown sender appears on his desk, his world is turned upside down. Told entirely in e-mails sent and received by the unlucky intern, this novella reveals his investigation into the enigmatic Room 127 and the dark history that preceded it.

A scifi-psychological thriller, that will keep you entertained till the last word and make you think even after the story is over. Come on a journey to find love, life and a second chance."I was living in a world of monsters, and the darkness brought death on its wings."When a mortally-ill traveller arrives in Venice, he finds the city in the grip of terror. A string of inexplicable deaths and disappearances have caused a wave of panic, and the authorities have no idea who – or what – is responsible. These events pale into insignificance, though, when he encounters a mysterious woman one night. Pietra is beautiful, intriguing and secretive, and he longs to know more about her.He soon becomes aware, however, that a malign being has singled him out for attention – and that Pietra might not be all that she seems.PIETRA is a vampire novelette of approximately 9,500 words.

Enjoy these 3 advance excerpts from Mr. Jefferson’s Piano & Other Central Harlem Stories!Contains the bonus blogs “Farewell, President Obama,” “Mr. Jefferson’s Dueling Book Covers,” and ! Order your copy of the complete book, on pre-order now for September 30, 2016!Here, in a limited edition excerpt, author B.L. Wilson presents three tales, free!Enjoy these 3 advance excerpts from Mr. Jefferson’s Piano & Other Central Harlem Stories!Contains the bonus blogs “Farewell, President Obama,” “Mr. Jefferson’s Dueling Book Covers,” and More! Order your copy of the complete book, on pre-order now for September 30, 2016!Mr. Jefferson’s Piano & Other Central Harlem Stories is the second edition of an anthology that weaves together a rich tapestry of 68 short stories, agency memos, and letters of events that take place during the late seventies, eighties, and nineties as seen through Melba Farris’ eyes. Melba writes notes about everything work-related, chronicling her journey into the field of property management as she tries to help her less fortunate brothers and sisters with their housing woes. Here, in a limited edition excerpt, author B.L. Wilson presents three tales that represent some of the delightfully funny, sometimes perplexing, but intriguing personalities the author encountered during twenty-five years as a property manager performing her job duties in city-owned buildings.