When a salesman attempts to infiltrate The Iron Range and convince the salt-of-the-earth inhabitants to pay for home improvements provided by his company, his trip turns out to be a bizarre ordeal involving dark secrets that he would've never expected. This is a tribute piece to Hunter S Thomson who died recently.Jack is a detective who works on a planet further than can be seen from earth and makes records of his works. On this planet unified physics technologies like replicators, teletransporters, and vehicles that can travel faster than light are commonly used throughout society. Politicians still get crazy in this futuristic world and so do their spouses. While violent crimes are less common with these great technologies interpersonal conflicts are still common place. This is a story about how a cheating senator and his wife resolved marital disputes outside of the courts, but with a little help for the senator from the cops.

Switching to an international school halfway through high school, Averie discovers she is a nephilim—part human part angel—and her awfully boring life takes a drastic turn. Maybe a commanding old man, an impossibly charming pop star, a completely unreasonable teacher, cool (mean, really) classmates, entirely unreliable parents and a friend you can always count on are all part and parcel of life.I stared at him in shock; this was getting completely out of hand. At this rate, he would really be failing Ms. Psychotic’s class.Slinging his backpack over his shoulder, he said to me, “Let’s go?” There was a collective gasp of shock in the lab. Following his lead, I packed up as well, and before long, the two of us were out of the lab, leaving the rest of the class gawking in disbelief.When we were out of view, Sasuke turned to me. “Let’s chill at my room until the next class. What do you think?”For a moment, I wondered what room he was talking about, but I quickly realised it could only be his hostel. With no other idea in mind, I agreed. Sasuke led the way, and I found myself outside a boys’ toilet soon after.“Wait here,” he said before disappearing into the toilet.Maybe he needed the washroom badly?Seconds later, Sasuke emerged from the toilet and indicated for me to come in. “No one’s inside. Come on.”“What? Are you serious? This is the gents!” I told him, as though he didn’t know already.“I need to zap us there. We can’t just walk into the hostel during school hours. There’s a guard on duty,” he explained.“Oh. Okay…” With little choice, I stepped into the gents with Sasuke.“Ready?” he asked, holding out his open hand.I took it and closed my eyes. “Ready.”

This easy-to-perform skit is about a boy named Jake who cheats on his math test. When he gets caught, he finds an old Bible his grandpa left him and learns the truth: Jesus is the Word of God and that is how God saves us."I Can See God's Word (Skit) is based on a short story by the same name, also written by Cheryl Rogers. The story is included in her ebook "I Can See Christian Storybook Treasury," a unique story collection that defeats doubts about God that enter a child's mind as he or she grows.It can be performed with a small cast and a few props, even on short notice. It also can be used with youth groups, church groups, Bible clubs, and other ministries. Bible quotes are from the King James Authorized Version and are used with permission within the United Kingdom, where the King James Bible remains under copyright protection.

A 17 year old boy moves to Boise, Idaho with his father after his parent's divorce and starts his senior year of high school at a new school where he meets several people who guide him to his salvation.Sebastian had been able to see things more clearly ever since he could remember. A very rare eye condition enabled him to distinguish colours that to other humans appeared to be identical. It motivated him to explore the profusion of his visual ability and exceptional talent by taking him on an exhilarating ride through the possibilities of painting. The beautiful Professor Fiona Raine had a similar ability and was the first person who ever shared this secret with him. Sebastian is about to discover that their abilities and connection are much more significant than sharing a love for painting. He has to choose between life as a normal student and falling in love with his class mate Mia or following his destiny to serve a greater purpose with Fiona Raine.

Charlie the Great White Horse and the Journey to the North Pole:The second book in the trilogy.Children’s fables are meant to bring back to life: the basic tried and true ideals of old-fashioned story telling, whose foundation is built upon wholesome and virtuous storylines; that is the basis of “Americana LiteratureThe three protagonists that gave Charlie so much trouble are back again.Charlie has taken ill at the North Pole because the magic that lies within the string of “Magic Jingle Bells” has been broken and now Christmas might be lost forever. The, “The “Missouri Rats” and Squint-Eye Pete are no good crooks who have devised a sinister plan take over the daily operations of Santa’s Village from Charlie and steal Christmas’s future from all the children of the world. Louis, Chug, and Hot Tamale Molly (a neighborhood girl) have been by fate, decreed to be the saviors of the future of Christmas and have been given the daunting task of returning the magic back into the string of “Magic Jingle Bells”. The three brave friends must embark on a long and very dangerous trek to the North Pole to reach Santa’s Village before Christmas Eve, before the dwindling magic that is keeping Charlie alive, is no more. The three young adventurers with help from “Jupiter the Show Horse” and his best friend Apollo get help from the strangest of characters through out their arduous journey. With each giving all the help they can to save Christmas, but mostly they all try to give little Louis the courage that he will need to succeed, at the dramatic and climatic ending.The first book in the series is now ready: The Journey to Northumberland and the Rise of the Undertoads.

'He who fights with monsters best be careful, lest he thereby become a monster’'He who fights with monsters best be careful, lest he thereby become a monster’While on stress leave, Detective Sergeant Mike Bridger is learning about the complexities of life through a book of ancient philosophy. Life was much simpler when Friedrich Nietzsche wrote his quotes, but he can see the obvious parallels between then and now. He knows in some parts of today’s society, filled with fear and intimidation, live many that have made bad choices.A late night phone call drags him back into the real world where an armed robbery has gone tragically wrong. Quick work brings an early arrest, but in the process, a chain of events is set in motion that will rock the Dunedin Police to its core.During a routine enquiry, Bridger comes face to face with an old foe who wants something he can't give. He makes a choice he thought he would never have to make but what he does not realize , is that this time, anyone is fair game...A fast moving story that races towards a tragic conclusion leaves Bridger with one question. Can a monster really be created…?

The Guntherian Empire is a race forged by war and Gunthix is the best warrior they have ever produced But when the Empire decides to go to war with the Federaton, can he be the soldier he was destined to be?An un-named immortal tells of how he returned to one of his old stomping grounds to make good a promise he made centuries ago. But in doing so, he winds up in hot water.This is part one of a three-part tale, but can be read alone as a short story. The remainder of the story will be released soon.

Stories about Ignatius Loyola, John Bunyan, Telemachus, the twelve Martyrs of Scilla, and some frustrated fisherman. They do such things as start the Jesuit order, put an end to the gladiatorial games in Rome, and die for their faith.Stories about Ignatius Loyola, John Bunyan, Telemachus, the twelve Martyrs of Scilla, and some frustrated fisherman. They do such things as start the Jesuit order, put an end to the gladiatorial games in Rome, and die for their faith. These are mostly biographies and are all written in creative nonfiction style, which is where you take real events and add details so that they read like a novel. The stories pop to life and will challenge you. Would you do what they did?

Teenage twins James and Samantha Blake are injured in a bomb explosion, wake up in hospital, discover they now have superpowers, but then realize something even more powerful is coming to get them!Book 1 in the Class Heroes series of superhero novels.Teenage twins James and Samantha Blake are caught up in a seemingly random terrorist bombing while on a school trip. Many of their friends are killed. When the twins wake up in hospital, their lives have changed forever.The doctors are amazed at the speed with which James and Sam recover from their injuries and, when the twins begin to exhibit extraordinary powers, it is obvious that something incredible has happened.As James and Sam attempt to overcome their fears and embrace their new abilities, a series of murders and disappearances start plaguing the hospital. The twins aren't the only ones with special abilities and it becomes apparent that someone is coming for them.Will James and Sam be able to survive the nightmare into which they have been plunged? Who, or what, is behind the murders at the hospital? And was that terrorist incident quite so random after all?

“That bear was just doing what any of us would - trying to survive. It was either him or me. We both understood that. He was long in the tooth, but still had plenty of bite. I hope to be half the fighter he was when my own time comes. No hard feelings between us. Just two warriors doing what comes natural – kill or be killed.” -Mac WalkerAline lost interest in fairy tales a long time ago. Now that she's turning 16, she's more concerned whether or not Trevor likes her. But then she starts having strange dreams that blur & blend into reality. She dreams of a dark ballroom where she dances until her feet bleed, where a strangely compelling man tries to seduce her every night with tantalizing memories of a forgotten past & an ancient mystery. Will she be able to resist the lure of a deadly enchantment that threatens her as well as everyone she loves?

Mary Ellen's mother won't let her grow up or go away. Her grip is strong as death.William Wright was just trying to hide from the local school bullies in the library. But when a mysterious book turns out to talk, William finds himself on a magical adventure.With the bullies after him, William casts the final spell in the book and is whisked away to the mysterious land of Camelot, a land filled with knights and dragons, wizards and goblins, death and betrayal. A dangerous place, where leaving the safety of the castle walls means certain death for any inexperienced traveller.With an evil sorcerer threatening life in Camelot, it's up to William, a young girl named Sarah and her brother to save the kingdom before it's too late.

1. The Centre of the Universe:In stilled silenced auditorium, silver shimmering, glass beaded crystal chandelier, jingling, jangling, glancing chiming winded spherical mirror wall, dimly lit; safety lighted exit and entry points, a crackling static, surroundinglit round mirror ball panelled, closed walled room, between dark strange energies, pulling and pushing this way and that.1. The Centre of the Universe:In stilled silenced auditorium, silver shimmering, glass beaded crystal chandelier, jingling, jangling, glancing chiming winded spherical mirror wall, dimly lit; safety lighted exit and entry points, a crackling static, surroundinglit round mirror ball panelled, closed walled room, between dark strange energies, pulling and pushing this way and that.Each corner point the space inside indeterminable, exacting, around the outside, indeterminate, moving points; converging floor and ceiling walls colliding,within holographic cubed and cuboid beyond, encircling inner and outer, each to each other, musical dissonant, consonant accretion to the spheres of influence,each corner point the space inside indeterminable, exacting, around the outside, indeterminate, moving points; converging floor and ceiling walls colliding,within holographic cubed and cuboid beyond, encircling inner and outer, each to each other, consonant accretion to the spheres of influence,musical dissonant, disturbing the silence within, crackling, between and amongst resting and simmering linear lit points snapping, crackling across tearing split breaking points, decaying in direction of travel, and pitch, between formation, annihilation, and transformation. Howling sounds, emanating from who knows where; along a corridor, sounds resoundingone-way, only another, one-way out, another room seen, the outer edge reflected in; in the centre looking out,where flashes of light might leap through, louder and softer shimmering, glaring, blaring, pulling-in and thundering-along,

what if you had the power to shoot beams of power out of your hands? Skyrid was just an autistic boy until Cithians attacked his hometown, Siraka. Unknown to Skyrid, there is power inside him just waiting to come out. What will happen when his power is released? And, will Siraka ever be return to it's former glory?The moon is falling. The shift is tearing apart the transportation infrastructure, and the population is stricken with "moon sickness" - literal lunacy.Charlotte, Lawton, and Fisk are friends. They met in a writing workshop when the news of the moon's fall was only mentioned on the late-night conspiracy shows. While lunar cults pray for the intense celestial coitus of Luna's impact with Earth, all Fisk wants is Charlotte.MOON SICK is a surreal short story by Aniko Carmean, author of MIXED MEDIA and STOLEN CLIMATEs.

Ammon Waters is on the verge of a stunning breakthrough - the ability to travel through time. He's also on the verge of a breakdown - unable to distinguish reality from a pharmacological illusion. DECEIVE THE PARADOX explores one man's descent into the abyss of insanity as he uses the desperation caused by tragic loss to advance his science.Jacqui explored the Earth on her venerable Royal Enfield 500cc motorbike in the early 21st century. One hundred and twenty years later her cryonically preserved body is thawed and she is flown to explore Mars as part of mankind's effort to find new worlds to colonize. Earth is doomed through over-population,decimation of its resources and choking pollution. She knows that she is being used as a symbol of the struggle to survive,and though anxious to do her best she is plagued with doubts that the human-race will inevitably ruin another planet. Riding her trusty steed Enfield,now powered by an electric motor,she surveys the landscape,coming across a promising plain. Pausing to take photographs,Jacqui falls into a reverie as she encounters an ancient Martian.

original edited version to "A Stranger's Fear"original edited version to "A Stranger's Fear" Sent to a Science Fiction Fantasy magazine for publication. Wound up rejected as a result. Please post a review of what you think of the story. Let the author know.original edited version to "A Stranger's Fear" Sent to a Science Fiction Fantasy magazine for publication. Wound up rejected as a result. Please post a review of what you think of the story. Let the author know.

What is Life? What do we all want from life? Is it an easy life, where people work for us and we enjoy the fruits of their labour? Why do we run after so many things when we know it is out of our reach? Why do all of us commit mistakes trying to repeat the same actions over and over again? A collection of 5 short stories on different facets of life. Please read them and enjoy your lives!An international millionaire organises an interschool competition in the town of Adelaide, Australia. Five students from Westshade High are hand picked by the principal to compete. The five very different teenagers all have one thing in common, their fear and despise of the adult world that they will soon be forced to step into. They quickly learn their differences combined create a formidable force and team Westshade take the lead in the race. Working together brings the group closer as friends and their resolve is tested when they learn the real reason the principal had picked them for the competition. They realise their new found friendship is strong enough that they continue on to prove themselves to the principal and to themselves that they can win. As they progress they witness an incident that begins to make them question the competition itself, before they accidently discover a hidden chamber in a hillside. The chamber holds an ancient relic with a secret that the five students painfully learn that there are people who will stop at nothing to retrieve it and posses the power that lies with in it. They embark on an action packed adventure that will make them enemies and find them allies; they just have to figure out which ones are which. Friendships and loyalties become tested before building to an explosive finally where they discover their love for each other will save not just them but the future of mankind itself.

Hendrix Massey had a dream. That dream led him to a magic journal. That journal kept him going when the world came crashing down around him. But can happily ever after truly be found in the pages?The following work was originally published in the Gateways Anthology for Breakwater Harbor Book. The theme of the Anthology was to create a “Gateway” story from a previous or upcoming novel as an introduction to the larger work. Living in the Pages was my Gateway from the novel Hidden in the Pages, which was published in November, 2013. In Hidden in the Pages, Jantzen Burke was given a tattered old journal by his grandfather and told that the book could find his perfect match, the person he was meant to love. So while his life fell apart around him, he wrote in the magic journal and dreamt of a future with the girl who answered. In the end, when the magical promise was fulfilled, he vowed to get rid of the journal.But objects made of magic have a life of their own.I imagined that journal’s journey as it made it’s way to the hands of the next man meant to write his words inside. It may have been dumped in a Salvation Army bin and traveled to another town in a collection truck. It might have fallen from that truck at another pick-up location. It might have been picked up by a child running for a school bus, and unknowingly dropped again. It might have traveled a thousand miles to be washed down a street in the pouring rain just to lie under a purple table outside a bakery on Harris Street as it waited for the next man in need of it’s magic.And this is his story.

Not only is Kyle Summer's ambition to become a big-league baseball pitcher, the quest defines his entire existence. Nothing else seems as important, until his father takes ill and he is called back home to the farm.(This selection is also available in: The Empty House, assorted stories)excerpt:Now the road north steamed beneath the headlights, illuming a path through a lush growth of small trees and bushes lining both sides. Eventually he turned one last time east, crossing a stream, before heading northward again. By the time he reached the outskirts of Dudley he was ready to stop. And he needed gas anyway. He pulled into the Quick-Fill and stood for a moment in the artificial light holding the palm of one hand to his lower back before lifting the nozzle away from the pump with the other. He let his back go to turn the selector to regular grade and raise the safety switch, after which the pump clicked to life and the gas flowed, cooling the handle. As he held the grip trigger he looked around, noting the empty lot across the road where the Mobil garage had stood before burning. He remembered the red winged horse set in the front gable and reproduced on the white globes atop the gas pumps. Not so long ago he had hung out there with his friends on weekends—washing and polishing cars, changing oil or the occasional tire. But except for the missing garage and the new Quick-Fill everything else in Dudley seemed the same. Adopting a philosophical attitude, he supposed change was either good or bad, depending on how you defined progress.