It began with a shooting, that became a mystery and ended in terror.For investigator Harriet Smotes, not only can the city of Ambition Falls give birth to remarkable crimes, it can also drag up ghosts from her past.It began with a shooting, that became a mystery and ended in terror.For investigator Harriet Smotes, not only can the city of Ambition Falls give birth to remarkable crimes, it can also drag up ghosts from her past.

The great author of Vanity Fair and The Luck Of Barry Lyndon was born in India in 1811. At age 5 his father died and his mother sent him back to England. His education was of the best but he himself seemed unable to apply his talents to a rigorous work ethic. However, once he harnessed his talents the works flowed in novels, articles, short stories, sketches and lectures. Sadly, his personal life was rather more difficult. After a few years of marriage his wife began to suffer from depression and over the years became detached from reality. Thackeray himself suffered from ill health later in his life and the one pursuit that kept him moving forward was that of writing. In his life time, he was placed second only to Dickens. High praise indeed.

A dark tale of murder, revenge, destruction and witchcraft. An anti-hero for an ultra-modern, ultra-stylised world. A fight to the death where it's hard to see the difference between good and evil. And a final battle for redemption.A dark tale of murder, revenge, destruction and witchcraft. John Paris is an anti hero in a warped world, with everything that he could possibly desire, but inexorably drawn to death. He is employed – he thinks, at least – by Hart Industries, an organization that exists on the edge of society, that builds weapons and creates technology for anyone who can pay the most, no matter what the consequences. At the centre is Simon Hart, John’s oldest friend, ruthless and intensely ambitious, weaving his web of control and deceit for his own ends. But then he and John stumble across something new, something vast, something that will change everything. And suddenly, John is thrown into a new reality, finding himself at the centre of a deadly game involving the secret police, traitors, assassins, vampires, and angels. As he fights to survive, to know who he can trust and who is out to destroy him, he has to reassess everything that he knew, that he took for granted. He has to decide if he wants to plunge into the darkness, into the vacuum that will destroy him, and those around him, or if he has what it takes to fight for the chance of redemption.

Write On Press Presents an incredible collection of original short fiction including 30 of the best new and original short stories of 2013! We put together a collection of work by some of the hottest new authors of fiction, fantasy, sci-fi and romance. With well over 100,000 words of quality short stories, there is sure to be something for every taste. Enjoy the works of J. J. Haile, Taymika G. ByWrite On Press Presents an incredible collection of original short fiction including 30 of the best new and original short stories of 2013! We put together a collection of work by some of the hottest new authors of fiction, fantasy, sci-fi and romance. With well over 100,000 words of quality short stories, there is sure to be something for every taste. Enjoy the works of J. J. Haile, Taymika G. Byrd, C. M. Bratton, H. C. Heartland and many others!Fiction:T’ant Pis (Too Bad)Cleaning HouseChicken Pox RevengeThe Girl in the LibraryThe Cards Don’t LieJohnny’s GunDog Night DawnThanks be to the BoozeThose Shoes!~*~Fantasy:A Mother’s NeedBe Careful what you ask forThe Divorce QuiltWither the World~*~Science Fiction:The GameChainmail & NerdsMemory FarmBehind these Eyes1. Inside the Light, Outside of Time2. Lifetime in a Moment3. Whisper in the Darkness4. Darkness of Mind5. Clasping Life6. Drip of Moonlight7. Generating LightMe Zombie, You FoodOf Pirate Queens and Kika Fruit~*~Romance:Courage in a Coffee CupBreathlessLacrimosaRipplesAs an added bonus, enjoy a sneak peek of the Lost Legends of OZ, Volume II, by L. Frank Baum, coming February 2014!

A story about Rachael and her talking fish, who convinces her to enter a magic code in her phone. She is transported to Kahonua Island, where she meets a giant gerbil Mr. Green. Grondlet the Sunflower helps charge the phone with solar energy, and they visit Mr. Mantis, a mathematician, to try and unlock the code so she can return home. For ages 10 to 100. Themes: fun, environment, science, math.Not long after Abby Donahue’s family falls apart, she escapes on an airplane to Chicago for a recruiting trip. A talented high-school swimmer, Abby hopes to score both a college scholarship and some distance from her parents' recent divorce. But is this university for her?Her first encounter with freshman swimmer Reese McGowan makes her nervous. He’s a tall backstroker with a mess of blond hair, glittering aquamarine eyes, and a suspension from the team for badmouthing the school to another recruit. As Abby unravels the mystery underlying Reese’s disdain, she begins to unlock her own hidden emotions about her father. Together Abby and Reese battle bullies on the team and inner demons, learning that flipper feet and fighting for family can actually be a good thing.

An all new Jak Phoenix space adventure, set before the events of the first novel! Jak and Baxter are asked to pull off a seemingly simple grab – for a big payout. Unfortunately, shady dealings frequently end in space shenanigans.The story revolves around a simple phrase, ‘Love one another.’ Of how complex it became when benevolent aliens, only thirty-six, stranded on our planet sought help from us humans to refuel their ship to save their civilization. Aliens who believed in one almighty and benevolent God. Aliens whose society flourished on a firm and deeply rooted abidance to their God’s greatest tenet, ‘Love God and one another.’ Of how ‘helping and loving each other’, deeply etched in the alien’s nature and character, clashed with human’s attitude to seek power, by whatever means, that when pushed to a corner, the ‘everyone for himself’ mentality in human’s prevail. In contrast, the aliens would rather die than rise at other’s expense. This irrational behavior, this instinct for survival is inherent in us humans. The aliens, faced with such inherency, went their way to get help as they advocated, ‘help and love one another.’ Wary of the temptation to humans to acquire the power one can hold in their technology, the aliens pushed on to save their civilization through this prevailing human attitude. Thus, the story in four episodes, four points in time, four scenarios.An excerpt from the novel best describes the alien’s predicament through Amo Obib’s, the Alien leader, dilemma. A dilemma that holds true to us intelligent humans today when he concluded: “In all the years I observed humans, I never understood them. Power, greed, and mistrust are things that shaped their destiny. Never in history have they thought of themselves as one, Earthlings. Countries, races, tribes, families, and even within their own family, they compete against each other. I do not understand,” he paused, as he struggled to make sense of it. “It’s sad for it is within the Human’s power to make this planet a wonderful place to live. If they only knew the value in loving and helping each other, they could make their world a paradise.”Accessed for its story, a professional concluded, “This is a formulaic and unique sci-fi novel that fans of aliens, philosophy, and sociology will find engaging.” A conclusion drawn as embedded within the story are philosophical, theological, and sociological issues. Issues true thousands of years ago as it is today! Issues that will make one pause and consider. It will make you wonder and think.

Starfarer is a short story about an unusual first contact between a woman on a deep-space sleeper ship and an alien ship.Starfarer is a short story following the viewpoint of Angie Coura, a woman from Earth who is on a long-range deep space sleeper ship heading towards a new colony.Partway through the journey, Angie's ship has a catastrophic encounter with an alien vessel, which changes her life forever.Starfarer is set in the same universe as my Masters Trilogy of novels: Edge of Infinity, Heart of the Maelstrom, and the upcoming Beyond the Expanse.

A paranormal romance that spans the centuries from modern England to 19th century Paris and ancient Cappadocia. Madison Greene is in foster care until one day she inherits a fortune, she inherits a house, she inherits a cellar full of danger. Alexandre Chevalier lives in 19th century Paris. On an archaeological expedition, he discovers a lost underground city where his life changes forever. Their lives entwine, but this is only the beginning...

Deborah, cultured and intelligent, has been handicapped since childhood. Convinced of her lack of attractiveness, her work has become her life. Leigh, a painter, refuses to be discouraged by her rejections. As Deborah blossoms into a woman in love, she is drawn into a sinister unknown world.

John Bedford leads an honest if unremarkable, life as a train station manager.But a chance encounter with a strange woman on the way to work looks set to shake his ordinary world to its core. Forgotten and disturbing events from his past begin to unravel the present as the bizarre Mary takes him on a whistle-stop tour of the OtherWhere, a world that only exists on the flip-side of reality.John Bedford enjoys his work at a busy train station, and leads an honest, if unremarkable, life. But one morning a chance encounter with a strange woman on the way to work looks set to shake his ordinary world to its core. Forgotten and disturbing events from his past begin to unravel the present as the seemingly disturbed but enigmatic Mary takes him on a whistle-stop tour of the OtherWhere, a world that only exists on the flip-side of reality. We follow John and Mary on their strange journey, as John discovers people and places from his hidden past, and Mary attempts to guide him to his destiny.This 11,000 word Novelette is the first story in the OtherWhere series of Novelette/Novella sized stories.Some free short-stores are also available in this series.

Dr. Dante Petrocchi-Bianchi spends his days treating Alzheimer’s patients and studying God, but he whiles away his nights in Roman nightclubs, picking up different beautiful women. When he discovers that one of his conquests is his big game hunter boss’s new trophy wife, Dante’s wild lifestyle becomes dangerous. Will his treacherous games end in his murder, or can he stop playing sexual roulette?Dr. Dante Petrocchi-Bianchi spends his days treating Alzheimer’s patients and studying God in the Eternal City, but he whiles away his nights in Roman nightclubs, picking up a different beautiful woman every night. When he discovers that one of his conquests is his big game hunter boss’s new trophy wife, Dante’s wild lifestyle becomes more dangerous. Will his treacherous games end in his murder, or can he stop playing sexual roulette? TK Kenyon is an Iowa Writers’ Workshop graduate, novelist, award-winning short story writer, pharmaceutical industry regulatory consultant, technical writer, molecular virologist, neuroscientist, minivan-driving mom, happy wife, cat slave, surfer, scuba diver, gourmet chef, mostly vegetarian, chocolatier, gardener, capsaicin addict, caffeine junkie, Apache and Scot descendant, native Arizonan, Connectikite, nouveau feminist, political moderate with extremist tendencies, radical atheist, Buddhist-curious, occasional UU, Tamil Ayer Brahmin Hindu by marriage, ex-actress, grown-up child beauty queen, PhD, MFA, BS (in so many ways), ASU Sun Devil, Iowa Hawkeye, UPenn Quaker, and always looking for something interesting to do. TAGS: Catholic, neuroscience, Alzheimer’s, literary, literary fiction, short story, RABID, Jesuit, Rome

Children should be given an opportunity to bloom to their fullest without the worms of hatred and distrust eating away the petals of happiness in the little buds. Unfortunately, ADHD, ADD, dyslexia and dyscalculia were unheard of many years back. Such kids were considered lazy and beaten up by parents and teachers alike. An extreme reaction to this situation—the suicide pact— burns their souls.Back home after an eventful day, I watched my thirteen year old daughter’s face as she read the newspaper. Her anguish said the news was about something that tugged at her heart. She motioned her brother to read the news with her. His face too reflected the same distress. She exclaimed with pain in her voice, “Why can’t they just let the kids live? They will somehow grow up.”I immediately understood what they were reading—the suicide pact—the bane of our society!Each child is unique. Children see the world through their own innocent eyes. Nothing is more precious than their innocence. They should be given an opportunity to bloom to their fullest without the worms of hatred and distrust eating away the petals of happiness in the little buds. Unfortunately, ADHD, ADD, dyslexia and dyscalculia were unheard of many years back. Such kids were considered lazy and beaten up by parents and teachers alike. Unfortunately, in India parents consider education as the only way to excel in life. This is especially so if the parent is a teacher. The sadness in their lives is doubled as they are unable to accept the fact that their children are different. This kind of a situation has an adverse impact on these child and also their siblings. An extreme reaction to this situation—the suicide pact— burns the souls of hapless children even if they survive it…

When it comes to safely navigating 747's Edgar Reynolds is a consummate professional. It's his personal life that's in shambles after a string of affairs he couldn't be bothered to hide. None of that matters to him the morning he wakes up to discover he's smack dead in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. Now what's important is that he survives long enough to hijack a plane from LAX and flee!On September 20, the zombie virus was released into the dense population of transients on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. It spread like unstoppable wildfire in all directions, decimating everything in its path for six full weeks before outside measures were taken to cleanse the scourge. This story takes place in that final time. Told through the eyes of a native Angelino, it offers a unique perspective to the events as they unfolded and to the aftermath of the virus. When it comes to safely navigating 747's Edgar Reynolds is a consummate professional. It's his personal life that's in shambles after a string of affairs he couldn't be bothered to hide. None of that matters to him the morning he wakes up to discover he's smack dead in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. Now what's important is that he survives long enough to hijack a plane from LAX and flee the end of the world.

On a dare from his older brother, a boy goes out after dark to an abandoned, wooded lot steeped in horror-style urban legends."Mike's Pond" is a very short fictionalized memoir about coming of age in Amherst, New York in the 1980s.I grew up in the 1980s in the idyllic suburban town of Amherst, New York, adjacent to the city of Buffalo. It was Middle America. The main cultural phenomena were Little League games and block parties.But we had legends.There were horrors that lurked in undeveloped plots of wooded land. There were stories born from the looming scare of chemical plants in nearby Niagara Falls, where a residential development called Love Canal made national news."Mike's Pond" is a very short ficitonalized memoir about a boy who goes out one night to explore one of those urban legends and discovers the real-life demons lurking close to home.

Jeff was always like a magnet to the people in society living on the fringe. After compiling a collection of acquaintances that not only seemed bizarre but dangerous as well he decided that a move out of town to the peaceful country was just the answer. But Pyle’s Trailer Court proved to be anything but peaceful. That'swhen things got really strange.Jeff was always like a magnet to the people in society living on the fringe. After compiling a collection of acquaintances that not only seemed bizarre but dangerous as well he decided that a move out of town to the peaceful country was just the answer. But Pyle’s Trailer Court proved to be anything but peaceful. To start with, it was located directly across the highway from Les Birds – one of Wisconsin’s most notorious strip clubs – where the action from the stage inside tended to move outside to the parking lot and strippers settled their disagreements with their fists, as patrons cheered them on. His neighbors in the surrounding trailers turned out to be as strange in their own ways as many of the people Jeff had left behind in the city. Jeff’s neighbor Jenny claimed that she had been abducted by aliens that took her up in their spaceship just to fool around a little. He also had a raccoon – Mr. Fats – that had taken a personal dislike to him and had made it an objective to make Jeff’s life miserable. And Jeff was being bullied by a woman that moonlighted as an Elvis impersonator from the taco plant where he worked. But, worst of all, he had incurred the wrath of a notoriously evil family – the Wormters – that were known to be so cruel that they carried around a dog that they had raised in a glass jug, like a pirate ship in a bottle. Can Jeff stand up to all the bullies in his life and live to tell the tale? Read The Wormters by J. T. Pearson and find out.

A star comes down from the sky and wants to play with a little 8yr old girl.Jamie, an 8yr old girl, hates going to bed. She hates it so much that she pretends to go to sleep and watch the stars. But on this night, a star actually comes down and visits her. It's another little girl, and she wants to take Jamie on a trip to the Moon. The girls shoot off to the sky and find themselves in many hijinks and seeing many neat things before Jamie has to return to bed and wake up for the next day.