A novelist learns how the publishing business really works.Eile and Sunny of Team Girl have been best friends with Sir Differel for several years, serving as Van Helsing family retainers and special agents for the Caerleon Order, as well as unofficial aunts for Differel's son, Henry. They consider the British aristocrat and her son family, and they believe they would do whatever is necessary to protect them both.They are frequent visitors to Caerleon Hall, Differel's ancestral estate in County Norfolk. On their latest jaunt, they are getting ready to attend dinner with Differel when the manor house is overrun by a horde of monsters. Their first and only thought is to get to Henry, reunite him with his mother, and get them both to safety. But they may have to pay the ultimate price to succeed.In a bonus story, Differel invites Eile and Sunny to inaugurate a new Finnish sauna she had built on her estate, but Vlad Drakulya crashes the party.

Not all victories are secured on the battlefield: sometimes in the face of defeat we hand our adversary success simply by accepting we cannot win. When it seems all the options have gone maybe all that is needed is confidence, and maybe an edge…Beside a bridge over a canal in Venice, Charlie is spellbound not only by Caitlin’s absolute beauty but also by what seems like a mythical bond between them. The more he knows about her, the more mysterious she becomes. As they finally admit their love to each other in Paris, then move to settle down in Australia together, it looks like the start of Happily Ever After. But neither of them realizes that this is just the start of a heart-wrenching journey.After a lifetime of searching, Caitlin finally finds her true love, settles down in the beautiful rolling countryside of outback Australia, and starts to raise a family, but her enemy is never far away. She loves Charlie deeply and is certain he is her soul mate, but she knows she can never reveal her secret; he must never know who she really is, and that is her downfall. Information in the hands of her enemy brings her life crashing down around her. To save all she has worked for, she must fight for her love and the right to survive.“Last Kiss in Venice” is a supernatural love epic that encompasses both eastern and western culture to tell a story of love and hate, loyalty and betrayal, revenge and justice. This cocktail of oriental magic, vampires, and sword fights is a legend not easily forgotten.

This is the story of Jarl’s alien adventure, his story of death, life, loss and love. It is the story of the beginning of an end and the end which is necessary for a beginning. But is also the story made up of the tales of Dia Thorpe, Michael, Gheid and Leyla, without whom Jarl’s journey would have ended at the beginning. This is a collection of short stories making up 17,500 words.This is the story of Jarl’s alien adventure, his story of death, life, loss and love. It is the story of the beginning of an end and the end which is necessary for a beginning. But is also the story made up of the tales of Dia Thorpe, Michael, Gheid and Leyla, without whom Jarl’s journey would have ended at the beginning. This is a collection of short stories from my “Origins” series, all packaged into one giant short story with chapters (Making up less than 18,000 words in all). It was never intended to be within one book and there have been no alterations to ensure it fits correctly in such a format. Therefore, I implore you to read with due care.

I wrote this short story during the summer of 1992. It helped me flesh out a couple of characters in my first novel, The Escape of Bobby Ray Hammer, which I was writing at the time. I wrote it one Saturday evening, and the next afternoon, I read it to a rather large writing class. Our instructor loved it, and the class, mostly women, gave it a loud round of applause, something unheard of.Brenda is sitting up in bed leaning against the headboard with the white sheet and pink quilt pulled to her neck. She's naked and has her right hand down between her legs and her left hand on her right nipple squeezing hard. She's also thinking hard about Norman Todd, so hard in fact sweat is breaking out on her forehead and in her armpits. Spit is filling her mouth so fast she has to keep swallowing to keep it from running down her chin. She's thinking of the future, on a fantasy date with Norman, and he's got her where she wants to be most, pinned on her back in the seat of his brand new '57 T-Bird. She's also thinking of the past, about losing her virginity two months ago with Thomas Powers in the grassy foothills just outside of town (wondering why it happened with him, he's such a jerk), and the steamy date she had with Melvin Swensen last night. She can't believe how delicious he was. Her problem is, she can hear her mother's high heels clicking rapidly on the hardwood floor down the hall toward her bedroom. Brenda hopes she can come before her mother does. And, she's wondering why her mother is wearing high heals. The reason Brenda's mother has hurried down the hall and is now turning the doorknob to Brenda's bedroom (Brenda is at this very second in the throes of ecstasy) has a lot to do with the reason she's wearing high heels. Her name is Ramona, and today she is forty. Just yesterday she was thinking that when she was born, her grandmother was forty, and she had always thought her grandmother was very old. Now Ramona is the same age her grandmother was then. That's bugging the shit out of her, even though she's not a grandmother, maybe in part because she is not a grandmother; maybe she could accept her age if she was a grandmother; but the fact is, she's not. She exists in this woman's no-woman's-land; she still feels young and vital, and she has never crossed over into that state of mind, that state of mental existence, that state of being old and knowing it, as she expected she would. She specifically does not mean a state of acceptance; no that is not what she means at all. When you are old, she thinks, it should be like you were always old. You shouldn't have to accept it. You're just that — old. Enough said. It is on you just like skin. You don't even have to think about it. Someone asking about your age should be like asking about your skin. "Do you have skin?" "Yes, I have skin, of course I have skin," you would reply. Just like that. No question about it. "Are you old?" "Of course I'm old. I'm forty. I've always been old. What a silly question." But it just isn't that way. That isn't the way she feels at all.So Ramona at her advanced age, and yet still feeling very young, put on her high heels this morning just after breakfast, after she fixed a breakfast of ham, eggs and toast...

How do you catch a killer who is already dead? When DS Evelyn Giles is called to a murder scene, it seems like an open-and-shut case. But when the prime suspect reveals a horrifying secret, Giles' past comes back to haunt her. Her greatest nemesis - the Bluebell Killer - is still out there. And very much alive...How do you catch a killer who is already dead?One year ago, the Bluebell Killer killed his last victim. He was shot and killed, leaving behind a legacy of twenty corpses and a name that people will fear for years to come…A year later, a man is shot in the back of the head and left in a field of bluebells. Is it a mugging gone wrong? A copycat killer? Or is the Bluebell Killer still out there, waiting to pounce on his next victim?For DS Evelyn Giles the solution is simple – it’s just another dirty politician caught committing an unforgiveable crime. But with the evidence stacking up against him, Giles’ suspect has one more surprise in store for her…And his words will throw everything she knows into question…‘It’s not over yet.’The past is coming back to haunt DS Giles. She’s already sacrificed much for the lie. The only question is how much more will she suffer for the truth?An ingeniously, gripping thriller, The Bluebell Informant is a dark, unexpected and emotionally charged debut.

Twelve year old Karen is battling cancer. Her parents have divorced, and Karen must rely on her younger brother, Porter to help with her daily needs. She reaches out to her elderly neighbor, Eddy, for help, but soon discovers that Eddy is not so easily persuaded to help their struggling family. A Dove for Eddy follows Karen, Porter, and Eddy's healing journey.A Dove for Eddy has received honorable mentionin The Write Helper's 4th Annual Novel Beginnings 1st Chapter Contest 2011.The author has designated a portion of the proceeds from the sale of A Dove for Eddy to Samaritan's Purse; a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Twelve-year old Karen is battling Cancer. Her parents have divorced, and her father has been transferred back to Chicago leaving their small family all alone in downtown St. Louis. The mounting medical bills have forced her parents to work long hours leaving Karen’s younger brother, Porter, as Karen’s only care giver. Karen wishes that they had a normal, uncomplicated life, but since she cannot change the circumstances, she takes on the task of finding someone who will help her struggling family. She reaches out for assistance, but in her high crime neighborhood, this is not an easy task. After carefully observing her neighbors, Karen reaches out to Mrs. McGrath (Eddy) who she has deemed as their only trustworthy neighbor. However, Eddy is an elderly recluse, with her own unique set of problems including paranoia and a germ phobia. Karen soon discovers that Eddy is not so easily persuaded to venture from the safety of her home. A Dove for Eddy follows Karen, Porter, and Eddy's healing journey.

Love story set after the 9/11 disaster.A story written shortly after 9/11. A tale of survival and love in troubling times. Meet interesting characters in Colorado while they survive a horrific highway accident. It is a love story and a gritty plot of survival and what we will do to help each other. Everyone old enough remembers exactly where they were that day. This plot is set in the days immediately following and the the shock our country felt.

Stranded by a South Island storm, six people usurp the stillness of an old house. As they tell the fragments of their story, a seventh voice responds: a young New Zealand serviceman who died in 1920, soon after his return from France. As the storm deepens, the hauntings of the mind and the hauntings of the house become one. First published on Armistice Day 1987, After Z-Hour won the PEN Award for Best First Book of Prose.

Man saves woman from attackers. There is a pull that keeps him wanting to be with her, but what he is, is what keeps him at bay.The story continues....Meredith was saved by someone or was it some thing? As she lay in the alley way after being saved from two attackers, she listens to the sirens get closer and closer. The darkness of the night and her blurred vision from the knock on the head that the one of the attackers gave her, prevented her from seeing her savior clearly. All she saw was the attackers go flying. Its two years later and she's still haunted by that night.Carmine has watched her for the past two years, keeping her safe even after she left the town of York. He has kept his distance because of what he is. Not many people would understand or even believe what he is and what he can do. Will Meredith and Carmine be together or are they destine to be apart forever.Note: This story will be wrote in a continued short story series. Please keep checking back for the next part.

Terrorist. Patriot. Take your pick.Terrorist. Patriot. Take your pick. In the ruins of the United States travels Dustin Parker and his brother, trying to cross the country to get to safety. A revolution decimated the country seven years ago and forced Dustin from his home. Nowhere is safe, a truth he learns very quickly. The revolutionary Hyenas and the remnants of the American government scrounge through debris and ravaged cities to find Dustin- to find him because of a secret he keeps from both sides. One is meant to protect him. The other would see him executed. But the only question on Dustin’s mind is in regards to which will find him first.

Lucy McDonald is content to go on mourning her dead fiance, Harry, forever. The angels she and her family can interact with have other plans. First, her trusted guardian angel, Kira, informs her that Harry's death was ordered by the powerful archangels. Then, she is paired with the sexy and determined prince of the Earth Angel kingdom, Sam, to save the universe. Who knew she was a superhero?Losing her fiance, Harry, four months before their wedding in a senseless accident was bad enough. Finding out the powerful archangels ordered it is an infuriating mystery. Lucy McDonald is a seer...she shares her mother's family gift of being able to see, hear, and touch angels. Only, she's not to thrilled with the angel community at the moment. That has to be put aside, though, when she is pulled into a world of angelic intrigue that has implications for the safety and freedom of this universe and everyone in it. Paired by the archangels with a strong, sexy Earth angel named Sam to end the threat, and told they are the only two in the universe who can do it, Lucy soon learns some surprising secrets about who she really is, uncovers treachery in the Earth angel kingdom, and is made privy to many of the truths about the inner workings of the universe that most people never know. From the streets of Orlando to the forests of northern Vermont, and from an intriguing alternate dimension to which she is the only key to the capital city of the Earth angel kingdom itself, Lucy and Sam are on a race against time to build an army powerful enough to take on the oncoming danger and save the lives of everyone they've been entrusted to protect. At the same time, Lucy discovers maybe just maybe, the archangels were right about Harry, and learns that true love often looks completely different than you ever imagined.

Today, at the centre of our galaxy, dwell small colonies of a most extraordinary species – humans. Mervyn Bright and three close friends from the Space Academy must risk everything to escape Lord De Monsero, and save his family, but in doing so he must pitch human-kind into the heart of a galactic conflict neither desire – it is time for humans to show their worth.A lovely suburban couple sit down for dinner with their son. They start discussing the prospect of perhaps adding a daughter to their family, to the husband's disapproval. In the middle of their argument, their son stands up and heads for the door. What happens next will shock you.

This is a short, fictional story. A humorous look at the plight of a short story writer. Written from the writer’s perspective, consulting an imaginary filing cabinet full of unused short stories. The writer tries to determine the merits of various stories they have written, all the while searching for a unique idea to pitch in a writing competition.This is a short, tongue-in-cheek, fictional story. A humorous look at the plight of a short story writer, wondering which story to put forward in a writing competition. Written from the writer’s perspective, consulting an imaginary filing cabinet full of unused short stories, the writer tries to determine the merits of various stories, all the while searching for a unique idea to put forward in a writing competition.