Over the Garden Wall
Every season in the garden, like every season in life, has rewards and challenges, and every season holds moments that matter-if we pay attention.In Over the Garden Wall, author Debbie Kaiman Tillinghast shares personal moments of joy and sorrow, struggle and peace, through her lyrical stories and poetry. She invites us to laugh at ourselves and discover moments that matter every day. She offers a hand to hold and says, "You're not alone."We often miss the details in life as we rush headlong through the day. When we are present, and notice the moments, it increases our inner peace and well-being. When we don't pay attention, everything passes quickly, like dreams forgotten in an instant, and we wonder where the days have gone.Venture Over the Garden Wall and enjoy the simple pleasures of being present. Awaken your senses and connect to the moments that matter to you.
Two Street
From a late-night visit from a fugitive father to a cat locked in a coke machine, it's neighborhood lore and barroom brags, hard luck laments and desperate measures. They say write what you know and that's what I know. TWO STREET TOM LARSEN Tom Larsen lives in the Pennsport section of South Philadelphia, home to Mummers, Flyers and that "screw you" slant that made this city great. For a writer auditioning characters, the 19148 zip is a casting gold mine. Tom worked as a journeyman pressman for thirty years before scrapping it all for the writer's life. His work has appeared in Raritan, The Los Angeles Review, Philadelphia Stories Magazine, New Millennium Writing and Best American Mystery Stories.
She's Always Hungry
NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW "BEST HORROR FICTION OF 2024"From Eliza Clark, the author of the brilliant novels Boy Parts and Penance and one of Granta's Best Young British Novelists, comes a fierce, visionary and darkly comic story collection.A woman welcomes a parasite into her body.A teenager longs for perfect skin.A scientist tends to fragile alien flora.A young man takes the night into his own hands. Unsettling, revelatory, and laced with her signature dark humor, Eliza Clark's debut short story collection plumbs the depths of that most basic human feeling: hunger.
Seven Deadly Pens 2
A new collection of short stories with deadly consequences. From a cozy murder mystery to psychological medical suspense, dark science fiction, persistent ghosts and moral dilemmas, dive into seven stories with endings you won't soon forget.Lake Nicaragua (Peter Smith)When a biologist with an unwavering commitment to ethics is asked to greenwash a massive engineering project in Central America, he is driven to the breaking point, with terrifying consequences for his greedy employer.FACE (K. Bradley)Rayne, feeling disoriented in the unfamiliar surroundings of her hospital bed, longs for the comforting embrace of FACE. But is it truly the sturdy, beloved tree from which she's always sought shelter, or is there something darker lurking beneath its gnarled roots?A Good Man (Matt C. Sully)When a DNA analysis company reveals him as genetically predisposed to murder, William Powell is forced to confront his own nature to clear his name. Can he remain the good man he thinks he is, or is he bound by science to become a killer?Brokenhearted (Lara Bujold Clouden)Sandra's granddaughter arrives with a boyfriend who looks eerily like the lover she lost to tragedy forty years ago. Some memories should remain buried-especially those that refuse to stay dead.Digital Diva (Steve Moretti)Julie created an AI companion filled with her troubled memories and able to analyze twenty trillion bytes of data per second-a marvel of technology designed to serve others until the bot decides on a new mission: replacing its creator.A Sailor Went to Sea (MH Tammi)Agatha Christie fan, Martha, sees mysteries everywhere, but never expects to be in the middle of one. A cruise with long time friends reveals that nothing is at it appears. As they sail from port to port, and the mood turns darker, she unwittingly becomes the catalyst that will change all of their lives.I.C.U. (Nicola Hamer)I.C.U. psychosis: a disorder in which patients in an intensive care unit experience a cluster of serious psychiatric symptoms. It usually resolves when the patient leaves the I.C.U... Usually.
Softie
In beautifully melancholy stories of magical realism, the women and girls in Softie transform their bodies and test their sanity, trying to find meaning in the loneliest of places. A former child star haunted by a past she can't remember. An Afro-French girl with an obsession for ear lobes. A loner whose only friend is hiding a terrible, otherworldly secret. Each of these stories shares situations that are sometimes fantastical, sometimes commonplace, but always strange. From a Corsican vacation town in its off-season to hospital rooms and a seedy hotel suite in Chicago, experience the every day come fully untethered from reality.
Falmora
In the forest Falmora lives an ancient race. Their small size brings peril from even smaller animals; yet the greater threat is distrust and prejudice among kinsmen. Will they hold by the old ways of the Great One or the false laws of Havar? When Fendun breaks taboo by calling out Andreno's full name and is banished, passions flare. For Andreno, fearing to break an even graver taboo, will not grant forgiveness. Meanwhile, Fendun struggles to survive, shadowed by the forest girl, Allial籀nae, adept at weapons and living with nature. Overall looms a mysterious watcher, Angara, shaped by dire acts and enduring hate-is he friend or foe? Finally, Tan矇ha, a young woman of rare insight, hears the great night bird's cry and urges the Falmorans to cease their quarrels and unite. Will they heed her warning and triumph over the evil one, Havar? Following the dramatic climax of Falmora, turn to Debra Litton's Six Stories-variously humorous, fanciful and poignant-aimed to engage readers young and old. ***** "Litton crafts her tales with a fine edge of literary and cross-cultural reflection as the characters grow and change...keeps the relationships believable...the stories replete with secrets and quests..." - D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review "Debra Litton's stories are disarmingly clever balancing acts. Things aren't quite as they seem; what's cozily familiar is apt to turn eerily strange, even fantastic. Somehow these stories manage to be both forthright and sly, a charming combination." - Cassandra Phillips (The Passion Trap and Plastic Ocean) "Falmora is a delightful exercise in world-making, in which tiny humans live, love, and make war. The plot follows the overturning of a harsh religion and revenge for a lost generation by young people whose marginalization has made them uniquely capable of leadership. The six stories are each little jewels, featuring animals, humans, and part-humans...characters and plot twists that left me laughing or stunned with surprise..." - Barbara A Kerr, Distinguished Professor, Kansas University (Smart Girls; Smart Boys; and Psychology of Freedom)
The Adventures of Whosme
Whosme was a young man from Cyprus who did little other than spend his life herding goats. This all changed though when he decided to buy a boat and go on an adventure to Larnaca. It was on this first voyage that he literally ran into a boat in the middle of the sea and met Roger the Rabbit, Gordon the Gerbil, Felix the Fox, Kevin the Koala and Morris the Mole, the leaders of an animal crew who sail the seven seas.Follow Whosme in these short stories as he meets the crew for the first time, how he ended up living in a cave and when he first heard animals talk. Also follow him as he has adventures where he meets Mr Fez and Colin the Camel, the Carob Fairy, Larry the Lamb and the Three Billy Goats Gruff.These stories are suitable for all ages who want to experience the fun and adventure of a youthful explorer.
White Nights and Other Short Stories
"White Nights and Other Short Stories" is a fantastic collection of short stories by prolific Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. They include: "White Nights", "First Night", "Second Night", "Third Night", "Fourth Night", "Morning", and "Notes From The Underground". This collection is highly recommended for all lovers of the short story form, and it is not to be missed by fans and collectors of Dostoevsky's world-famous work. Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (1821 - 1881) was a Russian novelist, essayist, short story writer, journalist, and philosopher. His literature examines human psychology during the turbulent social, spiritual and political atmosphere of 19th-century Russia, and he is considered one of the greatest psychologists in world literature. A prolific writer, Dostoevsky produced 11 novels, three novellas, 17 short stories and numerous other works.
The Stoney Collection
This anthology showcases new Irish writing from twenty-one breakout authors & poets, representing The Stoney Writers Group. Presented by PC Studios, these collected works include short stories and poetry with a unique arrangement from modern realism and tragic thrillers to fantasy adventure and surreal satire. Support local independent creative writing, cosy up with a cuppa or a pint and let our storytellers do the rest. The Stoney Writers Group is a Stoneybatter inspired neighbourhood group founded by author Lorna Keane and has been brought to life by its community of over forty-five contributing members - Irish and international authors and poets. We carry a mission to celebrate independent writing by fostering a community of shared creativity.
Rough Justice
"Kafkaesque" isn't a term that's used often or even lightly. So when it finds itself tied to any modern-day author, you know you'll be in for a real treat. And that's just what we've come to expect from Steve Rasnic Tem. His work often embodies the same nightmarish quality that authors like Kafka inject into their own writing. However, in Tem's stories the situations are even more nihilistic. His environments are inhabited by droogs and degenerates, lost or forgotten, whose stories-up until now-have had no voice. But in a world overrun by an abject and apathetic populace, Tem provides his characters with all the voice they need. Thus, it's no surprise that violence is the wallpaper that lines Tem's squalid hallways. Stories like "Facing It" and "Rough Justice" portray a dog-eat-dog world where "little bastards" are held in check and accused baby killers receive their just deserts. But keep a look-out for irony knocking on the door-it provides all the epiphany our flawed anti-heroes would ever wish to meet. In "Rat Catcher" an infestation of rodents in one family's home leads to an anguished plea for help. But the man who arrives leaves their children unsettled, and like the nightmare the father endured as a child, a horrific manifestation has been resurrected. Just as deplorable is "The Stench" in which Riley is continually hampered by foul odors found in ordinary people, places, and things, forcing him to avoid them at all costs. But one man's trash is another man's treasure, and for Riley, the stench he so admonishes may in fact be our windfall. Tem shows that there may be a glimmer of sentiment lurking inside-one that needs its door slammed shut. "Love Letters" features a man traveling cross country in the hopes of recovering his ex's love notes. No matter what their nostalgia, they pull him further from reality and further from the closure he so desperately needs. "Daddy's an Actor" and "My Daughter is Here" feature two distinct father-daughter depictions: one that surrounds a fascination with the art of acting; and the other with end-of-life care. Their faux relationships may be teetering on the brink of collapse, but thankfully, their "daughters" are there to swoop in and help as needed...in their own little, maladjusted ways. Unlike the noir-driven exploits from your father's time, these forty-three tales of crime and deception run the gamut from high-altitude capers to back-alley brouhahas. You'll meet obsessives and connivers, goons and scoundrels. You may find it uncomfortable or even disturbing, but you'll never be lonely or bored locked inside Tem's "Kafkaesque" amphitheater. With nearly 500 pages of disturbing content, it's not to be read all at once.
We're Not Getting Divorced
A collection of short stories around the endings and beginnings on which we build our lives. With compassion, respect and sometimes humour, the stories explore relationships between justice and fairness, authenticity and truth, obsession and love, youth and age, duty, openness and fortune.
Oblivious
These entertaining and humorous tales of woe depict human connection and misconnection. They showcase characters' blind spots and shortcomings while attempting to navigate life's uncertainties and interpersonal relationships.
Rudolph Baumbach's Tales
Rudolph Baumbach's Tales is a collection of stories by the German poet and novelist Rudolph Baumbach, known for his romantic and adventure-themed works. Baumbach, who wrote primarily during the late 19th century, often drew upon folklore and nature in his writing, capturing the imagination of readers with his vivid descriptions and engaging characters. His tales frequently depict the rural life and landscapes of Germany, incorporating themes of love, honor, and heroism, reflective of the Romantic tradition in which he wrote.
Tilting Towards Joy
Tilting Towards Joy is a collection of interconnected stories that trace the delicate threads binding lives across continents and through time. Set against the backdrop of rural France, each story follows familiar characters through unfamiliar terrain, offering insight into how we navigate new experiences, unexpected conflicts, and shifting relationships.Among the characters we meet are an empty-nest couple who trade their Edmonton home for a farmhouse in rural France; a young girl who exacts revenge on her siblings by serving an unconventional "dessert"; a woman who after being scammed chooses to view the situation with hope rather than pessimism; visiting friends who show their true colours; and siblings hurriedly preparing for a wildfire evacuation. Each story, grounded in a moment of personal reckoning, pulses with a sense of yearning -- tilting always toward the possibility of joy, even as it remains just out of reach.
Shocker in Gloomtown
From Joe Bonomo, author of Field Recordings from the Inside: "In dry, dark, very funny stories shot through with poignance and compassion, Libman's outwardly polite folk navigate everyday disappointments, always on the brink, surprised by the possibilities of human inadequacies. Shocker in Gloomtown is the real thing."
Start a Religion, Stay Out of Jail and Other Absurd Tales
Pets: do they secretly hate us? Could starting a religion allow one to live one's entire life as a tax write-off and are the cost-to-benefit ratios worth it? What if the donut shop around the corner stays open all through the sleepless nights and its only patrons were every person you've ever known? Could this indeed be heaven? What happens when the delivery driver falls in love with one of his customers? Is there redemption for the students who planned and executed their teacher's demise, just to get out of doing their homework? Would you survive the apocalypse if you built the world's most well-planned bomb shelter? Is simply surviving enough, or would you need trustworthy companionship as well? Is cheese the most perfect food? Find out answers to these questions and so much more... Writer Logan Medland shares fourteen absurd stories using his uniquely clever and humorous style in which he created a world that is true (within its own boundaries), however irrational it appears at the surface. We do indeed live in strange times.
Sandcastles
'Moving, funny, quirky . . . insightful' 21 tales of love, loss and the unexpected . . . exploring what it is to be human. The cycle of life from finding love to challenging children, parents who misbehave themselves, and beyond, with a sprinkling of mystery along the way to keep things interesting. Read cover to cover or dip in at random. There's something for the briefest of moments to a well-earned break. Whatever time you have she has a story to share with you ... 'Sandcastles is many things - there's humour, poignancy, tragedy, and tales to make you think ... what if, or if only ... I love the way in which the stories carry us through life, from first loves in different forms to being cherished beyond death. And then the splash of tales in the 'Unexplained' adds a touch of other worldliness to suggest it's not just the visible human condition which contributes to our lives' experiences.' 'Sandcastles is a wonderful collection of short stories, organised in four sections: Unexpected; Unconditional; Unending; Unexplained. The stories vary in length, content, style and mood. Each one is a beautifully crafted vignette of life, cleverly-written to evoke a different response from the reader. Some make you smile; some make you frown; some are darkly humorous; some are poignant; some are unashamedly sentimental. All make you think.A triumph. Highly recommended.' 'Lily Lawson is largely known for her poetry, which I love.That same understanding of human nature, not to mention of other creatures in our universe, emanates from each story.Some caused me to belly laugh. Some to nod sagely, as if I shared her genius, although it was really that click that comes when you encounter a truth you perhaps have always known but couldn't put words to.One had me unashamedly, full-out sobbing. If the dog story does not bring a tear, your heart needs a tune-up, in my humble.Delightfully, you can pick up this moving, funny, sometimes quirky, insightful book for minutes or an hour at a time. I've read it twice so far. And I will read it again.Beautiful work, Lawson.'
Knives All Blade
Knives All Blade is a full-length collection of flash fiction and short stories which, although covering different topics-from motherhood, gender roles and peer pressure to relationship to death, religion and PTSD-are similar in the recurring theme of family ties, and loss and fears the protagonists face, as well as the overwhelming "feel(ing) like he could disappear, and no one would ever know." Blurring the line between reality and fantasy, with most stories written in a first-person narrative, these character-driven journeys are universal stories that investigate the complexities of human action and relationships, and (almost) inevitable falls.
Time, Gentlemen Please!
Short stories should endeavour to impart a statement about the human condition, society, or life at the time of writing; to invoke certain memories, or moods, very similar to music. These simple, easy reads, written over 30 years are intended to amuse, rather than to cause heartaches in trying to fathom out their meaning. As a mental entertainment, I hope they achieve their goal. A South Londoner, born and bred, his previous collection of short stories published in 2016 was entitled "A Host of Females". In this collection, Dave Shonfield explores the concept of time. It passes so quickly and catches up with all of us. Time begets History, and we will never see characters, contained in these stories, such as Wilfred Pickles, Jimmy Hill, Arfur Daly or Doris Day ever again.
People Around the Corner and Other Strangers
People Around the Corner and Other Strangers explores love and loss and the people and events that daily shape our lives, yet often slip by us unnoticed. The Virginia prize-winning story, "Berka Menakhemovich," salutes the immigrant ancestor who made the author's life possible. The "Gramps and Little Guy" stories are dedicated to all our beloved next gens. Some stories end with a twist. They all seek to remind us to be curious about the strangers we encounter by chance and miracle every day.
From the Land of Dreams
From the Land of Dreams, Volume 2, delves deeper into the realms of science-fiction, captivating readers with a diverse selection of imaginative tales!This second collection offers a more extensive and immersive reading experience. Within its voluminous pages expect to encounter a curated selection of four science-fiction novellas, each crafted to transport you to unique worlds and provide thought-provoking reflections of the future.Readers embark on a literary journey, finding themselves enthralled by intricate and thought-provoking themes that permeate the pages. Rambeau's years of dedication to the craft shine through in every novella, inviting readers to explore the depths of imagination and experience the magic of speculative fiction at its best.Whether you are a seasoned science-fiction fan or a newcomer eager to discover new literary realms, this is a must-read that promises to captivate, inspire, and leave a lasting impression on all who dare to venture into its fantastical landscapes.
The Gift of Gab
RANDALL IVEY'S LATEST COLLECTION OF STORIES takes his readers back to the apocryphal Compton County, South Carolina, a Deep South haven a-swarm with a myriad of characters from different walks of life, with different points of view, and who sing with their own individual voices.There's Mrs. Jenny deGraffenreid, whose Methodist goodness of heart leads her to commit a most unfortunate act of charity; Simona Diggs, who attends funerals so that she may squirrel away the food from the bereaved until she is stopped by pranksters; Debbie Lynn Fulton, whose romantic woes rise to such a pitch she winds up ruining her uncle's funeral; Rusty Flowers, whose love of glitter puts him in backwoods peril; Otto Runnels, who suffers bullying at the hands of older boys before finally striking back; and Jessie McMillan, who, upon discovering her husband's infidelity, carries out her retribution in a most public way.These and other characters await readers in tales comic, pathetic, and even macabre as only a master storyteller from the South can tell them.
Make Your Way Home
In eleven stories that span Florida marshes, North Carolina mountains, and Southern metropolitan cities, Make Your Way Home follows Black men and women who grapple with the homes that have eluded them. A preteen pregnant alongside her mother refuses to let convention dictate who she names as the father of her child. Centuries after slavery separated his ancestors, a native Texan tries to win over the love of his life, despite the grip of a family curse. A young deaconess, who falls for a new church member, wonders what it means when God stops speaking to her. And at the very end of the South as we know it, two sisters seek to escape North to freedom, to promises of a more stable climate.Artfully and precisely drawn, and steeped in place and history as it explores themes of belonging, inheritance, and deep intimacy, Carrie R. Moore's debut collection announces an extraordinary new talent in American fiction, inviting us all to examine how the past shapes our present--and how our present choices will echo for years to come.
Nightmares of an Appalachian Hillbilly
Under emerald canopies in the summer, and dazzling explosions of color in the fall lay the tranquil Appalachian Mountains. Rumor, tall tales, and superstition play on the imagination of those that make their home in the majestic serenity. These stories linger through the generations as lessons, but most often become warnings to those that trespass into the darker recesses of the Nightmare of an Appalachian Hillbilly.
Miss Kim Knows
Written in Cho Nam-joo's signature razor-sharp prose, Miss Kim Knows follows eight women as they confront how gender shapes and orders their lives. A woman is born. A woman is filmed in public without consent. A woman is gaslit. A woman is discriminated against at work. A woman grows old. A woman becomes famous. A woman is hated, and loved, and then hated again. As with Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982, these microcosmic stories prove eerily relatable under Cho Nam-joo's precise, unveiled gaze, offering another captivating read from an essential voice in fiction. "There is mischief and glee to be found in these pages, along with the kind of laughter that sets two women over 50 rolling in snow with tears streaming down their frozen cheeks and the aurora borealis dancing above them." --Hephzibah Anderson, The Guardian
To Receive My Services You Must Be Dying and Alone
Call it Absurdist Realism. Call it Midwestern Gothic. Call it a book of stories that get a hold of your head and heart. Whatever you call it, To Receive My Services You Must Be Dying and Alone takes us to the edge of lived experience and guides us to look back in wonder at essential elements of humanness: hope, grief, confusion, joy. While the worlds and characters in each of these stories arrive fresh and distinct---A woman drives through Central Illinois returning lost baggage to airline passengers, accompanied by her mother's toothless mini-poodle; a couple finds their lives weighed with 3D printings of their baby's fetus after a miscarriage; a rag-tag group spends every day together in an abandoned and repurposed pharmacy, the shelves still filled with out-dated stock, while they up-skill for promised minimum-wage jobs---we grab hold of a throughline: the book spills over with people building and breaking idols to find love and survival where they can. And we cheer them on at each step.
Eddie and the Spiders
Eddie enjoys exploring the world around him and is lead on great adventures by his curiosity! In this story Eddie learns about different species of spiders.
Short Stories Of Christmas Nostalgic Christmas Stories From The 1950s to 1980s
Step into a world where Christmas sparkled with tinsel trees, disco lights, and the warmth of timeless traditions. This captivating collection of stories takes you on a nostalgic journey through post-war America and the cultural shifts that followed, from the growth of suburban life to the rise of technology. Each tale offers a heartfelt glimpse into the cherished memories and magical moments that made Christmas unforgettable for generations. Whether you experienced these times firsthand or long to relive the charm of a bygone holiday season, this book is a treasure trove of festive joy, sure to warm your heart and ignite the spirit of Christmas. Unwrap these stories and rediscover the magic of a Christmas long ago.Vintage Christmas stories collection, Nostalgic holiday memories book, Post-war Christmas traditions, Heartwarming Christmas short stories, Retro Christmas tales, Disco era Christmas nostalgia, Timeless holiday season stories,
The Blue Mango Collection
Drake Henson's Blue Mango restaurant attracts all sorts of people. And each one comes with more than a taste for the Caribbean.They come with a story.In this five story collection you'll discover a few of them: an unusual request rattles a new waitress, a critical decision threatens a man's chance at happiness, and a lonely couple finally faces their worst fears-each other. These stories and more await those willing to enter.Welcome to the Blue Mango
Fifteen Shades of Time
Troubled philosopher Luca Cangemi wrestles with the fabric of time in a lecture that will transform the lives of every person in attendance: a grieving mother desperate to finish her degree, an immortal delivery driver, a psychonaut hell-bent on documenting her trips, a boy who dreams of living on Mars, and many others. They all discover something incredible about the nature of time. Will you discover it too? "A book of unexpected insights and extraordinary grace, rippling with loveliness, sorrow, and finesse. All taking place in one room, bound by a single unraveling ribbon of time."- David Eagleman, NYT Bestselling author. Stanford Neuroscientist "Charter balances the light but rich ideas of philosophy and time with well-drawn if flawed characters, hustling and striving, and wishing for better lives. As one of them says, 'There are no checks at the door. Anyone can walk in and expand their mind.' I'm glad I took my seat for this novella and surrounded myself with the sounds and actions of its characters."- Tommy Dean, Editor of Fractured Lit. Author of Hollows. "An intriguing and emotionally involving book, where notions of how we experience time interweaves with the visceral complexity of life itself. Using the scenario of a single lecture about Time as the centrepiece, the author passes the narrative baton around a cast of intriguing characters, each with their own compelling issues and concerns."- KM Elkes, author of All That Is Between Us
Scarecrows
Steve Rasnic Tem grew up in Lee County Virginia, the westernmost county in the state. It was the heart of Appalachia, isolated, yet beautiful. He has said "Growing up in that small place, it was hard to imagine ever becoming a writer. To me wanting to be a writer was like wanting to become an astronaut or a movie star. I didn't believe such things ever happened for people like us." Now in his seventies, Steve Rasnic Tem's writings include more than 500 published short stories in a variety of genres, seventeen collections, eight novels, and miscellaneous poetry and plays. He has won the World Fantasy, Bram Stoker, British Fantasy, and International Horror Guild awards. In 2024 he received the Horror Writers Association Lifetime Achievement Award. "His work...will haunt your imagination and your heart in equal measure, and it both expands and defines the genre." - Weird Fiction Review "Steve Rasnic Tem is a school of writing unto himself." - Joe R. Lansdale "He's one of the true masters." - Ed Gorman "A Tem story is like no other." - Simon Strantzas Scarecrows: Appalachian Tales collects the best of Tem's writings about his native Appalachia, two poems and twenty-four short stories (including five never-before-published tales) concerning the farmers, miners, teachers, preachers, lawmen, itinerants, housewives, elders, children, and creatures who call these southern mountains home. The tales represent a range of genres: fantasy, horror, crime, humor, and realistic local color fiction of the region.
All These Steps Lead Down
"Nelson Pyles is a one-of-a-kind author. With clever characters and reliably creepy concepts, he knows his way around the horror genre. Don't miss out on his stories; you're going to love them." - Gwendolyn Kiste, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Rust Maidens and The Haunting of VelkwoodSome steps will lead you home, While some will lead away. Some steps will help you sometimes go, And some will make you stay Some steps will make you broadly smile And some will make you frown Some steps can lift you all the way up, butAll these steps lead down... A man is trapped in a dark place for which there is no escape. A prisoner and a tormentor blur their roles in a dank chamber. A grandmother plays for keeps against Death herself in a test of wills. A flavored protein powder becomes a new Eldritch God in the making. A serial murderer goes home for Christmas for a different kind of carol, and there's a very different werewolf love story... The second collection from Nelson W Pyles also features previously unreleased essays, a radio play, and a story co-written with author Scarlett R. Algee in print for the first time. Some steps go up, but all these steps lead down...
Polypetalous
Tiptoe past the fields known.Traipse past home and hitherto the place undisclosed.Secrets lurk not shown.Disown the rulesand onward to the unknown. "Elliana Leigh is a remarkable young writer-gifted with a non-stop vivid imagination, a leaning toward the fantastical, and boundless energy." Liz Rosenberg, author of Monster Mama Elliana Leigh was born and spent most of her childhood in Indonesia. At age 9, she moved to Washington State and began writing. This collection of stories is Leigh's debut book and was written between the ages of 11 and 14.
Assorted Stories
Assorted stories put the readers into a world where the delicate dance between life and death intertwines with the awe-inspiring beauty of nature. Explore vibrant cultures, immerse yourself in breathtaking places, and discover the power of belief in this captivating collection of stories.With each turn of the story, you'll discover new characters, unexpected twists, and unforgettable moments.
The Clothes I Never Wear
This story collection is a journey through identity construction and the anxious space between appearances and the self. What is it that makes us who we really are? Is it the aesthetics we favour, the media we consume, our families, friendships, and romantic partners? Are we bound or liberated by our interests and the groups we are part of? How do we stop hiding behind masks and come into our own? At the heart of it all: can we still love ourselves and live happily when we may never know who 'we' are? The characters in these stories face various issues: what happens when a fear of death becomes a fear of life, can one go too far in their obsession with the past, and how struggling with who you are can lead you down a path of desperately trying to be someone else in order to escape loneliness.
Tides
From the first to the last page, Bill Mesce, Jr.'s Tides is compelling, polished, and highly readable. the characters are genuine - real people doing real things: a young white guy whose mother is dating a black man; cops in a squad car out on a dog call and the dogs are starving and fierce; an apostate ghost-writing a paranormal book for the wealthy parents of a young suicide. Tides is a brilliant collection of short fiction and personal essays, but the essays are stories as well, with living characters and natural dialogue and fascinating storylines, even the very short ones. You will regret that it's over; you want to keep on reading. - Thomas E Kennedy, author of Copenhagen Quartet
Best of Binapani
This collection has nine stories - The Power and Glory of a FloodPatadeiThe IntervalFatherThe Tongue of FireChameli's TeaThe Shadow of DarknessThe AuditoriumThe Twins
Scarecrows and Shadows
October is a time to reap what was sown, to harvest the growth of what was. As long sunny days turn to long dark nights, October reminds us to be mindful if we're walking alone out in the fields of Scarecrows and Shadows. Your guide through the mystical fields of wonder and the macabre is Matthew McConkey. Walk with him through these dark and ominous fields as he shows you things that will challenge your beliefs and question your reality.In these fields of Scarecrows and Shadows, you will find: A man that only kills when it snows at a small university...A group of friends that form a secret pact for a crime committed in the woods..Two ageless, evil dogs that exact revenge on a man's boss from work...A witch that places a curse upon a home...A serial killer that hangs his victims upside down in his attic...A man that travels back in time and finds his younger self...A guy that digs up his dead girlfriend...And beware! There are many other things that lurk in the dark fields of Scarecrows and Shadows.
Mogens and Other Stories
Mogens and Other Stories is a collection of short stories by Danish author Jens Peter Jacobsen, showcasing his pioneering use of naturalism and psychological insight. The title story, Mogens, follows a young man whose experiences with love and nature lead to a deep existential reflection. The collection captures moments of intense emotion and explores themes such as love, death, and the human connection to the natural world, all conveyed in Jacobsen's richly descriptive and lyrical prose.
Jungle Tales Volume 3
MYSTERIES OF THE JUNGLE Once again, a quartet of the best New Pulp scribes delves into the mysterious world of the African jungle. The popular pulp hero, Ki-Gor: Lord of the Jungle, returns in two new tales set in the mysterious jungles of Africa. From battling an evil white woman to facing the challenge of a lion-riding killer baboon, Ki-Gor and his friends fight side by side against overwhelming odds, armed only with their courage and loyalty. New Pulp writers Carson Demmons and Terry Wijesuriya offer up this duo of action-packed adventures while writer Curtis Fernlund introduces Jenna the Jungle Girl. This volume also includes a bonus jungle yarn by Bob Madison where a seasoned big-game hunter, Richmond Kane, ventures into the forbidden land of the cannibal Bogas in desperate hope of finding his lost brother. Artist John Gallagher provides the black and white interior illustrations, and Ted Hammond the stunning color cover. All put together by Award-winning book designer Rob Davis. Here is old-fashioned action and adventure reminiscent of the best classic jungle pulps.
The Lammas Ghosts
A half-forgotten harvest ritual still casting a long shadow ... picture-perfect seaside holiday villages hiding simmering resentments and the odd dark secret ... old houses with very long memories ... East Anglia - the eastern-most part of England - has long been famous for its haunted landscapes, weird encounters and supernatural narratives. The classic tradition of ghost story writing established by M R James, E F Benson and others is still alive and well, with new writers finding their own inspiration in places that still, despite all the intrusions of the modern world, manage to maintain their distinctiveness. In fifteen original, evocative and often deeply uncanny short stories, infused with local history and a powerful sense of place, Barendina Smedley conjures up a vision of Norfolk where, like it or not, the past is ever-present, and always ready to spill over into the ordinary stuff of everyday life.
Be Ruled by Me, and Other Stories
There is no single, unifying theme to the 22 stories in this collection. Many have an element of fantasy. Two stories involve the intrusion of a historical period (the Peasants' Revolt, Jacobean England) into our present-day world; another features a wholly imaginary world. Sometimes the inspiration comes from folklore, such as a shapeshifting hare or pagan aspects of a harvest festival. In one story, the fantasy is based on a dream; another describes a frightening train journey. Memory is often important: people look back on their younger lives, trying to make sense of the past. Structure is crucial in a short story. Some of these are narrated in a caf矇, a pub or a club. The reaction of the listeners is significant. Sometimes, characters are reading an old journal, a series of letters, a recommended book or a poem set for homework. How do they respond? Three stories may be categorised as flash fiction. They comprise only about 250 words each and are attempts to develop the possibilities of this format.
The Mercury Anthology
"The Mercury Anthology" is a stimulating, entertaining, collection of sci-fi short stories. The author, G.C. Conrad, explores human nature through fanciful settings and unique personalities. The protagonists in Conrad's stories are thrown into a mix of science mystery and wonder, involving natural and unnatural settings. The alien and human characters strive to overcome their challenges as they are confounded by unknown forces generated from within the cosmos.
The Mercury Anthology
"The Mercury Anthology" is a stimulating, entertaining, collection of sci-fi short stories. The author, G.C. Conrad, explores human nature through fanciful settings and unique personalities. The protagonists in Conrad's stories are thrown into a mix of science mystery and wonder, involving natural and unnatural settings. The alien and human characters strive to overcome their challenges as they are confounded by unknown forces generated from within the cosmos.
Coffee and Cigarettes
'Marvellously unpredictable . . . by the end of the book you wish it was twice as long' (Daily Telegraph) How does the legacy of a family past shape who we are? Ferdinand von Schirach is one of Germany's most eminent criminal defence lawyers and an internationally bestselling crime writer. He is also the grandson of Baldur von Schirach, leader of the Hitler Youth movement. In Coffee and Cigarettes, his most personal book, von Schirach confronts his family history, through autobiographical vignettes and short stories drawn from his life and career. From conversations with imprisoned clients, great writers and supreme court judges; meditations on art, film, writing and smoking; to reflections on Germany's heavy history, Coffee and Cigarettes is a portrait of the author, and our modern world, depicted in von Schirach's signature cool and incisive prose. Revealing, revelatory and thought-provoking, these essays confirm von Schirach as one of the most inimitable writers in Europe today.
Fruiting Bodies
In stories that beckon and haunt, Fruiting Bodies ranges confidently from the fantastical to the gothic to the uncanny as it follows characters--mostly queer, mostly women--on the precipice of change. Echoes of timeless myth and folklore reverberate through urgent narratives of discovery, appetite, and coming-of-age in a time of crisis.In "The Changeling," two young cousins wait in dread for a new family member to arrive, convinced that he may be a dangerous supernatural creature. In "Endangered Animals," Jane prepares to say goodbye to her almost-love while they road-trip across a country irrevocably altered by climate change. In "Take Only What Belongs to You," a queer woman struggles with the personal history of an author she idolized, while in "Fiddler, Fool, Pair," an anthropologist is drawn into a magical--and dangerous--gamble. In the title story, partners Agnes and Geb feast peacefully on the mushrooms that sprout from Agnes's body--until an unwanted male guest disturbs their cloistered home.Audacious, striking, and wholly original, Fruiting Bodies offers stories about knowledge in a world on the verge of collapse, knowledge that alternately empowers or devastates. Pulling beautifully, brazenly, from a variety of literary traditions, Kathryn Harlan firmly establishes herself as a thrilling new voice in fiction.
Moonshiner Mystery Solved
Seth Tabor and Carl Harris were the only witnesses to the shooter and the horse leaving the barn when Coy Bryant and Sister Rhodes were murdered. They were questioned extensively by Sheriff Joe Carson immediately after the shooting and the questions continued for years. Will those questions be answered in Moonshiner Mystery Solved? Grab your copy and find out.
