Nikolai Nikolayevich celebrates his 40th birthday and reflects on a life of mild disappointment in the fog of a Volgograd night as the certainties of Soviet Communism dissolve into the chaos of the free market. Published free, download it while you can.The first in a series of linked short stories, 'Life Begins at Forty' introduces the Ribakov family of Volgograd. As the Russian economy, society and everything they have ever known disintegrate around them, father Nikolai, mother Nina and teenage son Ivan struggle to retain their dignity and integrity whilst coming to terms with the new reality of post-Communist 1990s Russia. These stories deal with the corrosiveness of bribery, corruption, disillusionment and despair, and the hope that comes from love and family that motivates the characters to carry on.Currently free, read it while you can. Views: 755
Let go and lose herself to the beast? Or hold on and fight for eternity? Which one would you choose?Seventeen year-old Tammy Maynard led a simple life as her schools golden girl, before Duke stepped in. Handsome, otherworldly, something about him drew her in until the point of no return. All it took was one venomous bite, and the Red, the monster within, was the new ruler in Tammy's life. To succumb to the Red meant letting it take over her completely, it meant freedom of the soul but a ravaging of the body. To hold on and fight the Red, meant a never-ending battle of wills to keep from becoming a monster. The choice was a matter of life or death, to kill or not to kill, to become a monster or live life always fighting. Views: 755
A near-future short story.State of Bayou Tracker Rick Edwards knew it wasn't a vagrant he was looking for. But he didn't expect to find someone like her.THIS IS A SHORT STORY OF APPROX. 5,000 WORDS.Claire knows only a world where most of humanity lives inside sparsely populated cities protected from the Outside by guarded walls. She is a new Driver whose job is to transport items between these cities. Under the watchful eye of her Protector, Shaun, Claire makes her first run from San Jose to Angel City to bring back medicine needed to save hundreds of lives. However, the trip takes them through the dangerous land of the Outsiders. Using their skills, Claire and Shaun must escape from their armed pursuers in a chase across miles of barren wasteland with no hope of help. Views: 755
Cal Denaldor is the newest owner of the Rhaveren, an enchanted sword he wields for one purpose: revenge. Or is the sword wielding him? On a search for the man who kidnapped his wife, Cal must decide to take charge of his fate, or accept the path the sword has chosen for him. Visit www.jenniferbresnick.com for full-length works by this author.The Man Who Loved Christmas, the title of the first story in this collection of mystical tales, is an almost fairy-tale about family and life and Christmas and love that never dies. Protagonists in the other stories range from a teenage girl to an old woman with the theme of family and love and unseen possibilities in the Christmas season.This collection contains six stories of mysticism, hope and charm, a Christmas gift to readers. Views: 754
Is Mercedes Strand living every tween girl's dream, or a sane person's nightmare?****This version is a combination of the first three books of the Evanescence series: Evanescence, The Mirror, and Soul Cannibal****For the girl who has everything, Mercedes Strand can't possibly ask for more. But more she will get. She's earned it after all. She's kind, altruistic, and a total whiz on the computer. What will her rewards entail? How about a hot vampire boyfriend? Yeah, nearly draining her dry of blood and informing her she's earned the wrath of an evil psychopath vampire doesn't usually happen on the ideal first date, but hey, who said love was predictable? Clouds and silver linings, no? Their love shall be everlasting.Surely Mercedes' rewards won't stop there? You bet your backside they won't. Even better than being the breath of life to a hot vampire, she soon catches the eye of Tarasque, the king of dragons himself. Blackmailed by a powerful enemy, he whisks her away to his kingdom of magnificent mountains and endless treasures. And she gets two rewards for the price of one when it's all up to her to convince Tarasque not to commit genocide against the vampires. Fortunately, he's enthralled with her beauty, wit, and sheer mystery to the point where he wishes to rip apart her beloved boyfriend who just so happens to be a…Huh.Well, clouds and silver linings people. Clouds and silver linings. Mercedes' rewards still don't stop there, no siree. How often does a human become so important to an evil Aztec god to the point where his plans can't come to fruition without her? With her pure angelic voice she can unite the cowardly sirens, the blind dragons, and the fanatical vampires against the forces of evil. They won't ignore her, beat her, or try to kill her…Huh.Maybe the term "rewards" is a bit on the loose side. Views: 754
This is the story of a man in Arizona who respected,is hard working, loves his family and with his wife happens to be mixed blood. A new stranger from the east comes with a ingrained prejudice and hate for anyone who does not measure up to his idea of purity.This is the story of a mixed blood man in Arizona who respected,is hard working, loves his family. His wife also happens to be mixed blood. A new tall dark stranger from the east comes with a ingrained prejudice and hate for anyone who does not measure up to his idea of social and racial purity. Views: 754
Rachel has her whole life mapped out, but when two different guys fight for her attention, who will she choose? Hannah is engaged to be married to the love of her life, until a secret she has been keeping for many years threatens to spoil her happiness.As these friends lean on God and each other through different trials in their lives, they learn about God's forgiveness and 'second chances.'Even as a child, Rachel had her whole life mapped out – study teaching, marry the perfect guy, have some kids and be a stay at home mum. With two different guys after her attention, Rachel must make a choice – will she choose rebellious single dad Nate or sensible youth leader Steven? Meanwhile, Hannah is on top of the world, engaged to be married to the love of her life, until a chance encounter with someone from her past threatens to take away her happiness. Will her relationship survive when the secret she has been keeping for so many years is uncovered? As these best friends lean on God and each other through different trials, they both experience God’s forgiveness and his provision of ‘second chances’. Views: 754
Will Zac, Maya & Jake foil the Weathermakers plan to fire two E/M weapons from a U.S warship? Life is full of surprises, awkward moments & growth for our intrepid trio in the second book in the Rebelutionary series. Dangling from a chopper... hiking on a grueling military trek... disarming the bad guys... discovering secrets about the ISRA. Life is action packed when you’re on Gordon's payroll.*Experience is not what happens to a man. It is what a man does with what happens to him -Aldous Huxley* The Codetalkers introduces new teenagers to the series. Captain Ryan Adams is fresh out of the Airforce Officer Training Academy. He’s the country’s top graduate and he expected to be deployed overseas. However instead he’s been assigned to Farliga pass - a wilderness training camp in the heart of Yellowstone National Park. Ryan’s uncomfortable about his first post as an officer. Most of the personnel up at Farliga Pass are old timers. And Ryan has reason to hate old timers... *Success is having the courage to meet failure without being defeated -Wilfred Peterson* Hope Canney’s family think she’s plodding through an undergraduate degree in journalism. But Hope’s been living a double life since starting college. She’s already a renowned investigative journalist who’s won multiple awards as Heidi Cannikin. Her cutting edge stories stem from shadowing her brother Zac’s activities. Normally it’s not risky. But this time her life is on the line. unable to contact Zac, she heads for a safehouse he’s told her about... Her decision will have far reaching ramifications for both of them.*Adversity causes some men to break, and others to break records -William Arthur Ward* Ryan and Hope don’t ever get to meet each other in The Codetalkers but they have a lot in common. Both are pretending to be older than they really are. Both are Rebelutionaries - they’ve chosen to rebel against society’s low expectations of teenagers and excel in their chosen fields. Both end up feeling they’re out of their depth. And they both look up to Zac. *Change is inevitable. Growth is intentional -Colin Wilson* The young adults in The Codetalkers toss around ideas about what makes a great leader. They continue to learn to let go of the past & bridge the gap with the older generation... And they experience personal growth as they chat about issues like sex, menstruation, childbirth, honeymoon jitters, anorexia & body image... *Nobody can go back & start a new beginning. But anyone can start today & make a new ending -Maria Robinson* Will Zac, Maya & Jake foil the Weathermakers plan to fire two E/M weapons from a U.S warship? Life is full of surprises, awkward moments & growth for our intrepid trio in this second book in the Rebelutionary series. Dangling from a chopper... hiking on a grueling military trek... disarming the bad guys... discovering mind-blowing secrets about the ISRA... Life is action packed when you’re on Gordon’s payroll.*Only the vigilant can maintain their liberties. A society whose members spend a great deal of their time in the irrelevant other worlds of sport & soap opera, mythology & metaphysical fantasy, will find it hard to resist the encroachments of those who would manipulate & control it -Aldous Huxley* The Codetalkers is set in contemporary Australia & the U.S. and has references to recent events worldwide and predicted future events. It is the second book in a series which encourages teens & young adults to rebel against society’s low expectations of them, to attempt hard things & be leaders and planet-shapers. Views: 753
When you find a magic lamp that contains a Genie, the intelligent person will think before they make a wish.Sometimes, when you find a magic lamp with a Genie inside, you should think hard about what you want before you make that fatal wish. Remember how Paris wished for the most beautiful woman in the world for his bride? He forgot that Helen was married and so his wish started the 10 year Trojan War. Views: 753
How might the Olympian Gods we know from reading change if we were to allow our imaginations to see their true ages? Time changes all people — even gods — and when their day-to-day mischievous lives no longer play a role in human affairs, what then do they become? New York sculptor Minus Orth has an idea. He'll explain this all, and give our imaginations the figures to uphold."I want to read this book. I must read this book." — Amazon Breakthrough Novel AwardMinus Orth's "eccentricities ... make him the iconoclast he is intended to be."— Publishers WeeklyNoted author Mark Beyer, along with Siren & Muse Publishing, bring you a story about obsession, identity, and art. How might the Olympian Gods change if we were to allow our imaginations to see their true ages? Time changes all people — even gods — and when their day-to-day mischievous lives no longer play a role in human affairs, what then do they become? The image of shriveled skin is too apt to ignore. And, above all, what do we associate with the aging of these gods within the condition of our modern times?Minus Orth has an idea which can explain this, and give our imaginations the figures to uphold. He is sculpting the mighty figures of myth — and the not-so-mighty — in an art cycle he has titled "Mythical Gods in Their Twilight" without the least irony. And his creations have not come without a price.Noted author Mark Beyer, along with Siren & Muse Publishing, bring you a story about obsession, identity, and art.Minus Orth walks dogs for a living and sculpts for his life. He has a girlfriend, Belinda, who’s itching to get married. His friend, Peter N, has reaped artistic success that’s both inspirational and a thorn. He plays poker with a quartet of exiled aristocrats. And at Minus’s art co-op, the residents live on the fringe of society. One day Minus crosses paths with Karen Kosek, best remembered as a culture critic of the 1960s. Karen dropped out of sight years ago. Now she dresses as a bag lady — ragged clothes, a garbage smell, and bulging plastic bags she carries as if they hold the secrets to the good life. Minus orchestrates a tenuous relationship with Karen, and discovers in her a woman who has not been trampled underfoot, but is burrowed deeper in society’s crust than anyone could imagine.Thus begins an odyssey in which Minus becomes obsessed with Karen’s past and present, obsessed with creating his sculpture cycle, and with the role artists play in society’s split personality. “Do you have what it takes to make something beautiful?” is a question that comes to the minds of many characters in this story. Their answers are hilarious, confused, self-delusional, virtuous, or simply truthful, because the people who create beauty are different from those who value beauty, and far afield from the powers able to help it flourish … or destroy it. Views: 753
Avalon St. Andrews has endured Hell and war in an attempt to secure freedom and immortality for his people. Raised and conditioned to be both warrior and leader, he now sits on a throne with his sister Eden, governing the Kingdom in peace. While his people enjoy the benefits of his struggle and loss, he is restless, bored and alone. Avalon is summoned to fight to save his people once more as the Kingdom is threatened by a brand new evil. In addition to reigning in a kingship he doesn’t want, he is fighting against the very people he has fought so hard to protect. They are determined to throw away their newfound freedom and their newfound leaders. In this war and in this kingship he feels alone. And for the first time he feels hollow. That is until Amelia Cartier shows up, invading his every thought and shaking up his carefully controlled world. Now he faces yet another battle—making Amelia his queen. Views: 753
For those of you unfamiliar with this series, this story features the DarkRiver Leopards (Alpha: Lucas) and the SnowDancer wolves (Alpha: Hawke). The narrator is Nate, the most senior sentinel in the DarkRiver pack.
*First published in Nalini Singh's 10/2/12 newsletter. Views: 753
A tale of courage, love, old rivalries, and adventure.In the land of Eluria, honor is everything. As in "Life or death" everything.Join Kendalion,Tokonami, Karutoshi, and Karuka in their quest to stay alive and conquer their worst nightmares. It may all seem jolly in the beginning, but that is just a mere illusion. The world of Eluria is a vast continent, but there's only room for a few champions to be considered "honorable" and these four are on their way to many challenges, both with their allies and foes...Let's just hope that they can put their differences aside and work together first... Views: 752
Jet-packs, Dragons, Barbarians, Dinosaurs, Magic, Space-Ships, Chainsaws and Beards. This epic tale of hilarity, emotion and adventure is the true story of Grigor: The Destructionator!The five pieces of awesome are objects scattered around the universe that grant the wielder near ultimate power. If the Evil Lord gets them first then the Universe will be thrust into a nightmareish hell, if Grigor gets them first, there's a slim chance he can save everyone. But the pieces already have owners, will Grigor and his rag tag group of comrades (including an immortal legendary pirate and a man with chainsaws for arms) get the pieces first and save the world? Or will the Evil Lord plunge the universe into indomitable darkness forever?Before Grigor even realises that he's on an amazing adventure he has to face his day job as a Viking Bank Financier. This has it's own challenges, like Evil Zombie Ninjas and even worse, a visit from the Aduit Team.A hilariously ironic slant on the space opera and fantasy epic style. Un-like anything you will ever read. Views: 752
Charity Greves has the gift of healing. So when a naked bleeding Highlander materializes out of the air into her kitchen, she does what any rational free-thinking herbalist under the same circumstances would do--she heals him. She didn’t expect to be drawn back to the 13th Century where a dangerous whacked-out witch holds the handsome Highlander captive.Charity Greves has the gift of healing. So when a naked bleeding Highlander materializes out of the air into her kitchen, she does what any rational free-thinking herbalist under the same circumstances would do--she heals him. She didn’t expect to be drawn back to the 13th Century where a dangerous whacked-out witch holds the handsome Highlander captive.Nor is she prepared to be drawn so strongly to him that she’ll do whatever it takes to save him. Imprisoned by the witch, Toren Limont the High Sorcerer and Protector of the Fae’s magic, uses the last of his magical reserves to go forward in time and find a healer the witch doesn’t have any influence over. He merely seeks the small respite a healing can give him in order to continue to withstand the witch’s tortures long enough for his clan and siblings to flee.Until Charity falls with him through time as either his salvation or his entire clan’s downfall. Views: 752
