Brought to you by Grey Mouse Publishing and the authors of ASMSG, A World of Joy is a collection of holiday-themed shorts. It is a Yule-tide celebration of joy, hope, renewal, and love. With stories from multiple holiday traditions, geared towards all audiences, this anthology is meant to infuse the reader with the holiday spirit of good cheer.Brought to you by Grey Mouse Publishing and the authors of ASMSG, A World of Joy is a collection of holiday-themed shorts. It is a Yule-tide celebration of joy, hope, renewal, and love. With stories from multiple holiday traditions, geared towards all audiences, this anthology is meant to infuse the reader with the holiday spirit of good cheer.TIME—Andrew LennonANGELS OF CHRISTMAS—Carole McKeeTHE FIRST HOLIDAY—Claudia BurgoaMASON AND BESS AT CHRISTMAS—Diane MajorWEEKEND WIFE—Elizabeth Rye (AKA Grace Rellie)ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS…—Genevieve DeweySANTA’S CHRISTMAS SURPRISE—Ginny BryceAXE MAN—Jessica KnaussTOMMY’S GIFT—James J. MurrayFROM SADNESS TO JOY—Joseph AckermanCHRISTMAS MEMORIES OF ROME—Judith WorksANOTHER CHRISTMAS CAROL—Juliet KincaidSANTA’S VISIT—Kirstin PulioffTHE TICKING RING—K.N. LeeTHE SNOW PERSON—Lorna DounaevaONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS—Ludy PireelBLEAK CHRISTMAS—Marcy G. DyerCHRISTMAS COOKIES— Gwendolyn MichelleCHRISTMAS ON CALL— Olga Núñez MiretJOHNNY’S JOURNEY AND REUNION—Oscar Wager IIAN ANGEL FOR MAGGIE—Rebecca VanceTHE CHRISTMAS ANGEL—Susan Hawthorne Views: 699
In the late 21st century, overpopulation is a problem. There's also the problem with mental health. In one particularly unusual asylum, there is Dr. Born (psychiatric intern) and Dr. Bloch (sexologist). And then there's Jones. You have not met anyone like Jones. You see, it's not every day that patients claim they are from Mars. And it's not every day they come and go as they please.In the late 21st century, overpopulation is a problem. There's also the problem with mental health. In one particularly unusual asylum, there is Dr. Born (psychiatric intern) and Dr. Bloch (sexologist). And then there's Jones. You have not met anyone like Jones. You see, it's not every day that patients claim they are from Mars. And it's not every day they come and go as they please. A free science fiction story filled with loads of satire (and lots of oddities that will make you shake your head) by speculative fiction author, Lawrence Dagstine. Views: 699
Being the opening chapters of volume one of the first of The Five Books of TimeThere are some things that are known by everyone within The World, and many things which are unknown. Everyone knows that one-thousand years ago there was The War That Broke Time. The Immortals tried to exterminate the mortals by releasing dragons into The World who only knew one thing – hunger. The horror of their actions finally caused the Immortals to completely withdraw from The World into their Whitestone walled cities. The mortals found some - The Dragonslayers, who could heal themselves as fast as The Dragons could burn their bodies, who slowly saved The World. And the mortals then destroyed the one whom had started The War … The Goddess of Life. For one-thousand years, seven of The Dragonslayers have kept the unchanging peace as The Nightlords of The Seven Kingdoms. Only the Nightlords know how to light the raw Globes which come from The Five Empires. It is only the heat and light of The Globes which allows men to survive the frozen darkness of winter. Life in The World is hard, and men's lives are short. But The Nightlord gave his Binding that those who obeyed his Code of The Covenant would bring forth one who would Reunite The World with all that is missing from it in The Underworld. And in The Reuniting of The World and The Underworld, The Lord Binding will bring all that exists to the timeless, unitary perfection of The Union of All Things. The existence of The World and The Underworld, and all that is within ... will End. Views: 699
Follow the trail of the rising sun . . .
For many moons, a tribe of cats has lived peacefully near the top of a mountain. But prey is scarce and seasons are harsh--and their leader fears they will not survive. When a mysterious vision reveals a land filled with food and water, a group of brave young cats sets off in search of a better home.
But great dangers await them. In this unfamiliar world, faced with loners and fierce rogues all vying for territory and power, the traveling cats must find a new way to live side by side--or risk tearing one another apart. Views: 699
Fooling around on your wife can be hazardous to your health. Jusk ask Tom. He's juggling a frustrated wife, a secret new girlfriend, and the unpleasant task of trying to keep his deteriorating farmhouse from falling down around him.Now with his wife out of town for the week, Tom is eager to get with his beautiful new lover - but first there's something he has to finish up...in the CRAWLSPACE.CRAWLSPACE is a selection from SCREAMSCAPES: TALES OF TERROR, by Evans Light.Fooling around on your wife can be hazardous to your health. Jusk ask Tom. He's a man with a lot to juggle: a frustrated wife, a secret new girlfriend, and the unpleasant task of trying to keep his deteriorating vintage farmhouse from falling down around him.Now with his wife out of town for the week, Tom is eager to get busy under the covers with his beautiful new lover - but first there's something he has to finish up...in the CRAWLSPACE. Views: 699
In middle America, on Route 44, Amy Lewis has to get to her grandma’s house in time for dinner — but she’s being pursued by a very bad wolf. Galaxies away, when Loki wakes up in prison cell without a hangover he knows something has gone very wrong. Can a nice midwestern girl help a so-called God of Chaos? Can he help her...or even help himself?In the middle of America, on Route 44, Amy Lewis has a plan to get to her grandma's house in time for dinner. But she's being pursued by a very bad wolf. Galaxies away Loki is waking up in a prison cell, strangely without a hangover, and with no idea what he's done wrong—this time anyway. But he does know Thor is hiding something, Odin is up to something wicked, and there seems to be something he's forgotten ...In this tale that is equal parts "Another Fine Myth," "American Gods," and "Once Upon a Time," a very nice midwestern girl and a jaded, still very mischievous Loki must join forces to outwit Norse gods, elves, magic sniffing cats, and nosy neighbors. If Loki can remember exactly what he's forgotten and Amy can convince him not to be too distracted by Earthly gadgets, her breasts, or three day benders, they just might pull it off.This first installment of "I Bring the Fire" is for anyone who suspects chaos, tricksters, and mischief makers might have their own redeeming qualities, and anyone who just wants an epic fantasy romp through contemporary Earth, ancient Asgard, and beyond!THE I BRING THE FIRE SERIES:I Bring the Fire Part I (Free eBook!)Monsters: I Bring the Fire Part IIChaos: I Bring the Fire Part IIIIn the Balance: I Bring the Fire 3.5Fates: I Bring the Fire Part IVThe Slip: a Short StoryWarriors: I Bring the Fire Part V Views: 699
In his historical novel, Requiem for Athens Dr. David Alkek invites his readers to participate in the daily life of Ancient Greece.In his third book, 'Requiem for Athens', Dr. David Alkek invites his readers to participate in the daily life of Ancient Greece.Immersed in the turbulent politics and fratricidal wars of Ancient Greece, the fictional character, Phidias, is wounded in battle and joins Aristotle as a student of Plato. He falls passionately in love with the beautiful Thais, but is torn away to join Aristotle, then Alexander the Great on his glorious conquests.As a witness to epic battles, bloody assassinations, and twisted conspiracies, Phidias struggles to guide the young conqueror through his personal turmoil. After giving birth to the great library of Alexandria, Phidias is at long last allowed to return to Athens to fulfill his destiny and find his long lost love.This epic tale of love and war, sex and murder deftly captures the setting in Ancient Greece to stunning effect. Historical characters such as Aristotle and Plato, Philip of Macedon and his son Alexander, and the great orator, Demosthenes, surround the character Phidias in his adventure through a drama-filled part of history.A longtime lover of history and a student of philosophy, Alkek deliberately chose one of the most dramatic periods in Greek history as a background for his book. About the Author:David Alkek is the author of three books, a contemporary mystery set in Dallas and a book of science and philosophy that investigates the purpose of the universe. His newly released third book, 'Requiem for Athens' is historical fiction.A dermatologist for over 40 years, David draws from his medical and scientific background to create his books. He is an avid reader and credits Arthur Conan Doyle, John Grisham, Ken Follett, and Isaac Asimov for providing his inspiration.In his free time David likes to write, play poker, garden, and attend writer's workshops and book clubs. What David does not enjoy is being bored. Views: 699
Short story about a sort-of-sapphic romance with somewhat supernatural overtones.Maria has strong opinions that are challenged by a beautiful werewolf with a secret. Views: 699
Please allow me to introduce myself, I am known in this period as Eduardo Gissente, immortal monster and extinguisher of life, betrayer of lovePlease allow me to introduce myself, I am known in this period as Eduardo Gissente, immortal monster and extinguisher of life, betrayer of love and clarity to the existence of Heaven and Hell. When you become aware of my journey through history until present day you will most surely deny me as an apocryphal creature, merely an invention of an author’s imagination whose heartbeat thundered from the first written conception. Views: 699
It’s always darkest before dawn. Cassie hasn’t felt this alone since she moved to New Salem and joined the Circle – the closest thing to a family she’s ever known. But now that the Circle has been possessed by powerful evil spirits, Cassie is left with no choice but to turn to her dark side to rescue them. As she struggles to get through to her friends, and her soul mate, Adam, she finds an unexpected ally—one who will tempt her more than ever before. With her enemies quickly closing in, Cassie fights to keep her heart true and her soul pure. But she knows better than anyone that all magic comes at a price, especially when Black John’s Book of Shadows is involved. Will Cassie defeat the darkness once and for all… Views: 698
I Heard JFK's Death Shots: A Reporter's Look Back At President John F. Kennedy's 1963 Assassination After 50 Years. As a United Press International correspondent, Carter was back-up reporter in Dallas for White House newsman Merriman Smith who won a Pulitzer prize for reporting Kennedy's assassination. This is a behind-the-byline account of how the UPI team functioned under fire and deadline.Author's Note: Fifty years following the assassination of President Kennedy, editor-wife and I performed an informal search for books on the subject. We found more than 300. Most texts seemed to center on strange conspiracies and outlandish notions about the dreadful shooting. As part of the UPI team in Dallas before, during and after that November 22,1963 event, I feel an expertise on the subject. Many hours, days and months were spent discounting and refuting published lies. Dozens of major newspapers. international news services, broadcast networks and magazines assigned their best and brightest investigative reporters. Disclosing a verified conspiracy would have gained Pulitzer or Nobel Prizes. My book attempts to confirm the truth: Lee Harvey Oswald did it all alone and insanely. Views: 698
Aurore Lescure, the first woman astronaut, who starred in The Xenobiotic Invasion, returns in this ground-breaking novel about the first successful interplanetary flight to the planetoid Eros. There, the intrepid explorers discover that evolution on Eros has taken a different turn than on Earth, producing a species of intelligent dinosaurs... The notion of a Japanese-financed rocket piloted by a French female astronaut was a radical one in 1932, when this daring and original novel was written. With The Castaways of Eros, Théo Varlet hoped to promote the potential of rocket technology to launch a "Space Age" of interplanetary colonization. Sadly, the advent of WWII and his untimely death in 1938 put an end to that dream, leaving only this remarkable roman scientifique as a witness to a future that never was. Views: 698
Psyche is a modern, adult fairy tale, drenched in powerful imagery, and one of the most fascinating works to come from the pen of Louis Couperus, the Dutch Oscar Wilde and among the greatest writers ever to be born in The Netherlands. Views: 698