Junior necromancer, Roger, and zombie sniffer, Cindy, from Mortimer’s School of Dark Arts come to the rescue in order to sing the dead back to sleep. When Roger’s plan backfires and he coughs loud enough to wake the dead, they conclude they need someone to rescue them! Can their blossoming romance survive a zombie uprising—and more importantly, will they survive? This is a humorous short story.When a videographer decides to record a “Thriller” video with real zombies, he quickly finds out dead men can’t dance—and are much more inclined to eat brains. Junior necromancer, Roger, and zombie sniffer, Cindy, from Mortimer’s School of Dark Arts come to the rescue in order to sing the dead back to sleep. When Roger’s plan backfires and he coughs loud enough to wake the dead, they conclude they need someone to rescue them! Can their blossoming romance survive a zombie uprising—and more importantly, will they survive? This is a 3500 word humorous fantasy/horror story. Views: 564
This is the beginning of the story of Carly who after her parents' deaths goes in search of her grandfather.What could have caused the dragons to decide they are tired of being pushed around by lesser beings? For the first time they've chosen to spread their wings and have taken over the second largest city in the Dwarven kingdom. Join with the Magical Seven as they react to this revolt.More than any other time in their history the Dwarves need heroes, a crazy inventor and his family are the ones who step up to the challenge. Dr. Kilgen is a Dwarf on a mission. Since the dragons attacked his village he has spent every minute that he isn’t saving Dwarves at the hospital inventing steam powered machines of mass dragon destruction.Can the Dwarven Dragon Hunters of THE DIRGE and the Magical Seven put down the dragon uprising and reclaim their fallen city? Or will the dragon's fire ultimately leave their inventions in a cloud of smoke? Views: 564
Ryan Butler has a gift. When he shuts his eyes at night his mind is connected to every sleeping person on the planet. But he is not the only one, and there are those who would use this gift for all manner of unsavoury deeds. Can Ryan stop them? And can he keep his gift a secret while retaining his sanity?Ryan Butler is a lazy, selfish individual. At 14 years old he would rather sit in his room playing computer games than put any effort into achieving the grades he is capable of at school. Deep down he is actually quite sensitive, but he puts on a brash façade to ensure he maintains his popularity. He has known his neighbour, Daisy, all his life, but since starting secondary school he has avoided her as all the other kids think she's a bit strange.Through a series of dreams, during which the same man keeps cropping up, Ryan discovers that he has the staggering ability to contact other people in the waking world and influence their thoughts. He soon finds out that Daisy also shares this gift, along with two other kids from his school. Sophie is the object of Ryan's affection, a constant overachiever who accepts his friendship because her numerous gifts are met with resentment among her other classmates. Billy is her twin brother, whose arrogance leads him to constant conflict with Ryan, and whom Sophie can't stand the sight of. Together they enrol at the Academy – a facility established to maintain order within the sleeping world, and inhabited by a bizarre group of dreamers. The man Ryan kept seeing, Tristram, is a senior Dreamweaver and is charged with helping them to develop their skills. They soon discover that the Academy is engaged in a bitter struggle with a mercenary group, led by the enigmatic Rasputin, who use their skills to manipulate the minds of powerful businessmen and world leaders to fulfil the designs of the highest bidder. Their Dreamweaving lessons provide an enjoyable diversion from school life, which is often fickle and cruel, but then Sophie goes missing in a dream and Tristram heads off to find her. The others recklessly choose to follow, and events take a gruesome twist when they finally locate Sophie and discover that the world around them is a terrifying distortion of reality, and one that they cannot readily wake up from. Views: 564
This is the first short story in 5 Perfect Days, the companion novella to 25 Perfect Days. It's 2039 and times are tough, the President has claimed the country needs controlling. Walt Jaworski, a dedicated Controlling Force Agent, is the man they call upon.From best-selling author Stephen England comes NIGHTSHADE, a new stand-alone short story in the Shadow Warriors series, predating the events of Pandora's Grave by several years."He wasn't supposed to be here. None of them were. That wasn't unusual--he'd spent well over ten years of his life going places he wasn't supposed to go, doing things he wasn't supposed to do. "CIA paramilitary operations officer Harry Nichols had brought his team to Ciudad del Este for a single purpose: eliminating Jean-Claude Manet, aka Ramzi bin Abdullah, the former head of al-Qaeda operations in Europe.It was supposed to be simple. But there's nothing simple about killing a man. Views: 564
There’s only really one thing you can do when you escape from a madman; run.You just gotta hope he doesn’t catch up to you!Jaclyn has always known her family was unusual. Her mother is a witch and her father, well, he's been dead for almost 600 years. On her 23rd Halloween, family secrets will be revealed that change everything.(1st in the Season of the Witch series) Views: 564
*Shortlisted in the 2014 Tod Hunter Literary Award.* This is a short story about an Indigenous Australian art teacher, frustrated by bereavement and the loss of her heritage in an ever changing world. This is a modern, contemporary literary piece set in Perth, Western Australia,.A short story about an Indigenous Australian art teacher, frustrated by bereavement and the loss of her heritage in an ever changing world. This is a modern, contemporary literary piece set in Perth, Western Australia. The narrator explores inter-cultural issues and taboos, the financial exploitation of indigenous artists and the 'one style' only of Aboriginal art in the global marketplace. It also touches on indigenous and non-indigenous spiritually, In this story, the narrators feelings of anger and loss are healed through art and friendship. The characters are fictional.This story is written by a non-indigenous writer who does not wish to fall into the 'apartheid of literature' that is often, but not always, prevalent currently. At the same time, all attempts have been made to treat indigenous peoples in this story with respect and understanding of their social and historical issues and they have been acknowledged and and their assistance sought before publication. Views: 563
We've got more great stories for you this month, with a god morgue, a few unexplained benefactors, and a xenobiologist who would really rather not be eaten by space slugs. Yep, it's that good.We've got more great stories for you this month, with a god morgue, a few unexplained benefactors, and a xenobiologist who would really rather not be eaten by space slugs. Yep, it's that good.Fiction Vortex publishes science fiction and fantasy stories weekly at FictionVortex.com Views: 563
An action-packed, heart-felt, nail-biting epic tale of remembering the past in order to secure the future. But what does that future hold? Will Saphora be able to handle it? And what about the other kingdoms? (In the connecting series' to come) How will it all unfold? Find out!Note! For all you physical books lovers, this title is also available as a a paperback on Amazon for just dollars more.Daughter of Athenian and Guardian, a forbidden pairing of the two dominant species on Athena, Saphora is the key to the war's end and the tool in the start of another.Each species on their own hold tremendous power. But combined, should Saphora survive its capacity like none before her, her power could mean supremacy.And Ares can't have that.Exiled heir to the Kiran throne, she's bent on reclaiming it - even if it means exterminating the remaining bloodline to do so.In an attempt to save her from the midst of war, Saphora is cast to Earth. As a mere child, her memory of Athena - and her power, taken from her upon impact. This grants her body the maturity needed to contain her power. Power that as she ages, she discovers - along with pieces of her memory.Unfortunately, she is not the only one to discover them. Being his patient for nearly her entire life, Dr. James Lupin has noticed more than a few anomalies. And so has the man sent to kill her - her awakening now allowing her to be tracked.With her world turned upside down, Saphora's got a new check-list. Find her guardian, figure out Lupin's agenda, return home - and stay alive. Views: 563
American tourist Ian MacCleod is traveling through Scotland, when he learns of the Isle of Skye and takes a detour to visit it.American tourist Ian MacCleod is traveling through Scotland, when he learns of the Isle of Skye and takes a detour to visit it. He visits Dunvegan Castle there. Views: 563
Austin suffers from achluophobia - a paralyzing fear of darkness. She seems to be coping well, until she's accidentally trapped in a windowless room and the lights go out. Needing help to overcome the panic attacks that leave her unconscious, she starts seeing a not unattractive therapist. Her search for healing is sidetracked, however, when she realizes that each time she has an attack someone close to her is killed. As the body count rises, Austin is driven to find the killer, but where should she begin her search? Is someone seeking revenge? Has a serial killer come to her quiet Pacific Northwest town? Or, has something sinister followed her from childhood - something she met once before - in the dark?
**From the Author
Dear Reader,
One of the places I lived as a child was an apartment for military (Army) families. In the basement was a laundry room, a long hallway, and a fallout shelter. The heavy, metal door was wired open, I believe to keep anyone from being locked inside. But what if a child figured out how to unwind the wire holding that door open and did get locked in? What if they weren't let out right away? What if they grew up with a fear of the dark? What if their anxiety drove them to lose consciousness? What if, every time they did, a friend or loved one died? Those were the what ifs that drove "Something In The Dark." It was my first novel. I've since written three others. I feel the prologue is a bit slow and if I were to rewrite it today I would do some pruning. Which is a pretty good way to put it, since the protagonist, Austin, works with plants.
I hope you enjoy learning the result of all those what ifs, and that you don't figure out the ending too soon. My second novel, a suspense thriller set in the same fictional, Oregon county will be coming soon!
Thank you! Views: 563
Darweena must choose to fight for the Forest Folk in an epic battle against the beasts. Will she choose love over her home? A short story of 3700 words.Captain Pigtail McQueue is not your average everyday pirate. Actually, he was the ship's cook until a hurricane blew the other captain overboard. Captain by default, he manages to save the the great pirate ship, The Flummery, despite the desertion of most of the crew. As the winds die down he discovers the ship has been blown slightly off course. Okay, it was blown off course, big time!The ship and what's left of the crew find themselves stranded in West Texas. With the help of a wagon master and his daughter they seek out the Wind Hag in hopes she will send them back to the Gulf. When she refuses, Pigtail does the only thing a pirate in his position can do - he seeks revenge on the Wind Hag. That means becoming land pirates and going after the Wind Hag's power sources. The crew must overcome obstacles, booby traps and legions of creatures loyal to the Wind Hag in order to gain control over the power sources. This endeavor leads to some seriously humorous situations and exciting twists and turns. Join the crew as they try to outwit the all powerful Wind Hag. Views: 563
Carrie Whitney's young twin brothers have messed up one too many times, and if she can't get Rafael Castillo to change his mind, then they are going into juvenile detention and they'll be lost to her. She has no choice but to go to Rafael to beg for her brothers to be given another chance. Nothing goes as planned, and in a whirlwind of tears and accusations, Carrie finds herself in the arms of a man she knows has the power to make or break her world. Never expecting to find someone like him, she is willing to take him any way she can get him. A relationship based only in her bedroom, no promises, no holding hands.Rafael Castillo wasn't expecting the tiny woman with the bright blue eyes to turn his world upside down, and he doesn't like it. This wasn't the way it was supposed to go, and now that he's lost in her beautiful body, the way out of their nights locked in her room, away from the pressures of expectation, is harder to find. Views: 563
**Now an AT&T Audience Original Series**
WINNER OF THE EDGAR AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL
# 1 *New York Times *bestseller! In a high-suspense race against time, three of the most unlikely heroes Stephen King has ever created try to stop a lone killer from blowing up thousands. “*Mr. Mercedes* is a rich, resonant, exceptionally readable accomplishment by a man who can write in whatever genre he chooses” (*The Washington Post*).
In the frigid pre-dawn hours, in a distressed Midwestern city, desperate unemployed folks are lined up for a spot at a job fair. Without warning, a lone driver plows through the crowd in a stolen Mercedes, running over the innocent, backing up, and charging again. Eight people are killed; fifteen are wounded. The killer escapes.
In another part of town, months later, a retired cop named Bill Hodges is still haunted by the unsolved crime. When he gets a crazed letter from someone who self-identifies as the “perk” and threatens an even more diabolical attack, Hodges wakes up from his depressed and vacant retirement, hell-bent on preventing another tragedy.
Brady Hartsfield lives with his alcoholic mother in the house where he was born. He loved the feel of death under the wheels of the Mercedes, and he wants that rush again. Only Bill Hodges, with two new, unusual allies, can apprehend the killer before he strikes again. And they have no time to lose, because Brady’s next mission, if it succeeds, will kill or maim thousands.
*Mr. Mercedes* is a war between good and evil, from the master of suspense whose insight into the mind of this obsessed, insane killer is chilling and unforgettable. Views: 563
