On the American Frontier in the 1800s, the greatest loss of life on the Oregon Trail was not from Indians, accidents, or weather. The biggest danger was unexpected, silent, and deadly. Josiah and his party come across a large herd of cattle on its way to the California gold fields with drovers that are dying or dead. Read Puz's latest novel, Bride by Mail.The inspiration for my stories draws from my novels and family tales of settlers who journeyed to the American frontier in the 1800s. Their accounts, passed down through the generations, paint pictures of courageous and adventurous people—a hearty lot—who had perseverance, self reliance, and, despite dangers and fears of the unknown wilderness, overcame their misgivings. Most were not famous or widely celebrated, yet they carved out homes, farms, and a life on the frontier, and, in the process, created a great nation. They are heroes in my eyes.From my research, I better understand the plight of early Native Americans. They were ultimately swept aside by the oncoming tide of settlers, despite being fierce and resourceful. There came a time for compassion by the conquering invaders. Too many times, it did not occur. Unavoidably, the stain remains a part of America’s legacy.Thank you for reading my short stories and novels. Richard PuzHere are other books for your review ~Novels in the Six Bulls Series ~Six Bulls-The OhioansRafting from Ohio to Missouri down the big rivers of America, pioneers load their families and possessions on flatboats, seeking a new life on the American frontier. Adventures abound during their exciting and dangerous trip.The CarolinianAbraham learns how to be a man during the Battle of New Orleans and applies those principles on his tobacco plantation in North Carolina. Shunning slavery, he moves his family west. Their adventures produce a riveting account of pioneer life in the wilds of a new country, while battling the ever-present Hooker, the slaver.AvengeThe theft of prized horses sets a young man on a journey of adventure. On the trail of the last outlaw, he roams the vast wild American frontier, following the murder and rapist, as they clash in an epic battle of wits. Only one can survive.Short Stories ~AbrahamYoung raw-recruit Abraham is exposed to the terror of war during the Battle for New Orleans. A frontiersman provides the wisdom to help him become a hero.Arkansas StormPioneers on flatboats are towed by a steamboat when they run into a storm that threatens their lives and the loss of all they own.Beanblossom CreekChief Black Hawk’s men are on the warpath and Captain Custis Cauley and his militiamen are waiting. The battle that follows is epic.Captain Jonathan BuzzardBrazen and courageous, the captain takes on the five outlaws threatening a pioneer’s family—exciting and action packed!Danny BoyWhimsical and humorous, a riverbank tavern is the setting for pioneers quenching their thirst after their long wagon train journey to Indiana. It’s a roaring good time, until a fight breaks out to enliven the evening.NewtoniaSettlers on the frontier are caught between warring armies as the Civil War rages. In the midst, human compassion is extended.SmokePrairies are one of God’s greatest gifts, but these can also be deadly. Pioneers take desperate measures to save everything they have created.Sourdough Wind MineThieves are stealing gold ore and come face to face with the “enforcer.” Deep underground in the mine, the encounter plays out among flying bullets.StainThe government’s Indian Removal Act of 1830 is being implemented and farmer James Stinson and his family are in the cross hairs. This is one of many tragic stories about Indian displacement in the 1800s and remains a stain on American history. Roaring RiverBushwhackers ambush two men, killing one. The survivor leads a posse to track down the band of killers, leading to an epic battle.RunawayTobacco plantation owner Alvin Tolle is confronted with a split-second decision that will effect the rest of his life.Three BellsSettlers prepare for war with Chief Black Hawk and his warriors on remote farms in Indian. What happens one fateful night changes them forever. Views: 675
Captain Favian Markham, USN, is a man surrounded by secrets. Secrets that will be revealed when he is court-martialled for losing his ship. Secrets held by his mistress Caroline. The secrets of enemy spies signaling to British ships over the horizon. And the greatest secret of the War of 1812, a secret which will be revealed once Favian breaks the enemy blockade in The Macedonian, a frigate stolen from his own government . . .The Macedonian, originally published as by "Jon Williams," is one of the works of historical fiction with which Walter Jon Williams began his career. Views: 675
Sandrena has been chosen for an impossible task: to kill an ancient god bent on consuming the world. Armed only with a magical spear whose power she can't unlock and plagued by memories of a life she never lived, Sandrena must bind her companions together if any of them hope to survive. She must become Spear Mother.Sandrena of the Mist Clan has been chosen for an impossible task: to kill an ancient god bent on consuming the Fourth World. Failure leads to the destruction of mankind. Yet even success could end in true death for Sandrena and her five companions.Armed only with a magical spear whose power she can't unlock and plagued by memories of a life she never lived, Sandrena must bind her group together if any of them hope to survive.She must become Spear Mother. Views: 675
One guy, one mystery, one very wrong conclusion ...Luca has walked out on his band in the middle of their American tour and headed off to New Orleans. Disgraced gossip columnist Gaby is determined to find out why, while her sister Pris is equally determined to have the best holiday ever.The Accidental Proposal is just under 10,000 words and should take you about 30 minutes to read.Tales from Parker Road (Death, Barbecues and a Toast Rack) consists of four short stories loosely linking residents of Parker Road:Mike and Jenny need to find somewhere to bury a body.Greg and Kate have an argument about the useless stuff Greg insists on buying.Susan tries to keep Roger calm, which isn’t easy, as everything winds him up.Pete accidentally kills Linda's cat. He could confess, or try and cover it up. He decides on a cover-up. Views: 674
ORPHANS OF DEEP SPACE . . .They're outlaws now. Created to serve a function grown obsolete, haunted by the holographic ghost of their father, Ubu and Maria have lived their entire lives skating along the edge of extinction. Now they and their ship Runaway are in flight both from the law and from a predatory clan of competitors. They're going to come back rich, or not at all.But what they find in the depths of space isn't wealth, but a secret so startling that Ubu and Maria will need every last reserve of guile, cunning, and intelligence just to survive . . ."No one can accuse Williams of failing to grow with each new major work . . . Straight-forward space adventure with a strong picaresque flavor. The pacing is brisk, the high-tech details vivid, the rewards to readers considerable."—-Booklist"Williams colorfully invokes the life of the trader families and their honkeytonk space stations. With its emphasis on youth, beauty, sex, and mischief, [ANGEL... Views: 674
Unavailable for 40 years, this seminal novel of madness and murder is acclaimed author Joyce Carol Oates' powerful trip into the mind of a maniac.Abandoned as a baby in a bus station locker, shuttled from one abusive foster home and detention center to another, Bobbie Gotteson grew up angry, hurting, damaged. His hunger to succeed as a musician brought him across the country to Hollywood, but along with it came his seething rage, his paranoid delusions, and his capacity for acts of shocking violence.Unavailable for 40 years, The Triumph of the Spider Monkey is an eloquent, terrifying, heartbreaking exploration of madness by one of the most acclaimed authors of the past century. This definitive edition for the first time pairs the original novel with a never-before-collected companion novella by Joyce Carol Oates, unseen since its sole publication in a literary journal nearly half a century ago, which examines the impact of Gotteson's killing spree on a... Views: 674
In this Kiwi-flavoured short story, a Maori grandmother passes on a mystical gift of time to her grandchild. 1500 words.Smoking barbecue grills and tidy mown lawns define American suburbia but hide its dark secrets. Peek behind the tranquil mask of a quiet neighborhood in this FLASH fiction story of the murder and mayhem that follow when Helen gets a new dog. Warning: if you love "pocket" dogs, you may find this story disturbing! Views: 674
Julia Hamel always dreamed of a Christmas wedding and hers would be a dream come true if she wasn Views: 674
Amy Hempel's compassion, intensity, and illuminating observations have made her one of the most distinctive and admired modern writers. In three stunning books of stories, she has established a voice as unique and recognizable as the photographs of Cindy Sherman or the brushstrokes of Robert Motherwell. The Dog of the Marriage, Hempel's fourth collection, is about sexual obsession, relationships gone awry, and the unsatisfied longings of everyday life.
In "Offertory," a modern-day Scheherazade entertains and manipulates her lover with stories of her sexual encounters with a married couple as a very young woman. In "Reference # 388475848-5," a letter contesting a parking ticket becomes a beautiful and unnerving statement of faith. In "Jesus Is Waiting," a woman driving to New York sends a series of cryptically honest postcards to an old lover. And the title story is a heartbreaking tale about the objects and animals and unmired desires that are left behind after death or divorce.
These nine stories teem with wisdom, emotion, and surprising wit. Hempel explores the intricate psychology of people falling in and out of love, trying to locate something or someone elusive or lost. Her sentences are as lean, original, and startling as any in contemporary fiction. Views: 672
Jackson never thought buying a yacht could be so dangerous.Jackson never thought buying a yacht could be so dangerous. A deadly attack at sea leaves Jackson wet and bewildered, fighting for his life. Views: 671
Sedona Sin (Book #1 of the Sedona Pack series) Views: 671
The Willows By Algernon Blackwood Views: 671
George has given up hope on love finding him in this life and now his father, the person he was closest to, is gone. Is he destined to be alone forever? How will he sell the life sized bull statue his dad left him in his basement beside the pool table?Short story in which YOU are the monster, as you roam your lair killing and eating all who enter. That is until he shows up.Inspired by the sword and sorcery fantasy gaming books by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone. A story told as if YOU are the monster.If you read this story then why not leave me a review to tell me what you thought. Any feedback (be it good or bad) is always most helpful. Views: 671
