My QuarterReads stories

For those who don’t know, QuarterReads is a site where readers can buy short stories for only a quarter.  What’s great for the authors of these stories is that $0.22 goes to the author.  Usually, it seems like for other sites the pay ratio is the opposite of that.  In addition, if you really enjoyed a story, you can tip the author $0.25, $0.50, or $1.00.  If you are interested in reading great short stories – and helping out their authors – I highly recommend you checking out QuarterReads.  This may be a bit biased, but here are six stories I suggest you take a look at.  :D

“No Longer Number One”

Offers one possibility of what it will be like after the aliens arrive. 

“It’s Harder Than It Looks”

A ghostly little story about writing.

“Double Trouble”

How can a Presidential assassination be bigger news when it fails?

“Invisible Strings”

What’s the worst thing that can happen after learning you’ll be President some day?

“Community Improvement”

What happens when politicians decide to use time travel?

“Bitter Medicine”

A scifi author’s worst nightmare; when the alien invasion they write about, comes true.

Political Pies

Everybody complains about politics, but does anyone do anything about it? My attempt to do something about it was to collect forty of my short stories with a political element into my Political Pies anthology. The stories are either politically neutral or equally condemning of the national parties. Instead of trying to sway you to one ideology or another, my goal is to just get people thinking about politics in the hopes a rose might grow out of all the political manure.

Here is an example of such a hopeful rose.

“Is That How it Works?”

“Next question.”

A middle-aged gentleman walked up to the microphone at the front of the auditorium. He cleared his throat, then said, “Senator, on the campaign trail you have often stated that the rich and powerful – both individual and corporate – should receive tax breaks because they are the job creators.”

“That’s correct.”

The man took a piece of paper out of his pocket and unfolded it. “Sir, I’ve been unemployed for twenty months now.” He held the piece of paper up so everyone could see it was a check. “This is the last of my life savings.” He tossed the check up onto the stage about ten feet from the candidate. “I give it to you so that you – as the nearest I’ll get to the rich and powerful – now have all of the money that matters to me. Now give me a goddamn job!”

***

If you are at all curious, then check out the page for Political Pies on my website to find out where you can find it.

The All-You-Can-Read Buffet

 

The All-You-Can-Read Buffet is a collection of forty stories covering various genres and themes ranging from six to over 4,200 words in length. They also cover a wide time range. Some of these stories I began writing a decade ago, while others were written especially for this collection. All together, they are a buffet of my writing. As such, I encourage you to read as much as you want. Go back for seconds, thirds, fourths even. I won’t even mind if you skip over the stuff you don’t like, but, to quote your mother, “How do you know you don’t like it? Have you tried it?”

Here is a taste of what you’ll find within.

“Dark Anniversary”

With a dozen roses in hand, the man dressed all in black walked towards the tombstone. The lettering had already begun to fade, but the words were drilled into his brain: Edith Robyn Sommers, April 4, 1956 – June 14, 1975.

After a few moments of reflection, the man knelt and set the roses on her grave.

“You are so maudlin, Eric,” a voice said from the darkness.

Without turning, Eric said, “You never forget your first, Robert.”

Robert stepped from the shadows. “My first was just some peasant.”

“And after all these centuries you still remember that.”

Robert stood for a few seconds, then turned and disappeared.

Eric chuckled, then stood. He nodded to the tombstone and said, “Until next year, Edith.” He then spread his wings and flew into the night.

***

If you are at all curious, then check out the page for The All-You-Can-Read Buffet on my website to find out where you can find it.