Subconscious Culture

There are places in this world that serve as reminders of things hopeless and lost. Recesses of death and dread that swallow all light that dares wander too close. Yet some secrets, no matter how horrifically hidden, are too tempting to pass by. In Epitaph and Elegy, we join two seekers tempted by forgotten knowledge held in the skeletal grasp of a long dead city. Danger lurks in the bones of the city and every shadow is a threat. Will you follow Sylvia and Povel as they march towards doom? Do be careful, for graves are greedy things.

A Confractionery Tale is a story about decadence and decay set in a cheery corner of a world identical to our own. The Confractionery is a monster that appears for children who have eaten far too much candy and comes to teach children the ways of candy monsters and taffy trolls. But what happens when the lessons being taught aren’t actually in the best interest of the child?

Beyond the cascading water lies an army of forgotten warriors, memory of their sacrifices nearly lost to the sands of time. Though, there is still one who remembers, one who can never forget. Haunted by his past and the faces of all the lives he extinguished, an aging mage seeks to give the souls he damned a new purpose. To call them forth for one last purpose.

After decades of watching her family struggle, Aisling O’Reilly is ready to get some answers. With little more than her stuffed bear, Clover, for protection, she’s planning to leave the Glade and enter the human realm to find out why so many of them have lost interest in her family’s shamrocks. However, there can be many dangers in that unfamiliar place and she may be getting herself into more trouble than she expects.

For seven long years, Atticus Whaley has pursued his calling with single-minded devotion amongst The Society of the Confabulum. But when some old friends come calling on the eve of his induction as the Guardian of the Dream Gate, will Atticus prove his readiness as a true servant of Calissus? Or will his much anticipated future spiral out of his control?

A man, cursed to walk in mirrors, seeks to rekindle a dying flame... and fix what has been broken within him.

A brilliant mind, who finds herself once again tied to his fate... and to his curse.

They make their way toward… the MAD CITY

Young blademaster Aron of Darien is keeping out of trouble teaching swordsmanship in the city of Oxport when one of his pupils brings a young man, Roger, to him who has been badly beaten trying to rescue his sweetheart from a brothel. Aron is disinclined to do anything until he hears that the man who inflicted the beating is Saxish and possibly one of a group of mercenaries who betrayed Darien leading to the death of Aron's father. If the man was one of the betrayers then Aron will kill him, but first he must establish if he was at Darien. They plot the rescue, Aron kills the Saxishman, Roger and sweetheart are reunited then a Saxish wizard rides into Oxport.

In the six kingdoms of Paikmeriz, the elves and humans hold onto a fragile peace. Distrust, a hunger for power, and a burning desire for revenge now threaten a return to war. As an ancient and powerful evil rises over the land, only a troubled swordmaster may be able to prevent the bloodshed. 

The fires of revenge burn deep within Engerahin Lovdiena, a talented swordmaster who plots to repay the savage acts of a despotic king. After witnessing the death of his friend, and the imprisonment of the warrior's father, only retribution can temper his tortured soul. 

As the six kingdoms seek to unify under one ruler, Engerahin must temper his vengeful wrath when he is charged with protecting Arywin, the beautiful elven princess who may be the only hope of uniting the kingdoms of Paikmeriz. But there are those who wish to cling to their power and former glories. Corrupted by the poisonous words of his scheming advisor, the brutal and remorseless human King Gerahim of Warling seeks to extinguish the first rays of peace and hope. 

The enemies at home aren't the only threat, with rumors and fearful whispers that an ancient evil has re-awakened, threatening death and destruction across the land. Can Engerahin and Arywin succeed in bringing the kingdoms of Paikmeriz to stand together, or will their division lead to their inevitable downfall?

A short story by O. Henry first published in 1905. The story tells of a young husband and wife and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money. It is a sentimental story with a moral lesson about gift-giving.

Jonathan Barrett lets his greed ignore the warning of a watery grave and pays the consequences.

Casey's Angels is a short story that illustrates the unwavering love and fierce loyalty of dogs. 

It's told through the humble eyes of Casey, a sixteen year old Golden Retriever with the ability to smell angels and demons. Like most dogs, Casey is protective of his human and vows to keep him safe from harm at all costs. Though age has taken its toll on him physically, it has also brought him wisdom and enhanced his ability to sniff out good and evil. 

A condensed version of this story won a coveted top ten spot in the 2017 Florida Writer's Association Anthology. The publication's theme was "What A Character". Casey is a memorable character. He demonstrates that not all heroes don armor or wear capes. Some may have floppy ears and a furry coat. 

Don't let appearances fool you, beneath his golden coat beats the bravest and purest of hearts.

These pieces were all written as part of community contests. It's been great fun writing these shorts, and I'm happy to share them all with you. Some have a deeper message, and some are just fun (I'll let you decide which are which). Some are set in more fantastical worlds than others, but all have at least a mythical creature. Honestly, life is just more fun when you add in a dragon—whether it's your friend or foe.

Speed dating nights at the Apple Martini Lounge bring out all the usual suspects.... like a dozen insecure guys and, of course, Eddie Ridell. Eddie's a regular participant who's only interest is to hook-up for the night and not get involved in any serious relationships. 

Loud, cocky and obnoxious, Eddie's always confident he'll beat his male competition and win a date with the prettiest woman in the bar. But tonight, there's a handsome guy who enters the competition and poses a threat to Eddie. To turn up the heat even more, two new ladies have joined the event. Eddie's immediately mesmerized by one in particular - a long, lean, raven-haired beauty. But he's unsure if he's impressed her with his good looks. 

Determined to win a date with her, he pours on the charm and tries his best to convince this sensual lady he can satisfy her appetite for love