Showing results by author "Short Story Press" in All Categories

Jennifer McCain has dealt with more than her fair share of mishaps over time. Her wife’s ex, institutionalized for attempted murder, seems to be the ultimate culprit yet is unable to perform the crimes that she has been accused of. Her health has failed her miserably, but Jenny has insisted that Casey is out to get her still. But if Casey is locked away, how can Jenny even think it would be her?

Detective Jeffrey Madison is known for bringing miscreants to justice but lately has found himself tired of the same petty crimes that never seem to end. First Bobby Rae steals from the convenience store and then tries to buy his freedom because he feels that he has done nothing wrong. Then Ms. Clayhorn needs him to rescue her Calico cat and grandson, who managed to end up at the top of the same oak tree, although the older lady seems more concerned with the cat than her sobbing grandson.

Alan and Katie, a young couple married for not quite a year, have both been consumed with work and wrapped up in starting their lives ever seen their marriage. But now, they've been given the chance to escape their busy lives for the first time since their honeymoon. Unfortunately, Mother Nature has other plans, and strong thunderstorms follow the unlucky couple all the way to their destination and stick around. Unable to fully enjoy all the ocean has to offer, the two are stuck inside for the weekend. Now, the young couple has to find ways to enjoy themselves indoors.

When an old girlfriend from the past comes back into his life, Logan finds time is not of the essence. She is lost, upset, and mute. To top it off, she is definitely not the girl she once was. Her loud, political ways from college are gone, leaving her a frail and extremely timid woman with extreme mental issues. After contacting the police, Logan is connected with the forensic psychologist. Seeing the woman in slight distress although Logan has offered her a meal, a shower, and clothing, Doctor Shiles insists they discuss her issues back at his office.

Getting Micky Dolenz is a funny, touching, heartwarming story that will appeal equally to young adults, pop-culture lovers, and Monkees fans of all ages. Peppered with humor and full of heart, this is the tale of Julie Desmond - or, as she likes to call herself, Julie Desmond Dolenz, a 13-year-old living in the psychedelic '60s who is absolutely ape over drummer Micky Dolenz of the sensational made-for-TV band The Monkees.

The Black Sapphire was a concept that Ruth toyed with for a few years. She studied dialect to help enhance one of the main characters, "Mattie." In the story, an unsolved crime shows its ugly face when Detective Adam Reynoir starts investigating. Mattie, the home's housekeeper, and her son, Jarell, decide that they are going to continue staying in the home, even after the dismembering murders have been cleaned up. As the story unfolds, Mattie takes Detective Reynoir on a tour of the home, trying to get him to understand in her way that the murders were no accident.

A young girl’s family is murdered, leaving her an instant orphan. When her aunt realizes the child’s trauma had left her mute, she decides the trouble isn’t worth the financial incentive. Justice is placed into a foster home on a beautiful Texas ranch where she meets Bruce, the ranch hand, and Cammy, the housekeeper/nanny. Her passion for the horses and ranch hand’s dog begins to tear down the walls she’d been stuck with since the tragedy. But when a family decides to adopt the girl, after months of being at the ranch, Justice runs away.

Our protagonist, Victoria, is a successful businesswoman. She has a history of mental illness, but that's behind her now, despite what her distant husband might say. What starts out as a normal day at the office is turned upside down by the appearance of a mysterious figure that only Victoria can see. It soon becomes clear that this being, whatever it is, is following her. As Victoria tries to make the creature go away, her demons begin to creep up on her again.

Welcome to Colorful Colorado is the sometimes-humorous tale of one man’s decision to begin an adventure on the other side of the “world”, when that world is 1,000 miles away.

Valerie’s Tale is a story about a little girl with a heart filled with courage and strength, living in a world plagued with war and where magic is divided by clerics, who believe in using magic conservatively, and mages, who use it for whatever their heart’s desire.

“Walk a Mile” is a story about the impending divorce of Jackson and Linda Rincon, a wealthy Malibu couple, who have been married for a long time, and the way it complicates the life of their only daughter, Melania.

If you are a person who sees failing not as a negative thing but a learning experience, this story will resonate with you. “Love Doesn’t Exist” is a story about an 18-year old boy named Bruno who experiences a lot of embarrassment and faces a lot of his internal demons only to achieve one of life’s greatest joys - searching for that eternal love. After suffering from a devastating rejection from Maria, Bruno decides to do whatever it takes to find the girl of his dreams. He found a book that he believes will cure his awkwardness with girls.

Cora and Lewis, two youths with seemingly nothing in common, come together in spite of their peers. Unlikely friends fall in love, and four years later, their life together seems perfect: Lewis has a high-paying job, the two share a luxury apartment in the city, and Lewis is ready to ask Cora to marry him. But what happens when Cora disappears without a word? How does Lewis react when he sees her lurking in the doorway at one of his conferences?

In a future time, well after all the countries of the world have engaged in a global nuclear event, a select few have survived The Great War and reorganized civilization within a sealed Bubble. In this day and time, there are only a handful of people remaining who ever lived and breathed outside the Bubble; most habitants were born within its sealed plexi-interior. The Bubble is a monarchy with one ruler, Arch Sedric. He has commissioned an intimidating army of police called the SAC, or Security Advisor Cadre.

When Riley Jensen hears that Len Wilkins, a family friend who also employs her father as a farm hand, has been found dead with his eyes burned out of his head, her latent but innate heroism emerges. When news of several deaths of the same nature as that of Len Wilkins’ travels throughout Silverton, Riley becomes gripped with concern and fear for her grandfather Murray, who is a stubborn, leather-tough old man living alone in the countryside, miles outside of Silverton.

Never Been on Broadway is a romantic short story about the reality of fame and about how far away from reality the famous can be. The story follows the first day of Evelyn Alford’s first ever trip to New York City. The allure of Broadway, the millions who come each year seeking fame but the few who truly understand the luck and the randomness involved. Never Been on Broadway goes behind the closed dressing rooms doors and shows the true fears and attitudes of today’s stars living in a 24 hour social media world.

Mary is a gas-station attendant with an epileptic son who can barely make ends meet, when she makes them meet at all. She has dreams of a forbidden love but can’t focus on those dreams when she can’t even buy her son’s medicine. She has a real knack for staying calm under pressure and steadfastly does what she needs to, in order to keep food on their table and a roof over their heads.

All the ideas portrayed in the story of Peter are to help the world today find the most out of the life they live. To realize they can give themselves if they feel that they don’t have enough and there is someone who needs it more than you know. It indicates to not wallow in sadness, even if it is all you have. It shows to take action and do good as this will be the best thing to heal you from your darkness. Stay bright!

Mermaids, mermen, treacherous villagers, and a Nix: these are some of the exciting things in store for you with the latest Natashiah Jansen story entitled Pearl Port Singer. You’ll be taken on a dive into the magical world of merpeople...If you love humorous stories, you will love Pearl Port Singer.

After his mother goes deaf, a young boy must navigate through the many difficulties of his childhood. The boy witnesses his Mom deal with loss, his father becoming distant, his older brother living a life of his own. The protagonist feels alone, powerless, voiceless. At the same time, the boy tries to impress the girl of his dreams at school, leading him into a troublesome situation. He must make choices which could affect him for the rest of his life. Through it all, he must figure out how to endure and grow, how to become the man of the house.