Funny Shorts

Born into a world with only seven days to live, Sim faces the same choice everyone does: How will he spend them? Is there something greater to hope for? A short story from Guys Read: Other Worlds, edited by Jon Scieszka.

Three short stories, one airport, countless possibilities. Maybe Katie Williams thought her flirty, fun relationship with an airline pilot was taking off – then he ghosted her and she was left wondering what went wrong. Six months later, a chance encounter with the wayward Captain Alex has her torn between wanting to give him the cold shoulder and getting answers for where it all went wrong. When unexpected feelings come flooding back, Katie must decide whether to keep flying solo or give Captain Alex another chance at her heart. Collision on the Concourse Melanie Munch is having the ...

This collection of the best crime and mystery short fiction of 1999, gathered from around the globe and including more award-winners and stories than any other comparable volume, fills the void for those with a hunger for the best international mystery and suspense stories.

When the world is ending around you do you just give up and die, or find a reason to make the best out of a bad situation? For John Earl and his friends, Luke and Anna, the unthinkable has happened and they can either stay put and hope "they", that mysterious they people are always going on about, will show up to save them, or they can do what they normally do and turn this into an adventure. They decide that hanging around, waiting to either become part of a giant barbecue or zombie bait, just isn't on their bucket list and head out for one last adventure before the end of the world ...

In Romance Quickies (Encounter 18), attorney Nicole’s connection with her handsome client deepens, but will her determination to win the bet get in the way of love? What if her recent encounters are a setup by an enemy, designed to bring her down? Her career is on the line. Love is on the line… Seven friends living in New York City. One unusual competition. Who can have the most intimate encounters in a month? Ten thousand dollars is on the line... Quickies are bite-sized steamy stories that follow a group of women living in New York City who compete to see who can have the most casual ...

It’s the tropical getaway they’ve all been wet dreaming about. From the second they arrive in Miami, it’s clear this won’t be the fun-filled week of activities Emmie’s been planning. They could get drunk in lounge chairs at home. She came to have a good time, with or without her husband by her side. Jackson regrets his decision to numb his fears of flying the second his best friend goes traipsing after his wife to the jet ski rental booth. Aaron’s not just Emmie’s ex-boyfriend, he was her first time, and the unfinished business between them creates a sexual tension so thick ...

This book contains numerous short stories as seen through the eyes of a dusty old baker. The stories are made up of observations, history, and imagination, as the author watches the world go by as he sits at the large table in the middle of his bakery.

Follow the adventures of Chomps the shark. Chomps is a very friendly and adventurous shark. He enjoys swimming in the cold ocean. He has done this every day of his life. However, he does get bored doing the same thing over and over again. He wants to explore more of the ocean, but he is a bit scared to do so. He is afraid of getting lost. What kind of adventures will Chomps get into?

This short book is a collection of character studies set to the short story form. Hess explores the complexities of relationships between men and women, and the way men and women live with, and without, listening to one another. This collection includes "Nothing Extraordinary," the story of one Mr. Sissue, who just can't seem to get a handle on love or life. It also includes "The One Homeless Woman of Athens, OH," a story that explores a winning moment in the life of that one woman. The third story, "Mrs. Gumblebee," serves as a warning for all those who misplace their passion. The last ...

Joe DeRozier sits at a big table in his bakery. The sheeter's over there. There are racks with trays of donuts. A police officer stops in. His kids come by. Someone up front wants a particular pastry--does he have it? His mother-in-law visits there. She's beautiful. Joe thinks a lot and writes it down. Those thoughts draw portraits of his mother-in-law, the police officer, and the town he loves. He says he just makes donuts, but he does more. Much more. Welcome to DeRozier's. Enjoy the visit.

Eleven years ago, they were one of the first lesbian couples to be married in Seattle. Ten years ago, they got divorced. Or so they thought… Claire Langford has a big problem. She wants to marry her girlfriend, but when they apply for a marriage license, she’s shocked to learn that she’s still married to her first wife, Vickie. It was love at first sight when the two women met, but once they were married, they learned they were just too different to make it long-term. Vickie McMaster never got over her first wife. Her only wife. She’d been devastated when Claire served her with ...

Have you ever wondered what a UFO abduction is like from the alien’s viewpoint? Can a machine provide comfort to a dying woman? What would it be like to fall into the hands of a get-rich-quick scheming extraterrestrial? All these questions and more are answered in this book of wonderfully crafted short stories by breakout author J.J. Harlan.

Funny Business is based around the theme of - what else - humor, and if you’re familiar with Jon and Guys Read, you already know what you’re in store for: an hilarious story.

ORGINAL STORY - WRITTEN BY A HUMAN This intriguing prequel novella introduces Detective Ange Watson, tracing her first steps into the world of crime-solving and revealing how she became the tenacious investigator readers will grow to love. A Routine Case… or the Start of Something Deadly? Constable Ange Watson’s policing career is fast unravelling. After calling out a superior for recklessly putting her life at risk, she’s been sidelined, labelled as a whinger, left questioning whether she even belongs in the force. With her resignation email drafted and her finger hovering over "send...

T-Bin has been traveling through space for years to deposit its passengers on a new planet, to give them a new life. But now, mere days from arrival, Tanner can’t shake the feeling that there’s a more sinister plot at work.

When nothing’s going right, someone’s gotta give. Three unusual stories of perseverance, tenacity and cleverness, with surprising endings. Dignity Formerly published in Writer's Guild. A journalist has a chance encounter with a young woman in a government office. The woman's disturbing past makes the journalist question everything she believes in and stands for. Paper Cut Formerly published in The Junction. In a rich neighbourhood of Mumbai, two scrap dealers are facing destitute times. Supply is limited, costs are rising, and they’re competing against each other on the same turf. But...

Sarah's Adventure: Sarah's best friend Helena receives a mysterious letter then disappears. When Sarah goes out looking for her, she gets into all sorts of trouble. While dealing with dangerous gangs, eavesdropping on secret meetings, tailing her eccentric uncle and avoiding school, she tries to find out what's going on. With bonus funny short story The Battle of the Deities: Gudrun the thief meets all sorts of interesting people, including an aunt and uncle he didn't know he had, a horse goddess, a saint, a philosophical talking penguin and a telepathic alien. They travel around together ...

Nothing gets past Erik Nordstrom. But he’s never faced off against me before. Erik Nordstrom is the best goalie in the league, and the hottest player on ice. Determined, focused, and built like a brick wall— he guards that net with his life. But lately, something is throwing Erik’s game off. And it’s my job to find out what’s going on. I’m determined to break right through that facade once and for all. He’s determined to be a giant pain in my butt. Too bad there’s no protective gear for love. Now we’re locked in competition, with both our careers and hearts on the line. No...

Four years have passed. Four long years since Ava and Leo have been in the same room, since he drove away with her heart in his hands and never looked back. Ava wouldn’t know how to begin to make up for all the time she’s lost with her best friend, who also happens to be the man of her dreams. Leo’s life has only grown better. Reciprocity is living the good life; a song on a hit movie soundtrack, loads of girls at every stop, getting ready to co-headline their first major tour. He doesn’t let himself think about the past and the girl he let slip away all those years ago. Ava knows ...

Kathleen Westerly is every man’s walking wet dream, tall, brunette with curves that won’t quit. Donnell can’t stop fantasizing about his neighbor’s wife and Jesse knows he’ll make their dream of sharing Kathleen with a black man a reality, so confident that they don’t even broach the subject with him before surprising him at his front door. Donnell is only taken off guard for a second, not wasting a minute before he agrees to their little plan. He can’t turn her down, looking so sexy and eager on his doorstep in her skimpy little outfit, luscious full lips on his before he has...