Modern Short Stories

There are stories for every listener in this delightful collection—exciting crime-solving adventures; nervous young actors in the spotlight for the first time; unforgettable holidays and unlikely friendships.

13 Acorns is the debut work of up-and-coming American author G. Edward Martin. It is composed of twelve original short stories written in multiple genres beneath the umbrella of philosophical fiction. Each unique story addresses one central idea or moral question, with each story being akin to a single acorn—something small or simple with the potential to grow enormous. The False Treeing Hound- Daniel, a lost young man, abandons everything and sets out on a road-trip headed west.

I Shouldn’t Have Survived A Modern Horror Anthology They knocked. I answered. They watched. I waved. They waited… and I stayed. Ten chilling survivor stories. Ten doors you should never open. In this razor-sharp anthology of modern horror, victims recount the unexplainable—and barely escape. Each story is told in haunting first-person detail, plunging you into a world where terror hides in the ordinary: an unlocked apartment, a mirror that fogs from the wrong side, a knock that keeps perfect time, or a window that shouldn’t be there. From forgotten rooms to cursed signals, parasitic...

Sound Mind is a collection of poetry inspired by the struggles we face to embrace our true colours. The first half is a short novel written in rhyme and verse. The Second half is a collection of poems written by the author during the creative process. “Sound Mind”; Aura, a wolf born of many colours finds himself fighting to live his dreams as a singer/songwriter while maintaining the old traditions of his pack. This narrative poem stretches ninety-two pages and includes paintings created by the author. Excerpt from Sound Mind: The Valley As the pup’s tip toe, they notice the rituals ...

"...because in Mistletoe Hollow, love is just one meet-cute away!" Living in a town called Mistletoe Hollow sounds adorable, doesn’t it? Snowflakes, cocoa, warm hugs from neighbors—it’s basically a sappy romance movie come to life. Except when you’re me, Emily Bradford, and your idea of romance is a quiet night with a good book and zero meddling matchmakers. After my ex-boyfriend ditched me with a dozen roses and no wedding ring, I retreated to Mistletoe Hollow to lick my wounds, plant some flowers, and keep my head down. No drama, no distractions—just me and a fresh start. Then ...

A cozy Christmas, Christian romance about faith, love, hope, and redemption. Facing a national scandal that wasn’t her fault, Meredith escapes to Holly Springs, a small mountain town in Georgia. The picturesque town provides the perfect Christmas background where Meredith can hide, but she wasn’t expecting to meet her neighbor, Emory. Emory tries to help Meredith get settled, but she refuses his kindness when their discussions lead to God. When Meredith finally realizes she has feelings for him, it could be too late. Will Meredith find her way back to God? Will she find love in the ...

The Forgotten Warnings: Lessons We Ignored A Myth-Inspired Horror Anthology They told us not to stray from the path. Not to speak certain names. Not to touch what was buried. We didn’t listen. In this haunting collection of first-person horror stories, The Forgotten Warnings reimagines ancient myths, folklore, and cautionary tales through the eyes of those who ignored them—and suffered the consequences. Each story is a confession from the edge of madness: a streamer haunted by his own reflection, a researcher seduced by sentient code, a wanderer who finds forbidden fruit beneath the ...

Gripping and compassionate, Land of Big Numbers traces the journeys of the diverse and legion Chinese people, their history, their government, and how all of that has tumbled—messily, violently, but still beautifully—into the present. Cutting between clear-eyed realism and tongue-in-cheek magical realism, Chen’s stories coalesce into a portrait of a people striving for openings where mobility is limited.

If you’re a thirty-year-old, Southern male from a Christian family and have never brought a girl home to meet Momma, then you must secretly be up to no good. And if you also happen to be an only son with five older, happily married sisters, the pressure to find the one and only love of your life is like digging through a pile of leaves for the pin to the grenade you’re holding. Those were the first two lines of the first video post of Mark Griffin’s to go viral, and his popularity has steadily risen over the two years since. He decides to use his platform to find someone to share ...

Short stories by Kalin Ringkvist that are (mostly) not science fiction, each with an introduction by the author. In the Name of Justice - A 14 year old who tries methamphetamine for the first time and witnesses a suicide for which he is soon blamed. Canned Air - A rebellious and foul-mouthed fourth grader and his inhalant addicted mother try to decide if they want to ditch his grandfather's funeral for some mother-son bonding. Foreman at a Racism Factory - It's not easy developing the implants that will orchestrate the next race war. Both Sides of the Story - Two children watch their ...

In a city where darkness reigns and the sun is nothing more than a fading myth, Edward dares to question what others blindly accept. Day after day, his world remains shrouded in shadow, the truth buried beneath obscure theories. With the unwavering support of his future wife, Edward embarks on a dangerous search for answers. But as he digs deeper, he realizes that questioning the darkness comes at a price. Will he awaken those around him—or be silenced forever?

This collection contains: "Idle Thoughts on Babies"; "The Schartz-Meterklume Method"; "A Photographer's Day Out"; and more.

As an author and lover of stories, I embarked on a unique creative journey this July. Each morning, I sat down with an AI chatbot as my writing companion, ready to craft a new tale. My goal was simple - to experience something novel, wild, and fun every day through the power of collaborative storytelling. Together, the AI and I explored a vast array of subjects. We ventured into outer space, witnessing humanity's first steps on Europa. We delved into the realms of fantasy, following a brave squirrel's daring pizza heist. We explored profound themes like memory loss and starting a family, ...

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride… Shelby: It’s my 30th birthday, not that anyone seems to remember. Instead, everyone is focused on my brother Sam’s wedding. I’m happy for him, but still. This will be the sixteenth time I’ll be a bridesmaid since my college graduation, but at least this time I get to be maid of honor. Only that means I have to walk down the aisle with him. Jagger, my brother’s best friend and my lifelong crush. If that isn’t bad enough, he’s brought his model girlfriend. It seems I can’t win. Bringing my best friend, Chip, seems like a good idea until he...

19 short stories from the deep end. (Contains some salty language and subject matter--reader discretion advised.)

This short book of poetry offers inspiration and motivation, at a time when we need it the most. The entire world was sent into social isolation and people needed comfort and hope. The poems and quotes within this book will help the reader to remain steadfast and faithful, irrespective of the trials and hardships they may face in life. “Never give up, even when it seems like the battle has been lost. With fortitude and perseverance, we can overcome any obstacle.” 

This is a story from the Canterbury Tales I: Modern Verse Translation collection. Chaucer's greatest work, written towards the end of the fourteenth century, paints a brilliant picture of medieval life, society and values. The stories range from the romantic, courtly idealism of "The Knight's Tale" to the joyous bawdy of the Miller's; all are told with a freshness and vigor in this modern verse translation that make them a delight to hear.

Things are getting serious at the Society for Magickal Heritage. An ancient legend has plans for Ves, and Ves has plans for just about everything else. It’s time to take on the ultimate challenge—and hope for the best. What could possibly go wrong? Well, everything. As usual. But if old magick is going to survive in the modern world, it’s no use being cautious. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, and Ves is giving it everything she’s got. But can she handle the cost? And can the cost handle her?

A Slumber Party Like No Other. My world exploded with possibilities I'd never imagined as I juggled the affections of four incredible women. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw them: Sophia's fierce intensity, Claire's knowing smirk, Jenny's shy lances and Lisa's playfull grin. But doubt gnawed at my gut--could they really be happy sharing me? Claire, being Claire, had the perfect solution. "A sleepover at my place," she'd suggested, her eyes gleaming with that look that meant trouble--the good kind. One night under her roof turned into a revelation, as boundaries melted away and desire took...

Tom Hallman Jr. has won every national feature writing award in the business, including the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing. A master storyteller, he is an elegant writer with a deeply perceptive heart. Tom has the uncanny ability to see the profound in the everyday. He will make you see it, too, in ways that will remind you of what’s really important in life. This is the second collection of Hallman’s stories from The Oregonian. The first, Dispatches From 1320, was published in 2015