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.

As the pace of modern life accelerates, the old ways wither and die. But to the Society for Magickal Heritage, that just isn’t good enough.

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.

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...

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

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?

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

"...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 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...

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, ...

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?

Quantum Shadows When cutting-edge quantum computing research at UC Berkeley becomes the target of a high-stakes espionage operation, CIA Spymaster Corey Pearson and his elite team are called in to stop a looming disaster. A revolutionary encryption algorithm, capable of rendering the world’s most sensitive communications unbreakable, is at risk of falling into the hands of Russian intelligence. Embedded in the campus, Corey, Ana Ramirez, and Brad Hawkins unravel a web of deceit where ambitious academics, foreign operatives, and betrayal collide. With time running out, the team must ...

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

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

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...

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.” 

Hey, did you hear the one about the man who dropped a lit cigarette into the toilet with some gasoline-soaked rags? Of course you did, it happened to your gym teacher's cousin. Or was it your cousin's gym teacher?