Short Story Collections Series

Fantasy and science fiction short stories aimed at young adult and middle grade readers. "Rite of Passage" Twelve-year-old twins Jaeda and Kaedin are preparing for their society's rite of passage. Kaedin's hoping to get magic. Jaeda just wants to survive. But neither are prepared for the surprise awaiting them. "A Phone Conversation" An alien child calls the White House while trying to reach McDonald's. "The Spinning Talent" When Della's roommate is stupid enough to give away a ring that protects her from her birth-curse, Della is forced to reveal herself as a goldspinner in order to find her roommate's true love. "Unicess" In a world where everyone gets wings, Elysia is the only one who doesn't have hers yet. "Cindy's Fairy Godmother" Cinderella's daughter meets a grumpy fairy godmother who gives her three wishes -- which do not go as planned. "Monster Under the Bed" Jennifer's best friend is the monster under her bed. Unfortunately, her brand new baby-sitter wants to get rid of him. "Time Switch" After spending three months in 1923, Saylee comes back home to 2083, only to discover that everything has changed. "The Apple of Discord" In the world of Greek mythology, Cassandra's slave picks up the Apple of Discord, instead of her brother Paris. She's asked to choose which goddess is the most beautiful. But what answer will prevent war? "Advanced Precognition" Sarah knows she's in trouble when her Advanced Precognition class expects her to finish her homework assignments before she's assigned them. "Beauty and Brave" An powerful female dragon has to save her little brother when he's kidnapped by a human who wants him for a pet. "The Dragon and the Santa" After trying to eat Rudolph, a dragon ends up pulling Santa's sleigh. "Invoice" Buying oil from alien governments might not be a good idea. "Interplanetary Edition" Why are the humans inviting aliens to visit from every parallel universe they can find? Everybody has a different explanation, but the true answer is very silly. "Schedule TMTR" Because even time-travelers have to pay income tax. "On the Way Through the Woods" A kleptomaniac princess and a good witch meet a monster in the forest who does NOT like people stealing his roses. "When the Wilkinsons Grew" Strange things often happen when the Wilkinsons are involved.

This collection of twelve stories contains three from each of the following genres- realistic fiction, science fiction, fantasy, and ghost stories. Here is a brief description of each story- 1. a ghost hungry for memories 2. a mother who is said to bite off the head of any suitor for her daughter of which she doesn't approve 3. a dragon who doesn't want to leave behind a star pupil 4. a boy who finds gold while hunting for lost golf balls 5. a fish that cannot be caught 6. an old woman who finds her past too tempting 7. an elf boy who comes to terms with his allergies 8. a soldier who confronts his fears 9. a human colonist who survives an alien bug 10. a little creature who steals grandpa's socks 11. three burglars who get more than they bargain for 12. a little girl who learns there is more to death than dying  

We all have things we hide away inside—secrets, fears, aspects of ourselves we keep locked away. Or try to.   In that respect, the characters we meet in Impossibilia are like any of us. They have things inside them too. Only their things are a little... different.   A dead wife that won't leave. A wolf. The secret to being the luckiest man alive.   Impossibilia is Doug's first collection of short fiction and includes the following novelettes:   "Bouquet of Flowers in a Vase, by van Gogh" (Aurora Award Finalist) "Spirit Dance" (Aurora Award WINNER) "Going Down to Lucky Town" (Aurora Award Finalist)   In 'Bouquet of Flowers in Vase, by van Gogh', remote viewing drives a search through the past for lost masterpieces. An ex-CIA agent, haunted by the presence of his dead wife, falls in love with a beautiful remote viewer with her own secret. But can viewing the past change the present?   Cree Indian legends, a love triangle, a covert government agency, and shape shifters collide in the award-winning 'Spirit Dance', described in Challenging Destiny as "...a vivid and wonderfully written tale about Native Canadian spirits, in the vein of Thomas King."    In 'Going Down to Lucky Town', an itinerant gambler chases a streak of luck across the country, while trying to win back the love of his daughter. The secret he finds forces him into an ultimate gamble for the highest stakes of all: his daughter's life.   And through all the stories, these characters share one more thing beyond what they hold inside. In the decisions they face, in the choices they make, they do what they do out of love. Lost love, found love, the love of a child. But love. So maybe they aren't that different from us after all...   "Doug Smith is, quite simply, the finest short-story writer Canada has ever produced in the science fiction and fantasy genres... His stories are a treasure trove of riches that will touch your heart while making you think."  --Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author "A great storyteller with a gifted and individual voice." --Charles de Lint, award-winning fantasy author "One of Canada's most original writers of speculative fiction." --Library Journal

These twenty wry and witty short stories examine change at every stage of life, in a natural progression from birth to death. Mostly lighthearted, but often moving too, this collection is written with an admirable economy of style. They're short enough to class as flash fiction, sudden fiction, microfiction, ultra short fiction - call them what you will,  Ranging from a spartan 100 words to the relative luxury of 1,000, they combine sharp observation of contemporary English life with gentle humour, profound affection for the social quirks of the author's native country, and the odd dark rumbling undertone. Plenty of surprises emerge along the way, from twists of magical realism to whimsical wish-fulfillment. Here's what some pre-publication readers have had to say about Debbie Young's first collection of flash fiction: "I loved these stories. Sly, witty, surprising, and the twists are genuine twists. The characterisation is lovely, very deft and economical. They make domesticity look edgy, sometimes dangerous, but they are also life-affirming." - Lucienne Boyce, historical novelist and historian "Very subtle, very English, very clever. I also loved the overall idea, the way the stories went from infancy to old age, shedding a revealing light on each stage. Good luck with this splendid collection." - Marius Gabriel, author of historical novels and contemporary thrillers "A joy to read, absolutely delightful!" - Georgia Rose, contemporary novelist "The language reveals a sharp intellect and a broad knowledge." Mari Howard, contemporary novelist "Flash fiction is so hard to do and it was a pleasure to read." - E J Eyles, mystery novelist Other reactions from early readers: "a feather-light story", "fabulous story with sinister undertones", "brilliant!", "like Roald Dahl's short stories", "as sharp as a Kirsty McCall song", "like a prose poem", "a masterpiece", "perfect", "very powerful and mysterious", "what a lovely idea!", "laughed out loud at this one", "rather moving". All of the stories are contemporary, i.e. set in the 21st century. Topics covered include birth, childhood, youth, coming of age, friendship, love, dating, marriage, parenting, family life, parent and child relationships, infidelity, divorce, getting on with neighbours, death, loss, grief, bereavement and coming to terms with life at every stage. "Quick Change" is the first in a planned series of collections of Debbie Young's flash fiction stories. Several of the stories were originally published on her author website, and "Clean Linen" was chosen for the 2013 edition of FlashFlood, the online journal of National Flash Fiction Day (NFFD). Debbie's work has also been included in "Eating My Words", NFFD's 2014 anthology of the best contemporary flash fiction authors. Stories in this collection: Out of the Mouths of Babes Going to Grandma's Penny for Them The Metamorphosis Peep Behind the Curtain The Art of Medicine The Alchemy of Chocolate The Impressionists Patient Virtue The Mutton and the Lamb Time Out Clean Linen Domestic Blisters Married Bliss Perfect Harmony Special Offer Autumn Leaves A Singular Life Funeral March The Comfort of Neighbours

"The beauty of futility" is a collection of eight stories about people whose lives are strange, and fantastic and ordinary, all at the same time. The titles give some sense of the range: Cursus caninus: emperor of the dogs; Confessions of a champ'een pie eater; A perfect human being; The transmigration of souls; Artificial light; Order of Merit; Father, father, quite contrary; Collective unconscious. Enter into a familiar world that is never quite what it seems - or all that it seems if you look at it in the right way.  

These 15 warm, witty short stories take an affectionate look at love and romance. There are five wry tales about each of the following stages: seeking a partner, committing to marriage, and surviving the long haul. Each story has a cast of different characters, from single girls seeking Mr Right, to couples struggling with the technicalities of getting hitched, to long-wedded couples who have plenty of time to repent at leisure.  Although most of the stories are told from a female perspective, this is far from being a feminist rant, but is rather a gentle celebration of matrimony - provided you find the right partner, plan the wedding your way, and find ways to live together long-term, despite each other's foibles.  Debbie Young is renowned for her sharp observational British humour, which is underpinned by a cheery optimism and a heart of gold. This little book is ideal for anyone who believes in love and longs to live happily ever after, even if they haven't yet found their perfect partner. Although not a classically romantic book, it could be a fun and quirky gift for an engagement, wedding, anniversary or Valentine's Day.

Sunburst Award Finalist | Aurora Award Finalist | CBC Bookies Award Finalist   Chimerascope [ki-meer-uh-skohp]—a story of many parts...   A young artist hungers to draw you. A dinner conversation takes three lifetimes to finish. A geologist faces a planet-sized, eons-old puzzle to save her crew. The hero of the Fall of Earth must choose between love and revenge. A mysterious dancer leads a businessman to a most exclusive nightclub. A man is born each day into a new life—only to die each night. A sentient aurora threatens the last of humanity. A Norse god's bar in Toronto hosts an unplanned family reunion. A woman descends into insanity—or is it the end of the world? A house as big as the world.   Chimerascope is the first full collection of short fiction from multi-award winning author Douglas Smith, containing sixteen of his best stories, including an award winner, a Best New Horror selection, and eight award finalists. Sixteen stories of fantasy and science fiction that take you from love in fourteenth-century Japan to humanity's last stand, from virtual reality to the end of reality, from alien drug addictions to a dinner where a man loses everything.   Chimerascope includes the following stories: "Scream Angel" Aurora Award WINNER "The Red Bird" Aurora Award Finalist "By Her Hand, She Draws You Down" Aurora Award Finalist, Best New Horror selection "New Year's Eve" Aurora Award Finalist "Out of the Light" "State of Disorder" Aurora Award Finalist "The Boys Are Back in Town" "Symphony" Aurora Award Finalist "Enlightenment" Aurora Award Finalist "Nothing" "Jigsaw" Aurora Award Finalist "Going Harvey in the Big House" Aurora Award Finalist "The Last Ride" "The Dancer at the Red Door" Aurora Award Finalist "A Taste Sweet and Salty" "Memories of the Dead Man" "His stories are a treasure trove of riches that will touch your heart while making you think." —Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author   "A massively enjoyable trek…all filtered through Smith's remarkable imagination and prodigious talent." —Quill and Quire (starred review)   "The 16 stories in this collection showcase the inventive mind and immense storytelling talent of one of Canada's most original writers of speculative fiction."—Library Journal   "An entertaining selection of stories that deftly span multiple genres." —Publishers Weekly

Magic and mischief are here!  A collection of fantasy and science fiction short stories featuring dragons, aliens, humor, and a few characters with magic who just can't stay out of trouble if their life depends on it. Includes the following short stories: "Valentine's Oops" When Donovan finds out his best friend's little sister wants to cast a love potion on him, he knows he has to escape a fate worse than death. "To Catch a Leprechaun" It's really tough to catch a leprechaun.  Especially when sisters get in the way. "The Goose That Laid Golden Easter Eggs" The family has a magical new goose.  One that quacks and clucks and moos and lays golden eggs.  So what happens when Junior feeds it his sister's watch? "Little House in the Crater" When the author's grandma told her to write something more like Little House on the Prairie . . . this . . . probably wasn't what she had in mind. "Mirror Image" Maria's mirror image just decided to visit her.  Which might be a little more dangerous than either of them expected. "The Reason Why My Paper is Late" It was all because of the alien abduction.  Honest! "Glass Beads" If the aliens can get the humans into a bad negotiating position, they'll have it made. "The Silent Princess" Princess Selenna's deaf.  How was she supposed to know she was making a deal with a frog when she dropped her golden ball in the moat? "The Body-Borrower" The puppy will not stop borrowing Tasha's body while she's astral projecting! "Unexpected Lastborn" Annie will never forget the day her mother snubbed the witch. Includes the following funny drabbles (100 word short stories): "Computer Gremlins" "The Dark Lord's Genie" "The Day of Shoulder Angels" "Miss Galaxy" "Way Too Familiar" "Standardized Testing" "Dragon Bait" "Easy Target" "The Librarian is In" "Old-Fashioned" "Proof" "Ogre" "Zombies" "Identical Twits" "The Hunt" "Imaginary Fiend" "Karmic Balance" "The Open Source Time-Travel App" And the following poems: "The Toddler's Lament" (both in poem form and in an illustrated version called "I Do Not Want to Take a Nap") "Knock Three Times" "Pixie Eggs" "One Midsummer's Night" "The Kraken" Laugh your way through these short stories and share your favorites with family.  

Regrets. I've had a few… Maybe too few to mention. Or maybe too many to live with. Or maybe you get over them. This collection of six stories covers the gamut of these possibilities as expressed in ordinary lives that, in the end, are not so ordinary at all. The story titles are: Pillar of salt. They were so little when we got them. Ceaușescu. A wing off the family house. Up, up and away. Communin' w' gawd.

In the spectrum of emotions, this book has more colours than the rainbow.    The themes in this collection of short stories are varied and surprising. They twist and turn while swinging up and down. That's only to be expected from such an unlikely collection of writers.    They met by chance at a community college. Very different people with only one thing in common - in short - they all had stories to tell.    So get ready, you'll be astonished where they take you.   The tone is as varied as the settings. Comedy is well represented: "Heatwave" is a witty alternative history set in the hardboiled world of the American music business, "Bilk" is a caustic satire on Thai brides, there are Pythonesque flights of fancy and "A Cat in the Dark" is a delicious modern comedy of manners.    Elsewhere, there are three acute glimpses of modern unease. Then, "The Beach" is a haunting tale of middle-aged longing while "Waiting for the King" captures the fervour of boyhood hopes. An encounter in a hospital support group leads to a touching friendship in "The Phone Call". The protagonist in the atmospheric "Silence of Olive Trees" finds that even in an idyllic coastal resort it's hard to dissipate the memories of an oppressive marriage.   Proceeds go to the mental health charity Richmond Mind.  

This collection of twelve humorous short Christmas stories will delight anyone struggling with their own plans for the festive season. The tales form an entertaining catalogue of how characters of all ages respond to the anxieties that abound at this time of year, from a small boy who tries to give Santa lessons in time management to the elderly lady who is marking what's likely to be her last Christmas. Others tackle such important questions as:  - Will you ever get everything ready in time?  - Will everyone like their presents?  - Will you like yours?  - How will Father Christmas fit us all in?  - And who is the real Santa, anyway? Unlike many festive books, this collection does not sugar-coat every Christmas experience, and a few of the characters aren't exactly lovable, but they're certainly memorable. But ultimately it's a heartwarming collection and an easy, quick read to be enjoyed by anyone who loves the traditional Christmas. Whether you choose to spread out the stories across the traditional 12 Days of Christmas, or to consume them all in one sitting, once you've read "Stocking Fillers", you'll never view Christmas in quite the same way again - and we mean that in a good way!   

Eleven short stories.  Thirteen drabbles.  Six series.  Clearly this author has written way too many tie-in short stories for reasonability. Tie-ins for the Wicked Witches of Restva series: "Ogre in Boots" What is this cat named Puss, and why is he bothering Rulisa's father?  Could it be another assassin sent from Black Magic Academy? Tie-ins for The End in the Beginning series: "The Weeds within the Rulership" Raneh's really worried that she has magic and it's forbidden.  But she gets a slight distraction when the boy next door gives her a bouquet of weeds. "The Secrets from the Rulership" The Ruler learns the secret of the Keepers, and decides what will be necessary for the good of the world. "The Numbers across the Rulership" Now, hold on!  What's this nonsense about Hurik taking the oath of status?  He has a better idea! Tie-ins for the Fairy Senses series: "Fairy Feet" When playing tag, three girls run into a fairy with big feet.  Oops!  Is the fairy hurt? Tie-ins for the Dragon Eggs series: "Dragon's Dawn" Tomorrow is her wedding, and Rose is really scared.  She's about to marry a man she barely knows so that they can become parents to a baby dragon. Tie-ins for the Trilogy of a Teenage Werevulture series: "Triumph of a Teenage Werevulture" In a world where everyone is a fantasy creature, Lisette had the misfortune to be turned into a werevulture.  On top of that, now her date is dragging her to a football game!  But if the rival team is cheating, well, clearly somebody needs to save the day. Tie-ins for The Numbers Just Keep Getting Bigger series: "One Silly Chatterbox That Won't Stop Talking" How in the world does one get Henina to stop talking long enough to teach that child how to read? "Three Little Stones That Said the Wrong Thing" Henina's not going to let her older sister marry the wrong man.  Even if it means upsetting her whole family! "Four Hardened Criminals on a Dangerous Street" Henina's sense of self-preservation could be higher, admittedly. "Six Shiny Silver Coins and the Ridiculous Ruckus They Caused" "The Fates see all and hear all.  The king will perform an act of great generosity before the sun sets this day." The king is horrified to hear this, and immediately throws six silver coins out into the crowd to get the prophecy over with before something worse happens. Naturally, Henina catches one. And, naturally, pandemonium ensues. Includes the following funny drabbles (100 word short stories): "An Alternate Solution to the Sleeping Curse" "Puss in Oops" "Entrance Interview" "The Novice at the Rulership" "The Painting like the Rulership" "Fairy Fingers" "Fairy Stink" "Dragon's Yowl" "Trials of a Teenage Shapeshifter" "Trials of a Teenage Zombie" "Seven Shameless Scamps Looking Pitiful" "Thirteen Years After a Sister's Wedding" "Fifteen Problems in One Hundred Words" The question is . . . are you ready to laugh?  

This second collection of fantasy, science fiction, realistic fiction, and ghost stories includes- robots, Romans, poetry readings, rowboats, rifles, runaway spiders, resurrection, revenge, regret, and redemption. There is something of interest for everyone in these short stories that range from the past to the present to the future to the supernatural.