Sitting in General Ajani's office, which had been expanded and improved since the last time he'd been there, Keir studied the different players. They'd made the polite greetings, everyone had a mug of mint tea to take the chill off, and now things were about to get interesting.

Josie has a lot to sort out career-wise and in her personal life, and learns a few things on the journey.

The Visund departs Zebrin and heads for Bibek in Faralmark. As they navigate the twists of the Sirrel, a stranded barge becomes visible in the distance. When they reach the barge it causes them to rethink what they have been told about river pirates.

The Voyage of the Visund

A tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

77 - Smoke on the Water

“Unf,” I grunt as I’m woken from a dreamless slumber by my phone, though it isn’t my alarm that wakes me, but rather an incoming call. I try to smile as I click the ‘answer’ button- normally I'd be happy to see the identity of the caller on my phone's screen, but it's much too early- and much too cold- for that right now.

“Good morning, Ian!” Grandma says with a cheerful tone. “Or rather, happy birth-eve!”

“Thanks, grandma,” I say quietly as I prop myself up in bed and huddle my sheets around my shivering form. “Is everything okay in Cardiff?”

After figuratively bumping into Richie Morrow on the way to the dugout, I literally collided with Jimmy Fallon, our team’s player-manager, as I sprinted onto the field.

“So... Lauren, would you mind venning me into a plushie? And then you could change me back before you go home?”

 

“Sure,” I said, a little surprised but not entirely. “What kind of plushie? I’m not as good at venning people into living dolls as my friend Sophia, but I’ve gotten some practice at it lately.”

Taller
A Vignette
By Maryanne Peters

Sometimes I wish I was shorter than him, but he says that he loves me the way I am. I am wearing heels in this shot, so he looks shorter than he is. But he says that he likes me to wear heels – they make my legs look even better.

“What the hell, Babe. Even without heels you are taller than me, so what do I care? Just be as beautiful as you can be.” That’s him. That’s my man.

The Sundial
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

I have always been drawn to the sea, and I guess that was down to my father. He was a ships’ engineer and I saw little of him when I was very young, but whenever he was home he would bring strange objects and stories from the places he had been. It seemed as if his life was like a fairy tale. I wanted to follow him.

He's officially stuck with a women's gym membership. Can he fit in as long as he follows the rules?

Charlie’s company finally did something right — granting each employee a $3,000 wellness stipend to pursue self-improvement hobbies and interests. So he decides to use it to get in shape! But when 100% of his stipend is mistakenly allocated to a women’s gym, Charlie is out of luck. That is, until the gym’s owner surprisingly allows him to join, even as a man. But how will he ever fit in?

This 26-chapter, 51,000-word novel is available in its entirety for Kindle -- and now Paperback!! The first few chapters will be shared here as samples. Hope you all enjoy! :)

-Jennifer

Once Darryl and Marcia left, Mage and Chet collected the gifts that they had insisted they would put away, and took them to a shed at the corner of the property. After, since they were nearby, they walked to a building that was being erected. It was hidden behind one of the many gravel glacial moraines that abounded in the area.

Chapter 2

When Julia and Jessica came out and shed their suits, they had the bones, or parts of bones, in bags, along with the ammunition box, as well as three different saws that they had found, one being a tree saw. A squad car had arrived, so Jackson gave them their orders, shook hands with the three of us, and went off to his office to pull out all of the case files.

A group of friends streams their gaming on Wednesday nights. But not all the action is on the dining room table.

He's officially stuck with a women's gym membership. Can he fit in as long as he follows the rules?

Charlie’s company finally did something right — granting each employee a $3,000 wellness stipend to pursue self-improvement hobbies and interests. So he decides to use it to get in shape! But when 100% of his stipend is mistakenly allocated to a women’s gym, Charlie is out of luck. That is, until the gym’s owner surprisingly allows him to join, even as a man. But how will he ever fit in?

This 26-chapter, 51,000-word novel is available in its entirety for Kindle -- and now Paperback!! The first few chapters will be shared here as samples. Hope you all enjoy! :)

-Jennifer

Trish was immaculately made up, and her hair was styled nicely. She gave a good look at what was arranged on Marcia’s vanity and moved her head in a manner that suggested the cosmetics just wouldn’t do for the day. She grabbed a case that she’d carried in with her and setting it on the vanity, she said, “Let’s get this show on the road.”

Chapter 6

Back in our office I told her that it was her show now. I stressed that she had the knowledge and had to get the confidence if she wanted to move up in the force. I reminded her that she was ahead of most officers by being on good terms with her Chief Super and also on a first name basis with the AC, even if his first name was Sir.

Mademoiselle Louise
A Short Historical Story
By Maryanne Peters

I learned to speak English at school, and it was my favorite subject. I wanted to leave France – not permanently. The world is a big place and English is the language of the world, as much as we French hate to say it.

I just had to hope I wasn’t going to move too far down the alphabet.