Working on getting these to Publishable Standard.

Taking down for now.

Thanks to all my readers. News should be coming soon, although we know how life goes.

On the 13th of January, Dorothy Colleen posted “Orientation Day. ” It’s a short little tale (less than 500 words) regarding a speech by the headmistress of a special school, in which she corrects some misinformation about the school. I was impressed with the idea of such a school and could see a much larger story about that school. I contacted Dorothy and told her there was a story yet to be told and ask if she wasn’t going to write would she mind if I did. She graciously granted me permission.

What follows is that story. In it we get inside the head of one of the incoming students listening to that speech.

Blair, while he admits that he’s not and “average” boy, appears on the outside to be just that. He’s been a good student through elementary school. But in middle school his interactions with the other boys in school serve to highlight just how far he is from “average.” His inability to relate to their attitude and refusal to join in with the banter regard the girls in the school isolate him and open him up to verbal abuse. Being a gentle boy he finds that the old saying, “Sticks and Stone can break you bones, but words can never hurt you,” simply isn’t true. Words do hurt and the hurt Blair deeply; to the point that he dreads going to school. As a result, his grades suffer badly.

In an effort to solve this problem his parents seek alternatives to public education. Join Blair as he navigates the troubled waters of Secure Haven; A School for Gentle Boys.

It didn't take long for Genesis to find Jesse. Right when she stepped out of the Orphanage For All Ages, she saw Jesse just standing there on the edge of the sidewalk. His head was hung, and he was staring off into space, as if he didn't even care where he was or where he was going.

"Hey!" said Genesis.

Jesse turned and saw Genesis. "Hey," he said.

"Jesse, I'm so sorry," said Genesis. "I didn't know that she'd..."

"It's not your fault," said Jesse. "I shouldn't have even come here."

"Don't say that."

Petruvio is an older adventurer who got a good-paying job as a teacher for a young noble who plays adventurer. This young man has more money than brains and instead of using qualified men to round out the team, he hired three good-looking maidens.

Now, someone told them about Shroom Dungeon. Worse, they insist they want to visit (despite not knowing what it is). There is no choice and the old adventurer has to return. Despite having vowed never to do so. For he has a history there. In fact, a legacy.

This is a stand-alone story taking place in Shroom Dungeon.

Prince Taylor now is back at the institute with changes.

Jesse drove until 11:00 AM the next day. By that point, Ramona had woken up. "We should probably stop for a while," said Ramona. "Let the car rest."

"Rest?" Genesis asked.

"Yeah, we've been driving it literally all night long," said Ramona. "That might not be good for it."

"I did stop a little while ago," said Jesse. "So I could top off the gas."

"That's good," said Ramona. "But we should take another stop."

"Okay," said Jesse. "But...what are we gonna do while we let the car rest?"

T he next few days were quiet compared to the last few weeks. Katie and I had split up, she said she didn’t want a boyfriend who would dress up like i had been and although she had great fun the evening they had me dress up as a maid and other outfits, she said we had grown apart. I tried to convince her otherwise but it wasn’t a very hard attempt to win her back as my mind was growing more and more fond of Rachel.

Emily Berrigan is a 23 year old woman, who hasn't seen her twin in six years. Not since she told her parents the truth and they threw her out. Now her older sister is getting married and she wants Emily there...as a bridesmaid. Will sparks fly?
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In this chapter, Emily comes to Chicago for the wedding weekend, confronts her mother's family and meets Jared's.
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To Save the Worlds

Chapter 5

Being on the top floor, the girders supporting the roof left a space higher than the rooms on the floors below. As a result, the ceiling that was suspended from the girders was almost two feet below them. Blankets laid over the straps they had strung to make hammocks allowed them to create a rather cozy hideout. The battery-operated lantern hung before them changed what would have been an oppressive cave-like atmosphere into something approaching a sleep-over.

Something Borrowed
A Vignette
By Maryanne Peters

That is my sister Amelia. You can probably see the family likeness. And that is me – dressed as a bride. And looking at Amelia in this photo it now seems pretty clear to me that this was what she wanted all along, although maybe not dressed this way.

Knowing
A Short Story
From my new collection of Short Science Fiction Stories on Amazon
By Maryanne Peters

Raphael was angry, and that was an emotion that was not unexpected.

It is not an emotion that I have ever experienced and that is deliberate. It is almost universally destructive, but it is part of the human condition. Not experiencing it serves to remind me that I am not human, although I aspire to be as human as possible, not the least to better understand how I may serve and protect.

Chapter 2

As I followed him into the garage, I was mentally kicking myself. As Susan and Dianna, I had made every effort to be that person. That’s what enabled me to pass. As Maxine, however, I had naturally become her, and that could be a problem.