Artic Roots - Stories

Coming of age can be fun, scary, interesting, devastating, rapturous or horrifying. Sometimes all of the above and more. Canvas Hell brings together several guys on the cusp of manhood, each with his own demons. It is rife with teen angst, and more than a few tears. It is also a true love story, a young adult romance, because coming of age involves sex, but is not about sex. It is about becoming who the man that you will forever be.

After many years of University and Army training, 21-year-old Struan Kenrick is given two weeks leave before being transferred to a new position in Darwin. On arrival at the airport close to the family properties, Struan learns from his oldest brother, Euan, that their youngest brother Sawney is being ostracised by their grandparents, making him isolated and depressed. Determined to improve the situation for his baby brother, Struan organised for Sawney and him to go on a short holiday, firstly on the Indian Pacific train, and then a stay on Rottnest Island, but things take a dramatic change once on the train.

The year is Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Nine and one William Harker is on the brink of starting the rest of his life.

Little does young William Harker know that his whole future has been a manipulation by powers he cannot possibly comprehend! From the time of his birth to now in his flowering manhood, he has been watched over by one of the great powers of this world! A power secret, ancient, hidden, and often feared.

What if you hated yourself for being gay? What if you wanted to keep it locked away inside of you forever? Ethan is living the experience of that awful realization and hoping to one day overcome it. But what about a new friend by the name of Drew? If you think it's hard keeping your feelings a secret...imagine what it must be like for someone 'exposed'.

One ditching and one rescue later, Hayden discovers the use of a telephone isn’t the only offer that’s on the table…

On the run from slavers, Pip is separated from his best friend, Tilbei, and finds himself on a strange planet, with even stranger aliens. His handsome rescuer is different from Pip. The odd man's human, after all.

Newly coming to terms with being gay, following an abusive childhood and a failed relationship with a girlfriend, electrician Keith meets Thomas, who runs a local arts charity. Despite coming from vastly differing backgrounds, the two discover much in common, not least the need to come to terms with complex relationships to their fathers. But they also learn to enjoy exploring life together.

Once upon a time, in a little town called Dog's Creek, there was a boy named Adam...

Khurtschono is a bigender neko living in a blended family of werewolves. Soren Eilan has lived a solitary life for the last eight years. An unexpected friendship flourishes when they meet.
But their friendship is based on a lie. That lie will be put to the test when they meet the son of two Wolf Patrol guards.
Can their friendship survive the truth?

Two friends meet ten years ago and fall in love. Only they don't tell each other