Stories

John Renkin has recently retired, but his investment firm in The Land of Lincoln is the only thing he can look back on as a success. His painful life and brighter future are revealed in a series of shorts. Each will stand on its own, but the sum will eventually tell his story. Be sure to follow for periodic updates.

🍎 William-Decker Irving is a country boy from the South. He was happy, free, innocent, and the son & heir to his family’s successful Apple Orchard business. The country life is all he ever knew. That’s all he ever was. But, when he is forced to move, up North, into a busy suburban town & attend public school for the very first time, being a homeschooled boy with little to no social skills or knowledge of the modern world, he faces new experiences, challenges, & meets people that he will never forget for the rest of his life.

In His Image is a short, introspective story about Ronald, a young man in his mid-20s, struggling with his faith, identity, and feelings for a male co-worker, Chris. Raised in a conservative religious family, Ronald faces confusion and shame as he grapples with his desires and beliefs. As his friendship with Chris deepens, he experiences a pivotal moment of emotional and physical intimacy, marking the start of his self-acceptance. The story ends with Ronald’s breakthrough, leaving the outcome open-ended for readers to imagine.

Michael Evans destroyed lives. He shattered trust and never once owned up to his wrongs. Instead, he chose to run, believing that escaping was the solution. But the past doesn’t stay buried, no matter how far you run—it always finds a way to resurface, and when it does, it’s far more unforgiving. This is a continuation of the story, Straightening Affairs from Michael Evans point-of-view.

Peter and Griffin meet at the edge of their communities and become fast friends. They yearn to meet in the middle and live a new life together. But their own people are a much bigger barrier to their love than the massive brackish water path that physically separates them. [BL, mermen]

In the mid 1960s two teens from very different backgrounds meet.

The story explores how their relationship develops.

In The Dreamer, Mason and Robert navigate life’s trials, love, and self-discovery against the backdrop of a society not always ready to accept them. Starting in college, their connection deepens as they face family rejections, identity struggles, and career pressures. Together, they build a life marked by resilience and unwavering love. Over time, they marry, have children, and create a lasting family legacy. As they grow old, the enduring symbol of their bond—a ring forged from a meteorite—becomes a reminder to their children and grandchildren of a love that reached beyond time, built on courage, devotion, and unity.

When Samson receives the invite for a reunion episode of a new variety show The Playground, he accepts without hesitation. After all, it's the perfect chance to catch up with his celebrity crush turned steamy affair, actor Troy Wolfe. But when all the celebrity guests come to the reunion, the host is murdered in cold blood, leaving them to solve the mystery and find the culprit.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to a special spin-off episode, ‘Murder on the Playground’. Join our celebs as they take on their new personas, put their detective hats on and get investigating!

Damien Moreau has disappeared and his vanishing act causes waves. A well known figure in the world of art and antiquities who cannot be found raises questions. Not least from his protégé, the budding artist Ethan Blake. The investigative skills of Detective Eliott Carter are called upon, but the eventual turn of events leads only to a deepening mystery.

The impact of the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023 was felt around the world, but in few places more than in New York City. Not only is New York home to the second-largest Jewish population in the world, but it’s home to peoples of many cultures, including a large Arab American population. In my New York Stories, New York Holidays and New York Anthologies series, I’ve introduced characters who might well have been in Israel at the time of the attack. October Fire is a 6-part story about Jewish and Palestinian New Yorkers who persevered in the face of hate.