Stories

Steve and Chris, who met and became close in Thrift Shop Nation, return in another tale.

Working at the thrift shop has proved to be both interesting and rewarding for the boys. The summer is nearing its end, but both want the job to go on. They have been discovering that the thrift shop is more than just a job, and that Debbi is more than just a boss.

And that life among the world of 'previously owned' items is a long way from being dull...

Outted at thirteen, Orin left home after high school hoping to escape the hell his life had become. When a tornado destroys his childhood home and kills his parents, Orin finds himself in an entirely new nightmare. He returns home and confronts his past in the person of his one-time best friend, Thomas. Thomas not only rejected him when Orin came out, he led the group that tormented Orin into leaving. Struggling with his grief, Orin also labors to fulfill the pledge he made to his parents before their death. In the process, Orin learns that sometimes when you go away to find yourself, you leave the answers you're looking for behind.

We met Maurice and David in The Watcher. This story stands alone, but it might be more enjoyable if you read The Watcher first. These are two men of a seasoned vintage, and both, separately, have suffered great loss. This is a quick peek into their lives a month after a fateful meeting in the park.

Wes Carter is an accomplished and successful banker. He's attractive in his own unique ways. In his eyes, nothing beats the golden Adonis; the blondies. They are the perfect human species. Wes finds himself unable to resist their smell, temptations, and body. However, what if… these Adonises bring nothing but bad luck to Wes?

Two strangers meet for the first time. The mutual attraction between them is undeniable. However, will this connection blossom into a full blown love affair, or will the emotional baggage within them tears them apart.

Join them on a journey to discover that love is not all about sweets and honey, but full of efforts, compromises, acceptance, betrayal, hatred, truths and lies.

This is a true story. The events described happened to me. Nothing has been changed or altered or embellished.

What is the nature of love and how do we feel about it? Elliott is struggling because he likes a girl, needs her, but he doesn't really love her, not like he loved Claire. Claire was the love of his life. He bumps into another soul who is hurting from the same kind of condition. In the end, the emotions become lyrical and we see how the creative process is sometimes a healing one. Let's see if we can find the Coupe de Ville hiding at the bottom of a Cracker Jack box.

An imp from Hell teams up with an angel from Heaven for joint missions in the human world. But there are other forces at work, interfering with the team. Angel and Imp will have to deal with the consequences.

One night annihilated their lives, destroyed every happiness they ever knew, scarred them beyond healing and murdered their desire to keep breathing. What was left behind was a reminder taunting them every moment that perhaps they would never get their lives back.

Each one of them was broken, angry and alone.

Each one of them desperately wanted some answers.

And, now together they are seeking vengeance.

This introduces Jake, the narrator of Moorpark Palms, a funny book of stories about a small Los Angeles apartment building in the 1990s. Jake & Conor is a light little romance, once intertwined with the longer book. I broke it out because it distracted from the apartment stories.