Stories

A romance inspired by two photographs from the late 19th century. Some of the historical details and people of the story are from the actual history of Franklin, NH; others, including the two main characters, are fictional. I have changed their names from the names written on the backs of the photographs.

Conversations are short vignettes in sets of three that check in on members of the Sanitaria Springs universe. They frequently happen between other stories and may reference events that occur in other stories.

As life moves on we remember times both good and bad. For Kyle, Jacob and the others, memories from the past are a bounty of the defining moments in their lives.

The following is a series of moments, past and present that help guide their steps towards the future.

Former policeman Dan and art critic Vaughan’s relationship has an unfortunate start, but second time around they find that life has something different in store for them. Amidst interfering family members and lively friends, their relationship develops. But then Dan’s employer, Francis Heyward starts to take an interest. Heyward is seemingly stupendously rich, a giver of notorious parties and the possessor of an enviable art collection. There’s a question of whether a line should be crossed, and whether Heyward can even be trusted at all.

Tom Hutton is reeling from the recent death of his wife of 35 years. Alone and lonely, he confides in his best friend that he feels like leaving behind his home, his business, and his family. The friend suggests he take some time off and get away to someplace totally unlike his familiar surroundings in Denver. Tom soon finds himself in Las Vegas, where his luxury hotel assigns him a personal concierge - a handsome young man who seems to be making suggestive remarks. Tom decides to find out what the concierge is really offering and in doing so finds himself on the threshold of an experience that he had never allowed himself to think possible.

Some days go right

Some days go wrong

Some days don’t go at all.

Simon is sixteen and on the edge of everything changing, his world changing from adolescent to adult, to facing up to his sexuality and coming out, but not just yet.

Now, his boyfriend is late and he’s sat on a cold, concrete bench waiting, waiting, waiting…

Over twenty different days, during four weeks in spring, this story follows Simon as he navigates the difficult journey of his coming out. Like all journeys, this one will change him but in ways he doesn’t imagine, taking him places he didn’t expect to go.

Set in the Sanitaria Springs universe - Noah isn't a joiner. He draws, but not well. He hooks up, but can't seem to figure what's supposed to come next. He's the middle child, nobody's favorite anything - but then comes the annoyance and the mystery, two separate paths - which will he follow?

Welcome back to the world of “Divine Intervention.” Mark, Dan, Robert and Belinda are trekking across France and Spain before arriving at their home in Algiers. Thomas is restless and Joe is trying to steady his usually unflappable partner who wants to move back home to South Carolina. Sean is painting Sidney in a new series that rocks the art world and challenges Sidney’s sense of family and home. In a world that has turned upside down, they are all trying to find places of safety and refuge they can call home.

Denial is a lonely path. Lack of honesty is divisive. And self-loathing is a destructive force that's difficult to overcome. 'Dissonance' is a tale that centers around Ben Mansfield and Travis Cooper: two characters from very different backgrounds who, after a chance meeting one night, must learn to face the discordant elements that have fractured their lives and prevented them from finding love and acceptance - especially within themselves.

Thomas and Joe have retired and moved to a small North Carolina town. At the local farmer’s market, Thomas encounters Mark and his two children: Robert and Army. Army prefers to be called Belinda. Thomas and Joe realize that their retirement has come to an end as this family needs their assistance. Can these two families show the world new ways of being family in this small southern town?