Stories

Duncan has always lived in his fraternal twin brother's shadow. Dustin was blond, muscular and popular, while Duncan was brown-haired, miniscule and pathetic. That was until the long lost brother of Dustin's girlfriend comes back a decade later after being missing during a family vacation in the Philippines. There is something strange about the man who seems to be carrying more baggage than what he left behind and the way he looks at Duncan with those blue eyes is just the beginning.

Based in the Charming universe, Once Upon a Time is a collection of short stories inspired by the storytelling card game of the same name. For each short story, I incorporated five or more story cards and one ending card that are all selected at random. Each story includes elements of fairy tales in the modern world, romance between two men and a guaranteed happily ever after. The title of each short story will be the sentence of the ending card and the story cards will be listed at the end. Enjoy!

A lonely, older man has spent his life hiding his sexuality. One day, by chance, this changes. Then a young man arrives to help him widen his horizons, as he slowly comes to terms with life as a gay man.

Declan was the epitome of strength, the top defensive back, top student in his classes, part of THE top-notch football team. But when he fails a basic challenge in front of his entire team--especially to a tiny thing like Bailey McIntyre--he's furious. So is his team captain. And Declan just can't seem let it go. And it gets worse... because he starts to think about Bailey as more than just the guy who destroyed his reputation.

Attorney Jeffrey G. Adams feels antsy even though life in Chicago is actually going very well. Still, going back home to Texas for the holidays after almost three years away feels like the right thing to do. Maybe the change of scenery and a chance to visit with family and friends will settle his disquiet. But, maybe the change he really needs is not a physical change at all. Maybe the change Jeff really needs is a Change of Heart.

Once back home, he'll learn that the best "life’s lessons" are almost always a shared experience.

A couple of young guys in the present try to figure out a mysterious legend from the past.

Meanwhile, some years earlier, a young, Native American wife is being admired by a young warrior from another family, temporarily stranded because of an injury.

And there are bears.

Colin begins a new job and befriends Charles, a socialite who represents everything Colin despises. Despite fundamental life differences, they begin to build a deep friendship. Unbeknownst to Colin, Charles is falling in love with him, only to watch Colin fall in love with—and begin to build a life with another man. Colin must reconcile the deeply rooted expectations he’s created for himself against the reality; that desires of the heart never play by the rules.

After losing his wife to illness, a decorated war hero is determined to keep his family together, but his parenting skills are tested during the summer break by financial restraints, an increasing reliance on alcohol, and the discovery that his eldest son is gay.

When an inheritance must be shared, unique characters are pitted together by an unforeseen maneuver from the grave...

What happens to warriors when they get old? They need to find new adventures, new places, new peoples, and new ways view themselves.