"Write Fifty Times"
by Ellie Dauber (2024)

The old academic punishment of writing something fifty times doesn't always work. Just look at Bart Simpson. But when Sandy Bradwyn uses it, it can be VERY effective.

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Orpheus Ascending
By Ellie Dauber
Copyright 2000

Author’s Note: Except for the TG element near the end, this is a straightforward retelling of the Greek myth.

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Now would I tell the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice, a sad tale of death and longing and of a fate most strange and yet most fitting.

Explanations -- A Short Political Gargoyle
By Ellie Dauber © 2020

Yes, this is another politically biased story. I just couldn’t resist the notion.

The President slammed the report down on his desk. “Too damn many pages,” he muttered. “I’ve told them, and I’ve told them no more than two pages… and large type.”

Tales of Elsbeth: Two Lessons Taught
by Ellie Dauber © 1999

Another old story of mine, the second adventure of Elsbeth Lange, introducing her husband Daniel Two Knives. Elsbeth teaches a lesson about life to a meddlesome religious zealot, and the two of them teach a lesson about sexuality to a rather boorish man.

Tales of Elsbeth: Two Lessons Taught
by Ellie Dauber © 1999

SRU: The Two-Fer
By Ellie Dauber
Copyright 2000

This is another of my older stories. A couple of slackers help out the SRU Wizard. Now comes the problem of how to properly thank them.

SRU: The Two-Fer
By Ellie Dauber
Copyright 2000

Family Jewels
By Ellie Dauber (c) 2007

Here's a gargoyle inspired by the recent release of files from the Central Intelligence Agency. I hope you enjoy it.

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A Fragment of Something
By Ellie Dauber © 2020

I had this idea of a scene. This was a definite gargoyle, something that had to be written.

Only I don’t know what came before or after. As an experiment, I’m posting it that way. You tell me what happened. I may even write out the best notion.

And list the person(s) whose idea(s) I use as co-author(s).

A Fragment of Something
By Ellie Dauber © 2020

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Phone Fun
By Ellie Dauber (c) 2019

Andy liked to amuse himself by making prank calls on his cell until he called a very wrong number.

Snapshots
By Ellie Dauber

This is another of my older stories, appearing on Big Closet for the first time. I hope you enjoy it.

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Retirement is a time to pull back, to take a much-earned and welcome rest after more than forty years work. But for those people whose work has become their life, it's an early death, the end to any useful purpose, while they still have the minds and the heart to continue.

For Lillian Wagner, it meant the sorrow of watching her newly retired husband, Ed, sink into the despair of imagined uselessness. Things, however, aren't always as bad as they seem. Ed and Lil will find a reprieve in a very common place that just happens to lie at the edge of... the Twilight Zone.

This is the second of three stories about Magee’s, a neighborhood bar with a most unusual owner. When Jim and Don decide to steal a valuable display item, they find out just how unusual.

This story is a .pdf file -- which has been attached, sorry -- to allow for the experimental formatting. Story #3 gets posted after I see at least three comments.

And, in response to someone's question, Magee's is not an open universe. Sorry.

The Treasure of Eerie, Arizona -- Chapter 5
By Christopher Leeson and Ellie Dauber

The final chapter – for now. George does chores. Tor returns the stolen horses. Female take notice.

Getting to Know You
By Ellie Dauber © 2003

Another one of my older stories, served up for your consumption and your comments (if you please).

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Gary McFee was really anxious to know if Lisa Tolliver liked him. The SRU Wizard shows him what he wants to know, but hardly in the way she expected,

Thirteen Steps
By Ellie Dauber
Copyright 2001

A couple of archeology graduate students test their skills and knowledge in deciphering a lost language. What could possibly go wrong?

SRU -- The Football Hero
By Ellie Dauber
(c) 2001

Here's another of my older stories. It was an experiment in writing in the first person. Let me know what you think.

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Jack Weston really wanted his son, Mark, to follow in his footsteps as a high school football star. He wanted it enough to resort to magic. But...

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Nerd-No-More Ad #3
by Ellie Dauber

Commercial products have been put to political use since the dawn of time. This use (misuse to some) of Nerd-No-More is only the latest case, and the Nerd-no-More company claims no responsbility for the INDEPENDENT actions of one or more of its customers.

The Treasure of Eerie, Arizona
By Christopher Leeson and Ellie Dauber

Chapter 3

Myra rides out to the scene of the robbery and encounters two problems: a strongbox too heavy for her to lift and a neighbor boy too friendly for her to handle.

Now that Myron has become Myra, he -- she -- is turned over to the attentions of Molly O'Toole. Shamus' wife will be able to give the young stage robber the advice -- and the clothing -- that she will need if she expects to pass herself off as a natural-born girl in Eerie, Arizona.

The Treasure of Eerie, Arizona
by Christopher Leeson and Ellie Dauber

This new story of Eerie, Arizona concerns one of its untold tales. It carries us back to December, 1871, to a month that has been already visited in the second novel, “Eerie Saloon: Seasons of Change – Autumn” and in the short story “Eerie Saloon -- Toy Soldier.” Let's assume that, behind the scenes, something else was happening that we did not at that time choose to reveal, something that will now be the subject of this novella.

Eshet
By Ellie Dauber © 2018

Ever wonder what happened to Harvey Weinstein?

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The Portrait: Frame II
by Ellie Dauber

This story is a follow-up to “The Portrait”, but I’ve tried to keep it as self-contained (and consistent) as possible. Both stories are part of a series that also includes "Valentine Gift" and "Shakedown", all of which tell of the very magical Uncle Stavros.

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Dear Mr. Norman:

Stavros get your letter about the noise. Stavros sorry that nice lady, Miss Gray, not like Stavros’ music, but Miss Gray gone. She married now. Live with husband out in country.