Author notes:

This is kind of a long story, so I'll cut to the chase: The existing version of TOTY is dead in the water. Why? Several reasons, largely around continuity and the dark themes I was trying to deal with. But at the end of the day, it was just turning into a story that I wasn't really enjoying writing. And that's what's really important to me at the end of the day.

December already. Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat. I know it’s supposed to be a time of good cheer and everything, I really do, but…

Story under construction...

Chapter 79

Faye had a beer open and sitting on the table. Bobbie had looked at him crossways for that.

“What?” He asked, taking a swig.

“He had a problem.”

“So did you, don’t get all high and mighty now.”

Bobbie rolled her eyes. “I’m not. I just…”

“Fuck. Sorry, Faye.”

The vibrating phone threatened to resurrect the erection that had been running off and on all day. Being aroused all the time was one thing if your state wasn’t telegraphed so easily.

After surviving an unexpected and brutal encounter with a monster, a young man is drawn into the world of the Val Kyr.

After surviving an unexpected and brutal encounter with a monster, a young man is drawn into the world of the Val Kyr.

After surviving an unexpected and brutal encounter with a monster, a young man is drawn into the world of the Val Kyr.

After surviving an unexpected and brutal encounter with a monster, a young man is drawn into the world of the Val Kyr.

Story under construction...

Sixteen Feet of Steel Chapter 12

*Before…

It’s kind of fun breaking these old class rules.

It’s very fun when we’re slowly starting to mix the two styles together…a few more turns, use the circle to switch a partner to the right and add a clap after the snaps as we step back towards our partners.

And then it’s late and the lights are burning low when the fiddles and violas start singing out that up close and personal waltz music and I’m finding myself really close and hands holding hands with Alaan once again and he’s…he’s very, very handsome and I’m feeling…and he’s so large, bigger than me in this good way and he’s smiling just from having fun but he’s looking at me…he’s looking at me in a way that makes me want to blush and makes me want to want things.

And then he makes me twirl.

*And Now…

Story under construction...

Chapter 78

Bobbie was still trying to figure out the plans for the school cake; it was just such a daunting project. There’s got to be something like 20 sheet cakes here. The amount of limes that would give their lives to form the tasty grass of Slacker’s cove would number in the dozens.

Shivering With Antici... pation

It’s Halloween. While on assignment a warlock finds himself observed by strange man with tape recorder. At a music festival for monsters, two security guards set out to apprehend an intruder. As darkness falls across the land, and the midnight hour draws near, hit play on this collection of spooky, sentimental and surprising seasonal short stories. [Includes an interview with Zapper (creator of the Consultant Universe).]

Bimbo Kisses, Lollipop Dreams: A Delacroix Side Story.

Robert didn't have anything left to live for. The drugs were barely getting him from one day to the next. Without any money, he and his girlfriend decide for one more score to buy the drugs they craved. But things go wrong, and Robert is watching his life bleed out of a gunshot wound. But he was saved, redeemed by a spirit of justice who only demanded one thing in return: Use this gift to help the lives of others.

After surviving an unexpected and brutal encounter with a monster, a young man is drawn into the world of the Val Kyr.

10

Sixteen Feet of Steel Chapter 11

Chapter 11

*Before…

I smile and pull the length of chain to myself and my “wand” and he’s staring at me and there’s a smile and a nod.
“Ye got thet right.”
I smile. “You’re not scared?”
“Ye came in and ye helped save me an mine before Sir Alaan did that says a lot about ye. I think I can trust ye.”
“Thank you and you’re sure you don’t mind me doing this?”
“Nay ‘side I kin say I knew ye when ye were just learning yer craft and maybe be even a little bit famous t’boot.”
“Well thank you Master Smith it’s nice to be so highly thought of.”
“Ye kin call me Aiden.”
“Chrissy.”
“Oh nay yer high born I can tell thet much.”
“No, I was wealth born there’s no man or woman that should be set above another.”
Eight days or so ago and a boyhood away I didn’t even know that much about life to even say that and now.
Now it just feels right.

*And Now…

After surviving an unexpected and brutal encounter with a monster, a young man is drawn into the world of the Val Kyr.

Chapter 73

            Tim was laughing out loud like a maniac while doing the final cleanup for the day. There was some business, everything sold out. Spreadsheet added up,

            It was 11:00 a.m.

            “I’m going to sleep, eat lunch.” He had gotten a DVD of Drop Bears from the library. Whatever movie it was, with Bobbie leaning into him, it would be better.

            Even Ishtar…

            With the Prom coming up, and the big order coming up for the school… And all the others, damn are we gonna be busy.

After surviving an unexpected and brutal encounter with a monster, a young man is drawn into the world of the Val Kyr.

After surviving an unexpected and brutal encounter with a monster, a young man is drawn into the world of the Val Kyr.

After surviving an unexpected and brutal encounter with a monster, a young man is drawn into the world of the Val Kyr.