Anna is a runaway girl disguised as a boy. After she nearly thwarts a kidnapping, she is offered a job in the royal stables. Surrounded by the intrigues of the court, she has the time of her life. But this is Anna's only chance at adventure. She finds the hero admirable but boring, and the villain is both dead wrong and a lot of fun. Who should she follow?Billy and Susan loved to hear their father read stories to them every night at bedtime. Susan told her brother Billy that the stories were for little kids. Susan said, "Billy I love dad, but I wish he would read scary stories to us instead of stories like Peter Pan and Alice and Wonderland. They were ok when we were younger, but we are so much older now." "I feel the same way. I like it when mother and father go out to dinner at night so we can watch scary movies together, "replied Billy."Next time we spend the night with grandma, maybe we can sneak out of bed and see if she has any old creepy books in her attic. If she does we can give them to our father to read to us instead of those boring stories he's been reading over and over for the past several years!" exclaimed Susan. "Tonight we'll ask him if he'll let us spend the night at grandma's house this weekend. I'm sure he'll say yes," said Billy.Night finally arrived. Billy and Susan asked their father if they could spend the night with their grandma tomorrow. Their father said, "I don't see why that would be a problem because your mother and I were planning a weekend trip." Billy and Susan would find their scary book they had been hoping for, but this book should have been left in the attic where it belongs untouched in the trunk where they found it.

Novella, originally written as a blog serial. When Alex, an idle college student, tries to rescue his drunken professor from drowning, he finds himself in another world, which resembles old adventure tales and silent movie serials. Now Alex must rescue his professor from more than muddy water.The Case of the Misplaced Hero was originally written as a twice-a-week serial for the Daring Novelist blog. Here is the whole story collected into one novella-length volume -- 42 episodes, plus the teaser episode that leads into the next story.When Alex was a child his eccentric aunt gave him a ring and told him that one day he should go jump in a lake. He never knew what to make of that, and never tried doing it, until one day at college, he tries to rescue his drunken professor from falling in a river. They both plunge in... and come up in a very different river, in a land that reminds Alex very much of the stories his aunt used to tell: a world like old adventure books and silent movie serials. It's a dream come true, except that his drunken old professor gets himself lost and arrested. Alex must find and rescue him, and return him home, before the old fool gets shot as a spy.

As a killer hurricane approaches their town, Lysette and her mother have no trailer to transport their horse, King. They decide to ride him to shelter. Two days, down roads increasingly filled with scared, impatient people. One accident could be the end of King. Can they make it? Middle readers, (13,000 words or approx. 45 pages.)A glimpse into an insignificant life that was, at one point in history, the most significant of all. Gari Hart's new short story focuses on the life of the philosopher, inventor and diplomat once called Zindetitious; a man whose ideas brought humanity way ahead of themselves.

Five light mystery short stories: from puzzles like "Waiter, There's a Clue in My Soup!", "The Hoosegow Strangler," and "Trail of the Lonesome Stickpin," to suspense in "Alibi" and "The Promise." These stories were previously published in magazines like Handheld Crime and Futures Mysterious Anthology. Several of these stories were nominated for a Derringer Award or put forward for an Edgar.Four layered 10-minute plays--three to laugh with, one to cry with, and each to ponder. What's more important: the book or the members? In "Reality Book Group," three college professors invite a book-loving ex-convict to join them. Selected from over 400 plays written by New England playwrights, "Reality Book Group" was top-billed in The Boston Globe and performed at the 2012 Boston Theater Marathon. The play will be print-published in Boston Theater Marathon XIV, 2012 Anthology (Smith & Kraus).Bluefish (and humans): "Once they're hooked, they fight for their lives!" John, an odd, motherless third-grade boy follows his teacher, Ms. Willoughby, everywhere after learning she is pregnant. And he's telling everyone that Mr. Matthews, the principal, is the father. In "Room with Maintenance," Harold, an intellectual with a painfully swollen leg, and Frank, a crude carpenter, find themselves locked in a room together after they die. Each, a divorcee, reminds the other of his disliked ex-wife. Are they in Heaven, Hell, or someplace entirely different? Why were they "placed" together. And who's going to fix the broken toilet??? "Medium Security 2025": The year is 2025, and Linda, the wife of an art history professor, has had enough of her husband Ronald's philandering with students. She confronts him (and a coed) at the art museum in front of his favorite painting, Van Gogh's "Postman." Is it time for security to step in? Or will this ruin the "best exhibition (you've) ever seen"?

Seven fables and children's stories, from the haunting "The Enchanted Tree" to the silly "Wild Pony Day." (Most of these stories were previously published in magazines such as Cricket, or in anthologies.)Seven fables and children's stories, from haunting to the silly .Stories include:"The Enchanted Tree" - A magic tree has touched the lives of a whole town, including one lonely girl who needs some help at Christmas."The Hero and The Weaver" - When a young man pesters a magic weaver for a magic cloak, she sets him to impossible tasks to get rid of him... but he just won't give up. What could possibly turn a boy into such a hero?"The Greatest Treasure" - A poor and tiny kingdom helps a wealthier prince to find the greatest treasure to give to a picky princess."When Good Stories Go Bad" - Stories are meant to be shared freely, otherwise they might go bad on you. (Inspired by a Korean folktale.)"The Princess Who Would Not Smile" - Smiles must come from within."The Hot Bun Man" - And old street vendor and a rich man discover that generosity comes in many flavors."Wild Pony Day" - It's hard to teach when something wild runs rampant in your classroom.