A scholar's murder in an unimportant village threatens to ignite political tensions in the empire. Village enforcer Adajo must accompany the city examiner investigating the death, navigating an alien landscape of intrigues and unfamiliar masks.An 11000 word fantasy novelette.A scholar's murder in an unimportant village threatens to ignite political tensions in the empire. Village enforcer Adajo must accompany the city examiner investigating the death, navigating an alien landscape of intrigues and unfamiliar masks.An 11000 word fantasy novelette.Shadows of the Heavens Not even half-way into its first century the empire is riven by strife hidden behind a polite facade. With political factions vying for imperial influence, regional politics subverting imperial law, and society still recovering from recent wars, how much is due to mythic beings many no longer believe in? A scholar's death triggers a series of events which could unravel the tenuous empire, drawing into the deadly game a young enforcer searching for his childhood friend; an examiner who desperately wants to avoid politics; a masked woman whose curiosity could cost her everything; and a prince with nothing better to do.

When a ransom demand arrives for a planet’s name, the inhabitants realise they can no longer remember it. What will they do to get it back?A 2300 word Science Fiction short story...."Th' man who wrote it was presumably fine t'do," ah remarked, indeavo'in' t'imitate mah companion's processes. "Such paper c'd not be bought unner ha'f a crown a packet. It is peekoolyarly strong an' stiff." "Peculiar--dat be de real wo'd," said Holmes. "It be not an English sheet at all. Hold it down t'de light. Man!"...The story is an unique version of Conan Doyle's "A Scandal in Bohemia" created with the help of Dialectizer. We bet you've never read before Sherlock Holmes talking Jive or Doctor Watson talking Redneck. This version will help you to look at "A Scandal in Bohemia" from an unexpected angle and to appreciate it more. No offense to people who talk featured dialects intended.

The galaxy's sixth greatest thief is sent to Tartarus, a prison orbiting a black hole. What could possibly go wrong?A 3,000 word science fiction short story.Red Moon Slices of Life are fragments torn from the daily lives of side characters of the novel Red Moon’s Reflection. They are not full stories; their only goal is to show the characters more in detail and serve as a teaser (if you haven’t read Red Moon’s Reflection) or an extra (if you have read it).01. Damon's Slice of LifeDamon Blackdart could, as the leader of Lost clan, get anything he wanted, except one person: Trinity, his Beloved, who died centuries ago. But now in the 21st century he can feel his Beloved soul on earth once more and he is willing to do anything to get it.02. Uriel’s Slice of LifeUriel, the oldest of three brothers, wishes for only two things: his brothers’ safety and to be free of the chains that bind him to Angelica -- who is angelic in name only. 03. Muriel’s Slice of LifeMuriel has always enjoyed the company of animals, but that’s probably because a part of him is an animal, too.04. Haniel’s Slice of LifeHaniel had never much cared for rules, even though he had to abide by them as a full-fledged Lueeshareteer, Bloodeater, and member of the Damned clan -- but only because his brother would get on his case if he didn't. Actually, his brother would get on his case anyway.

Telepaths are heavily regulated, virtual third class citizens, second class if working for the Specialist Psychic Intervention unit, dealing with psychic crimes, and handling Spikes, newly emerged telepaths endangering all around them.Lydia is a SPI telepath. Jack is her Spikebreaker, a mentally compatible police officer. Together they fight, well, mainly each other.An 11,000 word noveletteTelepaths are heavily regulated, virtual third class citizens, second class if working for the Specialist Psychic Intervention unit, dealing with psychic crimes, and handling Spikes, newly emerged telepaths endangering all around them.Lydia is a SPI telepath. Jack is her Spikebreaker, a mentally compatible police officer. Together they fight, well, mainly each other.An 11,000 word novelette.

Glyphs are the technology holding together the kingdoms of the Scarred Sea, and the means by which competing guilds control most of them. For all their benefits, not everyone is content with the world they've created. When the theft of valuable glyphing metal increases tension between the guilds, Thjorn, the glyphpunk responsible for the theft, will ensure that's only the start of their trouble.Glyphs are the technology holding together the kingdoms of the Scarred Sea, and the means by which competing guilds control most of them. For all their benefits, not everyone is content with the world they've created. When the theft of valuable glyphing metal increases tension between the guilds, Thjorn, the glyphpunk responsible for the theft, will ensure that's only the start of their troubles.

The Ghost Gun is once again loose in the world, leading to a rush to claim it.Penny Hitch is a small-time criminal, about to be executed when the Gun gives her another chance. But survival requires her dealing with the crime boss who ordered her dead. And her own worse impulses.With the Compass leading the taskforce after the Gun, it's only a matter of time until they catch up to it. Even given the Finder's oddness. And the conspiracies trying to claim the Gun for their own.Book 4 of the Ghost Bullets series.

The world's greatest assassin was hired to kill a country. His clients are unhappy with the results. A 2,000 word short story.The world's greatest assassin was hired to kill a country. His clients are unhappy with the results. A 2,000 word short story.

Razza Ma'Razza is the biggest media star in the galaxy; loved and adored by billions. Yet, she can't help believing that her talk show host rival, Brock Caster, is somehow always one-upping her. So, after "The Caster" brings his new pet onto his talk show, Razza is bound and determined to outdo her ratings nemesis. The results are not quite what anyone expects.166 is a dark, horrific short story about the 7/7 London bombings- from the perspective of the home ground terrorist Germaine Lindsay. The student written story displays a deep, realistic portrayal of a man's last thoughts before stealing the lives of countless people.

You mind your own business, do your job, making the influential uncomfortable under your journalistic gaze, and what happens? Shadowy sources tell you the democratic system is compromised, the people behind it lean on your publisher to kill the story before you've got it, and your life could be ruined if you carry on. But at least they’re not trying to kill you. Oh sh...A 10,000 word noveletteSo you're minding your own business, doing your job, making influential people uncomfortable under your journalistic gaze, and what happens? Shadowy informants tell you the democratic system is compromised, the people behind it lean on your publisher to kill the story before you've even got it, and your life could be ruined if you carry on. But at least they’re not trying to kill you. Oh, sh...A 10,000 word novelette.

The Border Guards serve the fae council by covertly policing fae activity on the quarantined Earth. After absolutely not illegally visiting Earth and seeing one murdered, Aelik Swiftthorne is framed for a crime he might have committed, and recruited as a replacement Border Guard.While the indifferent story of science that governs Earth is preferable to the meddling one of Faerie, he's still at the mercy of narrative winds. And in the sights of the human military.Freedom becomes even more elusive when an invasive story sees Earth, and him, as its playthings. The best he can hope for might be to avoid becoming either a disposable supporting character, or a puppet-like hero.Winner of the SelfPubCon22 First Line Competition.

Aelik is trapped policing fae activity on Earth, while also a spy within the human military division hunting proof of fae. Both jobs are far too respectable for comfort, with no path to freedom on offer. While Earth is a nice enough place to visit, the natives smell.The situation worsens when he hears odd sounds around the stone circles, and frequent reports of shadowy creatures visiting Earth forces him to work with other Border Guards.Increasingly entangled by the intrigues on both Earth and Faerie, he might be forced to actually make a choice. And running away isn't one of the options.Book 2 of The Border Guards trilogy

Rumours of a remote magical resource becoming active again attract disparate factions.Artous is a dwimmerscout who examines such resources. His regular duties don't include getting between warring factions. Sometimes it can't be helped, forcing him to negotiate a peace amid violence and veiled motives.A 3,400 word fantasy short story.Rumours of a remote magical resource becoming active again attract disparate factions. Artous is a dwimmerscout who examines such resources. His regular duties don't include getting between warring factions. Sometimes it can't be helped, forcing him to negotiate a peace amid violence and veiled motives. A 3,400 word fantasy short story.

In the ruined heart of a shattered empire brute force and spliced magics hold sway, and strangers are suspect. Using this suspicion, Skerin gains the attention of the local gang boss, drawing him into a violent game for a prize once very close to him.A 4900 word short story.Gone Girl meets The Big Sleep: "Flowing prose has the sense of murderous urgency, reminiscent that of classical hard-boiled mysteries." For the longest time, nobody even realized that Richard Barnes had joined the ranks of the 2,000 people who go missing each day in the United States. It is the middle of yet another cloud-free, rain-free, pseudo-idyllic summer in Los Angeles. It’s the heart of the modern depression and NPR is playing interviews with those affected on the hour, every hour. It’s on just such a day that Jack Pelham, a freelance reporter for a paper you haven't heard of, and a man whose personal and professional life is crumbling around him, is sent to interview a woman who reported that her husband went missing - six months ago. Even with that peculiarity, Jack goes in thinking it’s a nothing story, and he keeps thinking that right up until the moment he’s accosted in by men brandishing firearms demanding to know everything he knows about the missing man. It’s from that moment it all becomes something Jack never saw coming. The chase for the story - from the underbelly of LA to the rough and tumble of Baja California - proves all-consuming and damaging - to him, to everyone around him. Before the day is done, Jack is no longer writing the story, he becomes the story - right up to the point of he himself becoming the missing man.

Rax Darkthorn was the greatest Knowhound in Nexi, the thief-city, and one of the few to ever escape it. When a friend dies, he returns to learn what can kill a god, even one reduced to selling miracles on the Street of Lost Gods.A 7000 word fantasy short story.The world's #1 Big-Data Detective returns in yet another extremely unlikely, if not impossible adventure. This time the wrong things are happening at the wrong times in the wrong places while pasts and futures hang in the balance. Part Freakonomics, part Sherlock Holmes, part Doctor Who, part somewhere on the spectrum and 100% completely absurd, The Outlier series continues with "The Outlier #3, Lost Souls, another Dillon Sharif Tall Tale.

An artifact is stolen, and seemingly destroyed. That shouldn't be possible.The taskforce hunt for the possibly destroyed artifact, and given the theft might have included inside help, they must also investigate the dangerous secret society with its fingers in everything.In an increasingly compromised position, Cassie questions who she really is, and if she's still serving the law as part of the taskforce.With potential enemies all around, was the artifact that lets the user adopt the identity of others really destroyed?