Blog Archives
Answering the Human Question: A Gnome’s Essays on Mankind
Answering the Human Question is a reflective narrative that imagines a world where humans coexist with mythical creatures like gnomes, elves, and dwarves. Told from the perspective of a seasoned gnome, the story delves into humanity’s evolution, from their early steps into civilization to their complex societies and struggles against darker forces. The narrator, a gnome who’s studied humanity over centuries, documents his interactions with humans, weaving history, philosophy, and cultural reflections into a unique series of essays that ponder what it means to be human.
One thing that stands out to me is the narrative voice. The gnome’s voice feels timeless yet quirky, which gives the prose a humorous edge despite the heavy themes. For instance, in the early chapters, the gnome recounts his first meeting with a human family led by Baruk and Jhalyah, nomads striving to survive in a dangerous world. The gnome’s earnest attempts to communicate with them using basic Elvish and their eventual bonding over a shared meal show the gentle humor and wonder of cross-cultural exchanges. The warmth in these interactions makes readers feel the gnome’s attachment to humanity and shows a rare vulnerability in how he admires humans’ resilience despite their fragility.
The gnome’s musings on humanity’s tendency toward conflict also bring a critical but thoughtful tone to the book. When discussing the brutal wars of the “Jaramites,” a later generation of human warriors, he seems almost mournful, especially in his reflections on Varr Scarhand, a warrior king who turns his people’s peaceful legacy into one of violence. The gnome sees this as a tragic turn, almost a betrayal of his early friends, Baruk and Jhalyah. He questions whether humans are truly learning or just repeating the same mistakes with new tools, and his sadness makes these sections resonate with readers who may feel the weight of human history’s cycles of violence and innovation.
However, it’s in the more philosophical sections that I think the book shines. In the concluding essays, the gnome considers the Elderkin Council’s debate on the “Human Question”: Should the Elderkin (the mythical races) welcome humans as equals, or are they fated to remain as lessers? The gnome’s arguments on humanity’s creativity, ambition, and contradictions are compelling. He highlights moments like the rise of Andrwyn the Great, a human king who unites tribes and promotes peace and education, as proof of human potential. The gnome’s admiration for humanity’s ability to dream and achieve something lasting amid mortality leaves readers with a sense of hope.
Answering the Human Question is ideal for fans of fantasy and philosophical thought experiments alike. It’s a reflective and surprisingly touching exploration of the human condition, seen through the eyes of an immortal, who is, in his own way, captivated by humanity. This book would be perfect for readers who enjoy the lore and ethical explorations in works like Tolkien’s or Pratchett’s but are looking for a unique, first-person philosophical twist.
Pages: 155 | ASIN : B0CW1FX44G
No One Was in Physical Danger
12 New Christmas Stories is a heartwarming and nostalgic collection of short stories, each offering a different perspective on the holiday season. What was the collaboration process like with all the different authors, how did you choose what stories to include?
Smooth as cream, mostly. Any rough patches were of my own rasping. You see, my collaborators are all more civilized than I. The fact that our interactions were conducted exclusively via the ether, no one was ever in physical danger. C’mon, we’re geezers. People our age don’t come to blows, we just sigh expressively—even when one is barely housebroken. And I’m not talking about the Big Dawg, either. Sorry, an inside joke.
I’m not sure how my book-mates chose their stories, but when Terry Broxson asked me to contribute, I knew he wanted me to include Jesus and Donkey. When he asked for two more stories, I decided on Million Dollar Christmas, and Jo-Jo’s Turkey. All three stories are built around young boys experiencing the Christmas Spirit in an adult way. Read together, it’s a boyish Christmas trilogy.
What were some goals you set for yourself with this anthology?
A Pulitzer, a phone call from Stephen Spielberg, and a nice letter from my 7th grade English teacher, Miss Eliza McCarthy. Sadly, Miss McCarthy has passed. But that doesn’t take you off the hook, Spielberg!
Are you working on any other collections for different holidays?
I haven’t broached the idea to my book-mates yet, but I’ve always felt Saint Swithin’s Day has gotten short shrift. Failing that, opening day of the Major League Baseball season offers lots of possibilities. No, I ain’t kidding. I’m thinking nine original stories—one per inning. While the game seesaws in the background, each inning, we feature a story about something happening in the stands, or the dugout, or the broadcast booth, or the concession stands, or the Men’s room, for that matter. Just one caveat: I won’t take part unless the setting is Fenway Park. And that’s final.
Christmas is a time for family and traditions—the foods we eat, the songs we sing, and the stories we share.
Within the covers of this book reside real and fictional families, both familiar and unfamiliar. What they all have in common is the Christmas Spirit—in spades. These are the kind of people you’d gleefully invite to share your dining room table on the most celebrated day of the Christian calendar.
We, the authors of these stories, know the world spins faster and faster every day, and the holidays can be particularly hectic. That’s why we chose these lovely stories that can be read in ten minutes or less. Hey, even a teenager can be coaxed from his or her phone for ten inspiring minutes, right?
12 New Christmas Stories
12 New Christmas Stories is a heartwarming and nostalgic collection of short stories, each offering a different perspective on the holiday season. Ranging from touching tales of family traditions to humorous fictional adventures, it’s a book that seeks to capture the essence of Christmas. Each author presents their own style, making it a delightful read for those who enjoy variety. You’ll find yourself drifting from the high deserts of New Mexico to cozy family living rooms, all while reflecting on the themes of love, kindness, and the magic of the season.
What I loved most was how relatable many of these stories were. Diane Kenel-Truelove’s “The Magic of Santa’s Christmas Box” really pulled at my heartstrings. She took me back to my own childhood, reminding me of those magical moments when Christmas seemed larger than life and was filled with mystery and wonder. The story about receiving a box of books from Santa transported me back to the days when even the smallest gestures during the holidays felt magical. The emotions it stirred were incredibly powerful. There’s something so simple and beautiful about remembering how special Christmas felt as a child.
Terry Broxson’s “The Christmas Tree,” stands out for its blend of whimsical fantasy and heartwarming tradition. The story is narrated through a conversation between the protagonist and his talking cat, Holly, who recounts a fascinating tale about the origin of their Christmas tree tradition in the Arapaho tribe. Broxson weaves humor into the narrative, especially in the playful dynamic between the cat and its owner, but the story also carries deeper themes of peace, unity, and the blending of cultures. The historical backdrop of Kit Carson and Native American customs, combined with the quirky cat’s storytelling, gives this Christmas tale a unique charm that feels both magical and thoughtful.
On the other hand, Lee Allen Hill’s “Jesús and Donkey” was lighthearted and fun but also had a deeper emotional core. This story about a boy in New Mexico trying to buy a turkey for his Christmas dinner was charming and felt like a love letter to simpler times. Hill’s writing paints vivid scenes and made me feel like I was alongside Jesús and his quirky dog, Donkey. The playful humor between the characters and the unexpected turn with the mountain lion added a nice twist. It reminded me of those feel-good holiday movies that leave you smiling at the end.
Jay Squires’ essay “Bring Back the Carolers” hit me right in the nostalgia. The way he reminisces about the simple joy of carolers and homemade hot cocoa made me yearn for a time when the holidays felt more communal. His writing was almost poetic, bringing the past alive with such vivid detail. His words felt like a gentle nudge toward rekindling old-fashioned holiday spirit.
Pages: 95 | ASIN : B0DBVCLX3S
Town and Country: Voices from the Mid-Ohio Valley
Town and Country: Voices from the Mid-Ohio Valley, by Carl Parsons, is a collection of short stories divided into two parts, each offering a glimpse into the lives of small-town and rural characters. The book delves into the experiences, regrets, and sometimes peculiar situations that define life in the Mid-Ohio Valley. Parsons brings to life a world filled with nostalgia, longing, and an ever-present connection to place, capturing the essence of this region through a cast of vividly drawn characters.
Right away, Parsons’ knack for setting the scene stands out. The details pull you in. The first story, “Regrets,” hits hard with a wave of melancholy. The main character returns to his hometown, and the changes he sees stir up deep emotions. The descriptions and streets once familiar have now been altered by time—strike a chord. They spark a bittersweet sense of longing. His journey through old memories are heartbreaking and real. Small moments, like feeding his cats or driving past old spots, anchor the story in a way that feels personal and true. At times, the writing takes its time, allowing the reader to fully immerse in the scene. In “Hot Date,” the banter between the poker buddies is a perfect example. The dialogue is realistic, capturing the easy flow of conversation among friends. While the exchanges linger, they effectively portray the laid-back pace of small-town life. Parsons skillfully uses these moments to create a vivid sense of place, grounding the reader in the leisurely rhythm of everyday life. Themes of love, regret, loss, and time are timeless but Parsons gives them fresh life. “Judith and Phillip” is a standout. The story explores young love and its inevitable heartbreak. The innocence of their relationship shines through. Their separation feels gut-wrenching. Parsons doesn’t sugarcoat reality. Things fall apart, and the pain lingers. This story, like others in the collection, taps into emotions we all recognize. But it does so with a voice that feels distinctly Mid-Ohio Valley.
Town and Country is a reflective, thoughtful collection. It resonates with anyone who feels a deep connection to a place, whether with love or a sense of being stuck. This book is for those who enjoy literary fiction. It’s for readers who appreciate character-driven stories and settings that come alive. If you’re drawn to tales of small-town America, full of complexity and heart, Carl Parsons’ work is well worth exploring.
Pages: 181 | ASIN : B0DBH3RZDT
Pure Creativity and Imagination
Curbside Curses follows a group of people, all of whom purchased one item or another from an estate sale that was unknowing to them or the sellers to be cursed. What was the inspiration for this collection of short stories?
I had been writing and submitting short stories to several anthologies when one day I was driving around my town and saw a yard sale. With my mind in potential story mode, I thought, “Hey, that would be a good story.” I then was talking to a close author friend of mine, Stuart Knott, telling him about my idea when it came to me that it could be a cool anthology collection. He thought it was a great idea and said, “Hey, you should do it”. I had only been published in other anthologies and hadn’t taken on self-publishing myself yet, so I was intimidated thinking about it. But he believed in my idea so much that he kept bringing it up and encouraging me to follow through with my idea. After making him promise to help me and answer my questions (he has self-published several books), I decided to go for it.
What intrigues you about the horror and paranormal genres that led you to write this book?
I didn’t even read horror until the end of 2022. I can’t even watch scary movies, they give me nightmares. But I stumbled across a few indie author horror books and I was hooked. No nightmares and I just found the genre to be so diverse. And indie books in general are so refreshing. No cookie cutter plots shopped to the masses. Just pure creativity and imagination. I have always wanted to write for a long time. I fell in love with children’s literature when I was in university and always thought I’d be a children’s author but horror just grabbed me. I wrote some flash fiction using some monthly horror prompts and found I was fairly good at packing a punch with a twisted ending into a short amount of words. So I just started writing and submitting to anthology calls and getting published. My story “The Missing Gold Ribbon” in Terrorcore Publishing’s Doors of Darkness anthology was well-received and one I’m very proud of. And Caleb, the editor and owner of Terrorcore made the whole process very hands-on and collaborative for the contributing authors. We were involved almost every step of the way. So long story short, after being a part of six or seven anthologies at that point I saw how they were run, how the authors were treated and I was able to take what I liked about the different processes and apply them to how I wanted my anthology to run. I established House of the Macabre as my own little imprint and involved my authors as much as possible. It was really important to me to do right by the authors. I wanted to produce a book they could be proud of. Something they were excited to take to conventions and signings to show off.
What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
I knew I wanted it to be different from other anthologies. I wanted it to stand out and I knew I wanted them all connected to a single yard sale and that I would write a framing narrative around them through the prologue and epilogue that would offer some insight into how the objects were all cursed. It makes it read more like one story rather than just a regular collection of stories on a general theme. I think it came together very well.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I have another anthology call I’m preparing to drop this summer with House of the Macabre and I am working on a collection of dark poetry that I’m shooting to release next Valentine’s Day. But I currently have a short story due to be released in October with Terrorcore Publishing’s Doors of Darkness: Volume 2 and I’m writing another short story as we speak for another submission call.
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | House of the Macabre | Facebook | Website | Amazon
At our sale, that may be truer than you care to find out. Here, your bargains are sure to come with a bump in the night. Collected here are 22 tales of second-hand deals that are so cheap, it’s scary… Literally!
Four siblings are cleaning out their childhood home after their parents mysteriously passed away within hours of each other. The siblings are selling off everything at an estate yardsale but unbeknownst to them a curse has affected every single item in the home. Each of the 22 stories in this anthology connects back to this one single sale. Each story tells how the curse affects their purchased object and its new owner. And all are framed by a back story told through the prologue and epilogue.
