The story begins when a valuable diamond is stolen from a jeweler’s office. Suspicion falls on Reuben Hornby, the nephew of the jeweler. Added Chapter 3
In ProgressAge Rating: Older than 17 | Genre: Mystery Tags: Crime, Mystery, Detective, Novel-Classic
| Votes:* | Score:* Size: 58KB | 10,656 words |
Downloads: 80 |
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War rages on two fronts and the fate of Sidor hangs in the balance. In Lynese, William Whitton continues to lead a brilliant military campaign, capturing city after city. But victory abroad masks a growing darkness within Sidor. King Serwyn, gripped by paranoia and distrust begins making decisions that turn the kingdom into a powder keg, ready to explode. Exploiting the chaos, Edmund tries to manipulate the king to bring the Barons to heel while keeping them from outright rebellion. Added Chapter 8
In ProgressAge Rating: Older than 13 | Genre: Fantasy Tags: Politics, Violence, War, Military, Fantasy, Knights, Royalty
| Votes:* | Score:* Size: 161KB | 29,971 words |
Downloads: 274 |
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As you must know by now, I appreciate accuracy and try to be accurate. I got the following note from a reader:
“Correct me if I'm wrong, but your story seems to try to remain within the realms of po ... more
Terrorist rage pierces the heart of the United States in a shocking and brutal attack. The attack jolts the country from its naïveté in one, horrifying instant; Jeff Knox, his family, friends, and neighbors are shaken from their comfortable lives in that same moment. How does a nation of three hundred million respond, and how does it change one man? The sequel to “A Charmed Life.” Added Chapter 11
In ProgressAge Rating: Older than 13 | Genre: Biography Tags: Romance, War, Military, Workplace, Alternate Timeline
| Votes: 20 | Score: 8.50 Size: 346KB | 64,591 words |
Downloads: 1637 |
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In the conclusion to Vol. 1 of the series, Ky, the pilot from the future, and Lucilla, Empress of Britannia, lead their empire to the climactic showdown against Carthage. The fight in conquered territories, rebelling about Carthaginian overlords, is over, and the battle on Carthage's home soil has begun. Britannia is stretched to the breaking point across a front as wide as the continent, as they begin the most difficult stage of the war. From blood-soaked battlefields to storm-tossed s Added Chapter 27
In ProgressAge Rating: Older than 13 | Genre: Science Fiction Tags: Violence, War, Military, Science Fiction, Time Travel, Alternate Timeline, AI
| Votes: 7 | Score: 8.37 Size: 620KB | 114,284 words |
Downloads: 1479 |
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Friends, Football, and Finding a New Path. In 2024, Blake Sims died, but that was not the end of his story. It's the beginning of a new version of his life when fourteen-year-old Blake wakes up in 1994 with the memory of a vivid dream. A dream of living a whole life filled with disappointment that went bad in high school when his father died. Armed with memories of the future, Blake tries to change what was into what could have been and make a new life for himself. Added Chapter 26
In ProgressAge Rating: Older than 13 | Genre: Coming of Age Tags: Coming of Age, Drama, School, Do-Over, Sports, Football
| Votes: 40 | Score: 8.48 Size: 519KB | 102,354 words |
Downloads: 3795 |
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I refer regularly to the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Utica. That hotel is still present, and is one of the better ones in the area, but at some point in the 90s (I think) it was sold to the Radisson ch ... more
The second book in the Tarzan series and continues the thrilling adventures of the jungle hero as he struggles between the world of civilization and the call of the wild. Added 2 parts
In ProgressAge Rating: Older than 13 | Genre: Action/Adventure Tags: Romance, Novel-Classic
| Votes:* | Score:* Size: 376KB | 70,688 words |
Downloads: 441 |
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A thrilling blend of science and adventure, it follows a young protagonist discovering the mysterious “Fourth R”—a revolutionary concept that challenges knowledge and perception. Added Chapter 11
Congrats to those who recognized ‘Rufus T. Firefly’ as Groucho Marx’ character in the classic movie Duck Soup. It’s my favorite Marx Brothers’ movie.
To those who commented that it would be impossib ... more
Welcome back to the story & the blog.
Quick note - Back in Chapter 24 I commented on coin operated pool tables, and how I had no idea how it figured out what was a cue ball. Well, one of my readers ... more
David Chen is just an ordinary guy from a simple family, living a normal life. But one night changes everything. While walking his girlfriend home, David gets into a fight with Jordan Xiao, a spoiled rich kid who tries to harm his girlfriend. David fights back to protect her—but it costs him dearly. David is sent to prison for three years. His family suffers greatly while he’s gone, losing money, work, and even their health. But prison is also where David’s real story begins. Added Chapter 24
In ProgressAge Rating: Anybody | Genre: Action/Adventure Tags: Mystery, Rags to Riches
| Votes: 44 | Score: 7.25 Size: 474KB | 88,444 words |
Downloads: 4208 |
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Corporate Villain begins with an ordinary man stepping into the corporate world believing intelligence, honesty, and hard work are enough to survive, only to discover that success has nothing to do with fairness and everything to do with control. At first, the changes are subtle: a harmless clause in a contract, a promotion that costs more than it gives, a quiet meeting that decides hundreds of lives without raising a voice. But as the system reveals its true nature.... Added Chapter 3
In ProgressAge Rating: Older than 13 | Genre: Thriller Tags: Romance, Crime, Drama, Politics, Workplace, Rags to Riches
| Votes:* | Score:* Size: 37KB | 6,805 words |
Downloads: 149 |
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Before pirates and Neverland, a mischievous infant slips from his London nursery and glides to Kensington Gardens, where birds and fairies rule by moonlight. Learning their secret customs and perilous games, he befriends a lost little girl and tests the fragile bridge between play and home. A wistful, magical origin tale about freedom, belonging, and the moment childhood begins to take flight. Added Chapter 6 (final)
Age Rating: Older than 7 | Genre: Children Tags: Fantasy, Genies, Vignettes
| Votes:* | Score:* Size: 112KB | 22,003 words |
Downloads: 142 |
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Caleb Hartwell goes on a hiking trip in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina with a couple of buddies. He goes off by himself for a moment, stumbles onto a hidden time portal, and is sent back to the year 1853. He encounters a runaway slave, and suddenly, he finds a sense of purpose.
Age Rating: Older than 13 | Genre: Time Travel Tags: Romance, Historical, Time Travel
| Votes: 8 | Score: 7.67 Size: 301KB | 57,606 words |
Posted:
After his wife divorced him for being poor and beneath her status, he became the subject of public ridicule. Rumors spread that he had been unfaithful, claiming he was involved with other women—but none of it was true. Left completely alone, his only remaining possession is a diamond pendant, the last gift from his late mother. Yet behind his quiet suffering lies a mysterious man—an unparalleled medical genius, a master martial artist, and someone with a hidden past no one dares to uncover. Added Chapter 24
In ProgressAge Rating: Older than 13 | Genre: Fantasy Tags: Romance, Melodrama, Rags to Riches, Fantasy, Novel-Classic
| Votes: 63 | Score: 7.89 Size: 143KB | 26,519 words |
Downloads: 4831 |
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One of my readers commented that I should mention some appropriate veteran’s organizations. While I invented the West Georgia Veterans Coalition in the first story, there really is an IAVA, the Iraq a ... more
The Grim Reaper is now medically retired and trying to become a consultant. How will that work out? There're more than a few bumps on the road. You'll want to read The Grim Reaper and Adventures in Southern Law Enforcement first. Added Chapters 11,12
In ProgressAge Rating: Older than 13 | Genre: Romance Tags: Romance, Historical
| Votes: 25 | Score: 9.01 Size: 259KB | 49,871 words |
Downloads: 1191 |
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Several readers wanted to know why Grim wanted to get a PhD. It was going to be a pain in the ass. Why move out of the house? Why spend all the time doing it?
Why does anybody get a PhD? Because the ... more
In Chapter 6, Grim states “The first segment was on the threat of Islamic terrorism in the United States, which was actually a very low risk. Most terrorists in America are right wing nutjobs and whit ... more
A clever and suspenseful mystery unfolds as a detective confronts a cunning killer whose crimes are as intricate as they are chilling. Added Chapter 20 (final)
Age Rating: Older than 17 | Genre: Mystery Tags: Horror, Mystery, Detective, Gothic, Novel-Classic
| Votes:* | Score:* Size: 305KB | 57,471 words |
Downloads: 705 |
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A disturbing email came to me the other day: “I like your writing. Saying that, I started reading your new Grim Reaper story. I went back and started to read Book 2. Then I remember that part where yo ... more
Some formatting problems with chapter 3 and 4. I have recoded them and uploaded them for immediate posting, but it will probably still take some time.
The cruise comes to an end, and we learn someth ... more
And so we begin! For those new to the story, you simply won’t understand it without reading the two earlier stories in the series, The Grim Reaper and Adventures in Southern Law Enforcement. Reaper Se ... more
When I wrote this section I knew I was pushing the limits on what could possibly happen. If one of my advisers or editors said, “That’s impossible.”, I would go in a different direction. If they said, ... more
A couple of things to blog about with this chapter. First off, a couple of readers have complained I have had Carl do the impossible. No officer would have ever have jumped his paratroopers from airpl ... more
In case you were wondering, I didn’t blog anything on the last chapters, since I didn’t have anything earth shattering to say. According to my wife, I rarely do. That’s another issue…
I heard from s ... more
Some interesting comments from readers about Chapter 51. Specifically, did the 9-1-1 system exist in 1978, or do I have an error in the story? I verified my recollections from the time by googling it, ... more
It seems I got 47 & 48 mostly right. Parts of 48 are still messed up in the formatting, but the webmaster and I are working on them.
I got quite a few readers who wrote about their experiences with ... more
Well, we’re taking a break from Grim Reaper and going back to Carl Buckman. I am going to be putting out two chapters every few days. Book 4 is relatively short, fourteen chapters, so it should be up ... more
Still lots of disagreement about how Grim should handle his insurance company not paying for the damage to his home. I think I will stick with how I handled it.
For those curious, attempted murder, ... more
The further adventures of the Grim Reaper. This is a collection of short stories that build to a finale to the entire story. Added Chapters 7-Epilogue (final)
A huge amount of outrage about Grim not being covered by his homeowner’s insurance. Lots of readers wrote about this. Some of the suggestions (edited for brevity):
“The FBI is not the final adjudica ... more
The origin story of Batman meant to capture the grit and spirit of the comics. This is just a fanfiction and is not meant for commercial use. While I do my best to honor the original story of Batman, I admit that it has my personal flair in it that you may notice if you're familiar with my work. I used AI to help me refine the book, but the dialogue, plot, and tone are all mine. I've always loved Batman and wanted to write my own fanfic that includes Gotham's full story and his legend. Enjoy. Added Chapter 18
In ProgressAge Rating: Older than 17 | Genre: Action/Adventure Tags: Romance, Drama, Fan Fiction, Detective, Science Fiction, Super Hero
| Votes:* | Score:* Size: 646KB | 114,351 words |
Downloads: 555 |
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Nothing like a little action to liven up a story. Grim is in combat again. Enough said.
Several readers wrote with info about how Grim should have used a different rifle or a specific ammunition, or ... more
After the loss of both his parents and his music career, Charlie gets a second chance when he lands a spot on a hit music competition, The Stage. But his journey of redemption is paved with heartbreak, betrayal, and ambition. Added Chapter 45 (final)
Age Rating: Older than 13 | Genre: Drama Tags: Coming of Age, Romance, Drama, Rags to Riches
| Votes: 61 | Score: 8.79 Size: 896KB | 177,622 words |
Downloads: 5497 |
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This story is going to be a bit darker than some of the others in this book, but I think you will like it. Enjoy!
I had an interesting comment from one of my editors on the FBI and HRT back when I w ... more
The novel tells the story of the Karamazov family, focusing on the conflict between the immoral father, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov, and his three sons: Dmitri (Mitya) who is passionate, Ivan who is intellectual and Alyosha who is kind-hearted. Added Chapter 3 (final)
Age Rating: Older than 17 | Genre: Mystery Tags: Crime, Mystery, Novel-Classic
| Votes:* | Score:* Size: 1879KB | 358,869 words |
Downloads: 512 |
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Somebody wrote the most amazing complaint about my writing: “I quit! Story comes across as having been written by a biased northern negro. MSM has enough of this!” A biased northern negro? I think the ... more
This sort of thing can really happen. Heart attacks can be caused by increased cardiovascular activity, and if you do it right, sex can really increase cardiovascular activity! In my case, this happen ... more
Today marks the last chapter of 'A Charmed Life.' The sequel, 'A Glass, and Darkly,' will begin posting on Friday; once the first chapter is posted here, I will schedule the rest of the chapters' post ... more
Will you be content to drift from situation to situation, to sail the course charted for you by others, or will you take charge of your life and chart your own course? For Jeff Knox, a teenager about to start high school in Enfield, Massachusetts, choosing to take charge of his life will affect more lives than just his own. Added Chapter 54 (final)
Age Rating: Older than 13 | Genre: Coming of Age Tags: Coming of Age, Romance, School, Military, Workplace, Alternate Timeline, Sports
| Votes: 102 | Score: 8.46 Size: 1375KB | 258,806 words |
Downloads: 12335 |
Posted: | Concluded:
A final comment on politics. If I have a character in a story saying something political, from either side, it does not mean I agree with them. It means the character as written believes in it. If I w ... more
Patriots and Players is my most controversial story, and my most involved. It was originally written and posted on SOL in 2017 as a stand-alone story. I was considering adding to the GR universe and t ... more
So when I loaded up all these chapters, I screwed something up and skipped chapter 37, and so the chapters 37-42 that have posted since were all 1 chapter off. I just set reposts for all those wrong c ... more
Lots of elements in this story. The main story, about the Headless Horseman, was from a tale told me by a Texas police officer, and like Skinny Mike, the officer involved managed to get over the incid ... more
The story follows a young girl who is rescued after surviving the wreck of the ship "Mermaid" and adopted by a Coast Guard captain. Added Chapter 24 (final)
Age Rating: Older than 13 | Genre: Action/Adventure Tags: Romance, Drama, Novel-Classic
| Votes: 8 | Score: 5.76 Size: 381KB | 72,728 words |
Downloads: 1025 |
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The further adventures of the Grim Reaper. This is a collection of short stories that share a theme. It is a few years after the finale of the original Grim Reaper book. I will post these vignettes mo ... more
David works in a cubicle. His greatest adventure? Surviving data entry and passive-aggressive memos. That is, until a mysterious lamp transports him to Elyria—a realm of dark queens, elves, and sorcery. Now, armed with nothing but sarcasm and a stapler, David must navigate a world where rebellion brews, magic is weaponized, and the key to saving both realms might just be found in a curio shop. And the Dark Queen is watching... Added Chapter 11 (final)
Age Rating: Older than 13 | Genre: Fantasy Tags: Romance, Workplace, Fantasy, Witchcraft, Elves
| Votes: 53 | Score: 8.14 Size: 150KB | 27,901 words |
Downloads: 3086 |
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Now we see the dark side of fraternity life. For all of you who have been complaining about Carl joining a stupid frat and how evil they are, well, now you get to say, ‘I told you so!’ No, it didn’t h ... more
I got a lot of positive reaction to the chapters about summer camp with the army. I must not have screwed it up too much. Thanks to all the constructive critics, and that is a serious thanks! I had hu ... more
So much to write about this time! Obviously the big change is that Carling starts doing stuff with the Army. More on this in a moment.
I had a real head-scratcher of an email when I published this s ... more
Not too much to blog about, actually. More in the continuing adventures of Carling, as he takes Marilyn on another vacation. Chapter 40 simply looks at routine college life. Very little sex, but it’s ... more
An Ending of Oaths, Book 2 in Shattered Lands, starts Wed (11/26). Because it only allows 500 words in the description field, here's the full description:
A Kingdom Rent Asunder
War rages on two fr ... more
Chapter 49 of 'A Charmed Life' was posted today. I didn't notice any errors in the posted chapter, but please let me know if you folks spot anything that needs correction.
This chapter, like many of ... more
Here's a preemptive strike - In the last scene of chapter 37, some readers are going to protest Carl’s behavior. He should be a better person than he behaves. Well, maybe Carl’s human after all. Much gets resolved in 38 and future chapters.
Well, Chapter 34 turned out to be longer than I thought it would be. Maybe I should have split it into two or three chapters and heightened the anticipation. Or maybe not. Quite a few people seemed to ... more
"Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens is a classic coming-of-age novel that follows the life of Pip, a poor orphan, as he grows up, makes mistakes, and learns hard truths about wealth, love, and identity. Added 2 parts (final)
Age Rating: Anybody | Genre: Coming of Age Tags: Coming of Age, Travel, Novel-Classic
| Votes:* | Score:* Size: 969KB | 187,570 words |
Downloads: 797 |
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Everybody seemed to like the warm reception back at the old homestead, and the brotherly affection shown to Hamilton by Carl. Now Hamilton disappears back into the woodwork for a while, gone but not f ... more
Boy, was there an outcry about hazing in frat houses! While quite a few people have written about how it brought back old memories, a number of others have been vociferous in their denunciations of th ... more
Thanks to everyone who caught the duplication of Chapter 45 as Chapter 47, and an ambiguity in that part of the story.
I will be reviewing, fixing, and reposting both Chapters 45 and 47 as soon as I ... more
One of you commented that my announcement in Chapter 28 that all of Carl’s actions up to that point had been to get to the party to meet Marilyn was wrongly done. Since Carl is writing his thoughts, h ... more
Several readers found errors in my statement about the availability of hand-held calculators and memory in computers. Here’s both my memory & the history.
Calculators: Hand-held calculators may have ... more
So many people out there connected Mrs. Berzinski with Mrs. Robinson! I swear, when I started writing this portion of the story, I had completely forgotten the movie. She never even crossed my mind. I ... more
In his time at the FBI, Taylor has only failed one job, capture the assassin Chelsea Marsh, also known as Bonnie. Last time they tangled, she faked her own death and escaped, and Taylor has been looking for her ever since. Which is why he's so surprised when she contacts the FBI and asks to be brought into witness protection in exchange for turning on her past employers. The catch? She wants Taylor to fly to Venezuela to bring her back. Added Chapter 17 (final)
Age Rating: Older than 13 | Genre: Thriller Tags: Crime, Violence, Military
| Votes: 23 | Score: 9.22 Size: 257KB | 49,181 words |
Downloads: 1691 |
Posted: | Concluded:
Welcome back to the adventures of Carl Buckman! Good news for all you fans - Book Three is almost as long as the rest of the story so far.
As always, let me know when you find any errors or anachron ... more
And so our journey together ends. This story has been just as enjoyable to write as AFS was, and without the heavy political tones that some readers objected to. Like AFS, it ended up going places I n ... more
Graham Reaper is a young boy growing up in West Georgia. Follow him as he grows up, finds love, and becomes a man. He earns his nickname and more. Caategories and tags will be added as the story progresses. Added Epilogue
Age Rating: Older than 13 | Genre: Coming of Age Tags: Coming of Age, Romance, School, Military, Workplace, Sports
| Votes: 119 | Score: 9.15 Size: 2612KB | 509,696 words |
Downloads: 14678 |
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A couple of readers pointed out that Atheringdon would almost certainly have been through Fort Benning at some point in the past. The point was that as an officer his experience would have been signif ... more
Not a whole lot to blog about this time. Grim is winding up his publicity tour and getting back to his normal life, though normal for Grim is extraordinary for most of us.
In a kingdom torn apart by war and political intrigue, William Whitton must navigate a treacherous landscape of political machinations and conflict following the death of the King. Sent to war by his stepfather the young prince learns the harsh realities of leadership and the toll of conflict on both soldiers and civilians. Back in the capital, the new king, begins to impose oppressive laws to limit the power of the barons and consolidate consolidate power, pushing the kingdom toward Rebellion. Added Chapter 30 (final)
Age Rating: Older than 13 | Genre: Fantasy Tags: Politics, Violence, War, Military, Royalty
| Votes: 67 | Score: 8.90 Size: 628KB | 117,011 words |
Downloads: 4912 |
Posted: | Concluded:
ATHOL - ATHaul.
AUBURN - AUHbun.
AYER - Air.
BOSTON - BOSStun. (Locals don't say "Beantown," but I do like the Boston Beans candy...)
BILLERICA - Bill Ricka.
BOLTON - Bolton. (This one's pre ... more
The ‘wolves, sheep, and sheepdogs’ line did not originate in the film American Sniper, but showed up earlier, in a book by Lt. Col. David Grossman, On Combat; it was suggested by one of my military ed ... more
There was one relatively minor complaint about the last chapter. How could a battalion think a soldier was dead when the CO of the battalion knew he was alive? Okay, that was a stretch. In the story I ... more
Many thanks to all the veterans who have read this story and sent their thanks and appreciation. It is very fashionable now to thank veterans for their service, but I grew up in a time when the opposi ... more
The story centers on a family circle in which misunderstandings, careless words, and unkind gossip cause strains in relationships. Added Chapter 14 (final)
Age Rating: Older than 13 | Genre: Young Adult Tags: Spiritual, Religion, Novel-Classic, Young Adult
| Votes:* | Score:* Size: 319KB | 65,840 words |
Downloads: 160 |
Posted: | Concluded: