Short Stories

10 posts

Still Waters – the first anthology by Spring Song Press!

I’m excited to announce the first project under my new publishing name, Spring Song Press. I’m putting together an anthology of clean noblebright fantasy short fiction titled Still Waters. This is a “traditional” anthology rather than a cooperative marketing effort among indie authors, so I’m paying the authors upfront for the right to publish their work. I’ve currently budgeted a minimal payment to authors, but I’d like to be able to both increase that payment and increase the number of stories I can include in the anthology, so I’ve started an Indiegogo campaign. This will basically be pre-sales – in return […]

Extra – School Days (Continued)

For #SaturdayScenes this week, I’m sharing a continuation of the short story / novella draft that I began with School Days, which is set during Kemen’s childhood. Enjoy! ~~~ “What is he?” Chavo asked. Bekendi followed Chavo’s gaze. “He’s a Dari. Full-blood, I think.” All the boys exercised together, and the instructors who weren’t leading watched the students. The oldest were at the front today, where they could be corrected. Their performance was critical to their final assignments, and they worked hard. “Have you had any problems with him?” Bekendi had been watching another boy and glanced at Chavo in […]

Saturday Scenes – From the Sequel to A Fairy King

For #saturdayscenes (an event on G+) this week, I shared a snippet from the sequel to A Fairy King. I’m considering reworking a bit of the end, so some of this may change. Also, I’m pretty proud of myself for finding a piece that only has spoilers for A Fairy King and not the sequel itself. Go me! SPOILERS AHEAD! BEWARE! “Close your eyes.” Cadeyrn’s gloved fingers wrapped around hers, and she felt the world fall away and reassemble itself. The transition was nearly as smooth as it had been that first time, and she smiled to think that Cadeyrn was nearly recovered. The familiar […]

Saturday Scenes – From Friends (working title)

I participate in a weekly event on Google+ called Saturday Scenes, in which writers share scenes and snippets from their various works. It’s a lot of fun to see what others are working on. It just occurred to me that I hadn’t been posting those scenes here. So, here’s the one from this past week. I’ll also share my older pieces from Saturday Scenes as well, and in the future I’ll cross-post to my blog. Please feel free to comment! Often these pieces are brand new and unedited, so you’re getting a rough sneak peek into my newest projects.   […]

Erdemen Honor Book3 Kickstarter!

A Cold Wind is in final formatting for publication next week. I’m really excited about the book – I’ve had some great reactions from my early readers. The story is special to me, and I hope you love it as much as I do. I’m also working on Book3 in the Erdemen Honor series, as yet untitled. Please check out the Kickstarter project here. The rewards include options for ebooks and signed paperback versions of all three books – The King’s Sword, A Cold Wind, and Book3 when it’s finished – as well as three short stories set in the same […]

School Days – Extra

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, New Years, and holiday season! I’m excited to begin this new year This is a first scene from a short series of extras I’m working on set in the world of Erdemen Honor. It’s not a complete story or anything, just a little snippet. I’m also making good progress on Book3 and the new urban fantasy novel, tentatively titled Invisible. You can check out the Kickstarter project for Book3 here.   School Days Chavo ran his hands over his face and through his hair. He’d arrived only the night before, barely in […]

Basileus and the Cat

This is a foray into a Christian/paranormal historical fantasy world. I’m thinking about a novel or two in this world. What do you think? This is a free short story. If you like it, please consider checking out my other work as well! Basileus and the Cat C. J. Brightley   Basileus hunched deeper into his cloak as he hurried through the rain. It dripped into his eyes and soaked through his hood into his hair. He shivered as the wind gusted again and when he reached the door he sighed with relief. The sack of potatoes under his arm […]

Street Fox

A boy learns heroes still exist. This is a short story set in the world of the series Erdemen Honor. It is a prequel/introduction to an upcoming novel and takes place several generations after The King’s Sword. It is 6166 words. You can find Street Fox on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords. Street Fox Excerpt When I was a child, I believed the stories of the great heroes. Kardu, whose exploits live on in the great Kardu’s Song. Tarmo Hiraku, who united the Tuyet tribes against the Tarvil. From the Third Age, which is dying now, Kemen Sendoa, who saved the […]

Heroes

Heroes is a novella that accompanies an upcoming novel. It is just over 16,000 words. The events occur several generations after The King’s Sword and some years after Street Fox. The events in it are concurrent with those in an upcoming novel. However, if you’re new to Erdemen Tales or Erdemen Honor, you can start with Heroes… you won’t be confused. Find Heroes (Erdemen Tales) on Amazon or on Smashwords.   Heroes Excerpt Third Age, 761 Liamo I woke beside a fire. There was raucous laughter, and I smiled. I wondered who the men were. My head felt fuzzy, and […]