Published Fiction
Novels
High Stakes is a Western Historical Romance with plenty of action and grit for guys and sweet and sassy romance for gals.
Set in Canada's Old West, a young gambler, a prostitute, and a preacher's daughter endure their own growing pains alongside the burgeoning city of Victoria, BC.
In its first edition, High Stakes was a Finalist for both a Peacemaker Award for Best First Western Novel by the Western Fictioneers, and a RONE Award, sponsored by InD'Tale Magazine, in the American Historical category.
Originally published as Ebook only in 2012 by Musa Publishing,
High Stakes is available once again,in Paperback and Ebook, as of February 2016, self-published through my imprint HunterCat Publishing.
Set in Canada's Old West, a young gambler, a prostitute, and a preacher's daughter endure their own growing pains alongside the burgeoning city of Victoria, BC.
In its first edition, High Stakes was a Finalist for both a Peacemaker Award for Best First Western Novel by the Western Fictioneers, and a RONE Award, sponsored by InD'Tale Magazine, in the American Historical category.
Originally published as Ebook only in 2012 by Musa Publishing,
High Stakes is available once again,in Paperback and Ebook, as of February 2016, self-published through my imprint HunterCat Publishing.
Short Story Collection
Do you enjoy a wild ride of adventure and excitement?
Then you won’t want to miss
“Mixed Grazing — A Collection of Short Stories”!
This book offers a blend of eight tales, including Western, Historical, Fantasy, Supernatural, Suspense, Romance, Young Adult, and combinations thereof. From the sleepy old West towns, to the mystical realms of fantasy, to the darkest depths of supernatural suspense, and more, this book will have you on the edge of your seat. Meet each main character, each daring adventurer who travels through these lands of wonder and danger. Follow their thrilling journeys, and experience the drama, romance, and thrills of each adventure.
Instead of needing to track down each story in separate publications, readers can find them all here in this single volume. (Interested in the other stories in the original multiple-author anthologies as well? They're listed below).
Review by Big Al of Books and Pals for
Mixed Grazing
October 3, 2017
As the description indicates, this collection has a wide range of stories in different genres from western to fantasy and supernatural. My favorite was probably the closing story, a contemporary fiction tale called “The Decision,” about a young woman faced with a life or death decision. But all the stories are solid efforts, the biggest difference in how a reader will like each being genre preference rather than quality of the story.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog.
May have received a free review copy. **
The stories:
Blue Sky and Gray Smoke
As Union soldier George battles for his life against a young Confederate, he realizes they’re the only ones left alive. He's got to make new decisions – and stay alive to see them through.
The Crossing
Rick Barton plans to take his loot and his reluctant woman north to Canada and a new life. So far, he's outrun the posse. Can he outrun his own choices?
The Tracker
Young Will tracks his father's killer until he has him in his sights. Retribution, his father had preached, an eye for an eye. Now, Will would have it.
Deadlock
Detective Tom Mallory must stop a madman who dismembered his brother to prevent another death. But will Mallory have to sacrifice himself to do it?
The Churchyard Incident
Freddie fights to save his best friend from the evil disguised as the new kid in town.
The Camas Fairy
A mature Dale returns to his boyhood sanctuary in nature to do the unthinkable - only to meet his childhood friend - a very real fairy.
Stable Hands, Stable Hearts
Set to win his first Hi-Point trophy at the year’s final horse show, 17-year-old Scott spots the girl of his dreams. Can he win both her and the trophy?
The Decision
Jen has devoted the greater part of her life to her beloved horse, Phoenix. As age overtakes him, must she make that most final of decisions?
Then you won’t want to miss
“Mixed Grazing — A Collection of Short Stories”!
This book offers a blend of eight tales, including Western, Historical, Fantasy, Supernatural, Suspense, Romance, Young Adult, and combinations thereof. From the sleepy old West towns, to the mystical realms of fantasy, to the darkest depths of supernatural suspense, and more, this book will have you on the edge of your seat. Meet each main character, each daring adventurer who travels through these lands of wonder and danger. Follow their thrilling journeys, and experience the drama, romance, and thrills of each adventure.
Instead of needing to track down each story in separate publications, readers can find them all here in this single volume. (Interested in the other stories in the original multiple-author anthologies as well? They're listed below).
Review by Big Al of Books and Pals for
Mixed Grazing
October 3, 2017
As the description indicates, this collection has a wide range of stories in different genres from western to fantasy and supernatural. My favorite was probably the closing story, a contemporary fiction tale called “The Decision,” about a young woman faced with a life or death decision. But all the stories are solid efforts, the biggest difference in how a reader will like each being genre preference rather than quality of the story.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog.
May have received a free review copy. **
The stories:
Blue Sky and Gray Smoke
As Union soldier George battles for his life against a young Confederate, he realizes they’re the only ones left alive. He's got to make new decisions – and stay alive to see them through.
The Crossing
Rick Barton plans to take his loot and his reluctant woman north to Canada and a new life. So far, he's outrun the posse. Can he outrun his own choices?
The Tracker
Young Will tracks his father's killer until he has him in his sights. Retribution, his father had preached, an eye for an eye. Now, Will would have it.
Deadlock
Detective Tom Mallory must stop a madman who dismembered his brother to prevent another death. But will Mallory have to sacrifice himself to do it?
The Churchyard Incident
Freddie fights to save his best friend from the evil disguised as the new kid in town.
The Camas Fairy
A mature Dale returns to his boyhood sanctuary in nature to do the unthinkable - only to meet his childhood friend - a very real fairy.
Stable Hands, Stable Hearts
Set to win his first Hi-Point trophy at the year’s final horse show, 17-year-old Scott spots the girl of his dreams. Can he win both her and the trophy?
The Decision
Jen has devoted the greater part of her life to her beloved horse, Phoenix. As age overtakes him, must she make that most final of decisions?
Short Stories in their original publications
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Duke Pennell, editor of Frontier Tales, a free online magazine of great western stories, has graciously published three of my western short stories to date. Stories within the current year can be accessed through the Archives list; older stories can be found through the Authors page or by request.
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Blue Sky and Grey Smoke Battle, blood and brotherhood bring two young soldiers to a rare peace. Issue # 28, January 2012 |
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The Crossing
Rick Barton devised a devilish a plan to take his ill-gotten gains and his woman over the border to Canada and a new life. But too late he learned that sooner or later he would receive as he had given. Part I - Issue # 43, April 2013 Part II - Issue # 44, May 2013 The Tracker
Will tracked his father's killer until he had him in his sights. Retribution, his father had preached, an eye for an eye. Now, Will would have it. Issue # 56 - May 2014 "The Tracker" was voted the Best Story of the Month for May 2014 and will be published with other great stories in Volume V of The Best of Frontier Tales! A huge Thank you to everyone who voted for "The Tracker" ! Much obliged, pardners! |
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Rawhide 'n Roses - A Western Anthology
Saddle up your horses and head out to the heart of the Wild West in this collection of short love stories by authors of Western and Romance from all over the country and around the world. Whether your passion is historical or contemporary, sweet or steamy, there's something inside for everyone.
Stable Hands, Stable Hearts is my contribution to this collection. It's a young adult sweet contemporary, wherein two young teens meet at a summer riding camp and fall in love.
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Rawhide'n Roses - A Western Anthology
made Finalist in the 2015 RONE Awards
sponsored by InD'Tale Magazine.
Thank you to everyone who voted for us!
The authors of Rawhide 'n Roses,
A Western Romance Anthology
are donating all proceeds from sales to the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary.
Please help us protect these endangered, beautiful symbols of the
Wild West!
http://www.wildmustangs.com/
Purchase here: Amazon
A Western Romance Anthology
are donating all proceeds from sales to the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary.
Please help us protect these endangered, beautiful symbols of the
Wild West!
http://www.wildmustangs.com/
Purchase here: Amazon
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Bards & Sages Quarterly features original short speculative fiction from both new and established authors.
In The Churchyard Incident, young Freddie must save his best friend from the evil disguised as the new kid in town. October 2014 Issue - Paperback & Ebook |
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Bardic Tales & Sage Advice, Volume VII
This annual collection of speculative fiction is now an invitation-only anthology, highlighting both established and emerging writers in the fantasy, horror, and science fiction genres. The seventh installment in the series presents the winners of the annual Bards and Sages writing competition, as well as winners from their annual Readers' Choice Awards program. The Churchyard Incident is reprinted here as the winner of the Readers' Choice Award for the best story in the October 2014 issue of Bards & Sages Quarterly. Many thanks to all who voted! August 2015, Paperback & Ebook |
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Bards & Sages Quarterly features original short speculative fiction from both new and established authors.
In The Camas Fairy, a mature Dale returns to his boyhood sanctuary in nature to do the unthinkable - only to meet his childhood friend - a very real fairy. January 2012 Issue - Paperback & Ebook |
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Bardic Tales & Sage Advice, Volume V.
This annual showcase of speculative fiction highlights both established and emerging writers in the fantasy, horror, and science fiction genres. The fifth installment in the series presents the winners of the annual Bards and Sages writing competition, as well as winners from their annual Readers' Choice Awards program. The Camas Fairy is reprinted here as the winner of the Readers' Choice Award for the best story in the January 2012 issue of Bards & Sages Quarterly. Many thanks to all who voted! June 2013 - Paperback & Ebook |
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Mysterical-E is a dangerously good, free ezine focusing on mystery, crime, suspense, fantasy, spec lit, etc.
In Deadlock, Detective Tom Mallory must stop the madman who dismembered his kid brother before it's too late for his next victim. But will Mallory have to sacrifice himself to do it? Fall 2011 - Free Ezine |
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Death Rattle - A Magazine of Dark Fiction
The inaugural issue is packed with intriguing and disturbing tales and poetry from both established and new authors from around the world. In The Churchyard Incident, young Freddie must save his best friend from the evil disguised as the new kid in town. Fall 2010 - Paperback |
The Hamilton Spectator's Summer Short Fiction Contest
Third Place Winner
In The Decision, Jenny has devoted the greater part of her life to her beloved horse, Phoenix. As age overtakes him, must she make that most final of decisions?
Newspaper, July 2001
Third Place Winner
In The Decision, Jenny has devoted the greater part of her life to her beloved horse, Phoenix. As age overtakes him, must she make that most final of decisions?
Newspaper, July 2001
