New voices bring new ideas and new worlds to you in these six short stories of Science Fiction/Fantasy.That's what they are good at. Figuring out things that are completely different from the same old repeating plots and characters. Finding new "what if's" that have never been asked before. Whether you like dystopian stories of what happens after the world ends, or the sudden appearance of fairy tale creatures in our current worlds, you'll find a lot to keep you fascinated by these new authors.As well, you may find a bit of fine satire and hidden social commentary, something both genres have always been good at.Regardless, these short reads will fit into your busy schedule - about a week of good entertainment for the odd hours and minutes.A Short Story Anthology Containing:- The Training: Beth by S. H. Marpel- The Lori Saga: Escape by J. R. Kruze & S. H. Marpel- The Tunnel People by R. L. Saunders- Becoming Michelle by R. L. Saunders & C. C. Brower- A Sweet Fortune by R. L. Saunders- The Lazurai by J. R. KruzeExcerpt: (From "The Training: Beth")SHE WAS RUNNING TOWARD me, just as I hoped for. Of course, I couldn't move to get out of her way, not with that busted leg the troll had just given me.And I don't know if she could see him like I could, but that troll was right behind her - and gaining.So I did the only thing I could - I made her trip. And she landed right next to me, in the soft ferns and leaves. Not that it helped her landing too much.She groaned at her landing, then rolled over to get back to her feet. That's when she saw me. Laying there. Eye to eye with her. Of course I was only three feet tall and had pointed ears, so it was a bit of a shock.I put my finger on her lips and pointed over her shoulder.There was the troll. All nine ugly feet of him, carrying a huge stick made out of a tree stump root ball. He'd beaten most of the dirt out of it, as well as most of the roots that stuck out. But it was scary nonetheless.He seemed to have lost where she went. But right as I thought that, he sniffed the air and turned in our direction. And saw us both. Then Mr. Troll started stalking toward us, an evil grin on his face.My only move was a desperate one. I grabbed her hand and pointed it to the troll. Nothing happened at first, but then the troll appeared to slow down, and just as slowly, he got perplexed about why he couldn't move at his normal speed."Thought so." I said to this human. "You've got talents you didn't even suspect. Here - this might seem strange to you, but imagine that troll as a cloud of smoke."But nothing happened. He was still moving toward us like a glacier, but still would be here sooner than we could get out of his way."OK, try not to think of a pink elephant." And poof, the troll now had big pink floppy ears and a long pink nose. But he still held that huge stick in his hand, still moving slowly toward us."Now - think of him as a cloud of smoke." And the troll was just a cloud. The stick also disappeared. "Next, make the wind disperse him into the clouds." And a gust of wind dissipated that cloud into nothing.At that, she looked back at me - and fainted.But I looked her over and saw she looked just fine. A very cute fine...Scroll Up and Get Your Copy Now.

Welcome to another unique bi-monthly compilation of the inspired visions and universes from four Midwest Journal Press authors:  C. C. Brower J. R. Kruze S. H. Marpel R. L. SaundersFrom their prolific output, we've assembled 16 short stories, grouping them by author and publication date. While every major genre is represented, you'll also see that in most cases, these books cross genres and plot structures to give you the best possible reader experience and entertainment. While each of these authors are still improving their craft, you will find their short stories to be just springboards to exploring the wider universes that inspired them.In this compilation, you'll see more where these authors have co-written and produced marvelous takes - and entirely new characters or aspects of existing ones - which flesh out these universes into greater reality and detail. Please enjoy - and do look up their other works...This Anthology Contains:Ham & Chaz by C. C. Brower & J. R. KruseThe Lazurai Returns by C. C. Brower & J. R. KruzeThe Lazurai Emergence by C. C. Brower & S. H. MarpelThe Case of the Forever Cure by J. R. KruzeOne Thought, Then Gone by J. R. KruzeTo Laugh At Death by J. R. KruzeVoices by J. R. KruzeThe Lori Saga: Escape by J. R. Kruze & S. H. MarpelThe Case of the Walkaway Blues by J. R. Kruze & S. H. MarpelThe Case of a Cruising Phantom by S. H. MarpelThe Training: Beth by S. H. MarpelThe 95% Solution by S. H. MarpelHarpy's Desires by S. H. MarpelFalling by S. H. MarpelThe Spirit Mountain Mystery by S. H. Marpel & C. C. BrowerOur Second Civil War by R. L. Saunders & C. C. BrowerExcerpt (From "The Spirit Mountain Mystery" by S. H. Marpel & C. C. Brower):“SEEMS QUIET NOW.” STANDING on the empty plains under a red-sky morning that rolled out away from a torn and fractured Nevada desert mountain, it seemed pretty obvious. Quiet.Of course, I soon wished I hadn’t said anything. Something like Finagle’s law. Not just that things will go wrong if they can, but also at the worst possible moment. And in the worst possible way.A dust cloud soon swallowed us. Sal and Jude together had to put up and hold a force shield around us. And that’s pretty much all they could do, as that dust came with the force of a terrible wind. Something like a hurricane’s - and it came up within seconds of my speaking.But then a pain seared through my stomach and quickly spread to my veins. A massive headache started in the next moment. All I could do was to clutch my stomach and roll into a ball on the ground.Sal and Jude saw me and were frantic with alarm, but could do nothing without lowering the shield and watching us all blow away.The last thing I remember seeing was someone walking through that hurricane right toward us - as if it was a calm day in those Midwest pastures I’d left a thousand miles away. She came right up and walked through Sal and Jude’s force shield like it wasn’t there. Just waltzed in and crouched over to have a look at me. Not a single red hair surrounding her pretty face was even moving. Big, dark green eyes looking into my soul. Did I mention her pretty face? Thought so.As she put her hand on my forehead, everything went black.At least the pain stopped...Scroll Up and Get Your Copy Now.