Magic PortalsMost people will never see one.Most will never even hear of one.Those few who dousually only getone chance to go through.Dare you step through?We've all dreamed of going someplace far, far away.Someplace magical. Here are seventeen tales of magical adventures to take you to those far away places.Featuring stories by Aaron Haden, Brenda Carre, Carol Hightshoe, Carolyn Kay, Claire Davon, Dana Bell, David Boop, Di...

Danger. Evil. Death. Heroes can face it all, but they cannot do it alone.Throughout history, creatures both big and small have stood alongside heroes and helped them through trying times, whether on the battlefield or in their laps. In these brand-new stories, seventeen bestselling authors regale us with adventures of animal companions and how they often are the ones rescuing the rescuer.New stories by / in the world ofJim Butcher – from

Rainbow County CaliforniaUnrivaled sunsets, placid lakeside orchards, pleasant mountain vineyards, and a rural lifestyle.The only thing stopping this place from being idyllic is the noise from the cars on the highway. And murder.Left for dead, helpless as he watched the murder of his family, Jack is a broken man.Six months later, Jack is attempting to recover, both in body and in soul, at a vineyard he inherited from his uncle.California Wine Country...

MermaidensThe thing about mermaids is, they have a tail problem.It seems they either want to get rid of their tail so they can walk on land,Or they want to get their tail back, having somehow lost it so they could be on land.Or they fell in love with someone who doesn't have a tail...It never seems to end.All we know for sure is that it's a problem...And that there's always a tale.19 Tales About Mermaids and Their Tails.

LTUE Benefit Anthologies, Volume 2.Everyone knows dragon tales make for the best adventure stories. Throw in women who actively seek what they want—a little intrigue, exciting battles, and hard decisions—to get these twenty excellent adventures by some of today's best fantasy writers!This collection celebrates Linda Hunter Adams, a truly amazing mentor and role model for many in our Life, the Universe, & Everything writing community. Proceeds from this volume suppo...

What Really Happened...Swamp gas?Weather balloons?Ball lightning?That couldn't really have been an atmospheric reflection of Venus, could it?Heck no!We're not saying it was aliens, but...20 stories about What Really HappenedEdited by Sheila HartneyExecutive Editor Sam KnightStories by:Kay Hanifen, C. D. Kester, Julia C. Lewis, Lou J Berger, Margaret Karmazin, Eldon Litchfield, Chad Barger, DW Milton, Ch...

Romancing the RainbowAn anthology of LGTBQIA+ Romance short stories.We see boy-meets-girl stories from the moment we can start paying attention, from history and mythology to famous novels and advertisements. And, for the people those stories are applicable to, they are lessons and templates for how a boy and girl can, should, or could, interact—even when fictitious and obviously untrue.But for those of us who do not fall easily into that boy/girl combination, there...

Wishing WellWe've all heard the warning: Be careful what you wish for... you just might get it.If you had a wish, how careful would you be?Would you regret it?Or would your wildest dreams come true?Whatever you do, make sure you wish well...19 tales of wishes that came true...just maybe not in the way expected.Featuring stories by: Emily Martha Sorensen, Kay Hanifen, Sylvia Son, Kara Race-Moore, Laura G. Kaschak, Remy Allen, A...

Lights! Camera! Monsters?Sometimes you go to the movies. And sometimes, the movies—and their monsters—come to you. At any moment, without notice, monsters once relegated to the screen become a reality. Aliens and demons, dragons and ghosts, werewolves, vampires, zombies, and seemingly ordinary people who are just plain evil.Join award-winning authors Jonathan Maberry, Fran Wilde, David Gerrold, Rick Wilber and others for 23 all-new tales of haunted theaters, video gods, for...

The intricacies of chess meet the matchless Mythos of H.P. Lovecraft. Stories of doors, of passages, of patterns. Squares and threats, moves and counter-moves. Forbidden knowledge and cosmic horrors.... Two young lovers and the hand that plays them... A man trapped with an unwholesome companion uncovers the secret of a cosmic struggle... A professor and his protégé find themselves pawns on an ancient chessboard... A young Soviet boy’s chess match holds the f...

*Short Story*When lowly tavern servant (and sometimes sneak-thief) Pik witnesses the Duke himself committing nefarious deeds in the dead of night, he doubts anyone will believe him. But when Pik's most favorite person in the world, Poppy Smithswife, is targeted for murder, Pik knows he has to do something about it.

Four Christmas Stories by Sam Knight.Can a Small Town Santa Save Christmas?Is Santa's Day Off ruined when he finds an extra present?What goes through Santa's mind during The Long Sleigh Ride Home?In the Lane, the Snow is Glistening, but that doesn't make it a pleasant walk for three siblings...