Novellas, novelettes, short stories
Read short snippets from my books, perhaps one or two will catch your attention.
Happy reading!
Sunday, October 11, 2020
Friday, October 9, 2020
Family Tradition
A Halloween story by
“Sara, go put on your sparkly shoes while I talk to your grandma,” Mandy shooed her little fairy out of the kitchen and turned to her mother. “Mom, I have three this year. The first one is a bad man who lives at 21 Mayberry Street. He’s been beating his wife and daughter in his drunken rages for months and the poor woman is afraid to leave him because he threatened to kill her and the little girl if she ever leaves.
“Got it,” the old lady nodded with a serious expression on her wrinkled face.
Mandy continued, “The next one is the shifty lawyer at 13 Viola Street. She twists and turns the law and uses dirty tricks to defend her clients. A rich child molester is free because of her. They both deserve punishment. The man lives at 52 Madison Street in the big mansion.”
“Indeed, they do,” her mother exclaimed and put on a wild smile as she heard Sara running down the stairs. Are you ready, pumpkin?”
“Let’s go, Grandma,” Sarah grabbed the old lady’s hand and pulled her toward the front door. “We don’t want to miss the best candy!”
The next day as the woman opened the front door at 21 Mayberry street, she wondered where her no-good husband could be. She covered her bruised face and winced in pain. He didn’t come home last night. She thought feeling worried. Probably he drank too much and sleeping it off somewhere. I hope he’ll be sober by the time he gets home; he doesn’t get too angry with me when he’s sober.
She picked up the newspaper and as she straightened up, she spotted a large, rotten pumpkin on the bottom step. “This one is rotten already,” she mumbled, picked up the heavy pumpkin and threw it in the compost box in the back.
A weak but angry voice shouted from the pumpkin, “Put me down, you stupid woman! It’s me, don’t you see? I’m gonna kill you, I will!”
But the woman didn’t hear the voice and as the pumpkin hit the pile of rotting vegetables in the box, it exploded into hundreds of little pieces. She filed a missing person’s report two days later, but she and her daughter didn’t miss him, at all. Deep down she hoped that he would never be found.
The lawyer who lived at 13 Viola Street had a court case the next day. She had everything prepared to confuse the jurors, but the first words came out her mouth was, “My client is guilty as hell.”
She stood there feeling horrified as everyone in the courtroom cheered. From that moment on, the woman couldn’t ever tell a lie. She lost all her clients, and nobody would hire her again.
The pervert at 52 Madison Street had an awful Halloween night. He kept hearing the mother’s cries in his mind. The words she shouted at him when the not guilty verdict was announced, cut into his brain over and over. You deserve to rot in hell for what you did! You deserve to rot in hell for what you did!
He heard the same words in his mind, day, and night, for days. “I can’t take this anymore!” he finally snapped and went to the police station to confess.
He got a long sentence but didn’t find peace. Even the hardest criminals hate child molesters, so his comfortable, rich life turned into a living hell in prison.
***
A few days later Mandy’s mom stopped for a short visit. “Is everything okay?” she asked.
“Mom, everything is as it should be,” Mandy said, smiling.
“You know, I’m getting too old for trick or treating. It’s time for you to continue the family’s Hallows Eve Magic tradition,” the old lady announced handing her wand to her daughter. “Next year you go with Sara, and I’ll stay home to hand out the candy.”
“Sara, go put on your sparkly shoes while I talk to your grandma,” Mandy shooed her little fairy out of the kitchen and turned to her mother. “Mom, I have three this year. The first one is a bad man who lives at 21 Mayberry Street. He’s been beating his wife and daughter in his drunken rages for months and the poor woman is afraid to leave him because he threatened to kill her and the little girl if she ever leaves.
“Got it,” the old lady nodded with a serious expression on her wrinkled face.
Mandy continued, “The next one is the shifty lawyer at 13 Viola Street. She twists and turns the law and uses dirty tricks to defend her clients. A rich child molester is free because of her. They both deserve punishment. The man lives at 52 Madison Street in the big mansion.”
“Indeed, they do,” her mother exclaimed and put on a wild smile as she heard Sara running down the stairs. Are you ready, pumpkin?”
“Let’s go, Grandma,” Sarah grabbed the old lady’s hand and pulled her toward the front door. “We don’t want to miss the best candy!”
The next day as the woman opened the front door at 21 Mayberry street, she wondered where her no-good husband could be. She covered her bruised face and winced in pain. He didn’t come home last night. She thought feeling worried. Probably he drank too much and sleeping it off somewhere. I hope he’ll be sober by the time he gets home; he doesn’t get too angry with me when he’s sober.
She picked up the newspaper and as she straightened up, she spotted a large, rotten pumpkin on the bottom step. “This one is rotten already,” she mumbled, picked up the heavy pumpkin and threw it in the compost box in the back.
A weak but angry voice shouted from the pumpkin, “Put me down, you stupid woman! It’s me, don’t you see? I’m gonna kill you, I will!”
But the woman didn’t hear the voice and as the pumpkin hit the pile of rotting vegetables in the box, it exploded into hundreds of little pieces. She filed a missing person’s report two days later, but she and her daughter didn’t miss him, at all. Deep down she hoped that he would never be found.
The lawyer who lived at 13 Viola Street had a court case the next day. She had everything prepared to confuse the jurors, but the first words came out her mouth was, “My client is guilty as hell.”
She stood there feeling horrified as everyone in the courtroom cheered. From that moment on, the woman couldn’t ever tell a lie. She lost all her clients, and nobody would hire her again.
The pervert at 52 Madison Street had an awful Halloween night. He kept hearing the mother’s cries in his mind. The words she shouted at him when the not guilty verdict was announced, cut into his brain over and over. You deserve to rot in hell for what you did! You deserve to rot in hell for what you did!
He heard the same words in his mind, day, and night, for days. “I can’t take this anymore!” he finally snapped and went to the police station to confess.
He got a long sentence but didn’t find peace. Even the hardest criminals hate child molesters, so his comfortable, rich life turned into a living hell in prison.
***
A few days later Mandy’s mom stopped for a short visit. “Is everything okay?” she asked.
“Mom, everything is as it should be,” Mandy said, smiling.
“You know, I’m getting too old for trick or treating. It’s time for you to continue the family’s Hallows Eve Magic tradition,” the old lady announced handing her wand to her daughter. “Next year you go with Sara, and I’ll stay home to hand out the candy.”
Read more
Sunday, June 7, 2020
The Ancestor's Secrets
New revised edition on Amazon
An alternative history fantasy series
Ilona resigns to live the simple life of a
small-town doctor, but her life goes into a tailspin on her birthday. She
finds out she was born into a secretive, ancient clan still hidden among
us. She starts to develop unusual powers which she finds exciting as
well as frightening.
Thursday, March 26, 2020
The Chunky, Dumpy, Spunky Monkey
A read to story for children 4-7 and read alone for ages 8-10
Lucky, the sweet-natured little monkey was bullied by the
animals who didn't take time to get to know her. They said she was a dumpy,
chunky, silly, scaredy, grumpy, clumsy monkey.
Lucky was sad but instead of feeling miserable, she chose to
listen to others who knew her and said she was a kind, lovely, cuddly, bubbly,
spunky monkey.
Sunday, December 22, 2019
FREE for 5 Days
Read it FREE December 22-26
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081ZK3HWLA 90 minutes read Christmas story, sweet romance.
Born to a drug addict mother and left on the church steps, Elana’s life was revolving door of shattered hopes and disappointments. Until she met Luca. But cruel fate tore them apart. Will they meet again?
Monday, December 16, 2019
Press Release
Author Erika M Szabo's Press Release
Published on many sites
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Holiday Sale
Stocking stuffer book sale
Discount publishing and book promotion services
Read about Holiday Sale, new release, and fun blog posts in my December newsletter.
Enjoy!
Friday, December 6, 2019
Bittersweet Memories
A sweet romance Christmas story
Elana was born to a homeless, drug addict mother and left on
the steps of St. Patrick Cathedral. Moving from one foster home to another, her
life was a revolving door of shattered hopes and disappointments.
As soon as she felt an emotional connection to anyone, the foster
kid in her quickly pushed the feeling away. The last thing Elana wanted to do
was to get close to someone she would probably never see again. The necessary
emotional defense served her well throughout her unpredictable life.
Until she met Luca.
Allowing them only a short time of happiness, cruel fate tore
them apart. All she had was hope and half of the rosewood heart pendant he
carved to hold onto.
Will they meet again?
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
FREE for 5 days
Get your copy before the promo ends
When her Raven spirit guide warns her of impending danger, she
takes the omen seriously, but she doesn’t have enough time to perform the
protection spell her grandmother taught her. Someone breaks into her office and
after the brutal attack and the Raven’s repeated warnings, she knows her life
is in danger.
Who wants her dead and why?
Pre-order today
A potion made with haste out of jealousy puts Dorian into a comalike
state. A rare orchid that blooms only once a year could save his life, but the precious
flowers are fiercely guarded by Liam and his pack. The acolytes of the coven
are forbidden to enter the forest and the young apprentices volunteer to make the
journey that will test their loyalty and courage.
Will they succeed?
Friday, October 4, 2019
Messenger
When the Raven calls, listen!
Supernatural thriller, now available for pre-order.
99 cents introductory price.
Get your copy before the price goes up
Supernatural thriller
Lauren has everything she’d ever wished for. Great career,
financial security, loving husband, and devoted friends.
When her Raven spirit guide warns her of impending danger, she
takes the omen seriously, but she doesn’t have enough time to perform the
protection spell her grandmother taught her. Someone breaks into her office and
after the brutal attack and the Raven’s repeated warnings, she knows her life
is in danger.
Who wants her dead and why?
Friday, August 30, 2019
Reblogged by P. J. Mann - This ghost have a sad story to tell... The Wandering Writer
Here I am once again to tell you about ghosts, the real ghosts. Differently, than those narrated in my latest novel, those have once been living in this Earth, and they died. Nevertheless, they refused to leave for the eternal peace, believing to have still something left undone in this world.
The story I am going to tell you in this weekly post is the one of Guendalina Malatesta, born as the daughter of Ugolinuccio di Montebello and Costanza Malatesta.
The tale says that little Guendalina was born albino around the year 1370. At that time, albinos were considered having the mark of Satan. Fearing the superstition, and the reaction of the people, not to mention the risk for the very lives of those people, they were kept hidden for their whole life. The same happened to Guendalina Malatesta, whose parents tried to keep her away from everyone outside the castle.
The story goes on telling that she was regularly followed by two guards, to avoid that anything happened to her. Despite this, during the summer solstice, the 21st of June 1375, Guendalina was playing with a rag ball together with her two guards. During their play, the ball rolled away, down the stairs that lead to the 'nevaio,' which was an underground storage where the ice was kept to preserve food that was easy to decay (a sort of nowadays fridge).
She followed the ball down to the storage door and disappeared. The guards followed her, but she was never found, not alive or dead. She simply disappeared.
Now, one thing to be noted is that by the popular folklore, the day of the solstice has a powerful magic meaning. It is the day where the doors between the underworld and the real world might be opened and by sacrificing an albino virgin to one or another deity would have granted the members of the sect unusual powers. One of the many superstitions available within humanity...
The most accredited theory is that she might have been abducted with the help of the two guards and sacrificed during one rite.
Some rumors say that she can be heard playing or calling her mother for help, every five years during the summer solstice, but this is something I cannot guarantee.
What I can guarantee is how worthwhile is to pay a visit to the castle of Montebello.
Located close by San Marino between the Marecchia and Uso River in the region of Emilia Romagna in Italy, represent one of the best preserved medieval castles.
Likewise all the fortresses it has a very long and exciting history (ghosts apart). The first construction of the castle is from the Roman age, and it was a square base tower that is nowadays included inside the structure of the castle.
The first documented owner was of the year 1186 when the castle was sold by the family Mataldone to the family of Malatesta.
After this, the castle went through an intense rebuilding particularly concerning the building of the fortified walls, as it was neighbored by the Montefeltro family, ancient enemies of the Malatesta.
In the year 1393, the castle was conquered by the Montefeltro family, but in 1438, Pandolfo Malatesta was able to get it back and owned it until 1464, when the fortress thanks to the intervention of the Pontifical Army, was conquered by the actual owners the counts Guidi di Bagno.
Just like for many other destinations, I cannot tell you how enjoyable is the place and the nature surrounding it. If you are going to visit Italy, you might take your chance and pay a visit to the many castles and particularly to those who have a ghost in it!!
As usual, I wish you an awesome weekend, Stay tuned for new adventures of the Wandering Writer.
The story I am going to tell you in this weekly post is the one of Guendalina Malatesta, born as the daughter of Ugolinuccio di Montebello and Costanza Malatesta.
The tale says that little Guendalina was born albino around the year 1370. At that time, albinos were considered having the mark of Satan. Fearing the superstition, and the reaction of the people, not to mention the risk for the very lives of those people, they were kept hidden for their whole life. The same happened to Guendalina Malatesta, whose parents tried to keep her away from everyone outside the castle.
The story goes on telling that she was regularly followed by two guards, to avoid that anything happened to her. Despite this, during the summer solstice, the 21st of June 1375, Guendalina was playing with a rag ball together with her two guards. During their play, the ball rolled away, down the stairs that lead to the 'nevaio,' which was an underground storage where the ice was kept to preserve food that was easy to decay (a sort of nowadays fridge).
She followed the ball down to the storage door and disappeared. The guards followed her, but she was never found, not alive or dead. She simply disappeared.
Now, one thing to be noted is that by the popular folklore, the day of the solstice has a powerful magic meaning. It is the day where the doors between the underworld and the real world might be opened and by sacrificing an albino virgin to one or another deity would have granted the members of the sect unusual powers. One of the many superstitions available within humanity...
The most accredited theory is that she might have been abducted with the help of the two guards and sacrificed during one rite.
Some rumors say that she can be heard playing or calling her mother for help, every five years during the summer solstice, but this is something I cannot guarantee.
What I can guarantee is how worthwhile is to pay a visit to the castle of Montebello.
Located close by San Marino between the Marecchia and Uso River in the region of Emilia Romagna in Italy, represent one of the best preserved medieval castles.
Likewise all the fortresses it has a very long and exciting history (ghosts apart). The first construction of the castle is from the Roman age, and it was a square base tower that is nowadays included inside the structure of the castle.
The first documented owner was of the year 1186 when the castle was sold by the family Mataldone to the family of Malatesta.
After this, the castle went through an intense rebuilding particularly concerning the building of the fortified walls, as it was neighbored by the Montefeltro family, ancient enemies of the Malatesta.
In the year 1393, the castle was conquered by the Montefeltro family, but in 1438, Pandolfo Malatesta was able to get it back and owned it until 1464, when the fortress thanks to the intervention of the Pontifical Army, was conquered by the actual owners the counts Guidi di Bagno.
Just like for many other destinations, I cannot tell you how enjoyable is the place and the nature surrounding it. If you are going to visit Italy, you might take your chance and pay a visit to the many castles and particularly to those who have a ghost in it!!
As usual, I wish you an awesome weekend, Stay tuned for new adventures of the Wandering Writer.
Thursday, August 29, 2019
On Borrowed Time
On Borrowed Time
Lorraine Carey
~ On Borrowed Time is book 2 in the Women of the Willow
Wood Trilogy.
Here we find our heroine, Daniella Reyes on another
dangerous mission from her Sisters. The ante is upped now that she is rising in
power within her clan.
There have been many secret societies throughout history
but none can compare to the powerful Women of the Willow Wood.
~Some women pay
Top Dollar for a body makeover, but not Daniella Reyes—she’s got a few
supernatural friends that are willing to do this for FREE!
Daniella is led into the sacred cave in the Pecos
Wilderness in New Mexico with Nina, the high Curendera. It is here she will
receive her physical and spiritual transformation~
Excerpt~
I
scanned the open cave with my flashlight, amazed to see vapors seeping through
the cracks in the rocks above me. Nina set her bag down, instructing me to
remove my shoes and clothing. We were on sacred ground here. Modesty goes out
the door when you’re about to take part in a powerful ritual.
"The
vapors from the chasm are the conductors for the magic of the ritual, Daniella.
Our sisters have used this cave for hundreds of years. We must offer a blessing
before we begin." Nina removed her shoes and knelt on the ground.
"St. Muerta, please oversee our safety as we enter into a realm where
protection is needed. We ask for your guidance and protection at this time from
any lower lying entities.
"We
call on the High Priestess Tryrenea from the Oracles of Delphi, the Goddesses
Phoebe, and Themis." Nina removed a sachet from her bag, filled with dried
herbs, which she sprinkled over the cave floor. We honor your presence,
goddesses, on this very important evening. Let our newly appointed guardian,
Daniella Reyes, journey to your realm safely and return safely. We honor and
respect this sacred site to Gaia. So mote it be."
Nina
handed me a white sheath to put on and a white sheet over the ground where I
would lay. I anticipated that a Greek goddess might pop out of thin air at any
moment. Nina had changed into a toga. I was amazed at how she'd managed to fit
everything into her backpack. I wondered what else might be in there.
Nina
had removed a long, wand-like branch from her bag and a jar of what appeared to
be some sort of powder. She asked me to hold the flashlight as she drew a
circle in the dirt with the branch with one hand and holding her long, black
hair in the other. The ground sparked a fire where the branch had etched the
circle. "You know, Daniella, this branch was made from the bark of an
ancient willow tree, which has been used for hundreds of years in rituals such
as this. It’s been blessed and used by many of those who came before us."
I
never stopped being in awe of the new things I learned. Nina had just upped the
ante with her stick-like wand. Here I'd imagined she’d have some kind of glitzy
wand like the Glinda the Good Witch from The Wizard of Oz.
Nina
had instructed me to lie on the sheet, which she'd placed in the middle of the
circle. She set our flashlights down so the light would shine directly onto the
circle. The sparks had died down, leaving behind a circle of smoke. She'd also
bound my hair up in a white, linen turban. Nina took my right hand and slipped
what appeared to be a bracelet of twisted twigs with knots onto my wrist, like
some sort of friendship bracelet from the sisters. I looked into her eyes to
see a golden glow in her irises.
"This
is also made from the willow tree," Nina told me. "I'm going to tell
you exactly what I'm doing as I'm doing it, Daniella. There's no need to panic
or worry. You have a council of some of the most powerful women in this realm
and the next protecting you.
"I'll
need you to take three deep breaths to inhale the vapors, holding for a count
of seven. You'll do three sets of these. After that, you'll be in a very
relaxed state. You'll be conscious but unable to talk. You'll feel your body
changing. We're calling on the Divine Feminine, here. Your heart rate will
increase, your pupils will dilate, your skin will feel warm, and your breasts
will swell. This is all normal. It's part of the changes in the structure of
your DNA as your body heals on a cellular level. We're aiming to raise your
frequency so you'll be able to tap into a higher consciousness and vibrate at a
higher frequency. This is the process of raising the kundalini. It's why we've
performed so many chakra-balancing sessions with you. You'll need this to
assist others in the rescue of their souls and their protection. Once you're in
an altered state, I'll also partake of the vapors and assume the role of a
conduit for your transformation.
"So...shall
we begin, my dear?"
Books
1 and 2 are available on Amazon~
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Reblogged: Sir E. Robert Smythe and writing for Middle-grade
Sir E. Robert Smythe:
Writing for Middle-grade
Christina Weigand
Although many of the characters had already been created, I
felt one more was needed. So I created Sir E. Robert Smythe. He is the Chief
Safety Ambassador for the Galatic Safety Council from the planet Gwill. He works
with Queen Sage and an array of characters that come to Earth to help children
navigate their way through many of the social issues plaguing today's society.
Someone once asked me why do kids need fantastical creatures
to guide them through life? Don't the parents do that? At the time I was so
upset that I could not formulate an answer. ( A problem I frequently have when
in a confrontational situation). Looking back on that evening from this point
of having finished six books with these characters, I think I finally have a
partial answer. So here it is: This is a very unique age group. These kids are
on the verge of teen years where they become more responsible for their
decisions and yet they are at a point that they still want their parents to
give them all the answers. They don't want to listen to their parents and
yet they are in a place where adults are still needed. The fantastical
creatures of the Gwill create an atmosphere for these young people to begin to
formulate the person that they will grow into, provide gentle guidance while still
giving the preteen room to make their own choices.
Anyway that's what the series is all about. Two of the books
are published: Sir E. Robert Smythe and the School Bully and Sir E. Robert
Smythe and the Lost Detective. The third one, Sir E. Robert Smythe Goes Shopping will be released in the next few months
and the remaining three books are with the publisher
with plans of releasing them over the next few years.
God willing these books will serve to help 8-12 year-olds
become aware of social issues and find a way to navigate their way through
them.
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
A Lesson in Life by Rick Haynes
Displayed on the wall of my local pub
As she said, it’s not meant to be taken seriously.
If Julie, Della and Susie go to lunch, they call each other, Julie, Della and Susie. But if, Tommy, David and Mikey go to lunch, they call each other, Toss-Pot, Ginger Knob and Numb-Nuts.
When the ladies receive the bill, the calculators come out. But when the boys decide to pay, they each put in a £20 note as they have nothing smaller and they’d never admit they want any change.
A woman would pay £5 for something she doesn’t really need. Whereas, a man would pay £6 for a £5 item he needs.
A man has about six items in the bathroom cabinet. Toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, aftershave, razor and shaving foam. The average number of items in a ladies’ bathroom is usually over 100. A man would not be able to guess what most of them were.
A woman always has the final word in an argument. Anything a man says afterwards is the start of a new argument.
Women love cats. Men say they do to ensure another argument doesn’t start.
A woman always worries about her future. A man only worries about the future once he’s married.
A successful man is one earning more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one finding such a man.
A woman marries a man expecting him to change but he rarely does. Whereas a man marrying a woman expects she will not change, but she does.
A woman will always dress up to go shopping, take the kids to school and visit friends. Her man will dress up for weddings and funerals.
Men will wake up looking reasonable. Their other half takes an hour in the bathroom to look the same but usually better.
Ladies have an in depth knowledge of their children. What they like, what they hate, their friends and social activities, even their dreams. Their partner has some vague idea of small noisy people running around the house.
Written by K.
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