Piker Press — Weekly Journal of Arts and Literature
April 27, 2026
Ronald Paxton

Ronald Paxton

Ronald lives in Charleston, South Carolina where he spends his days running, reading, writing, and trying not to get on the nerves of his wife of 39 1/2 years. Gleefully retired from an unremarkable career in financial and social services, Ronald spends his hard won free time writing short stories with a southern theme and setting. His wife, mother, and daughter are his biggest fans because, well, they have to be.

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About Ronald Paxton

Ronald is a southern boy born and bred, as the saying goes. A Virginia native raised in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ronald grew up as an overachiever in athletics and an underachiever in academics. He married his high school sweetheart and has one daughter who is married and lives in southeastern Virginia.

Ronald worked in the financial services industry for over twenty years serving in various management and supervisory positions. He never worked on Wall Street and did not cause the current financial crisis. He also worked for many years in the field of social services. He and his wife, Diane, have lived in beautiful Charleston, South Carolina for the last fourteen years

Strong family themes are an integral part of Ronald's short stories. Ronald is an unabashed lover of the south and his southern heritage and works very hard to avoid coming across as a stereotypical redneck in print or in person. He is the author of "Cowboy" which is available at Amazon and www.literaryroad.com. His story, "The Pocket Watch," is scheduled to appear in the spring issue of the

Books by Ronald Paxton

Short

22 articles ↑ top
  • Uncle Frank

    Ronald lives in Charleston, South Carolina where he spends his days running, reading, writing, and trying not to get on the nerves of his wife of 39 1/2 years. Gleefully retired from an unremarkable career in financial and social services, Ronald spends his hard won free time writing short stories with a southern theme and setting. His wife, mother, and daughter are his biggest fans because, well, they have to be.

  • Kayleigh's Run

    She had a heart too big for any disability to conquer ...

  • Appomattox

    Sometimes there's only one effective way to deal with a hater ...

  • Lifeline

    We teach our children compassion, and are thrilled to see them open their hearts to the world. But when we have to teach them about worldly practicality, how well must they learn those lessons?

  • Shenandoah Christmas

    The Spirit of Christmas is found in the heart, and in a helping hand ...

  • Hero

    He wasn't seeking fame or fortune, but he hoped that how he lived his life would stand up to his reflection in the eyes of his son ...

  • Mountain Easter

    It takes only one wrong step to show you your mortality. And then, when you know your time is limited, it takes only one clear thought to make the world better for someone ...

  • Room for Two

    What happens at Wild Pony Ranch is almost magical at times ... and yet that kind of magic is accessible in many places, as long as people are willing to reach deeply within ...

  • Annie's Turn

    There wasn't so much wrong with Annie -- she was just a little different ... maybe she was a bit smarter than most, and could find her own solutions ...

  • Echo

    That cold and creepy voice you hear bouncing off the canyon walls? It's yours...

  • Trials

    The pain only lasts a short time in the scheme of things, but that last flash of memory, the one in which you can see how it was all going wrong -- that's the thing that cripples your heart...

  • The Bookseller

    Yes, it was just as good as taking out an ad in the newspapers ... wait, does anyone read newspapers any more? Maybe it was a lot better than taking out an ad!

  • Last Night at Hudson's

    Some call it progress; some prefer to shop at chain stores because they can get the same product in Maine or in Oregon; and some see it as the end of an era...

  • Amazing Grace

    Without hope to cling to, all seems lost...

  • The Letter

    Remember to be open to kindness, even when it seems like it's too late...

  • The Right Stuff

    An open heart, a listening ear, and a love of the game...yes, that's it.

  • Ella's Garden

    In a dark alley, the result of past misfortunes waits. Can a still-grieving heart be healed?

  • Waverly's Ghosts

    Sometimes memories are the worst ghosts...

  • Room 17

    At the end of things, you have to focus on the present -- the present that is what you see...

  • Sweet Billy

    Life is good, but endings...

  • Mr. October
  • Micah's Crossing

    Was it a second chance, or the chance of a lifetime...?

Poem

1 article ↑ top
  • Boardwalk Nocturne

    "...Under the boardwalk, above the boardwalk, nothing changes..."