Short Fiction

A life-long rock-climber and mountaineer, Robert Walton has made numerous ascents in the Sierra Nevada and in Yosemite. Much of his writing reflects his time in the mountains. His novel "Dawn Drums" was published in April 2013 by Moonlight Mesa Associates.

When life hands you lemons, it's time to...assume the throne?

A mask of burlap and buttons, a wig, or a scar may hide a person behind it, but it is the soul within we should see...

A second chance would be the perfect gift to share...

Amit Chakraborty is an author from India whose daytime job is in IT. He writes humorous short stories which show the human side of the problems faced by people.

Bringing Death as a guest to every task isn't looked upon the best way to live your life, for who knows when Death will follow you home from the job?

Mmm! Guaranteed medical care!

When the economy tanked, peoples' lives were infected as with disease; careers died, lifestyles perished -- even relationships sickened. For some, the only remnant of hope left was to cut away the infection and get beyond the reach of the contagion...

An empty world, with striving for survival the only future. A dangerous world, with death lurking only two minutes away at every doorstep...

The states of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah meet at the Four Corners Monument, but there is another quadripoint at which come together Time, Space, Heart, and Soul...

Darren Sapp is a U.S. Navy veteran, a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, and holds a Masters of History from Southwestern A/G University. He writes thriller/action fiction and engages various aspects of history for non-fiction.

How about a costume party in which you have to really "think" about your disguise?

He always knew where to find her...

The adrenaline high, the pounding rhythm of footfalls, and the oh-so-glorious feeling of putting more and more air between you and your pursuers...

A lot of work, a great deal of study, and what is the result? A huge sense of accomplishment, and a bumper crop of joy!

The clouds have moved in, time to sit by the window and ask the host which bottle is special today...

FRED HILARY, a writer of mythic fiction and fairy tale, lives in Greece.

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...

Caitlin Sinead Jennings has a master's degree in writing from Johns Hopkins University. She lives in Alexandria, Virginia with her husband and tweets about writing, reading, and whatnot at @CaitlinSineadJ.

Boy meets girl. Boy loves girl. And then what???

Studies already show that older people who keep working are more likely to have a satisfying lifestyle...

Nothing like a high school class reunion to find out how different you've become...

...And everyone was there, in that place where everyone is remembered, everyone is celebrated, and everyone is about three sheets to the wind...

You learn as you go, in life...and some lessons take hours to learn.

When night falls, and the wind calls your name, is it courage to press your face against the glass...or your worst mistake?

Jay Sizemore has found a day job to be the enemy of imagination, but poverty is the cruelest of muses. He writes poems and stories while his wife sleeps and the cats try to figure out how to open doors.

Conclusion. The plans have been made, the stage set...let the dog speak for them all.

Can serving on a jury be considered aiding and abetting a crime?

What can be done about his drunken rages, his irresponsibility, his lack of respect, his family's pain? The dog knows. Part Four of Five.

Oh, so that's why they have such a problem...