Fiction
"At night, I walk the streets while a myriad of tiny lights and flickering candles cast shadows on tall, Pagoda-like buildings, walls that tower above, surround and protect me. And the mountain? I know it is out there somewhere, but up to now it has had the good grace to remain hidden."
   ~Paul Fahey, After This

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“I almost wish I’d been caught. My shoes are about gone, and my feet are sore and blistered, I ache all over, and I’m stalked by a hellhound. Where’s a dogcatcher when you need one? Better yet, where’s a cop when you need one? Never thought I’d be wishing that.”
   ~B. Carter Pittman, Circles

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“Actually, he had always known. He was just glad they didn't have to see it happen. The poison burned his throat a little, but not too bad. He licked the liquid from the corners of his mouth; relieved it was working like the guy promised. The alarmed, angry voices softened. The rushing movements outside the taxi slowed to a dance of colored smoke. He closed his eyes and left with his only remaining dream, death...”
   ~Karen Juran, The Third Son, Chapter One

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“Mostly, he would remember white—the white uniforms of the men working on her, the white of Papa’s shirt, the white linens and Mama’s face as white as paper and just as blank.”
   ~Karen Juran, The Third Son, Chapter Four

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“I remember lying like Christ crucified, on a cold operating table, squinting up at silver lights, waiting for sleep and the dreaded knife.”
   ~Terry Sanville, The Soprano Down the Hall

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“She blew me a kiss and went back to her puzzles. In a while the wind stopped tearing at the trees and the room turned cool. The duet became just part of the hospital’s background noise, like the ventilating system’s hum that annoyed me at first, but had become somehow comforting.”
   ~Terry Sanville, The Soprano Down the Hall

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"Inside the Santa Maria post office, a man in his mid-forties stands with his back to the clerks. He's wearing a long camel hair coat over a business suit. He watches the holiday traffic make its way up Battles Street. If it weren't for his mother's insistence, Alejandro Moreno wouldn't be here waiting in line."
   ~Paul Fahey, Taking Hope For a Ride

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“From that October day in 1955 we became a diabetic household, and candy, cakes, pies, and ice cream—all my favorites—were absent from our cupboards and icebox. So another benefit of my summer vacations to my grandparents’ home in Huntington Beach was that I was free to eat whatever I wanted. And for those few weeks I became addicted to candy.”
   ~Terry Sanville, Sticky Fingers

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“Turpentine lay snoring softly in the shade, his massive chest rising and falling. Floyd was in the sun, eyes half closed, thinking those unfathomable thoughts that only cats can think.”
   ~Moira Wunderlich, The Fight

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"She held up a silver Coptic cross, a memento of their African travels. She always said it kept them safe, brought them luck. No ordinary St. Christopher would do."
   ~Paul Alan Fahey, Your Mother Should Know



Humor
“Wa… wa…well, there were five more commandments on the flip side of the tablets.”
   Aaron’s eyes grow huge. “But the second set that the Lord gave you only had ten. What gives?”
   “I know, I know. When I went up on the mountain the second time, the Lord was really ticked about that golden calf thing. Told me that us Hebrews couldn’t handle fifteen commandments. So, the list got shortened.”
   ~Terry Sanville, The Flip Side

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“Suddenly, as I round the corner and head for the big front doors of Barnes & Noble, I’m accosted by a toothless bag lady who reaches a bony hand for my sleeve.
     “Baksheesh!” she shrieks.
     “Back off, shrew,” I say, dismissing her with a flick of my wrist. “Do I look like I have money? I’m a writer…unpublished.”
   ~Dennis Cutshaw, The Writing Life

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“Suddenly she arose and unstrapped the dual pistols and let them fall to the cabin floor. She tossed aside the silk scarf circling her neck and unbuttoned her shirt, flipping it off, her white full breasts gleaming in the dappling light streaming in through the aft window.”
   ~ Dennis Cutshaw, A Pirate’s Tale

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“By day I was a mild-mannered 6th grader at Witter Elementary School. I did all the right things: played tetherball, ignored girls, read Captain Marvel comic books. But at night, it was a different story; at night I was the Birdman of Ithgor.”
   ~Dennis Cutshaw, The Birdman of Ithgor



Children's Literature
“Millions of years later the legends of man would speak of his power and speed. And those legends were bound into pages of faith where it was written that the Almighty commanded the west wind to condense in the desert so that man might live. And the wind condensed, and it was the son of Pliohippus. Striking the ground with a single sharp hoof, he thundered over the plains. Now with stamina and speed unequalled, he was Equus, called Horse.”
   ~Robin Shen, Hurricane

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“What’s a wish maker?” “Come with me to my garden.” “Oh mom, dad says that’s just a bunch of old dandelion weeds.” “It’s where I grow wishes. Do you want to see or not?” “OK.”
   Standing next to the weed patch, mom smiled. “Wish makers! My grandma used to tell me that wishes were more precious than gold.”
   ~Natalie Borgardt, The Wish Maker

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“Lennard stirred and popped one eye open, then the other. “Who are you?”
    “Go back to sleep, kid, I am rescuing you from a bad dream,” the monster sheepishly replied as he carried him back to the cabin.”
   ~Gloria Pautz, The Bubble Gum Monster

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“I miss my Daddy. Miss him, miss him, miss him. Sometimes I just feel sick with the missing. Like a punch in the tummy. Or all the air's been sucked out of me. Everybody says he's in heaven, but I just don't get where that is. Grandma pointed up, but all I saw were clouds. I'm scared to ask Mama. If I even say the word 'Daddy,' she gulps and shakes her head. Gulping glues the tears behind her eyes. Then her face freezes so a smile couldn't fit.”
   ~ Helen M. Sherry, Ph.D., Where Is Heaven?

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     “With a CRACK of the bat, the ball came faster than anything George had seen. It was a line drive and before he could get his glove up, SMACK. Next thing he knew, George was on the bench with an ice pack and swollen face.
     He sat on the bench not sure which was worse, the pain from the ball or the cold sting of the ice pack. George remembered about ready position and shyly wondered if he’d be kept on the team.”
   ~Natalie Borgardt, Play Ball

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“These blueberries!! WHERE did you get them? And my best linen tablecloth’s ruined.”
    I look, and uh oh, it’s true. The blueberries have juiced up the tablecloth a bit.
    “Sorry.I wanted to fix blueberry pancakes for you and Dad for a romantical dinner. The pan-cake’s in the oven. Me and Cassie went to the store, and I used my allowance dollars for blueberries.” I yell out to Cassie, “Bring in the pan-cake!”
   ~Helen M. Sherry, Ph.D., Life In Limbo

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“Fire reflects in the young woman’s eyes. She crouches between rocks amid the shadows and flickering light. A cave. Men’s voices moan and wail in the gloom.”
   ~Bart Gardner, Curse of the Pirate’s Pipe, Chapter One

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“Race sat up with a gasp. The spindly willow branch chair creaked beneath him as he leaned forward and rubbed his eyes. “What, in the name of the Holy Mother…?” he sighed, making the sign of the cross to ward off the images of the nightmare. So real. He looked about the tiny sod house. No cave. No witches. No pipe.”
   ~Bart Gardner, Curse of the Pirate’s Pipe, Chapter One

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“Orange firelight writhes over shadowy stone walls. The Lair.
    A pile of rubble and stone smolders. He’s under there. Buried. The Arab. The sorcerer, Hezaz.
    The girl, Devereux, backs away from the pile. Her face contorts with terror and confusion.
    The walls shake. A boulder tumbles.
    Get out!”
   ~Bart Gardner, Curse of the Pirate’s Pipe, Chapter Thirteen

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    “The spirit spoke, “All creatures have their own special Guardian Angels. I am the Angel Beetle that watches over beetle children. When a beetle risks himself to rescue a friend, I am permitted to bring special assistance to his quest.”
    She held out a tiny glowing crystal on a spiderweb thin chain.
    “Here, Child, you have shown bravery. If you guard this well, it will light your way home.”
   ~Helen M. Sherry, Ph.D., The Adventures of Little Beetle

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“Oh no, Grandfather, it is much too soon for me to leave this beautiful place. Can’t I stay just a little longer? My daddy wants me to play with him today.”
   ~Jim Leonard, Sophie's New Job



Fantasy
    “Seventeen brethren were gone. Swallowed by the earth. Vanishing into the darkness of Subterranea below.
    Sighing, The Thinker sat back down. He rested his chin on his clenched fist thinking, pondering, remembering. But hope will lie in the hands of twins. Born on the cusp of the second millennium.”
   ~Laurie Woodward, Art-World in the Land of Antiquities

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“Many years ago, there lived in Wildynshire Castle a princess. Her name was Louisa; eighteen, unmarried, and very, very beautiful. Consequently, her father and the rest of the court were practically tripping over her suitors.”
   ~Charlotte Delitescere-Bloom, Green Grow the Lilacs



Non-Fiction
“I couldn't help but think how surprised my family and friends would be if they could see me now in an elephant truck at the Indian Rodeo Grounds in Nampa, Idaho, slightly tipsy, bundled up in two coats, listening to an elephant trainer tell me stories about the circus. "Who would believe it?" I thought. I could hardly believe it myself.”
   ~Troy Farr, Circus in the Rain—Nampa, Idaho

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“Suddenly Miss Miller grabs my arm and pulls me close—so close that I can see black hairs on her chin that her powder didn’t cover.”
   ~Gloria Pautz, Head Lice and a Beer Rinse

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“Back paddle, Grandma,” Tyler shouted. “Back paddle. Let it break in front of you!”
    I back paddled.
    Gordon shouted, “Paddle forward. Hit it. Go over it!”
    I paddled forward.
    The wave gathered water, rising higher and higher as it approached.”
   ~Shirley Powell, My First and Almost Last Kayak Adventure

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"The very small ones...she would have been less than three. What was her fate? How was she separated from her shoes? How did they come off those little feet? The sun slips behind the spires of the old church across the Danube....a rosy blast against the deepening blue that swallows the sky, along with the past."
   ~Susan Pyburn, Sundown on the Danube

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“With a little effort on your part you’ll be able to lift a tiny corner of the veil beneath which lie concealed the mysteries of the universe.”
   ~Kenneth Knight, Special Relativity

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“In March, the 1141 mile long race begins. It is called the Iditarod—a grueling course crossing the State of Alaska from Anchorage to the small town of Nome. At the starting line the steaming breaths of over 70 teams of huskies will rise into the crisp air as they bark and paw the snow, eager to leap forward in this, the most extreme of extreme sports. Extreme, not just because of the terrain, but because of the incredible distances the dogs are expected to travel in such a short time.”
   ~Robin Shen, Dog Power

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“All night I worried about that cat. Several times I awoke and listened for his voice. Once I thought I heard him. I got up, went to the back door and listened. The night was silent and still except for an insect or two. A car passed. Then all was silent. No Barney.”
   ~Troy Farr,The Tramp With Turquoise Eyes

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“Look out for pickpockets!” our Russian guide Zoya warned us.”
   ~S.I. Powell, Not on the Itinerary

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“Dad stops the car abruptly. I’m afraid to take my hand away from my eyes—we are about to fall or he’s going to hit me. I carefully lift one finger covering my eyes, and with great relief realize he is only picking up another hitchhiker.”
   ~Debra Davis Hinkle, A Prayer and the Lady Hitchhiker

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“There is a rule among polar explorers and arctic peoples. It is the 30, 30, 30 rule which goes as follows: If the temperature is -30, and winds are at 30 mph, your exposed flesh will freeze solid in 30 seconds. Libby was heading straight into a winter storm.”
   ~Robin Shen,Teamwork

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“They heard that an egg can be balanced on end at the beginning of the Vernal (spring) and Autumnal Equinoxes. At those times, the earth crosses the celestial equator, resulting in almost equal days of light and darkness.”
   ~Shirley Powell, Recipe For an Equinox Omelette

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    “Aunt Debby said, “I wish that no child was ever beaten. But, I am afraid that many innocent children are beaten. What would you do if you ever saw someone being abused or with big bruises?”
    “I would tell someone,” Kyle said leaning forward, “even if I was scared and had to whisper it!”
   ~Debra Davis Hinkle, Why Didn’t Grandma Stop Him?



Personal Reflections
“It was the summer of worldwide tears and confusion. The summer, which for most of us would leave ghastly images.”
   ~Karen Juran, Indian Summer

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“While it’s not a room I’ll miss, I will miss the three-minute walk to the beach. And, the simplicity. One cup. One bowl. A stove I never used.”
   ~Susan Pyburn, Hunger

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“When I am ready, I will return to his side to sit and watch the machines. Curl a finger into a plump warm palm and study the face on the pillow, watching for signs.
    I don’t know how to do this. I don’t even know how to pray or what to say. Perhaps my presence is a prayer, inarticulate as it is. I am at a loss for words.”
   ~Susan Pyburn, Papasan

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“Free your mind to soar above the trivial. To contemplate instead the wonder and complexity of that vast continuum of time and space being gradually revealed, and of which (for just the blinking of a cosmological eye) we strangely find ourselves a part. To struggle, in the little time we have, towards the eternal truth. To ponder when, and how, and why. For as the crazy Hamlet said, “there are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio…”
   ~Kenneth Knight, Are We Alone?



Poetry