Winston Churchill is credited with saying, "Success consists in going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."

I've had a recent success with one short story and have finished the draft of another. My story, "Freedom on Wheels" will appear in Raconteur Press' Road Trippin' anthology in early October. I have two more submitted for other anthologies; a third submitted to the magazine that first accepted one of my short stories (it's finally coming out in a couple months), and the draft I mentioned above should be ready for submission next month.

Hey, want to write a ghost story and get an autographed paperback? Details at the bottom of the page.

Bugs in the System is ready to go, but I haven't pulled the trigger on it yet. I'm not sure why.

I was about to set my hand to book 7 in the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Series but I've become distracted by a call to write a boy's book. I'm going to do it. There aren't enough adventure books for boys these days. Books, TV, and movies have been taken over by stories about and for girls. I'm all for great stories for girls, but boys need great stories even more. Most boys are not inclined to reading in their early years like girls are and if they don't start early, odds are they won't do it at all. It takes an exciting story about a boy to get and hold their attention. Very few are interested enough to read a story about a girl. It takes a boy in danger or otherwise involved in compelling circumstances to draw the boy reader into the story and make him continue. My formula of the Trauma, The Drama, and the Dream is the key to getting a boy interested and keeping him reading. I should know. I was a boy for a long time. Some might say that I still am.

My reading continues in America's Great Debate. The more I read, the more convinced I am that slavery was indeed the reason for the Civil War. Back in 1850 the debate over the admission of California, New Mexico, and Utah was all tangled up with the slavery question, and some southern senators--one of whom was Jefferson Davis--threatened and practically called for secession at the time. Davis announced during debate in the Senate his willingness to lead such a movement. For all the talk I heard growing up about the war being a matter of state's rights, there was only one right in dispute and that was slavery. Anyway, it's a great book and I continue to recommend it. I'm only about halfway through it.

The only book I've written that isn't really an adventure book is Smoke. This noir mystery detective novel with a side of romance and a shot of humor is nevertheless a favorite. If that's the kind of thing you like too, take a look at Death of a Hero, by B.M. Allsopp - a detective noir mystery thriller--currently on sale for $0.00.

If cyborg assassins are more your speed, you'll be interested in this free download: Blade of the Ghost.

All kinds of Historical Fiction be waitin' for you here, free for the taking.

A treasure trove of fantasy books at Arcane Atlas - amazing world building and magical realms invite you at no charge.

I mentioned writing a ghost story above. October and Halloween approach. Would anyone be interested in submitted a story of 350 words or less with a Halloween/ghost story theme featuring an interesting monster/ghost OR a cursed Halloween treat? Let me know. If there's enough interest the winner(s) can choose one of my autographed paperbacks (including any of the anthologies with containing one of my stories).

Keep on reading

Stanley