INTRODUCTION Connie Shutter, the mistress of a small-time New York diamond merchant, was visiting her parents in Toronto when she was bent forward in pain. She suspected the arrival of her baby was imminent. White-faced, Connie said she was returning to New York. "But you still have three days left with us," Beryl her mom complained but Connie said, "Mom...
In the last chapter, when I said I only had one more chapter of World's Best Diet Plan to go, I lied. It was not intentional. I fully intended to have only one more chapter, but the characters did not see it that way. When I was up to over 160,000 words, I realized it all couldn't be in one more chapter. So far, it's in 4 more chapters and it might be more,...
Chapter V: A Visitor Author's Note: A very special thanks to my lady love and two faithful beta readers -- MisterWildCard and John998 -- for their invaluable feedback and encouragement. This chapter somehow was quite a slog to put together and I couldn't have done it without you. Also, as usual, thanks to my editor bikoukumori for a splendid editing job....
Chapter XI Collapse Author's Notes: A heartfelt "thank you" goes out to the people who helped in refining and improving this chapter. My lady love for her undying support and the harshest critique one can hope for, my editor bikoukumori for his unending patience and a host of volunteers who suffered through the early drafts of this tale. In no particular...
"Fuck!" John snarled, incensed that the Brimorians were causing him even more problems. *Let me get this straight... the Maliri fleets won't make it in time, so now we're rushing to save the Kintark from an Enclave invasion?!* *That's correct,* Edraele replied mournfully. *Except we won't make it in time either,* Alyssa added, sounding heavily distracted....
Note: All persons and places in this story are fictional. Any resemblances are purely coincidental, and absolutely unintentional. The author retains all rights to this story. 30. The Resignation Hits the Fan. Charlie Gomes realized he liked the way the top 1% of the country lived. He had just gotten off the American Airlines redeye, from Los Angeles to JF...
John hadn't intended to fall asleep, but with Helene's soft warm body cuddled up against him, he soon found himself drifting off into a soothing slumber. Instead of the blackness of unconsciousness, he found himself gazing up at glorious blue skies, the sight that greeted him every night since Alyssa had created her personal subplane. Lying down in the field...
Fleet Admiral Lynette Devereux walked along the bustling corridor, her security detachment clearing a path so that she could proceed uninterrupted. Despite the early hour, this area of Olympus shipyard was teeming with personnel, with many thousands of navy crewmen recalled from leave and ready to muster out to their ships. The officers amongst the men and w...
Edited by Michael Leonard Prologue There were plenty of vacant seats at the bar. I was seated in my usual spot; from here I could see all the action and still maintain a certain degree of privacy. I was early, nursing a beer, waiting for the regulars to dribble in. I'm a newspaper journalist. Or at least I was until the paper began to experience a deluge o...
Note: This is a work of FICTION! Although the areas this story takes place in are real; all of the landscapes depicted, the people described, and everything else this story uses to make it enjoyable reading for you are NOT REAL. As you read this story, try to remember: THIS IS A NOVEL 74. Where The Girls Go To Play Michael Free called Stephano to ask how...