Showing posts with label Short Stories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Short Stories. Show all posts

Friday, January 23, 2026

Short story spotlight: My Guardian Angel by Mr. Adam Chase

Today, I have a short story to share! Learn about My Guardian Angel and author Mr. Adam Chase! 


Short Story

Date Published: October 21, 2025



 

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about the book


A Short Story of True Love, Hope, and the Power of the Human Heart

If you ask 100 readers what this story is about, you may receive 100 different answers—and that is exactly the point.

My Guardian Angel is a deeply moving short story about true love in its many forms, inspired by real life, real relationships, and real emotions. At its core, this story is a tribute to unwavering devotion between a husband and wife—and to the quiet strength that sustains us when life hangs in the balance.

Graham, a Vietnam veteran whose greatest joys are his wife and their beloved dogs, begins what seems like an ordinary day wrapped in comfort and routine. But in a sudden and devastating turn, he finds himself fighting for his life. As danger closes in, it is his wife—his lifelong “Guardian Angel”—who stands between him and the unthinkable.

Set largely within the stark stillness of a hospital, the story unfolds as friends rally, time seems to pause, and love becomes both shield and salvation. Through moments of fear, hope, memory, and faith, My Guardian Angel explores how love endures even when life is fragile—and how the bonds we build may be stronger than fate itself.

Though classified as fiction, more than 60% of this story is drawn directly from the author’s life and experiences. Every word comes from the heart—there is no AI-generated content, no shock value, and no explicit language. This is a story written for readers of all ages who believe in love, kindness, and the quiet courage found in everyday relationships.


✨ Themes Readers Will Connect With:


● True love between husband and wife

● Hope in the face of mortality

● Gratitude, humility, and resilience

● Faith, belief, and emotional connection

● Stories that inspire children and adults alike

 

My Guardian Angel does not tell readers what true love is—it invites them to discover what it means through the lens of their own lives.

If you are looking for a heartfelt, gentle, and profoundly human story—one that lingers long after the final page—this book offers a reminder that love, in all its forms, is life’s greatest gift.


about the author


Adam Chase – Author | Vietnam Veteran | Storyteller of Hope and Love

Adam Chase is a Vietnam veteran, lifelong entrepreneur, and late-in-life fiction writer whose stories are rooted in lived experience, gratitude, and enduring love. At 79 years old, Adam brings a lifetime of resilience, humility, and heart to his writing—qualities shaped by military service, decades as a self-employed corporate consultant, and his journey as a business owner and mentor. 

 

In 2016, Adam and his wife purchased a failing plumbing company despite having no prior plumbing experience. Through discipline, integrity, and a tireless work ethic forged during his Vietnam service, they transformed the business into the number-one contractor in their county. In January 2025, they sold the company to two trusted key employees—continuing to work alongside them, unpaid, ensuring the next generation’s success. Adam is widely regarded as the county’s “go-to” backflow tester and is respected for consistently placing recognition on his team rather than himself. 

 

For over thirty years, Adam worked as a self-employed corporate consultant, a career that allowed him and his wife to travel the world. One of his most unforgettable experiences was visiting the only wild panda sanctuary in the Southern Mountains of China, where he held a mother panda and her cub—an encounter that deepened his appreciation for life, connection, and wonder.

 

Later in life, Adam faced significant health challenges, including skin cancer, macular degeneration with geographic atrophy, and ocular rosacea. Rather than slowing him down, these challenges fuel his determination to remain mentally and physically engaged each day. His writing emerged not from literary ambition, but from a desire to put feelings, memories, and gratitude into words—especially for children, who he believes need hope, belief, and kindness most. 

 

Adam writes children’s bedtime stories and fiction, including the deeply personal short story My Guardian Angel, which—while categorized as fiction—is largely inspired by his real life, his marriage, and the people he loves most. Despite graduating near the bottom of a class of over 1,000 students and reading almost exclusively non-fiction and business books, Adam’s storytelling resonates because it is honest, heartfelt, and unfiltered. 

 

He does not consider himself an author by profession, but a man sharing his thoughts and feelings with sincerity. Adam credits his single greatest achievement in life as marrying “the woman of his dreams”—the inspiration behind My Guardian Angel. His stories contain no profanity, no adult content, and no artificial intelligence—only his words, his heart, and his lived truth.

 

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Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Short Story Collection Review: Corners of My Mind by Travis E. Short


I love short story collections. For many years, short stories were my go-to format in books because the kids were so busy, I didn't have the time or attention to devote to a full book. These days, I have more time, but I still enjoy having a book of stories that I can read a little bit from each day without "losing my place" in the story line or falling asleep and needing to re-read the next evening! Today, I have a collection of short stories from author Travis Short. Learn about Corners of My Mind, read my thoughts on the book, check out the other books from the author--and be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post! 


 

 

Book Title:  Corner of My Mind: American Short Stories by Travis E. Short
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  329 pages
Genre:  Short Stories
Publisher:  Publish Authority
Release date:  September 2024
Format available for review:  print-softback (USA only), ebook (Gifted Kindle, EPUB, PDF)
Tour dates: Sep 2 to Sep 29, 2025
Content Rating:  PG-13. Most stories are G rated, but some contain curse words and street language. No explicit sex. ​
 
About the Book

​Step into the captivating world of Corners of My Mind, a rich tapestry of new American short stories. In this collection by a master storyteller, ordinary people navigate the unexpected twists of fate with resilience and heart. From soldiers and warriors—both real and imagined—to revival preachers and lonely women, each takes a window into the human experience. Drawing inspiration from real-life encounters, dreams, and whimsical imagination, the stories are as diverse as they are compelling. Meet men of action, contemplative souls, and even talking dogs whose thoughts will linger in your mind long after you turn the last page. Whether you seek moments of laughter, tears, or thrilling surprises, Corners of My Mind promises an unforgettable journey. 
 
My Review
 

The Author Offers Well-Done Short Stories. The author is an excellent storyteller, with a gift for portraying a variety of characters at various stages of life's journey in ways that feel very real and authentic. While the stories in this book are brief, making them ideal for readers short on time or attention, they never feel too brief or incomplete. Each story is very well-developed, realistic and complete. While the stories are full and engaging, some will hold your attention beyond the last page. 

 

Expect Wonderful Characters. The author creates characters that are very real, relatable, and believable. While you may not like all of them--their development and portrayal serve strong purposes in each story.

 

Would I Recommend Corners of My Mind by Travis E. Short? I love short stories — especially those that feel complete and fully engage the reader. The author finds stories everywhere around him and turns them into pieces that readers will want to read and characters readers will want to know more about. If you enjoy short stories, this is a well-crafted collection that offers something for almost every reader within its pages. 

 

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Other Books from the Author

Book Title:  Anna: A Life of Faith and Courage by Travis E. Short
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  245 pages
Genre:  Historical Fiction
Publisher:  Publish Authority
Release date:  July 2023
Content Rating:  G. Suitable for all readers; no sexual content, and no vulgar language​

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About the Book

Anna's story begins and ends in a convalescent center in Michigan and is told by the author, whose brother looks after her in her waning years. The story is based on a short memoir written by Anna for her children. Her life is filled with trials and tribulations that test her faith to its limits. With a desperately impoverished and undernourished childhood in an itinerant and abusive family living in rural Pennsylvania, Anna is faced with obstacles that could break most people. She finds solace in God with constant prayer and attendance in church services. Although she has little formal education, she is nominated by her pastor to attend bible college. where she excels and meets her future husband. They start a family and despite their own hardships, they devote their lives to helping others. Her powerful story of sacrifice, faith, and courage is an inspiration to us all.  
  
 
 


Book Title:  The Adventures of Faraday Fox: A story for Young Readers by Travis E. Short
Category:  Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 8-12),  65 pages
Genre:  Adventure
Publisher:  Publish Authority
Release date:  January 2024
Content Rating:  G. Suitable for young readers

About the Book

The Adventures of Faraday Fox is the story of a domesticated red fox that is released back into the Cherokee National Forest to find happiness. Instead, he encounters perils, danger, and hunger, and he decides to return to the home he left in Georgia. His adventures take him across the United States by walking and hitching rides on a train, a tractor-trailer, a boxcar, and in the luggage compartment of a bus. He meets many wild and domesticated animals along the way. When he arrives in California, a wonderful surprise awaits him. The story contains many life lessons and is written with readers, eight to twelve years old, in mind. It contains over twenty prints of original paintings of forest scenes, bears, birds, and other animals by accomplished artist Shirley Adams. 
 
 
Meet the Author 
Travis Short is the writer and author of several books, including Anna: A Life of Faith and Courage, Killers Can’t Hide, and The Adventures of Faraday Fox.  Among other books, he has also published the illustrated epic poem, Old White Men, a story of the sacrifices by America’s warriors since 1775. His favorite pastime is writing short stories, many of which are contained in this book.

​Retired as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy, he pursued a career in shipbuilding and manufacturing. He has extensive experience in technical writing and business consulting. He is a graduate from the U. S. Navy Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, with a degree in Engineering Sciences. He is the father of four daughters and three sons, and currently resides in Moss Point, Mississippi, with his constant companion, A Lhasa Apso named Choi. 

connect with the author:  website ~ facebook ~ X goodreads
 
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Tuesday, September 2, 2025

Book Teaser Tuesday: The Patron Saint of Lost Girls by Maureen Aitken

This morning, I have a short story collection in our Teaser Tuesday book spotlight! Check out The Patron Saint of Lost Girls, read an excerpt from the collection, and learn about author Maureen Aitken! 

 

Literary Fiction / Short Story Collection

Date Published: 09-16-2025

Publisher: Wayne State University Press


 

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About the Book


In 1970s and '80s Detroit, the city wrestles with an unending economic downturn, increasing violence, and white exodus to the suburbs. Amid all of this is twentysomething Mary who is just trying to grapple with her identity in a world filled with uncertainty.
 

In this collection of linked stories, we follow Mary as she seeks to cope with and withstand hardship and confront her fears of exploitation, abuse, and death. Along the way, she delves into the complex yet nurturing relationships with her family and friends who teach her to love better, live fuller, and question power. The Patron Saint of Lost Girls presents an unflinching tale of life in the late twentieth-century postindustrial Midwest.


Read an Excerpt


“AUGUST, WHEN the cicadas burned and the lawnmowers sounded like industrial bees, we couldn’t stop. In the bedroom, on the couch, on the floor. Afterward we would lie there, reading the paper or letting the television taunt us like a car salesman. Paul would wiggle his toes against mine, and we’d look at one another for a long time. His face was like a catcher’s mitt, warm and beaten. He reminded me of one of those boys who had moved away when I was little, but Paul had returned a man.” 

 

-“This is Art”

 

Meet the Author


Maureen Aitken’s short-story collection, The Patron Saint of Lost Girls, received a Kirkus star, the Nilsen Prize, and the Foreword Review INDIE Gold Prize for General Fiction. It will be reissued in September, 2025 by Wayne State University Press. Her stories have earned a Minnesota State Arts Board’s Artist Initiative Grant, a Loft Mentor Award, an award from Ireland’s Fish Short Story Prize, and two Pushcart Prize nominations. It was also nominated for a Minnesota Book Award. Her stories have been published in Prairie Schooner and New Letters, among others. This is her second story featured in The Missouri Review’s Blast section.


Connect with the Author

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Monday, July 21, 2025

Science Fiction Fantasy Book Blitz: Standing At Heaven's Doorstep by Judy Cohen

This morning, I have a science fiction fantasy novel in our book blitz spotlight. Learn about Standing at Heaven's Doorstep by author Judy Cohen.  


Fantasy and Sci-fi

Date Published: 05-11-2025


 

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About the Book

 
Standing at Heaven's Doorstep is a book of 31 short stories. They are of fantasy and science fiction. I have revised old fairy tales. We will ravel to new worlds and assist in solving their problems. You will meet three devils, I have known. Tooth fairies and dreamers are waiting. Join me... Judy

  

About the Author

 

 My name is Judy Cohen. I taught kindergarten, and new teachers for 27 years. During that time i was a blogger and a part time writer. My family encouraged me to write my book. The question they posed was, what am i waiting for? Standing at Heaven's Doorstep was born..


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Friday, February 10, 2023

Literary Short Story Anthology Review: The Man Who Screams at Nightfall and Other Stories

Today, I have a short story collection in our book review spotlight. Learn about The Man Who Screams at Nightfall and Other Stories, read my thoughts on the anthology, learn about author Rush Leaming and be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.

The Man Who Screams At Nightfall… and other stories by Rush Leaming Banner

The Man Who Screams At Nightfall…
and other stories

by Rush Leaming

January 16 - February 10, 2023 Virtual Book Tour

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about the book

The Man Who Screams At Nightfall… and other stories by Rush Leaming

 

Book Details:

Genre: Literary Fiction
Published by: Bridgewood Publishing
Publication Date: November 2022
Number of Pages: 150
ISBN: 0999745670 (ISBN-13: 9780999745670)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thailand. The Congo. Greece. Spain. America…

Four continents and 40+ years in the making.

The Man Who Screams At Nightfall is a landmark collection of short stories depicting a young man on a classic voyage of self-discovery, scouring the earth in search of some purpose in life.

From childhood to parenthood and everything in between—these tales are at times raw and unflinching, at other times poignant and moving.

Get ready for a literary journey unlike any you’ve experienced before.

WARNING: Some of these stories contain strong language, depictions of graphic violence, and sexual situations.

  

Praise for the Book


"A powerful, gritty, and exquisitely written anthology —not to be missed."
-J. Miller, Reader's Favorite

 
"A short story collection that excels in its sense of literary psychological growth and discovery. Libraries looking for interconnected short stories that represent life journeys and revelations will find The Man Who Screams At Nightfall...and other stories an appealing acquisition that promises much fodder for discussion to book club readers interested in fictional blends of psychological and social revelation."
Midwest Book Review, D. Donovan

 
"Sharply observed, nuanced, precise, and morally challenging..."

-The Prairies Book Review

 
"Leaming's light hand with dialogue and keen sense of human psychology create a book that highlights weighty issues by putting a compassionate human face on human struggles. Sharp, inventive, and deeply moving: a fine literary collection."
-Book View

 
"Without a lengthy description of the characters, just enough to provide the imagery necessary to identify them, he catches and holds the reader's attention like no other I've experienced in the hundreds of books and stories I've read over the years."

-Reader's Favorite, L. Allen
 
 
my review
 

The Man Who Screams at Nightfall and Other Stories Offers Stories That Will Stay with the Reader. This anthology may be a short, easy-to-read collection of short stories--but it holds a heavy volume of content to ponder and consider long after each story concludes. The collection reads like a memoir, yet the author leaves an air of mystery around the storyteller in most of the stories. Sometimes he has no identified name or hometown--and pieces of his past (and present) seem vague. Despite this, the author's writing style still creates a very engaging character and a full, thought-provoking story in each collection piece. 

 

The Content of this Collection may Not Be Everyone's Cup of Tea. This anthology may well be the most violent, sexually oriented, psychologically disturbing collection of short stories I have read from start to finish in many years. Having said that--this is probably the most thought-provoking collection of short stories I have ever read. With every dark, disturbing aspect of each story--there are glimmers of morality and goodness. The author does an incredible job transporting the readers to various global settings and situations that are immediately real and frighteningly relatable. While this collection certainly needs the content warning--it is a collection that could certainly be read and discussed by an open-minded book club or group.  


Would I Recommend The Man Who Screams at Nightfall and Other Stories by Rush Leaming? My answer to this question changed as I read each story! After the title story, I was interested and engaged. A couple of the following stories were a little out of my content comfort zone--but there was still a drawing force that kept me engaged in the author's scenes and his characters' outcomes and revelations. As I finished the book, I was still unsure if I would recommend it or not! The content lingers--from the violence and sexual situations to the psychological implications. If you are looking for a happy, cute little memoir-like anthology--this is not that story collection. If you are looking for a thought-provoking walk through the darkness with unexpected stories and strong story writing, this collection is one for your reading list.

 

read an excerpt

…I could see the glow of a fire up ahead of us, and as we reached the mango tree, Pumbu motioned for me to stay low and follow him along a small wall of honeysuckle bushes. We crouched down, and from our hiding place, I saw Kachamba furiously pacing back and forth in his yard in front of a small bonfire. He swung his arms wildly in the air as if he was fighting off something that was falling on him. He dropped to his knees and then suddenly sprang three feet off the ground. Then he began to dance, swaying and spinning his body so close to the fire that I was certain he was going to fall in. All the while he screamed and shouted deep into the empty black night.

He spoke in a dialect that I couldn’t understand, so I had to ask Pumbu to tell me what he was saying. I asked him many questions: Why was he doing this? Who was he speaking to? Was he drunk? What was going on? Pumbu patiently explained to me that no, he was not drunk, and that he really didn’t know who he was speaking to, but that Kachamba’s wife had left him a few years ago, run off with another man and taken their children, and that ever since, he had not been right in the head. He was not from this village and had been kicked out of all the other places he had lived. He came here only because Kachamba’s father, the chief of Kitengo’s uncle, had once saved the life of the chief’s father (Kachamba’s uncle) and so the chief had to let him stay to repay that old favor. It was all very complicated, Pumbu said, and he didn’t fully understand it himself.

I was hardly listening, instead transfixed and horrified by what I saw. Spinning, swirling, shouting, and screaming—Kachamba’s face, so calm and happy as I had seen it earlier that day, was now knotted and twisted like a grotesque carnival mask, like some gargoyle sprung from the lowest depths of hell. The glow of the fire cut fierce shadows and gorges in his face, adding to the haunting vision that I saw.

For a long while, Pumbu and I hid behind the honeysuckle bushes and watched Kachamba shriek and wail and try to push back the night, until suddenly, all at once, he just stopped. Suddenly, he just stood still and quiet and stared at the sky. I followed his gaze and saw another shooting star. When I looked back, Kachamba had disappeared.

“Is that it?” I asked.

“That’s it,” said Pumbu. “He usually only does this for an hour or so.”

“And he does this every night?”

“Almost,” said Pumbu and yawned. “Mmm. I’m tired. I think I am going to go home.”

We left the bushes, went past the mango tree, and said good night. I walked home alone, both exhilarated and troubled by what I had seen.

I entered my room and prepared for bed, but long after I had extinguished my petrol lantern, I lay there staring into the darkness. I couldn’t sleep. I tossed and turned. It wasn’t that unusual—I noticed that it had been happening a lot lately, that I couldn’t sleep. I got up and found the bottle of Johnnie Walker and knocked back a tall glass until at last I was floating, and at last, my eyes did shut…

***

Excerpt from The Man Who Screams At Nightfall... and other stories by Rush Leaming. Copyright 2022 by Rush Leaming. Reproduced with permission from Rush Leaming. All rights reserved.


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about the author

Rush Leaming

RUSH LEAMING has done many things including spending 15+ years in film/video production working on such projects as The Lord of the Rings films. His first novel, Don't Go, Ramanya, a political thriller set in Thailand, was published in the fall of 2016. His second novel followed suit in the summer of 2018, entitled The Whole of the Moon, set in the Congo at the end of the Cold War. 2021 saw the 5-star reception of his crime thriller Dead Tree Tales. His short stories have appeared in Notations, 67 Press, Lightwave, 5k Fiction, and The Electric Eclectic.

He has lived in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Zaire, Thailand, Spain, Greece, South Carolina, England, and Kenya.

 

 

connect with the author
LeamingRush.wixsite.com/Nightfall
Goodreads
BookBub - @RushLeaming
Instagram - @RushLeaming
Twitter - @LeamingRush
Facebook - @RushLeamingStories

 

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Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Short Story Collection Spotlight: One Soul's Journey by Barbara Daniels Dena

This morning I have a collection of humorous short stories in our book release blitz!  Check out One Soul's Journey, learn about author Barbara Daniels Dena & be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.

 

Second Collection of Short Stories Book 2 of The Soul Series


Fictional Humor Short Stories

Date Published: 01-25-2023

Publisher: Magic Zoe Publishing

 
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about the book

 

One Soul's Journey is an eclectic and extraordinary collection of short stories.

The ingredients: imagination, a dash of real life, inspiration, and lots of love. If you've read and loved her first collection, “For the Soul,” this book will delight you.


Praise for The Soul Series

5.0 out of 5 stars

“Delightfully charming short stories”

“Excellent book. A must-read”


about the author

Barbara Daniels Dena is an American best-selling author and influential writer of her eclectic short stories in 'The Soul Series.'

The author's stories are almost a memoir and are a unique collection of inspiring short stories of 'good ole fashioned living,' along with many past and present memories and life experiences that tug on the heart, warming stories, and fictional tall tales and doggie tails delighting readers worldwide. The books are available on Amazon Books, Kindle, and many fine online book sites.

Barbara began writing at an early age as a lover of "Make-Believe." Today, her writing has developed from memories of family experiences, various compilations of events in her life, and her love of animals. She is willing to admit that her vivid imagination plays a role in her stories. The author is an Illinois native who has lived in many places; as Barb says, like a free-spirited "Gypsy," she has lived and worked in Illinois, Washington, Idaho, and Georgia, but Ultimately, comes home settling back in the Quad Cities area of Illinois.

She is a proud mother of two grown children. She was a business owner, ran a Temp Agency, transitioned into her passion for floral design, and opened, owned, and ran several floral shops. Her favorite flower is the "Casablanca Lily." Her favorite color is Red, and when she isn't writing, Barbara spends her free time oil painting and enjoys quilting, knitting, and reading.

Her favorite book is "Death Be Not Proud" by John J. Gunther. Her first love will always be playing with her fur baby; a little Yorkie named Zoe. She continues to write from her cozy nook as she gazes over a pond full of geese and ducks. On many days it is more gazing than writing.

 

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