The unseen world beneath our ordinary lives. An doctor facing a cry far beyond medicine. A young nurse in World War II Hungary. A writer fighting a dilemma as old as time. A modern life on hold, chasing shadowy reality. Kari Kilgore's third short fantasy collection explores women facing change. Long-sought dreams coming true. Long-held secrets coming to light. Surprises welcome and frightening. Ranging from near-future Chicago to war-torn Budapest, from high tech Atlanta to a snowy Maine beach, join this trip through the strange lands of Kari's imagination. Includes The Tech Empath, Sensing the Storm, Kati and the Witches in the Hill, An Adventure Well Begun, and A Linchpin Life.

Fantastic Shorts: Volume 3

Heeding the SignsMark Hersch enjoys a busy summer in his favorite place: with his grandparents in Hartstown, Virginia. Working, saving for college, learning to drive. Getting to know his family and himself. Then one job brings a shiver of warning. Will Mark and his Papaw recognize the danger before it's too late?A Voices through Time Story Also available in the collection Stepping Out of Reality An excerpt from The Perfect Shade of Haint Blue:Learning to Heed Those Strange Warnings Mark frowned, but a quick little thrill of excitement shot through his belly. The change of pace and scenery was doing him a world of good, especially since he was considering coming right back to Virginia for college in a couple of years. But he wouldn't mind a bit of mystery and adventure to spice things up."Did something strange happen there, Papaw? At the Hartsock place?""Well no, I can't exactly say that. It's just... I got an uneasy twinge about you going there is all."Mark's father and everyone else in the family often talked about Papaw's twinges, and hunches, and notions, and even dreams. No one ever made much of a fuss about it that Mark could tell. But they never mentioned thinking those twinges were something it was better to ignore, either.

The Perfect Shade of Haint Blue - Voices through Time

When You Can't Imagine Saying GoodbyePaul's best friend Sadie lived a life worth celebrating. Bringing safety and comfort to troubled souls. Now Paul faces carrying on her work without her. Wishing to talk to her one more time. Paul never suspects Sadie left a secret just for him. A secret that changes his life forever. Also available in Kari's collection Stepping Out of Reality: Short Spells of Appalachian Magic An excerpt from The Lightning-Struck Wood:Gayle worked her way around to Paul and squeezed tight enough that his spine crackled. He relaxed into her warmth and strength and soothing lavender fragrance. Almost like one final, much-needed hug from Sadie."I know you've lived up here for a long damn time, " Gayle said, "and I still say I don't like you spending tonight alone. One of us can stay, or better yet, you grab your toothbrush and go on a little vacation with us. The gods know you've earned it."Paul shook his head before she let go, and her rueful smile let him know she wasn't surprised."I appreciate the thought and the invitation, I really do. But this is one of those saying goodbye things, you know? Gotta take my chance to visit with Sadie's spirit while I can."

The Lightning-Struck Wood

When Everyday Life Turns Into AmazingA missed appointment sets Beth Azen on edge. Will she solve the mystery before it's too late? A friend in need reaches out to Hugh Fergusson. Will offering shelter turn the dream into a nightmare? One of Walt Colley's friends disappears at the worst time. Can he get them, and himself, home safe and sound? Andre Telkin hears a sound too disturbing to ignore. What will he discover when he leaves his reality behind? George Edwards struggles to adjust to life without his kids. Will he grab his chance at happiness or let it pass him by? We all need everyday heroes. And we play that role ourselves in ways large and small. Confused, overwhelmed, or scared to death, the hero inside rises to the challenge. Sometimes never knowing who they save. Join storyteller Kari Kilgore on unexpected adventures with heroes who get the job done. Includes five original series stories: A Soggy Brush with History, Decisions in a Dangerous Situation, The Best Kind of Teacher, Andre's Extra-Sensational Adventure, and Sunny with a Chance of Happiness. A Soggy Brush with HistoryAn Uneasy Shiver of Something WrongReturning home to Hartstown, Virginia, thrills Beth Azen and her sweet dog Janie. Taking the chance to breathe and learn to listen her heart's voice again. Figuring out where her next path in life leads. But a missed appointment sets Beth on edge for reasons she can't explain. Will she solve the mystery before it's too late? Decisions in a Dangerous SituationRisking the Safety of HomeDreams coming true after years of hard work. Settling into paradise with the love of his life. Hugh Fergusson savors every long-anticipated moment. But a desperate friend reaches out, with a cry they must heed. Will offering shelter turn the dream into a nightmare? The Best Kind of TeacherThe Race for a Snowy RescueWalt Colley loves nothing more than watching a good snowstorm settle in. Except for the chance to help people as best he knows how. Then one of the kids he takes under his wing goes missing at the worst time, sending Walt out into the night. Can he bring everyone home safe and keep himself out of trouble at the same time? Andre's Extra-Sensational AdventureA Multidimensional CrossoverAndre Telkin loves cat sitting for his best friend Dana. Spoiling them rotten and teaching them his special flair. Enjoying the peace and quiet of the old tree-lined neighborhood. Except when he hears a sound beyond explanation. Too strange and disturbing to ignore. What will Andre discover when he leaves his reality behind? Sunny with a Chance of HappinessWho Rescues Who?George Edwards knows his kids got a great start in life. They prove it every day. But that leaves George struggling to adjust to life without them. Needing to figure out the next part of his own journey. Then one morning, a change he can't ignore bursts into his life. Will George grab his chance at happiness or let it pass him by? Discover everyday heroes and step into amazing new worlds with five original series stories from Kari Kilgore.

Facing Down Extraordinary: A Series of Ordinary Heroes

Curiouser and CuriouserAmy gets the chance to relive a cherished childhood memory. To revisit a beloved movie, and remember a night full of wonder. A solo trip into the past both sweet and melancholy. But sometimes the past makes other plans. What will Amy discover on her unexpected visit to Wonderland?Also available in the collection Stepping Out of Reality An excerpt from Amy in Wonderland:Right On Time for A Most Important Date Amy stepped through the door the White Rabbit held, and she found herself bobbing down into a passable imitation of a curtsey for some bizarre reason. Up close, she couldn't see a trace of makeup on his white face, or how his constantly twitching whiskers could possibly be attached."Do be sure and enjoy your refreshments, " he purred. "We made them especially for you."Even though Amy's stomach loudly demanded popcorn now that the scent was thick in the air, she headed toward the burgundy velvet curtain leading to the auditorium. She had no desire to get too close to any of the other actors. Unfortunately Tweedledum and Tweedledee had relocated themselves to either side of the entrance, and they each held a silvery tray.

Amy in Wonderland

The Oddest of JobsMore than the usual number of unusual people call Maple Ridge home. Carol Sanderson and her boyfriend Sid Rutherford work for the most eccentric of them all. They know to expect anything when decorating the most mysterious house in town. Except for what they discover on a snowy December night. A Storms of Future Past Story Originally published in Mystery, Crime, and Mayhem: Crime in the CountrysideAlso available in the collection Shadows Mountain Deep An excerpt from Adventures in Winter Driving:Watching Out for the Wrong Trouble "What's got you spooked?" Sid said. "You're watching the trees like something's going to jump out after us."Carol shoved him with a playful elbow."It's not what might jump out of the trees. It's the trees themselves. Some of those old pines are huge, you know? They'd be tough to clear if even one of them fell."Sid looked more closely, shaking his head. Like most kids who grew up in Maple Ridge, they'd both spent time working either at the Maple Barn or out in the ring of trees that kept it supplied. Understanding what kept a tree healthy and in good shape was pretty much hardwired by the time they graduated high school."They've stood there a long time, haven't they?" he said. "Good thing it's not supposed to snow too much tonight."

Adventures in Winter Driving - Storms of Future Past

Timing Is EverythingLucy Mitchell dreamed of celebrating New Year's Eve in Times Square her whole life. Now she awaits the turn of the millennium there, after years of hard work heading off the dreaded Y2K bug. But the bug shows signs of wriggling past her efforts, with its devastating sting intact. Can Lucy head off digital disaster before the clock strikes midnight? An excerpt from Y2K:Countdown to the Worst Case Scenario "Not seeing any errors, no, " Chuck said. "But several are offline. A couple of databases, and.huh. HR servers. Email is working, same with the rest of the servers." "I'm going to have to take a look at this myself, " Lucy said, "and I can't exactly get to Rio right now. We won't be back in Atlanta until the second.""I hate to say this, but we can't wait that long. We've got less than an hour until we find out if this bug is going to be widespread in our systems.""When it hits Buenos Aires, " Lucy said, closing her eyes. "No signs of it in Paris or London?""Nope, not a trace. If it does hit the Argentina offices, we'll be in for a much bigger shitstorm not long after.""Yeah. Two hours after that, we're looking at the whole East Coast."

Where the Dark Web Meets Its MatchDana Sanderson left her youthful adventures in hacking behind. Settling for a calm and orderly career as a code-cruncher. But life in the Atlanta cubicle farms brings its own special kind of stress and nonsense. Then Dana's old skills bring her a chance at a new life. And a chance to bring her fabulous best friend Andre along for the ride. Join storyteller Kari Kilgore for five hits of clever digital mystery. Includes five near-future short mysteries: The Sound of Murder, The Fabulous Feats of Billy, Glory Lane and The Humid Holiday, Melting Point, and Three Computer Geeks Gruff The Sound of MurderWhen Self-improvement Turns DeadlyInsurance agency programmer Dana Sanderson only wants peace and quiet at work. Then the investigation of a rash of suspicious natural death claims lands on Dana's laptop. The Fabulous Feats of BillyThe Successful Launch of a DisasterBilly's new tech start-up sits on the verge of greatness. A fantastic reward for leaving his rotten old job in the dust. Until a miscalculation lands Billy in a nightmare. Unfortunately Billy's way out puts him squarely in cybercrime expert Dana Sanderson's sights. Glory Lane and the Humid HolidayA Strange Case in a Strange PlaceA chance to recapture past glory days gone awry. A cybercrime expert forced to endure warm, sunny weather in December. A South Florida holiday with two stressed-out techies  in the wrong place at the right time. Melting PointAn Invisible Countdown to DeathA cookie-cutter suburban house. A strange aroma. A dead body. A suspect refusing to talk. Sometimes a stumped investigation needs a non-standard mind. Three Computer Geeks GruffWhen the Cat Drags in a MysteryA cold IT dungeon, full of noisy servers and grumpy  workers. Not exactly a natural fit for a cat. Until you consider the blinking lights and all those places to hide. But this cat finds toys more disturbing than cute.

Hacking Cybercime: Dana Sanderson Short Mysteries - Dana Sanderson Short Mysteries

A Strike of Magic Zach Seagon loves the unusual town of Lightning Gap. The only place he feels at home. Graham Cassoni welcomes the change of pace of mountain life.  A chance to start over. When their eyes meet, an undeniable spark flares to life. Will Zach and Graham realize the change they really need is each other? An excerpt from The Lightning Festival: A Spark of Magic This new guy must be the caregiver, the one Craig Douglas had found to help out. The younger Mr. Douglas hadn't mentioned hiring a knock-out gorgeous caregiver while he was at it. From Zach's spot about twenty feet away, he saw curly brown hair and skin nearly as dark. About his own height, and built solid and strong, like he spent time hiking or biking or something equally enticing when he wasn't helping care for the sweet Douglases. Mystery Gorgeous Guy looked up at Zach and smiled, and the setting sun highlighted perfect teeth, full lips, and swoon-worthy bright green eyes. Nature's own spotlight created to entice Zach even more. The delightful waves of heat floating through his body told him he was about to experience the best Lightning Festival ever. Or, he was about to get himself into heartache territory. Either way, in the warmth of that amazing smile, he was willing to take the chance.

Fantastic Shorts: Volume 3

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