Middletown Middle / Chapter Four – The Giant Well. (Updated 7

AI is wild.  I made a snippet of a book using my favorite narrator Will Patten’s AI voice to test the story’s cadence.  I removed most of the story but just left in a snippet I made using some AI tools.  Listen here and read  below. The Giant Well August 1863 The hot Kansas wind…

Driving with Whales and Zeppelins

Driving with Whales and Zeppelins Boring.  That was how eight-year-old Louis Butler describes visiting Grandpa Charlie’s cottage on the isle of Jersey. The man did not have Nintendo or Cable TV. His telly was an old piece of furniture with plants and books atop it. Visits always consisted of sitting around drinking tea in the…

Middletown Middle – Bus J

March 12, 2020  The ride home on Bus J is always an adventure. It ships the rowdiest kids on the longest ride — a 45-minute trek down Old Bridge Road, through one of the state’s densest forests. It always looked like it was on the verge of nighttime, even on the sunniest days. The man…

Middletown Middle / Chapter Five – The New Girl

Chapter Five – The New Girl September 1953 The Cold War was a scary time for America. The big bad Soviets were the classic villains, with their missiles aimed at the US. It got so bad that folks started building bunkers under their homes, which were strong enough to withstand the end of the world….

Middletown Middle / Chapter Three – The Face Painter

Experience an extraordinary day at Middletown Middle School when second-grader Rose Batty becomes ‘Principal for the Day.’ Follow Rose’s exploits as she mandates the hiring of a retired face painter and accidentally transforms the school event into a fantastical zoo filled with superheroes, animals, and delightful chaos. Read on to discover how this day unfolds in this captivating and humor-filled narrative.

Middletown Middle / Chapter Two – The Unktomi

Here’s the second chapter of my grade school anthology book –   Middletown Middle.  The school with more mysteries than students.  Read Chapter One – The Nickname Curse Chapter Two – Unktomi November 25, 1987 It was Big Wednesday. The day before Thanksgiving. That meant a half-day of school before a long weekend. Twins Jenny and…

Middletown Middle / Chapter One – The Mascot Curse

Here’s the first chapter of my grade school anthology book –   Middletown Middle.  The school with more mysteries than students. Chapter One – The Nickname Curse September 2020 “Coloring? Seriously?” Jeremy, the new fifth-grader, complains as he takes out his crayons. “We stopped coloring in second grade at my old school.” “Welcome to Middletown Middle,”…

The Fourteenth Ghost – Short Story

Good evening, fellow traveler. What brings you to the Inn at Ithaca Hills? Did the fox send you my way? He presumes I have nothing better to do. Well, my friend, you look tired. Have a seat by the hearth, but before you do, grab a log from the pile and feed the fire. Walk…

Remi – A short story about Paris and stolen dreams

Eighteen-year-old Kansas boy, Clark Bisbee, visits France for the first time. He wanders the streets, looking for something he cannot find. Not alone anyway. Clark saved all the money he made cleaning and helping Mom and Dad. He had ten years to make the trip happen, but now three days into his journey he’s running…