You’re sitting on your back deck or patio, or out under a tree at your local park and reading the most amazing and amusing story you’ve ever read. If could be a romance story. It could be a science fiction story. It could even be a science fiction romance, a story about a dog, a ghost story, a holiday tale, something paranormal, something weird, fantasy, or something from the real life of the author. It could be anything. And like a great snack, you might just want a bite, or maybe two or three.
The best thing about these stories is that you can read one, or as many as you want. A short story is a lot like food. Sometimes you want just a taste; something to read under the trees with a beer or a glass of wine, or iced tea. You could be out fishing and want book to take along. Maybe you like the book so much that you finish it in a weekend in your favorite chair with your cat, and an open window bringing in fresh air and the sound of your neighbor’s leaf blower. Yes, I said leaf blower, but you won’t care because you will be transported by the stories in a short story anthology from WPaD – Writers, Poets, and Deviants.
We (WPaD) are a diverse group of writers who came together on the Internet to support and encourage each other.
Our collaborative works are charity fundraisers, with a percentage of royalties being donated to Multiple Sclerosis in support of members of our group who live with MS. WPaD books are available worldwide in paperback and eBook. For more information, please visit our website: http//wpad.weebly.com
I am always in awe of my fellow writers. Forget my silly stories. These are amazing authors. I swear that O’Henry , James, Twain, and Steinbeck (among others) would approve.
The anthologies are available online, in both electronic and paperback versions.
Writers, Poets, and Deviants (WPaD) Short Story Anthologies:
- Tinfoil Tribune (tabloid conspiracies ~ summer 2024)
- Furry Tales (pets ~ 2022)
- Deviant Shadows (paranormal ~ 2021)
- Goin’ Extinct Too (apocalyptic ~ 2020)
- Creepies 3 (horror ~ 2019)
- Tinsel Tales 2 (holiday ~ 2018)
- Weirder Tales (unique, odd, and bizarre ~ 2018)
- Strange Adventures in a Deviant Universe (science fiction ~ 2017)
- Creepies 2 (horror ~ 2015)
- Goin’ Extinct (apocalyptic ~ 2014)
- Tinsel Tales (holiday ~ 2013)
- Dragons and Dreams (fantasy ~ 2013)
- Passion’s Prisms (romance ~ 2013)
- Creepies (horror ~ 2012)
- Nocturnal Desires (erotica ~ 2012)
Many of the covers are created by artist and writer Jason Kemp. To see more of Jason’s art at (J Harrison Kemp, Tenkara Studios) and contact information go to:
https://www.facebook.com/tenkarastudios/
https://tenkarastudios.weebly.com
Another highly recommended and totally relaxing and fun book for extremely casual reading is:
Of Immortality and Deathly Cuteness
The Secret Diary of Vlad Winter as Transcribed by Juliette Kings
Vlad Winter has it all, head-turning good looks, a beautiful girlfriend, faithful friends, a luxurious castle, and adoring subjects. This charmed existence ends one night in 1715 when Vlad is brutally attacked by unseen foes. Vlad might never find an answer to who tried to kill him, but that isn’t his only problem.
After being left for dead and locked in a crypt for three hundred years, Vlad Winter is rescued by his longtime friends and relocated to suburban California. In this confusing new world, he finds himself navigating more unsavory subjects such as pop culture, politics, vampire hunters, the recent pandemic, and his ex-wife. Yet, the former Vampire King comes to appreciate the joys of cats, chainsaws, insightful teenagers, humor, and perhaps the true meaning of cute.
Of Immortality and Deathly Cuteness: The Secret Diary of Vlad Winter is a personal journal written in real time, from 2015-2022.
Now available in paperback and eBook versions.
Based on the popular series Vlad’s Vampire Diary from vampiremaman.com, “Of Immorality and Deathly Cuteness” is a hilarious, brutally honest, and sometimes scary look at our modern world. You’ll see old favorites plus new never before seen new diary entries. Vlad shares stories of modern times as well those from centuries ago. You’ll laugh out loud, be inspired, feel a little sweaty, and maybe get shocked out of your socks. Read it. You thank me for it later.
~ Oscar Gray,
A look inside…
Introduction
This is not a story with a plot, with a beginning, middle, and dramatic ending. There is no mystery, and no stunning unveiling. It is a story of growth, maybe some redemption, and a lot of cute. It is a story of a man, my closest and dearest friend, coming to terms about who he is. It is a personal diary written in real time, from 2014 – 2022.
Juliette Kings has transcribed his diary, leaving out minute details, mundane events such as daily weather reports, entries about litter boxes, garbage schedules, notes on drip sprinkler systems, and excessive venting about his ex-wife, among other things. Elders who read and write our friend’s native language have helped translate where he drifted away from modern English.
Now a forgotten figure in history, my friend Vlad Winter was a man before his time. Bridging generational gaps and cultural stigmas, he kept his people together. Unfortunately, there were those who could not accept his visionary ways.
Vlad was never one to blindly follow tradition and what his forefathers did. He was enlightened before the Age of Enlightenment. This is a record of how he became even more enlightened.
Randolpho Giovanni Drew
December 2024
A Word from the Author
Constantine Jones sat down across from me. We were at my house, in my sun-drenched breakfast nook, with a view of an oak tree filled field.
As always, Constantine was dressed to kill. Today my friend wore an unstructured brown leather jacket, a white button down shirt with a hand painted geometric patterned tie, paired with perfectly fitting Levi 501s, with exquisite brown leather lace up boots.
“How can you stand all of this bright light?”
I noticed his green-framed glasses had transitioned to a darker tint.
“I’m used to it,” I said to my guest. “My son, on the other hand, has an extreme sensitivity to sunlight. It isn’t easy for everyone. I get it.”
I gave him a mug of coffee. It was good. A nice pour over, but that isn’t important, except for the fact I wanted to make him feel comfortable talking to me. “Bourbon?” I asked.
“Yes, please,” he said as he watched me fill up the remaining space in the mug, then pour some into my mug. It was only 11:00 a.m. but that was ok. We’re used to odd hours.
Out of the corner of my eye I could see a ghost sitting on my deck. I pretended not to notice.
“Tell me about him, Constantine,” I said.
“Every group has that one friend. You know, that charismatic guy who keeps the group cohesive, is fiercely protective of everyone, is universally loved, and then becomes just another long forgotten missing person. To tell the truth, I had given up finding him years ago. I hate to admit it, but I just assumed he was dead.”
He glanced out the window. “You’ve got a ghost out there.”
“I know. They’re always out there,” I said, as I closed the blinds.
“So, you want to know about Vlad?”
“As a child, I’d heard stories about Vlad Winter. He’d vanished off the face of the earth, leaving a legacy of contradictions, and…”
“I invited him here. He’ll be here in a few minutes.”
“Here? At my home?”
“Yeah, we want you to transcribe his diary.”
“I write fiction,” I said.
“Not anymore,” said Constantine Jones with a smile, ever so slightly showing his fangs. “And one more thing, Juliette. Randolpho is wrong about this project. There is a dramatic ending. It was something quite unexpected.”
So began the tale of immortality and deathly cuteness.
Juliette Kings,
December 2023
Out of the Crypt and Now Available: Of Immortality and Deathly Cuteness
Of Immortality and Deathly Cuteness
The Secret Diary of Vlad Winter as Transcribed by Juliette Kings
Vlad Winter has it all, head-turning good looks, a beautiful girlfriend, faithful friends, a luxurious castle, and adoring subjects. This charmed existence ends one night in 1715 when Vlad is brutally attacked by unseen foes. Vlad might never find an answer to who tried to kill him, but that isn’t his only problem.
After being left for dead and locked in a crypt for three hundred years, Vlad Winter is rescued by his longtime friends and relocated to suburban California. In this confusing new world, he finds himself navigating more unsavory subjects such as pop culture, politics, vampire hunters, the recent pandemic, and his ex-wife. Yet, the former Vampire King comes to appreciate the joys of cats, chainsaws, insightful teenagers, humor, and perhaps the true meaning of cute.
Of Immortality and Deathly Cuteness: The Secret Diary of Vlad Winter is a personal journal written in real time, from 2015-2022.
Now available in paperback and eBook versions.
Based on the popular series Vlad’s Vampire Diary from vampiremaman.com, “Of Immorality and Deathly Cuteness” is a hilarious, brutally honest, and sometimes scary look at our modern world. You’ll see old favorites plus new never before seen new diary entries. Vlad shares stories of modern times as well those from centuries ago. You’ll laugh out loud, be inspired, feel a little sweaty, and maybe get shocked out of your socks. Read it. You thank me for it later.
~ Oscar Gray,
Happy reading everyone – whatever you are reading.
Stay safe. Check in on those who are alone, or might need extra help. Hug your dogs and cats. Talk to your kids. And most important of all kiss a vampire. You’ll thank me for it later.
~ Juliette aka Vampire Maman
An ending note….
Teddy and I were driving to the coast and listening to an audio book by a well-known author. It was about an art theft and fraud. The story was so full of plot holes, and wrong information about the art world, weird made up stuff about 911, insanely ridiculous information about the banking business, or any kind of business, nonsensical logistics about any kind of travel, and so much made up shit about law enforcement that we were baffled. This was a “best-selling” author. This was not a fantasy story. It was bad. So bad. We listened to a fraction of the story and gave up. We just didn’t care. It was a boring and poorly written book. Nobody has time for that kind of shit.
Support authors you like, or even love. Support established authors, new authors, and indie authors. Even dead authors. Support good story telling.
I guess the point of this is HOW MANY wonderful authors don’t get published by the big publishers. They publish gems on their own, or with small presses. They don’t have the marketing skills, or budgets to get the word out about these amazing stories.
Support authors you love, be they indie authors, self-published, or best sellers. Leave reviews. Tell your friends about them. Write a blog post. Make sure they’ll write more stories and share those stories with the world. That includes both fiction and non-fiction writers.
I don’t know why so many creative and incredibly talented authors are turned down by dozens of agents and publishers and CRAP gets published. I wish I had an answer. But you can do something about it. We all can.
Also, if you have a favorite indie bookstore then tell them to start selling indie books.
This has been a public service message from
~ Juliette aka Vampire Maman
Vampire Maman 
