The winner and ten special commendations from the firstwriter.com First International Short Story Contest, which ran from 2004 to 2005.Every year, firstwriter.com runs an international short story contest. This chapbook contains the winner and ten special commendations from the firstwriter.com First International Short Story Contest, which ran from 2004 to 2005. The winner, Alexandra Fox, was awarded £200 for her moving story "Cradle Song for Isobel".These stories were first published together in 2006, in firstwriter.magazine issue 8: Turning Leaves.

Elle Winters lost everything when the day of impact transformed Earth’s surface into an icy wasteland. All she knows are the artificial confines of the ARC, where people live in fear of failing their annual testing, being found tainted and taken away without warning. No one is ever truly safe in the ARC and Elle is about to be left with no choice but to uncover the truth about the tainted.Find out what it means to be tainted in this post-apocalyptic future where the secrets are as deep and dark as the fallout shelter humanity survives in.Elle Winters lost everything when the day of impact transformed Earth's surface into an icy, desolate wasteland. All she has ever known are the artificial confines of underground fallout shelter, the ARC. Under the Council's rule, ruthless officials roam the hallways, community comes first and everyone lives in fear of failing their annual testing. With one simple blood test you could be taken away without any warning or a word of goodbye.There are only a few people in the ARC who Elle truly cares about and she desperately tries to keep them at arm's length away for fear of losing someone else. Especially, her best friend Sebastian who she denies her feelings for, even from herself. Chilling secrets and mysterious disappearances plague the ARC, but Elle would never dare to voice the forbidden questions that linger on her lips. That is until they take the wrong person.No one is truly safe in the ARC and Elle is about to experience her own personal apocalypse. With nothing left to lose she will risk everything to uncover the truth about the tainted. Will she find what she's looking for or are some secrets better left buried deep underground? Don't miss the start of this young adult series!Series reading order:TAINTED (Book 1)TALENTED (Book 2)FRACTURED (Book 3)DESTINED (Book 4)

In this terrifying tale of sci-fi horror...Captain Gibson's ship is falling.Plunging from space at ten times the speed of sound into an alien ocean of darkness.A place where no light has shown since the days of creation, a place beyond any hope of rescue.A place with almost no chance of any other life existing. Where he will almost certainly be alone in the dark.Almost.In this terrifying tale of sci-fi horror...Captain Gibson's ship is falling.Plunging from space at ten times the speed of sound into an alien ocean of darkness.A place where no light has shown since the days of creation, a place beyond any hope of rescue.A place with almost no chance of any other life existing. Where he will almost certainly be alone in the dark.Almost.Praise for Ryan Notch:"I've come to believe that mystery is the greatest driving force offiction...and it's clear that Ryan Notch gets it."-Albert Berg's Unsanity Files"I don't usually pick up a horror book unless it has Stephen King on frontpage but this author could give Stephen King a run for his money!"-Bridget H, Goodreads

A short story about Mo Dingle's ill-fated attempt to bag a bear for a bearskin rug.When a rebellious youth named Donovan leaves his home in Europe for a family trip to Australia, he quickly determines another course when he takes advantage of an opportunity to seek out adventure of his own. While slipping away from the care of his guardian and sister at the airport in Darwin, he decides to take a tour bus to a Crocodile Farm, which inadvertently continues to take him hundreds of miles deeper in the outback and into Kakadu National park. His curiosity continues to get the best of him, when he sets off on foot to explore a trail to a waterfall and plunge pool. One mishap leads to another until he finds himself alone in the dark and unprepared to face the unknown that envelopes his surroundings. Once he discovers that he is lost, he continues to make his way through the bush, but not without its perils. Eventually, he befriends an Aborigine boy named Neji, who is on a journey into manhood. Together they fight against the elements and the mysteries of the dark, with beliefs and rituals as deep as the Dreamtime. All the while, a peculiar stranger continues to shadow them for unknown reasons. Pretty soon, Donovan finds himself on an unexpected course with this deliberate Swagman, with his harsh ways and cruel intentions. Without warning, Donovan is forced to use all that he has learned, in order to survive this downward spiral that seems to be leading him nowhere, with his only hope of making it back to civilization again...

When a rebellious youth named Donovan leaves his home in Europe for a family trip to Australia, he quickly determines another course when he takes advantage of an opportunity to seek out adventure of his own...When a rebellious youth named Donovan leaves his home in Europe for a family trip to Australia, he quickly determines another course when he takes advantage of an opportunity to seek out adventure of his own. While slipping away from the care of his guardian and sister at the airport in Darwin, he decides to take a tour bus to a Crocodile Farm, which inadvertently continues to take him hundreds of miles deeper in the outback and into Kakadu National park. His curiosity continues to get the best of him, when he sets off on foot to explore a trail to a waterfall and plunge pool. One mishap leads to another until he finds himself alone in the dark and unprepared to face the unknown that envelopes his surroundings. Once he discovers that he is lost, he continues to make his way through the bush, but not without its perils. Eventually, he befriends an Aborigine boy named Neji, who is on a journey into manhood. Together they fight against the elements and the mysteries of the dark, with beliefs and rituals as deep as the Dreamtime. All the while, a peculiar stranger continues to shadow them for unknown reasons. Pretty soon, Donovan finds himself on an unexpected course with this deliberate Swagman, with his harsh ways and cruel intentions. Without warning, Donovan is forced to use all that he has learned, in order to survive this downward spiral that seems to be leading him nowhere, with his only hope of making it back to civilization again...

Hi, I'm Charlotte Walker, straight A student, surgical intern, and Empress of the galaxy.Wow, that escalated quickly, right? But it's true--at least according to the muscular giant with multicolored eyes and golden skin who turned up in my ER the other night.Of course, I thought he was high or crazy...Turns out he's not.Charlotte Walker is just an intern trying to get through her surgical rotation in one piece when her life takes an abrupt turn for the weird. A seven-foot tall patient with multicolored eyes and golden skin shows up in the ER asking for her. When he tells Charlotte she's supposed to be the Empress of the entire galaxy, she naturally thinks he's high or crazy or both.He's not.Kristoff Verrai is the Captain of the Imperial Guard of the Goddess-Empress of the galaxy. For ten cycles he served his old mistress faithfully. Now that she is dead, his only job is to find and protect her new Incarnation until she can ascend the throne.He doesn't expect to fall in love with her.But a relationship between them can never be--the Empress must have a Consort with Royal blood and Kristoff is just a commoner. Can they fight the love growing between them? Or will it overwhelm them?

It’s Christmas Eve but Tanner doesn’t know it yet. Nor does her buddy, Scrim. That’s because they’re both zombies; with no memories. Of anything. At all. Not of their past lives. Not of who they are… or were. Not even of Christmas. But that all changes when Tanner hears Christmas music for the first time. And nothing will ever be the same…When Aleister Ward left the Wyldston police force to become a private investigator he hoped that the horrors that he had seen in his past would remain solely in his nightmares, however his newest case threatens to open up old wounds and create vicious new ones. As he is trying to be the father that his daughter deserves in the absence of his wife, he is pulled into a multiple murder investigation where he must try to clear his own name whilst simultaneously finding the root of the sinister killings.Shred is the first novella in a six part occult horror mystery series Cuts of Flesh from Jacob Prytherch, author of The Binary Man and Heal The Sick, Raise The Dead.

When Aleister Ward left the Wyldston police force to become a private investigator he hoped that the horrors that he had seen in his past would remain solely in his nightmares, however his newest case threatens to open up old wounds and create vicious new ones...When Aleister Ward left the Wyldston police force to become a private investigator he hoped that the horrors that he had seen in his past would remain solely in his nightmares, however his newest case threatens to open up old wounds and create vicious new ones. As he is trying to be the father that his daughter deserves in the absence of his wife, he is pulled into a multiple murder investigation where he must try to clear his own name whilst simultaneously finding the root of the sinister killings.Shred is the first novella in a six part occult horror mystery series Cuts of Flesh from Jacob Prytherch, author of The Binary Man and Heal The Sick, Raise The Dead.

Tyler Jensen, a Los Angeles drug dealer lost in the cosmos, struggles to understand the technologically advanced world whose hero he has inadvertently become. Posing as the Supreme Commander of the planet’s fleet, he must learn the murky alliances of the military to succeed against their neighboring enemy. Can he navigate the political trappings of the Admiral’s world to conquer another?From Los Angeles drug dealer to hero of an alien world, the Universe must have a sense of humor. Tyler Jensen, an earthling lost in the cosmos, struggles to understand the technologically advanced world whose hero he has inadvertently become. Posing as the Supreme Commander of the planet’s fleet, Tyler must quickly learn the murky alliances of the military to succeed against their neighboring enemy. Will Tyler’s naivete doom the warring world or can he navigate the political trappings of the Admiral’s world to conquer another?

Megan Johnsons' crisis of faith at BYU, triggered by spaghetti, sardine tag, wheelchairs, and green eyes, resolved by adoption and a goldfish. (Not adopting A goldfish, mind you.) Oh, and a grumpy old man at a nursing home.Megan Johnson knows what it is like to be afraid and alone. Determined to put that past behind her, she works to make people around her happy and accepted, keeping score with how many smiles she receives each week. Entering her second year at BYU, Megan is so successful that she has become the unofficial “entertainment director” for her group of friends – until the ripples of her past knock her life into ruins.Megan is left wondering if she can ever find the peace and joy that she longs for, the fulfillment that her faith promises. Even more puzzling to her is the question – *should* she?The Author never suspected that this book would find its way to a non-LDS audience. This edition has been given footnotes to explain some of the more Mormon-centric references in this story.

An eclectic collection of ten short stories and Micro-stories by author Miranda Mayer. They range from real life to fantasy and paranormal. A quick and easy read!'A Desirable End'A better life at last.‘Continuation’ A family affair ‘Food’Shocking Truth 'Her'Feeding a Myth.'Jacob'Welcomed Imposter.'Lace'Genteel Murder'She Finally Did It'ReliefThree Micro stories (150 words or less):NormalityInvisible GirlCamouflage

Death had come to town to the small little town of Calgary and it will have a smaller population when he leaves. The people of Calgary are colorful and memorable. Sam is a good man with a heavy heart and a kind nature but the devil is at his door. Choices will have to be made....lives will depend on Sam. Can he turn back death.Death had come to Calgary driving a 1964 Cadillac hearse and the small little town will have a smaller population when he leaves.

A one scene comedy based on an audition night for Juliet, featuring a crusty Director with an ulcer and his young nephew reading for Romeo. The nephew tries to exploit his relationship with his uncle to further his romantic designs successively on each of the three Juliets. 35 minutes running time.A one scene comedy based around an audition night for Juliet. It involves a crusty Director with an ulcer, and his young nephew who is reading for Romeo. The nephew tries to exploit his relationship with the Director to further his romantic designs successively on each of the three prospective Juliets. The play provides a range of acting experiences for all the main actors, including short sections of Shakespeare's play. Ideal for a school play, competition, or as part of a one act play night. The play has been performed successfully for a season with an amateur theatre group, with the author as Director. Running time was 35 minutes.

What if making accidents happen was your job. If you liked this short story please check out Shane's new full length novel Apocalyptica - Rogue Memories!!!What if making accidents happen was your job. Follow Mr Smith as he goes about his daily work.If you liked this short story please check out Shane's new full length novel Apocalyptica - Rogue Memories!!!

In this tale by Atlanta-based mystery writer Julian Cage, the discovery of the months-old corpse of a woman leads Detective Diana Siddal and Inspector Mustapha Alawi to two older men, one a lover and the other something of a mentor. One man loves theatre; the other came to love it. But neither expected what would happen when the woman and her partner tried to raise money for a theatre company.INSIDE — SET FIRE TO THE RAIN: Part Two of UNCENSORED’s Exclusive Interview with Daytime’s Best Actress (And 2010’s Sexiest Woman Alive) Y&R’s Michelle Stafford In Her Most Personal and Honest Interview Ever — “I Felt Like A Failure!” Exclusive: ONE LIFE’s Trevor St. John on Todd’s Arrest For Victor’s “Murder!” Report: Is THE REVOLUTION Being Cancelled? Is GH Safe? GH’s Maurice Benard Sounds Off on JFP, Garin Wolf, Megan Ward, and Cartini! Rumour: Is Billy Miller Leaving Y&R? Find Out! Plus: Is Y&R Already Planning a Tristan Rogers Comeback? Y&R Spoiler: Find Out How Harmony Falls For: Tucker, Neil or Sarge! Plus: A Neil-Ashley Redux? B&B: Katherine Kelly Lang On Losing Her Pre-Nom! GH: The Return of Liason! Plus: More Franco! Why Tyler Christopher Wants to Finish Off GH’s Nikolas For Good! Kristian Alfonso Toronto-Bound! DAYS: Divorce for Sami and Rafe! More On The GH DVR Blackout? Plus: Last Week's Reviews, Unbelievable Blind Items, and Next Week's Cheat Sheet!