First Stories

Sister Juliet is the nice nun all former Catholic school kids remember, the one who tried to protect you from the ones who wielded their rulers like swords. So when she finds a boy trapped in her room at the convent late one night, naturally she doesn't turn him in. Naturally, she tries to make him feel at ease. Naturally, things just keep going from there. (Celeste's No. 3 story for all of 1997!)

A young man gives his teenage sister a very special birthday celebration.

The girl next door grows up.

Jeff Dugan's life is drastically changed after a Friday night high school football game. He's at the wrong place at the wrong time or is it the right place at the right time? Some violence toward the beginning of the story, but nothing extremely graphical.

Captured by Indians as a boy, he grew up as an Indian. When a white woman and her three children are captured by his arch enemy, endangering the tribe, he undertakes getting them back to where they belong. Along the way, though, they must abide by his customs, including his attitude toward sex. Rape is part of the story, but not a code.

Now, who the heck would be giving me an old clipping about someone I don't know? Not to mention a photo. I unfolded the letter, expecting an explanation. I got more questions, instead. The date at the top of the page was Nineteen Sixteen!

A Life in Paradise Story
Kyle Martin has to follow in his valedictorian, class president, year book editor older brother, Will Henry's very large footsteps. Kyle works on finding a way to meet the lofty expectations at school, make a name for himself in football, deal with the adulation and girls his on-field success brings and finding love with his friend and neighbor Penny Edwards.

Stephen's been tormented by the monster under his bed since he was a very little boy. But, this is no ordinary monster and Stephen has decided that it's time to do a little bit of tormenting in return.

A long time ago in a kingdom far far away, it came time for the princess to be assigned the man who would lead her armies, provide her counsel, and guard her with his life. She was hoping for, at least, someone friendly. Who she got... Is a whole different story. A medieval fantasy.