Laurie Gardiner

From Scout Media comes A Bond of Words--the sixth volume in an ongoing short story anthology series featuring authors from all over the world. In this installment, the authors delved into multi-genre tales about the importance of, and sometimes the danger of creating bonds with one another. From comedy, to drama, fantasy, romance, and sci-fi, these stories explore the strength or frailty of the bonds we find may define who we are. Tackling racism, death row, a first kiss, marriages, and our unavoidable bond with technology in everyday life, plus a multitude of other topics and unique spins, these stories will warm your heart, send shivers down your spine, and tickle your funny bone. Whether to be enlightened, entertained, or momentarily immersed in another world, these selections convey the true spirit of the short story and the complexity of the bonds we make with the people and places of the world around us.

From Scout Media comes A Contract of Words--the fourth volume in an ongoing short story anthology series featuring authors from all over the world. In this installment, the authors wove multi-genre tales around characters entering into contracts, who found repercussions or rewards. From comedy, to drama, fantasy, romance, and horror, these stories put eclectic and unusual spins on what is usually thought to be typical and mundane events. Whether you are honoring a request for euthanasia, satisfying a contract for home improvement, failing to meet an exorcism agreement, or feeling the ramifications of a shady television reality show, you may find yourself gripped with fear from an evil pyramid-scheme company or desperately searching for a loophole in a contract that pits you against a gunslinger at high noon. These stories of both infringement and fulfillment of contracts will warm your heart, send shivers down your spine, and tickle your funny bone. Whether to be enlightened, entertained, or momentarily immersed in another world, these selections convey the true spirit of the short story and the complexity of promises.