Robert J. McCarter

What happens when you take the fertile imagination of a science fiction and fantasy writer and apply that to modern, contemporary stories? In these pages, Robert J. McCarter does just that, applying the wit, compassion, and character-oriented approach of his sci-fi work to stories a little closer to home with stunning results. From what happens after "happily ever after" reaches its inevitable conclusion, to a tender coming of age story (or two), to a mouse-eyed perspective on human-sized problems. This collection runs the gamut from mystery to romance, from light to dark, from familiar to unique. Buckle up for an extraordinary journey as McCarter masterfully blends sci-fi sensibilities with contemporary narratives, delivering a mesmerizing collection that defies convention.

Carterville, AZ. Population: 286. People with powers: 198Just a sleepy former mining town turned tourist haven in the mountains of Northern Arizona until the "incident"-the meteorite that gave everyone in the town powers, but only while in or near Carterville. Some people think that the blood of Carterville bestows powers, but when a tourist stabs police Chief Henry Carter's best friend, everything changes. Henry will do the unthinkable to save his friend. But when the crime gets complicated, can Henry find the culprit and save his town, much less survive? From Robert J. McCarter, long-time Arizona resident and the author of Shuffled Off: A Ghost's Memoir, comes a mystery and a town you will never forget. This is the second edition of The Blood of Carterville released in October, 2023

A story from an unusual apocalypse. The aliens came in peace and we met them with violence. After we attacked them, we thought they left for good, but the day the alien's gossamer threads fall, everything changes. Now the dead become gossamer ghosts, haunting the living, intent on balancing the scales of their lives. In "Gossamer Ghosts," Glenn watches as events unfold that will change everything. Not knowing what they are, he welcomes the gossamer threads when they fall and witnesses the appearance of some of the first gossamer ghosts. Amidst the chaos of a changing world, he desperately tries to pull together the fractured pieces of his family and build something worthwhile as the world falls apart. In this innovative short story of a "karmic" apocalypse, Robert J. McCarter, the author of Wood and June versus the Apocalypse, shares an unforgettable vision of a future, one both terrifying and hopeful.

Outnumbered, Four Thousand to ThreeWoody Beckman and June Medina defied the odds and found each other in post-zombie-apocalypse Arizona. No longer go-it-alone survivors, they now face the future together with something to lose. Each other. Stranded in a treehouse built high in a cell tower and surrounded by thousands of zombies, Woody, June, and Dallas face their greatest challenge yet. How do the three of them escape four-thousand starving undead that want nothing more than to make a meal of them? Can Woody and June beat the odds and let their love flourish in a world of zombies and psychotic, petty, wannabe warlords? A story of adventure and love and taking things (even the apocalypse) in stride.

Time for the Rescuer to be RescuedWoody Beckman and June Medina defied the odds and found each other in post-zombie-apocalypse Arizona. No longer go-it-alone survivors, they now face the future together with something to lose. Each other. When Woody, June, and Dallas survive the twisted trap Talia set for them in Winslow, Arizona things go from bad to worse when one of them comes face-to-face with Talia and then goes up against the deadliest foe yet, the zombie infection. Can Woody and June beat the odds and let their love flourish in a world of zombies and psychotic, petty, wannabe warlords? A story of adventure and love and taking things (even the apocalypse) in stride.

Isn't Winslow the Place to "Take it Easy"? Woody Beckman and June Medina defied the odds and found each other in post-zombie-apocalypse Arizona. No longer go-it-alone survivors, they now face the future together with something to lose. Each other. With Dallas kidnapped and Talia's twisted "game" moving into high gear, can Woody and June do the impossible and save Dallas, survive Winslow, and escape Talia's insidious trap? Can Woody and June beat the odds and let their love flourish in a world of zombies and psychotic, petty, wannabe warlords? A story of adventure and love and taking things (even the apocalypse) in stride.

One Person's Game is Another's NightmareWoody Beckman and June Medina defied the odds and found each other in post-zombie-apocalypse Arizona. No longer go-it-alone survivors, they now face the future together with something to lose. Each other. When the worst psychotic, petty, wannabe warlord of them all sets a trap for Woody, June, and Dallas and launches them into her twisted "game," it will take everything they've got just to survive the day. Can Woody and June beat the odds and let their love flourish in a world of zombies and psychotic, petty, wannabe warlords? A story of adventure and love and taking things (even the apocalypse) in stride. Woody and June versus Two Guns is also available with four other episodes as part of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse: Volume 2 (Episodes 8-12)

Some Exes Just Can't Take a HintWoody Beckman and June Medina defied the odds and found each other in post-zombie-apocalypse Arizona. No longer go-it-alone survivors, they now face the future together with something to lose. Each other. After escaping the Grand Canyon and Phantom Company, June's ex now wants revenge and it will take every trick they can come up with, every ounce of courage, and Dallas's help just to survive. Can they beat the odds and let their love flourish in a world of zombies and psychotic, petty, wannabe warlords? A story of adventure and love and taking things (even the apocalypse) in stride.

A world within our world. A secret tunnel hidden under the Eiffel Tower. A small central sun at the center of our planet warming those lands in the hollow earth. Seas with no horizon because of the concave nature of those lands. Adventures beyond the imagination of the modern man at the dawning of the twentieth century. In 1889, seasoned explorer Marco Walker descends into the hollow earth on a desperate mission to rescue Jules Verne on the behest of the Hollow Earth Society. He finds himself in an untamed land with dangers at every turn and must use his skill, his wits, and every last bit of his experience to rescue Verne and survive this hostile and spectacular land. From Robert J. McCarter, author of Woody and June versus the Apocalypse, comes an imaginative story of adventure and companionship unlike anything before it

Carterville, AZ. Population: 293. People with powers: 201Just a sleepy former mining town turned tourist haven in the mountains of Northern Arizona until the "incident"-the meteorite that gave everyone in the town powers, but only while in or near Carterville. With a dead woman dressed as an elf found on Christmas morning in snow-globe-perfect Carterville, it falls to police chief Henry Carter to solve the murder. But Henry knows the victim, and his suspect list soon fills up with the people closest to him. With no allies and powers involved, Henry risks his life to solve the crime and to find some kind of justice for his friend. From Robert J. McCarter, long-time Arizona resident and the author of The Blood of Carterville, comes a Christmas murder mystery and a town you will never forget.