Fantasy - Comedy Genre

Word Count: Click here to reveal74000 (Click here to hide)

Summary: A cozy high fantasy full of food, fun, and friendship. Here is the official blurb: Cooking, magic, and scandal. When a good deed boils into a mystery, can this talented artificer keep an innocent from going down for the crime? Dana Everet is loyal to a fault. Moving to a remote village to help a good friend make a fresh start, the celebrated magical inventor is certain her grannie’s cookbooks contain the perfect formula for delighting the locals with treats. But the surefire plan turns out half-baked when a search of her late grandmother’s old restaurant turns up nothing but crumbs. Suspecting the town innkeeper of the theft, Dana grows frustrated when the woman denies the charges and the local sheriff refuses to get involved. And with her supernatural power running low, the resident gossip vanishing, and her pal’s buried secret landing her on the suspect list, she scrambles to find the real culprit before it’s too late. Can Dana serve up justice, or will she be left with burnt offerings? Recipes for the Copper Snake is the charming first book in the Post Host cozy fantasy series. If you like big-hearted protagonists, quirky townsfolk, and chasing down clues, then you’ll love J.S. Ruff’s smorgasbord of fun.

Word Count: Click here to reveal38000 (Click here to hide)

Summary: RISE (noun / verb) Eight definitions to inspire writers around the world, and an unlimited number of possible stories to tell: 1) An upward slope or movement 2) A beginning or origin 3) An increase in amount or number 4) An angry reaction 5) To take up arms 6) To return from death 7) To become heartened or elated 8) To exert oneself to meet a challenge Rise features 300-word speculative flash fiction stories from across the rainbow spectrum, from the minds of the writers of Queer Sci Fi.

Word Count: Click here to reveal78,000 (Click here to hide)

Summary: The mind of a befuddled muse... is full of odd nooks and crannies. This quirky, thoughtful, engrossing collection of short fiction contains twelve short stories and a novella across sci-fi and related genres including Time Travel, Alternate History, Hauntings, Circus Noir, Historical Fiction, Interspecies Communication, emails with the dead, and more... The Stories include: Curved Space: The crew of a sleeper ship awakes to find themselves lightyears from earth and in danger of starvation. They are shocked when a pizza deliveryman knocks at their airlock. The Daemon Muse A man tries to ignore his muse and finds out she is not a jealous lover, but she demands his creativity to express her inspirations. Times of Life and Death A field historian specializing in Tudor England becomes entranced by Lady Jane, England's nine-days queen. He convinces her to forgo her execution and come with him back to 2085 where, he says, she will be safe. Heart's Desire The newly elected president of the United States finds out that even when the devil loses his bet, he wins. A Sticky End A freak accident leaves an astronaut dying and stuck in the airlock with his robot. As he prepares for his end, he desperately tries to find humanity in his one remaining friend. The Singer of Starfish A young dolphin is convinced that she is the long-prophesied "Singer of Starfish" who can finally communicate with the strange animals keeping her and her pod captive. The Offering A sculptor weeps as he carves a memorial for his painter friend who had completely failed to understand the brutality of the French Occupation of Algeria. Both is French family and his secret Algerian family would pay the price of his naiveté. The Big Gumshoes A Clown PI must solve the murder of his friend and mentor in both his careers. Along the way, he breaks up a corrupt side-show, finds love, and returns a kidnapped dog to its owner. A Day in the Life of the Great Space Explorer A nursing home finds a unique way to entertain its staff and residents by celebrating the writing of their resident Sci-Fi author who can only remember the day he is living at the moment. Something That Will Not Let Go A woman returns to her childhood home to hide from the law. Once there, she finds out her imaginary friend, who helped her live through the abuse from her father, is not so imaginary after all. Together, they avenge the pain they suffered as children. Pea Soup A mild-mannered, puzzle-loving court reporter is duped by the beautiful, but corrupt prosecutor. The Severed World The Field Historian and Lady Jane from Times of Life and Death find out her decision to travel back to his time has dramatically changed history and that his promise that she would be safe in 2085 could not have been more wrong. A Thread Across The Veil An internet scammer discovers that he can converse by email with his recently deceased lover and that she wants to reform him from his evil ways.

Word Count: Information not available

Summary: WILL YOU BE ONE OF THE INVITED? A forbidden midnight market is coming to town. The Night Bazaar isn't new. In fact, it's as old as civilization. Its first recorded appearance was in Sana'a, around 700 B.C.E. with secretive merchants from the East who presented covered stalls of exotic goods and arcane services. Various mentions appear in obscure and controversial works from around the world. The only common element is that the market opens at midnight, closes before sunrise, and may appear for up to a week in the same city . . . Paris, 1796 . . . London, 1888 . . . Berlin, 1936 . . . San Francisco, 1906 . . . but never in the same venue each night. And never again in the same city. There's just one catch: In order to find it, you must be Invited. Tonight, The Night Bazaar opens in a parking garage somewhere in Manhattan. A whole subterranean city full of antique costumes, alchemical treatments, magical dentistry, palmistry, Tarot, tea leaf-reading, and water-, glass-, and crystal-gazing, oddities and objets d’art, medical curiosities and surgical instruments. Other lost arts and body alterations are offered in certain alcoves. Through the narrow aisles throng jongleurs, freaks, charlatans, mountebanks, faeries, prostitutes, and acrobats. The scents of opium, perfume, tobacco, greasepaint, incense, plastic explosive, alcohol, and sex permeate the air. But each object or service comes with a gift, a curse, or a haunting. (This is the summary of volume one. However, The Night Bazaar anthologies need not be read in any particular order; they are all designed to stand alone as well.) The Bazaar sells that which cannot be had elsewhere. Everything you’ve read about but thought had passed away, or perhaps never existed. How wrong you were! Your guide is Madame Vera, a tall, thin woman of uncertain age, ethnicity, and trustworthiness. The stories within are your invitation to join us. It seems you have already spotted something you desire . . . but don’t head off that way, not just yet. You have all night . . . but not a moment more.

Word Count: Click here to reveal103,000 (Click here to hide)

Summary: In volume three of this widely-praised dark fantasy anthology series, the Night Bazaar, a secret marketplace of the rare, strange, occult, and dangerous, journeys to 19th century London. There, as usual, its vendors will purvey curious services, forbidden wares, and rare objects which cannot be had elsewhere, for any price. The midnight market has operated throughout history in various locales, appearing in a city for one week only, never to return. This time the Bazaar’s proprietress, the enigmatic and unflappable Madame Vera, escorts the reader on an eerie, fantastical British tour in ten linked short stories by various authors. Some tales feature such recognizable luminaries as Sherlock Holmes, occultist Madam Blavatsky, and Queen Anne Boleyn. Several take place during the Bazaar proper, while others occur earlier or later, tied to its 1880 London appearance by a curse or spell – or, by an object found, inherited, purchased, or stolen during the decades since, by the unsuspecting, foolish, or greedy (though seldom the completely innocent). Together, these ten linked stories take readers on a fantastical journey into astonishment, dread, and dark delight. The Night Bazaar still holds everything you’ve read about but thought had passed away, or perhaps never existed at all. How wrong you were! But be warned: as usual, each object or service comes with a gift, a curse, or a haunting. NOTE: THE VOLUMES IN THIS SERIES MAY BE READ IN ANY ORDER YOU LIKE!

Word Count: Information not available

Summary: The truth can be sharp and pointy. Priestess Trixi is ready to reveal her god’s truth to the world, whether they like it or not. As she prepares to see her vision made real, only one thing stands in her way. A halfling that won’t die summons an ancient weapon, determined to kill the priestess. Friends betray them. Their pasts are hunting them. Hillbillies are trying to date them. But when Leanna and Trixi need each other the most, can they come together and see the great pilgrimage through to the Magic City?

Word Count: Click here to reveal73000 (Click here to hide)

Summary: Can’t get enough of the River City? Here are five more tales to whet your appetite: The Bear at the Bar: A gay fish out of water tale with just a pinch of Freaky Friday magic. Between the Lines: Ben is a Republican chief of staff for a state Senator. Sam is Brad’s handsome young assistant. When Brad finds an antique medallion that lets him read minds, all hell breaks loose. Ten: After the death of his husband, Chris faces a gay mid-life crisis—at thirty-five—as he jumps back into the dating scene for ten dates in ten days. Flames: When a fire puts his partner Gio in a Coma, Alex has to help him find his way back, one memory at a time. Miz Fortune’s Lonely Hearts Salon: Chester the accountant finds his voice as Miz Fortune, helping lonely clients find the love of their lives. Enjoy these little bits of storytelling magic!

Word Count: Information not available

Summary: The bar for heroes just got lower. Leanna Moonbody dreams of playing a concert in the Saul Amphitheater. Trixi has a vision from her god to take thousands on a pilgrimage. When a chance encounter puts them together, they realize how much they need each other. With a lovesick noble and a deranged halfling that won't die on their tails, they'll need help. Employing a motley crew of rejects, they take off running to realize their dreams. But when they're forced to stand and fight, can they be heroes?

Word Count: Click here to reveal50500 (Click here to hide)

Summary: A knight embarks on a journey to rescue a princess from the clutches of a dragon that absconded with her. Only...the knight is cowardly, the princess is thoroughly unpleasant, and the dragon is a pimp. Sir Ginger is hardly the picture of knightly distinction in Volo, his valor nonexistent and the songs written about him all insulting and pejorative. Nor is he the only knight who alights to rescue the princess after her kidnapping at the hands of a dragon. And yet it is he who gets embroiled in a maelstrom of cultists, fluorescent hydras, and horrors that lurk only in the deepest, darkest nightmares of men. A roguish crew assembles and tags along, interested in what adventure follows the intrepid knight. The princess Sir Ginger aims to rescue, though, is hardly the demure and mindful kind. And the dragon who absconded with her calls itself a pimp and has nefarious plans for her...

Word Count: Click here to reveal68000 (Click here to hide)

Summary: Argyle’s particular about how to be human, but rules must be broken to save his favorite town. Of all the towns on Argyle Mim’s trading routes, he’s always enjoyed visiting Merseton best. The residents understand the unusual, and he can’t deny he’s far from usual. So when he learns of a cavalry troop bent on destroying his favorite town, Argyle races to warn them and becomes more involved in the town’s defense than he’d anticipated. Fen Pepper never wanted to be a cavalry soldier, but when his brother is forcibly conscripted, he volunteers. He’s always protected Cor from people who don’t understand him, and he’s not about to stop now. A monster-killing obsessed captain leads the cavalry troop, and their target is the little town of Merseton, which might or might not exist. When Cor is injured during a skirmish, Fen stays with him while the rest of the troop flees—abandoning them to a town of monsters. But all is not what it seems, and Fen finds his prejudices and fears challenged at every turn. Trader Argyle takes Fen under his wing and helps him navigate this odd new world. The cavalry will return—Fen knows their captain well enough for that—endangering the people who rescued him and his brother. While Fen reconsiders the bad information he’s been fed all his life and tries not to consider his growing feelings for Argyle, he knows he’ll have to choose between questionable loyalty and the truth right in front of him. This book contains: one cat who knows more than she should, some horrible holy relics, and a number of very angry birds.

Word Count: Click here to reveal35000 (Click here to hide)

Summary: Rollo is the overworked, stressed-out Head Elf at the North Pole. As he prepares for Christmas Eve, he has to deal with toys that look like they're having sex, terrorist reindeer, and worst of all, the sudden death of Santa Claus. Rollo has to save Christmas after he finds out that Santa is not just dead -- he is undead. 'Twas the Night is a novella of approximately 35,000 words. It is a satire and contains adult language and themes.

Word Count: Click here to reveal35454 (Click here to hide)

Summary: A poltergeist haunts Taro, dogging his international travels. It washes glasses, puts dishes away, and even dusts. At least he hopes it's a cleaning-obsessed poltergeist and not his own anxieties burbling over into neat freak fits he doesn't remember. When his property manager suggests he call paranormal expert, Jack Montrose, Taro's skeptical but desperate enough to try even a ghost hunter. Jack's arrival crushes Taro's hopes of a dashing Van Helsing-style hero. Instead of an invincible hunter, he gets Ichabod Crane. As the paranormal puzzles multiply and Jack begins to suggest the entity might not be a ghostly one, Taro adds a budding friendship with Jack to his pile of anxieties. It's a race to see whether Taro's poltergeist or his relationship with the obviously-not-ace Jack will reach maximum strangeness first.

Word Count: Click here to reveal150561 (Click here to hide)

Summary: A young half-elf hermit with forgotten magic. An army officer with ambitions as grand as his moustache. Decades after it began, war still rages between humans and elves. For some, war is a proving ground, a chance to win glory and prestige. For others, they must avoid the horrors of war at all costs. The Elixir of Power could make guns and cannons—and elves—a thing of the past. All Slee wants is to remain hidden from the world, but the fighting is never far. With the mass-produced gears of war devouring the land, how could a reclusive half-elf like her ever hope to find peace? All Fentor wants is … everything. To make a name for himself. To be remembered. To win. With the Elixir of Power in his hands, victory is at last within reach. When these two meet, their worlds begin to change—in the most unexpected of ways.