Fiction River Presents Series

From baking a magical love spell to having the opportunity to rectify a mistake from the past to hunting a serial killer, Debut Writers’ Showcase highlights stories from Fiction River’s first year that marked a first professional sale for these up-and-coming authors. Since first appearing in a volume of Fiction River, these authors have gone on to sell more stories, build their fan bases and win awards. These first stories mark the perfect way to start this brand-new Fiction River line. Table of Contents “True Calling” by Irette Y. Patterson “A Taste of Joie De Vivre” by Kellen Knolan “Flight of Little Bird” by Stephanie Writt “Staying Afloat” by Angela Penrose “Love in the Time of Dust and Venom” by Sharon Joss “This Time, I Return for Good” by Michael Robert Thomas “Unstuck” by D.K. Holmberg “The Highlight of a Life” by Jeffrey A. Ballard “Rationing” by Karen Fonville “Gas, Tan, Video” by M. Elizabeth Castle “Jokers” by M. Elizabeth Castle “The Fiction River series is a wonderful mind-expanding read...” —Astro Guyz

Editor Kristine Kathryn Rusch reaches for the stars with this latest volume of Fiction River Presents. With stories that take the reader from pulse-pounding terror and utter darkness to sheer joy and wish fulfillment, this volume runs the gamut of the space opera genre. So, get ready for a wonderful journey and see why Adventures Fantastic says: "If you haven't checked out Fiction River yet, you should. There's something for everyone." Includes "Get Inside" by Dayle A. Dermatis "Sole Survivor" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch "The Mooring Buoy" by Jamie McNabb "Schrodinger's Bar" by Kim May "Upon_A_Starship.png" by Brigid Collins "Jelly's Heroes" by Louisa Swann "Dreams of A Moon" by Dean Wesley Smith "Charlie Company" by JC Andrijeski "H-Hour" by Steven Mohan, Jr.

Expect the unexpected in this latest volume of Fiction River Presents. Be it a twist you won’t see coming, an unusual character voice, or a surprising elicitation of emotion, these wonderful stories will catch you off guard and keep you hooked. From some unique retellings of classic tales to some not-so-typical detectives to expressions of love and heroism from the most unlikely of misfits, these ten stories eloquently demonstrate why Astro Guys calls the Fiction River series “a wonderful mind-expanding read.” Table of Contents “Generations” by Steve Perry “Case Cracked” by Joe Cron “Role Model” by Kevin J. Anderson “Finally Family” by Ray Vukcevich “Time, Expressed as an Entrée” by Robert T. Jeschonek “One-Night Stands for Love and Glory” by David H. Hendrickson “Earth Day” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch “Jelly’s Heroes” by Louisa Swann “Nice Timestream Youse Got Here” by Lee Allred “In the Play of Frigid Women” by Dean Wesley Smith “[Fiction River] is one of the best and most exciting publications in the field today. Check out an issue and see why I say that.” —Keith West, Adventures Fantastic

Take a journey into darker realms with the latest volume of Fiction River Presents. Starting with a one mage’s difficult choice, this volume transports readers to dark magical worlds—sometimes eerily similar to our own and sometimes incredibly foreign. Including the prequels to two groundbreaking series, the Runelords and the Fey, this volume proves why Adventures Fantastic says the Fiction River series “is one of the best and most exciting publications in the field today.” Table of Contents “Lost in the Tarnished Cube” by Thomas K. Carpenter “Myrtle’s Boxes” by Louisa Swann “Old Magics” by Steven Mohan, Jr. “Sky in the Ground” by Rob Vagle “The Gleaming Crater” by Thea Hutcheson “Destiny” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch “Barbarians” by David Farland ‘The Witch’s House” by Richard Bowes

Pulling from the list of her favorite stories for this volume of Fiction River Presents, editor Kristine Kathryn Rusch takes readers on a thrilling journey. From little rovers exploring the planets where humans cannot yet go, to human explorers flung into realms of space/time beyond their knowledge and experience, to aliens who drop in for a visit to Earth for purposes only they can fathom—these travelers entertain, sometimes terrify, and always fascinate. With this tantalizing volume, Rusch asks the reader, "Wanna go for a ride?" Includes "Tendrils" by Leigh Saunders "Moonfall" by Lisa Silverthorne "The Rock of Kansas" by Eric Kent Edstrom "Hot Jupiters" by Steven Mohan, Jr. "Embedded" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch "Ice Dogs" by Kris Austen Radcliffe "Closing The Big Bang" by Michéle Laframboise "Time, Expressed As An Entrée" by Robert T. Jeschonek

Fiction River crosses the border (and sometimes the galaxy) in this latest volume of Fiction River Presents. From a look into the Canadian side of World War II to the streets of London’s East End to worlds altogether alien, Writers Without Borders offers up international perspectives from Fiction River authors living outside the US. Spanning genre lines from historical mystery to fantasy to science fiction, this volume proves why Astro Guys says: “The Fiction River series is a wonderful mind-expanding read.” Table of Contents “Neutrality” by Karen L. Abrahamson “Because” by Melissa Yi “Dog Boy Remembers” by Jane Yolen “The Red-Stained Wishing Tree” by Eric Stocklassa “The Magnificent Citadel” by Rebecca M. Senese “Impressions in the Snow” by Mark Leslie “She Walks in Beauty” by Brenda Carre “Magic and Sacrifice” by Felicia Fredlund “Muggins Rules” by Russ Crossley “Winning the Ocean Pearl” by T. D. Edge “Blown” by Diana Deverell “Closing the Big Bang” by Michèle Laframboise “The Verdant Gene” by Marcelle Dubé “The Moon was Bitter and Hungry” by JC Andrijeski The settings for these stories are just as diverse as their authors. From the snows of Canada in deep winter, to the mean streets of New York, to London’s East End, these stories prove that the imagination has no bounds; Cultures may be different, but they need not divide us. “[Fiction River] is one of the best and most exciting publications in the field today.” —Adventures Fantastic

Family time takes the stage with this latest volume of Fiction River Presents. From the gut-wrenching struggle to survive a broken family to the heartbreaking loss of a child to the all-encompassing power of familial love, Legacies takes readers on a roller-coaster of emotions. Spanning genre lines from literary to fantasy to paranormal romance, this volume proves why Adventures Fantastic says: “If you haven’t checked out Fiction River yet, you should. There’s something for everyone.” Table of Contents “Prism of the Crab Gods” by Kelly Washington “Sisters” by Leah Cutter “Deathmobile” by Michele Lang “The F Factor” by Chrissy Wissler “Shaman” by Leslie Claire Walker “Legacy” by Irette Y. Patterson “My Real Cousin Ruby” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch “The Man Who Decided” by Dean Wesley Smith “The Farewell Gift” by Louise Marley

Fiction River readers make the call in this latest volume of Fiction River Presents. From a reluctant warrior fighting a battle in her own backyard, to a man coming to terms with the racial inequality of his youth, to a romance blooming out of adversity, Readers’ Choice offers up favorite stories from the first four years of Fiction River. Spanning genre lines from historical mystery to science fiction to Regency romance, this volume proves why Adventures Fantastic says: “[Fiction River] is one of the best and most exciting publications in the field today.”

Steampunk and sorcery offer fantastic flights of imagination in this latest volume of Fiction River Presents. From the merciless march of Lovecraftian prose to the echoes of Russell Hoban's Ridley Walker, these nine authors create convincing and compelling worlds that feel like familiar places from some past life or dream. With engaging characters often caught in agonizing situations, this spellbinding volume proves why Adventures Fantastic says the Fiction River series "is one of the best and most exciting publications in the field today." Includes: "Murmuration of a Darkening Sea" by Lee Allred "Heart" by Leslie Claire Walker "The Whirring Dreams of Aberrant Blood" by Cindie Geddes "The Clunkety" by Brenda Carre "Skinwalker" by Valerie Brook "Dead Men Walking" by Annie Reed "The Airship Adventures of Captain Jane Fury" by Anthea Sharp "Trouble Aboard the Flying Scotsman" by Alistair Kimble "The Scottish Play" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

There are many kinds of mysterious women, both in life and in fiction. Fiction River Presents: Mysterious Women plucks some of the most intriguing, compelling, and sometimes dangerous female characters from the pages of Fiction River and collects them in one volume. These women fight back against oppression and injustice, help each other when no other help can be found, and undergo transformations from hopelessness into beacons of light for others to follow. They also entertain the reader with their own personal mysteries. What happened to make them break out of the traditional bonds of womanhood? Why do they take such risks? What makes them tick? These eight superb writers tackle those questions and more in this outstanding volume.   Includes: "Plan B" by Kate Wilhelm "China Moll" by Cindie Geddes "On the Edge of the Nations" by Dan C. Duval "These Boots Were Made for Murder" by Julie Hyzy "Mercy Find Me" by Diana Deverell "Mechanical Advantage" by Eric Kent Edstrom "Wheel of Fortune" by Steve Hockensmith "The Monster in our Midst" by Kris Nelscott

Cats display many qualities, from marvelousness and brilliance to affection and exasperation (humans never live up to their expectations.) These stories cover all of that and more. In this latest volume of Fiction River Presents, some of our favorite writers capture the mystique of these fabulous felines with warmth, some magic (goes with cats), insight, and even some suspense. Find out why Adventures Fantastic says: "If you haven't checked out Fiction River yet, you should. There's something for everyone."   Includes: "Queen of the Mouse Riders" by Annie Reed "Fur Tsunami" by Kent Patterson "Speechless in Seattle" by Lisa Silverthorne "Cat and Mice" by Jamie McNabb "The Magic Cat of The Hidden Springs Inn and Spa" by Kari Kilgore "The Secret of Catnip" by Stefon Mears "Helmie" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

The latest volume of Fiction River Presents makes the heart race. From one woman’s desperate attempts to escape her kidnappers to another woman’s attempts to escape a doomed space station, this volume takes off at a pulse-pounding pace and refuses to let go until the very end. Including a short story from Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s bestselling Retrieval Artist sf thriller series, this volume proves why Adventures Fantastic says the Fiction River series “is one of the best and most exciting publications in the field today.” Table of Contents “The Chair by” JC Andrijeski “Tower One” by Thomas K. Carpenter “The Good Brother” by Brendan DuBois “The Elevator in the Cornfield” by Scott William Carter “The Red-Stained Wishing Tree” by Eric Stocklassa “The Scent of Amber and Vanilla” by Dayle A. Dermatis “Play the Man” by Dan C. Duval “Eyes on My Cards” by Dean Wesley Smith “H-Hour” by Steven Mohan, Jr. “Sole Survivor” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch