Think you know a tavern tale when you hear one? Think again. The seventeen stories in this volume run the gamut of genre and mood. Bars filled with glitter and ghosts stand alongside taverns filled with orcs and adventurers. Exclusive members-only drinks served at the end of the universe war with coffee bars with strange employee policies in the Pacific Northwest. Dive bars, afterlife bars, gay bars-you name it, and you'll find it in Tavern Tales. So, grab a drink and get ready for one of the most entertaining Fiction River volumes yet. ..".remarkable tales... Table of Contents Quest for Beer" by Stefon Mears "Closing the Big Bang" by Michele Laframboise "Hero #8" by Ron Collins "Girls That Glitter" by Dayle A. Dermatis "The Kids Keep Coming" by David H. Hendrickson "One Last Round at Cozy's Tavern" by Lisa Silverthorne "Wider Horizons" by Diana Benedict "Grounds for Dismissal" by Anthea Sharp "The Next Dance" by Jamie Ferguson "Schrodinger's Bar" by Kim May "The Gods Are Out Inn" by M. L. Buchman "The First Ingredient" by Eric Kent Edstrom "The Legend of Long-Bow and Short-Staff" by Brenda Carre "Freedom Unbound" by Dory Crowe "Killing Spree" by Brigid Collins "The Hot Eagle Roadhouse" by Chuck Heintzelman "Death at the Pines" by Annie Reed

Humans prove great fodder for fiction. But what about the universe of possibilities offered by the nonhuman protagonist? The eighteen daring humans of Fiction River’s latest volume explore just that. From a goblin who must choose whether to risk everything for love to a heroic rat adventuring at sea to sentient underpants (yes, underpants), these nonhuman tales demonstrate why Adventures Fantastic says: “If you haven’t checked out Fiction River yet, you should. There’s something for everyone.” “…a great set of unique and fast-paced tales of the imagination!” —Astro Guyz on Fiction River: Recycled Pulp Table of Contents “In the Beginnings” by Annie Reed “At His Heels a Stone” by Lee Allred “In the Empire of Underpants” by Robert T. Jeschonek “The Sound of Salvation” by Leslie Claire Walker “Goblin in Love” by Anthea Sharp “Slime and Crime” by Michèle Laframboise “Always Listening” by Louisa Swann “Here I Will Dance” by Stefon Mears “Rats at Sea” by Brenda Carre “Sense and Sentientability” by Lisa Silverthorne “When a Good Fox Goes to War” by Kim May “The Game of Time” by Felicia Fredlund “The Scent of Murder” by Angela Penrose “Still-Waking Sleep” by Dayle A. Dermatis “Inhabiting Sweetie” by Dale Hartley Emery “The Legend of Anlahn” by Eric Kent Edstrom “Sheath Hopes” by Thea Hutcheson “We, The Ocean” by Alexandra Brandt

Editing an anthology can prove tricky business. Wonderful stories sometimes find themselves on the rejection pile simply because they do not fit in the editor’s vision of that anthology. So, editor Mark Leslie decided to save some of those amazing stories for this latest volume of Fiction River: Editor’s Choice. These tales run the gamut from YA fantasy to cozy crime to slipstream to horror. And they represent the incredible diversity of styles, voices, and genre that inspired Adventures Fantastic to call Fiction River “one of the best and most exciting publications in the field today.” Table of Contents “The Four Thirty-Five” by Annie Reed “Bertie’s Choice” by Jamie McNabb “Mirror Skillz” by Dave Raines “Holding the Door” by Elliotte Rusty Harold “Trees” by Diana Benedict “The Blood is on the Wall” by Felicia Fredlund “The Glass Girl” by Leah Cutter “Breaking Kayfabe” by Kelly Washington “Lemonade and Larceny” by Lauryn Christopher “First Day, Every Day” by M. L. Buchman “Touch” by Michael Kowal “The Rock of Ages” by Ron Collins “He Saw” by Dan C. Duval “Bad Dates Bite” by Kerrie L. Hughes “No Farther” by Laura Ware

Adrenaline. Ranging from straight thriller to science fiction and fantasy to mainstream crime, these fifteen stories promise to make your pulse pound. Join an ex-president as he tries to escape the mother of all assassination attempts, a heroine on a mission straight from Hell, and a story of war so powerful it will burn into the memory. Strap in and find out why Adventures Fantastic says Fiction River “is one of the best and most exciting publications in the field today.” “… fans of the unconventional will be well satisfied.” —Publishers Weekly on Fiction River: Pulse Pounders Table of Contents “The Wrong Side of the Tracks” by Kelly Washington “The Ex” by Michael Kowal “The Demon from Hell Walks into a Speakeasy” by Ron Collins “Blood Storm” by Bob Sojka “So Many Ways to Die” by Dayle A. Dermatis “Egg Thief” by Debbie Mumford “Dust to Dust” by Annie Reed “O’Casey’s War” by Patrick O’Sullivan “Looting Dirt” by David Stier “The Mark of Blackfriar Street” by Scott T. Barnes “Death in the Serengeti” by David H. Hendrickson “Rude Awakening” by Kevin J. Anderson “Cleaning up the Neighborhood” by Dæmon Crowe “Redline” by Travis Heermann “L.I.V.E.” by Eric Kent Edstrom

Fear. The word alone evokes a powerful response. And in Feel the Fear, editor Mark Leslie takes readers on a haunting tour of the many ways fear presents itself. From genuine horror stories filled with frightening monsters to the real-life horror of losing a loved one to the terrifying idea of losing one’s own mind, these tales run not only the genre gamut but also the emotional gamut. With each fearful twist, the sixteen talented writers in this volume prove why Adventures Fantastic says “\[Fiction River\] is one of the best and most exciting publications in the field today.” Table of Contents “Murmuration of a Darkening Sea” by Lee Allred “Swimming on the Grass” by David Stier “Get Inside” by Dayle A. Dermatis “The Dark Queen” by J. F. Penn “Fear in Black and White” by Dory Crowe “A Fall of Life and Death” by Michael Kowal “High Places” by Laura Ware “Legs” by Steven Mohan, Jr. “Power Outage” by Bonnie Elizabeth “The Taste of Red” by T. Thorn Coyle “The Playground of Lost Children” by Erik Lynd “Tin Can Man” by Annie Reed “Piggyback” by Robert T. Jeschonek “The Well” by Lauryn Christopher “Mechanical Advantage” by Eric Kent Edstrom “The Visit” by Anthea Lawson

Many wish for superpowers. But even Superman has his kryptonite. These fifteen stories of super powerful young heroes/heroines demonstrate the humanity possible even among those possessed of great gifts. In this anthology for all ages, join a young girl who must protect those she loves most from a powerful evil, a young goddess who must decide whether to embrace her powers, and a young boy who must choose between superpowers and loyalty. This latest volume demonstrates why Adventures Fantastic “If you haven’t checked out Fiction River yet, you should. There’s something for everyone.” Table of Contents “Villainous Aspirations” by Stefon Mears “A Kiss Too Sweet” by Eric Kent Edstrom “The Clunkety” by Brenda Carre “Power Trip” by Lee Allred “Pocket Full of Ashes” by Anthea Sharp “The Ordinary” by Valerie Brook “Dawn” by Jody Lynn Nye & Rebecca Moesta “Fatty Boombalatty” by Kerrie L. Hughes “Passion for the Game” by Brigid Collins “Just Stop It!” by David H. Hendrickson “Normal Boy” by Rebecca M. Senese “Sophie Rosenblatt, Hero At Large” by Annie Reed “Flowers in Winter” by Kelly Washington “Hidden Talents” by Dayle A. Dermatis “The Ballad of Osmosis McGuire” by Travis Heerman

Justice comes in many forms. And the wide variety of stories presented in this latest volume of Fiction River make that case. Of the fifteen powerful stories in this volume, some will twist your heart, others will pound you in the gut, and still others will make you feel like the world has meaning. From a man avenging a wrongful conviction, to heroic women fighting to reclaim their homeland, to kids trying to find justice in the chaotic world of adults, this volume will prove one you won’t soon forget. Table of Contents “The Ball Breaker’s Summer Club” by Valerie Brook “Grace” by Michael Kowal “Pariah” by Louisa Swann “Spoils” by Eric Kent Edstrom “The Night Takes You” by Leslie Claire Walker “My Honor to Kill You” by Dan C. Duval “A Pearl into Darkness” by Lisa Silverthorne “Mercy Find Me” by Diana Deverell “Best Served…Salted” by Lauryn Christopher “Domus Justice” by Michèle Laframboise “Uncle Philbert” by Dory Crowe “Bone” by T. Thorne Coyle “A Vulture Waits” by Rob Vagle “The Supporters in Panama City” by Brigid Collins “The Darks of Their Eyes” by Robert T. Jeschonek

Forget the old adage that cautions against wishing. The sixteen stories in this latest Fiction River contain just the right amount of heart, magic, pathos, and even hope. From a daughter hoping to save her father with a crash-course in wishery to an unfortunate victim at the wrong end of someone else’s wish, these stories show teens trying to wish away their problems—with often unexpected results. But no matter the dilemma, this volume of Fiction River promises to lift your spirits and remind you just how much magic the universe offers. “While written for a YA audience, the tales in this collection can reach all ages…” —Tangent Online on Fiction River: Superpowers Table of Contents “The Rock of Kansas” by Eric Kent Edstrom “Movie Boy and Music Girl” by Ron Collins “Upon\a\Starship.pgm” by Brigid Collins “Ellen Double Prime” by Alexandra Brandt “Twin Wishes” by Jamie Ferguson “Granted” by Robert Jeschonek “If Wishes Were Kisses” by Lesley L. Smith “A Winged Heart” by T. Thorn Coyle “What Alanna Wished, How, and Why” by Dave Raines “Blame it on the Ghosts” by Annie Reed “Family, Fair and True” by Dayle A. Dermatis “True” by Leslie Claire Walker “How I Became a Fairy Godmother” by Bonnie Elizabeth “Starfish at Ebbtide” by Lisa Silverthorne “Turquoise Trail” by Diana Deverell “As Fast as Wishes Travel” by Dale Hartley Emery

The relentless ticking of a clock as time slips away marks the breathless pace of these remarkable stories. In Fiction River’s third edition of its Pulse Pounders series, these sixteen authors push the envelope of the thriller form. From a man desperately searching for his missing little girl to a chef racing to finish a cooking competition to an airship captain facing a deadly adversary, these stories will keep your pulse racing until the very end. “… fans of the unconventional will be well satisfied.” —Publishers Weekly on Fiction River: Pulse Pounders Table of Contents “Payback is a Bitch” by Diana Deverell “Death-Blind” by Robert Jeschonek “The Airship Adventures of Captain Jane Fury” by Anthea Sharp “Fifteen Men on a Dead Man’s Chest” by Henry Martin “The Tomb of Arisel” by Bonnie Elizabeth “Goodnight, Madison” by Lisa Silverthorne “Romancing the Puffin” by Louisa Swann “Dominant Species” by Dayle A. Dermatis “Three Seconds” by T. Thorn Coyle “Blood Chase” by Leah Cutter “Caterpillar Boot Man” by Valerie Brook “The Case of the Dead Son” by Laura Ware “Breakfast at Luigi’s” by Thea Hutcheson “Black Phantom, Gray Op” by Stefon Mears “The Last Ramekin” by Liz Pierce “The Princess, the Huntsman and the Monster” by Erik Lynd Fiction River is an original fiction anthology series. Modeled on successful anthology series of the past, from Orbit to Universe to Pulphouse: The Hardback Magazine, the goal of Fiction River is to provide a forum for “original ground-breaking fiction of all genres.” Each Fiction River volume comes in ebook and trade paperback format, published by WMG Publishing, and features some of the best new and established fiction writers in publishing. Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch are award-winning editors, as well as award-winning writers, and act as series editors for the anthologies. For more information about the authors or Fiction River, go to www.fictionriver.com.

In this latest volume of Fiction River, editor Dean Wesley Smith pulls together an eclectic but cohesive group of stories filled with difficult decisions. From a man who must question the line between justice and vengeance to a teenage fixer fighting hypocrisy to a post-apocalyptic survivor’s mission to deliver one last message, each of these stories demonstrates extremely hard choices—and some very real consequences. “The Fiction River series is a wonderful mind-expanding read…” —Astro Guyz Table of Contents “Equal Justice” by Annie Reed “Payback” by Tonya D. Price “Eric the Monkey” by Dan C. Duval “Prospecting” by Ron Collins “Toots” by Michael Kowal “The Devil’s Muse” by Laura Ware “Clean and Godly in Denmark” by Diana Deverell “Killshot” by Annie Reed “Four Hundred Yards” by Dale Hartley Emery “A Life with Meaning” by David Stier “Nightmare Scenario” by Chuck Heintzelman “Echo” by Leslie Clare Walker “Haunted” by Jamie Ferguson “Skinwalker” by Valerie Brook “Missiles of October” by Dan C. Duval “Girl with a Mission” by Dayle A. Dermatis “A New Day” by Kendall Heintzelman “They Taught Us Wrong” by M.L. Buchman “Tendrils” by Leigh Saunders “Little Byte and Big Pieces” by Valerie Brook Fiction River is an original fiction anthology series. Modeled on successful anthology series of the past, from Orbit to Universe to Pulphouse: The Hardback Magazine, the goal of Fiction River is to provide a forum for “original ground-breaking fiction of all genres.” Each Fiction River volume comes in ebook and trade paperback format, published by WMG Publishing, and features some of the best new and established fiction writers in publishing. Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch are award-winning editors, as well as award-winning writers, and act as series editors for the anthologies. For more information about the authors or Fiction River, go to www.fictionriver.com.

Love. An essential and important part of the human experience. And in Feel the Love, editor Mark Leslie takes readers on a journey through the various forms of that powerful emotion. From the heartwarming to the heartbreaking, these eighteen talented writers brilliantly capture the concept of love. Comforting and thoughtful, uplifting and warm, these stories might just restore your faith in humanity. Table of Contents "Thief" by Michael Kowal "Death's Other Cousin" by Lisa Silverthorne "Making Amends" by David Stier "Frostwitch vs. the Ravages of Time" by Dayle A. Dermatis "The Goddess Killer" by Lauryn Christopher "Love Locks" by Dale Hartley Emery "Love Bots" by Daemon Crowe "Loving Abby" by Angela Penrose "Foiled" by Brigid Collins "A Love to Remember" by Tonya D. Price "The Refurbished Companion" by Kelly Washington "The Secret of Catnip" by Stefon Mears "Lifeblood" by Alexandra Brandt "Who Loves the Unloved?" by Laura Ware "Henry and Beth at the Funeral Home" by Joe Cron "Truth and Lies" by David H. Hendrickson "With Love in Their Hearts" by Robert Jeschonek "Every Day New, Bright and Beautiful" by Annie Reed

Superstitions pervade every culture and belief system. Often, the origins of such superstitions elude their practitioners. The seventeen authors in this latest volume of Fiction River create their own superstitious tales in fascinating stories ranging from dark and moody to light and fun, from introspective and thought-provoking to high-ratcheted tension. Distinct and realistic elements of humanity, love, fear, family, friendship, life, and death provide unforgettable experiences that prove we all practice some form of superstition, whether we admit it or not.