Audiobooks by Short Story Press

Short Story Press Presents The Black Sapphire

'The Black Sapphire' was a concept that Ruth toyed with for a few years. She studied dialect to help enhance one of the main characters, 'Mattie.' In the story, an unsolved crime shows its ugly face when Detective Adam Reynoir starts investigating. Mattie, the home's housekeeper, and her son, Jarell, decide that they are going to continue staying in the home, even after the dismembering murders have been cleaned up. As the story unfolds, Mattie takes Detective Reynoir on a tour of the home, trying to get him to understand in her way that the murders were no accident. Mattie's life revolves around her son, Jarell. When more incidents happen, Reynoir finally understands why Mattie professes her faith so much in front of everyone, no matter what. Living on the edge of greed will indeed, find you empty handed. Short Story Press publishes short stories written by everyday writers.

Ruth Pettite, Short Story Press (Author), Phoenix Phillips (Narrator)

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Short Story Press Presents Inside Melting House

“Inside Melting House” is a creepy and suspenseful story that will draw into its mystery. It introduces you to sympathetic characters over two generations that, even in the short space of the story, you come to sympathize with and understand. When you read it you will experience: • An atmospheric and effective story that elicits curiosity and dread in equal parts • The story as told from the point of view of a complex and sympathetic narrator/main character • Colorful side characters that flesh the story out. • A house with a bizarre past and a mysterious, seemingly unknowable secret • Flashbacks to an earlier time that add a further element of mystery to the story surrounding the house • A climactic, suspenseful finale. Short Story Press publishes short stories written by everyday writers.

Matthew Kilpatrick, Short Story Press (Author), Liz Krane (Narrator)

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Short Story Press Presents Washed Ashore Bride

Thomas Alexander was a proud man. He loved his high school sweetheart with all his heart and wanted to give her everything her heart desired. Being from a wealthy family, he knew he could do that but his pride wouldn’t let him support her with his family money. He had to make his own fortune before he could make her his wife. He started learning all he could about the oil business and invested in a few oil wells. It took two years of hard work. These two years were spent away from Angela, his Angel as he called her. It was a long time for her to wait on him but he was sure that it would all be worth it. At last, he did it. His oil wells hit and he was now wealthier than his own family. He had enough money to live 10 lives in luxury. He could now offer her marriage and give her everything he wanted and he was proud that he could do it on his own, without relying on his family money. Thomas was sure it would all be worth it. However, as the story unfolds, it reveals that things weren’t going to work out the way that Thomas had dreamed they would. • Thomas is jilted at the altar by Angela and later learns that she ran off with his little brother and was about to have his brothers child. • To make up to Thomas and ease his own guilt, Michael, Thomas’ brother tries to get Thomas a mail-order-bride • Thomas, because of his recent wealth, is now the center of the paparazzi and once the press learns of him being jilted at the altar and that his fiancé was carrying his brother’s baby, they can’t seem to get enough. • Thomas feels that the whole world thinks he is a pity case. He has to get away for awhile. • He buys an island and decides to live his life in solitude while he licks his wounds. • He finds a young woman washed up on his beach wearing a wedding dress and later learns that she ran away from her own fiancé and wedding. Short Story Press publishes short stories written by everyday writers.

Lannae Wilson, Short Story Press (Author), Alexis Pine (Narrator)

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Short Story Press Presents Jacklighters: Granddaughter Saves Grandfather From Extraterrestrials

The plot of “Jacklighters” unfolds in the fictitious small Illinois town of Silverton, where life is normally quaint and peaceful. When Riley Jensen hears that Len Wilkins, a family friend who also employs her father as a farm hand, has been found dead with his eyes burned out of his head, her latent but innate heroism emerges. When news of several deaths of the same nature as that of Len Wilkins’ travels throughout Silverton, Riley becomes gripped with concern and fear for her grandfather Murray, who is a stubborn, leather-tough old man living alone in the countryside, miles outside of Silverton. After Riley’s parents have rushed to the hospital in a neighboring town because her mother Cece is in labor, Riley tries to reach Murray to convince him to come into town and stay until the mysterious deaths are solved, but Murray can’t be reached. Only 15 and with no driver’s license, Riley takes her dad’s Harley out to Murray’s house to check on him. She arrives to find him under assault by a gray alien with a blinding laser focused directly into his eyes. With ninja-like deft, Riley hops upon a mare, and uses the horse’s hooves to destroy the alien mechanism—and the alien. With Murray safe, the pair drive back to Silverton just in time for Riley to get the news that she has a new baby brother, Arden. When she goes to see the baby the next day, she is sure he possesses otherworldly intelligence and is convinced that Arden is a star child, come to brighten the Jensen family’s world. About the Writer Bill Knorr is a former English teacher and environmental professional who loves composing and recording music, drawing, painting, and writing young adult short stories. He has written over twenty short stories and one novella, all in the Young Adult/Science Fiction/Fantasy genre. Short Story Press publishes short stories written by everyday writers.

Bill Knorr, Short Story Press (Author), Derek Daisey (Narrator)

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Short Story Press Presents Never Been On Broadway

Never Been on Broadway is a romantic short story about the reality of fame and about how far away from reality the famous can be. The story follows the first day of Evelyn Alford's first ever trip to New York City. We meet her working actor cousin Eric Freeman, a young man trying to balance an ever-growing fame with the humble beginnings from where he came, Johnny Edwards, a man born in the spotlight but an actor bordering on irrelevancy whose play opening that night marks a critical juncture in his career. The allure of Broadway, the millions who come each year seeking fame but the few who truly understand the luck and the randomness involved. Never Been on Broadway goes behind the closed dressing rooms doors and shows the true fears and attitudes of today's stars living in a 24 hour social media world. Evelyn, while suffering misfortune in her own life, provides an inspiration and strong female lead character who has never played the victim and continues to see things half-full; she represents the best of America, a country that does its best when it has been knocked back on its heels. Short Story Press publishes short stories written by everyday writers.

Ryan Pruitt, Short Story Press (Author), D.J. Pitsiladis (Narrator)

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Short Story Press Presents Beyond the Green Curtain: A Single Mother Follows the Yellow Brick Road t

Mary is a gas-station attendant with an epileptic son who can barely make ends meet, when she makes them meet at all. She has dreams of a forbidden love but can’t focus on those dreams when she can’t even buy her son’s medicine. She has a real knack for staying calm under pressure, and steadfastly does what she needs to in order to keep food on their table and a roof over their heads. One day she has an encounter with a woman who claims she can change Mary’s life in an instant. After a strange dream that seems like a sign, Mary meets her mystery woman, who offers her a strange deal. From there, Mary is taken on a whirlwind ride that threatens to crack her reality in two. She’s taken “behind the curtain” into a world she never dreamed could imagine – a world where nightmarish chaos is only kept at bay by a small few – and now they want her to be one of them. It seems like the opportunity of a lifetime, but will Mary be willing to sacrifice her own values and those she’s trying to teach to her son in order to get them a better life? About the Author: Brandon Humphreys was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and most of his short stories take place in his home state of Washington. He has a Master of Arts degree in English and creative writing, and he works as a freelance writer, adjunct writing professor, and a college writing consultant when he’s not writing his own fiction and blog pieces. He is a veteran of the Washington Air National Guard, plays guitar, loves dogs, and loves to fly kites on the beach. He is currently finishing his first novel about a bunch of dragons and their worshipers on another world. Short Story Press publishes short stories written by everyday writers.

Brandon Humphreys, Short Story Press (Author), Warren Keyes (Narrator)

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Camano Island's Heartbeat: The Story About Love Escaping Despair

In this story, you will experience a wide range of emotions while applying to the consistent theme of maintaining a positive outlook even in times of negativity and disarray. The story takes the reader and main character through a story that exemplifies: ● The relatable occurrence of sadness that all beings have experienced ● The importance of keeping a positive outlook in order to pull yourself out of the depths of sadness ● The implication to not cling or hold on to the past and look towards the future ● The ideology that serving and giving yourself brings happiness ● The power of a relationship and bond between animal and man ● The heavy weight of expectations that comes from friends and family that can keep people from following their dreams ● Beautifies family relationships and the need for understanding as a person who is an introvert and desires to be alone ● The ideology that action is important, and to take action immediately ● The Buddhist ideology of having the option to be running from darkness to brightness or from darkness to more darkness - you decide. ● The concept that all things rise, stay for some time, then pass away indicating there is no need to hate something viewed as negative or even love and attach oneself to something positive ● A story that shows there is happiness where you look for it, and sadness if you desire it. All the ideas portrayed in the story of Peter are to help the world today find the most out of the life they live. To realize they can give themselves if they feel that they don’t have enough and there is someone who needs it more than you know. It indicates to not wallow in sadness, even if it is all you have. It shows to take action and do good as this will be the best thing to heal you from your darkness. Stay bright! HowExpert publishes quick 'how to' guides on all topics from A to Z by everyday experts.

Michael Knighton, Short Story Press (Author), Jack Henry Kison (Narrator)

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Short Story Press Presents Ghost Stalker: A Woman Cannot Escape a Ghostly Follower

'Prowler' is a marriage of supernatural horror and psychological thriller, a story about how our personal issues can manifest in strange and unnerving ways. • Our protagonist, Victoria, is a successful businesswoman. • She has a history of mental illness, but that's behind her now, despite what her distant husband might say. • What starts out as a normal day at the office is turned upside down by the appearance of a mysterious figure that only Victoria can see. • It soon becomes clear that this being, whatever it is, is following her. • As Victoria tries to make the creature go away, her demons begin to creep up on her again. Surrounded by people who don't believe her and struggling to keep herself together, can Victoria figure out who this being is before her sanity deteriorates? About The Writer Isabella Bailey is a senior at New York University, where she studies film and television. A lifelong storyteller, she began to write when she was in the first grade, and has been honing her craft ever since. She was first published in Excellence, a 2006 poetry compilation, and her writing has since appeared in places such as Baedeker Travel Magazine, 401kWire.com, MFWire.com, and Mindfray.com. Her television screenplays were finalists in both the 2017 and 2019 Fusion Film Festivals, and is writing a novel in her spare time. She hopes to continue to professionally pursue narrative storytelling, and is thrilled to share her work here. Short Story Press publishes short stories written by everyday writers.

Isabella Bailey, Short Story Press (Author), Jess Combs (Narrator)

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Short Story Press Presents Pearl Port Singer

Mermaids, mermen, treacherous villagers and a Nix: these are some of the exciting things in store for you with the latest Natashiah Jansen story entitled “Pearl Port Singer”. You’ll be taken on a dive into the magical world of merpeople and learn: • why the treacherous villagers set up false harbor lights; • why the mermaids want to stop them; • why the mermaids call on Antaeus to help; • why Antaeus believes that Damarion, the moon equatorial feeder, would bring them victory; • who and what is Rusalka really; • why Ella dislikes Rusalka; • who will be with the fin at the end of the day. If you love humorous stories, you will love Pearl Port Singer. Short Story Press publishes short stories written by everyday writers.

Natashiah Jansen, Short Story Press (Author), Jess Combs (Narrator)

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Man of the House: A Young Boy’s Journey to Becoming the Man of the House After His Grandfather’s Dea

After his mother goes deaf, a young boy must navigate through the many difficulties of his childhood. The boy witnesses his Mom deal with loss, his father becoming distant, his older brother living a life of his own. The protagonist feels alone, powerless, voiceless. At the same time, the boy tries to impress the girl of his dreams at school, leading him into a troublesome situation. He must make choices which could affect him for the rest of his life. Through it all, he must figure out how to endure and grow, how to become the man of the house. • See how the protagonist deals with the struggling relationship between his mother and father. • How to deal with the struggles of puberty and coming of age. • Impressing your crush at school and the holes this can trap you in. • Navigating through a house filled with tension while also trying to take control. • Understand what it’s like to live with someone who has experienced recent trauma. • Read about the importance of a mother-son relationship and how the bond between parent and child can grow. The story is fictional, but tells true experiences of the author. It is a personal story that speaks to what growing up is really like for many young boys, and how they look to their parents or siblings for guidance. This story tells what can go wrong when that guidance is not there, but also the powerful bond between mother and son. About the Writer Alex Eaker grew up in the cold suburbs of Connecticut. At five years old, his parents got a divorce, putting Alex on an early path towards writing. Ever since, Alex has written about his experience as a son and younger brother, operating between his mother and fathers’ homes while also enduring the universal struggles of adolescence. His stories serve to share his experience, an experience not uncommon in today’s world. Short Story Press publishes short stories written by everyday writers.

Alex Eaker, Short Story Press (Author), Glenn Bulthuis (Narrator)

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A Freelancer’s Nightmare: A Freelancer Gets Kidnapped by Her Former Client She Met Online

Her father left them when she was just 5. Now in her early 20's Lucy knew better than to concentrate on her academics alone. She did every menial job she could lay her hands upon so as to support herself and (hopefully) relieve the burden on her mother...she did this despite the fact that her mum was against her being a student-worker. The problem, however, was not her mum, rather, the jobs were taking much of her time and weren't bringing much to the table, so she switched from job to job. She was glad when her friend, Julia, introduced her to freelancing on Upwork. Julia helped got her account approved and taught her how to send winning proposals. It wasn't long before Lucy started landing jobs, but if only she knew the fate that awaited her. She gets hooked up again with a client for whom she previously wrote a romance novel. Apparently, the client wanted her to help turn the novel into a movie, which was good news because it meant more money and popularity. But unfortunately, the client wasn't whom she thought he was. He had ulterior motives, the job was only a lure. It wasn't long before Lucy discovered she had fallen into the hands of an organized network of human traffickers. About the Writer Isaiah is an undergraduate student at the University of Jos. His passion for reading and writing novels was something he had since childhood. This passion for writing found an outlet when, in 2015, he discovered an online community for writers and readers. It wasn't long before he began writing and posting stories on that website, and since then, he has had his short stories published on several online forums. At first, writing was just a hobby, but in 2018, he decided to take it a little deeper and build a writing career. He is currently a freelancer on Upwork and an aspiring blogger. Short Story Press publishes short stories written by everyday writers.

Isaiah Atabo, Short Story Press (Author), Jess Combs (Narrator)

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Short Story Press Presents Blind Girl Meets a Ghost: How a Blind Girl Became Friends with a Ghost

Blindness never stops a friendship; is not just about a friendship, but also other powerful themes. - The story centers around a girl named Katherine, 15 years of age - Recently blind in a car accident which killed her mother - Now is in the care of her estranged aunt, who is hiding secrets - Katherine tries her best to make a relationship with Morgan, only it is clear that the woman is hiding secrets - Starting school, Katherine finds it difficult to make friends, feeling everyone is avoiding her due to her disability - During her first day, at lunch, Katherine wanders into the courtyard where she meets a boy named Bradley, he is distant but talkative, glad to finally have a friend, also feeling outcasted by the school - Upon talking about Bradley, Morgan and other adults in the school act strangely regarding the subject - One day at lunch, Bradley confides in Katherine that he is gay which is why he is an outcast - Katherine is being asked multiple questions by teachers regarding her having lunch out in the courtyard. - One day, Bradley finally admits a dark secret, forcing Katherine to run away, only into the hands of the school’s office. - Wanting to flush out secrets, Katherine and her aunt finally confront Bradley and admit the truth in a heartfelt scene Each section is a riveting experience building up to an on-edge confrontation. It’s up to you to picture the events. Blind Girl Meets a Ghost will not be a disappointing listen. About the Author Marielle Sabbag is a recent graduate from Endicott College. There she majored in English: creative writing. Growing up in Massachusetts, Marielle never wasted a rainy day. Writing has been her greatest passion since the age of 11. Short Story Press publishes short stories written by everyday writers.

Marielle Sabbag, Short Story Press (Author), Laura Amsbury (Narrator)

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