Here’s a story to start the month of October out right. What’s really out in the woods? The moon hung low over Dragonsford, casting an eerie pewter glow over the narrow streets and crooked houses. In the woods beyond the village, a presence stirred. A cold and unrelenting wind whispered through the trees, carrying with … Continue reading Whispers on the Wind
I write a lot of character sketches trying to find the characters that intrigue me the most. Here's one I wrote a few years ago about an unlikely adventurer. I hope you like it. Sister Lorielei Alterian stalked the hallways of the dormitory, fuming after the meeting with the Patriarch. She’d been expecting a meeting … Continue reading Lorielei: Ready or Not
Kimimela Birdsong looked up at the caves carved into the sandstone formations. Her tribe called these formations “Dreaming Caves.” Legends told of shamans who went on vision quests in these shallow caverns. As part of her thesis, she needed to explore the niches to discover the archaeological significance of this location. She knew other students … Continue reading The Dreaming Caves
Once more, I reached back into my story files. The prompt for this story was:Write a story or poem about someone who discovers that there's actually a message in the radio emissions from the sun's surface. What does that message say, and what's the reaction to this discovery? Dr. Helen Adler had spent her entire … Continue reading Message in a Waveform
This story is based on a real-life experience I had back in the day. Geri grabbed my hand as the flight from Houston to New Orleans lost power. The silence of the engines brought shivers of gooseflesh, raising the hair on my arms. The airplane stopped climbing. I squeezed her hand back, trying to reassure … Continue reading Mo’Betta Gumbo
This story is a continuation of The Legend of the Dreamstalker. The journey to Nabar delighted Stalker. She traveled through a world filled with colors, smells, and sounds she never thought possible. Birdsong reminded her of the whistles and pipes the tribal shamans played on ritual days. The clop of horses’ hooves became the heartbeat … Continue reading The Road to Nabar
Here is another old story. The prompt for this story was to write about an elevator malfunction. The elevator doors slid shut with a soft hiss, the hum of the motor vibrating in the walls. Dr. Nathaniel Graves stood at the back, his gaze fixed on the floor. His eyes, normally sharp and observant, seemed … Continue reading The Silent Complaint
© 2025, JJ ShaunSunset along the Grand Mesa, Colorado Several weeks ago, an advertisement for a writing conference kept popping up on my social media feed. I sat with the idea for a few days and decided, Why not? Why not step outside my comfort zone and see what kind of reception my writing received? … Continue reading Writers and Workshops and Books, Oh My!
I frequently turn to a site that offers daily writing contests—writing.com. I wrote this story according to the following prompt: Write a Thriller/Suspense story (or poem) about a fortune teller who comes to a small village and changes things forever. The morning began as usual in Briarward, a sleepy village tucked in the folds of … Continue reading The Oracle
I have a small set of Story Engine cards I picked up at a Free RPG Day a couple of years ago. From time to time, I use them to help prompt a story. For this offering, I drew up “a model wants to gain freedom from a seductive poison, but it means giving up … Continue reading Canceled
A piece of my scattered mind.
Tavern Tales
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J.J. Shaun 