Tag Archives: J Ray Lamb

Wednesday Briefs: May 15, 2024

Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Dracula #15 (4.4) by J L Hayes

Avram was appalled by the sight that met his eyes upon entering the church. He’d come to awareness, after being punched by the rude server, to find Gunther hovering over him, desperately trying to wake him. He told Avram that they had to hurry, that Dracula was in imminent danger of being discovered. God knew what the man might do if cornered. Luckily, no one knew where he actually was, and were hopefully looking for him in all the wrong places, but Avram knew precisely where he was. He and Gunther retrieved his horse from the stable and rode like hell to the church, hoping they would have some time before the villagers—Bogdan in particular—figured out what was actually going on and where it was happening.

Unfortunately, as he was quick to realize, Bogdan had already discovered the location of his wife and her lover—to his detriment.

Click here to read the entire Brief:

Continue reading

Wednesday Briefs: May 1, 2024

Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Jonlyn of the Urionites: Part 3 by J Ray Lamb

“Urion has accepted your offerings and sacrifices!” Jonlyn yelled joyously, “However, we are not yet done.”

“Houdsin, please assist me by taking my furs and broach. Krajn, please take this flint. Narthun, we will need your second bowl.”

“Good people of the Elm Woods, I was visited by one of Urion’s Messengers today. I am not sure what the message foretells, but the message was as clear as a baby’s eyes. The sacrifice you are about to see is what has been shown to me, and I must do. If I do not survive, I name Krajn as my Regent…”

Click here to read the entire Brief:

Continue reading

Wednesday Briefs: April 24, 2024

Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Jonlyn of the Urionites by J Ray Lamb

Jonlyn’s head was swimming with the events that had just transpired. He sat down on the deerskin covered chair and started reflecting on what had just happened. He hadn’t noticed the passing of time until the warmth of the sun had passed leaving him sitting in the shadows. While the deerskin was warm under him, he was slowly starting to cool down. He picked up a flagon of wine and headed back out of his abode. One of the many benefits of being the Club was that he had a private outdoor area where he could be himself.

 

Continue reading

Wednesday Briefs: April 17, 2024

Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Dracula #11 (3.3) by J L Hayes

“Strigoi,” the old woman repeated. “Heartbreakers. Seducers of women… and of men.” A few of the men in the room squirmed uneasily at her words, while others playfully poked their neighbors and chortled in amusement. “The eyes in the night that see all,” she continued. “The mouths that demand, that steal the lifeblood of others in order to remain forever young.”

“What are you talking about?” one person called out, followed by another and another until the question echoed throughout the room. “What do you know, bunica?” “What tales are you trying to pass off as truth?” As quickly as they’d begun, the voices suddenly stilled.

Click here to read the entire Brief: Continue reading

Wednesday Briefs: April 10, 2024

Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Dracula #10 (3.2) by J L Hayes

A collective gasp surged through the alehouse. The ensuing silence rendered the argument between the two men all the more audible, encouraging listeners.

“I simply said she seems very happy lately. That’s all I said, Bogdan. You are making a fuss over nothing.” And yet the tone of the speaker’s voice implied so much more. What did he know, what could he have seen, and did it somehow relate to Dracula?

How could it not?

Avram focused his attention

Click here to read the entire Brief:

Continue reading

Wednesday Briefs: February 21, 2024

Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Dracula @4 (2.0) by J L Hayes

A midnight breeze blew warm across the Carpathians, carrying the familiar scent of Norway spruce and Scots pine to the lone figure making his solitary way down the mountain toward the village below. Dracula loved the night above all other times. He felt that darkness possessed a certain serenity not to be found during the daylight hours. A peace of mind that was lacking beneath the sun’s fierce rays. He drew strength from the night and preferred the solitude of his castle to the cacophony of human life. Of course, his predilection for human blood demanded that he exercise extreme caution in its acquisition, especially so close to home. Unfortunately,

Click here to read the entire Brief:

Continue reading

Wednesday Briefs: January 31, 2024

Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Dracula #1 (1.0) by Julie Lynn Hayes

The room was richly appointed with the trappings of luxury. Oriental tapestries blanketed the narrow windows of the ancient castle and vibrant Persian Isfahan wool rugs dotted the cold stone floor in handwoven elegance. Some of these were the spoils of war, others acquisitions from Sotheby’s. While a relatively young establishment, having only been founded some thirty years previously, the auction house had already attained an international reputation as a purveyor of fine art. The sole piece of furniture in the room was an intricately carved mahogany bed set upon a raised dais. Wrought iron candelabra several feet in height on either side of the bed provided a gothic ambience, while the lit candles imparted to the tableau the aura of an altar.

The sole occupant of the bed lay in serene composure, his

Click here to read the entire Brief:

Wednesday Briefs: January 24, 2024

Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Bad Karma and the Family Plan #98 (20.7) by Julie Lynn Hayes

“To be honest, that wasn’t very hard. I mean seriously, that woman’s IQ is probably in the single digits. Much like that of her gay bosom buddy, Troy Whatshisface, future AIDS victim.”

“What about you?” Ethan countered, showing remarkable restraint, I thought, when all I wanted to do was plant my fist in that smarmy face. How dare he say that about Troy? “Weren’t you giving it to Eva June’s fiancé? And God knows how many others. Have you been tested lately?”

“I get tested on a regular basis,” Chip came back quickly. “Don’t worry, I

Click here to read the entire Brief:

Continue reading

Wednesday Briefs: January 17, 2024

Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Broken Path, Starless Tail Chapter: Thirty-three by Cia Nordwell
 

“Wake up!”  

Valrinda’s snarl was truly impressive, and Beckett could feel the warmth in his neck increase rapidly. As much as he’d love to let him engulf the mage with a blast of flames, there was no telling if it would actually hurt him or not. While he didn’t like the mage—at all—Beckett needed his help. The star he was keeping in his pocket, and wasn’t that a trip to think about, needed to get back to Parallax as soon as possible. For that, he needed a portal, and for that, he needed this mage.  

Beckett narrowed his
 
 

Continue reading

Wednesday Briefs: January 10, 2024

Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Bad Karma and the Family Plan #97 (20.6) by Julie Lynn Hayes

“I’m not going to dignify your stupidity with an answer,” Ethan said in a voice filled with disdain. “You’re just a shit-disturber, Chip, and you know it. You think you’re someone special because you killed some poor innocent people and managed to make it into the news. You made headlines all across the country and you even got your picture on  national TV. You made people frightened of you and the idea of what you might do to them.  So they dubbed you the Florida Mangler. You think that’s something to be proud of?” Ethan snorted. “You know that there are serial killers out there a lot smarter than you are. How do I know that? Because they’re still out there and you’re here.” He waved his arms to encompass the small room in which we sat.

“Not for long, dickhead,” Chip replied, but I got the feeling his bravado sounded a little forced.

“You tell yourself that,

Click here to read the entire Brief:

Continue reading