Tag Archives: Stories

Author Promotion, Authors, Books

A Short Story For You – From Guest Blogger Ann Rochelle Aben

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Fantastic short story by Annette Rochelle Aben​ on the subject of bullying, graciously hosted by Dan Alatorre​ on his blog 💜

Dan Alatorre

Your humble host. your humble host

From time to time here on the blog we’ll feature a profile of an author or their writing. Today, it’s my privilege to introduce Ellis the elephant, a bullying story for children.

Ann Rochelle Aben gets introduced, too, as Ellis’ creator. Have a read and give me her thoughts!

Ellis the elephant was big and fat. For this, he was snubbed by many; imagine that. Yet he’d go through his day smiling at the trees and enjoying the songs of the happy honey bees. There were rivers to splash in and rocks upon which to sun, Ellis the elephant, knew how to have fun.

One day when he was playing shadow tag with low hanging branches a group of wild cats were giving Ellis funny glances. Never had they seen something so big and fat try to move as quickly and agile as a cat. Watching him…

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Author Resources, Companion Animals

Our Jogger – Guest Post by Emily Gmitter (by kind permission from Zoe)…

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Thank you to Zoe the Fabulous Feline for giving her monthly blog spot to her person on The Story Reading Ape. Emily Gmitter speaks to the regret we feel for not offering a kindness, and then wishing we had when it was too late. Moving and thought-provoking… ♥

Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog

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Zoe here, I’m on a break, so I’m going to let my human have my spot this month, but I WILL be BACK.

It seemed the end of an era. I knelt beside the still body that was lying on the sidewalk in front of my house. I touched the back of my hand to his familiar face; it was cool to the touch. Not that I needed to do that; the thin skin on his face was a shade of bluish gray that indicated only one thing. I called 911 and waited for the paramedics to arrive.

Leaning against the stone wall in front of our home, I continued to stare at the body. I knew him, but I didn’t know him. Who were you?

In death, he did not seem as old as he had appeared when he was jogging through our neighborhood, which he did every day…

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Addiction, Authors

Thirty Years a Junkie

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Addiction ~ perhaps begun in pleasure ~ becomes predator if we attempt to let go, and persecutor if we do not. Andrew Joyce has written a compelling no-holds-barred article about his years as an addict. When, where, how, and with whom we learn our life lessons are all based in choice, whether or not we choose to accept this. Despite the theme, there’s something in this story for everyone …

Andrew Joyce

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Compared to some, I’ve lived an exciting life. At least parts of it were. However, compared to others, my life has been humdrum. The only thing I’m satisfied about is that all the drama took place when I was young and able to handle it. That would not be the reality today for I have grown old.

It’s confession time. I’m not looking for absolution. My only intent is to show some of you out there that there is hope. Nothing is forever. Perhaps my story might help you get to the next stage of your life. Maybe not, but I had help getting there, and I’ll tell you about it in a minute. First, a little background. And please, feel free to judge me. You cannot condemn me any more than I have already condemned myself.

When I was kid, I always had a wanderlust. I would see a…

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Author Promotion, Authors, Book Reviews, Books, Reading

Book review, Enlightenment, empowering, spiritual, Plateau by Tina Frisco, D.G. Kaye

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It was such a delight to see Debby Gies’ aka author D.G. Kaye‘s wonderful review of my book on her blog. I am honored she chose to feature Plateau on her Sunday #Bookreview series ❤ 

Source: Book review, Enlightenment, empowering, spiritual, Plateau by Tina Frisco, D.G. Kaye

Book reviews

Today I’m sharing my review of a wonderful and thought provoking book by Tina Frisco, Plateau, Beyond the Trees.

Tina is an author, singer/songwriter, RN, activist, and a student of Shamanism. Her writing is always full of compassion and offers insights to helping the world in justice, peace and harmony. Her first book, Plateau was written before the doomsday prophecies were to take place in 2012, which the Mayan calendar had predicted.

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Get this Book on Amazon!

Blurb:

The protagonist in Plateau is a 15-year-old tribal female who, through great adversity and while honoring the wisdom of her elders, discovers her strengths and destiny. Her will is relentlessly tested, daring her to face her fears and trust blindly without fully knowing why she was born the Keeper of the Crystal Heart, the key to the Great Mosaic of Life. She ultimately comes face-to-face with herself in a battle that would shrink the will of the most intrepid warrior, unaware that realizing her destiny will irrevocably impact all beings on earth and beyond. Her people inject humor and wisdom throughout this tale of mystery and adventure. Will love prevail over fear? Millions are asking this question. Plateau offers hope with its underlying message: We must keep our hearts open and act from love instead of reacting from fear; and we must practice gratitude and compassion within every moment and with every breath, so that we might help elevate the human species to a higher consciousness and facilitate both personal and global peace.

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The Pond Monster

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Kate McClelland with a story that might leave you wanting to exact revenge on that childhood bully. I, too, was clumsy as a child. Wait… Who am I kidding? I still trip over match sticks. Even walked into a door jam and literally saw stars ~ in technicolor ~ like the ones you see in cartoons. Hop over to Kate’s blog and enjoy ~ or commiserate ~ or perhaps both 😊

 

Kate McClelland

Pond Monster

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Authors, Courage, Gratitude, Honor, Inspiration, Love

Smorgasbord Short Story – A Soldier Waits – Sally Cronin

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Sometimes we wish we were somewhere else or someone else, doing something other than plugging away to make a living, doing something we loved and regarded highly. Sometimes we wish our lives away, not giving a second thought to those who lost theirs too young or in service to others. In Sally Cronin‘s moving short story,     A Soldier Waits, we see life through the eyes of a young man who served his country and who now attends the annual memorial for the old soldiers and heroes of his village. The memorial is always conducted with great love and respect. While reading this story, I was reminded that where there is love, there is hope; and where there is hope, there is the promise of tomorrow. Take a few minutes to read this superb tribute to our fallen heroes… ❤

Authors, Poets

Dusty Bones – The Halloween Version

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Kate McClelland brings us a nightmarish Halloween tale that will cause you to leave the light on tonight! And you might find yourself waking up to your own screaming voice, soaked in sweat, covers in a ball or tossed to the floor. If you’re into all things ghoulish, this story will run a delightful chill up your spine 🙂

Kate McClelland

As it’s nearly Halloween, I thought I would try a scary story. This is actually based on a poem I wrote about a recurring nightmare. I hope you like it. It’s 1691 words – which, if you turn upside down is – 1691! Hope you’re Halloween is ‘spooktacular’ (so sorry, I really couldn’t resist that one! – I’ll get my coat :0))

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Dusty Bones – The Halloween Version

It’s midnight, on All Hallows Eve and I am already in bed.

It had been a disaster of a Halloween party. Chase had turned up already very drunk and preceded to puke up over the finger buffet and kind of killed the party mood in one fell swoop.

I threw Chase out and Jake offered to take him home to keep him out of trouble. Chase shouting back to me as I slammed the door ‘Sorry Ginny, really sorry. GINNY!‘

The others sloped…

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Author Promotion, Authors, Books, Haiku

Hey – Boo – I have a TREAT for YOU! – Guest Post…

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Annette Rochelle Aben is a guest on The Story Reading Ape today, telling us about her latest book ~ BooKu, Halloween Haiku ~ which I understand is not for the fainthearted! But if you’re a daring soul, the Kindle version will be available for only 0.99 from midnight Pacific Time on October 16th through midnight Pacific time on October 22nd. Trick or treat!

Adventure, Animals, Companion Animals, Furry Friends, Guest Author, Humor, Writing

Zoe and Burt…

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Zoe the Fabulous Feline relinquishes her guest spot on The Story Reading Ape this month to Burt, the daring and non-chatty (he likes to think) adventurer. And what a tale he has to tell! But Zoe couldn’t resist commenting on Burt’s post, so you’ll still have a chance to interact with our favorite fun and furry feline 🙂

Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog

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Dear Friends, Zoe here but not for long! I’ve been preparing to take this trip, you see, and have been so busy that I neglected to write up a wonderful new adventure for you. So, I’ve asked a friend to take my spot this month. I’ve told you about my human, Emily, and I’ve told you about my friend, Bella, but I’ve never told you about my friend Burt. Or how I met him. That is a tale for another day. Let’s just say that Burt owed me a favor. Big time. I’m happy to call in my chips today, probably happier than he is to be called on to do this favor for me. At any rate, here is Burt. I hope he entertains you well but don’t get too enamored, for I will be back next month!

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Hello, Everyone. My name is Burt. I’m a friend of Zoe’s…

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Adventure, Author Promotion, Authors, Companion Animals, Furry Friends, Humor, Writing

Danny’s Latest Adventures

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Danny the Dog regales us with another of his stupendous tales. Danny is a natural at storytelling, as well as an all ’round terrific dog. Visit The Story Reading Ape and enjoy Danny’s latest canine chronicle 🙂

Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog

Danny’s Latest Adventures

Danny XXlI just got in from walking my human; his name is Andrew. I, of course, am Danny the Dog, purveyor of wit and words, not to mention wisdom.

Many a time I’ve kept you engrossed with my wondrous tales of taking Andrew for his morning constitutional to the park; however, I’ve been remiss in not regaling you with narratives of our stop by the Tiki hut every morning. In a moment, The Adventure at the Tiki Hut, but first the Tiki hut itself.

A Tiki hut, for those of you who are from another planet, is a structure consisting of four open walls and a pitched roof covered with palm fronds. The Tiki hut at our marina sports a refrigerator, a microwave oven, and three grills—two gas, and one regular. The humans used to congregate there in the evenings and do what humans do, mostly talk. But…

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