Showing results by author "J.L. Shojosh" in All Categories

This short story unfolds as journal entries. The journal’s author takes you through his grief stricken teenage life, having lost his girlfriend to the afterlife. The lad uncovers something fascinating about the magical book that he’d found in his attic, but what are the consequences to all this newfound power?

In this magic inspired short tale, Anthony struggles with family drama as ancient magical forces and traditions resurface. Before long, the ignorant and overwhelmed lad finds himself at the mercy of a pair of sorcerer bounty-hunters. Will Anthony finally get the acceptance that he desperately seeks from his parents? Or will he chart his own path and see the different personalities in his life for who they are?

A young boy with special abilities to see a world beyond the veil, and a realm teeming with shadow formed beasts, undergoes an emotional roller coaster ride in this coming-of-age short story tale. Will Tommy forever remain haunted by these demons from beyond, or will he somehow find a way to best them?

In a tiny kingdom of special humans, beings known as “surfers”, who’ve figured out how to travel across the globe in a matter of seconds, distrust and division festers. The queen, having lost her daughter to a criminal faction of surfers, now struggles to offer her tiny citizenry the comfort and stability of times past. As member of the strike force, will Luga Milash succeed in saving her loved ones and avert a war where possible?

In a military kingdom where the king is selected through a series of challenges and through combat, with 600 competitors in the mix, a human warrior struggles to reach the top of an alien society and claim the throne. With his inclusion in the tournament, the first human in centuries to participate, Marcus comes to uncover a deeper and more sinister plot by the king that could see an end to tradition.

I - "Boy": A young boy with special abilities to see a world beyond the veil, a realm teeming with shadow formed beasts, undergoes an emotional roller-coaster ride in this coming-of-age short story tale. Will Tommy forever remain haunted by these demons from beyond, or will he somehow find a way to best them?

Two immortal, magical beings, Peace (Rayzan) and Chaos (Broza), are in constant battle. This time around, though, the embodiment of peace is defeated and thus has to undergo rebirth, losing his memory in the process. Tucker assumes himself an average, if abnormal teenager, who knows little else than the countryside, where he grew up. Tucker’s journey towards rediscovery begins when he loses control of what he believes are minor psychic abilities, as now, some strange dark and magical figure hunts him.

Humans are mostly made of water. Tessa is mostly made of molten iron. The petite firefighter had always grown up fearful of her abilities, and went through life harboring this deep secret. Until her encounter with a strange man, Tessa wasn’t sure what kind of freak she was...Begrudgingly; she begins her quest for self discovery. Will Tessa ever know freedom, or will she know happiness instead, or are the two synonymous or inseparable?

In a world where an exclusive cadre of android-leasing pilots, the Relevant, is contracted by various interests to war over the world’s resources, can Jackson Airstrutt maintain sanity? For several years, needing to fend for himself in order to survive, will the orphaned lad now manage to hold on to the rarest treasure in his life, his one friend? Or maybe the fame that comes with piloting a state of the art android eventually gets to him?

As an autistic child, Joe had always heard about how special he was. Yet, the world was oblivious to lad’s ability as a seer, a modern day prophet. In this short story tale, you’re invited to peer into Joseph Tiego’s life, as he wades and adjusts himself to a maladjusted and ill-fated world. Will the daily vagaries of adolescent life distract the youth from escaping his nightmare should it prove to be real?

In this short story fiction, you’re entreated to the life of a one dollar bill, Todd. Todd falls for a higher denomination, a bill that’s as sassy as him. However, in a world more uncertain than ours, with his movements constrained by his human carrier, will Todd ever escape his form of slavery, let alone sail off with his new love?

A young prince, heir to the Tiego throne is approached by a sorcerer. The odd fellow presents the prince with a solution to his dilemma but for what seems like a measly price. Has anyone ever known life to be so convenient? Is Prince Majes truly willing to relinquish his title for love?

Delve into the unknown, as you too begin to question the nature of reality. This short story tale is an emotional roller coaster ride, with poignant, yet subtle inferences to notions of technocratic neo-feudal-like societies. Scottie is made to question everything he’s ever known, as he finds that his known reality literally fades into inexistence. Was he dreaming? Was he in a prison? What happens to Carolyn?

Alex is part of a long bloodline of Africans who hold dear a magical secret. Until he goes back to his humble childhood home for Thanksgiving, Alex is not clued in on his inherent gift for being able to wield his soul as a weapon, and to turn it into a wild beast, which a select group of other sensitive humans are able to see.

Ever loved and lost? If presented with the chance to get it all back, would you consider it? Zach is a novelist who’d purposefully sequestered himself to a cabin in the lofty pine-filled hills. Yet, not everything is quite what it seems up there, as his revived wife becomes the last of his worries.

The allure of immortality has always fascinated humanity. What happens when simulated technology allows anyone with enough funds to access a world devoid of sickness or death? Henry and Dale are two brothers that wade through the complexities of infinite time. But not everything is what it seems. Could one truly be prepared for what happens when paradise turns to hell?

Entrapped within the luxurious confines of the Vertico condo complex, together with Ron and the rest of the staffers, expect to be dragged into a world of unnerved and unnerving characters. This mildly prosaic short story reeks of solitude, love (a dash), death, and possibly the supernatural? Are some curious cats luckier than others?

A paraplegic war veteran Warner, often buried in his own sweat, urine, and feces, is given a new lease on life. Warner had thought the idea of renting out his body to a tourist from another dimension as ridiculous as him being able to walk again. Yet, walk he did. Is this just another “be careful what you wish for” cautionary tale?

This is tale about how guilt acted as a powerful enough force to transport Mark Rose to a world of beauty, mystery, and monsters. Trouble is knowing what or who the true monsters are. As light and dark magic tussle for supremacy, wielded by sorceresses, could there be such a thing as grey magic? Was Mark Rose too far gone along Highway I-28 to ever go back home?