Alison lays unconscious in a hospital bed after a long-distance training run leaves her half-dead at the bottom of a deep ravine. While Rick is a faithful husband, Alison gave him many reasons to attempt to kill her. The question of who tried to kill Alison hangs in the air while Rick waits impatiently for her to awake and assure him he’s innocent.Blackboard Galaxy is a humorous science fiction story about a teacher who has dreamed of teaching in space. Now that she is living her dream, she must find ways to discipline students besides eating them, as that is the standard protocol among alien teachers. This story originally appeared in Issue 6 of Untied Shoelaces of the Mind. The author based this story on her experiences teaching middle school students. The line, "Does this look like a face that cares?" is a direct quote from a thirteen year old.

The Run: (Approx. 34 pages/10,000 word short)Cora is a runner and mother of two whose husband is working out of town on business. Always a protective mother, Cora has never left her children alone. That is until a well-intentioned friend encourages her to. This is a story that will leave you questioning your parenting skills and wanting to read more great running adventures by Diane Strong.Bebe a wolf that has over estimated her place in the pack gets an Alpha's Smack Down when she assumes she will be the next Alpha Female. Needless to say things don't go Bebe's way in the action packed prequel to "On The Run". Meet and learn about various characters in this fresh new world of were's.

(10,000 words)Luke is a single widower with a pet cat. He is just shy of retirement and about to take the ride of a lifetime on a train headed west. He is prepared for two weeks of adventure. When a pause to take leak during a run turns into more than a quick stop, his plans change dramatically. Luke quickly discovers he doesn’t have to venture far from home for the adventure of a lifetime.This is a 10,000 word short story, approximately 1/5 the length of a novel)Luke is a single widower with a pet cat. He is just shy of retirement and about to take the ride of a lifetime on a train headed west. He is prepared for two weeks of adventure. When a pause to take leak during a run turns into more than a quick stop, his plans change dramatically. Luke quickly discovers he doesn’t have to venture far from home for the adventure of a lifetime.

Megan Sweeny is a strong woman raising a teenage daughter alone. When she decides to try out a new road for her run on Christmas Eve, she loses her car keys and is unable to return home to her daughter. In an attempt to find a phone, Megan knocks on the door of a sad little trailer house. An elderly man greets her and welcomes her inside to use the phone...Megan Sweeny is a strong woman raising a teenage daughter alone. When she decides to try out a new road for her run on Christmas Eve, she loses her car keys and is unable to return home to her daughter. In an attempt to find a phone, Megan knocks on the door of a sad little trailer house. An elderly man greets her and welcomes her inside to use the phone. It doesn't take long for Megan to realize she made a mistake and that in order to use the phone, there will be a price to pay: she will have to listen.