AlefYae

A Sailor Steve Costigan Story
Nobody gets away with kicking Steve's bull dog Mike. First appeared in the magazine Fight Stories February 1930. In the public domain.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a picaresque novel by American author Mark Twain that was first published in the United Kingdom in December 1884 and in the United States in February 1885.
Added Chapter 29

A collection of short stories and sketches.
Added Chapter 10

After their harrowing trials on Black Star, Ryan and Eclair return home to the Fire Ministry. Ryan puts aside his feelings for Eclair to train with Zanderius Alastar, the Prime Minister of Elemency. His goal, to attain ultimate power in order to finally defeat the Dark Dragon Lord and avenge his family. Meanwhile, on the distant planet of Atlantis, home of the Merfolk, a sinister plot is underway that could spell dire consequences for the entire universe.
Added Chapter 22

A boy is born in a workhouse in a poor town. His mother dies after childbirth, leaving him an orphan.
Added Chapter 10

Country Roads (5)
After the loss of both his parents and his music career, Charlie gets a second chance when he lands a spot on a hit music competition, The Stage. But his journey of redemption is paved with heartbreak, betrayal, and ambition.
Added Chapter 21

Following the Equator (sometimes titled More Tramps Abroad) is a non-fiction social commentary in the form of a travelogue published by Mark Twain in 1897.
Added Chapter 54

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (also simply known as Tom Sawyer) is a novel by Mark Twain published on June 9, 1876, about a boy, Tom Sawyer, growing up along the Mississippi River.
Added Chapter 29

A Tramp Abroad is a work of travel literature, including a mixture of autobiography and fictional events, by American author Mark Twain, published in 1880. The book details a journey by the author, with his friend Harris, through central and southern Europe.
Added Chapter 23

A Tale of Two Cities is a historical novel that explores the themes of justice, sacrifice, resurrection, and the brutality of revolution.
Added Chapter 13

"Sense and Sensibility" is a classic novel that explores the lives and loves of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, after their father's death leaves them in reduced circumstances.
Added Chapter 19

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy is an epic novel set in early 19th-century Russia during the Napoleonic Wars.
Added Chapter 5

Pride and Prejudice is a romantic novel set in early 19th-century England. It follows the story of Elizabeth Bennet and her evolving relationship with the wealthy but reserved Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.
Added Chapter 20

A tale of the improbable journey of one of society's outcasts

Lots of groans and moans about a cliffhanger at the end. God, I love it! Many of the great authors of the 19th Century specialized in cliffhangers. Dickens and Dumas come to mind. In those days it w ... more

Graham Reaper is a young boy growing up in West Georgia. Follow him as he grows up, finds love, and becomes a man. He earns his nickname and more. Caategories and tags will be added as the story progresses.
Added Chapter 7

A widowed and manipulative woman in her mid-thirties who wants a husband for herself and her daughter.

A quiet young woman who leaves England to seek independence.

"Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens is a classic coming-of-age novel that follows the life of Pip, a poor orphan, as he grows up, makes mistakes, and learns hard truths about wealth, love, and identity.
Added Chapter 12

The novel tells the story of the Karamazov family, focusing on the conflict between the immoral father, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov, and his three sons: Dmitri (Mitya) who is passionate, Ivan who is intellectual and Alyosha who is kind-hearted.
Added Chapter 3

Dorian Gray seems to never age or grow old. What's his secret?
Added Chapter 20 (final)

A young Englishman seeking independence and identity through work and personal growth.

A mill owner is trying to introduce labor-saving machinery to his textile factory. This angers local workers, who fear unemployment.

A comic episodic novel that follows the amusing adventures of the benevolent and eccentric Mr. Pickwick.

A young man from a wealthy, aristocratic family living on a country estate called Saddle Meadows.

Rodion Raskolnikov, a poor former student in St. Petersburg, believes that some people have the right to commit crimes if it benefits humanity. To test this theory, he murders an old pawnbroker and her innocent sister.
Added Chapter 4

I had an interesting complaint about the story a few days ago. “It's real hard to get to interested in a mediocre middle school kid.” Considering the first few chapters, Grim is fairly average, bu ... more

A Story in the Enfield Undrowned Universe
Civil engineer Todd Rook feels he has little to show for his time on the planet other than a good job and a few possessions. It will take a former friend from his past to make him understand what he has, and what he still needs.

Like Hopalong says, "Me? I believe in stories. But mostly, how you got to go back to the beginning, To the first time a story got told before you can trust it."

Will you be content to drift from situation to situation, to sail the course charted for you by others, or will you take charge of your life and chart your own course? For Jeff Knox, a teenager about to start high school in Enfield, Massachusetts, choosing to take charge of his life will affect more lives than just his own.
Added Chapter 8

A strict schoolmaster who believes in facts, logic, and utility above all else.

A psychological ghost story filled with ambiguity and suspense.

A collection of eight short stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald and his first published book.

A gothic adventure novel with mystery, romance, and political intrigue.

Grim is still growing up and making the usual mistakes we all did at that age. I think we can all remember back to those days. Enjoy!

A reflective and passive poet who joins Blithedale which is a utopian farming commune.

A young man in New York City and his beautiful wife as they pursue pleasure, wealth, and social status.

As guests gather in the son of a prince's wedding, a terrifying supernatural event occurs.

A collection of eight short stories by Virginia Woolf.

A poor girl from a large family is sent to live with her wealthy relatives at Mansfield Park.

A satire structured around a series of encounters between passengers and a mysterious figure.

Grim is now growing up. Strangely enough, girls aren’t so yucky any longer. Who’d have guessed? Enjoy!

Buckle up...

Slowly reposting my stories here... (At least, the safe-for-work ones...) The stand-alones will be reposted alongside the chapters for "A Charmed Life," "A Glass, and Darkly," and "Sabrina..." Currently on Chapter 6 of ACL today (June 20, 2025)...

The Grim Reaper is growing up. I think we can all remember what it was like to be back in grade school. I would bet anything that you knew guys just like him. Otherwise, not a whole lot to add. Enjoy!

A country girl with an imagination shaped by gothic novels is invited to visit Bath with family friends.

The Pyncheon family live in a gloomy mansion known as the House of the Seven Gables.

A landowner and his servant set out on horseback in a sledge to buy some land in a nearby village on a cold winter day.

A horror novel that tells the story of Count Dracula's attempt to move from Transylvania to England.

An English surgeon who sets out on a series of sea voyages and encounters strange and fantastical lands.

A lady after breaking up with a captain, meets him again.

A young man grappling with identity and meaning in pre-war England.

A lawyer employs several scriveners to help with legal paperwork.

For those of you worried I’m writing a story about a little boy, relax. He grows up. He’s also a relatively normal kid, completely unlike some of my other heroes. Amusing note – When I was pub ... more

A gentle young woman who becomes the ward of a wealthy man who lives at Bleak House.

A young boy is disfigured by a group of child traffickers who carve a permanent smile into his face.

So here we are with a new story. This one’s a long one, but I think you’ll like it. It’s going to take a few months to publish. I posted it on StoriesOnline, but it’s been suggested that I pub ... more

A young, naive Englishwoman who travels by ship from London to South America.

The lightning hit on Janice’s business was something I took from my own experience. For quite a few years I was the IT manager at my company, by virtue of the fact that I was the only member of mana ... more

“Do you really think James Bond was born James Bond? Or was he actually born Joey Numbnuts and then changed it after he became Double-Oh-Seven? How do you get to be James Bond? Where do you start? And how do you leave? How does James Bond retire? What happens when he runs out of spies to catch? Does he go back to being Joey Numbnuts?”
Added Chapter 18 (final)

A respectable bank clerk, lives a routine life until one day everything changes.

A handsome, intelligent, and egotistical young man as he comes of age in early 20th-century America.

For the curious, my editors and I had a vigorous discussion on suppressors, as seen towards the end of this chapter. The consensus was that the suppressor mentioned will work, but only for 2-3 shots. ... more

An American lieutenant who witnesses World War I, and loves an English nurse.

An American journalist living in Paris, is part of a circle of disillusioned expatriates.

I had to give this chapter a lot of thought, for several reasons. First, lots of people start getting sick and dying. I’m not a particularly bloodthirsty individual, but a background in chemistry gi ... more

Things are about to get very nasty at the Balustre Group. It’s not full-blown war yet, but it’s getting close. Enjoy!

A Story in the Enfield Undrowned Universe
The woods of Northern Maine offer challenges and opportunities unlike those in cities and towns in more populated portions of the United States. Jake Chartier expected a month-long vacation there would give him the opportunity to escape the pressures of his law firm. Life, however, often interferes with our best-laid plans …

Roy Burke has been too occupied building his construction business to go looking for a wife. So his secretary and mother join forces to push him along. No-one expects the chaos that results.

Twice-Told Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a collection of short stories.

A World War I veteran who rents a modest house in West Egg and meets a wealthy man.

The narrator recalls his life from childhood to adulthood.

A traveling salesman woke up one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect.

The novel follows a high-society woman as she prepares to host a party that evening.

It’s time for Travis and Janice to disappear. Or is it Sean and Janice? Jake and Janice? Well, somebody is disappearing! Enjoy!

A Story in the Anthony Carter, Family & Friends Universe
On a rainy spring day, Ellen Trilby, the daughter of Major George Trilby and his wife Siobhan, both dear friends of Harriet Carter, appears on Anthony Carter's estate, asking for shelter to escape an unwanted suitor. Wary of the Carters' son Richard at first, they grow together through a tragedy and danger, but they must overcome a cunning enemy and their own insecurities before they can become a couple. This continues the Anthony Carter stories.
Added Chapters 9-20 (final)

Deputy US Marshal Wounded Hawk is ready to head back to Golden City, after taking a prisoner to Estes Park, Colorado. But when a group of bandits decides to pick that particular bank to rob, Hawk and the local Marshal's posse set out in pursuit. The half breed Marshal will need all his Indian tracking skills to catch up to this band of outlaws. But the posse is ill-prepared for the gang leader's relentless pursuit of freedom.

Set in 17th-century Puritan Boston, the story follows Hester Prynne, who is publicly shamed for committing adultery and giving birth to a child named Pearl.

An aging man becomes obsessed with books about knights and chivalry. Believing these tales, he renames himself Don Quixote and sets out to revive knighthood.

A sensitive and intelligent boy growing up in late 19th-century Ireland, as he struggles to find his identity as an artist.

Ulysses is a modernist novel set in Dublin, Ireland. It follows the inner thoughts and movements of three main characters: Leopold Bloom, Stephen Dedalus, and Molly Bloom.

The Happy Prince and Other Tales is a collection of short stories by Oscar Wilde. The book contains five fairy tales, each with its own plot and moral themes.
Added The Nightingale (final)

Set in 15th-century Paris, the novel follows the hunchbacked bell-ringer of Notre-Dame Cathedral, and his tragic connection to a beautiful Romani girl.

A former convict is released after 19 years of hard labor. Rejected by society, he’s shown compassion by a bishop, which inspires him to change his life.

I had some fun with Chapter 13 describing the problems with elk in Everest. The fictional city and county of Everest, Montana, are southeast of the very real city of Banff, Alberta. My wife and I had ... more

The weapons issue generated some email. For those wondering about the last blog post, I am perfectly aware that the Ruger Mini 14 fires NATO 5.56. The Mini Thirty is the version that is chambered for ... more

No haiku fails All haiku fail Fail,haiku! Fail! no haiku fails [No violence, no mature subject or language. May contain some troubling subject, like meteorology.]

Bathsheba Everdene is a strong-willed, independent young woman who inherits her uncle’s large farm in rural England. As she manages the estate, she becomes the object of affection for three very different men, each representing a different type of love and future.

The novel is narrated by a sailor named Ishmael, who signs up for a whaling voyage aboard the ship Pequod. The ship is commanded by the mysterious and intense Captain Ahab.

When going through the editing process, I send a story to a group of individuals who have experience with the subject being written about. Occasionally the results are amusing. Case in point, the last ... more

Book 2 differs from Book 1 in that in almost all cases the story proceeds chronologically. With very few exceptions, there will be no bouncing back and forth in time. Some people liked it, some people ... more

Privatizing assassination? You just know this won’t work out well! This is the end of Book One, though don’t worry. There won’t be a break in the schedule for uploading. Enjoy!