About The Holiday Single Shot Collection 2007

by Sara Bell, Willa Okati, Lucius Parhelion, Angelia Sparrow, Julia Talbot, BA Tortuga, and Vic Winter
227 pages / 95000 words
ISBN: 978-1-60370-600-1, 1-60370-600-3
Available file types - html. lit, pdf, prc

Welcome to the collection of Holiday-themed Single Shots from 2007 - with stories from your favorite Torquere Press authors.

Christmas for Gary by Vic Winter

Gary gets roped into staying at his Grandmother's for the month of December, and he thinks it's going to be a real drag. What he thinks will be a dull series of errands turns out to be a blast, his Gran and her friends keeping him on his toes.

The ladies pump up his belief in himself, too, so when they stop the hunk from the neighborhood gym and introduce  the two men, Gary runs with it, agreeing to meet Tony for lunch, and maybe more. Can Gary get over his natural shy nature and sn

Ring My Bell by BA Tortuga

Collin doesn't have a lot of Christmas spirit this year. He's ringing a bell for charity as part of his community service, and it makes his head hurt in the worst way. When he finds an injured man on the road on his way home one night, he figures it's just another big headache.

Gaz isn't just any guy, though. He's got a very angry boss, a few terrible scars where his wings have been ripped off, and a thriving phone sex business he needs to get back to in California. It’s a long way from North Texas to Napa Valley, though. The chemistry between them is strong, but will they find enough common ground to have a Merry Christmas?

Miskatonic Mistletoe by Angelia Sparrow

Corin and Cian, werewolf and elf, have been called upon to avert an apocalypse in Massachusetts. Up around Arkham, everything is a possible emergency, and the couple isn’t getting younger, so they call on their werewolf friends, Dan and Paul, who have holiday plans of their own they'll have to put in hold if they intend to help.

Everything seems to be against them in this homage to Lovecraft, from the moon to the cult of worshippers intent on raising the Elder Gods. Can the wolves and the elf come together in time to avert the disaster, and keep them all alive?

Dead of Winter by Lucien Parhelion

Al's in the closet, which is not unusual in 1950's Pasadena, and thanks to that and the fact that he's broke, he doesn’t have a lot of time to grieve when he finds out his former lover has died. He has a job to do, spending some time in an apparently haunted house, and the realtor, Krebbs, wants him to check it out.

When Al moves in, strange things begin to happen. The house does seem to be haunted, and there's more to it than things that go bump in the night. His dreams are filled with Richard, his ex, and they're becoming more and more real. Can Al figure out what Krebbs is up to and figure out how to get the house, and his dreams, to settle down?

Game of the Season by Willa Okati

Christmas isn't looking good for Seth and Clay during their first holiday season together. The boys from The Name of the Game just want to get the right gifts for each other, with a little help from their friend, Anthony.

Instead, they have to fend of relations, deal with elusive CDs, and deal with problems at work. To make it worse, the watch Seth ordered for Clay doesn't show. He gets something else instead. Then the lights go out, and Seth and Clay just know Christmas is doomed. Can they find a way to make the season bright?

A Good Thing by Julia Talbot

Dan hates to be known as the 'Christmas Fire Guy', but he is, thanks to the accident that ruined his holiday three years ago. He lets Chris know what he thinks of the time of year, too, when they meet on the street.

Chris is full of holiday cheer, and determined to remind Dan how good it can be to celebrate. He's got the Santa hat, the hot chocolate, and the good will toward his fellow man. All Dan has to do is let Chris into his house, and his heart, to realize what a good thing Christmas can be.

Heart Song by Sara Bell

Rock star Liam is on tour with his band Vicious Heart when a jealous ex outs him to the tabloids. When his manager Liz comes to let him know, the band is split on whether or not they want to stay together.

Liam is most concerned about how band mate Brody will take the news, as he's been in love with Brody for years. When Brody disappears, Liam fears the worst. Brody has plans of his own. Things go from bad to worse, spiraling out of control. Can Liam and Brody do enough damage control to save the band, and their friendship?

Sample

From Heart Song by Sara Bell

"I don't know abut you guys, but I'm ready to get laid."
   
Marco and Robin seconded that notion, and even Brody nodded, sending an all too familiar pain right into Liam's chest. Before any of them, Joey included, could make good on the threat, the door swung open and a pale-faced Liz Orsini, their manager, staggered in. She was clutching a tabloid in one hand, and what looked to be The New York Times in the other.

"Thank God you're all here." She slapped the papers down on the coffee table in front of the couch where Liam and Gunner were sitting. "You have something you want to tell us?"

Liam blinked. "What are you talking about?"

"Read the headlines." She pointed to the papers, but stopped him when Liam reached for the tabloid, which was lying face down. "Why don't I save you the trouble and give you the high points, instead? Better yet, let me ask you a question. How long have you known Adam Gates?"

Liam had often heard the expression "all the blood drained from his face," but he always thought it was of silly. Blood didn't just rush out from under your skin.

Now he was pretty sure there wasn't a platelet left anywhere in his body. He felt dizzy, and he had this nagging need to throw up.

Liz was watching him closely, her gray hawk's eyes locked with his. "It's true, isn't it?"

Liam swallowed, but, try as he might, he couldn't summon enough saliva to un-stick his tongue from the roof of his mouth.

Brody pushed his lanky frame out of his chair, his sleeve-style tats a swirl of color against that paler-than-pale skin. "What's she talking about?"

Liam couldn't answer, but by then, he didn't have to. Gunner had picked up one of the papers and scanned enough of the article to sum it up for all of them.

"I'll tell you what's up, Brody-boy." There was a trace of something dark and nasty in Gunner's voice. "Seems our fearless leader here is a fag."