A collection of short stories both macabre and entertaining that are certain to keep you reading. This collection, inspired by Hitchcock and King, explores the narrative of our nightmares. Experience these stories from the dark side of the mind -- that only surfaces in our dreams or imagination. Will you sleep with the light burning in your room? Can you lay down to rest without looking under your bed or in the closet for those shadows that slither while you sleep? In the Evil World ... In a future world powered by trans-humans there are compromises that we may not be able to live with. Little Miss Moffett ... The insects around us everyday have thoughts and feelings. What could possibly go wrong? The Gift ... The perfect gift from a loving husband--or is it? The Caress ... A young artist falls in love with an art collector. Will she be forced to make the ultimate sacrifice for her art? Autumn Leaves ... Our obsessions can get the best of us. How one man's obsession becomes his undoing. John Smith takes you on a twisted ride through the macabre. Each tale is a glimpse into the dark corners of a madman's mind. --- Kat Perry, author of The Calm

Nightmares of a Madman

Literature & Fiction

Smith, John W.

Genre Fiction

Well Read Press

The sun has set, in the distance there is the sound of distant thunder as black clouds hover above, devouring the stars. The bursts of lightening merge into one long, deadly rumble. You are alone in the house. The lights flicker out, leaving you standing in the middle of the room—wondering. Will the storm pass or is the East Wind a harbinger of worse things to come?Man Against NatureMan Against ManMan Against Himself.Explore what makes a man tick when life takes an unexpected turn? “Dark and stormy night” is a literary cliché, yet, with a little imagination, and tongue firmly planted in check, these eighteen writers burrow into the darkness of a dark and stormy night.The contributors to this anthology are all members of the same writing group. Some are best-selling authors, some freelance writers, and some new writers.Here are some of the highlights:-A space traveler finds himself confronted by an apparition and discovers he is alone and drifting through space.-A young girl follows her dream of moving to the city with dire consequences.-A cold-as-ice assassin takes out a deliciously evil form of insurance.-A gravedigger discovers a hidden world beyond the grave.-A successful businessman is trapped by a vicious storm in his ocean front property only to discover he has a most unexpected visitor.John Smith has dared to do the unthinkable—challenge us to a themed anthology based on the old cliché, “a dark and stormy night.” —Larry DeKay, author of Book Fairs for Authors

A Dark and Stormy Night: Man Against Nature, Man Against Man, Man Against Himself

Sylvia Devlin, a black widow, attending her sixth husband’s funeral meets an apparition as she stands alone at the grave. Convinced her imagination was working overtime from the stress, she leaves the graveyard, and the mysterious being behind. Maintaining the pretense of the grieving widow until the reading of the will, Sylvia visits her dead husband every day. But with each visit, she is taunted by the phantom, who knows all her history and guides her into an experience she will never forget.Sylvia discovers her husband sold the foundry and created a new will before he suddenly became ill and died. Now she must stay in the dirty, small town in order to receive the cash rewards she so hungers for. In addition, she must allow the new owner into her home and treat him as a special guest when he comes to inspect the plant and the books. Delayed in arriving, Sylvia waits to see what kind of person would invade the solitude of a grieving widow. She puts on a pleasant face and treats Mr. Erich Mott with respect. When she discovers he is single, Sylvia sets her sights on husband seven.

Death's Retribution

Welcome to another peek between the ears of John W. Smith. I hope you brought a bright flashlight to look left, right, up, and down as there are things that go bump in the night ? and it is always pitch black in my mind. Here is another series of short stories to get you to think twice before going out after dark or sleeping with all the lights off in the house ? SOUL SUCKER: A carnival ride found outside the fairground's travels to various worlds. Filled with thrills, chills and a little something to change your way of living. Are you brave enough?KILLER CAMPING TRIP: Three friends go camping and discover the dark and hidden secret of one of the men and how it changed his life. LUNCH WITH THE DEVIL: Would you sell your soul to the devil for the love of your life? The person you have carried a torch for in your heart and mind for over twenty years.INNOCENT: She looked so pure and was frightened beyond description. When she and her friend entered the mine to party with the older teens, why did she change her mind. SUDDEN STOP: Your best friend stands on a ledge, planning to kill himself. What happens when you try to talk him down?In Obscured Relationships you will discover that all is not what it seems in this life. This is a darker place, where things can definitely go wrong ? and do.

Obscured Connections

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Books by Well Read Press

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Well Read Press publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Nightmares of a Madman

A Dark and Stormy Night: Man Against Nature, Man Against Man, Man Against Himself

Death's Retribution

Obscured Connections