First Fiction: Noteworthy Fiction from Verso.ink

“Get up the dam,” Eryn ordered, waving the others toward the ropes while keeping her eyes pinned on the woods. “Right now.”

“We can’t just leave!” Jules said, her eyes darting nervously from person to person as she wrung her too-thin hands. “We have to get our stuff—”

“There’s no time,” Eryn hissed, doing her best to keep her voice down. But if it really was those things, it wouldn’t matter. From the few encounters she’d had, Eryn knew their hearing was as good as hers.

The World Over is the first in a post-apocalyptic survival series by Cassiopeia Fletcher that's scheduled to be released on March 16, 2021. If you want to hear more about The World Over and the series that follows, keep listening after the story for my interview with Cassie. You can also preorder The World Over and the next two books in the series on Amazon.

Prologue to The World Over is read by the author.

For a moment, their gazes locked. His face was Liam-cheerful, but there was something in his eyes, a searching.

They had a history—a pull of interlocking years. They’d been friends since the fifth grade. A dozen bits and pieces of memory coiled in her head—a flash of his gaze across the room at prom, laughing as she stole his favorite afghan when she was at his house watching a movie. All of it tumbled through her.

But she shrugged, not wanting to feel anything even remotely touchy-feely. He wasn’t hers, not really.

Love is in the air! It's February and I've got a special treat from one of our Verso.ink romance authors. Deb Goodman writes sweet romance with happily ever afters, and Love Between Friends is the first in her new Sweet Plum series. Check out the links below to read more of Deb's work.

Do you feel trapped? Norman thought. Do you look out onto this huge other world, with beings walking and talking and moving as they choose, in and out, and think--why can’t my life be like that? Why am I stuck inside this tiny shell, and no one understands what I want, not really?

This gem of a story will take you into the mind of a unique young man with a fascinating perspective on the world. "The Shark Waves Back" by Christopher Jones is a story of looking beneath the layers to find connection. Even more impressive is the fact that it was written under a tight deadline for one of our monthly prompt challenges! Keep listening after the story to hear my interview with Chris.

The Shark Waves Back is narrated by the author.

Jane appraised the room. She chose the seat nearest her mother, not because she enjoyed the woman’s presence, but because that seat was nearest the window and would leave her brothers squinting against the afternoon light when they looked at her. She sat ramrod straight in her seat and left her hands folded neatly on the table in front of her. This was her power move. She was ready for war.

Crystal Brinkerhoff's Cutthroat is a humorous short story about the tension and posturing within a family who are gathered for the reading of a will. It's sure to bring a smile! Keep listening after the story for my interview with Crystal to learn where she got her inspiration.

Cutthroat is narrated by the author.

Reaching up, Alexa rested her palm against her collar bone where she felt Emrys’s arms rest. There was nothing there. Six years ago, that would have bothered her, but now she found it fascinating. The human brain was a truly amazing thing to be capable of simulating sensations that felt so achingly real.

Today’s story, The Most Wonderful Sound by Cassiopeia Fletcher, features two characters with an unexpected relationship that leaves readers with some questions by the end. Keep listening after the story to hear some of those questions answered in my interview with Cassie.

The Most Wonderful Sound is narrated by the author.

I watch her sleep, her short bristle of hair twisted into sweaty knots. I can’t help her and it’s killing me.

Today's short story is sure to get you in an apocalyptic mood. The Follower, by MK Martin, is a poignant tale of love and loyalty in the midst of a harsh fight for survival. I really enjoyed my visit with MK and I think you’ll enjoy hearing about her unique life experiences. She’s certainly much more adventurous than I am!

The Follower is narrated by Carli Schofield.

She threw back the quilt and grabbed the doll. It was large and heavier than she expected, and just the weight of it demanded to be held close to her body. 

Snuggled.

Crystal Brinkerhoff hosts today's episode featuring Mistress Mary by Caren Hahn. As Managing Editor of Verso.ink, Caren doesn't typically promote her own work, favoring instead to put other authors in the spotlight. This episode is an exception, as she shares a creepy tale just in time for Halloween.

Mistress Mary is narrated by the author.

"This is Dollie." She adjusted the doll's dress. "She's nothing special. Old and maybe a bit creepy, but nothing special." She rubbed her finger across the doll's porcelain cheek. 

"At least that's what her previous owners thought at first."

It’s October and for many of us that means carving pumpkins and sharing spooky stories as the nights get cooler. I have a chilling tale for you today from Miranda Renae. Dollie puts a different spin on your typical campfire ghost story, and if you keep listening after the story, you’ll get to hear the unusual way Miranda was inspired.

Dollie is narrated by the author.

We were out of the bar in minutes, him opening the door for me while trying to call up the closest ride on one of his apps. I didn’t let it show I was wishing he had a car. Too many things could go wrong going back to his place, and any more witnesses besides the bar patrons were possible complications.

Red Wrath is a dark superhero thriller by Gerhard Gehrke geared toward an adult audience. We had a chance to talk about Red's character arc, so if you have questions—as I do—keep listening after the story to hear that interview.

Red Wrath is narrated by Abby Gehrke.

The gods were among them.

And the gods were called dragons.

Today's episode features our youngest author to date, Genevieve Ann Atwater Maxwell. Enjoy the prologue and first chapter of Black Dragon, a fantasy adventure story with additional content available on Verso.ink. If you'd like to hear how Harry Potter saved her from a life of illiteracy, keep listening after the story for my interview with Genevieve.

Black Dragon is narrated by the author.

Father gives a great cry, as of a wild boar spitted on a shaft of ash, and then he is still. I do not need the doctors to pronounce him dead. But I do need to know why my brother isn't here.

Semper Romanus, by Christopher Jones, is a historical fiction piece based on Hannibal’s siege at Saguntum. If you don’t know anything about it (as I didn’t!), keep listening after the story for my interview with Chris.

Semper Romanus is narrated by Carli Schofield.

How naïve he’d been! Growing up wasn’t just about cleaning things, it also meant going to the store on your own and crossing the big street by yourself and tripping and falling and getting bloody and forgetting money and being scolded and feeling dumb because you want to cry but you can’t because you’re grown up now and grown-ups. don’t. cry.

Today’s selection is more literary in nature, and focuses on a small boy making a big step in the world. The Emerald City is written by Cassiopeia Fletcher. After the story, you’ll get to hear our conversation about Joe and Cassie's unique experience of writing through the eyes of a child.

The Emerald City is narrated by the author.

They will call her Monster. Child killer. A seething psychopath.

DRIVEN is a haunting yet highly empathetic piece that will leave you changed by the end of it.

Keep listening after the story for my interview with The Behrg.

DRIVEN is narrated by Micah Mason.

“So, your father is one of these superheroes who dresses up and gets into a lot of trouble.”

“Not a hero. One of the bad guys."

Supervillain High is the first in Gerhard Gerhke's YA Superhero Adventure series. This first chapter introduces us to Brendan and his complicated daddy issues.

Keep listening after the story for my interview with Gerhard.

Supervillain High is narrated by the author.

The bodies wouldn't sink...

Our first episode features a complete short story by Crystal Brinkerhoff. At the time of recording, Tethered is not only one of our Noteworthy selections—which means it's been chosen by Verso.ink moderators—but also sits in the #1 spot in Popular votes by our readers.

Keep listening after the story to hear my interview with Crystal about Tethered.

Tethered is narrated by Carli Schofield.