Crazed crocodiles at the Great Barrier Reef have transmitted to humans an aggressive and deadly pathogen, eerily resembling Mad Cow Disease, unleashing terror and a desperate attempt to find a cure before an apocalyptic pandemic ensues. A mysterious government official coerces a team of four reluctant specialists, strangers to each other, to identify a lethal prion and determine if its source is natural or engineered.Dr. John Ostler is a veterinary surgeon with expertise in Mad Cow...

Mamas Girls tells the story of a married woman turned single mother of five. All five of her daughters have very different personalities even in their youth. Mama has to find ways to balance meeting the needs of all five of her children, especially her youngest, Sonya, who is a part of a secret that she has no idea about. As the girls grow up, they begin to focus on their own needs and eventually delve deeper into their own lives. Sonya remains close to Mama; however, she denies herself a ...

Growing up in South Dakota, Josh Garrett-Davis knew he would leave. But as a young adult, he kept going back -- in dreams and reality and by way of books. With this beautifully written narrative about a seemingly empty but actually rich and complex place, he has reclaimed his childhood, his unusual family, and the Great Plains.Among the subjects and people that bring his Midwestern Plains to life are the destruction and resurgence of the American bison; Native American "Ghost Dance...

"After Dinner Conversation" Magazine - September 2020Idle Horns: A horned demon of hell born to eternally torture the damned walks off the job.The Mind Reader: An outspoken bar patron runs an experiment to see if the world can be divided into the "weak" and the "strong" in attempt to prove he's not an authoritarian fascist.I, von Economo: A woman goes back to get revenge on the ma...

"What do you do when it's a punishment to punish?"Synopsis: A horned demon of hell born to eternally torture the damned walks off the job.After Dinner Conversation believes humanity is improved by ethics and morals grounded in philosophical truth. Philosophical truth is discovered through intentional reflection and respectful debate. In order to facilitate that process, we have created a growing series of short stories, au...

"After Dinner Conversation" Magazine - August 2021They Got Their Show: A taxi driver is assigned to pick up the newly exonerated murderer of his 16-year-old daughter.Claim: The local diocese requests insurance coverage against future child sexual abuse lawsuits.Home For The Holidays: A son comes home for the holidays to find his parents have shrunk to two feet tall.

Named Top 10 "Best Lit Mags of 2023" by Chill SubsCarefully curated stories from our monthly magazine to create a themed short story book about the philosophy and ethics of crimes and their punishments. Perfect for classrooms and book clubs, each story is 1,500-7,000 words and comes with five suggested discussion questions.Story Summary ListIdle Horns: A horned demon of hell born to eternally...

Over 60% of marriages in the United States end in divorce. The pain and emotional suffering of separation and divorce wreaks havoc not only on families of the world but in the body of Christ as well. Selecting the wrong partner or being ill prepared for marriage undoubtedly are two major factors contributing to the ever-growing divorce rate.The Christians guide to mate selection and marital preparation will give the reader, Christians and non-Christians alike the insight, wisdom an...

There’s “western,” and then there’s “Western”—and where history becomes myth is an evocative question, one of several questions posed by Josh Garrett-Davis in What Is a Western? Region, Genre, Imagination. Part cultural criticism, part history, and wholly entertaining, this series of essays on specific films, books, music, and other cultural texts brings a fresh perspective to long-studied topics. Under Garrett-Davis’s careful observation, cultural objects such as films a...

Named Top 10 "Best Lit Mags of 2023" by Chill SubsCarefully curated stories from After Dinner Conversation magazine to create a themed short story book about the philosophy and ethics as we revisit and examine our past as individuals. Perfect for classrooms and book clubs, each story is 1,500-7,000 words and comes with five suggested discussion questions.Story Summary ListThe Man Who Killed The Dog: A man slow...

Rated "Most Popular Fiction Magazine 2024" by Chill SubsNamed Top 10 "Best Lit Mags of 2023, 2024" by Chill SubsDelight in intriguing, thought-provoking conversations about ethics, philosophy, and social issues! After Dinner Conversation is a monthly literary magazine publishing short fiction. Each issue features both established writers and up-and-coming authors who contribute fascinating philosophical insights on controversial to...

"After Dinner Conversation" Magazine - September 2022Milla's Dandelion: Alchemilla encounters a gentle horned man in the woods while looking for flowers.The Heaven – The Earth: Morton is growing a hole right through his belly and has to come to terms with his life choices.French Connection: A college student is transported back to Paris to have coffee with Simone de Beauvoir, Jean...