Blame it on the dog - the age-old excuse.Sixteen writers took on the prompt with a collection of short stories across a variety of genres including fantasy, science fiction, contemporary, poetry, superhero, historical, humor, and more.The Forward Motion for Writer's Anthology is an annual showcase of the multi-national writing talent at the venerable writer's group. The 2014 edition includes an active table of contents with works by:Quarry - J...

A day of fun descends into a day of fear.Liam Taggert hopes a trip to one of the big amusement parks on the planet of Mydore will take his children's minds off their mother's situation. It worked… until Kevin disappeared, kidnapped by unknown abductors.While his father and the Galactic Patrol race to find him, Kevin awakes in a strange place, unsure how he got there......With his life hanging on the very desires hidden in his heart.

With the equinox come the aurora and the itch of spring…Good moods are scarce in Salmon Run these days, right down to a temperamental Solar Express train. Zach Callahan's lingering foul mood even manages to drive off Sasha. Concerned that this may be caused by the alien translator band around Zach's wrist, Hawk Callahan insists on a check-up visit to the local spaceship. Just as Zach discovers a menace worthy of true worry:The return of a threat...

The aliens need human help... in Bermuda.After the earthquake Hawk and Zach Callahan get a pleasant surprise: customers. Right when the aliens choose to reveal themselves to Zach and Sasha's families. They need human help to identify a potential threat… in Bermuda. But, according to Uncle George's will, a trip to Bermuda could possibly cost the Callahans their lodge. Not to mention the problem of taking care of all the guests now staying at the lodge.

Summer, fall, winter, and breakup...Slush and mud mix with snow and ice, turning Salmon Run into a gooey mess. Spring will soon arrive, triggering a return of the local Fish and Games officer and inspiring Chance McRoyal to get ready to work his summer gold claim. Also a time the Callahans hope will bring lodgers. For Sasha and Jacob Neeley it means the tribal "coming of age" trial. In the midst of the madness, Nanuk and Yenni attempt to fit into the human world wh...

Past, present, and future collide in the rugged Alaska mountains.When Hawk and Zach Callahan agree to basic survival training with Amber Marley, they instead get an entire town of helpful interfering neighbors. With the help of Sasha and Grandpa Neely, they escape into the mountains to continue the lessons.Elsewhere, Admiral Kian did not like the situation in Bermuda and orders their spaceship readied. With no supply shuttle due to arrive i...

The start of summer brings a rush of activity, and a touch of crazy…Hawk and Zach Callahan receive their first lodgers of the summer season among the antics instigated by a fierce race for the presidency of the Salmon Run Men's Club. McRoyal prepares to head out to his gold claim, but finds himself pursued by the Widow Sophie for an entirely new reason. Zach tries to complete his project for the Science Fair, despite interfering Little People.To complicate ...

It all started with an ordinary day and ended with her life changed forever...Finding remnants of an ancient crashed ship in a forest of the planet Jad may save Elvy Akuma's father's job at the Jad Cultural Center, but it could also restart the war between Human and Chion. Through the threat of pirates, Chion Warriors, treasure hunters and more, Elvy and her friends Tiver and Pelik must rely on each other to protect themselves, the heritage of Jad, and peace itself...

A haunted lodge and lurking aliens?The Salmon Run Lodge needs a good cleaning. Hard to accomplish with the plumbing and power constantly going out. Then there are the strange unexplained noises. When Zack heads for school for the first time he discovers that the local kids are as crazy as the other inhabitants of Salmon Run.Problems abound for the local aliens, as well. Nanuk wants to continue his scientific human observations. Hard to do when the Admiral i...

An ominous singing voice only Zach and Sasha can hear...First came the blizzard. Then the earthquake hit. Even as the people of Salmon Run rally to pick up the pieces, Zach and Sasha start hearing a voice singing across the radio. Singing no one else hears.What do the lyrics in the beautiful voice mean? Some sound downright apocalyptic, and growing darker all the time. They need answers, and fast. They know the hidden aliens must be involved in some way, bu...

An alien newt leads to... love?Rachel Henderkito's job of taking care of Redpoint One's plumbing problems isn't easy, especially when citizen pets clog up the pipes. After fishing an alien newt out of the pipes for a third time she takes the creature back to its owner for a stern warning.Ignacio Manetti is determined to help keep rare alien newts and salamanders off the extinction list. He doesn't have time for romance, nor for the heart-breaking memories i...

Strange things happen in the Briggs Triangle...Low-ranked crew member Riya Cobley gets the lovely privilege of joining the team to investigate the drifting space-freighter "Mary Celeste." The mystery mounts when they find prepared food still sitting on the tables, intact systems, yet no crew or record of them leaving. Where did everyone go?Then new alarms sound on both ships...A science fiction suspense novelette inspired b...