My Novelettes, Novellas, Novels

THE KAISERINE'S CHAMPION	Ex-soldier Manfred is saved from the gallows by the sinister Otto Thenck, head of the Ministry of State Security (aka Secret Police, aka the "Noseys"), who insists Manfred fights in the Arena during the Kaiserine's birthday celebrations, and kills vampyre spies who are plotting to assassinate Her Majesty. But Thenck has his own sinister plans, he knows that Manfred has a chance of succeeding against the vampyres because he was bitten before he arrived in High Sazburg. Manfred has to overcome his bestial cravings and find his human soul in order to defeat his enemies within and without the bloody Arena. § "...That means he's very old, very experienced, and the most dangerous adversary you're likely to meet. Which is why you must put your misplaced sense of honor to one side, Herr Manfred, at least until the contest is over and the vampyre lies dead at your feet. You have no way of knowing who he is, therefore you must kill everyone who is sent against you."	"The Kaiserine's Champion is full of assassins, political intrigue, dark and dangerous spy masters, sword play, and a very honorable hero in the tradition of all the great swashbucklers." ~Linda Suzane's review of The Kaiserine's Champion at www.suite101.com
THE VAMPYRE'S KISS	Manfred has been The Kaiserine's Champion for six months—cue adulation, beautiful women and free beers—but this has also resulted in his being challenged by young blades eager to make their name by besting him. Tired by the senseless violence, and aware that ladies are only attracted to him because of his vampyre musk, Manfred is recruited by Eva, the Kaiserine's daughter, to assist in the secret war between the Noseys and the vampyres. But when the vampyre Families also attempt to recruit him, Manfred finds himself immersed in a deadly conflict that threatens to overwhelm the entire city. § Her bony fingers closed around my blade, anchoring it solidly in mid-air and stopping me in mid-thrust. The shock damn near dislocated my shoulder. She wrenched the sword from my grasp and threw it away. A greater demonstration of her confidence would have been difficult to devise. She feared me not at all, this ancient vampyre, and in doing so caused me to fear her all the more.	"This is a light, fast paced story, full of exciting action, sword fighting, and fair maidens to save... well worth reading if you are looking for a light fantasy." ~Linda Suzane's review of The Vampyre's Kiss at www.suite101.com
SHADOWS OVER WENTGARTEN	The missing story! Still a WIP. Some day...
FATAL SUSPICION	A mysterious master assassin plays games with Manfred, who determines to carve him to pieces—if he can ever catch the fiend! § "My word!" Laszlo said. The Baron had also brought along his champion, which caused a ripple of consternation to sweep through the crowd—hardly surprising, since his champion wasn't human. Gott only knows where he'd found the creature but just looking at it made my stomach shrink. It was something out of ancient legend, something that shouldn't have been there because the entire species had supposedly been wiped out centuries ago.	(Unpublished novelette. Was accepted, but editor moved on. Enjoy.)
THE WITCH	Manfred finds himself caught between two deadly enemies—most of them undead—when a former lover refuses to let him go. § The undead swordsman let go of the soldier and rose to face me again. He began to change—his flesh regenerated, pink and healthy; his eyeballs inflated and filled their sockets; red hair sprouted from his newly-formed scalp. He laughed with the joy of it all and then attacked me with all the fury of a demon unleashed.	(Unpublished novelette. Was accepted, but editor stopped replying. Enjoy.)

The late 16th Century. The Prussian Empire's astounding and inexplicable technological advances result in the conquest of Europa. The crunch of Prussian jackboots echoes from the sun-soaked plains of Espanya to the frozen wastes of Moskovia. Nothing, it seems, can stop the Prussian war machine...