From the author of the American Fiction Awards techno-thriller finalist Crossfire and the Gaslamp Quarter crime thriller series comes a poignant collection of young adult short stories and poems.

"I loved this author's style, especially the short stories. They evoke a beautiful sense of place, and a feeling of wistfulness."
--- S.C. Langgle, author of Alice in Everville

The anthology covers a wide spectrum of emotions and events that a teenager experiences, from summer romance and first dates to planning for college to enduring a father's mistrust and disappointment, and to escaping reality with visions of suspense, mystery, science fiction, and adventure. Indeed, the works included in this edition were the building blocks upon which the novels CROSSFIRE and A FOREIGNER'S HEART were later developed. It is a powerful kaleidoscope of courage and fantasy as told through the eyes of a young man who yearns to break free from his past, and who wholeheartedly believes in the possibility that he may someday live the dreams that are born of his vivid and wild imagination.

The collection includes the following short stories:

The Carnival: A lonely high school boy steps out on a summer evening to enjoy the chaotic atmosphere of the local carnival. As he wanders through the attractions of food stands and amusement rides, he initiates a conversation with a female classmate. The boy is smitten immediately by the sound of her gentle laugh and the playful look in her eyes. Could this be his first chance at a goodnight kiss and a steady girlfriend?

The Quietest Moment: A high school boy goes on a blind date with the valedictorian of a rival high school. It's nerves on fire as he realizes she's the one he would like to get to know better.

And Not Forever Be Afraid: A boy and a girl, both recent high school graduates from the same class, have a chance encounter on a lazy summer afternoon. They've always known each other as friends. Today their conversation focuses on their hopes and dream for the future. But something is holding the boy back. The girl senses this. Between the two of them, there's mutual attraction, interest, and concern.

Will the boy be able to open his heart to tell her what he's really feeling? Would he dare appear weak and vulnerable after all they've been through together? The possibilities for romance and perhaps something more are endless...

A Kindred Blood: A lonely boy who has recently graduated high school recounts the turbulent relationship he has had with his father. No matter what he did, he was always made to feel he had done something wrong. His hair was always too long when others thought it was too short. His grades were never good enough, although he never missed making the honor roll. He ate too much. He was always in the bathroom for too long. His music was always too loud, and he spent too much time alone in his bedroom.

He wanted to go to college, and his father confronted him with an argument about how he could ever afford to pay for tuition. Eventually, the boy decides he wants to become a writer someday, and that he would like to backpack his way across Europe. What will his father say to that? Will the boy be brave enough to face his father and to reach for his dreams?