Turn the Page...
October 7, 2016
Cover by Jess Small
Turn The Page.... began as a simple idea and grew from there. No matter how bad things seem to be, just turn the page, there’s more—better—things to come. This is only one chapter in your life. It’s not the whole story. With this simple idea, Novice Sister Eroti-Quill—whom most know better as Tempeste O’Riley—began their quest to help Suicide Prevention and Awareness programs in their area. They managed to con (excuse me, convince) other authors to donate their time and stories to the project, and now, many months later, Turn The Page is born!
The authors in this anthology donated their talent as a way to support Eroti-Quill’s hope for others, to help bring strength to programs that so desperately need funding. It will allow them to continue to help others, and to show those that need support but may not have it, or that may be afraid to reach out, just how much love and understanding surrounds them. Turn The Page.... is a diverse range of stories about the journey of love, hope, and acceptance.
Happy Birthday to Me by Tempeste O’Riley
Robin’s Confession by Dianne Hartsock
Purr by Nikki Prince
Lockdown by Grace R. Duncan
Ducks in a Row by Sue Brown
Butterflies by Aine P Massie
Once Step Back by Carole Cummings
Superheroes by Hope Ryan
Unworthy by Mark Zubro
Love and Hope and Magic by Antonia Aquilante
Façade by Donovan Alekz Crane
Add Turn the Page... to your Goodreads shelf.
Preorder Turn the Page...:
Amazon
Smashwords
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Create Space
iBooks
October 7, 2016
Cover by Jess Small
Turn The Page.... began as a simple idea and grew from there. No matter how bad things seem to be, just turn the page, there’s more—better—things to come. This is only one chapter in your life. It’s not the whole story. With this simple idea, Novice Sister Eroti-Quill—whom most know better as Tempeste O’Riley—began their quest to help Suicide Prevention and Awareness programs in their area. They managed to con (excuse me, convince) other authors to donate their time and stories to the project, and now, many months later, Turn The Page is born!
The authors in this anthology donated their talent as a way to support Eroti-Quill’s hope for others, to help bring strength to programs that so desperately need funding. It will allow them to continue to help others, and to show those that need support but may not have it, or that may be afraid to reach out, just how much love and understanding surrounds them. Turn The Page.... is a diverse range of stories about the journey of love, hope, and acceptance.
Happy Birthday to Me by Tempeste O’Riley
Robin’s Confession by Dianne Hartsock
Purr by Nikki Prince
Lockdown by Grace R. Duncan
Ducks in a Row by Sue Brown
Butterflies by Aine P Massie
Once Step Back by Carole Cummings
Superheroes by Hope Ryan
Unworthy by Mark Zubro
Love and Hope and Magic by Antonia Aquilante
Façade by Donovan Alekz Crane
Add Turn the Page... to your Goodreads shelf.
Preorder Turn the Page...:
Amazon
Smashwords
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Create Space
iBooks
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|
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Story Descriptions
Happy Birthday to Me by Tempeste O’Riley
When Dave’s best friend drags him out for his birthday—nearly kicking and screaming, he finds more than he expected at Sovereign, the BDSM club he half owned but had refused to step foot in for two years other than for administrative things while it was closed. He didn’t go to clubs. He didn’t sub anymore. Period.
Well… until he sees Master Nicky. Then his plans for his birthday change and he decides that maybe giving himself a present, might not be quite such a bad idea after all.
Robin’s Confession by Dianne Hartsock
How can Robin find true love without accepting himself first?
Purr by Nikki Prince
Sasha’s love was in imminent danger. All she wanted was to keep Tori safe. Stay at the cabin wait for the verdict from the council. That’s all they had to do. One little dip in the lake couldn’t hurt could it?
Lockdown by Grace R. Duncan
Gylam’s never been that great at communication and this time he’s gone too far. His penchant for keeping his mouth shut resulted in a disastrous trip to the local dungeon. Jackson, his partner—both cop and at home—and Dom, is well familiar with Gylam’s tendencies. The punishment he gives Gylam is just shy of his limits, but Gylam knows he’s earned it. It remains to be seen if it teaches him anything, though.
Ducks in a Row by Sue Brown
David spends his afternoons feeding the ducks, a peaceful activity until the day Jeff and his Labrador dog burst into his life. David and Jeff get to know one another, punctuated by Bozo’s mishaps, but David is unwilling to share all his secrets. Will Jeff give him the time he needs?
Butterflies by Aine P Massie
Kyndra visits Jaiden’s shop for a little birthday shopping but is there for more than the pretty blown glass designs she makes—lovely though they are. What she really wants is a date with the beautiful craftswoman. But can she push her fears aside and ask, or will her past get in the way? With Jaiden’s help, can who Kyndra is inside finally shine?
Once Step Back by Carole Cummings
When Sahir is busy running for his life, it never occurs to him that the being in wrong place at the wrong time might turn into the right place at the right time. Not until he literally collides with Nicholas and salvation comes by way of magical intervention. But when Nicholas ends up being the one who really needs help, Sahir has to decide the best way to give it—and how to offer it to someone who can’t even figure out if he wants it.
Superheroes by Hope Ryan
Many people reach a point where they think life can’t get any worse. Rock bottom, where the future is so bleak, they begin to ask, “why bother?”
When homeless gay man Wayne Kent reaches that point, standing on a Pittsburgh bridge on a cold Tuesday in April, the last thing he expects is to get stopped—especially by a man named Bruce Clark.
But Bruce has been there, he’s seen that, he’s thought and felt the things Wayne is now and he refuses to see the beautiful, hurting man become another statistic. Coffee and a sandwich is a first step and Bruce hopes it’ll lead to a permanent step up for Wayne. And maybe even a step toward more together.
Unworthy by Mark Zubro
A love lost over half a century ago. Is there really redemption for all of our regrets, or at least perhaps for one regret? A chance to change the decision you made over half a century ago, or at least a chance to say what was unsaid, to say what could be said now? The love you missed so long ago, and if you could have one moment again, once last chance.
Love and Hope and Magic by Antonia Aquilante
Once each century, a ritual is performed, the magic of which sustains the land and protects it and its people for the century to come. But the person who performs the ritual never survives. This time Ailill is chosen. He is honored and content with his fate, but his best friend Lorcan is not. Lorcan can’t accept the loss of Ailill and can’t see a life without the man he thinks of as his other half. But Ailill knew Lorcan perhaps better than Lorcan knows himself, and he knew a life of love and magic is waiting for Lorcan after Ailill is gone, if only Lorcan can find the courage to reach for it.
Façade by D. Zander Crane
David struggles with his gender identity as he searches his city for a woman-murdering madman in his female alter-ego, Façade. Can he overcome his depression and confusion long enough to stop the Grinning Reaper?
When Dave’s best friend drags him out for his birthday—nearly kicking and screaming, he finds more than he expected at Sovereign, the BDSM club he half owned but had refused to step foot in for two years other than for administrative things while it was closed. He didn’t go to clubs. He didn’t sub anymore. Period.
Well… until he sees Master Nicky. Then his plans for his birthday change and he decides that maybe giving himself a present, might not be quite such a bad idea after all.
Robin’s Confession by Dianne Hartsock
How can Robin find true love without accepting himself first?
Purr by Nikki Prince
Sasha’s love was in imminent danger. All she wanted was to keep Tori safe. Stay at the cabin wait for the verdict from the council. That’s all they had to do. One little dip in the lake couldn’t hurt could it?
Lockdown by Grace R. Duncan
Gylam’s never been that great at communication and this time he’s gone too far. His penchant for keeping his mouth shut resulted in a disastrous trip to the local dungeon. Jackson, his partner—both cop and at home—and Dom, is well familiar with Gylam’s tendencies. The punishment he gives Gylam is just shy of his limits, but Gylam knows he’s earned it. It remains to be seen if it teaches him anything, though.
Ducks in a Row by Sue Brown
David spends his afternoons feeding the ducks, a peaceful activity until the day Jeff and his Labrador dog burst into his life. David and Jeff get to know one another, punctuated by Bozo’s mishaps, but David is unwilling to share all his secrets. Will Jeff give him the time he needs?
Butterflies by Aine P Massie
Kyndra visits Jaiden’s shop for a little birthday shopping but is there for more than the pretty blown glass designs she makes—lovely though they are. What she really wants is a date with the beautiful craftswoman. But can she push her fears aside and ask, or will her past get in the way? With Jaiden’s help, can who Kyndra is inside finally shine?
Once Step Back by Carole Cummings
When Sahir is busy running for his life, it never occurs to him that the being in wrong place at the wrong time might turn into the right place at the right time. Not until he literally collides with Nicholas and salvation comes by way of magical intervention. But when Nicholas ends up being the one who really needs help, Sahir has to decide the best way to give it—and how to offer it to someone who can’t even figure out if he wants it.
Superheroes by Hope Ryan
Many people reach a point where they think life can’t get any worse. Rock bottom, where the future is so bleak, they begin to ask, “why bother?”
When homeless gay man Wayne Kent reaches that point, standing on a Pittsburgh bridge on a cold Tuesday in April, the last thing he expects is to get stopped—especially by a man named Bruce Clark.
But Bruce has been there, he’s seen that, he’s thought and felt the things Wayne is now and he refuses to see the beautiful, hurting man become another statistic. Coffee and a sandwich is a first step and Bruce hopes it’ll lead to a permanent step up for Wayne. And maybe even a step toward more together.
Unworthy by Mark Zubro
A love lost over half a century ago. Is there really redemption for all of our regrets, or at least perhaps for one regret? A chance to change the decision you made over half a century ago, or at least a chance to say what was unsaid, to say what could be said now? The love you missed so long ago, and if you could have one moment again, once last chance.
Love and Hope and Magic by Antonia Aquilante
Once each century, a ritual is performed, the magic of which sustains the land and protects it and its people for the century to come. But the person who performs the ritual never survives. This time Ailill is chosen. He is honored and content with his fate, but his best friend Lorcan is not. Lorcan can’t accept the loss of Ailill and can’t see a life without the man he thinks of as his other half. But Ailill knew Lorcan perhaps better than Lorcan knows himself, and he knew a life of love and magic is waiting for Lorcan after Ailill is gone, if only Lorcan can find the courage to reach for it.
Façade by D. Zander Crane
David struggles with his gender identity as he searches his city for a woman-murdering madman in his female alter-ego, Façade. Can he overcome his depression and confusion long enough to stop the Grinning Reaper?
Excerpt from Love and Hope and Magic
“I don’t understand you! I don’t understand how you can be so calm.” Lorcan paced the secluded corner of the College’s walled garden, hands alternately waving and pulling at his thick red hair, knowing that by now it had to be standing out around his head like a fireball. “Why are you just sitting there?”
“What should I be doing instead?”
Lorcan stopped in front of Ailill. His best friend sat on a stone bench in the shade, looking perfectly serene, as if it were any ordinary day.
As if Ailill hadn’t been chosen for a task that was going to kill him.
Every century for as long as records were kept, and probably quite a bit longer than that, the ritual was performed. The magic of it sustained their land, protected it and them for the century to follow. But the person who performed the ritual had never survived it. Ailill had been chosen this time, but his impending death didn’t seem to upset him at all. Lorcan, on the other hand, thought he was likely to break into countless pieces at any moment.
His mouth worked for a moment, but no sound came out. He reached for the burning heat of anger. Only then did he find words. “You should be angry. You should be fighting or running or something. You shouldn’t just accept that in a few days you’re going to die.”
Lorcan couldn’t stay still, not with so much energy coursing through him. He whirled away from Ailill to pace again, his green robes wrapping around his legs and catching with every quick step. He’d come here today ready to do anything for his friend, ready to fight for him, to scheme and plan and risk anything to spirit him away from here and save his life. Ailill was everything to Lorcan. They had been inseparable practically since their births, which had been within hours of each other. They’d grown up together, discovered their aptitudes for magic within days of each other, and traveled together to the College for their schooling in the ways of magic, where they still were today. Every big and small moment of their lives, every joy and sorrow, spent together. Ailill had been his first kiss, his first love. He couldn’t lose him; the very thought brought a wave of panic.
He whirled and found Ailill watching him with a soft, odd little smile curving his lips. “Why are you smiling like that? What could you possibly have to smile about right now?”
“You.”
“Me?” Lorcan sputtered. “What I’m feeling? I’m funny?”
“You’re my best friend, and I know you. That’s why I’m smiling.”
“I just—I don’t understand you right now.” Confusion swirled through Lorcan, muddling the grief and anger, the cold fear that threatened to paralyze him if he didn’t keep moving, keep thinking. “I can’t understand how you can sit there calmly and tell me you’re going to die, and not do anything to stop it.”
“There’s nothing to do.” Ailill grabbed his hand from where he waved it in the air. Lorcan hadn’t even realized he’d been gesturing wildly. “We always knew this was a possibility.
They’d known the time of ritual would fall during their lifetimes. The ritual’s timing and importance were something all children learned in their basic lessons. When he and Ailill were found to have magical aptitude and had been sent to the College, as all who had magical aptitude were, they’d been taught more about it. The College allowed them to explore and hone their skills, to discover the aspect of magic they were most skilled with, and then taught them how to use it. The College always educated, but in the time leading up to when a ritual would be performed, it served another purpose as well: it prepared them all for the ritual. The College taught them more of its importance than the rest of the population ever knew, because whoever performed the ritual had to have power. The one performing the ritual was always chosen from the College.
All the energy drained from Lorcan abruptly, leaving him slumped in exhaustion. “I know, but...it didn’t seem real until now. I never thought one of us would be chosen.”
“I know.” Ailill tugged on Lorcan’s hand, pulling him down beside Ailill and into his arms, and held him tight. Lorcan shuddered and melted into the embrace, clinging to Ailill as if he could be ripped from his arms at any moment.
He could be, couldn’t he? Lorcan gripped Ailill tighter. He fought tears, but some escaped despite his best intentions. “I can’t believe this is happening,” Lorcan whispered into Ailill’s shoulder.
“I know,” Ailill repeated, his voice soothing. “I’m sorry, but it’s all right.”
The words were a shock of icy water to the face. He ripped himself from Ailill’s arms. “It’s not all right! It’s not going to be all right ever again.”
“It will be. You will be. I’m happy it’s me and not you.”
Ailill’s words stopped Lorcan abruptly. He swallowed hard. “How can you say that?”
“Because this is for me to do. I think it’s always been for me.” Ailill watched him, as calm as Lorcan ever seen him in all their lives, and it baffled Lorcan. “I’m content with that. I have no regrets. I’ve had the best friend a person could ask for. I’ve loved Finella. I’ve learned and lived, and now I’ll do this. I’ll keep you and everyone safe by doing this.”
“And what about me?” His question was barely a whisper, escaping without his permission. It screamed through him—what would he do without Ailill? How would he survive without the other half of him—but he didn’t want to say it, didn’t want to put that burden on Ailill. Ailill was the one facing death; Lorcan couldn’t make it about him, no matter how much the thought of losing Ailill hurt.
“You’re going to live.” Ailill said it confidently, so assured. As if there was no other possibility but that Lorcan would continue on without him, as if it wouldn’t be difficult at all.
“How can I do that without you?” Lorcan’s voice broke on the question, but he couldn’t be embarrassed, not with Ailill.
“I’ll always be with you. Always in your heart. We’re part of each other, remember? You have great things ahead for you, I know it. And love too.”
Lorcan shook his head. No, not without Ailill.
“Yes.” Ailill took hold of Lorcan’s shoulders, forcing him to look at him. “I want love and happiness for you. We weren’t meant to be together that way. But there’s someone for you. I think you even know who it is.” Ailill’s lips curved into a knowing grin.
But Lorcan only shook his head again. The realization finally hit him that he couldn’t stop this from happening. Ailill was going to perform the ritual, and he would die. The realization physically hurt, an ache that spread in his gut, making him want to double over and sob. Lorcan couldn’t think of love, of happiness, not when Ailill was about to be taken from him, about to be taken from this world altogether. How could he think of his own happiness when Ailill wouldn’t be alive to be happy?
“I have to do this, Lorcan. This is my purpose,” Ailill said seriously. “But you have to go on, and you have to live and be happy. I need you to do that.”
Lorcan fought back tears again. “For you?”
“Yes.” Ailill smiled and pulled Lorcan close. “But mostly for you.”
“What should I be doing instead?”
Lorcan stopped in front of Ailill. His best friend sat on a stone bench in the shade, looking perfectly serene, as if it were any ordinary day.
As if Ailill hadn’t been chosen for a task that was going to kill him.
Every century for as long as records were kept, and probably quite a bit longer than that, the ritual was performed. The magic of it sustained their land, protected it and them for the century to follow. But the person who performed the ritual had never survived it. Ailill had been chosen this time, but his impending death didn’t seem to upset him at all. Lorcan, on the other hand, thought he was likely to break into countless pieces at any moment.
His mouth worked for a moment, but no sound came out. He reached for the burning heat of anger. Only then did he find words. “You should be angry. You should be fighting or running or something. You shouldn’t just accept that in a few days you’re going to die.”
Lorcan couldn’t stay still, not with so much energy coursing through him. He whirled away from Ailill to pace again, his green robes wrapping around his legs and catching with every quick step. He’d come here today ready to do anything for his friend, ready to fight for him, to scheme and plan and risk anything to spirit him away from here and save his life. Ailill was everything to Lorcan. They had been inseparable practically since their births, which had been within hours of each other. They’d grown up together, discovered their aptitudes for magic within days of each other, and traveled together to the College for their schooling in the ways of magic, where they still were today. Every big and small moment of their lives, every joy and sorrow, spent together. Ailill had been his first kiss, his first love. He couldn’t lose him; the very thought brought a wave of panic.
He whirled and found Ailill watching him with a soft, odd little smile curving his lips. “Why are you smiling like that? What could you possibly have to smile about right now?”
“You.”
“Me?” Lorcan sputtered. “What I’m feeling? I’m funny?”
“You’re my best friend, and I know you. That’s why I’m smiling.”
“I just—I don’t understand you right now.” Confusion swirled through Lorcan, muddling the grief and anger, the cold fear that threatened to paralyze him if he didn’t keep moving, keep thinking. “I can’t understand how you can sit there calmly and tell me you’re going to die, and not do anything to stop it.”
“There’s nothing to do.” Ailill grabbed his hand from where he waved it in the air. Lorcan hadn’t even realized he’d been gesturing wildly. “We always knew this was a possibility.
They’d known the time of ritual would fall during their lifetimes. The ritual’s timing and importance were something all children learned in their basic lessons. When he and Ailill were found to have magical aptitude and had been sent to the College, as all who had magical aptitude were, they’d been taught more about it. The College allowed them to explore and hone their skills, to discover the aspect of magic they were most skilled with, and then taught them how to use it. The College always educated, but in the time leading up to when a ritual would be performed, it served another purpose as well: it prepared them all for the ritual. The College taught them more of its importance than the rest of the population ever knew, because whoever performed the ritual had to have power. The one performing the ritual was always chosen from the College.
All the energy drained from Lorcan abruptly, leaving him slumped in exhaustion. “I know, but...it didn’t seem real until now. I never thought one of us would be chosen.”
“I know.” Ailill tugged on Lorcan’s hand, pulling him down beside Ailill and into his arms, and held him tight. Lorcan shuddered and melted into the embrace, clinging to Ailill as if he could be ripped from his arms at any moment.
He could be, couldn’t he? Lorcan gripped Ailill tighter. He fought tears, but some escaped despite his best intentions. “I can’t believe this is happening,” Lorcan whispered into Ailill’s shoulder.
“I know,” Ailill repeated, his voice soothing. “I’m sorry, but it’s all right.”
The words were a shock of icy water to the face. He ripped himself from Ailill’s arms. “It’s not all right! It’s not going to be all right ever again.”
“It will be. You will be. I’m happy it’s me and not you.”
Ailill’s words stopped Lorcan abruptly. He swallowed hard. “How can you say that?”
“Because this is for me to do. I think it’s always been for me.” Ailill watched him, as calm as Lorcan ever seen him in all their lives, and it baffled Lorcan. “I’m content with that. I have no regrets. I’ve had the best friend a person could ask for. I’ve loved Finella. I’ve learned and lived, and now I’ll do this. I’ll keep you and everyone safe by doing this.”
“And what about me?” His question was barely a whisper, escaping without his permission. It screamed through him—what would he do without Ailill? How would he survive without the other half of him—but he didn’t want to say it, didn’t want to put that burden on Ailill. Ailill was the one facing death; Lorcan couldn’t make it about him, no matter how much the thought of losing Ailill hurt.
“You’re going to live.” Ailill said it confidently, so assured. As if there was no other possibility but that Lorcan would continue on without him, as if it wouldn’t be difficult at all.
“How can I do that without you?” Lorcan’s voice broke on the question, but he couldn’t be embarrassed, not with Ailill.
“I’ll always be with you. Always in your heart. We’re part of each other, remember? You have great things ahead for you, I know it. And love too.”
Lorcan shook his head. No, not without Ailill.
“Yes.” Ailill took hold of Lorcan’s shoulders, forcing him to look at him. “I want love and happiness for you. We weren’t meant to be together that way. But there’s someone for you. I think you even know who it is.” Ailill’s lips curved into a knowing grin.
But Lorcan only shook his head again. The realization finally hit him that he couldn’t stop this from happening. Ailill was going to perform the ritual, and he would die. The realization physically hurt, an ache that spread in his gut, making him want to double over and sob. Lorcan couldn’t think of love, of happiness, not when Ailill was about to be taken from him, about to be taken from this world altogether. How could he think of his own happiness when Ailill wouldn’t be alive to be happy?
“I have to do this, Lorcan. This is my purpose,” Ailill said seriously. “But you have to go on, and you have to live and be happy. I need you to do that.”
Lorcan fought back tears again. “For you?”
“Yes.” Ailill smiled and pulled Lorcan close. “But mostly for you.”