Short Stories > Crime

The pieces featured in this book are the best submissions from the 2017-2018 Fayette Youth Arts Competition. Each expresses the thoughts of modern youth and illustrate internal struggles, humorous observations, and surreal truths. Most importantly, they show a deep connection to the world, and to the rabid, human need to survive and to connect. And thus, these pieces are arranged to best represent this narrative, the commonality between all of these young artists: the overwhelming message of resilience.

Michael McMurtrey was a 20 year veteran of the San Antonio Police Department. During his time with the SAPD he accumulated a large number of stories about things that happened with both other officers and the criminal element. This collection is a small part of those stories. Some of the stories are humorous and others may make you cry, but they are all true as remembered by Mike.

Promises are made every day. You don't always know how long a promise must last, or what it might take to fulfill that promise. This story is the beginning of such a promise.

A humorous, sometimes too realistic collection of short tales and poems that revolve around varying characters including treacherous Jinn that grant wishes from behind the huge wings of mythological birds, thuggish cockroaches, mafia drug dealers, and wicked gypsies who perform curses for the desperate. Telling Really Tall Tales is a mixing together of stories that mirror everyday life with unrealistic tall tales that humor the mature mind. Stories range from mild to seductive. Short Story "The Humble" included in the 2016 Scythe Prize

​An emotionally charged trial that began with the tearful testimony of a father whose 10-month-old baby and best friend were killed by gang violence.