Under Contract

By Craig Hansen

"Traditional publishing ruined my life!"

Many writers tell tales of the horrors of writing for a traditional book publisher. None are quite like Under Contract.

Under Contract reveals the long-buried tale of Craig Hansen’s secret past as a contract writer working for a traditional print publisher, and everything that led to his long, twenty-year silence before emerging last year as an independent author.

It’s a tale that never needed to be told, probably shouldn’t have been told, yet against all legal advice, common sense, and wisdom, has now been told.

So, did Craig Hansen survive a secret past as a contract writer for a traditional publisher, or is he full of cherry smoothie? Decide for yourself.

Featuring heavy doses of horror and satire with a metafiction boost, Under Contract is a standalone short story of approximately 5,800 words (about 17 pages) and is intended for older readers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Craig Hansen
• Release date: Jan 22, 2015
• ISBN: 9781507095317

Craig Hansen

Craig Hansen wrote his first SF published short story, "The S.S. Nova," when he was fourteen. It was published in the Minnesota Writers in the Schools COMPAS program's 1981 anthology of student writing, When It Grows Up, You Say Goodbye To It. That was when he decided to dedicate himself to writing. Hansen earned two degrees at Minnesota State University at Mankato under the mentorship of young adult novelist Terry Davis. In the years that followed, Hansen worked a variety of jobs, including five years in journalism in northwestern Wisconsin, where he earned several state awards for his writing and editing. His work has appeared in the Meadowbrook Press anthology, Girls to the Rescue, Book 1, as well as the true crime journal, Ripper Notes, in volume 28. His first novel, Most Likely, was released in May 2011. Shada, the first installment of the Ember Cole series of young adult paranormal suspense books, was published in September 2011. Under Contract followed in the spring of 2012. The Devohrah Initiative appeared in August 2013. Nice Girl Like You is his most-recent work. Hansen remains hard at work on two novel-length books. Ember continues the story of Ember Cole that began in Shada, and will be the second novel in that series. EyeCU (working title) will become his first novel-length horror tale for older readers. Hansen lives in Oregon with his wife, a dog, two cats, and his 91-year-old father, a World War II veteran. Craig's interests include the music of Johnny Cash, reading the novels of other independent authors, blogging, and the study of Messianic theology. On his website, you can sign up to receive a periodic email newsletter that will notify you when he releases new books. Web: http://www.craig-hansen.com/ Email: [e-mail] Twitter @craigahansen Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Craig-Hansen-Author/136888346383154

Book preview

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Under Contract

Copyright © 2012 by Craig Hansen. All rights reserved.

Third ePub Edition: January 2015

Second ePub Edition: August 2012

First ePub Edition: May 2012

Website: http://www.craig-hansen.com/

Editor: Everything Indie

Cover Design: Streetlight Graphics

Formatting: Blue Valley Author Services

This eBook is licensed for the personal enjoyment of the original purchaser only. This eBook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this eBook and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to the ePub eBook retailer of your choice and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.

Dedication

To Bruce Lansky, who offered me my first job in publishing out of college, and actually did publish my first short story ever to see print through a traditional publishing house. Chardae’s Thousand and One Nights appears in Girls to the Rescue, Volume 1, published by Meadowbrook Press and distributed by Simon & Schuster. Thanks, Bruce.

Prologue

Last Weekend

I   love the freedom of being an independent author, David McAfee said as he dealt the last card in a round of seven-card stud. I can write what I want, when I want.

We all picked up our