Uncollected Anthology Series

A ghostly swarm of bees haunt Elizabeth. They coat strangers in pollen while holding her still, making her watch. Then they come for her. Sting her. Give her magical power, but at such a cost. Why do they attack her? What do they want? And how can she make them go away? Set in the same world as "The Midnight Gardener" and "Lost Stars". Part of the Uncollected Anthology series, written for the theme, "Bewitching Love."

Poker Boy specializes in asking stupid questions. But sometimes even stupid questions need answers. To save the fabric of all things from unraveling, whatever that means, Poker Boy must go to the Library of Atlantis and do something that no one ever accomplished before.   Poker Boy saves all things. Again! Part of Magical Libraries, an Uncollected Anthology.  "[The Poker Boy] series is unlike anything else out there. It's quirky and a lot of fun." —Amazing Stories

Why does a two-thousand-year-old djinn own a convenience store and spice shop in Manhattan? The world has changed, for one thing, and Wadid isn’t proud of some of the things he’s done in the past. But really, he loves that he can help the magical community—and enhance the cooking skills and palates of some of his customers. That’s all well and good until two gunmen burst through the front door and threaten him and one of his customers. Wadid breaks his personal code and uses his darkest ability to make them go away. Not that it matters. Because the next person who walks through the door is the last person he would wish for. “What You Wish For” is part of Uncollected Anthology, Volume 6: Enchanted Emporiums. DAYLE A. DERMATIS has been called “one of the best writers working today” by USA Today bestselling author Dean Wesley Smith. Under various pseudonyms (and sometimes with coauthors), she’s sold several novels and more than 100 short stories in multiple genres. A recent transplant to the wild greenscapes of Oregon, in her spare time she follows Styx around the country and travels the world, all of which inspires her writing. She loves music, cats, Wales, TV, magic, laughter, and defying expectations. To find out where she is today, check out www.DayleDermatis.com.

Tong Yi works for Huli Transport, a company that specializes in rides and transportation for those who aren't quite human.  When the newest job comes up—delivering a message to Zhang Guo Lao, one of the Eight Immortals—Tong Yi assumes the job will be tricky because the immortal likes to play games. He has no idea that Zhang Guo Lao isn't the only one interested in "dancing" with him. Read the continuing adventures of Tong Yi in the novella, "War on all Fronts." 

Tong Yi carries the mysterious message of Zhang Gua Loa back to his boss. The immortal had said there would be war. But between whom? And why? Huli Transport takes advantage of the situation to become the messenger service of choice in the war zone. They promise to remain neutral, and to deliver messages to all sides.  In the meantime, Tong Yi has battles of his own to fight, both with his older brother and his own growing understanding of magic. But in the middle of a war, is it possible for him to remain neutral? Or has his side already been chosen for him? This novella is a sequel to the story, “Dancing with Tong Yi” which appeared in Uncollected Anthology, Issue 1: Magical Motorcycles.

An honest politician: far more rare than hedgewitches, at least in Portland, Oregon. When one such politician asks hedgewitches Holly and Willow to investigate whether his rival employs a magical advantage, Holly’s familiar, Cam, must support Holly through a treacherous investigation…or risk losing her forever. The first story in a spellbinding new urban fantasy series by the author of the Nikki Ashburne Ghosted stories. “Hedging the Witch” is part of Uncollected Anthology, Issue 10: Fabulous Familiars. Called “one of the best writers working today,” Dayle A. Dermatis is the author or coauthor of seven novels and more than a hundred short stories in multiple genres, including the first seven Uncollected Anthology anthologies and the forthcoming urban fantasy novel Ghosted. She is a founding member of the Uncollected Anthology project. A recent transplant to the wild greenscapes of the Pacific Northwest, in her spare time she follows Styx around the country and explores the world, which inspires her writing. To find out where she is today and to sign up for her newsletter (and get free fiction!), check out DayleDermatis.com.

By the time Sara finds herself in the middle of the Idaho Primitive Area, she knows she made a huge mistake. Her decision clouded by the blush of new love, she agrees to accompany Travis on a weeklong hike. Sara, the city girl, in the woods, camping. And just when she thinks things can’t possibly get worse, she discovers just how wrong things can get—but in ways she never expected. Magical ways… Part of Out of the Woods, an Uncollected Anthology. “Rusch’s short fiction is golden.” —Kansas City Star

Tong Yi waits for something to happen—for his brother to return from the war zone, for his boss to trust him again, for his magical training to be expanded.  Something. Anything.  Then powerful wizard Uncle Bei takes him to The Sweet Shop—a magic shop more special and strange than Tong Yi has ever imagined.  Tong Yi finally returns to the war zone as well, delivering a message to a client he'd never expected.  But he must now make a decision about the war, about his place in it, about his magical training.  And everything, everything, has a price. Sequel to, "Dancing with Tong Yi" and "War on all Fronts." 

Liza feels psychic vibrations from used clothing—which serves her well in her job as a Hollywood costumer. A stunning midnight-blue 1920s flapper dress tells her Shawn is The One, but in her experience, most actors are cads…and even the nice guys will break your heart in their quest for fame and fortune. Therein lies the question: Run away screaming? Or trust the dress and go with the dress…and her heart? “Rhapsody in Blue” is part of Uncollected Anthology, Issue 7: Happily Ever Afters. Called “one of the best writers working today” by bestselling author Dean Wesley Smith, Dayle A. Dermatis is the author of seven novels and more than a hundred short stories in multiple genres, including the first six Uncollected Anthology anthologies and the forthcoming urban fantasy novel Ghosted. She is a founding member of the Uncollected Anthology project. A recent transplant to the wild greenscapes of the Pacific Northwest, in her spare time she follows Styx around the country and travels the world, which inspires her writing. Sign up for her newsletter at dayledermatis.com and get free fiction!

No magic in the world can conquer nerves. Alistair Ryan screws up his courage and tells Mr. and Mrs. Bello that he intends to marry their daughter, his beloved Janeen. The Bellos counter with a request: find the missing—and dangerously powerful—rowan wand stolen from their own private collection. A task failed by even the best wizards and warlocks in the Magical Council…. “No Magic in the World" is part of Uncollected Anthology, Volume 14: Warlocks. “One of the best writers working today.” (USA Today bestselling author Dean Wesley Smith)

It's the week before Valentine's Day, so a young brownie's thoughts turn to love. And shoes. Of course. Everyone knows that brownies make the best shoes. It's their special magical talent. But what happens when Pedro, a young brownie, finds that his true love rejects his shoes? Can he find the answer to making her the perfect shoe? A whimsical and charming fairytale, sure to warm you all the way down to your toes. Set in the NIMBY-verse. Be sure to read the other stories as well: "The Fairy Boy Band" "The Ice Skating Fairy"

Pauli, the most recent of the Paulaleena fairies, must creep out of the woods and renew the pact with the human mayor of the nearby city. The pact that keeps the world safe from the Dark Ones. The pact forged by blood. When this human mayor insists on seeing the Dark Ones herself, they both get more than they bargained for. 

Pearl's greatest magical gift? Knowing exactly what someone needs before they do. Opening up a magic shop seemed like the perfect way to help her use her gift. The problem? The beautiful smartly-dressed woman who just walked in. This woman wants something. Something only Pearl can provide. Pearl's fear? Figuring out exactly what this woman needs. And what the cost may be… Part of the Uncollected Anthology series!

As a familiar, Ina expected to bond happily ever after with a single master or mistress. Not two. And certainly not three. But when her current Master turns on her, attacks her, she breaks the bond and flees for her life. What's a poor mouse to do? If you need a pick-me-up, "The Mouse Who Laughed" fits the bill nicely as a warm fantasy about learning to stand on your own two (or four) feet. Part of the Uncollected Anthology series! Read them all! 

Nightmares of drowning crowd Merilee's sleep. Deep, dark, endless water. It must mean something. She is a witch, after all. But when three men break into her house and the spell Merilee casts to escape goes horribly wrong, she has too many other things to worry about other than drowning. Until it's too late... Be sure to read the other stories in this Uncollected Anthology issue! http://www.uncollectedanthology.com

When Helmie—a pampered Persian cat worth millions—goes missing, the estate hires not one but two investigators to find him. Kelsie uses magic to track down lost animals. But in this case, even she wonders if she can find Helmie. Travis normally uses his investigation skills to track down people, not lost pets. And he works alone. But when the pair find themselves on the same trail to Helmie’s whereabouts, they realize finding Helmie will prove only the beginning. Rescuing him might just take more magic than either of them realize. Part of Bewitching Love, an Uncollected Anthology. “Rusch is a great storyteller.” —RT Book Reviews

The First Rule of Witchcraft: Harm none. The Second Rule of Witchcraft: Practice magic only when you’re clear of mind. That includes not practicing magic while drunk. When drunken scrying goes awry, Madison connects with Brody, a cute guy trapped…somewhere. Freeing him becomes her obsession. Does the Second Rule of Witchcraft count when it comes to love? “Good Scrying Gone Bad” is part of Uncollected Anthology, Issue 11: Bewitching Love.

When Lani was a very little girl, she pretended she could speak to the wind, an understandable pastime for an imaginative child whose father had been carried away by a tornado, never to be seen again. Many years later, caught in a fierce winter storm in the Colorado wilderness, she asks the wind for help out of desperation. And the wind answers.

If you’re gonna buy a spell, go to someone legit. Bargain spells? Well, you get what you pay for… When hapless Roberta comes to Portland hedgewitch Holly asking for help with a botched spell, Holly stumbles into the spell’s trap as well. Her best bet: find the witch who created the spell. In the middle of a snowstorm. And in the process, figure out why Roberta’s boss scares her so much… A new story in the spellbinding Hedgewitch urban fantasy series by the author of the Nikki Ashburne Ghosted stories. “Releasing the Spell” is part of Uncollected Anthology, Issue 12: Spells Gone Awry.

Nils wants nothing to do with his family or their magic. He hopes for nothing more than to live a normal life. Kasey offers him that life, but more importantly, she offers him love. When Nils' father warns him against marriage, Nils refuses to listen. He vows to fight his destiny and win. But at what cost? Part of Warlocks, an Uncollected Anthology.

Former Hollywood party girl Nikki Ashburne sees ghosts—in fact, many of them are her friends. Okay, they’re kind of her only friends. So when the ghost of a 70s British rock god asks her for help finding a song he wrote for his favorite groupie…well, c’mon. What’s a girl to do but say yes? Only one problem: Nikki’s rift with her musician brother, Ned, over the spectral secret she’s been keeping from him… Another story in the popular Ghosted urban fantasy series featuring Nikki Ashburne. Come for the ghosts. Stay for the snark. “Communication Breakdown" is part of Uncollected Anthology, Volume 13: Mystical Melodies. “One of the best writers working today.” —USA Today bestselling author Dean Wesley Smith

Ao Dan works as a wizard for Huli Transport. He primarily opens portals to transport messengers and goods between places. Easy. Non-complicated. Even if Ao Dan has taken off time recently to grieve the loss of his partner and has not done any magic in a while. But hitchhikers can always show up. Dangerous creatures from other planes tunneling through to this world. When a demon nearly kills Ao Dan on his first day back at work, the confrontation starts Ao Dan questioning everything he knows about magic, as well as Huli Transport. "Transformations" introduces the Huli Transport office in San Francisco, expanding the universe and this fascinating alternate world. Be sure to read the other Huli Transport stories, including the origin story, "Fox and Hound" as well as the novel, "The Immortals' War."  "Surprisingly deep urban fantasy"--Tangent Online

A time mage, a secret underground lab, and a pack of werewolves hunting in the Badlands… Time mage Marcy Zimmerman wants to take the Internet world by storm. Her plans for world domination keep unfolding right on schedule. But when a cry for help draws her alpha wolf mate Lukas from Boston to the rugged western badlands, Marcy goes along to guard his six. Marcy and Lukas walk into a tripwire of corporate shenanigans, a gigantic cowboy with problems, and an emotional tangle rooted in Lukas's tortured past… This story is included in the Uncollected Anthology's Volume 17, Urban Western.

When Kailani arrives in Greenwood, Mississippi, for her latest job, she knows she faces a daunting task. With her job at Abracadabra Inc. on the line, she determines to rise to the challenge. But when she tries to find the magic shop she has been sent to investigate, she finds nothing but mysteries and mirage. She worries her magic will prove insufficient to penetrate the deception. Until she realizes her magic might be the least of her fears. Part of Mystical Melodies, an Uncollected Anthology. "Kristine Kathryn Rusch is one of the best writers in the field and 'Dragon's Tooth' does not disappoint…Rusch gives us a delightful tale here!" —SFRevu on Dragon's Tooth: An Abracadabra Inc. Novella

MELVIN FOUND THE FIRST LITTLE dogie who'd gone missing—the largest runt of his cattle herd—in an old grand fir, about twenty feet up above his head. He figured she got there by trying to jump over the moon (again) and missing something fierce. She either got stuck in the tree on her way up, or landed in it on her way down. Join Melvin in his search for his unusual little dogies out in the charming wild as well as the twisted city. Part of the Uncollected Anthology series, for the issue, "Urban Western." This story takes place in the same world as "The Midnight Gardener."

Something's going on in the new apartment building.   Something small…something blue…something that likes to steal things out of your kitchen trash can.  Not a rat, not a mole, not a vole, not a gopher…what? The only way to find out might be to catch it!

Oswald just wants to enjoy the peace and quiet of his suburban home. But he can't. Not with the stupid fairies playing music in his backyard.  Every. Single. Night. But what can a poor human do? He agreed to the arrangement. The home owners association papers had spelled the time-share out quite clearly. Still, desperate times call for desperate measures. Particularly when dealing with a fairy boy-band. Part of the Uncollected Anthology! Be sure to read all the stories from this issue, "Mystical Melodies". www.UncollectedAnthology.com

It was a town of a hundred and eleven souls out in the middle of nowhere, Wyoming.  After Jeremy Quick disappeared, a hundred and ten.  Private investigator Linda Crow has been called in by Jeremy Quick's employer, an oil conglomerate, to find out what happened to a man who was good with his hands, good at fixing and cajoling the isolated oil pumps, good at keeping the peace between farmers and the rest of the locals. Only the oil pumps know what happened. But Linda has a talent for interpreting their machine dreams.  What happens when the town finds out that their secrets were seen by the machines they can't live without?

It's thirty years to the day that Jim lost the love of his life, Laina Jarvy, back in 1929. Now a colleague's wife has a gift for him: a watch that will take him back in time to save Laina, and instructions on how to use it. Jim's willing to pay whatever price is necessary to save her--but the offer that he's given in the past, at the mysterious Crossroads Hotel, smells more than a little like yesterday's fish. Is he about to save Laina? Or get stiffed?

Janice still can't believe it. She has an invitation to the royal fairy ball! Finally. It's her time. She can be...discovered. Janice practices her model strut, perfects her makeup, and has a friend help her with coming up with the perfect outfit. But will it be enough? Is it finally her time? Is her life about to change forever? "Invitation to the Ball" follows the journey of Janice, a fairy with big dreams. Part of the Uncollected Anthology, Issue 19: Silver Linings. Set in the NIMBY-verse. Be sure to read the other stories as well: "The Fairy Boy Band" "The Ice Skating Fairy" "The Perfect Shoes"