The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter 1990 Directed by George T. Miller Welcome back to Movie Monday, where we continue our methodical journey through my personal countdown of the 100 worst movies I've ever encountered. This week brings us to number 42: The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter, a 1990 sequel that serves … Continue reading The Worst 42 – The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter
Fantasy
The Last Unicorn and the Tax Collector
A Fairy Tale for Modern Times In the kingdom of Eldermere, where morning mist clung to ancient oak trees and starlight pooled in forgotten meadows, there lived a tax collector named Cornelius Quillbottom. He was a man of precise measurements and careful calculations, with ink-stained fingers and spectacles that perpetually slipped down his pointed nose. … Continue reading The Last Unicorn and the Tax Collector
The Healer’s Daughter
The fever had taken hold of Thomas three days ago, and Elisabeth knew with the certainty that comes from watching too many neighbors buried that her little brother was dying. She knelt beside his small form on the rough-hewn bed, pressing a damp cloth to his burning forehead. At eight years old, Thomas had always … Continue reading The Healer’s Daughter
The Magnificent Bumbling of Wizard Fumblethorp
Wizard Fumblethorp adjusted his crooked pointed hat for the fifteenth time that morning and squinted at the scrying crystal that absolutely refused to show him anything useful. Instead of revealing the location of the dreaded Dark Lord Maleficus, it kept displaying what appeared to be someone's breakfast—a rather nice omelet, actually. "Perhaps if you tried … Continue reading The Magnificent Bumbling of Wizard Fumblethorp
The Scarlet Swift: A Hero Emerges
The market square of Eldervale buzzed with its usual afternoon bustle. Merchants haggled with customers, children darted between stalls, and a bard sang tales of ancient heroes near the central fountain. Among them walked Thomas Wheelwright, a slender young man with unruly brown hair who moved with unexpected grace for someone of his station. He … Continue reading The Scarlet Swift: A Hero Emerges
Shimmer and Shadow
The fairy perched on the edge of a neon sign in downtown Tokyo, her translucent wings catching fragments of pink and blue light. Below her, humans hurried past with their anti-fairy nets and protective goggles, standard equipment now in most major cities. Thistle – the name she'd chosen for herself – watched them with a … Continue reading Shimmer and Shadow
A to Z Challenge Reflections 2025
Whew! What a month it's been! As April comes to a close, I'm sitting here with a mixture of exhaustion, pride, and genuine disbelief that I've actually done it—I've written an entire novel in just 26 days as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. For those who haven't been following along, the A … Continue reading A to Z Challenge Reflections 2025
The Black Market Below Bleecker
Dave Winters considered himself a rational man. He recycled when convenient, tipped exactly 18%, and had strong opinions about people who took the elevator to the second floor. He worked in data analytics, lived alone in a reasonably-priced Greenwich Village apartment (inherited from his grandmother, thank you very much), and had never once entertained the … Continue reading The Black Market Below Bleecker
The Worst 69 – Drop Dead Fred
Drop Dead Fred 1991 Directed by Ate de Jong Welcome back to Movie Monday, where we're continuing our journey through my personal list of the worst movies ever made. Today we're diving into number 69 on the list: 1991's Drop Dead Fred. Before we begin, let me remind you that this list is entirely subjective. One … Continue reading The Worst 69 – Drop Dead Fred
High Noon and Dark Magic
The sun beat down mercilessly on Dead Man's Gulch as Thomas Cole stepped out onto the dusty street. His weathered boots left deep impressions in the parched earth, each step deliberate and heavy with the weight of years gone by. At forty-five, Cole had hoped his days of dueling were behind him, but fate had … Continue reading High Noon and Dark Magic
The Confusing Middle 