"Popguns & Pacemakers" — Patriotism, in a small town, and other tales of The Great American Westerly Midwest

"Popguns & Pacemakers" — Patriotism, in a small town, and other tales of The Great American Westerly Midwest

Mike Palecek

Mike Palecek

Where we find that Robert S. Thompson has sat on his bench on main street and written a letter to the editor talking about war and about how a local boy has died for mostly nothing. We find Nona The Waitress musing about the lack of democracy in the good ol' USA, and Tommy on his bike remembering his brother, who they say died for freedom, but Tommy doesn't believe that, not at all.Two runners remain friends after college even though they live on opposite coasts. Their second summer out of school finds them on vacation in Idaho, where they admit to one another that their jobs are not as grand as they had once envisioned. While on vacation, they meet a strange character who holds the power to change their lives forever.
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"Holy Crap!" — Religion, in a small town, and other tales of The Great American Westerly Midwest

"Holy Crap!" — Religion, in a small town, and other tales of The Great American Westerly Midwest

Mike Palecek

Mike Palecek

Again we join the adventures of Tommy, Nona The Waitress and Robert S. Thompson in The Great American Westerly Midwest. This time we follow Tommy around town as he and his friend, Johnny, try to solve the great mysteries of religion; whether God exists, and if so, where is He? In the park? In the drug store? The cafe? Nona doesn't believe in God, she says, and Robert is just glad to be alive.But Kora sat unmoving, in great magic. The walls, her home, faded about her. Warmth went; all alone and on a freezing plain, dressed in a tunic, sharp knife in her belt, bow on her shoulder, arrows in a quiver behind. Her eyes gleamed; a pale cold light, ˈlɪmpɪd ɪn ˈdʌlnəsShe looked around. Away, at vision’s limit, a dark shape rose above the plain: a Tower, the only thing in all this barren place: no bird flew, no grass grew. Despite the wool she shivered. Breath-clouds hung in the raw air, ˈsləʊli dɪˈzɒlvɪŋThen in eye’s corner something moved. She turned to gaze across the Waste and saw a Cloud. Far, almost straight behind her as she faced the Tower, it too reared up black and sheer. Unlike the Tower, moving, whirling, wisps trailing their tentacles around a core, ˈtwɪstɪŋ ɪnˈseɪnli
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White Picket Fences: Homeland Security in a small town, and other tales of The Great American Westerly Midwest

White Picket Fences: Homeland Security in a small town, and other tales of The Great American Westerly Midwest

Mike Palecek

Mike Palecek

Again we join Tommy, Robert S. Thompson and Nona The Waitress, in The Midwest, the Westerly Midwest, of America — as they follow The Swarm on their little bicycles zooming around town, and the activities of Moon Walking, the head librarian, as she fights the city fathers, who have demanded that everyone put up a fence in town, to keep everyone safe, from all sorts of terrible dangers.Following his brother's dealings with the demon Harlem, Elliot takes some time for himself to catch up with an old friend. Storm clouds gather as we enter the Deck's second act.For fans of character driven supernatural drama.(...Back cover write up...)The city of Neppon drifts through the shallows, where the walls circling the mortal realm are thin. Here the daemons gather out of the surrounding night, drawn by its promise of candle flame warmth.As the election for the city's mayoral office approaches, one man stands head and shoulders above the other candidates. His reputation? A bastion for everything that is good and honest, in a world beset from all sides by horrors. But Jaret Roscan carries a secret. A secret that could bring ruin to his political career, and chaos to his beloved city.One person carries the key to his salvation. The question is, will they come forward in his hour of need?Harlem's Deck; a story in instalments. Keep your hand close to your chest...
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SWEAT: Global Warming in a Small Town & other tales of The Great American Westerly Midwest

SWEAT: Global Warming in a Small Town & other tales of The Great American Westerly Midwest

Mike Palecek

Mike Palecek

Join Tommy, Robert S. Thompson and Nona the waitress as they work to solve the mystery of the kidnapping of baby Sweat Sox and watch their little town try to fight global warming by making everyone wear sweatpants, while standing atop the street corner bench to watch the flood, while the old people toughs fight it out in the parking lot.It is the annual Christmas Decorate Your Door competition and the residents of Buttons Court are at war. Having demanded that they go on a shopping trip, James White one of the carer’s at the care home decides to stay an extra couple of days before leaving off on his holidays to help. But what no one realises is, just how far the residents will go to win the competition!
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