Tales from the Mind of Arthur Gray

This Chapbook was a collaborative effort in which a group of fellow writers and I would gather and anonymously discuss each other's works. However, these stories are no less my product; they are stories I wrote and edited myself before compiling. Each story is in a different genre with vastly different protagonists and themes. They start with seemingly simple setups before developing in unexpected manners.

The first story, Warmth, was an experiment in three manners. Firstly, it was an experiment with alternating voice. Albeit brief, the story shifts from one character's perspective to another's, which I had yet to do previously. Secondly, it was an experiment with imagery. I wanted to see how effectively I could convey the pains of addiction despite not experiencing these pains myself directly while also showing the character of all involved parties without coming off as overly forward or, conversely, not showing enough of their personalities. Lastly, this was an experiment with genre. I had never written for the superhero genre before, though I have long enjoyed such tales. Still, I wanted to not only try my hand but provide a bit of examination of a character with a reasonably popular anti-hero origin despite heroic aspirations.

First Week at Adventurer's Academy, our second tale, is a springboard for my take on the popular subgenre of fantasy schools. As part of this experiment, I used a unique protagonist, taking two fantastical races that are usually at odds and adding an adopted background to create a fascinating potential protagonist with various options for future growth. This experiment also serves as a pitch, creating multiple avenues that could prove fruitful if examined.

Fittingly enough, our final sojourn into the impossible, Floating Over Odysseus, deals with death. This brief Sci-Fi thriller is about someone floating in space and desperate to survive. The story examines one's final thoughts in the face of such overwhelming odds and their efforts to overcome them. It's short by design but with a steady flow that builds tension until the thrilling climax.

You can download the Chapbook below if you wish to read these stories for yourself down below.