A Compassionate Gnome

Compassion

Once upon a time, in a magical forest, there lived a gnome named Gus.

Gus was a hardworking gnome who spent all his days tending to his garden and collecting treasures.

He was very proud of his garden and treasures, and he often bragged to the other forest creatures about how beautiful his garden was and how valuable his treasures were.

One day, while Gus was out collecting treasures, a terrible storm hit the forest.

Many of the creatures’ homes and gardens were destroyed, and they were left without food or shelter.

Gus’s garden and treasures were also damaged, but he was more worried about his possessions than the well-being of his friends.

The next day, the forest creatures came to Gus, asking for his help.

But Gus was too busy trying to save his own treasures and fix his own garden.

The creatures were disappointed and saddened by Gus’s lack of compassion and kindness.

As the days passed, Gus began to notice that the other creatures in the forest were not doing well.

They were cold, hungry and had no place to live.

Gus realized that his selfishness had caused him to ignore the needs of his friends.

He felt guilty and ashamed of his behavior.

Gus decided to change his ways and began to help the other creatures rebuild their homes and gardens.

He shared his treasures with them and worked hard to make sure everyone had enough food to eat.

The other creatures were touched by Gus’s kindness and compassion, and they forgave him for his past behavior.

Gus learned a valuable lesson about the importance of compassion and kindness.

He realized that true happiness comes from helping others and not just from possessing material things.

From that day on, Gus became known as the kindest and most compassionate gnome in the forest, and he lived happily ever after.

Is there such a thing as a gnome club?

Are you a huge fan of gnomes?

Do you want to be?

Check out GNOME AROUND THE WORLD, a brand new book from Chris Lowry.

OUIJA BOARD WITCHES

Once upon a time, in a small town nestled in the heart of the forest, five pre-teen girls stumbled upon an old Ouija board in the attic of one of their homes. They had heard stories of the board’s power to communicate with the dead, and being the curious young girls they were, they decided to give it a try.

As they placed their fingers on the planchette, they felt a strange energy coursing through their bodies. The board began to move on its own, spelling out messages from beyond the grave. At first, the girls were frightened, but as they continued to use the board, they began to feel a sense of power and control.

Before long, the girls had formed a coven, using the Ouija board as their guide. They would meet in secret, under the cover of darkness, to perform rituals and cast spells. They felt invincible, as if they had tapped into a source of magic that no one else could access.

As their powers grew, so did their confidence. They began to use their magic to get what they wanted, whether it was a good grade on a test or a new outfit from the mall. They even started to use their powers to manipulate the people around them, making them do their bidding with a simple flick of the wrist.

But as with all things, their power came with a price. The girls began to experience strange side effects from their magic, such as nosebleeds and headaches. They also started to notice that their once-close friendships were beginning to fray at the edges.

One day, as they were performing a particularly powerful spell, something went wrong. The girls lost control of their magic, and a dark force was unleashed. They watched in horror as the forest around them began to wither and die, the trees turning black and twisted.

Realizing the danger they had unleashed, the girls knew they had to act fast. They used their magic to try and reverse the damage, but it was too late. The damage was done, and they knew they would have to face the consequences of their actions.

In the end, the girls disbanded their coven, realizing that their magic had come at too high a cost. They went their separate ways, each carrying the weight of their mistakes with them. But they also carried with them the knowledge that magic was a powerful force, one that should be respected and used with caution. And so, they vowed to never again use the Ouija board, lest they unleash another dark force upon the world.

What is Your Strategy Planning Process?

I have a lot for you today so settle in.

Free books?

Yes.

Free stories?

Got those too.

Sample of brand new series?

Oh yeah!

Plus, some free audiobooks on Youtube, and a couple of things just to light the fire in your brain and get you stoked for 2023.

I was going to share some plans with you too, just to let you know you weren’t alone.

But then I saw a vlog podcast with a Seal and I decided to share that instead.

In it, he talked about planning and the hold up.

He said he was the hold up.

Because he was a breacher, the guy who sneaks up to their entry point and sets a custom charge to blow open a door, or a hole in the wall, or to make a way for the rest of the team to get the job done.

He said the operation didn’t start until he was done with part one.

And part one was the most important part, because it was where the rubber met the road.

Where the most elite and highly trained fighting unit in the world discovered if any plan survived contact with the enemy.

He set the charge, moved back, double checked with the Team Leader to give him a nod, and then he set the wheels in motion with three little words.

“Execute. Execute. Execute.”

Or one word screamed thrice.

Then, and only then, did the action start.

He tied it in to most people, and I fall into this category a lot of times.

We are great at planning.

At wishing and wanting and hoping and dreaming.

But we gotta wake up every day and scream three words.

Execute.

Execute.

Execute.

Then get cracking on taking massive action.

I tried it this morning.

Leslie told me to shut up and asked what the hell was I doing screaming at 5 in the morning.

Which is how the rest of the world is going to react to you taking any sort of action to making you better, or it better or things better.

Like a game of verbal whack a mole.

Stick you head through the breach and get it smacked.

That’s what the training is for.

That’s why you go over the plan, revise the plan, and work the plan.

So you know what to do when the chaos starts.

Little if/then scenarios.

Because there will be chaos and deviations and upsets and distractions.

I can say this like it’s a universal truth, because I have been “planning” to go to the gym since 1/15.

But last week, a disc slipped doing something stupid, so I just sat.

Then work interfered and I was “tired.”

Then my important work (writing) seemed more important than lifting heavy so I spent time with it.

Plus house work.

And sleep.

And little time for anything else with twelve hour days killing most of my motivation.

Which is why the vlog struck home.

Sometimes we execute on the wrong things.

Working to make someone else money, or living someone else’s life.

The great thing about recognition is knowing it’s okay to adjust and get back on plan.

To return to the original mission.

So I’m executing today.

And I encourage you to get after it too.

Whatever your it might be.

Grab These 10 Books You can Read for FREE

DOWNLOAD THESE BOOKS FOR FREE

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Rules Worth Breaking – a collection

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Old Magic – an Urban Fantasy action adventure

Quantum Ronin

Quantum Ronin – The Nano Samurai Series

The Ronin’s Revenge

In a highly advanced future, technology had advanced at a breakneck pace. The world had become a place where the line between reality and fiction had become blurred. The world was a place where anything was possible, and everything was for sale. The world was a place where the Ronin lived.

The Ronin were a group of warriors who lived by the code of the samurai. They were warriors without a master, a group of outcasts who had banded together to survive in a world that had left them behind. They had no allegiance, no loyalty, and no fear. They were Ronin, and they were for hire.

Their leader was a man named Takeshi. Takeshi was a warrior without equal, a master of the blade, and a leader that inspired his men to follow him anywhere. Takeshi led his men with honor and respect, and they respected him in return.

One day, a rival ganglord killed Takeshi in front of his men. The Ronin had lost their master, and they were lost. They were a group of warriors without a leader, a group of outcasts without a home.

The Ronin were faced with a choice. They could disband and go their separate ways, or they could sell themselves to the highest bidder. They chose the latter. They were Ronin, and they were for hire.

The highest bidder was a man named Akira. Akira was a ruthless ganglord who ruled his empire with an iron fist. He had everything the Ronin needed. He had the weapons, the technology, and the resources they needed to exact their revenge.

The Ronin worked for Akira for months, learning everything they could about his heavily fortified compound. They studied the security systems, the guards, and the layout of the building. They hired, killed, or stole the knowledge they needed to reach the penthouse where Akira lived and worked.

The Ronin knew that the mission would be suicide. They knew that they would lose almost all of their lives in the assault. But they also knew that they had nothing left to lose. They were Ronin, and they were warriors without fear.

The Ronin launched their assault on a dark and stormy night. They moved through the compound like shadows, taking out the guards one by one. They used their swords, their guns, and their wits to reach the penthouse where Akira lived and worked.

The Ronin fought their way into the penthouse, facing wave after wave of Akira’s men. They fought with honor, with respect, and with the memory of Takeshi driving them forward. They fought until they were the only ones left standing.

The Ronin found Akira in his office, surrounded by his bodyguards. Akira was a man without honor, a man without respect, and a man without fear. He had killed Takeshi, and he had paid the price.

The Ronin attacked Akira and his men, fighting with all their might. They used their swords, their guns, and their fists to take down the ganglord and his bodyguards. They fought until Akira was the only one left standing.

The Ronin cornered Akira, their swords at his throat. Akira begged for mercy, but the Ronin showed him none. They had come for revenge, and they would have it. They executed Akira with a single blow, and their mission was complete.

The Ronin had succeeded where others had failed. They had taken down a ganglord who had ruled his empire with an iron fist. They had avenged the death of their master, and they had done it with honor and respect.

The Ronin were a group of warriors without a home, but they had found a home in each other. They were a group of outcasts without a leader, but they had found a leader in Takeshi. They were Ronin, and they were warriors without fear.

The Ronin had completed their mission, but their journey was far from over. They would continue to wander the world, looking for the next challenge, the next battle, and the next enemy. They were Ronin, and they were for hire.

Nano Bushido

Nano Bushido – The Nanotech Samurai sci fi series

It was a warm summer evening when two brothers, Jack and David, sat on the porch of their family’s farmhouse. They watched as the sun set behind the hills in the distance. Their father, a respected farmer and a loving husband, had just returned from the market with a bag full of produce. It was then that a group of masked men on motorcycles approached the house. The men were part of a notorious gang who terrorized the town and its people. They demanded money from their father, but he refused. In a fit of rage, one of the men pulled out a gun and shot him dead in front of his sons.

Jack and David were shattered by their father’s death. They knew they had to do something to avenge his murder. They spent the next few weeks gathering information about the gang lord who was responsible for their father’s death. They discovered that he was a powerful man who had a network of loyal followers. Taking revenge would not be easy.

Jack and David knew that they had to be careful if they were to succeed in their revenge. They planned everything meticulously. They would go after the gang lord’s men one by one and gather information from them. They would then use that information to get closer to the gang lord himself.

The first man they went after was a young gang member who was known for his love of drugs. They offered him a deal. They would give him a large sum of money if he could give them information about the gang lord. The man agreed, and they soon had valuable information about the gang lord’s whereabouts.

They then went after the second man, who was the gang lord’s right-hand man. They knew that he was very loyal to the gang lord and would not give up any information easily. They decided to kidnap him and torture him until he gave up the information they needed. The plan worked, and they had the location of the gang lord’s hideout.

It was a dark and stormy night when Jack and David arrived at the gang lord’s hideout. They knew that they had to be quick if they were to succeed. They went in, guns blazing, and took out the gang lord’s men one by one. They then confronted the gang lord himself.

The gang lord was a large, imposing man who was not easily intimidated. He laughed at the brothers and told them that they would never be able to defeat him. But Jack and David were determined. They fought the gang lord with all their might, and after a long and grueling battle, they emerged victorious.

With the gang lord defeated, Jack and David finally had closure. They knew that nothing would ever bring their father back, but they had succeeded in avenging his death. They went back to their farm, and for the first time in weeks, they felt at peace.

The town hailed Jack and David as heroes for taking down the notorious gang lord. They were even offered jobs as law enforcement officers, but they declined. They knew that they had done what they had to do, and they were ready to move on.

Years later, Jack and David sat on the same porch where they had sat with their father on that fateful day. They watched as the sun set behind the hills, and they smiled. They knew that their father would be proud of them.

Nano Samurai –

Nano Samurai

The Samurai’s Tribute

The sun was setting over the mountains as the famous female samurai warrior, Kaida, rode her horse along the winding road towards the emperor’s palace. Her master, Lord Takeda, had entrusted her with a tribute of gold and jewels to present to the emperor as a symbol of his loyalty and respect. Kaida was known for her bravery and skill in battle, and she had faced many challenges in her life, but this journey would be her most perilous yet.

The road was packed with bandits and rival clan warriors, all eager to steal the tribute and claim the credit for themselves. Kaida rode with her hand on her sword, ready to defend herself and her precious cargo. She was determined to complete her mission, no matter what obstacles stood in her way.

The first attack came just as the moon rose over the hills. A group of bandits leapt out from behind a boulder, swords drawn and faces twisted in fury. Kaida reacted with lightning-fast reflexes, drawing her sword and slicing through the air. The bandits fell back, surprised by her skill and power. Kaida urged her horse on, galloping towards the next challenge.

As dawn broke over the horizon, Kaida saw a group of rival clan warriors waiting for her on the road ahead. They were heavily armed and well-trained, and Kaida knew that this battle would be her hardest yet. She slowed her horse and drew her sword, her heart pounding with excitement and fear.

The warriors charged towards her, shouting battle cries and brandishing their weapons. Kaida met them head-on, her sword flashing in the sunlight. The battle was long and fierce, but Kaida’s skill and determination won out in the end. The warriors lay defeated on the ground, and Kaida rode on towards the emperor’s palace.

When Kaida arrived at the palace gates, she was exhausted but triumphant. She presented the tribute to the emperor, bowing low and offering her loyalty and respect. But as she stood up, she realized that something was wrong. The emperor was looking at her with a strange expression, and his courtiers were whispering and laughing behind their hands.

“My dear Kaida,” the emperor said, his voice smooth and oily. “I have been looking forward to meeting you. You are even more beautiful and skilled than I had heard.”

Kaida felt a cold shiver run down her spine. She had heard stories about the emperor’s love of beautiful women, and she knew that she was in danger.

“Your highness,” she said, her voice steady but firm. “I am honoured to have served my master and brought him the tribute he requested. But I am not here to be your concubine.”

The emperor’s smile faded, and his eyes narrowed. “You are a brave woman, Kaida. But you are also a foolish one. I have the power to make your life very comfortable or very miserable. Choose wisely.”

Kaida stood there, her mind racing. She knew that becoming the emperor’s concubine would mean a life of luxury and ease, but it would also mean giving up her freedom and her dignity. She thought of all the battles she had fought, all the challenges she had overcome. She could not bear the thought of being dehumanized and used like a piece of property.

But she also knew that defying the emperor would have consequences. She could be imprisoned, tortured, or even killed. She stood there, her sword at her side, contemplating her options.

The emperor watched her, his expression unreadable. The courtiers whispered and giggled, waiting for her to make her choice.

And then, suddenly, Kaida turned and walked away. She mounted her horse and rode out of the palace gates, her head held high. The emperor watched her go, his rage and disappointment burning in his eyes.

Kaida rode back to her master’s castle, her heart heavy with the knowledge that she had disappointed him. But she also knew that she had made the right choice. She would rather live as a warrior than as a concubine. She would rather fight for her freedom than surrender it to a man who saw her as nothing more than a beautiful object.

And so, Kaida’s story continues. Will she face more battles and challenges in the future? Will she find love and happiness? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: she will always be a warrior, a fighter, a woman who refuses to be tamed or controlled.

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