G a l l i m a u f r y- O n e -

Author of 25 published novels with over 600,000 copies sold worldwide, Beth Henderson is currently switching gears from contemporary and historical romance over to mystery. As J.B. Dane her short story “Getting Rid of Murray” was published by Great Mystery and Suspense Magazine in the Fall of 2006. Arden’s Touch (included in full on the Gallimaufry One CD) was one of her first published novels. She was also a finalist twice—just out of the money—in Dayton Daily News short story contest. Also on the Gallimaufry One CD is an article she wrote particularly for inclusion, “So You Want To Write A Book.”

Beth Henderson/J.B. Dane

INCLUDED COMPLETE ON THE GALLIMAUFRY ONE CD

Mary McCurdyMary McCurdy is a native of southwestern Ohio. Along with writing historicals, she teaches art and is an employee of the largest historical society in the country. Mary’s passion is the late 18th to mid-19th century. Her tales are a blend of intrigue and adventure coupled with a healthy dash of romance and the occasional comedic twist.

My French Rebel (included complete on the Gallimaufry One CD) is her first venture into the public arena as a writer of traditional historicals, though she has already built a large fan following on the Internet under another penname.

Mary McCurdy’s

My French Rebel Charlotte Burington’s life has taken a turn for the worse. As the daughter of a veteran British General sent to the Colonies to fight against ‘those damned Rebels’, she finds herself exiled to the 18th century provincial town of Darby, Pennsylvania, where life couldn’t get any duller! Until one day her little sister Augusta makes a startling discovery which will propel Charlotte on an exciting and dangerous course that will alter her life and her destiny forever.

My French Rebel by Mary McCurdy

    And then she saw him.     Like something out of one of the novels she had read when she was at school – the ones her mother forbade. He had shining hair, copper as the coat of her English filly.  He was slender, and from what she could tell, rather tall – though his long, lean frame was curled up like a baby and covered with a coating of frost since he lay nestled in the shadows of the berry bushes where the sun had not penetrated. His skin was pale by nature but blotched with red… As Augusta turned away, Charlotte saw something that gave her pause. The dark woolen vest the young man wore had pulled away from his shoulder. The fine linen shirt underneath was thick with frozen blood. He was wounded.       And that probably meant he was a rebel....

…James spent three quarters of an hour searching the farmhouse and the immediate grounds and then, becoming truly frightened, headed out into the surrounding woods. As he approached a brace of trees, standing tall in the mounting sunlight, he heard a voice lifted in earnest prayer. Drawing closer, James spied the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army on his knees, his hands locked together and resting on the surface of a rock – treating with his God.

My French Rebel By Mary McCurdy

A hand cold as pond ice gripped his and he heard his brother’s exasperated words. “You never would listen. See where that stubbornness has brought you now? If you had listened to me, James, the ball would have missed you.” He caught the icy fingers weakly in his own. Through pain and nausea he asked, “Joseph, how? You’re…dead.”

K. Lynn Smythe

The Gallimaufries made an exception in K. Lynn Smythe’s case when they accepted her as a member. She was the only person in the group who had not taken Beth’s novel writing course at Edison Community College, the wellspring from which the Gallimaufry group had, er, spawned. She has since rectified that omission, and can proudly say she actually finished the romantic-suspense-thriller she began writing as one of the assignments. Currently she is polishing Destiny In Ice and shopping for an agent and publishing house. Her first love when it came to the written word was for romantic time travel tales. The Black Countess & the Brotherhood of the Cross Bones is such a tale and is included complete on the Gallimaufry One CD.

The Black Countess & the Brotherhood of the Cross Bones

The Black Countess & the Brotherhood of the Cross Bones

The Black Countess & the Brotherhood of the Cross Bones

M. Cummins Fair

is a native of southwestern Ohio and, along with writing fantasies, is a colored pencil artist and works in the field of museums. As a child M. Cummins Fair spent the days outdoors searching for fairy rings, talking to the trees and staring into ponds waiting for mermaids to appear. Truth to tell, she still does.

WINGS OF DUST is a short story based on her fantasy

world of THE GODSFIRE

CHRONICLES which is as yet unpublished.

WINGS OF DUST by M Cummins Fair

H’Wira rose wearily to her feet and returned to the edge of her rocky perch. She crouched and locked the talons of one hand in the rock, while resting the other on her furry thigh. Drawing a deep breath the enchanted creature returned to her baleful duty and scanned the lightless night searching for a sign. And found it.A lone form moved on the common road. A slight figure cloaked and hooded. H’Wira rose and sniffed the air, catching her quarry’s scent. Female. Mortal but not. Living, breathing. Alive but once dead. Young. Ancient. Biting back a cry of triumph the hahrp’ya slipped silently off the edge and began her descent – a great winged shadow falling without sound into the deeper pool of night. At the bottom H’Wira noiselessly folded her great wings and turned in the direction of her prey….

Jane Staley

Jane Staley joined the Gallimaufry group as a published author of non-fiction articles, many about gardening. Since then she has finished (and shelved) a romance novel, dabbled with historical fiction, and had one short story receive an honorable mention in the Edison Community College short story contest, and saw another short story in print in the Commercial Review (IN) in December 2007. The Reckoning Is a short story she has included on the Gallimaufry One CD.

The ReckoningBy Jane Staley

    After pulling three forbidden darts and an atlatl from underneath the neatly rolled skins beside her sleeping mat, the pregnant woman stalked onto the village commons.  Noticing the grumbles and glances of reproach from the other women, Copper Cloud reminded them of her heritage by raking long fingers through the striking, metallic colored forelock, the legacy of the Medicine Woman.    Like all adults in the tribe, she coiled her long obsidian black hair into a severe bun.  Only Copper Cloud and her grandmother sported the coppery bangs that matched their polished copper ear spools and other prized ornaments crafted of the copper from the Great North Lakes Region. Motioning for the others to proceed to the gardens with their baskets and bags, she called encouragement. “Let’s hustle, Sisters and Little Brothers.  We must pick all the good squash and carry them to shelter before dark, because it feels like Old Man Winter is blowing down a hard freeze for tonight...”

Russ Osbornis a brave man. He is the only current male member of the Gallimaufry Writers, and as a semi-retired engineer is working on three techno-thrillers – as long as doing so doesn’t interfere with fishing and golfing. He is one of the founding members of the Gallimaufry group. Two of Russ’ non-techno-thriller short stories are part of the first Gallimaufry CD, and he hopes to have new stories on the website soon.

RUSSELL OSBORN’S - Triple AxelJack’s eyes were glued on the tall blond as she quickly crossed the exercise area, grabbed a treadmill sign-up sheet and, pencil in hand, scrawled her name in one of the time slots. For the third time in a week he had witnessed this process and each time a smile drifted across his face. This young woman, whoever she was, had a monkey on her back. Her attractive face carried (wore?) a continuous scowl. She was abrupt with anyone who tried to make conversation, and she nearly bit the head off of a young weight room assistant when he offered to spot for her while she was bench-pressing. That would be Jack’s opening. When she hit the bench today he would go over and spot. A salt and pepper-haired retired engineer would not be so easily dismissed….

RUSSELL OSBORN’S - Melody 49The Ford LTD made a crunching sound on the packed gravel driveway as it snaked its way toward the Melody 49 box office; one of many in a long line of cars that had arrived late for the first show. The sun was just setting behind the newly blossomed trees that lined the old fence marking the drive-in theater’s perimeter. The evening was warm, for this early in May, hinting that summer might come early this year. “Whose idea was it that we go to the drive-in on a Saturday night date?” asked Carol, a hint of exasperation in her voice.Frank’s companion was dressed in slacks and a short sleeved yellow blouse... She wore several gold chains around her neck and a single fine meshed gold bracelet on her left wrist. Carol was overdressed for the drive-in, but at this point in the evening she held out hope for some “clubbing” after the movie. This was their third date, and Carol was becoming interested in her newfound companion, a retired automobile company executive and recent widower, with both time and money on his hands…

Nioma (pronounced knee’-o-ma) Stephan has been writing for nearly thirty years. Her first novel LOW BRIDGE,

published in 2006, is an historical about the life and

times surrounding the Miami and Erie Canal here in

Western Ohio. Because of contract obligations, she was

unable to contribute to the selections on the Gallimaufry One CD, but her book can be

purchased through www.publishamerica.com

LOW BRIDGE by Nioma Stephan  

Come along.  Let’s escape back into that long past era, to a time when Ohio was in its infancy and much of the land was covered with forest and swamp.  Meet Adam Miller, an orphan who starts a new life at the age of four.  Follow him through his early life and into adulthood as he becomes a canal boat Captain.

Watch him mature, making quick, sometimes heavy-weighted decisions, affecting not only himself but his friends, family, and new immigrants as they begin to populate Ohio.  See how he handles the escaped-slave situation while still maintaining his livelihood.  

Come ride the canal boat and view the passing scenery.  At the same time, begin to learn and understand the business end of the canal while experiencing its excitement as well as its imminent dangers.

Born and raised in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains of Northeast Tennessee, Rebekah has been writing in some sort or fashion since middle school.  Romance novels were always in the house where she grew up so it only came naturally that she would be compelled to write them.  There are two short romance stories available by her on this cd. Rebekah is hoping to have her first full length novel published later this summer.

EYES OF GRACE

The fury raged just below the surface.  Deep enough that he could keep it in check, but not so far down that he could fool anyone into thinking there was nothing wrong.  “Take it easy, William.  She needs you to be with her now.  Not wasting your energy or your anger on him.”  Jess slipped around the edge of the hospital bed after she’d whispered her advice.  William wasn’t sure if it was worry he saw in the woman’s eyes or fear.  Taking a deep breath, he let his shoulders relax.  After all, Jess was right.  Grace needed all the energy from him that he could give her.  Getting even with Tyler for putting such an innocent in a hospital bed would have to wait.  The idiot was bound to be long gone by now anyway.      This time there had been witnesses.  The simple fact that there had been other times is what he couldn’t quite come to grips with.

Collision Course   Why did they have to play that song now?  With every word and every note the memories came flooding back.  He hadn’t seen her deep emerald eyes for a year now, but he could close his and see the unshed tears that had made them sparkle.  It was the song that had been playing on the radio when they had gone into her dorm room graduation night.  A love song….  “One year, Collin.  That’s all I’m asking you for.  I’ll meet you back right here at noon in one year.”  Letting her leave that day without him had been a mistake he would have to live with for the rest of his life...  

BECKYBECKY MCCOYMCCOY