Included below are some links to novel excerpts that I've posted on Helium. In addition, I've also included the full transcript from a short story called "Nearly a CATastrophe". I hope you enjoy them.
Pure as the driven snow:
Jerry's going out with Alex and things are going well until Alex reveals that her father's a convicted murderer. Jerry discovers that Lenny Moretti was put away for the murder of a pizza boy but what's bugging him is what the motive was. It's a stupid idea, and he knows it, but he decides to visit Lenny in prison. Read an excerpt from Pure as the driven snow here, http://www.helium.com/items/1482299-gangster-story-novel-excerpt
Sparrow:
Drums ring out rythmic into the night, signalling the call to war. Kai Delorge, known as Sparrow, is little more than a boy but he's about to be thrust into a fight that he cares little for. He's also weighed down by the weight of expectation that comes when one's father just happens to be a legendary war hero. Here's an excerpt from this story, http://www.helium.com/items/1485352-fiction-novel-journey
In deep water:
A little old lady's just about to be drowned to see if she's a witch. Heather's going to be next. This despite the fact that she's just a musician and has only just met the old lady. Things look like they're about to get nasty. If nothing else, lake-weed can leave really nasty stains. Read an excerpt of In deep water here, http://www.helium.com/items/1480605-witch-water-trial-story
Nearly a CATastrophe
The cat approached the mirror lazily and regarded his reflection. Devilishly handsome as usual. Jet black fur with just a hint of white tingeing his chest and that familiar tear in his ear that gave him that bad boy look that the ladies loved. Content that all was good in the world, the cat lounged down the hallway to seek out the humans. It was time that one of them fed him and then he had a busy agenda to attend to; a brief cat nap, before an hour's worth of fish tank TV, and then annoy the dog, before another well earned nap.
However, on this particular day, he was in for a rude surprise. "Oh there you are, Gobolino" exclaimed the woman known as Mum as she bent down and picked the cat up into her arms. "Time for you to go you-know-where". Gobolino groaned. Okay, so it was a meow but it had a definite groanicity to it. (There isn't such a word, of course, but there should be!) Gobolino's mood didn't improve as the travel cage suddenly loomed into view. "At least give me some Brekkies for the trip!" he screamed but Mum wasn't listening.
After a car trip spent futilely caterwauling his prison blues, the car pulled up on the crunchy gravel driveway of the V.E.T. Then, the car door opened and Gobolino and his cage were unceremoniously hauled out and carried past the vet's surgery and onto the cattery. Gobolino surveyed his room as Mum eyed him from the other side of the mesh. "You be a good cat now and we'll be back in two weeks". "Meow!" retorted Gobolino and I better not translate that into human. With Mum gone, the cat surveyed his surroundings. No doubt the humans would consider it adequate but this connoisseur reckoned it was far from five star. Where was the on-demand fish tank TV? Where were the Brekkies?! Did they think he was a slum-cat?! "Don't suppose anyone's got an escape plan?" he idly asked, looking around at his fellow detainees. Judging their dumb expressions, Gobolino realized that he was going to have to be the brains of the operation if they were going to bust this joint. At least there was a pretty little female in the adjacent cell. "Well hello, baby!" Gobolino purred as he approached the jet black beauty. "You look nearly as delicious as me!"
Two weeks passed. Gobolino was in the bad books for repeated yowling and that one time when he had briefly escaped. The cattery lady was being more careful this time as she approached his cell. Was that a fishing net that her assistant was carrying?! Nevertheless, he primed himself for another escape bid, should the opportunity present itself. It didn't and he was scooped up and deposited in a travel cage. "I'm innocent!" he shouted. "I never killed that bird. I was framed!"
Taken through to the cattery reception it was a surprise to be deposited not with Mum but with some other woman. A stranger. What was going on? "Here you go, Mrs Fox. Hope you had a nice holiday?" "Yes, we did, thanks" replied the Fox woman. Gobolino was immediately suspicious. Fox wasn't his favourite word, distinctly doggy-sounding. There were small humans too. They crowded around the cage and cooed in his direction. "My, how you've grown!" commented the Fox woman as she deposited Gobolino and his travel cage in the backseat of the car. "They must have been feeding you well!" "As if!" replied Gobolino. "There was a distinct lack of Brekkies and I think the chicken was undercooked".
Back at his new headquarters, Gobolino took his time to appraise the situation. Comfortable sofa, check. Nice warm spot by the window, check. Good supply of food, check. Okay, this joint wasn't his joint but it seemed to have all the mod cons and the silly small humans were happy to groom him which, of course, was only right and proper. The only problem was that they (and the big human) seemed to be slightly touched in the brain. Kept calling him Suzie! Never mind their crazy human idiosyncrasies, he'd stay here for a while and then maybe take a stroll home. After all, the dog would be getting uppity and would need taken down a peg or two.
Just as he was happily settling in, however, it was back into the travel cage and a trip to the V.E.T. Gobolino hissed and wriggled as the V.E.T. examined his stomach. "Yes, she has got very big" commented the V.E.T. to Mrs Fox. "Not pregnant though. I think it's constipation?" "What the heck?!" meowed Gobolino angrily. "Of course I'm not pregnant you silly excuse for a quack! And I'm not constipated either. Regular as clockwork me! I demand a second opinion!" No second opinion was forthcoming, however, and a bottle of pills were exchanged from the V.E.T. to Mrs Fox and then they were back in the car and speeding back to the Fox residence.
Gobolino gingerly jumped up onto the bathroom sink and surveyed himself in the Fox's mirror. "Still beautiful but a bit green around the gills, old chap. Wish they'd stop giving me those bleedin' laxatives." Just then, the phone rang and was answered by Mister Fox. "Hey love, it's the vet about the cat" Mister Fox shouted out and his wife came through and took the phone from him. "Uh oh, sounds interesting" thought Gobolino, getting ready to make himself scarce. "Oh my!" said Mrs Fox. "Yes, that would explain it! They're able to come here now? Yes, that would be fine". Mrs Fox put down the phone and Gobolino sneaked closer, intrigued to find out what that was all about?
"I don't believe it!" exclaimed Mrs Fox to her husband and kids. "Suzie's not Suzie at all!" "I've been telling you that all along" commented Gobolino acerbically from behind the sofa. "What?" commented Mr Fox. "There was a mix up" explained Mrs Fox. "That's why she, sorry I mean he, has been so big and so soppy!" "I'm not soppy!" muttered Gobolino, assuming a macho pose. "So where's Suzie, mummy?" asked one of the kids. "The other family are bringing her here. They'll be here any minute".
A little while later, the doorbell rang. Human pleasantries were exchanged and then there was Mum and The Boys, with another cat in a travel cage. Recognition dawned for Gobolino. It was the nice little black minx that (to use jail speak) he'd done bird with. "Hey lover, how's tricks?" purred Gobolino in greeting. "Huh! You wouldn't believe what I've been through!" replied Suzie. "Try me?" replied Gobolino. "Well" started Suzie, "They gave me to the wrong family but, hey, you know that. Then your crowd were worried at how small and slim-line I'd got, so they took me back to the V.E.T. The stupid woman thought I must have an active thyroid and prescribed pills. Your crowd thought I had mad cat's disease! Seems you're more soppy than me?" "I'm not soppy, I just know how to get what I want" grumbled Gobolino but he allowed himself to be lifted up into Mum's arms and then to be passed around The Boys as many hugs were exchanged.
"See" commented Mrs Fox to her husband. "They've both got a torn ear". "Yes, easy mistake to make" added Mum. "I mean, what are the chances, two black cats with a torn ear?" "Bye Suzie!" meowed Gobolino as he departed the Fox residence. No travel cage needed. Guilt would mean extra super treatment for days and days. "Bye Gobolino" replied Suzie. "See you next vacation?" Everyone lived happily ever after and was none the worse for their adventure!
THE END
P.S. This is based on a true story, though some of the names have been changed to protect the, err because I can't remember the names of the other family!