THE WRITINGS OF STEPHEN JOHN MORAN
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Join Me at @booksorbooks on April, 2nd to Chat Books and See Releases from @MoranPublishing

3/27/2016

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AUTHOR EVENT
AT 
BOOKS OR BOOKS 
IN VEGAS

Join me at Books or Books in Las Vegas on April 2nd, 2016, from Noon until 3pm, to chat books and see the new releases from Moran Publishing. Books or Books is located on the corner of Pecos and Sunset. I will have book specials and giveaways and talk with visitors about the upcoming releases on the publication schedule.

Anyone that visits me and mentions this blog post will receive a free book from Moran Publishing. I will also give five dollars store credit at Books or Books to anyone that spends $25 Dollars or more on Moran Publishing books and merchandise. I want my readers to patronize this wonderful indie bookstore. 

I will do a live periscope broadcast from the bookstore during the event to offer specials to people watching online and discuss all things books. 

I hope to see you all at Books or Books next Saturday at Noon. 

From Las Vegas,

Stephen John Moran

​Owner of Moran Publishing
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Seeking Short Fiction at @MoranPublishing

3/24/2016

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MORAN PUBLISHING
NOW SEEKING 
SHORT FICTION

Submissions for short stories to be published by Moran Publishing are now open. Publication will be on this website or in a story collection. Some stories may be published in both formats. 

The WHAT - Type of stories I am seeking.

There is no specific genre requirements for short fiction. However, Moran Publishing does focus on thriller/horror material with emphasis on stories about serial killers. I will accept literary short stories.

Length of the stories to be submitted. 

I'll accept stories in two categories - Micro fiction and regular length short stories. 

Micro stories I'll consider as 1k words and less. 

Regular stories are to be 1k-2k words in length. 

PAY RATES -

I will pay $5-$15 dollars per piece for micro fiction depending on length. 

Pay rates for longer stories are negotiable by the story - between .02 and .05 cents per word - between $25 and $100 dollars. 

Stories may be published individually on this website, in a collection, or both. 

Submit stories to be considered to:

[email protected]

Submit stories in Microsoft Word format - Double Spaced in Times New Roman font.

Good luck to all that submit and I look forward to reading your fiction. 

From Vegas,

Stephen John Moran
​Owner of Moran Publishing 
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Moran Publishing Presents - Blood and Water - A Novel by @brianawrites

3/10/2016

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MORAN PUBLISHING PRESENTS
BLOOD AND WATER
A NOVEL
BY 
BRIANA MORGAN

I'm proud to present the new edition of BLOOD AND WATER by Briana Morgan from Moran Publishing. The novel is available at Amazon for $14.99 - simply click on the cover to visit and view the book or click HERE. Soon, signed copies will be available from Briana and also the novel will be available in my online marketplace as well as at Books or Books in Las Vegas. 

This is the book description from Amazon.

Jay needed so many things. He needed Maia to be well. He needed a cure for both of them. He needed the world to somehow start making sense again. Above everything, he needed someone to tell him why these terrible things were happening to him.” Seventeen-year-old Jay Harris lives in a world struck down by a deadly virus. His parents are dead, along with half the planet. When Jay’s sister Maia falls ill, he must find a cure before he loses her, too.

But unbeknownst to Maia, Jay is also sick… and he’s running out of time to save them both. When Jay’s friends tell him there might be a cure for him in France, he must decide whether to pursue it. The journey will be difficult and dangerous, especially in his weakened state, but with little time left—for himself and for Maia—it soon becomes clear there’s no other choice.

​Jay leaves the relative comfort of London to search for help, knowing he may never find it. Along the way, he experiences the effects of disaster on the bonds of friendship and fluctuating notions of family. These teens, decimated by a dangerous plague, face stark choices in their search for help, not knowing if their efforts will end in loss and pain. Will Jay and Maia find a cure before the virus takes them?

Briana is a YA and NA author and editor. She is working on her next novel, REFLECTIONS, and will soon publish a two act play, TOUCH.

To learn more about Briana Morgan, visit her website HERE. 
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Short Fiction - BUTTERFLY -  Edited by @brianawrites

3/9/2016

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BUTTERFLY
by
STEPHEN MORAN
​
EDITED BY BRIANA MORGAN


            Rose spoke of recent adventures with friends while Ray watched the sun streaming through her hair, which blonde and straight, seemed to glow. He smiled, and the mother centered her dark brown eyes upon him, twisting a curl of hair with her finger. Doris laughed at something her daughter said, teeth showing careful white and fine polish. She kept her gaze upon him, smiling, always smiling.

            “It is a wonderful day,” Doris said. The comment hung limp in the summer heat.

            Ray felt no desire to respond. 

            The daughter shuffled a deck of cards and began playing a game of solitaire. Moments passed without any sound except the rustling of cards and the calling of birds. Ray reclined the chair and watched, looking from mother to daughter. Doris continued to finger her curls, running painted nails through dark brown hair.
 
            “Tell me about your book, Ray.” She sipped her lemonade.

            “I’m waiting for the galley proofs to be sent. You know, publishing stuff—quite tedious, if you ask me.”

            “I’m sure,” she said.

            Rose continued playing cards, seemingly oblivious to the conversation.

            “I’m excited for the day I can see my book,” Ray said.

            “When will that be?”

            “Six months.”

            Doris nodded, crossed her legs, and leaned towards him.

            “What type of advance did they give you?”

            “Mother.” Rose grunted.

            “What is it now, darling?”

            “I told you no talk about money, okay?”

            “I’m just asking him. If he doesn’t want to tell me, he doesn’t have to, darling.”

            Rose got up from her chair, stared at her mother for a few moments, and walked towards the garden. “Tell me when you’re finished.”

            Silence fell and Doris began swinging her leg, slow and steady, the red polish on her feet shining, her skin bronzed and glistening with sunblock. She ran fingers over one leg, staring out into the garden at her daughter.

            “She is pretty, isn’t she?” It was a comment, not a question.

            “Indeed,” Ray answered. His glass remained untouched, drops of condensation slid slow and unnoticed onto the table.

            Ray looked towards the garden, noticing how small Rose looked from a distance. He watched as she chased butterflies with a net, thin muscular legs propelling her into the air, her skin a pale white. She caught a butterfly in her net and laughed with joy. She swung the net in a circle, jumping and screaming.

            “I’m sorry about the money talk, Ray. I want to be sure you’ll be able to take care of my daughter.”

            Ray shrugged his shoulders and continued watching, not turning to face Doris. He took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and put one between his lips, lighting it without looking.

            “You have to quit that filthy habit one of these days.”

            He nodded and took a drag, exhaling slowly in her direction.

            “You went tanning.”

            “Yes. One simply must have the finer things in life.”

            She laughed and began telling him about her weekly beauty routine. He concentrated on the book release, listening to her with half-interest.

            “What was that?” He asked her, coming out of his reverie.

            “I said, this takes money.” She extended her hand in a sweeping motion from hair to pumps.

            "Money can't buy happiness," Ray said.

            “Darling, money is the only thing.” She stood and ended the discussion.

            “Leaving?” he asked.

            “I have to meet someone.” She turned, and without further comment, walked towards the house.

            Ray shrugged and looked for Rose. She was still swinging the trapped butterfly. As she swung round, her shirt lifted, showing off her flat, smooth stomach.

            “Rose.”

           Startled, she stopped her arm in mid-swing and placed the net on the ground. The butterfly was still trapped. “I didn’t see you there.”

            He hugged her against his chest. “I wondered what you might like to do this evening.”

            “Anything you want,” she said. Her eyes sparkled blue in the afternoon sun.

            “That is what you always say. Tell me what you want to do.”

            “Really?”

            “Of course, really.”

            She laughed and clapped her hands. “Let's go to the carnival.”

            He lowered his head and muttered something she didn't hear . He tried again, loudly. “Why don’t you go with your friends?”

            “I want to be with you, Ray. Why can’t you hang out with them more often?”

            He sighed and reached for the net, attempting to lift it from the ground.

            “No, don’t,” she said.

            “Sorry.”

            “It’s okay. Just tell me you’ll spend tonight with me.”

            “I want to, I really do. I just don’t want to be around your friends.”

            She dropped her arms to her side and stamped her foot.

            “Why don’t you go with your friends to the carnival and then call me later?”

            “Ray, you know I need to get up early tomorrow. I can’t stay up all night with you like last week.”

            Ray turned and faced the house. He closed his eyes. What could he say?

            “Go to the carnival. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

            “Okay.”

            “Can you just do me one favor?” he asked.

            “What is it?”

            “Let the butterfly free.”

            He walked towards the street, neither looking back nor answering her demands for him to stop. Getting into the car, he took a last look and saw her wave. He drove in silence for a time, staring at the road ahead without expression. Miles later, he lit a cigarette and looked into the rear-view mirror.
​
            “Goodbye,” he said.
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The News from @MoranPublishing - Upcoming Publication Schedule 

3/6/2016

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Good Morning from Moran Publishing,

There will be several releases from Moran Publishing over the next couple of months, so today I want to take an opportunity to give readers a schedule of the next four books on the docket. 

First will be a re-release of Briana Morgan's Blood and Water. The updated edition should be ready within the week and available for purchase in less than two weeks. At that time, the book will be placed in my online book store and offered as a single purchase and also in a pack with Ella and Colossus. 

The next release will be a book of short fiction - The Life and Death of Scott Holden. The final edits will be in my hands within days and all that remains will be the formatting of the interior for print and e-book. This book of fiction will be released within one month.

Following that release will be Phoenix Rising - Flint Ranch by Jette Harris. This collection of stories is with the editor and Jette informs me the book will be ready in less than two months time. I am excited to present this 'prequel' to Colossus and can't wait to share it with readers. 

Once those three books are published - I will focus my energies on Preface to a Suicide. I've completed five drafts of the book and deem it ready for the editing stage. If you pressed me for an estimated release time-frame, I would say approximately three months.

That's the news from Moran Publishing. 

Enjoy your Sunday.

Stephen John Moran
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    THE TERRORIST OF PROVIDENCE STREET

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    REVIEWS OF THE TERRORIST OF PROVIDENCE STREET
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    SERVER

    EXCERPT FROM SERVER
    ​DAY ADVENTURE WITH MONKEY

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    EXCERPT FROM SERVER
    KARL MARX: A REFUTATION

    EXCERPT FROM ELLA
    ROUTINE

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    EXCERPT FROM ELLA
    ​THE INTERROGATION

    REVIEW OF ELLA

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    Author

    Stephen Moran lives in Las Vegas with his beautiful wife, baby Kiana, and two dogs. 
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