Hugh J. O'Donnell

As it turned out, the witch’s curse was quite specific, and the princess that kissed the frog was, in fact, a princess consort.
This created two problems for the frog. First, attendants discovered the missing prince kissing his cousin’s newly arrived wife. Secondly, the kiss did not fully break his curse.
In order to ease tensions in the palace, the frog-headed prince decided to go on a quest. He headed to new lands to find both a cure and a bride.
But his cousin was still dissatisfied, and his assassins dogged him at every step. Love truly was a battlefield.

The Mountain’s Shadow is now available from Amazon and Smashwords!

When the weather was agreeable, the old man sat in the park and told stories. He’d collected a number of them and loved to share them. They had gotten him through the darkest times in his life.
Whenever he appeared, he would gather a small audience of children, parents pushing strollers, walkers getting their steps in, and other seniors feeding the birds.
When he first came back in time, he learned that you couldn’t change the future. It was too big, too powerful. But stories have their own subtle power. He hoped they would prepare them for what was coming.

I’ll be appearing at Pulp 716 for a popup signing today, July 1st starting at 1PM! I hope I see you there! Get all the details HERE!

The head had once been a part of a colossal statue, guarding a great city in the golden age. That empire had fallen, sunk by the gods for their hubris, and eaten from within by duplicitous councilors.
The body was lost, along with her shield and mace. But her face and spiked crown were still intact. And he was tasked by the cruel warlord that currently ruled the area with guarding her shrine.
The warlord kept the head as a sign of strength. But to him, she was a reminder that all tyrants fall. She was a promise of liberty.

Tomorrow, I’ll be doing a signing for The Mountain’s Shadow at Pulp716 in North Tonawanda! I hope I see you there! https://fb.me/e/bDvypEWtO

Before you burned down the bookshop, you allowed me to go back for a single book. You called it a mercy, but we both knew it was a trick.
In that brief window, with the scent of petrol all around me, I made good my escape. What’s the fun of owning a used bookshop without a secret passage? In better times, it led to a cozy hidden reading room. As things got worse, I put the space to other methods.
I wonder how face looked looked when you realized I had vanished and taken everything of value with me?

In just two days, I’ll be doing a signing for The Mountain’s Shadow at Pulp716 in North Tonawanda! I hope I see you there! https://fb.me/e/bDvypEWtO

The bouncer outside the tavern thrust out one hand and pointed to the sign above the door.
“Sorry, no wizards.”
“But I’m not a wizard!” The prospective patron protested.
The bouncer took in the figure from his pointed boots and bushy beard to his equally pointy boots.
“But you’re dressed like one.”
“Is it a crime to be fashionable? I swear I’m not a wizard.”
“Sign’s there for a reason,” the bouncer said, but his heart wasn’t in it.
The sorcerer pushed his way inside and vanished in a puff of smoke.
“Not a wizard,” the ex-barbarian snorted. “Sure, buddy.”

I’ll be reading and signing copies of The Mountain’s Shadow at Pulp716 in North Tonawanda, on Saturday, July 1st! Come say ‘Hello!’

I loaded the truck with food and supplies, and headed up into the mountains. When I finally parked, I found myself surrounded by masked thugs. Their leader nodded to the others, and they unloaded all my stuff.
Afterwards, they let me go with a warning that they’d kill me if I told anyone about them. As I headed back to the highway, I received a text that the deposit had reached my bank account as agreed.
Supervillains always have problems keeping their bases supplied, and most of them couldn’t guess what a loaf of bread costs. It’s the perfect opportunity.

The Mountain’s Shadow is now available from Amazon and Smashwords!

Peter walked through a glowing portal and joined a crowd of versions of himself from alternate dimensions.
He never regretted his life choices, but finding himself surrounded by heroes with his face made him feel small and insignificant.
Nobody ever forced him to make a choice that saved the world. And he didn’t have amazing powers or great responsibilities.
Feeling overwhelmed, he found a quiet office to hide in for a few minutes. Inside, he stumbled upon their mysterious host’s computer, and the real reason their host had brought them there.
That was how Peter Spiderman, CPA saved the multiverse.

The Mountain’s Shadow is now available from Amazon and Smashwords!

The coaster is the last of its kind still in operation. Enthusiasts like myself come from all over the world to ride it. I’d driven an entire day to reach the whitewashed behemoth.

As I wait in line, I read the plaques boasting of the many times the ride was torn down and rebuilt, accompanied by sepia-toned photographs of boardwalks long since lost to condo developers.

Finally, I board the train. As the safety bar comes down and the ride jitters to life, I feel a thrill of excitement.

They just don’t make them like The Ship of Theseus anymore.

When I spot the quadruped circling my campsite, I almost mistake it for a sheep in the gloom. It doesn’t have the distinct hopping gait of a hunting drone, and the wide wooly frame and pointed face are certainly evocative.
But there can’t be any livestock left, and the AI Overlords wouldn’t create anything so whimsical, would they?
As it trots closer, I see that the head is an antique white bakelite telephone with a rotary dial. A mass of curly plastic-coated beige wire wrapping the body like wool compounds the effect
When it sees me, the phone starts ringing.