Nightmares & Lullabies

Nightmares & Lullabies contains over a dozen short stories by Ronald McGuire. At times moving, mischievous, and reflective, much of the work is centered on the gay experience at varying life stages. In “Early Summer,” a boy’s first crush leads to the joy of reciprocity, while in “An Understanding,” bitterness, anger, and regret, fill the days of a man whose arrogance has cost him everything he didn’t know he needed, while “Lullaby” reveals a glimpse of the life after this one. This genre-spanning collection includes the award-winning literary fiction “Fitting In,” the sci-fi dystopia of “Farewell, Hollywood,” and the bizarre horror and dark humor of “A Time to Dance,” and “The Not-Zombies Apocalypse.” From the surreal to the sublime, the stories in Nightmares & Lullabies are fearless, unapologetic, and rife with moral ambiguity. 

Nightmares and Lullabies book cover. A dark red rose on a thorny stem, with a gaping mouth full of teeth and a bright red tongue at the center of the flower.
Cover design by Gene Rayner

Happy Holidays! The Charlie Barnes Experience, Vol. 1.

“How I went from failed writer to drug mule, and back again, without really trying.”

Now Available Wherever Books Are Sold!

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Cover Design by Gene Rayner, art by M. Hassan

After a shocking event on Halloween night, Charlie Barnes is back in the news for all the wrong reasons. On the bright side, he meets handsome cop Luke. Luke of the blue eyes, perfect nose, beautiful butt cheeks, and, unbeknownst to Charlie, ulterior motives.

Even bad publicity can be good for book sales, according to Charlie’s publisher, who promptly moves up the deadline for his next book. A book he hasn’t started due to a crushing case of writer’s block. Or perhaps he’s just lazy, hard to say.

He’s got a month to write his next book, decide if Luke is for real, and figure out what to do about the suitcase full of drugs he abandoned at the airport. The pressure is on and the ride is about to get bumpy.

About the Author

C.R. “Charlie” Barnes studied literature and journalism in college and went to work for a global news organization immediately after graduation. During his time there the team won 5 Peabody awards and a Columbia-Dupont Award (this is true!). “Happy Holidays!” is his first foray into LGBTQ fiction and its follow-up, “Adulting” is expected in late 2024 (if he stops slacking and starts writing).