Welcome to the Realms of Imagination
Official website of Science Fiction and Fantasy Author Carol Hightshoe
Legends Reborn
and other stories
Midnight Song
Cursed by vengeance. Bound by love. Redeemed by faith.
When Leathan’s wedding night ends in horror, he’s left to wander the darkness as a beast—cursed to sing his sorrow beneath the moon for eternity. In a valley sanctified against him, his mournful song echoes through the years…until the spirit of his lost bride returns.
Guided by a compassionate priest, Leathan and Adairia must confront the curse that has bound them for generations. To break free, one must let go of the other. But can a love that defied death itself ever truly be released?
A haunting and beautiful tale of love, loss, and redemption, Midnight Song blends gothic romance with the timeless tragedy of the werewolf myth. Where even in the darkest night, hope may yet rise with the dawn.
Snipe Hunt
They came to conquer. They left on a snipe hunt.
Billy Ray and his cousin Jimmy Lee know the truth about “snipe hunts”. Nothing more than harmless pranks meant to fool the gullible. But in the aftermath of the last great war, when strange lights blaze across the sky and “mutants” stalk the night, even an old joke can turn deadly serious.
When a group of alien hunters crash-land near their swamp, Billy Ray sees a chance to turn the tables. He sets about luring the scaly invaders into the deadliest “snipe hunt” of all. But outsmarting off-world predators takes more than country cunning…and the bayou has a few surprises of its own.
A sharp blend of post-apocalyptic grit and backwoods humor, Snipe Hunt proves intelligence isn’t always measured in technology. And sometimes, a good ol’ boy with a burlap sack can outwit an alien invasion.
Life in the Shadows
When mirrors lie, reality unravels.
Sorceress Desana’s reflection no longer matches the woman she knows. Her long black hair has turned flame-red overnight, and her dragon familiar has become a unicorn. Only her memories remain untouched and she’s determined to uncover why.
But each spell she casts pulls her deeper into a web of fractured realities, where every choice spawns another world and every reflection hides a shadow of truth. As Desana searches for answers, she must face the terrifying possibility that she herself is only one of many versions and that someone, or something, is rewriting existence itself.
A twist of fantasy and meta-fiction, Life in the Shadows blurs the line between creator and creation, illusion and identity.
FREE READ
The Final Blessing
When despair consumes the hearts of mortals, one guardian remains to answer the call.
From the dawn of creation, the gods entrusted humanity with a chest of divine blessings. But when curiosity led to its opening, all but one gift was lost. That final blessing, Hope, was placed under the protection of the unicorn Elpis, who walks between worlds whenever humanity’s light begins to fade.
Across ages of myth and history, from the battlefields of Troy to the ruins of modern tragedy, Elpis bears the burden of rekindling hope in a world drowning in sorrow. But as darkness spreads and the last guardian falters, even hope itself may be extinguished…unless it can find rebirth within the hearts of humankind.
A timeless tale of loss, renewal, and the endurance of light, The Final Blessing reminds us that even in our darkest moments, hope endures.
The Sword of Power
In the Sword’s reflection, all faiths become one.
When the High King Uther Pendragon dies without an heir, Britain once again teeters on the edge of chaos. The sacred Sword of Power, gift of the Goddess and symbol of unity, has vanished, stolen by those who would twist its purpose to serve their faith alone.
Viviane, Lady of the Lake and High Priestess of Avalon, must reclaim the lost sword before the balance between Goddess and God is broken forever. Her quest brings her face-to-face with priests who see her as a heretic, and visions that reveal a deeper truth: the divine has many faces, and the harmony of faiths may be the key to saving both Avalon and the mortal world.
As mist and miracle intertwine, destiny forges a path toward the birth of legend and the one who will be worthy to wield Excalibur.
A lyrical reimagining of Arthurian myth, The Sword of Power blends spiritual insight with timeless magic in a story of unity, faith, and the enduring strength of belief.
QUARTER-FINALIST - WRITERS OF THE FUTURE CONTEST - DEC 2004
The Asylum Wall
There is nothing here—only ghosts and memories.
When Deirdre Ashlyn returns to the abandoned asylum where she once worked, she expects only silence and decay. But within the peeling walls and drifting dust, echoes of her past, and of one mysterious patient, come to life.
Brayden was a delusional old man who claimed to be a wizard trapped in the wrong world. His ramblings about magic, stories, and worlds born from imagination haunted Deirdre long after his death. Now, as she walks the empty halls of the asylum once more, she finds words written on the walls, passages from her own stories, and a presence waiting for her.
Has she stumbled into madness herself, or has she finally opened the doorway Brayden promised existed all along?
A haunting tale of creativity, belief, and the thin boundary between imagination and reality.
The Gift of All
Blamed for mankind’s fall—she carries its greatest gift.
She has been called Pandora. Eve. The First Woman.
And for millennia, she has borne the blame for humanity’s fall.
But the truth is not what the legends say.
Tired of being maligned by patriarchal myths Pandora is ready to tell her own story. From her awakening on Olympus to the fateful moment she opens the box, Pandora recounts the creation of humanity’s greatest trials…and its most precious treasure.
For within the darkness she released was one final light—Hope.
A lyrical and thought-provoking retelling of one of the world’s oldest myths, The Gift of All explores the cost of divine manipulation, the strength born from suffering, and the enduring power of hope that even the gods cannot extinguish.
Adrift
In the silence between stars, legends still whisper
Captain Dewi Fokke never believed in curses. At least not until her ship, De Nederlander, went dead in the region spacers call the Sargasso Sea. Stranded with a mysterious passenger named Van der Decken, she soon discovers the legends of the Flying Dutchman have followed humanity into the stars.
Armed only with her ancestor’s sword, Dewi must face the ghosts of the past and uncover the truth behind the curse binding them all.
The Second Horseman
When faith becomes fire, the apocalypse begins.
Reverend James Smallman believes he speaks for God; until the day a divine messenger calls him to account. Confronted by powers beyond comprehension, he is offered a terrifying honor: to become the catalyst for the Second Horseman of Revelation.
As zeal ignites and the world answers his final sermon’s cry, “Let the cleansing begin!”, James must face the truth behind his faith and the judgment he helped unleash.
A chilling and thought-provoking tale of conviction, consequence, and the peril of mistaking belief for truth.
The President's Meow
In the halls of power, the goddess Bast demands respect—or vengeance.
When the President of the United States begins acting…strangely, basking in sunlight, hissing at his dog, and even purring, his longtime aide Michael is forced to confront a mystery that defies reason. The odd behavior seems harmless at first; until foreign dignitaries are involved, and a simple gift from an Egyptian aide sparks whispers of ancient magic.
As Michael races to uncover the truth, he finds himself caught in a battle between modern politics and old gods. The cat goddess Bast has returned and her judgment may change the course of history.
Witty, eerie, and full of political intrigue with a supernatural twist, The President’s Meow explores what happens when divine retribution stalks the halls of power.
Cave of Sorrows
Some places never forget—and never forgive.
Long ago, the Tabeguache people called the slopes of the sacred mountain Tava their home, guided and protected by the Manitou of the Wind. But when their lands were taken, the tribe’s final act of sorrow was sealed within a hidden cave. A place both sacred and accursed.
Centuries later, humanity returns to an abandoned Earth, seeking to reclaim what was once theirs. When explorers Lucas and Kelli take shelter in the fabled Cave of the Winds, they awaken echoes of the past. Voices of pain and wind-borne fury that will not rest. As the spirits of the betrayed rise to defend their home, the intruders must face a truth older than stars: some wounds of the Earth can never be healed by those who caused them.
A haunting blend of science fiction and legend, Cave of Sorrows explores the enduring power of memory, the sanctity of wild places, and the cost of forgetting the spirits that guard them.
The Last Defenders
Bound by honor. Forged in fire. They are the eternal defenders of Texas.
Trapped between life and death, a lone rider relives his greatest failure; the night he fell before reaching the Alamo with a warning that could have changed history. Each time, his ghostly horse carries him through the streets of San Antonio de Béxar, doomed to repeat his futile ride.
But this night is different. The battlefield is empty, the flag above the Alamo flies Mexican colors once more, and something stirs among the restless spirits of Texas. When a new threat arises to reclaim the land, the fallen heroes of the Alamo, Goliad, and San Jacinto rise again: bound by duty, fire, and honor.
Together, they will fight one last battle to defend the freedom they died for. Because even in death, Texas has its defenders.
Legends Reborn
Science can rebuild the world, but only hope can save it.
Centuries after a devastating war shattered Earth’s ecology, humanity clings to survival under the doctrine of “The Balance” a belief that nature must recover without human interference. But Gwendolyn Robbins, Director of Genetics at the Wildlife Foundation, sees a dying world that cannot heal on its own. Defying the Council’s orders, she dares to recreate the creatures of legend, pegasi and unicorns, from the genetic remnants of the Ancestors.
As politics, fear, and faith collide, Gwendolyn’s work may hold the key to restoring life, or doom what remains of it. When myth and science intertwine, hope itself becomes the most dangerous creation of all.
In a world where the line between legend and reality blurs, one woman must decide whether to obey a dying law or help humanity believe in magic again.
Time of the Month
A full moon, a dragon’s curse, and one very bad time to fight.
All Krystall wanted was a quiet meal, a hot bath, and a place to rest her weary bones. Instead, the Duke’s guards dragged her before their lord; a man desperate enough to beg a retired dragonslayer for one last service.
The dragon Freynia has held the town hostage for years, demanding tribute in gold and lives. But the Duke believes Krystall, the famed Sword Maiden of Malytta, is finally the one who can end their torment.
Reluctantly, Krystall agrees. Yet as the full moon rises, she discovers not all dragons are what they seem, and this battle will test far more than her blade.
Witty, sharp-edged, and steeped in myth, Time of the Month blends classic sword-and-sorcery adventure with humor, heart, and an unforgettable twist on the legend of the dragonslayer.
A Story of Inyodo
Even in the wake of ruin, the gods may grant hope
When a mischievous kappa decides to teach humankind a lesson in gratitude, his theft of the Dragon King’s sacred Tidal Jewels unleashes a catastrophic tsunami upon Japan. What began as a prank to remind mortals of divine blessings becomes a tragedy that shakes heaven and earth.
Now, haunted by guilt and forbidden help from the gods, the kappa seeks redemption in a single, selfless act by calling forth the celestial kirin, bringer of justice and hope.
Rooted in Japanese mythology, A Story of Inyodo is a timeless tale of balance, consequence, and compassion—where even a spirit of mischief may discover the true meaning of grace.
Mr. Zombie Goes to Washington
FREE READ
Even the undead can have a calling.
He’s a small-town church leader, a respected citizen, and a zombie. For years, he’s lived quietly among his congregation, taking only what he needs to survive: a little brain energy from the not-so-bright. But when fate (and local politics) send him to Washington, D.C. as a temporary congressional appointee, he discovers something far more terrifying than pitchforks and torches—politicians.
Surrounded by the brainless masses of the Capitol, he realizes the truth: the halls of power are already crawling with zombies. And unless he learns to play the political game, or snack smart, he may not survive his term in office.
A darkly humorous tale of politics, survival, and the undead, Mr. Zombie Goes to Washington offers a biting satire of modern government—because sometimes the real monsters wear suits.
The Cup of Life
Life eternal—paid for in blood.
When Roman captain Maurus is ordered to escort Joseph of Arimathea and a priestess of Avalon to a secret ceremony, he expects only another tedious duty in the wilds of Britannia. Instead, he witnesses a rite that binds the powers of three faiths: the Cup of Christ, the Sword of the Goddess, and the Tear of the Dragon.
Fascinated by tales of eternal life, Maurus betrays his oath and steals the sacred cup. But the water he drinks is no blessing—it is blood, and it transforms both him and his men into creatures neither mortal nor beast.
Cursed with immortality and a thirst that can never be quenched, Maurus becomes the first of a new kind of predator; one who walks between the old gods and the new, forever haunted by what he has done.
A dark blend of myth and legend, The Cup of Life reveals the price of faith, the danger of greed, and the origins of a timeless curse.
Wolves of the Comancheria
Named by the spirits. Bound to the hunt. She is the shadow of the wolf.
Born under the watchful eyes of the wolf star, Wolf Shadow was never meant to live an ordinary life. Named by the shaman Star Wolf and chosen by the spirits, she defied her tribe’s traditions to become a warrior. She is one who walks between the living and the dead.
When betrayal stains the lands of the Comancheria, Wolf Shadow and her spectral wolves ride beneath the moon to bring justice to those who prey upon the innocent. Guided by the whispers of ancestors and the cry of the wind, she hunts the betrayers of her people. Men whose sins can only be cleansed by the spirits’ claws and fangs.
Blending Native legend with the haunted mystique of the Old West, Wolves of the Comancheria is a tale of destiny, vengeance, and the eternal bond between warrior and wolf.
A Game of Marbles
A tournament of skill. A single miscalculation. The echoes of a game written in the stars.
Jania has waited her entire career for this moment—the invitation sealed with the golden vortex, the chance to compete on the most challenging maze board ever designed. Every calculation, every instinct must be perfect if she wants to maintain her undefeated record.
But when her marble meets an unexpected force, her game ends not with victory, but with destruction—and the universe itself bears the scar of her failure.
A Game of Marbles is a clever, cosmic twist on ambition and consequence. A short story where competition, pride, and the birth of the asteroid belt collide in a single breathtaking moment.
FREE READ
Eternal Escapes
At Eternal Escapes, death isn’t the end—it’s a new beginning.
To most, Eternal Escapes Funeral Home is just another place to say goodbye. But director Richard LaFayette knows the truth. His family’s business offers more than just traditional burials. For those desperate to start over, Eternal Escapes provides a final way out: interment in another time and place.
When Richard brings a young woman named Lieke from her own era to train as his successor, he knows his time is ending. But a single act of violence will change everything; binding Lieke, now Lily LaFayette, to the home’s ancient magic and her new role as its guardian.
In New Orleans, where death and mystery walk hand in hand, some doors should never be opened…unless you’re ready to escape through them.
To Live
One choice. One forbidden fruit. One woman’s defiance that gave humanity its soul.
Eve—first woman and the first to truly live.
For centuries, patriarchal faiths have painted her as the downfall of man. But in this intimate retelling, Eve reclaims her voice to reveal the truth behind the legend. How a single act of courage awakened free will, knowledge, and the power to choose between good and evil.
Guided by the dragon who whispers of wisdom, guarded by unicorns who mourn innocence lost, Eve steps beyond paradise to discover what it means to live, love, and grow.
To Live offers a fresh, mythic reimagining of humanity’s first story. It’s one that celebrates balance, freedom, and the divine spark of choice itself.
Pawn's Gambit
Her curse made her a pawn—her choices will make her a queen.
When the uninvited sorceress arrives at the royal christening, her curse sets destiny into motion. But not even Malei, the exiled sister of the king, can truly foresee how her spell will shape the life of the infant princess.
Sixteen years later, a rain-soaked girl arrives at Malei’s mountain stronghold, seeking vengeance for the family she believes murdered. The witch sees more than anger in her eyes; she sees potential. Trained in the arts of strategy, combat, and command, the girl known only as Pawn learns what it means to wield both power and restraint. Yet the greatest test will not come from the sword, but from the truth behind her past.
In a world where magic, loyalty, and ambition intertwine, one young woman must decide whether she will remain a pawn in another’s game; or rise to become a queen in her own right.
A compelling re-imagining of the Sleeping Beauty story, Pawn’s Gambit explores destiny, free will, and the choices that define who we become.
Third Time's the Charm
Millions of years in the making—extinction perfected at last.
In a world where humanity plays both savior and destroyer, two scientists stand over the last California Condor; an ancient lineage that has survived extinction twice before. As they reflect on the fragile balance between evolution and interference, they’re forced to face a haunting question: has humanity finally tipped the scales too far?
A quiet, poignant tale of loss, legacy, and the cyclical nature of survival, Third Time’s the Charm reminds us extinction isn’t always the end. It’s a mirror reflecting our place in nature’s grand design.
FREE READ
Midnight Ritual
Love bound by magic. A curse sealed by the moon.
In a village where the old ways still whisper through the heather, power and faith collide beneath the light of the solstice moon. When Harailt, a disgraced noble’s son, seeks forbidden knowledge, his arrival stirs forces best left sleeping. The healer Briana prepares her family for the sacred Guardian Ritual, a rite that will bind one soul to the land’s protection.
But love and jealousy weave their own spells. When Adairia and her beloved Leathan are caught in Harailt’s dark ambition, a single act of envy sets a curse in motion that will echo across generations.
From solstice fire to spectral wolves, Midnight Ritual is a haunting tale of love, betrayal, and redemption. Where even the deepest curse can be undone by the courage to choose forgiveness over power.
