Free Short Story and 🎄 Last-Minute Gift Alert
A Universe of Stories That Could Change Someone's Life
It’s been long enough since I published, you may not remember me. You may have been in one of my courses, webinars, or live presentations, or you may know me as the author of The Way of the Three-Year-Old Why or Medium Well: The Journey from Believing to Believing In.
In any case, I have a great gift for you, and a great gift idea as well, especially if you know someone who could use encouragement.
First, the free story—your gift
You probably know “The Sparklight Chronicles” is a series of books designed to help you live your values and value your life. They are business parables—books that use fictional stories to communicate nonfiction ideas and principles. The best business parables feature an engaging story worthy of standing on its own that makes it easier to understand, remember, and implement the principles and guidelines included.
If you’ve already read books in the series, you will enjoy a short story within the same story universe, and I’m happy to give you that additional story for free. If you haven’t read in the series, then this will help you “taste” the approach. In any case, I hope you will find it both entertaining and enlightening.
Here’s some info about “Writing Home”:
Some stories can only be written at the edge of everything
Alone in deep space, 418 million miles from Earth, astronaut Beckett Lawson begins to write.
He shouldn't be writing. He should be monitoring systems, recording data, and preparing the Metaxis's vital probe launch to Callisto. But ever since the accident that killed his crewmates, something has changed aboard the ship. A storage compartment sometimes contains an impossible coffee shop. And then there's Callie—a barista who speaks in riddles, knows things she couldn't possibly know, and appears and disappears like starlight through a closing airlock.
As Beckett's creativity suddenly flourishes, the ship's quantum field readings spike to inexplicable levels. His long-suppressed story flows onto paper even as Houston's concerns grow and the ship's AI begins acting mysteriously. Is isolation finally breaking his mind? Or has he stumbled upon something beyond the boundaries of known physics—something that knows his deepest dreams and darkest fears?
When the environmental systems start to fail, Beckett faces a race against time and dwindling oxygen. But thirty years later, a recovery team finds evidence suggesting the most incredible elements of his story might be true—including details that no hallucination could explain, and a final message written in a hand that isn't his.
"Writing Home" weaves hard science fiction with psychological suspense in a story that questions the nature of reality, creativity, and time itself. Perfect for fans of Ted Chiang and Blake Crouch, this short story will leave you wondering: What if our greatest creations come not from our minds, but from somewhere—or someone—beyond the stars?
A short story from "The Sparklight Chronicles," "Writing Home" will introduce readers to a beloved character while adding to the saga for experienced Sparklighters.
You can find your gift copy here.
Second, that last-minute gift
Still searching for the perfect gift? Here's something unique that could transform someone's 2025...
Imagine gifting a collection of stories where a mysterious coffee shop appears exactly when needed—whether in a struggling speaker's neighborhood, a doubt-filled hospital corridor, or impossibly, 418 million miles from Earth aboard a lonely spacecraft.
For the first time ever, I'm offering The Sparklight Chronicles Complete (So Far) Bundle:
📚 Included in this special holiday collection:
The Way of the Three-Year-Old Why
Struggling speaker Dan Roberts battles to build a successful business while caring for his daughter with a disability. A mysterious coffee barista and cryptic guidance notes push Dan to rediscover his “why” with the curiosity of a three-year-old. Through five simple guidelines for asking “why,” Dan confronts his biggest challenges and unlocks a new path to success and fulfillment.
Medium Well: The Journey from Believing to Believing In
New hospital hire Skye Jackson discovers an extraordinary ability to communicate with comatose patients. Amid doubt and misunderstanding, Skye must choose whether to hide her talent or embrace it to help others—and herself. Joined by familiar characters from The Way of the Three-Year-Old Why, Skye’s story explores perseverance, self-belief, and living with purpose.
“Writing Home” (Brand-New Short Story)
Astronaut Beckett Lawson, alone in deep space, experiences bizarre events that defy physics, including an impossible coffee shop and an enigmatic barista named Callie. As Beckett’s reality blurs, he’s forced to question everything he knows. This sci-fi thriller is a thought-provoking exploration of creativity, time, and the boundaries of possibility.
"Brewing Inspiration"
Delve deeper into The Sparklight Chronicles universe with this prequel/sequel short story that takes us inside Benjamin Franklin's search for inspiration.
These aren't just stories—they're guides for anyone facing their own crossroads. Whether your gift recipient is:
Building a business or career
Searching for their purpose
Struggling to believe in themselves
Facing seemingly impossible challenges
Each story weaves practical wisdom into engaging narratives where mysterious mentors appear (often behind coffee counters), leaving readers with tools they can apply to their own lives.
This complete digital bundle is perfect for last-minute gifting—instantly deliverable and ready to inspire from the very first page.
Special Holiday Bundle Price:
Special Holiday Bundle Price: $14.99
(Regular value: $21.96)
Give someone the gift of inspiration this Christmas. Find out more here.
P.S. This bundle offer, including the exclusive never-released story, is only available until December 25th. Don't miss the chance to give something truly meaningful this holiday season.
P.P.S. As nearly as I can tell, even if you check off “Give as a gift” in the checkout page, my store will still send the information for downloading the books to you. All you have to do is forward the email from Bookfunnel to the person to whom you wish to give the bundle. Recipients will need to have a Bookfunnel account, which is free, easy to set up, and has all kinds of benefits.
May you happily live your values and value your life! Happy holidays!