Titles of my children's short stories & their inspiration (click here)

Short Story Archive  

1. Tinker’s Bell  - - - Inspired by the rescue of a little sparrow  

 2. The Littlest Coyote - - -Inspired by a coyote sighting

3. The 45° Promise - - -Inspired by two raccoons.

4. The Ballad of the Dancing Bear - - -Inspired by a magazine ad for the Dancing Bear Resort in - Aspen, Colo 

5. The Sleepy Cat’s Treasure Hunt - - -Inspired by my cat Oreo sleeping on a pillow close to my head

6. Mutiny on Dog Island - - -Inspired by events that occurred in “The Sleepy Cat’sTreasure Hunt

7.  Moon Child  - - -Inspired by the line . . . like so many broken toys.

8. Pretending to Fly - - - Inspired by a lady playing "bouncy-bouncy" with her baby in Starbucks.        

9. The Holemakers - - - I forgot what inspired me to write what might be my favorite story so far. (This became a Picture Book)        

10. A Happy Smell - - - A skunk that really likes people and his dilemma

11. A Doughnut or a Doll  - - -This really happened to me at Starbucks, Christmas 2007.

12. Gravity Never Sleeps - - -The trouble that some Colorado kids got into during the summer of 1968.

13. One Un-Friendly Knight - - -My first attempt at flash fiction.

14. The Shipwreck of the HMS Fairy Tale This story inspired me to write my Middle Grade novel: Beyond Danger & Adventure. I wrote it in July of 2008.

15. Flying in Circles (Feathers of a Wing Fly Together) Imspired by a one winged piece of butterfly art attached to the front of my mother’s house.

16. The Story Train - - - Inspired by an Aspen Music Arts interview with David Crosby of CSN&Y.   

17. The Imaginary Zoo - - - Inspired by Jackson Crawford. (3 yrs. old) who now lives in my mother's previous home.

18. Buster the Flying Moose - - - This one  came out of the air. (Just like the Flying Moose)

19. The Happy-Music Machine - - - Aka: Ice Cream Melodies. I saw a broken down Ice Cream Truck on my way to writing. (Note: I only write in public places)

20. Fireball the Ferret - - - Inspired by the name of the pet ferret my buddy, Shane Harris, used to have.

21. The Sleepy Beauty’s Secret - - - Inspired by my adopted daughter, Daphne, as a bedtime story for her daughter, Aurora Rose.

22. Swing Jumper - - - Inspired by the "Second chance dog rescue program".

23. Pete the Polar Bear  (Chilly Bear) - - -Inspired by a mental picture of a little polar bear.

24. Hug A Tiger - - - Inspired by a NPR report on the real threat of Tiger extinction.

25. The Lost and Found Stories - - - Original title (The Red Notebook) Inspired by a sketch of Doodle (my dog) and some text

26. The Big Silver Screen - - - Inspired by nine year old Jackson, the main character in my: Imaginary Zoo Series. (Some day to become a Chapter Book)

27. The Dogs That Forgot How To Play- - - Inspired by Jackson.

28. Floating on Air - - - Inspired by  Jackson. 

29. A Hop, Skip & Jump - -  - Hopper and Jumper. Inspired by learning the difference between toads and frogs.

30.The Circus Parade - - - Inspired by watching a sleeping dog twitch.

31.I Like My Ears - - - Inspired by some name-calling kids in Jr. High.

32. Rescue at the Cold Creek - - - Inspired by a morning devotion during a visit to my mom  in Greeley.. “He held the lamb in his arms."         

33. A Child’s Universe  Formerly:  (Lost and Found in Wonderland)   Inspired by the word Wonderland.

34. The Singing Fish - - - Inspired by the name mentioned on the radio

35. Mud Puddle Prints  - - - Inspired by a mud puddle on Sunset road.

36. Warm Friends - - - Inspired by image of animals skating.

 37. Abigail Dreams of Horsehair and Strings - - -  Inspired by the words: "There once was a blind fiddle player who could see into the hearts of children."

38.  The Day the Clowns Came to Town - - - Inspired by the first time I got lost at the Colorado State Fair at the age of nine.

39. Go Banana Go - - - Inspired by the: Go Bananas Comedy Club in Ohio

40. Tomato Tracks  - - - Inspired by the coming spring and time to plant a garden

41. Gobs of Real Whipped Cream - - - Inspired by that silly old Muse of mine.

42. Bare Feet For Me - - - Inspired by the idea - Jackson explores a cave with his animal friends.

43. Pink and Blue Sidewalks - - - Inspired by the title.

44. Looking for Rudolf’s Nose  - - - Inspired by a comment a friend made about Christmas.

45. The Readalouds - - - Inspired by a silly name for a family.

46. Bobbie and the Pirates . . . Inspired by a comment a woman made about her son.

47. A Wake Up Story  - - - Inspired by the thought: "Why don’t we have –‘wake up  stories”

48. The Hole in the Ground - - -Inspired by the huge hole in the ground, at El Jebel, CO,  I never got to explore.

49. A Dog’s Best friend - - - Inspired by dog riddles.

50. My Pet Peevey  (The Wonderful Fire Hydrant) Inspired by the term: pet peeve.

51. The Face on the Mailbox  - - - Inspired by nature.

52. I Want a Haircut - - - Inspired by a four year old boy crying at the hair cutters, “I want a haircut."  He didn’t get one.

53. Gilbert’s Wild Hair - - - Inspired by a roadside Diner.

54. Day Dreamy Vegetables  - - - (Hush, and Eat Your Spinach) Inspired by a line in John Gardners book on writing fiction. 

55. Happy Sad - Sad Happy Inspired by: The Friendly Book. 1954.  A rhyming litany of  Glad people, Sad people, Slow people, Mad people etc.

56. A Nose for Food  - - - Inspired by sitting in the meadow at Big Trees CA. State Park.

57. The Wonder Ship  -  -  - Inspired by an advertisement for the new: Disney cruise ship.

58. The Cereal Box Kids - - - Inspired by the words, The Cracker Box Kids.

59. Danger Mouse Meets Shadow Cat - - - Inspired by the words, Danger Mouse. Possible series.

60. The Big Hurry - - - Inspired by the title.

61. Super Speedy Chasers - - - Inspired by Larry, my first college room-mate. 

62. A Home made Library - - - Inspired by the phrase: The lost books that live under the bed.

63. Just As Nice As a Dragon - - - Inspired by a magazine article: The unknown land was called: The Land of  the Dragons.

64. Welcome to the Food Zoo - - - Inspired by the term Food Zoo.

65. The Tickle Treasure Map - - - Inspired by “Story Jr.”, a different story title yet to be written.

66. Playing Catch Up - - - Inspired by the words: Floating Utensils (This is a rebus)

67. The Monkey on the Moon - - - Inspired by wanting a telescope for Christmas when I was a kid. (Never got one)

68. The Rescue Raccoon - - - Inspired by a giraffe’s head stuck in a tree

69. Chunky Monkey - - - Inspired by a smile and a frown living together in a box.

70. The Alphabet Race - - - Inspired by the words: The Alphabet Party. 

71. Little Muddy Creek  - - - Inspired by the name of a real creek in Oregon.

72.  Animal Games - - -Inspired by The Enchanted Forest - theme park in Oregon.

73. High Flying Friend - - - Inspired by boy scout camp - compass training.

74. The Sticky Icky Slide - - -  Inspired by a trip to the park with Jo Jo on 6-20-2011

75. Jump Off Joe - - - Inspired by another name of a real creek in Oregon

76. A Happy Place - - - Inspired by happy thoughts.

77. Fat Dog and Short Cake - - - Inspired by a cartoon of a Fat Dog with a cat on his back.

78. Buggy Wars - - - Inspired by lady with a side-by-side baby buggy tring to get it through the door at Starbucks

79. I Can’t Stand It - - - Inspired by my daughter Sarah's - Ark story idea

80. Poof Goes The Smoke - - -(The Terrible Ninja) Inspired by the phrase: "Terrible it is - what passes for a ninja these days.“

81. The Finish Line - - - Inspired by a true story of the Special Olympics

82. The Tiny Giant - - -Inspired by the real  David and Goliath.

83. Slow Joey vs Speedy Jake - - - Inspired by (who knows what)

84. Louie and the Sea monster - - - Inspired by a woman at Panera bread who told me her son loved star fish. I wrote this for her son.

85. Playing Ketchup - - - Inspired by watching the world with wonder.

86. Bottle of Tears - - - Inspired by Cheryl ‘s bible lesson. 

87. Giant Lies - - - Inspired by: All the white lies I told as a child.

88. You Know What - - - Inspired by a grandma reading a story to a little boy

89. Tall Teeth - - - Not at all inspired by a trip to the dentist.

90. You Should Never - - - Hey! - You have to read this one to find out. 

91. The Alphabet Solution - - - Inspired by those wonderful 26 letters. (They know who they are)

92. Mister Trouble - - - Inspired by Regis Philbin's nickname for his grandson.

93. The Blue House with White Shutters - - - Inspired by a blue house with white shutters. (just kidding)

94. Stinky Feet - - - Inspired by all the animals who prefer to wear shoes. 

95. Wobbly Wobbly Wheels - - - Inspired by a similar 3-word title in: Highlights For Kids magazine. (Nope. It didnt get published)

96. The Great Alphabet Race - - - Take another bow, you wild and crazy - 26 letters of the alphabet.

. . . I stopped writing short stories and started writing my 1st novel on: Feb. 1st, 2012.