{"title":"Novellas","description":"\u003cp\u003eThese include longer stories for those who would enrich themselves with momentum in their reading pleasure.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"decisive","title":"Novella I - Decisive","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAvailable Formats: EPUB and AZW3.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Formatting and display may vary between reading devices and applications. All consumer feedback is appreciated.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDecisive — Novella I\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDecisive\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e follows fourteen-year-old Samuel Clementine, a bright and imaginative young man growing up in rural Saskatchewan. Following his parents' divorce, Sam finds himself living under his father's increasingly demanding expectations, with little opportunity to enjoy the childhood he once knew.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHis closest friendship with Harry, his enthusiasm for writing, and his determination to succeed at school provide welcome escapes from a difficult home life. But when an unexpected intervention leads his father to reconsider their circumstances, Sam learns that his estranged mother has returned—and that she has an entirely different future waiting for him.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMoving to a sprawling ranch, Sam encounters a world of unfamiliar comforts, surprising family relationships, new responsibilities, and opportunities that once existed only in his imagination. As he gradually reconnects with his mother, he discovers that the changes surrounding him extend well beyond a new home or financial security.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThrough friendship, family reconciliation, personal growth, and the challenges of adapting to unexpected good fortune, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDecisive\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e explores what can happen when a young person's circumstances finally begin to support his potential.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDecisive — Story Overview\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt its heart, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDecisive\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a coming-of-age story about rebuilding family connections and discovering the possibilities that emerge when expectations change.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSam's journey unfolds through six chapters:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col start=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHistory\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — Sam navigates his father's demanding household, finding comfort in school, creative writing, and his friendship with Harry as unexpected events begin to change his circumstances.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBeginnings\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — A difficult farewell introduces Sam to his mother's new life, where a ranch, unexpected financial security, and a very different household challenge everything he has grown accustomed to.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRelations\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — As Sam settles into his new surroundings, he encounters important people in his mother's life and begins understanding the relationships, responsibilities, and plans shaping his future.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGenealogy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — Family histories, unexpected connections, and experiences beyond Sam's familiar world broaden his understanding of his relatives and the life now opening before him.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInvolvement\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — New activities, responsibilities, and shared experiences gradually transform Sam's place within his family and the ranching community.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDecisive\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — As the opportunities surrounding Sam continue to unfold, friendship, education, and family decisions bring his journey toward a future neither he nor Harry could once have imagined.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDecisive\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a story of second chances—not simply for a young man, but for the family and friendships surrounding him. It explores how personal development, affection, and the freedom to discover one's interests can shape the direction of an entire life.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThank you for supporting independent creative work and helping Held Stories Ltd. grow. It was a pleasure bringing \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDecisive\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e to publication, and I hope you'll enjoy accompanying Sam and Harry as their lives unfold.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI look forward to sharing more stories with you in future Held Stories publications!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Held Stories Ltd.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67714144829485,"sku":null,"price":6.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0699\/4522\/9357\/files\/Held_Stories_Logo.png?v=1769012074"},{"product_id":"frantic","title":"Novella II - Frantic","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAvailable Formats: EPUB and AZW3.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Formatting and display may vary between reading devices and applications. All consumer feedback is appreciated.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrantic — Novella II\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrantic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e follows Roger O'Neill, a remarkably capable young soldier whose exceptional performance during military service brings him to the attention of an elite special-operations program. Selected for an extraordinary opportunity, Roger enters a world where conventional military expectations give way to demanding training, unconventional leadership, and responsibilities far beyond those of an ordinary soldier.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUnder the guidance of Colonel Radcliffe, Roger discovers a training environment designed to develop exceptional physical endurance, intellectual versatility, adaptability, and battlefield judgment. As his abilities develop, he encounters seasoned soldiers whose experience, personalities, and extraordinary capabilities challenge him to become something more than an accomplished individual.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJoining forces with Radcliffe, MacLeod, and Tine, Roger becomes part of an increasingly formidable military team. Their shared training, competitive enthusiasm, irreverent humour, and growing confidence in one another establish the foundations for a unit capable of undertaking missions that conventional forces could scarcely imagine.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs the team progresses through specialized training grounds and deployments across the world, their responsibilities expand alongside the dangers they face. New personnel, unfamiliar environments, unpredictable adversaries, and increasingly complex operations continually test their abilities to work together, exercise independent judgment, and survive circumstances in which failure carries devastating consequences.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThrough extraordinary military accomplishments, friendship, leadership, sacrifice, and the consequences of a life devoted to combat, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrantic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e explores what becomes possible when exceptional individuals learn to function as an extraordinary team—and what remains of their accomplishments when military service eventually gives way to another chapter of life.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrantic — Story Overview\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt its heart, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrantic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a military special-operations adventure exploring the development of extraordinary capabilities, the bonds formed through shared adversity, and the responsibilities of leadership in circumstances where survival is never guaranteed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRoger's journey unfolds through six chapters and an epilogue:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col start=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAscension\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — Roger's exceptional abilities earn him selection for a demanding special-operations training program. Under Colonel Radcliffe's guidance, he encounters increasingly challenging physical and intellectual expectations while discovering the extraordinary opportunities awaiting him.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUnited\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — As Roger advances through his training, experienced military specialists join him in a developing team. Competitive exercises, personal challenges, shared experiences, and increasingly demanding expectations begin transforming accomplished individuals into a cohesive fighting unit.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSixer\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — Newly established as Team Six, Roger and his companions encounter unconventional instructors, unfamiliar training environments, and formidable tactical challenges. Their growing unity and ability to adapt are tested as they prepare for increasingly consequential assignments.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDeployed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — The team undertakes demanding operations across unfamiliar territories, confronting dangerous adversaries and unpredictable battlefield conditions. Their developing reputation brings greater responsibilities while exposing the personal and operational costs of their extraordinary military service.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUpper\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — New personnel, advanced training, and increasingly complex assignments push the team toward another level of operational capability. As their responsibilities grow, the soldiers must continually refine their coordination, leadership, and judgment while confronting situations that challenge even their exceptional abilities.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLegacy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — The team's evolving role brings new operational demands, difficult decisions, changes in personnel, and experiences that test the bonds established throughout their service. As their journey progresses, questions of sacrifice, loyalty, survival, and the lasting significance of their accomplishments become increasingly important.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEpilogue\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e — As military careers reach their conclusions, the surviving members confront the possibilities and challenges of life beyond active service, carrying their experiences, friendships, and accumulated knowledge into an unexpected future.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrantic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a story of extraordinary capability and the responsibilities accompanying it. Through unconventional training, battlefield adversity, camaraderie, personal sacrifice, and the enduring influence of shared experiences, it explores what exceptional people might accomplish when their individual strengths become part of something greater.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSet within the author's interpretation of Parallel Universe Theory, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrantic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e presents an alternative military reality in which training, technology, command structures, and human capabilities extend beyond familiar historical conventions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThank you for supporting independent creative work and helping Held Stories Ltd. grow. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrantic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was a particularly demanding story to bring to completion, and I hope you'll enjoy accompanying Roger O'Neill and his companions through their extraordinary experiences.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI welcome constructive reader feedback and look forward to sharing more stories with you in future Held Stories publications!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Held Stories Ltd.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67725809418285,"sku":null,"price":6.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0699\/4522\/9357\/files\/Held_Stories_Logo.png?v=1769012074"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0699\/4522\/9357\/collections\/Held_Stories_Logo_d7648b55-f109-4c0e-900b-0a8be5f9235f.png?v=1792622883","url":"https:\/\/heldstories.org\/collections\/novellas.oembed","provider":"Held Stories","version":"1.0","type":"link"}