Author:
Alex McGilvery has been reading since before he can remember, and writing almost that long. He has published 18 books and is author and editor at his imprint Celticfrog Publishing. He lives in Kamloops with his dog and the stories clawing their way out of his head.

The Heronmaster includes the title story, which is the tale of Leaper who grows from a tadpole to become a legend. Murder in the Woods is a noir style mystery with animals rather than people. Nick, a young wolf, is forced to seek out the answer to Bob the moose's disappearance. Sammy is a the story of a young man on a cruise with his new car, the elderly man he takes with him and a red balloon. Madison's Meteor tells the story of Frank Madison, a farmer outside of the town of Madison which has fallen on hard times with the closing of the plant - the main employer for the town. Frank finds a meteor one night and changes start in both him and the town.

The Heronmaster

"At least we've got all the hard work of packing done. Remember that Jeb, last night you leave nothing but your tent and sleeping bag on shore." Hank gave up on the bird and opened another beer.


"What about our guns?" Jeb gnawed at a wing tip to disguise his hands shaking.


"Nothing to shoot here." Hank slapped him on the back. We keep one in case a bear comes by.  


"Finish your beers and hit the sack." Dan stretched and spat into the fire then leaned his loaded gun against a tree outside the tent. Soon the camp was quiet except for the snapping of the fire and the howling of the wolves.


The moon sank into the trees before the howl ended. Nick told the pack about finding Jen's remains. He told them about his conversation with Irma about the Lost Ones.


"You will not hunt the Lost Ones," the Alpha said, "If we kill them, others will come with traps and poisons to hunt us. They kill without thought, but they don't allow others to hunt them.


Chapter 23: Murder in the Woods, Part 9