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Writings of Eugenia Lucas

More of Eugenia's novels now on Kindle!

A Tribute to Robin Williams

In Gratitude to My Inspirations

Billy Connolly Sound Bites

Youtube Channel Videos

A Youtube channel for more philosophical meanderings (and a bit of Scottish-inspired fun)

My TeePublic shop, featuring dozens of t-shirt designs

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The stories and novels included on this website are entirely fictional. Occasional mingling of historical figures with fabricated characters is not meant to imply any factual aspect to those particular plots. For those stories inspired by works of other authors (and duly noted on same), no copyright infringement is intended. No monetary profit is made from this site (the advertisements are posted by www.freeservers.com, not the website owner).

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The Adventures of Sheila Holmes

Edith Hudson-Thorne takes possession of her great-great-grandmother's property at 221 Baker Street, and offers the upstairs flat to let. The tenant who signs the lease brings a decided excitement into the widowed landlady's life in these collections. (Originally created in the early 1970's.)

• The New Generation
• Switched Up
• A Comic Affair
• Pearl from the Past
• Movies and Mayhem
• The California Cases
• Crimes, Old and New
• Crimes of Passion
• A Comic Turn
• Brief Cases
• Parliamentary Predicament
• Of Rugby and Other Games
• Cry Havoc
• Web of Deception
• Organized Crimes

*****

The Mustang Chronicles - A Series

When teenaged Mustang Duryea is sent from her parents’ Montana horse ranch to live with her grandmother in Massachusetts, a series of unusual events begins...

NOTE: The Mustang Chronicles are fictional tales, incorporating genuine historic sites and selected historic figures into the imagined plots. While all attempts have been made to recreate the real sites and people accurately, literary license has been invoked to bend the truth to serve the story.

• Highland Mustang
• Visionary Mustang
• Reckless Mustang
• Forceful Mustang
• Apprentice Mustang
• Truant Mustang
• Shocking Mustang
• Cornered Mustang
• Italian Mustang
• Medical Mustang
• Foreign Mustang
• Meddling Mustang
• Irascible Mustang
• Samurai Mustang
• Weathered Mustang
• Jockey Mustang
• Battlefield Mustang
• Scientific Mustang
• Snowbound Mustang
• Irish Mustang
• Double Mustang
• Pursued Mustang
• Marathon Mustang
• Prancing Mustang
• Pirate Mustang
• Mississippi Mustang
• Fugitive Mustang
• Mediaeval Mustang
• Traveling Mustang
• Domesticated Mustang
• Haunted Mustang
• Monstrous Mustang
• Stoned Mustang
• Musical Mustang
• Protective Mustang
• Angelic Mustang
• Forgetful Mustang
• Earthy Mustang
• Burnished Mustang
• Sainted Mustang
• Beekeeping Mustang
• Artistic Mustang
• Harmonic Mustang
• Radical Mustang
• Contender Mustang
• Vigilant Mustang
• Renaissance Mustang
• Hunted Mustang
• Recluse Mustang
• Warrior Mustang
• Subconscious Mustang
• Gambling Mustang
• Wushu Mustang
• Independent Mustang
• Engaging Mustang
• Military Mustang
• Illegal Mustang
• Judas Mustang
• Advocate Mustang
• Accidental Mustang
• Touring Mustang
• Shakespearean Mustang
• Experimental Mustang
• Metaphysical Mustang
• Heroic Mustang
• Ruffled Mustang
• Godly Mustang
• Iconic Mustang
• Mobile Mustang
• Caged Mustang
• Beguiled Mustang
• Universal Mustang
• Thieving Mustang
• Nocturnal Mustang
• Competitive Mustang
• Ebullient Mustang
• Celluloid Mustang
• Hellraiser Mustang
• Wanderlust Mustang
• Married Mustang
• Detective Mustang
• Linguistic Mustang
• Threatened Mustang
• Festive Mustang
• Homesick Mustang
• Triple Mustang
• Penultimate Mustang
• Betrayed Mustang

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Twisted Early Stories

• The Graveyard - Sylvia Askew just wants to go home at the end of her shift in the women’s department, but she finds herself dragged out to a remote graveyard by Gerald King. This stranger tells Sylvia she must restore the family estate to its rightful owners, in order for her ancestors to rest peacefully. Discovering the truth leads her to a totally different conclusion.
• The Cardinal’s Spy - Sherlock Holmes agrees to investigate a woman’s murder, only to quickly learn the woman is still alive, intent on vengeance against the men who are trying to prevent her from circulating a document which will impugn their family honor. Dr. Watson rushes in where Holmes refuses to tread, and entangles his comrade in a web of death and deceit.
• An Island Adventure - Navy Petty Officer Gina Quinn appreciates an evening out, drinking at the beach bars along Guam’s coastline. Investigating a series of robberies is part of her job, however. When Charlie Walters offers to help, she finds herself distracted from the task at hand.
• Head to Head - Aging rocker Will Powers is concerned about more than his upcoming national tour. A series of numerous, inexplicable deaths by cerebral hemorrhage seem linked to him somehow, since he’s having stabbing pains in his head and, later, visions of a woman attacking him with a knife. He sends his publicist, Debra Sparks, and friend Craig Barany ahead to Chicago to track down an old schoolmate who might know what’s happening. When she’s found in a back-alley warehouse, the answers to Will’s questions are surprising.
• As the Grim Reaper... - Gene Portnoy is an asset to the community theatre group, where he plays a variety of roles, but he’s also a nuisance when it comes to being attractive to women. The director decides to teach him a lesson, and learns one herself.
• A Man of Few Words - Rookie journalist Martina Cassle yearns for her own by-line, but doesn’t think covering the annual University of Notre Dame class reunion will rate the type of ground-breaking story she’ll need to earn such a distinction. That is, until she recognizes the reclusive Jeremiah Trelawn among the attendees. Since leaving behind a lucrative career as a lawyer, Trelawn never grants interviews to the press. Marti uses her wits to get close to the man, and the article she writes merits her more than just the coveted notoriety.
• Reckless Abandon - Suzanne gave up a less-than-honorable profession years earlier for a higher calling. When Tim shows up unexpectedly, she finds herself trapped, and his offer of big bucks doesn’t appeal to her. With no chance to escape, she makes the best of a situation she soon finds to be more than a mere weekend in a posh hotel room.
• The Ideal Man - Coroner Leslie Featherstone isn’t good with live people, so when she commits a murder and protests the man wasn’t really a human being, she finds herself in a mental facility. Psychiatrist Henry Balfour must unravel the story behind her behavior and decide if she’s sane.
• A Brush With Genius - State University student Marya Holland envies her history professor’s genius. She learns, however, that being a genius isn’t easy.
• Working Can Be Murder - Initially, warehouse manager Beth doesn’t regret returning to work after her assistant’s murder. Orders have fallen behind, and she’s more than busy. She fears, however, the killer will return to the scene of his crime.
• The Last Adventure - A widowed duchess tires of her extravagant lifestyle, setting out to discover the real world. All too soon, reality inflicts its harshness upon her.
• As All Things Grow - In the Canadian wilds, the young orphan Erin lives with her aunt and cousin. She hasn’t much of a life outside school and hard labor, until a kindly trapper takes her under his wing.

Twisted 21^st Century Stories

• Part I
  Philosophy of Success - Magda Ewell teaches a unique course at the local community college - The Philosophy of Success. She is frank in her lectures, even challenging her students to talk with a complete stranger as an assignment, in order to learn about real life. She refuses media interviews, and scorns idle chatter. Simon Ashton, however, might just convince her to change.
  Vacation in Chicago - While the country seems to be worried about the economic crisis, Dena Howard leaves on her annual vacation to Chicago, and meets two people who will change her life forever.
  Hentzau in Exile - During the three years after dashing villain Count Rupert of Hentzau fled Ruritania at the end of Anthony Hope’s The Prisoner of Zenda, before his return in Hope’s sequel, Rupert of Hentzau, how did the young nobleman plan his revenge against Rudolf Rassendyll and King Rudolf V?
  A Heart Given - Adam Jameson loves the court reporter he met while on jury duty. His distraction with a series of cases involving the deaths of child molesters, however, may threaten the relationship.
  Fate of the Truth - What happens to an anthropologist who unearths a document in the Vatican’s secret archives which could turn the world upside down?
  The Madwoman's Keeper - When Charles Wyvern leaves his job as an aeronautical engineer to become Director of Operations for an internationally renowned company, he tries to discount rumors about his new boss but, all too soon, learns the truth. Reader's Comments: "Engaging" - K.T., Chicago, Illinois
  Left in Her Wake - Jenna Carey is on a research sabbatical in Ireland, but her research is rather unique. She spends most nights in various pubs, observing the locals, until the priest in one village is charged by his congregation to get some answers. She turns the tables on the cleric and nearly costs him his position as curate.
  Truth and Beauty - Dealing with their respective deformities, two people find the truth that beautiful people can be heartless and cruel, while growing to understand each other.
  The Billet - In 16th century Scotland, a British soldier finds quarters in a house occupied by a recent orphan (inspired by Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper).
• Part II
  Ten Tigers in Rome - After the Second Vatican Council concludes, a Camaldolese monk is sent to Rome to study the changes authorized by the historic meeting. Twenty years a hermit, he learns much about the world in the 60s, as well as tyranny and the vow of obedience.
  The Masters Secret - Women are mysteriously disappearing, and newspaper editor Rachel Tinley is hot on the story, even though her boss refuses to print the articles. Chancing upon a man who might be acquainted with the missing females, she is drawn into a web of intrigue where her own strength of will is tested.
  No Middle Ground - Professor Sean Oliver, obsessed with writing, encounters an unusual student in Marca Regis, and both have to deal with their demons, in decidedly different ways. Cy Watson, another instructor at the university, is witness to it all.
  An Addict's Fate - With stage plays and novels to her credit, Cyrkle Barnes could rest on her laurels as a successful writer. Hollywood is even knocking with a possible movie deal. She has a problem, though, serious enough to threaten all she holds dear.
  To Each His Own - A stone slab, centuries old, carved with images of deities from all cultures, is found in a cavern beneath Mount Etna. A tourist attraction, when it begins to exhibit extraordinary properties, the curious don’t seem to care how many have died.
  A Week in Churchtown - Jody Bishop retired at age 50 to Ireland, hoping to enjoy the Emerald Isle’s atmosphere and people by walking the country roads and visiting tiny villages. She didn’t expect to find a very... interesting relative.
  Never Judge a Book... - Gillian Harwood hoped the book store job would earn her the extra money she needed to survive college. All too soon, she has to decide if the high wages are worth the trouble of dealing with the collection of odd patrons.
  The Last Sliver of Sanity - An artist relies upon a fragment of her mind to keep her sane as a series of weird events propel her toward the edge.
• Part III
  Lion of the Sea - Off the coast of Oregon, boats are being attacked by a sea monster, and the residents of a tiny, seaside town aren’t happy. They set out to trap the creature, causing more death and destruction - while one woman finds a more personal meaning to the events.
  The Madness of Enlightenment - When a shabby man wanders into a West Virginia jail and locks himself in a cell, the local sheriff doesn’t know what to think. Michael Tandy is convinced to leave by Emmanuel Grove,his religious superior, and takes the older man on a journey up a nearby mountainm where he has found what he calls the "truth".
  The Shirt - A fire in an Irish tourist town consumes a museum’s treasured collection, except for one item. Its fate lays in the hands of a well-known actor.
  Tangled Vines - Luc Teyssier had to steal a diamond necklace once before - to buy the land and start his beloved vineyard. When faced with the loss of what he's worked so hard to accomplish, will he return to his thieving ways? (Based on characters and situations from the movie French Kiss, written by Adam Brooks.)
  Ripples of Truth - Jeannine’s spiritual journey has led her down a unique path, and she initiates a competition to find others with similar experiences. The finalists meet and exchange their stories...
  The Phony - Chef Rod Compton is stunned when two men kidnap him from his L.A. restaurant, and even more perplexed when his sister, Beth, and her C.I.A. comrades urge him to assume the role of a dead former East German soldier at the United Nations. The prospect of being killed doesn’t appeal to him, yet Beth promises the danger is minimal. He soon discovers otherwise.
  Desperate Tactics - Psychiatrist Rupert Mason is counting the days until his contract expires on the hospital ward. Performing patient intakes is especially onerous, except when Elise Capshaw presents her case.
  Riptides of Grief - When a woman loses both her father and her husband in the course of a year, she retreats to a lakeside home to get a grip on those deaths. Will she find peace, with another man claiming ownership of the same house? Reader's Comments: "I really enjoyed it." - E.K., Rome, Italy
  Without Orders - The man who sought shelter during a storm in a church high in the Ozark Mountains is an exceptional pastor, but not in the eyes of his superiors in Little Rock.

A New Decade

• House: New Buddha - Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital is under investigation by the New Jersey State's Attorney for various violations. Gregory House, M.D., must deal with a very unusual individual sent to investigate the matter. Based on the Fox Network series "House".
• Re-Union - Tom Connors receives a strange package in the mail: a key and an address to a house he visited once as a child. After five decades, he drives north to find answers to questions he hadn’t really considered.
• Disconnected - Hannah Richter likes being housekeeper at the remote Irish manor house. She doesn’t appreciate having the space invaded by an uninvited guest...
• The Church of Equality - An impromptu gathering in a city park leads a group of people to renewed faith.
• Caribbean Exile - Beni Johnson lives alone on a Caribbean island, no thanks to her ex-husband outing her as a CIA operative. When the island’s owner, a Hollywood film maker, pays an unexpected visit, the woman must question her existence.
• Sullivan’s Legacy - Based on characters and situations created by Rowland Brown, whose story inspired the classic movie Angels With Dirty Faces. The loose ends left after Rocky Sullivan died in the electric chair bring key figures back together ten years later.
• Thrown Together - Two people, sharing a common tragedy, share their lives and grow together
• The Foundation - Five Poor Clare nuns leave their California monastery to start a new foundation in Missouri. They learn the true meaning of their vows, facing difficulties and joys along the way. For one, in particular, there are also spiritual conflicts to resolve. Reader's Comments: "Enjoyed it very much." - E.K. - Rome, Italy.

Summer, 2010

• The Side Trip - Researcher P.D. Chu flies from Hong Kong to Chicago to present his findings at a conference. When an airline pilot strike strands him in the States, he decides to visit an old friend and finds a bit of the East in the heartland of America.
• Both Sides of a Coin - What makes a person "whole"? If the brain's right/creative hemisphere holds sway, what happens when the left/logical side interferes? Can the two co-exist peacefully, without tearing Bill Corbett apart? One university researcher, intrigued by the unique interaction within his skull, tries to determine just that.
• A Whole Story - Christopher Tarrant harbors an important secret. Sharing it with Annie Morse leads him on a bizarre adventure.
• The Tenuous Line - When her friends plan a mental health intervention, an obsessed writer escapes to a local pub and meets someone far more helpful.

Autumn, 2010

• Judge, Jury, Executioner - Ziggy Edmundson got caught stealing millions by hacking into offshore bank accounts. When the FBI asks him to help them catch a cyber murderer, offering him a full pardon, he finds himself admiring the super-hacker’s genius. Reader's Comments: "I must admit I was hooked right until the end." - C.W., Syracuse, NY
• Holiday Weekend - Lea Mullin returns to her office late on Friday, to find a surprise which leads to an unusual three-day weekend.
• The Best Laid Plans... - Discharged from the Navy with bleeding ulcers, Sean Thomas embarks on a quest to learn the truth about an old parchment discovered in a broken clay urn. His journey is repeatedly interrupted by former Chief Petty Officer Cass Wright, who has troubles of her own.
• Before Wallace - In this prequel to the film Finding Forrester, community college student Allison Garner hopes for more from the 1970s than a mundane existence. She encounters a reclusive gentleman living next door to her grandparents’ Bronx apartment who makes her weekly trips more eventful.
• Family Connections - Brian MacInnes and Ryan “Rooster” Highgate, two college students going prematurely bald, spend spring break at the former’s home in San Francisco. Their plans to commit a few burglaries are thwarted by Brian’s father, who refuses to assist them, but makes the visit interesting, nonetheless.
• Through Their Eyes... - Psych grad student Zen Rafferty rejects her professors’ views of patient treatment, risking a new method of diagnosing those confined to the University Hospital’s locked ward, and putting her future on the line.
• Filling the Gap - Fire Marshal Dixon MacFarlane expects the alarm to signal the beginning of another typical day, but he finds he’s mistaken. His investigation into a blast at a local museum threatens to widen a longstanding gap, or close it forever.
• Mason’s Revenge - A sequel to The Rock, British SAS agent John Patrick Mason sets out to reclaim his life after thirty years behind bars. Believed dead by the FBI, he plans a bit of revenge for their prolonged mistreatment, as well.

Late Autumn, 2010

• The Art Teacher - An art major on a tight budget, Rose Stockton is first irritated then inspired by an unusual instructor. (A lost 90s file recreated from scratch.)
• Midnight Circuit - Racing for pink slips on an old stretch of abandoned highway, Rob Butler has acquired quite a stable of cars, except the Corvette driven by an unusual woman who makes her opponents pay to redeem their vehicles after a loss. When the two finally meet, the police may throw a wrench into the works.
• Angel Corrupted - Sid is bored, and accepts a new assignment without asking the necessary questions. When he finds himself on the outs with his superiors, he must reassess his priorities.
• Wisdom of the Fool - The three Pierce cousins wander the Colorado Rockies while visiting their grandfather. They discover a man living in an abandoned grotto, who proceeds to alter their futures with his quiet wisdom.
• Binding Ties - Barry Morrison has grown so used to having Kara Cianchetti close at hand, when she announces her intention to enter a cloistered monastery, he crumbles. The question is whether their friendship can endure the separation. (A lost 90s file recreated from scratch.)
• In Retrospect - Reflecting on long years of life on Earth, a reluctant visitor mourns her immortality.
• Cold Corner - Devin Goldthwaite has been groundskeeper at the local cemetery for 12 years, but has never encountered anything like this.
• The Indispensable One - Ryan Cavendish wants to transform his newly acquired company according to his own image. When the employees resist, he finds himself up against the one person who can help or hinder his efforts.
• Radio Ether - Cherri Gardiner accepts an internship from her City College communications professor, not realizing just how unique the broadcasts of WCRP are.
• Night of the Smiling Buddha - A maintenance worker finds an unusual intruder while searching a museum archives for an old exhibit.
• Joy Ride - Trouble erupts when an unusual venue is chosen for the President's daughter's engagement party.
• What If... - A woman creatively channels her dreams into her stories.

2011 - 2013

• Fruit of His Labors - Experimenting in his retirement, Oscar Jacobsen hopes to develop a fruit with superior nutritional properties. When an unwelcome visitor to his lab accidently eats one of his creations, he discovers a horrible truth.
• Search for Perfection - Publisher Bea Schorr appreciates perfection, all the more for never having found it in a man. Fiercely independent, she faces off with her latest author, and learns a few things about herself.
• To Sea and Back - An experienced navigator on a post-Civil War sea journey is forced into service on a submarine which has been destroying freighters. (based on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne)
• An Unfortunate Incident - Searching for their friend, two companions discover how his impulsiveness wreaked havoc during a previous visit.
• The Francis Apparitions - A simple Poor Clare nun finds herself charged with writing the autobiography of St. Francis of Assisi, dictated by the saint himself.
• The Sacrifice - Disciples of an ancient religion draft an acolyte to save the world from disaster.
• The Strange Case of the Neighborly Doctor - Lady Barbara Hennessy still lives in a crumbling London square, and relies upon a neighborly doctor to alleviate her pains. When her great-niece shows an interest in the man, however, developments take a strange turn.
• Traveler Lost - A man wakes up not knowing where he is or who he is, and must grapple with injustice and prejudice in the quest to find his identity.
• Rivalry Resurrected - Bess Early has been content to head the family business for many years. Only when old high school rival Tony Downs reappears in her life do bizarre things start happening.
• Dr. Jackson and Mr. Hart - Two men, diverse in pursuits and attitudes, find themselves under surveillance by a private investigator.
• Under the Influence - A hair stylist asserts her beliefs when a friend risks compromising his.
• The Concert Master - Violinist Geri Anstott travels 3,000 miles for a job, only to learn it's not what she expected.

Odds and Ends

• Gamer's Heaven - A bizarre accident leaves Daniel to face a serious predicament.
• The Mysterious Moniker - In an effort to rally humanity to a higher purpose, a genius relies on a woman to disseminate his propaganda.
• Truth of the Matter - A college professor performs experiments to determine if matter can be transformed to energy by sheer brain power.
• That Christmas Schtick - One woman must deal with her discomfort during the holiday season.
• The Yoga Master - When an unusual student persists in attending his class, the instructor gets curious.
• House on the Heights - A realtor accepts a home listing in an affluent neighborhood, only to learn a dark secret which will render it unsalable.
• The Hanged Man - In the old West, a man encounters a hanging, and the experience changes his life.
• Vox Populi - In the not so distant future, freedom of speech is threatened.
• Stopover - An Air Force pilot stuck overnight on Guam finds a way to pass the time.
• Facing Confusion - A priest finds himself in trouble for something he didn't do.
• The Streak - A bicyclist keeps wearing out tires, and his mechanic gets curious about the reason.
• For Want of a Smile - An unwilling prostitute gains freedom, but at a cost.
• The Joining - A woman mourns the loss of a very special man, aching to join him in the afterlife.
• A Lesson in Love - During a summer theatre festival, a director must deal with his actors' romantic entanglements.
• Intersecting Paths - A chance encounter leaves a woman doubting her faith.
• Bittersweet Seasonings - Two people in the midst of war share a bit of joy amidst the sorrow.
• The Muse - An obsessed writer tangibly manifests her muse, and must deal with the consequences.

More Odds and Ends

• Schooling the Professor - Teenaged twins get curious about their secretive upstairs neighbor.
• Wishes - A new employee creates a disturbance in a busy office.
• Strange Harmonics - Two musicians share a very special bond.
• On the Bay - A restaurant owner has to deal with unusual customers.
• Ethics Breached - When an internal auditor discovers rampant financial discrepancies, the company's owner will go to any lengths to cover up the scandal.
• Robin and the Gang of Hoods - A pastor's wife suspects the boys working for her husband are up to no good.
• The Fagin Racket - An unscrupulous man uses youngsters to deal drugs.
• Genius Diffused - The death of a prominent individual sparks a creative frenzy.
• Robot Lover - Content in her work repairing robots, a woman hires a kindred spirit to help around her shop.
• Eulogy for an Adventure - Two Trappist monks find themselves on an unexpected journey.
• Pan the Man - The director of a community theatre faces exposure of his secrets.
• Far From Home - A retired diplomat reflects on his life.
• Saved by the Comedian - After a bike collision in New York's Central Park, a man must deal with the consequences.
• The Devil in the Details - The owner of a classic video shop dreams of living the adventures she watches on film, and an unexpected visitor offers her a way to make that possible.
• Cross Country - High school teammates deal with death, exams and life.
• Full Color Illustration - A cartoonist comes to terms with various issues, thanks to a few unusual friends.
• The Major and the Miner - A Salvation Army major and a radio personality face off about the existence of God.
• A Kiss Before Dying - An actor must travel back to his roots to do an old friend a favor.
• The Journalist's Theory - A journalist debunks conspiracy theories about a prominent individual's suicide.

Resurrection and Renewal

• The Great Man Eats - Over the course of years, a returning customer becomes friends with the restaurant's owner.
• A Shock to the System - Seeking a new guitar, a woman encounters a mysterious pawn shop owner.
• The Tau Tattoo - Attempts on her life lead a woman to search for men with a unique tattoo.
• The Ghost Speeder - A Texas deputy delves into a case involving a red Mustang speeding along the highway.
• Stumbling - When a runner stumbles on her morning jog, her life takes an unexpected turn.
• The Gift of Genius - After losing her memory, a woman's husband tries to help her piece together what happened.
• The Tinkerer - A man disappears from a small town, but the citizens don't seem to care.
• Murdered Mitres - Bishops are being murdered. A priest and a diocesan employee set out to find the culprit.
• Echo of a Voice - The third generation owner of a radio station attempts to bring back classic broadcasts.
• Paradisio - While sailing around the world alone, a woman survives a hurricane and finds an uncharted island.
• The Cop and the Cowl - A Franciscan jubilarian and a soon-to-be retired police detective disagree on how to track a serial rapist.
• Family Secret - When Callie's grandmother shared part of a secret before she died, it's not until years later the woman learns the truth.
• A Right to be Angry - A woman who was abused gets her revenge on the abuser.
• A Treasured Valley - Two people discover an isolated valley and its inhabitants, intrigued by their secrets.

From the Welles of Inspiration

• A Band of Lab Rats - On assignment from Washington DC, a woman must use a bass guitar to infiltrate a research project.
• Table Stakes - High stakes are up for grabs during a very serious card game.
• The Letter in Leland's Pocket - A messenger working for RKO studios in 1940 finds himself in quite a predicament.
• The Portrait - Reclaiming the portrait with a family history has an unusual impact on its owner.
• A Faded Black Fedora - While watching her younger brother play soccer, a teen discovers a magician after her own heart.
• When Word Gets Out - Returning from overseas, a man trying to re-establish his life learns his secrets have become public fodder.
• Errant Branches - A college student working on an anthropology assignment discovers interesting facts about a particular family.
• String Theory - Trying to maintain a balance of energy in the universe meets with opposition.
• Lit by a Madman's Fire - A theatrical production is inspired by its director's eccentricities.
• Embroidered Collars - With her employer wealthy enough to have his initials embroidered on his shirt collars, a scullery maid in the early 20th century learns how the rich really live.
• Between Generations Caught - Keeping house for two bachelors in a former school creates chaos for one woman.
• White Collars - Working as chaplains in a hospital, two people's futures are altered.
• The Mail Carrier Swoon Club - In a small town, a number of maiden ladies have their caps set for the local mail carrier.
• The Reluctant Sheriff - The sheriff of a small western town faces some disturbing crises.
• Kane's Shadow - After the death of Charles Foster Kane, reporters never bothered to interview the servant who knew him better than anyone else.
• Love on Specific Terms - An author is arrested after causing serious damage to a restaurant, and the court psychiatrist must determine her fitness for trial.
• Voices - A coincidental meeting enables a woman to cast off her demons.

P.S. Thanks for the Inspiration - Part I

• The Collector - A collection agent for a loan shark pays a price for being compromised.
• Breaking the Big Story - A veteran news anchor goes under cover to expose fraud.
• Overdue Redemption - When a woman returns home to inspect the family's abandoned farmhouse, she finds an unexpected truth.
• Chaos Theory - Two men, claiming to be brothers, take a bizarre interest in a classmate (based on the TV series "21 Jump Street").
• Good for a Laugh - A woman repays an old debt, finding hope for the future.
• Tax Season Woes - A young accountant learns about life while preparing tax returns.
• Danvers Redux - A food critic angers a restaurant owner when he endorses her establishment, learning a valuable lesson (based on the film There's a Girl in My Soup).
• Bending the Rules - A community theatre production gets some publicity, but the right kind?
• From Car to Car - A man who goes through cars like water finds he can't acquire the fastest one at any price.
• Opposing Views - The owner of a small town bookstore enlightens a local occult practitioner to the truth.
• Off Balance - A woman must choose between two men to maintain her personal balance.
• The Windfall - An actor struggling to support his family receives an unusual offer.
• Yoga Positions - Two yoga teachers differ on their approach to the practice.
• A Brush with the Sea - An orphan joins Jack Sparrow's crew and discovers how dangerous a pirate's life can be (based on Pirates of the Caribbean).
• The Madness of Creativity - Jinx and Chris were childhood friends, coming together to deal with the madness of his musical creativity.

P.S. Thanks for the Inspiration - Part II

• Romance of the Pink Panther - Jacques Clouseau's life changes for the better when he meets an American art student in Paris. (With respect to Blake Edwards.)
• The Respectable Gentleman - A new arrival in town becomes fascinated by her neighbor's unusual habits.
• Up from Under - In 23rd century post-nuclear North America, survivors discover an intruder.
• Taming the Prima Donna - A television actor hunts for the creator of his sit-com, discovering her secrets.
• The Dark Dozen - A wealthy woman entertains a cadre of favorites, much to her servants' dismay.
• On Maneuvers - A young soldier gets caught up in his commanding officer's intrigues.
• Donut Holes - A fleeing bride stumbles onto Sherlock Holmes in a London bakery.
• There, and Back Again - A teenager encounters a stranger on the Imperial Beach pier and fears she can't trust him.
• The Candymaker - Secret recipes are threatened when a candymaker receives unexpected publicity.
• His Brother's Wife - A Church of Ireland priest receives an unexpected visit from his sister-in-law.
• A Sheriff's Solution - The young sheriff of a Midwestern town must solve a series of grizzly murders.
• The Hamilton Effect - A foreign exchange student decides to help his hurricane-ravaged country after seeing the Broadway musical Hamilton.
• The Gigglers - A morning radio show team goes from local to national fame, but not without problems.
• A Dancer's House - A talented dancer gets noticed - and trained - for Broadway.
• Gadgets - A young genius heads for MIT, leaving his first love behind.
• The Pharmacist's Mate - A fourth-generation pharmacist learns a few things over a cup of coffee.

P.S. Thanks for the Inspiration - Part III

• The Volatile Virtuoso - A producer promotes a talented but temperamental musician.
• Spy Gone Rogue - During World War II, trying to thwart enemy agents leads to unusual tactics.
• The Biographer - An author overcomes obstacles to complete a project and secure her freedom.
• Son of the Father - A man watches his nephew and great-nephew suffer from addiction.
• The Channel - A woman, wishing to assist the displaced dead, enlists the aid of a unwilling friend.
• Running the Gauntlet - Martial artists gather for an unusual competition.
• The Underwood Undertaking - A small town mayor is confounded by sudden, bizarre thefts involving a renowned family.
• The Infiltrator - An FBI agent sets out to gather evidence on her cousin's significant other.
• Manor Intrigues - A British Lord opens his house to a disreputable sort to pay his taxes after World War II, much to the disdain of his servants.
• Integrity, Always - In the 1960s, a professional fortune teller maintains his integrity, while his assistant employs unscrupulous methods to bilk the clients.
• Galatea's Revenge - A Dublin theater critic sets out to win a bet proving men and women can be equals, both off and on the stage.
• Consequences of an Impulse - An impulsive marriage creates complication for two researchers.
• The Upper Hand - The crew of a demolition company finds some interesting items while executing a contract.
• Wife, Pro Tem - Posing as a husband with a young bride, Sir Denis Nayland Smith sets out to thwart Fu Manchu's daughter from killing her father. (With respect to Sax Rohmer.)
• Tau Rosa - While sight-seeing on the Navajo Reservation, college students find a mutilated dead body, and their chaperone may know who it is.

P.S. Thanks for the Inspiration - Part IV

• Dispelling Dark Shadows - A scientist delves into the origins of psychic vampirism and reaches a startling conclusion (With thanks to M*A*S*H and Dark Shadows.)
• Guitar Road - On a walking tour of Ireland, a traveler gets sidetracked.
• Trippin' - An experienced psychologist must determine if a patient is being honest about his malady.
• The Addict and the Savior - A television news reporter attempts to deal with her addiction.
• From Rumor Sprung - After rumors about her father prove to be true, a girl takes drastic action.
• Relative Madness - A woman allows herself to be distracted from her writing, only to stumble on a portal to another time.
• The Priest, the Vampire and the Virgin - When dozens of women are reported missing in Seattle, a college student chances upon the cause.
• Connected - A woman struggles with the consequences of her "a-ha" moment.
• The Priory Secret - Selling a former Benedictine priory turns into a challenge for a diocesan official.

P.S. Thanks for the Inspiration - Part V

• The Stowaway - A British sailor's sister causes trouble aboard his ship.
• Adrenaline Rush - In pursuit of his own personal "high", a career thief makes a serious mistake.
• The Fine Line - A police officer learns a close friend is suspected of murder.
• Secrets of the Music - A woman touring Scotland discovers music in an unexpected place.
• Tracking the Truth - Adele, a waitress in a roadside diner, recalls a one-night stand with an intriguing traveler, and the twin sons from that union who grew up to be quite special.
• Dichotomy - A woman reflects on the irony of being an atheist while working for religious institutions.
• Long Kept Secrets - A reporter investigates the fate of an old friend.
• Changing Times - Returning to college after many years away, a woman encounters treatment suited to a past era.
• The Cool Article - Inspired by a cop with unrivaled sophistication, an orphan applies to the police department.
• Sweet Rides - Two classic car owners must untangle the facts behind an old accident.
• Unkillable - An aging assassin faces deals with criminals in his own unique way.
• The Back Door - After an exhausting board meeting, a woman stumbles upon an unusual object while walking to her hotel.
• The Vision - While assessing the value of a former monastery, a woman experiences a unique vision.
• The Intern Experience - A photography intern learns valuable lessons during her semester in Hollywood.
• Come the Rains - Caught by the rains during her travels in Ireland, a woman discovers one man to whom honor still matters.

Reed-able

• In Camera - A judge must recuse himself when he's scheduled to preside over the trial of an old friend's daughter.
• The Ward - In search of her runaway brother, a young woman is kidnaped by pirates.
• Halloween Homecoming - On the anniversary of his father's death, an architect receives a bizarre warning.
• Integrity in a Time of Scandal - A reporter must stand up to her publisher, who also happens to be her brother, to break a key news story.
• The Prim Assassin - An assassin's younger sister wants to get into the family business (based on The Assassination Bureau).
• The Animal - An escaped convict wreaks havoc as he flees prison.
• The Prophet - A psychologist tries to help a woman whose fiction is becoming reality.
• The Actor and the Hard Ass - A bodyguard must keep an actor out of trouble while on location.
• Natural Instincts - A woman escapes a life of prostitution in London, hoping to create a better life for herself.
• The Bishop's Folly - In the 18th century, an ambitious slacker worms his way into a position of authority, abusing his power.
• The Cattle Baron and the Kid - An old west cattle baron meets his comeuppance at the hands of his own offspring.
• Egomaniacs - A government operative pursues a South American drug lord.
• The Pastry Chef - In service to a wealthy household, a pastry chef hints a chocolate thief.
• Random Selection - A tourist tries to discover why she's being followed.
• Blind Vengeance - A woman, blinded in the car accident that killed her father, swears retribution on the man responsible.
• The Stages of Man - Across the centuries, a woman keeps her father's business afloat while a hospital's medical staff cannot figure out why a comatose patient suffers periodic convulsions.
• The Isolationist - The son of a native tribal chief is exiled by his half-brother.
• The Gardener of Broome Hall - Assigned to provide incriminating photos of a subject, the reporter endures a strange interview.
• Too Much Drama - A former Broadway actor struggles with directing a community theater melodrama.
• The Pipe Organ's Secret - A Chicago businesswoman searches for her twin sister.
• The Reluctant Vampire - When his territory for sanguine nourishment is violated, a vampire takes action.
• Jaded - Near to giving up on his search for a balanced, mature woman, a man is confronted by his past.
• The Toasting Glass - A man is forced to participate in a bizarre initiation ritual at a secret club.

Caught Between Extremes

• Tortured Mind, Tortured Body - Two people who love horses join forces to ease their personal anguish.
• Double Lives - In the early 19th century, the double lives of two citizens in a British seaside village threaten to cause a serious scandal.
• A Stroll Along a Country Lane - Old friends keep their tradition of spending their vacation together through the years.
• Fixing Mr. Nightingale - A newspaper editor begins to worry when the boss' behavior drastically changes.
• A Mechanic's Passion - A mechanic earns the trust of a new customer after his Studebaker breaks down.
• A Soldier's Duty - A British soldier assigned to guard the country's secrets finds himself in a precarious situation.
• The Nun Job - A hitman is contracted to eliminate a young nun who runs a homeless shelter.
• The Question, the Answer and the Consequences - A aging man must make a live-changing decision.
• Somebody Always Dies - A professor must deal with a student having issues in his class.
• The Chocoholic's Chase - Two high school friends take an overdue trip to Europe, with one having a hidden agenda.
• Sex and the Shotgun - When a university executive brings disgrace on a freshman, her sister plots revenge.
• An Elevated Viewpoint - Over time, an individual's viewpoint changes about humanity.
• From the Depths - An impulsively helpful woman discovers drawbacks to her kindness.
• Down the Rabbit Hole - A university professor researches the links between sex, violence and death.

From the Wilderness

• Washed Up/Best Laid Plans/Long Before the Storm - An incident on a small island off Ireland's west coast from different perspectives.
• A Random Stop - A Metropolitan Police detective inspector stops at a church to pray after his shift, discovering a tragedy.
• The Angry Scotsman - An Edinburgh bar has an interesting history.
• Off the Grid - When a location scout's Mustang stalls while lost in the mountains, he learns to deal with being off the grid.
• The Cardiologist's Daughter - A detective tries to convince a co-worker to seek treatment for a heart condition.
• Not Another Christmas Death - When a priest learns his cousin is in hospital, he must deal with her skepticism about health care.
• Hanging Around - A woman contemplates the workings of the human brain during the ultimate crisis of her life.
• SNAFU - Three bumbling escorts for the deceased discover their supervisor's misdeeds.
• A Scot By Any Other Name... - An editor ropes a journalist on an exchange program into a dangerous situation.
• Loud - A man who wears distinctive clothes attracts attention.
• Skunk Fight - Going up against her hated step-father, a woman must stand up for what she believes.
• A Dickens of a Mess - Frustrated by the conclusion of Dickens' A Christmas Carol a woman sets out to reform a local Scrooge.
• To Holmes, With Misgivings - A devotee of Sherlock Holmes reflects on the difficulty of emulating the fictional detective.
• Dueling Pianists - Best friends face tension when their talents garner them serious attention.

Tapping the Scottish - Part I

• Billy and the Witch - A Glaswegian welder receives a token and a message predicting his dreams will be fulfilled from a mysterious source.
• An Unsavory Influence - A girl decides to emulate the behavior of her father's business partner.
• Three Way Split - An MRI malfunction causes serious issues for a patient.
• Language Barrier - An accident while investigating dialects of the English language leads a scholar even deeper into the topic.
• Temptation and Its Consequences - Deprived of life's basic advantages, a woman grabs the chance to enjoy herself, even if only temporarily.
• Hip-Hip-Hippie - An itinerant guitarist partners with another musician, risking his independence.
• Objective: Ice Cream - A student-teacher in the 1960s finds herself drawn to a free spirit.
• The Best Medicine - While gathering data in support of new mental health treatments, a professor stumbles upon a situation that puts her endangers her research.
• Paying the Price - Making mistakes is a part of life for a video producer.
• A Baffling Tragedy - When more than two dozen people die in a Chicago hospital, a police detective sets out to learn the cause.
• Quick Stop - Two women pause their travels for dinner in a Connemara pub, with unexpected results.
• Rebel Without a Sword - One individual's inflexible beliefs cause difficulties for others.
• Seasoned Wood - A nurse practitioner finds herself tempted when a stroke survivor needs assistance.
• Once Upon a Graveyard - Seeking her roots, a woman involves a stranger in her search.
• The Neighbors - In an era when residents of a block were lucky to know each others' names, a strange situation develops that has the neighbors talking.
• Thoughts of an Aging Hippie - An elder shares tidbits of wisdom over a game of chess.
• Sci-Fi Lament - A game show involving time travel has unexpected consequences for the contestants.
• Death Sentence - A woman diagnosed with a terminal condition decides to how to spend her final days.

Tapping the Scottish - Part II

• A Christmas Crime - A bizarre Christmas Eve robbery inspires and unnerves a newspaper reporter.
• Manufactured Sanctity - Keeping a popular televangelist in the news poses serious challenges.
• Bedtime Stories - A father entertains his young daughter with tales of his past.
• The Mad Monk - A Trappist must deal with a profound experience while on retreat in a hermitage.
• For the Love of Chocolate - A trained chef ventures into the world of making chocolates and discovers complications.
• The Last Angel in Connemara - Assigned to western Ireland, an angel reflects on his working conditions.
• A Fighting Spirit - Intervening in a confrontation, a public relations executive hopes to shield a celebrity from bad publicity.
• A Real Charmer - A gentleman raises the local police chief's suspicions by his unusual behavior.
• Where the Ragged People Go - Responsible for raising her four younger brothers, a woman compromises her ethics to escape homelessness.
• Watching Heather Grow - In the late 1800s, a young Irishman faces the challenge of raising a child on his own.
• Through the Lens - A photographer on a political beat finds her camera captures the health deterioration of her subjects.
• Christmas Patrol - A police detective covering shifts on Christmas encounters a wandering stranger.
• Primal Urge - A man considers the dynamic between male and female.
• Unexpected Excitement - In the midst of the Vietman conflict, a woman tries to find comfort in an annual parade.
• Three Wise Men - A young woman benefits from the kindness and influence of three singular men in her life.
• Under the Influence - After taking over her father's barber shop, a woman is conflicted about her career choice.
• A Slight Detour - The archivist at a historic Irish castle charms his coworkers.
• Slow Torture - Three sons of a rich Scot try to drive their father insane.
• The Essence of Life - Running a foundation that helps creative types fulfill their potential, a woman muddles through the details of her daily routine.
• Smoker's Corner - Cigar smokers are surprised when a woman joins their company.
• Used Goods - A man realizes he's misjudged his friends when joining them on the job.
• Into No-Man's Land - Young men frequenting a Glasgow dance hall in the late 1950s are fascinated by a singular woman.
• Kissed by an Angel - A frightened child finds comfort in a simple gesture.
• Faire Play - At the annual renaissance faire, a fortune teller probes a woman's angst.

Tapping the Scottish - Part III

• Spin - A paralegal is suspected of murder after delivering a summons.
• Sleeping Targets - A rash of heinous murders prompts a woman to use her specialized knowledge to track the killer.
• Time Bomb - The vice president of a marketing firm is concerned about the behavior of one of his employees.
• Rude Awakening - A sound sleeper finds a surprise when he wakes one Saturday.
• A Late Stroll - A teenager reflects on the bully terrorizing her neighborhood.
• Stoners - A couple of stoners wind up in a precarious situation.
• In Reality... - Aiming for a college education, a widow must balance all facets of her life.
• Behaving Accordingly - Seeing humans as little better than animals causes conflict between a photographer and her coworkers.
• Not by Choice - Creative passions overpower a woman.
• The Silver Skull - Repressed memories of a silver ring lead a woman to search for her parents' murderer.
• Reprobates - Two incorrigible pub patrons tend a publican after a nasty fall, with unforeseen consequences.
• Beginning of the End - An unsettling revelation occurs after a chance collision.
• The Session - An eccentric woman must be ruled sane before she can inherit her father's wealth.
• Late Shift Radio - The manager of a student radio station tires of subbing for absent DJs.
• The Tattooist - A painter ventures into a career as a tattoo artist, inspired by a singular model.
• Afternoons in the Greenhouse - Retirees meet weekly for friendly competition.
• The Sanatorium Papers - While performing an inventory on an estate, the appraiser discovers a secret room and accounts of past horrors.
• A Good Woman - Dedicated to serving others, the director of a homeless shelter objects when the media wishes to scrutinize her program.
• Positivity - Friends receiving terminal diagnoses on the same day resolve to make the best of their remaining time.
• The Green Vampire - Inspired by a news story, an heiress sponsors a program for human trafficking survivors, distracted from her purpose by an old friend of the family.
• Chivalry Endures - A shopkeeper's life is brightened by a unique relationship with a regular customer.
• Closing Argument - Against her lawyer's wishes, a defendant delivers the closing argument in his case, hoping to score an acquittal.

*****

The Fisherman's Mandate - A Novel

In this sequel to Morris L. West's The Shoes of the Fisherman, a second Kiril attempts to follow in the footsteps of his mentor and friend, Kiril Lakota, thirty years after the Russian Pope's death. He finds it is not easy to reform a Church set in its ways...

Reader's Comments:
"The rapidity with which I finished it once started is a good indication of how it retained my interest..." - E.K. - Rome, Italy.

• Part I
• Part II

The Fisherman's Shadow - A Novel

Eight years after The Fisherman’s Mandate, Pope Kiril’s aide and confidant, Harshil Patel, finds himself drafted by Kiril’s great-nephew, Jim Damien, now an Interpol agent. The two travel to Chicago to save relatives from human trafficking, only to discover a complex criminal enterprise headed by an unlikely boss.

Reader's Comments:
"Your most complex so far. Certainly held my interest." - E.K. - Rome, Italy.

• Part I
• Part II

The Fisherman's Legacy - A Novel

Two years after The Fisherman's Shadow, Harshil Patel returns to Rome at the behest of Mumbai's archbishop. The true reason for the journey quickly becomes clear, to the Franciscan's disappointment. A bittersweet reunion with members of the Damien clan escalates the danger and turmoil to a scandalous conclusion.

• Part I
• Part II

The Regis Dilemma - A Novel based on the Star Wars Saga

Originally written in 1980, this tale takes place between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Marca Regis hails from an isolated planet which has never heard of the Empire, or the technology so highly prized by the Rebels. She must learn to "blend in", or risk death. A pacifist, her hardest lesson is understanding why the Alliance and the Imperial forces are at war... (Permission not granted for use of the characters by the great George Lucas - apologies if offense is given, no copyright infringement intended.)

*****

Eugenia Lucas spent over 50 years writing novels, short stories, and plays, in addition to working as a journalist and in a variety of professional capacities. Living most of her life in South Bend, Indiana, she traveled extensively, finding inspiration in everyday people and events, classic authors, and eccentric actors from the past and present.

Her deliberately off-beat plots reflected a world most people prefer not to acknowledge, ignoring what publishers considered "commercial". Environmentally conscious, she originally posted her works on the Internet, free of charge, where they will remain available.

*****

All Contents of this Website - Copyright 2007-2026, Eugenia Lucas.
Unauthorized use prohibited.