Writings

RichTales

Here are exerpts from a few of Rich's books:

from Saltwater Summer
It was getting darker as the sun quickly neared the cliff above the harbor on the western horizon. We knew something drastic would have to be done.

"I'm going to try and swim to shore and get help." Steve spoke as he was taking his jeans off again.

"Steve, don't be silly. If anyone is going to swim to shore it should be me. I'm the best swimmer." Jane began taking her clothes off again as she was speaking.

"Jane, do you think even you should try it?" Nancy looked at her friend very seriously.

"If I'm going to make it I need to hurry. We're going further out every minute. I think I can make it and it's going to get dark soon.

It was getting dark fast. Not only from the sun going down but also from the clouds that were coming in rapidly from the east.

Jane finished taking off her sweats, put her life jacket back on, and dove in. I couldn't believe how brave she was being. It was about two or three hundred yards to shore in water that had waves over three feet high. We kept trying to start the motor and took turns rowing the best we could. We watched Jane as each wave brought her up to the top and then as she disappeared again between them. Finally she was completely out of sight and we hoped for the best, but feared the worst for her. Our fears for Jane made us forget our own predicament, which was bad at best.

Have you ever dreamed of being lost with someone you've secretly admired? But I'll bet you never thought about the consequences of a real survival situation. Well, Saltwater Summer, not only throws you into the extreme struggle against an unforgiving nature, it delves into the relationships of the young people just trying to stay alive.

click here for the book!
http://www.lulu.com/content/3667377

Or, to read online for free go to;

http://issuu.com/reubanks/docs/saltwater_summer_w-o_pic

from Cyanide Kills Rats

“Would you just shut up?” Karen yelled at Jim as she came out of her room and rounded the corner to come into mine.  “What do you mean shut up?” Jim snarled back quickly, hesitated, and then added, “little lady.” Jim’s speech was slurred badly, but I could tell he was mad. “Young lady, I pay the rent here and I’ll be as loud as I want to be!” He was yelling at her at the top of his drunken voice. I quickly jumped out of bed and ran to the door and got between Karen and him. “You leave my sister alone!” I was as tall as Jim, and at that moment wondered if I weren’t as strong too. “You’re not our father! You only want us here to keep yourself out of jail!”
    “Why, you little punk…”

Tommy and Karen didn’t ask for this life and they’d done nothing to deserve it. Events, beyond their control, had put them in the custody of an alcoholic stepfather.

Life isn’t always fair and they just had to find a way to survive.

click here for the book!
http://www.lulu.com/content/3653743

Or, to read for free go to:

http://issuu.com/reubanks/docs/cyanide_kills_rats__latest_

from Get Back in Time

They both knew that what they'd just said had been said verbatim just a half hour before. But, this time they both simply smiled at each other. Knowing smiles.

"I guess I just wanted to let my best friend know how special she is to me." John spoke with a much more confidant voice this time. "And I don't want anything, not anything, to ever interfere with that special friendship."

"I know exactly what you mean, John. I feel exactly the same way. Maybe we'd better be going, if we're going to get back in time."

"Speaking of time," John was looking at his watch as he spoke, "it's only three-forty-five. We've only been here for fifteen minutes."

"No, let's see." Jan grabbed John's arm and looked at his watch. "It is. We've really only been here fifteen minutes. But that can't be. How can that be, John?"

"I don't know, Jan." John was still staring at his watch in disbelief. "I just don't know."

They walked in silence to John's Mustang and got in. John started the engine. Jan began to instinctively check the radio stations. Then John turned of the ignition, which also stopped the music, and turned to Jan. "Am I going crazy, or did we share a kiss a little while ago or not?"

"Well, I think we did. But then we really didn't either." Jan looked as confused as she sounded, as she answered John's very confusing question.

Then, at the same moment, they both knew. They knew they had discovered, and used, a new and very special power. The didn't know exactly how they'd done it yet. But they knew they had used this power.

As complicated as life can be when you're a teenager, Jan Thomas and John Davis were to discover that things can always be more complicated.

Dealing with emotions, relationships, and school is hard enough. But, these two teens are going to have to deal with something else too, something they can't go to a textbook for advice, something totally new.

click here for the book!
http://www.publishamerica.com/shopping/shopdisplayproducts.asp?catalogid=7168

Due to contract obligations with Publish America I'm unable to offer this one for free online. Sorry.