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The Skeleton Project: U.F.F. Kindle Edition
Mystery, humor, horror, suspense, and supernatural--the ingredients of a read-me-under-the-covers kind of story. The Skeleton Project is a series of supernatural mysteries in the same vein as the X-Files or The Nightstalker shows. Written to be enjoyed by readers from sixth grade to senior status, you'll find these tales are a little serious and a little tongue-in-cheek. Please note: this is a series of short stories, minimum 5,000 words.
Episode 1: File #0001 is about the mysterious circumstances that led the FBI to form The Skeleton Project. The most secretive branch of the Bureau, the Skeleton Project searches out the paranormal and supernatural cases that are far beyond the means of regular law enforcement. In Episode One, you'll meet two of the Skeleton Project's finest agents.
Obsessive, bend-the-rules Special Agent Oswald "Oz" Pershing is forced to contend with a trigger-happy new partner, Rachel Minnis. Together, Pershing and Minnis travel to Spud City, Idaho solve a series of supernatural pet abductions. Haunted by memories of his own loss, Pershing must juggle alien spacecraft sightings, the demands of breaking in a new partner, and the expectations of his volatile Chief Inspector. And all the while, the ultra secretive and ultra dangerous group known as The Executors watch over these two agents and weigh certain fateful decisions...
About Batson's Short Fiction: "I wrote these stories for my students (Batson has taught middle school Reading & English for 22 years) long before the novels. I needed good, high interest stories to supplement the curriculum, so I wrote my own. Little did I expect that students would become so fond of the stories. I began to infuse each tale with cues for reading comprehension strategies (predicting, inferring, connecting, etc.), literary elements (plot, character, setting, etc.), and writing techniques (the 6+1 traits, figures of speech, suspense tactics, etc)…all to allow dozens of "teachable moments" in each story. For middle or high school teachers who purchase these short stories, feel free to print a class set for your kids. Enjoy!" --Wayne Thomas Batson
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateJuly 4, 2012
- File size172 KB
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Product details
- ASIN : B008I5NYZW
- Publisher : Spearhead Books; 1st edition (July 4, 2012)
- Publication date : July 4, 2012
- Language : English
- File size : 172 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 27 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #2,957,118 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #1,568 in 45-Minute Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Short Reads
- #8,571 in 45-Minute Literature & Fiction Short Reads
- #14,393 in Mystery Action Fiction (Kindle Store)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Wayne Thomas Batson was born in Seabrook, MD in 1968. During the early years he tortured his older brothers and sisters, doing those things that only younger siblings can do to get on your nerves.
He attended Gabriel DuVal Senior High School and wrote this for his Yearbook
Senior Goals: To become a professional writer or artist. During the high school and early college years, he played lead guitar for a rock band called "Contagious." They were catchy, but apparently not enough to get a record deal.
Having completed the rigorous Holmes English Literature Curriculum, he graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1991. In 1996, he received his first graduate degree in Counseling. He has continued his studies with 36 credit hours of graduate-level Reading courses.
Wayne Thomas Batson has spent the last fifteen years teaching Reading and English to middle schools students. He pioneered the active instruction of Strategic Reading in Anne Arundel County and has written Reading and English Curricula for Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, and Howard County Public Schools. Most recently, he helped develop the Challenge Reading Curriculum for advanced readers in Howard County, Maryland.
Wayne Thomas Batson lives in Eldersburg with his beautiful wife of eleven years and his four wonderful young children. Besides dividing his time between family, teaching, and writing, he likes to read, golf, play PS2, travel to the beach, play electric guitar, and create 3D artwork.
Wayne Thomas Batson is the Bestselling author of five adventure novels including the fantasy epic Door Within Trilogy and the pirate duo Isle of Swords and Isle of Fire. A middle school Reading and English teacher for 18 years, Batson loves to challenge—and be challenged by—his students. So, when he began writing stories to supplement the school district’s curriculum, it was his students who taught their teacher a lesson. Batson’s students were so taken by one of the stories that, over a thirteen year span, they pushed him to make it into a full-length novel. That story became The Door Within. Since then, Batson’s students continue to be his frontline editors. Says Batson, “Two things you can count on from middle school students: Intelligence and Honesty. Kids are so much more perceptive than a lot of us ‘Big Folk’ give them credit for. And when something’s not write in the story, they’ll tell you about in very clear terms.” Batson is teaming up with author and friend Christopher Hopper for a new book series, The Berinfell Prophecies. The first book, Curse of the Spider King, hit bookstores in October 2009. It promises to turn the traditional “portal fantasy” on its head, posing the question: What would happen if the fantasy came to us? Batson believes his books appeal to so many kids and adults because, at a deep level, we all long to do something that matters, and we all dream of another world.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers enjoyed the story's short length and engaging plot. They appreciated the quirky characters and well-written writing style. The book was written by one of their favorite authors.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the short story. They find it interesting with a suspenseful plot and memorable characters. The author builds up the mystery throughout the story, making it a fun series of shorts.
"...are realistic, their motives understandable, and their quirks hillarious! I cannot wait to read the next installment in this series! Excellent stuff!..." Read more
"...The parody elements all felt a bit forced. I did like the general plot idea, the X-files-ish genre and the writing style once I got used to the point..." Read more
"...But this was something else. I LOVED IT. I love detective books especially ones with a twist. I grew up reading hardy boys but this is way better...." Read more
"...Regardless, it's a great short story, and a move in the right direction for Batson, especially the "serial" aspect...." Read more
Customers enjoy the quirky characters and supernatural cases in the book.
"...The characters' backgrounds are realistic, their motives understandable, and their quirks hillarious!..." Read more
"...It was an entertaining little tale. I liked the characters interactions with each other and bet that, if Wayne Thomas Batson writes more, they will..." Read more
"A great short story. I enjoyed the quirkiness of the Characters, as well as the supernatural cases with some rather humorous twists along the way...." Read more
"...About 5,000 words. But it is a hularious story. I loved the different quirks he gave the characters. He says there is more to come!..." Read more
Customers appreciate the writing style. They find it well-written and clean for young readers. The author is one of their favorite authors.
"...I did like the general plot idea, the X-files-ish genre and the writing style once I got used to the point-of-view hopping." Read more
"...I was wrong. It is well written, and clean for the young readers. The 'scariest' part is cover...." Read more
"Great author!..." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2012As a dedicated fan of Wayne Thomas Batson's works, I was very excited to hear that he had published yet another story! Despite the fact that this short story is set for middle school readers and not my age, The Skeleton Project did not dissapoint! Humor, suspense, and an all-around enjoyable plot, The Skeleton Project has it all! The characters' backgrounds are realistic, their motives understandable, and their quirks hillarious! I cannot wait to read the next installment in this series! Excellent stuff! To anyone who has not read any of mr. Batson's books; READ THEM! They are amazingly wonderful, and each one is a winner!
- Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2013This book left me feeling a bit underwhelmed, although I suspect it would appeal more to the YA readers it was written for. The story felt rushed - I would have preferred some more depth to it (this is definitely possible even in a short story). I'm aware that it's meant to be a parody, but to be honest it made me roll my eyes several times (and didn't raise a smile once). The parody elements all felt a bit forced. I did like the general plot idea, the X-files-ish genre and the writing style once I got used to the point-of-view hopping.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2012What hooked me was the fact that it was written by one of my favorite authors.
Granted ... writing (and reading) a short story is much different than a full novel.
It really is an art.
This story is a fast and good read.
Based on the title, I was anticipating something edgy that wouldn't be suitable for young readers.
I was wrong.
It is well written, and clean for the young readers.
The 'scariest' part is cover.
5/5 stars for the intended audience of young readers.
4/5 stars for the 40 year old who didn't want the story to end !!!
- Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2013The book itself was short but very interesting. I personally like all Wayne Thomas Batson books. Including the Berinfell prophecies series I have been waiting for a third book for a long time. But this was something else. I LOVED IT. I love detective books especially ones with a twist. I grew up reading hardy boys but this is way better. It has a little comedy in their to.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2012I love Wayne's work. And he has a reputation. But I personally know he's wanted to dive into thrillers that allow him room to bring more modern tools and contexts into the mix. While this isn't fully-fledged psycho-thriller-horror (as previous reviewers have mentioned) - and I know he's capable of much more - this should be seen as a lead-in to future work. Regardless, it's a great short story, and a move in the right direction for Batson, especially the "serial" aspect. Get us hooked, keep us coming back for more. ch:
- Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2012Review by Jill Williamson
This short story follows the pairing of new partners Oz Pershing and Rachel Minnis, who are employees of a special branch of the FBI called The Skeleton Project. They travel to Idaho to investigate a canine alien abduction. At twenty-five pages, the story was over before I knew it. It was an entertaining little tale. I liked the characters interactions with each other and bet that, if Wayne Thomas Batson writes more, they will continue to be a fun series of shorts.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2013It could have been an intresting story but it copied to close to the "X Files" TV series. Did get a few laughs from it.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2012A great short story. I enjoyed the quirkiness of the Characters, as well as the supernatural cases with some rather humorous twists along the way. He also builds up mystery through the story that makes you want to continue on this path of short stories. I look forward to more from The Skeleton Project.