Showing results by author "Robert E. Kearns" in All Categories

In the stifling heat of rural Rush Springs, a charismatic new pastor in pristine black steps into the crumbling chapel on Main Street. His fire-and-brimstone sermons shake the souls of the faithful, and at six-foot-three he commands the pulpit with a magnetic force; his voice booming like judgment day itself. But behind his immaculate white collar and unshakable calm lies a slew of secrets that no one in this God-fearing town dares to question. When he whisks the women of the parish away to a remote New Mexico retreat, promising spiritual awakening, the air grows thick with sexual tension. ...

From award winning author, Robert E. Kearns (Hy Brasil: Island of Eternity, Crabb, Carnivore, Freedom is For the Few, Ossuary, Embers and A Donnybrook Affair, comes an unforgettable collection of Humorous Poems, Entertaining Short Stories and Hilarious Sketches. In this wonderful edition, Kearns makes fun of both the clichéd and the mundane of everyday life through the medium of poems he refers to as gibberish. Then, using his sketches to great effect, he again delves into the regular occurrences of humanity with writing that will elicit more than the single laugh. To finish, Kearns ...

A humorous sketch from Robert E. Kearns (author of A Donnybrook Affair, Crabb, Hy Brasil, Freedom is For the Few, Carnivore, Ossuary and Embers) which explores our frustrations with customer service departments and their apparent understanding of those frustrations. Fun and imaginative, perfect for the staging of a short play or a quick read. For anyone who has ever gone around in circles with a representative, this is the piece for you.

In Victorian London, Margaret Brink, in search of a better life, arrives by train from the countryside. While at the outset she gains employment, after some misfortune, she soon falls by the wayside. Told in the form of a letter, an inquiry from a relative of Margaret's is answered by a minister who did what he could for her. The Troubles of Margaret Brink is a short, but evocative tale from Award Winning author, Robert E. Kearns

Dive headfirst into the smoky, raucous pups of 1970s Dublin with The Feathers Flew, a wickedly sharp short story that’ll grab you by the collar and drag you into the predictable world of Paddy Keenan—a man whose heart belongs to a pint of stout and the hum of barroom banter. By day, he’s a working-class everyman; by night, he swaps his wife’s nagging and the chaos of his rowdy kids for the warm glow of the public house. But when a quacking, waddling oddity—a pet duck—crash-lands into the Keenan’s backyard, Paddy’s routine of a chat over a few scoops takes a wild turn. As ...

Orla lives a carefree and contented existence. She enjoys visiting the library and taking strolls around town. She talks to herself and laughs aloud at whatever she finds humorous. As well, she likes to write; her stories a mashup of song lyrics and film plots the narrator finds most entertaining. Sometimes, Orla comes up with the idea for a play, and these, she takes to theatres all over Dublin. The staff in every establishment have gotten to know her, and have learned how to deal with her, then send her on her way. But one day, she encounters a manager who is new in the job. He invites ...

Lemuel Plant is a hard-up private investigator working out of a shabby downtown office. He's ready to quit, and is determined that his next case will be his last. Plant is visited by the beautiful Florence Joiner, who wants to collect evidence against her husband, who she alleges is having an affair with his secretary. On the job, Plant follows Harold Joiner, the managing partner of a successful firm. But he also follows his client, which leads him to the affluent suburb of Donnybrook and its country club. There, Plant discovers there's more to the story than what she disclosed Intrigue, a ...

Trevor Mitchell is the billionaire founder of an internet retailing giant. After deciding he doesn't care for the current President; with maneuvers Machiavelli would be proud of, he plots and schemes his way to the White House. Confident, manipulative, charming and without conscience, Mitchell will use anyone to achieve what he's after. And if a friend or acquaintance needs persuading, blackmail and dirty tricks are not above him. Intrigue, ruthlessness and murder are the hallmarks of a rich man's desire to become a modern day Caesar. With Freedom is For the Few, Robert E. Kearns has penned...

In the heart of Dublin’s cutthroat housing market, Alice Foley, fresh from graduating college, embarks on a desperate search for a place to call home before starting a new job. With time ticking and her budget stretched thin, she navigates a maze of grim apartments, shady landlords, and questionable roommates. Just when hope seems lost, a peculiar newspaper advertisement leads her to a stunning Georgian townhouse in the city centre offering a room at an incredibly low price. The catch? Its enigmatic owner, Mr. McArdle, a charming yet oddly formal gentleman who speaks of the house as a ...

In the heart of rural Ireland, where winter’s chill seeps into both the home and the soul, Patrick Purcell lives a solitary life in his antiquated nineteenth-century farmhouse. A man of routine, tethered to a meat processing plant and haunted by the specter of a lonely retirement, Purcell finds solace in the flicker of his television screen. But then a mysterious encounter shatters his isolated existence. One stormy night, a one-legged young woman, Deirdre, appears on the stone wall outside his home, her presence as enigmatic as the rain that soaks her. Drawn to her quiet beauty and ...

In ancient Judea, to the objections of an overbearing parent, a young couple fall in love. When Maria becomes pregnant, they must elope. However, the girl's father wants his revenge and hatches a plot to return them to their home town. In this epic novel, the author takes us on a sweeping journey of love, tragedy and the human condition. Ossuary by Robert E. Kearns is a superlative re-imagining of the greatest story ever told.

In the heart of a modest Dublin housing estate, Arthur Brennan lives a life of quiet ambition, his middle-class comforts setting him apart from his neighbors. With a tailored suit and a steady job, Mr. Brennan embodies respectability. That is, until a sweltering summer night in 1977 unravels his carefully constructed world. When a fire engulfs a local business, temptation ignites, and a single reckless act sends his life into a downward spiral. Narrated by a reflective observer, Tell Tale Tattler is a poignant tale of conformity, rebellion, and the devastating consequences of a fleeting ...

In 1980s Dublin, a group of secondary school youngsters find solace in their Wednesday film club; a harmless escape from monotony. Amid the flickering VHS tapes and camaraderie, one figure stands apart: Slax, a troubled teen branded as a troublemaker, forever teetering on the edge of detention and despair. Known for his too-short trousers and relentless antics, Slax is misunderstood by teachers and peers alike, with his restless spirit masking a deeper loneliness. Through the eyes of a cautious classmate, we unravel Slax’s story—a poignant journey from prejudice to empathy. As the ...

In 1980s rural Texas, to prevent annexation by its larger neighbor, Brian Zimmerman, by straw poll is elected the Boy Mayor of Crabb. Years later he recounts his story for the narrator, where he reveals the astounding details he gleaned while at a Mayoral Conference in Paris, and how these shaped his teenage years and beyond. The former Mayor of tiny Crabb speaks of the incredible secrets, exceptional events and the people he met that know the truth. Conspiracy, Cover Up and a Shocking Conclusion, Crabb is nothing short of a spellbinding read. Inspired by true events, Robert E. Kearns ...

Ronald Byrne, a teacher in in a 1980s Dublin school is the debating society's founder. He is fastidious in appearance, reliable, and never out sick. He dyes his hair, and almost always looks the same. However, he also possesses the condition of being unmemorable. Everyone knows little-to-nothing about his private life. Plus, they aren't the least bit inquisitive. Fr. Noel O'Loughlin, is an art teacher in the same school. He is cruel and sadistic, and punishes anyone who appears to have blemished the white walls of his classroom, which he paints himself. On the night of the season's opening ...

In late autumn of 1989, 18-year-old David Dowling steps into the world of Brown Box Freight Company, a place where ambition and loyalty are tested under the unyielding gaze of its founder, Mick Brown. Fresh from a training course, and armed with little more than a talent for learning fast, Dowling navigates the office politics by keeping his head down and getting on with it. Soon, he encounters Helena, Mick’s sidelined mistress, whose tangled bond with the Chief Executive reveals the steep price of chasing security over happiness. As the mantra to “bleed brown” echoes through all ...

In the summer of 1987, a Dublin teenager steps into the unfamiliar world of a paint factory, seeking a temporary job to bridge the gap before his final year of secondary school. What begins as a simple task assembling paint tester kits alongside schoolmates Keith and Redser spirals into a chilling tale of menace and tragedy. Under the watchful eye of factory foreman Mr. Grimes and the enigmatic Mr. Naughton, the trio navigates the hum of machinery and the unspoken rules of a blue-collar environment. But when Redser becomes the target of Billy Cullen, a volatile employee with an axe to grind...

At the Orchestra School of Music in Waterford, with the help of Tommy, Tina is getting her students ready for an Easter concert that is to take place in a local castle. Tommy, having suggested an Easter egg hunt for afterwards, wants to help Tina with the hiding. But she's having none of it and hides them herself. However, the following morning, when she returns to the castle, the eggs have disappeared. With Tommy again by her side, the pair follow a trail of tin foil which leads them to the culprit, Hugo, a chocolate eating, music loving bunny. Hugo's Easter Concert is another delightful ...

Another beautiful collection of Poems & Short Stories from Award Winning Author Robert E. Kearns (1st Place 2019 Pencraft Awards for Hy Brasil: Island of Eternity) With Poems & Short Stories volume 2, Kearns gives us a further edition of his thought provoking poetry along with several of his highly entertaining short stories. If prose and poetry are your thing, this is the book for you.

Scampy is a new-born puppy on the Jones farm. All the animals love him even though he's a mischievous sort. He gets in everyone's way and seeks adventure every second of the day. Then one afternoon a stranger arrives and Scampy's idyllic life in the country is changed forever. His new owner, Boss, mistreats this adorable puppy with the fur of pure white, but Scampy is determined to escape. An extraordinary adventure and a wonderful tale of redemption, Scampy's Merry Christmas is another masterful story from award winning author Robert E. Kearns.