Jump to content

AC Benus - Stories

  1. AC Benus
    35,967
    8,882
    • Signature Author
    • 99 Stories
    • 74 Reviews
    • 9,079 Comments
    • 2,256,938 Words

    With a degree in Fine Arts, and a long professional career in design, AC brings unflinching attention to detail to his writings and poetry. He strives for emotional realness in all circumstances, and excels at structure and dialogue. A love of history, philosophy, and the humanities informs his work, while having honed his craft from his adolescence has allowed him to delve into the workings of the human heart. He also has a wicked sense of humor.
    • Fiction
    • FanFiction
    • Poetry
      • 2023- Exploration -Poetry
      • 2015 Poetry Anthology: Remember
      • 2014 Poetry Anthology: A Storm Is Coming
      • 2013 Poetry Anthology: Whispers in the Dark
      • 2012 Poetry Anthology: Cracks of Time
      • 2011 Poetry Anthology: Into the Unknown
    • Fiction - Gay Authors Anthologies
      • 2024 - Long May You Run
      • 2023 - Leap of Faith
      • 2022 - Anniversary
      • 2021 - Spring - On The Road
      • 2021 - Spring - Potluck 2021
      • 2021 - Fall - A Winding Path
      • 2021 - Fall - An Unconventional Gift
      • 2021 - Fall - Potluck
      • 2020 - Spring - Full Moon
      • 2020 - Spring - The Storm
      • 2020 - Fall - Bridges
      • 2020 - Fall - Shadows
      • 2019 - Spring - Into the Stars
      • 2019 - Spring - Snapped
      • 2019 - Fall - Fall From Grace
      • 2019 - Fall - Raincheck
      • 2018 - Spring - Now or Never
      • 2018 - Spring - Encounters
      • 2018 - Fall - Fight Back
      • 2018 - Fall - Good Intentions
      • 2017 - Spring - Unintended Consequences & Jagged Edges
      • 2017 - Fall - The Fallout and Secret Spaces
      • 2016 - Spring - Crossing the Line
      • 2016 - Summer - Wicked Games
      • 2016 - Fall - Blindsided / The Forgotten
      • 2016 - Winter - Rewind: Pre-2016 Themes
      • 2015 - Spring - Full Circle
      • 2015 - Summer - Road Trip
      • 2015 - Fall - Blurred Edges
      • 2015 - Winter - Blackout
      • 2014 - Spring - Nature's Wrath
      • 2014 - Summer - The Backup Plan
      • 2014 - Fall - Scars
      • 2014 - Winter - Chain Reaction
      • 2013 - Spring - A Night To Remember
      • 2013 - Summer - Roll the Dice
      • 2013 - Fall - Pandora's Box
      • 2013 - Winter - Recipe for Disaster
      • 2012 - Spring - It Wasn't Me
      • 2012 - Summer - Choices
      • 2012 - Fall - Friends & Enemies
      • 2012 - Winter - Desperate Ends
      • 2012 - Special - Mayan Tribute: End of the World
      • 2012 - Anniversary - Secrets Can Kill
      • 2011 - Spring - People Are Strange
      • 2011 - Summer - Walk on the Wild Side
      • 2011 - Fall - Legends
      • 2011 - Winter - Aftermath
      • 2010 - Spring - I'd Never Do That
      • 2010 - Summer - Out of this World
      • 2010 - Fall - No Going Back
      • 2010 - Winter - Haunted
      • 2009 - Spring - Oops
      • 2009 - Summer - Carpe Diem
      • 2009 - Fall - Something Unexpected
      • 2009 - Winter - Deceptions
      • 2008 - Annual - It's Just a Game, Right?
      • 2008 - Spring - Living in the Shadows
      • 2008 - Summer - Escape
      • 2008 - Fall - Anniversary
      • 2008 - Winter - Ghosts
      • 2007 - Annual - The Road Not Taken
      • 2007 - Spring - Fairy Tales
      • 2007 - Summer - Ending and Beginnings
      • 2007 - Fall - The Rainy Day
      • 2007 - Winter - Worth Fighting For
      • 2006 - Winter - Blizzard
      • 2006 - Fall - Halloween
      • 2006 - Summer - Going on Vacation
      • 2006 - Spring - Day of Silence
      • 2004 - Winter - Christmas
    • Fiction - Story Contests
      • 2017- Halloween
      • 2017- April Fool's
      • 2016 - Secret Admirer Short Story
      • 2015 - Secret Santa Short Story
      • 2011 - Novella Contest
      • 2009 - Novella Contest
    • Non-Fiction
      • Writing Tips
    • Letters
    • Screenplays
    • World Building
     or 
  • With:
    • Action/Adventure
      • Action Fiction
      • Adventure
      • Disaster
      • Historical Adventure
      • Martial Arts
      • Nautical
      • Spy
      • Spy-Fi
      • Super Hero
      • Swashbuckler
    • Comedy
      • Comedy Modern
      • Comic Fantasy
      • Comic Sci-Fi
      • Comic Horror
      • Satire
      • Surreal Comedy
      • Tall Tale
    • Fantasy
      • Alternate History
      • Anthropomorphic Fantasy
      • Arcanepunk
      • Arthurian
      • Assassin
      • Crossworlds/Portals
      • Dragon Fantasy
      • Fairy Tales
      • Flintlock
      • Gaslamp
      • General Fantasy
      • Grimdark
      • High/Epic Fantasy
      • Historical Fantasy
      • Lost World
      • Low Fantasy
      • Magical Realism
      • Medieval Fantasy
      • Mythic Fantasy
      • Science Fantasy
      • Sword and Planet
      • Sword and Sandal
      • Urban Fantasy
      • Wuxia
    • General Fiction
      • Coming of Age
      • Drama
      • Experimental
      • Family Drama
      • Prompt
      • Rich Boy
    • Historical
      • Alternate
      • Ancient Greco-Roman
      • Ancient Orient
      • Cold War
      • Historical Drama
      • Historical Thriller
      • Industrial Revolution
      • Medieval
      • Non-Contemporary
      • Victorian
      • Western
      • World Wars
    • Horror
      • Body Snatcher
      • Gothic
      • Haunted House Horror
      • Horror - Modern
      • Monster
      • Psychological
      • Splatterpunk
      • Weird Science
      • Zombie
    • Literary Fiction
      • Contemporary Literary
      • Cultural
      • Epistolary
      • Family Saga
      • Historical Literary
      • Slice of Life
    • Mystery
      • Caper
      • Cozy Mystery
      • Detective
      • Historical Mystery
      • Light Mystery
      • Noir/Hard-Boiled
      • Police Procedural
    • Non-Fiction
      • Autobiography
      • Biography
      • Creative Non-Fic
      • Letter
      • Reference
    • Poetry
      • Ballad
      • Blank Verse
      • Cinquain
      • Confessional
      • Ekphrastic Poetry
      • Epic Poetry
      • Free-Verse
      • Ghazal
      • Haiku
      • Limerick
      • Lyric
      • Mixed Forms
      • Rhyming
      • Sonnet
      • Translation
    • Paranormal
      • Cryptid
      • Cursed Objects
      • Paranormal Mystery
      • Romantic Paranormal
      • Shifters
      • Vampires
      • Werewolves
    • Romance
      • Contemporary Romance
      • General Romance
      • Historical Romance
      • Paranormal Romance
      • Regency Romance
      • Rock Star Romance
      • Romantic Fantasy
      • Romantic Sci-Fi
      • Romantic Western
      • Sports Star Romance
    • Science Fiction
      • Apocalyptic and Post-apocalyptic
      • Cyberpunk/Tech Noir
      • Dystopian
      • Hard Science Fiction
      • Libertarian Sci-Fi
      • Military Sci-Fi
      • Science Fantasy
      • Soft Sci-Fi
      • Space Opera
      • Space Western
      • Steampunk
      • Utopian
    • Thriller/Suspense
      • Environmental Thriller
      • Espionage
      • Historical Thriller
      • Legal Thriller
      • Medical Thriller
      • Military Thriller
      • Political Thriller
      • Psychological Thriller
      • Supernatural Thriller
      • Suspense
      • Techno Thriller
    • Western
      • Western - Alternative History
      • Crime Western
      • Outlaws and Bandits
      • Weird West
      • Western Historical
      • Western Modern
      • Western Romance
      • Western Sci-Fi
    • World Building
      • Fantasy World Building
      • General Fiction World Builder
      • Science Fiction World Building
      • Paranormal World Building
     or 
  • Without:
    • Action/Adventure
      • Action Fiction
      • Adventure
      • Disaster
      • Historical Adventure
      • Martial Arts
      • Nautical
      • Spy
      • Spy-Fi
      • Super Hero
      • Swashbuckler
    • Comedy
      • Comedy Modern
      • Comic Fantasy
      • Comic Sci-Fi
      • Comic Horror
      • Satire
      • Surreal Comedy
      • Tall Tale
    • Fantasy
      • Alternate History
      • Anthropomorphic Fantasy
      • Arcanepunk
      • Arthurian
      • Assassin
      • Crossworlds/Portals
      • Dragon Fantasy
      • Fairy Tales
      • Flintlock
      • Gaslamp
      • General Fantasy
      • Grimdark
      • High/Epic Fantasy
      • Historical Fantasy
      • Lost World
      • Low Fantasy
      • Magical Realism
      • Medieval Fantasy
      • Mythic Fantasy
      • Science Fantasy
      • Sword and Planet
      • Sword and Sandal
      • Urban Fantasy
      • Wuxia
    • General Fiction
      • Coming of Age
      • Drama
      • Experimental
      • Family Drama
      • Prompt
      • Rich Boy
    • Historical
      • Alternate
      • Ancient Greco-Roman
      • Ancient Orient
      • Cold War
      • Historical Drama
      • Historical Thriller
      • Industrial Revolution
      • Medieval
      • Non-Contemporary
      • Victorian
      • Western
      • World Wars
    • Horror
      • Body Snatcher
      • Gothic
      • Haunted House Horror
      • Horror - Modern
      • Monster
      • Psychological
      • Splatterpunk
      • Weird Science
      • Zombie
    • Literary Fiction
      • Contemporary Literary
      • Cultural
      • Epistolary
      • Family Saga
      • Historical Literary
      • Slice of Life
    • Mystery
      • Caper
      • Cozy Mystery
      • Detective
      • Historical Mystery
      • Light Mystery
      • Noir/Hard-Boiled
      • Police Procedural
    • Non-Fiction
      • Autobiography
      • Biography
      • Creative Non-Fic
      • Letter
      • Reference
    • Poetry
      • Ballad
      • Blank Verse
      • Cinquain
      • Confessional
      • Ekphrastic Poetry
      • Epic Poetry
      • Free-Verse
      • Ghazal
      • Haiku
      • Limerick
      • Lyric
      • Mixed Forms
      • Rhyming
      • Sonnet
      • Translation
    • Paranormal
      • Cryptid
      • Cursed Objects
      • Paranormal Mystery
      • Romantic Paranormal
      • Shifters
      • Vampires
      • Werewolves
    • Romance
      • Contemporary Romance
      • General Romance
      • Historical Romance
      • Paranormal Romance
      • Regency Romance
      • Rock Star Romance
      • Romantic Fantasy
      • Romantic Sci-Fi
      • Romantic Western
      • Sports Star Romance
    • Science Fiction
      • Apocalyptic and Post-apocalyptic
      • Cyberpunk/Tech Noir
      • Dystopian
      • Hard Science Fiction
      • Libertarian Sci-Fi
      • Military Sci-Fi
      • Science Fantasy
      • Soft Sci-Fi
      • Space Opera
      • Space Western
      • Steampunk
      • Utopian
    • Thriller/Suspense
      • Environmental Thriller
      • Espionage
      • Historical Thriller
      • Legal Thriller
      • Medical Thriller
      • Military Thriller
      • Political Thriller
      • Psychological Thriller
      • Supernatural Thriller
      • Suspense
      • Techno Thriller
    • Western
      • Western - Alternative History
      • Crime Western
      • Outlaws and Bandits
      • Weird West
      • Western Historical
      • Western Modern
      • Western Romance
      • Western Sci-Fi
    • World Building
      • Fantasy World Building
      • General Fiction World Builder
      • Science Fiction World Building
      • Paranormal World Building
  • Match By:
  • With:
    • 19 Days
    • AI (Artificial Intelligence)
    • Avatar
    • Avatar (The Last Airbender)
    • Batman
      • Jonathan Crane (Scarecrow)
      • Tim Drake (Robin)
      • Dick Greyson (Robin)
      • Jason Todd (Robin)
      • Bruce Wayne (Batman)
      • Damien Wayne (Robin)
    • Ben 10
    • Buffy The Vampire Slayer / Angel
    • Celebrities
    • Charmed
    • Cyberpunk 2077
    • DC Universe
    • Death Note
    • Dexter
    • Dom Luka
    • Dragonriders of Pern
    • Dr Who
    • Elder Scrolls
    • EVE Online
    • Final Fantasy
    • Forgotten Realms
    • Game of Thrones
    • General Hospital
    • Glee
    • Gone From Daylight
    • Grimm
    • Half-Life / Portal
    • Halloween
    • Hardy Boys
    • Harry Potter
      • Sirius Black
      • Hermione Granger
      • Neville Longbottom
      • Remus Lupin
      • Draco Malfoy
      • Lucius Malfoy
      • Scorpius Malfoy
      • Albus Potter
      • Harry Potter
      • HP- Original Character
      • Severus Snape
      • Fred Weasley
      • George Weasley
      • Ron Weasley
    • Heaven Official's Blessing
    • Highlights
    • It
    • Known Space
    • Marvel Comics
    • MetaWolf
    • Pathfinder Kingmaker
    • Percy Jackson
      • Nico di Angelo
      • Jason Grace
      • Percy Jackson
      • Will Solace
      • Leo Valdez
    • Power Rangers
    • Project Zomboid
    • Quantum Leap
    • Queer as Folk (US)
    • Resident Evil
    • Sherlock Holmes
    • Spider-Man
      • Peter Parker (Spider-Man)
      • Miles Morales (Miles Morales)
    • Star Trek
    • Star Wars
    • Superman
      • Clark Kent (Superman)
      • Conner Kent (Superboy)
      • Jonathan Kent (Superboy)
    • Supernatural
    • Torchwood
    • Twilight
      • Jacob Black
      • Seth Clearwater
      • Edward Cullen
      • Jasper Hale
    • Uncategorized
    • Voltron
    • Valdemar
    • Warhammer 40K
    • World Made By Hand
    • The Witcher
    • X-Men
    • Yu-Gi-Oh!
    • Yuri!! On Ice
     or 
  • Without:
    • 19 Days
    • AI (Artificial Intelligence)
    • Avatar
    • Avatar (The Last Airbender)
    • Batman
      • Jonathan Crane (Scarecrow)
      • Tim Drake (Robin)
      • Dick Greyson (Robin)
      • Jason Todd (Robin)
      • Bruce Wayne (Batman)
      • Damien Wayne (Robin)
    • Ben 10
    • Buffy The Vampire Slayer / Angel
    • Celebrities
    • Charmed
    • Cyberpunk 2077
    • DC Universe
    • Death Note
    • Dexter
    • Dom Luka
    • Dragonriders of Pern
    • Dr Who
    • Elder Scrolls
    • EVE Online
    • Final Fantasy
    • Forgotten Realms
    • Game of Thrones
    • General Hospital
    • Glee
    • Gone From Daylight
    • Grimm
    • Half-Life / Portal
    • Halloween
    • Hardy Boys
    • Harry Potter
      • Sirius Black
      • Hermione Granger
      • Neville Longbottom
      • Remus Lupin
      • Draco Malfoy
      • Lucius Malfoy
      • Scorpius Malfoy
      • Albus Potter
      • Harry Potter
      • HP- Original Character
      • Severus Snape
      • Fred Weasley
      • George Weasley
      • Ron Weasley
    • Heaven Official's Blessing
    • Highlights
    • It
    • Known Space
    • Marvel Comics
    • MetaWolf
    • Pathfinder Kingmaker
    • Percy Jackson
      • Nico di Angelo
      • Jason Grace
      • Percy Jackson
      • Will Solace
      • Leo Valdez
    • Power Rangers
    • Project Zomboid
    • Quantum Leap
    • Queer as Folk (US)
    • Resident Evil
    • Sherlock Holmes
    • Spider-Man
      • Peter Parker (Spider-Man)
      • Miles Morales (Miles Morales)
    • Star Trek
    • Star Wars
    • Superman
      • Clark Kent (Superman)
      • Conner Kent (Superboy)
      • Jonathan Kent (Superboy)
    • Supernatural
    • Torchwood
    • Twilight
      • Jacob Black
      • Seth Clearwater
      • Edward Cullen
      • Jasper Hale
    • Uncategorized
    • Voltron
    • Valdemar
    • Warhammer 40K
    • World Made By Hand
    • The Witcher
    • X-Men
    • Yu-Gi-Oh!
    • Yuri!! On Ice
  • Match By:
  • Between and
    Leave empty to search all.
  • Between and
    Leave empty to search all.
    • Complete
    • In Process
    • Temporary Hold
    • Long-Term Hold
    • Abandoned
    • Author Deceased
     or 
    • Mature
    • Teen
    • Everyone
    • Mature - Member Only
     or 

  • Is story part of a series?

  • Is story part of a world?

  • Is story premium?
  1. Zero to Hero, a Guide 4. Essays

    By AC Benus, in Non-Fiction. 01/15/2019 (Updated: 04/17/2023)

    Genres: Poetry, Non-Fiction, General Fiction
    Sub-genres: Reference, Creative Non-Fic, Prompt, Mixed Forms
    • coming of age
    • music
    • philosophy
    • psychology
    • religion
    • love

    A step-by-step course to teach yourself the art of Writing Poetry

    • 13 Chapters
    • 19,792 Words
    • 20,408 Views
    • 164 Comments
    • Teen
    • Long-Term Hold
  2. Wini and the King of Someplace 7. Christmas at Famous-Barr

    By AC Benus, in Letters. 06/16/2016 (Updated: 08/03/2016)

    Genres: Fantasy, Comedy, General Fiction, Historical
    Sub-genres: Comedy Modern, Drama, Non-Contemporary
    • child
    • disability
    • philosophy
    • psychology
    • christmas

    Winifred Barrett is good. She was brought in to help meld two corporate identities into one, and winds up taking on more and more responsibilities. Could a career woman back then have it all? One would think not….

    Through a series of her letters and journal entries, we learn the answer.

    • 8 Chapters
    • 31,507 Words
    • 9,433 Views
    • 152 Comments
    • Everyone
    • Long-Term Hold
  3. Whitman’s eyes and Cavafy’s days 25. Verse

    By AC Benus, in 2015 Poetry Anthology: Remember. 03/15/2015 (Updated: 03/15/2015)

    Genres: Poetry
    Sub-genres: Free-Verse
    • gay
    • philosophy
    • psychology
    • love

    A brief encounter in a bar, but one that turns out to be uniting in spirit.

    • 1 Chapters
    • 150 Words
    • 3,070 Views
    • 10 Comments
    • Everyone
    • Complete
  4. WHITE-JACKET – A Man at War – A Filmscript 6. The Secret Melville

    By AC Benus, in Screenplays. 07/25/2014 (Updated: 04/13/2021)

    Genres: Action/Adventure, Non-Fiction, General Fiction, Horror, Thriller/Suspense, Historical, Literary Fiction
    Sub-genres: Adventure, Drama, Reference, Action Fiction, Nautical , Industrial Revolution, Historical Literary, Psychological, Psychological Thriller
    • gay
    • death-defying
    • military
    • philosophy
    • psychology
    • death

    1845. In the spring Redburn leaves Peru for New York on a warship. He has nothing, and feels like a failure. Worst of all is the loss he leaves behind him in the Pacific – his husband is dead, and Toby is lost and presumably long buried. What awaits him in the fall when he arrives back 'home,' to a place he has not been for four years? There he must consider what his brother wants for him, against how Redburn might honor the noblest sacrifices of the men who love him have made.

    • 7 Chapters
    • 37,580 Words
    • 9,931 Views
    • 12 Comments
    • Mature
    • Complete
  5. Walks with Leporello, Thoughts on LOVE, GOD and DOG 1. Essays

    By AC Benus, in Non-Fiction. 03/30/2013 (Updated: 04/21/2013)

    Genres: Non-Fiction
    Sub-genres: Creative Non-Fic
    • light-hearted
    • serious
    • animals
    • biography
    • love

    An Airedale Remembered
    Through Seven Essays

    • 7 Chapters
    • 21,420 Words
    • 5,912 Views
    • 29 Comments
    • Everyone
    • Long-Term Hold
  6. Valentine’s at Benders, and other holiday tales 6. Short Stories

    By AC Benus, in Fiction. 04/18/2019 (Updated: 04/18/2019)

    Genres: Comedy, General Fiction, Romance, Thriller/Suspense, Historical
    Sub-genres: Suspense, Comedy Modern, Drama, Non-Contemporary, General Romance
    • gay
    • coming of age
    • philosophy
    • psychology
    • love
    • holiday

    The veil between people is thinnest at certain times of the year. This collection of Short Stories explores what we call 'Holidays.'

    • 1 Chapters
    • 5,886 Words
    • 2,988 Views
    • 17 Comments
    • Teen
    • Long-Term Hold
  7. Unafraid – Novella Four 4. The Judas Tree Novellas

    By AC Benus, in Fiction. 09/29/2014 (Updated: 10/09/2014)

    Genres: Comedy, General Fiction
    Sub-genres: Comedy Modern, Drama
    • no sex
    • coming of age
    • suspense
    • philosophy
    • psychology
    • religion

    Thirteen-year-old Simon sits face to face with Father Strathmore, but what has he done wrong... experimented with drugs, kissed a boy, or lied in Confession? The priest has a vested interest in finding out, and it is a deeply personal and troubling one.

    • 5 Chapters
    • 24,143 Words
    • 8,486 Views
    • 72 Comments
    • Teen
    • Complete
  8. TYPEE - In the Valley of the Shadow of Death - A Filmscript 2. The Secret Melville

    By AC Benus, in Screenplays. 05/27/2013 (Updated: 03/17/2021)

    Genres: Action/Adventure, General Fiction, Thriller/Suspense, Literary Fiction
    Sub-genres: Suspense, Adventure, Drama, Nautical , Historical Literary
    • gay
    • suspense
    • death-defying
    • parents
    • religion
    • love

    The South Pacific, 1842. These are powder-keg times, and in the midst of French Imperial gun boat diplomacy, Redburn has had enough of the sea. He draws a reluctant Toby into an adventure, and in the process loses something more valuable to him than his own life.

    • 7 Chapters
    • 39,143 Words
    • 7,394 Views
    • 18 Comments
    • Mature
    • Complete
  9. Twenty-Two Early Poems 3. Verse

    By AC Benus, in Poetry. 09/07/2015 (Updated: 04/16/2018)

    Genres: Poetry
    Sub-genres: Free-Verse
    • young adult
    • coming of age
    • coming out
    • philosophy
    • psychology
    • suicide

    written from ages fourteen to nineteen

    • 8 Chapters
    • 3,955 Words
    • 6,988 Views
    • 65 Comments
    • Everyone
    • Long-Term Hold
  10. Translation Trashbin 7. Verse

    By AC Benus, in Poetry. 10/20/2017 (Updated: 02/13/2024)

    Genres: Poetry, Non-Fiction, Literary Fiction
    Sub-genres: Reference, Mixed Forms, Translation, Historical Literary
    • gay
    • philosophy
    • psychology
    • religion
    • love
    • depression

    A receptacle for my attempts at translating other poets’ work.

    • 51 Chapters
    • 18,272 Words
    • 53,623 Views
    • 369 Comments
    • Teen
    • Temporary Hold
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Our Privacy Policy can be found here: Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue..