Mark Gagnon
Bio
My life has been spent traveling here and abroad. Now it's time to write.
I have three published books: Mitigating Circumstances, Short Stories for Open Minds, and Short Stories from an Untethered Mind. Unmitigated Greed is do out soon.
Achievements (1)
Stories (457)
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The Red Door Society
The Red Door Society held monthly meetings in the old decommissioned stone church on the second Friday of every month. The church has been Williamstown's centerpiece since being constructed in 1699. A bright red door is its most prominent feature. Old rumors about the church founders being escaped Salem witches and warlocks only added to the building's lore.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Horror
Unmitigated Greed
Chapter 8 Frank spent the next ten days negotiating for the purchase of Border-to-Border Charter Bus Company. He spent the evenings with Marisol. What stood out to him as he crisscrossed the border every day was how much both cities had changed. Laredo was no longer a frontier border town with dirt streets and run-down neighborhoods. Large warehouses dotted the landscape, and the people appeared more prosperous than when he lived there.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Critique
Blank Page
I must have been staring at this blank computer screen for at least an hour with nothing to show for it. People write about writer’s block, which in is an oxymoron since they’re writing about it, but never experienced it until now. Bored, frustrated, and feeling useless, I did what anyone would do in this situation—I took a nap.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Writers
Fairyland TV News
“Welcome to the Fairyland 6 o’clock news. I’m Peter Pumpkin Eater, and here is what’s breaking as we speak. A tragic series of events occurred this afternoon involving Mr. Mouse and a clock. For more, let’s go to Henny Penny, who is speaking with Mr. Mouse.”
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Humor
Mitigating Circumstances, a Critique
An international crime syndicate takes over a pharmaceutical company to produce a highly addictive drug. Several board members block its release. They hire male and female assassins to eliminate the troublemakers. The assassins use a motorcoach tour to move from city to city. Mitigating Circumstances disrupt their murderous plans.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Critique
Death Warmed Over
Do you like detective stories or zombie stories? If your answer is yes to both questions, you’re going to love Kevin J Anderson’s Death Warmed Over. The main character is a zombie detective looking for his girlfriend's killer, who is a poltergeist. It all happens in New Orleans.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Critique
Ivanhoe
Knights, castles, jousts, sword fights, palace intrigue, oh yes, and romance, what’s not to like? Ivanhoe, a story set in thirteenth-century England, has everything a seventh-grader could ask for. I hated reading until Miss Hilferty assigned this story to our literature class. One story can change the world.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Critique
The Art of Clandestine Living
Xavier came from an area of São Paulo, Brazil, known as a favela, or slum. Many Brazilian cities have them, and normally if you’re born in one, you will die there. In order to escape this gang-controlled squalor, and very few ever do, a person needs a special talent or extraordinary intellect, or both. Xavier is such a person.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Criminal
Oh—You’re a Writer!
I live in a 55+ community. Some of us still work, but most of the residents fill their days with exercise classes, card games, Mahjong, Bingo, and various social clubs. Since the community is in South Florida, the pool is always a popular location. Evenings offer regular activities like “Tipsy Tuesdays and concerts or dance bands on Friday nights. Of course, all the evening activities are over by no later than 9 o’clock. The old people mustn’t stay out too late or they could have an accident driving their golf carts home.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Writers

