Sixguns & Sorcery: A Steampunk/Weird West World
Charming Mayhem: A Sixguns and Sorcery Omnibus
Charming Mayhem brings you four novellas in a steam-powered alternative world!
This omnibus edition includes A Study in Violet, Horror at Cold Springs, Not Enough Midnights, and The Curious Case of the Jeweled Alicon, plus all-new material for this edition!
Charming Mayhem can be purchased in paperback or kindle!
Terror at Tierra de Cobre
Sixguns and Sorcery #5
In an American West filled with magic and monsters, seven women – two gunslingers, a sorceress, a former nun, a reporter, an Apache fighter, and several seemingly ordinary townswomen – must join forces in the town of Tierra de Cobre to stop a goddess and minions from taking over their world. Succeed or fail, the fight will demand all they have.
Available in print and ebook from Queen of Swords Press and Amazon
Terror at Tierra de Cobre was nominated for the 2025 Small Spec Book Award
Not Enough Midnights
Sixguns and Sorcery #4
When several families vanish under mysterious circumstances and the sheriff investigating is driven insane, disgraced ex-U.S. Marshal Jefferson Stottlemyre is called back into federal service by order the President of the United States.
Now Stottlemyre, aided by his old friends Deputy Marshal William Blenchy and Lady Priscilla Talbot of the British Secret Service Supernatural Division, must unravel the mystery of who – or what – is murdering settlers around Binger, Oklahoma Territory.
Gathering allies and gaining enemies, the group must deal with rogue treasure hunters, a cavalry troop reluctant to fight, a horde of hidden Native American drummers, terrified townsfolk, and a mythical monster turned deadly reality on the prairie.
Not Enough Midnights is available in print and kindle from Amazon.
The Curious Case of the Jeweled Alicorn
Sixguns and Sorcery #3
Arkady Bloom, Agent of Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Supernatural Division, becomes embroiled with a deadly Italian spy, Turkish airship pirates, rebels bent on freeing India from British rule, a cursed artifact, and a statuesque sorceress with a steam-powered dragonet. However, the greatest danger Bloom faces may be his own torn loyalties.
The Curious Case of the Jeweled Alicorn is currently out of print.
Horror at Cold Springs
Sixguns and Sorcery #2
When a disparate group of travelers find themselves stranded in a ghost town on the western Nebraska frontier, will they unravel the mystery of the missing townsfolk and survive to tell the tale?
The Horror at Cold Springs is currently out of print.
A Study in Violet
Sixguns and Sorcery #1
The brutal murder of a nobleman with connections to British and Fae nobility sends ripples of shock through the country. Arkady Bloom, half-fae Agent of Her Majesty’s Secret Service Supernatural Division, is commanded by the Crown to assist the Metropolitan Police in their search for the killer. As the body count rises, the delicate peace between Humans and Fae threatens to break. As Bloom races to solve the mystery, he is pitted against not only a mysterious murderer, but a shadowy organization threatening the British Empire itself. And now Bloom might just be the next target…
Purchase here from Amazon in both physical and e-book format!
Mythic Twin Cities: Tales of Minneapolis & St. Paul
Last Car To Annwn Station
One week to save the child, bargain with Death and get the girl…
Child Protective Services Attorney Maeve Malveaux is sure that Chrysandra Arneson needs to be rescued from her rich, powerful and abusive family. But how? Her boss won’t listen to her and neither will the judge. But after she gets taken off the case and sent on involuntary leave to get her out of the way, she’s determined to find out what’s going on.
She’s not counting on joining forces with Jill, the gorgeous law librarian from work, and a mismatched collection of fairy folk. Or getting the ghostly assistance of the long-defunct Minneapolis streetcar system. And, perhaps, even a hand from Death himself. Mae and Jill are about to be caught up in a supernatural power struggle that will take them on an adventure from the Uptown neighborhood in Minneapolis into faery realms and beyond. All they need is a dime for the streetcar fare and a little help from their new allies to be on their way. But will it be enough to save a little girl and get them where they need to go? They’ve only got a week to find out..
Last Car to Annwn Station is available from Queen of Swords Press in both trade paperback and ebook.
Old Blood’s Fate
When Jack Clausen shows mercy to a dying coyote, a powerful spirit approves from the shadows. The Great Coyote is about to change Jack forever, for the time has come to awake the Dreamer even as the Spirit Council watches, some with plans to betray Jack.
Unbeknownst to Jack, he must rejoin with that part of himself that walks as the Nightmare, though the Nightmare is protected by an ancient witch who has her own plans for Jack, his friends, and his allies, and even the Great Coyote cannot hope to control the outcome.
Old Blood’s Fate is available in Softcover and Kindle
Dark Waters
Richard Martz is a bitter ex-mage cursed as punishment for the destruction of his previous magical coven. Richard is reluctantly drawn back into the world of magic and intrigue when he is approached by Holly Ellefson, daughter of a human mage. Holly is also part-fey, a bloodline taboo by both custom and treaty.
Agreeing to protect Holly, Richard pits his erratic, broken magic against the Twin Cities Magical Council. As Holly gains control over her fey abilities and the magical powers inherited from her mother, she discovers her family’s deep secrets: secrets the Magical Council would rather stay buried.
Caught between multiple enemies, Richard and Holly race to unravel the mystery of Holly’s heritage while healing the wounds of Richard’s tragic past, even as the forces arrayed against them tighten their grip, threatening death—or worse—should Richard or Holly fall into their hands.
Dark Waters is currently out of print.
Collections
Shimmers & Shadows
Michael Merriam’s diverse stories unfold where the faery realm intersects with the mundane world of the Twin Cities, in the spacefaring future of exploration and adventure, and in a mythical land of sorcery and danger. Here you will find tales of adventure, horror, enchantment, humor, tragedy, and romance where:
…a young outcast strikes a hard bargain with the Muddy River.
…two very different spirits find sanctuary in a historic shopping mall.
…a space transport captain makes a difficult choice and falls headlong into the middle of a conspiracy
…a fallen Seelie champion is caught between his dark past and unusual mortal friends
…estranged lovers discover whether science or magic will save their dying Earth
…death is not the end, time does not always run in a straight line, and the rain blesses both mortals and fae.
Shimmers & Shadows is available from Amazon.
Whispers in Space
This collection of short fiction and poems features all of Michael’s space opera and science fantasy written to date and collected in one volume for your reading pleasure!
Whispers in Space is currently out of print.
Short Fiction
A Glint Through Smoke and Flame: Ruins: Terra Anthology. Hadley-Rille Press in August 2007.
A Hot Cup at the Last Station: Bards and Sages Quarterly Volume 2, Issue #3.
All the Leaves Your Bed: Shiny #4. October of 2008.
And A Song in Her Hair: Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine. December 2006. Honorable Mention in The Years Best Fantasy and Horror 2008. Reprinted in Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine: Best of Fantasy II.
And The River Shall Be Your Bed: Tower of Light Fantasy.
Angel Above: Lyrica. September 2005.
At the Edge of Twilight, Melissa Remembers Flight: Three Crow Press. Summer 2009
By Moonlight: Aoife’s Kiss #33.
Callooh Callay: Worlds of Wonder. Spring 2006.
Coffee For Your Body, Flames For Your Soul: MUSA Publishing. December of 2011.
Cold Hand in Mine: Khimairal Ink. October 2009.
Darkly Through The Light Waters: Sorcery & Science September 2005. Reprinted You Don’t Know What You’ve Got… anthology, March 2009 from Gryphonwood Press.
Doors Through the Places You Live: Ray Gun Revival #55.
Duel in the Moonlit Snow: Gryphonwood Magazine. June 2006.
Ectobytes: Chaos Theory: Tales Askew. Spring/Summer 2010.
Far From the Fields: Ray Gun Revival. November 2006.
Fast Gliding Down the Rails: Longshot Island. December 2017. Reprinted in The Unfit #2.
Fetch: Fictitious Force #5. Reprinted The Fleas They Carried by Bad Pony Press in 2009.
Fey Child Fair: From the Asylum. July 2009.
The Foundling: Chaos Theory: Tales Askew.Spring/Summer 2006
Fourth Dimensional Pony in the Concourse of the Lost: Golden Visions Magazines. Winter 2010.
Frozen Moment: Deadly Encounters Anthology.
In Darkness Dwell the Warriors: The Nautilus Engine. February 2011.
In the Stars They Offer: Golden Visions Magazine. July of 2008.
Jenny’s Magic: Beyond Centauri. July 2006. Reprinted in Hazard Cat, October of 2010. Nominated for the 2007 James B. Baker Award in short fiction.
Kearsee’s Tale: Worlds of Wonder. October 2007.
Melpomene Run: Ray Gun Revival. August 2006.
Memory: Ray Gun Revival. In Audio at Beam Me Up! Podcast.
Monday: Surprising Stories #13.
The Most Wonderful Time: Electric Spec. November 2021.
Naught, Except For Love: The Lorelie Signal. April 2012. Reprinted in the Wolfsong Publishing anthology Mystic Signals.
Nor to the Strong: Ray Gun Revival. April 2007. Nominated for the 2007 Preditors & Editors Readers’ Choice Award for Best Science Fiction Short Story.
Now Arriving on Track Four: All-Worlds Wayfarer. Winter 2020.
Out Among the Singing Void: Fictitious Force #3.
Over the Bridge: The Harrow. July 2007.
Poor Mesk: Worlds of Wonder.April, 2007
Protect and Serve: Bewildering Tales. June 2007.
Rainfall: Deep Magic #45.
Red for Revenge: Afterburn SF. April 2007.
Rija’s Tale: Gryphonwood Magazine. Autumn 2005.
Secret: From the Asylum. January 2007. Nominated: Preditors & Editors Readers’ Choice Award, Best Horror Short Story. 2007.
Shades of Light and Foam: Cover of Darkness anthology. Sam’s Dot Publishing, May 2008.
The Shipmaster’s Widow: 365 Tomorrows. February 2010.
Should We Drown in Feathered Sleep: Carina Press. 2010. Should We Drown in Feathered Sleep was long-listed for the Nebula Award in 2010.
The Siege of Harnlow: Gryphonwood Magazine. October 2006. Reprinted in The Best of Gryphonwood 2006 Anthology. Nominated for the 2006 Preditors & Editors Readers’ Choice Award in the Fantasy Short Story category.
Starry Night: Golden Visions Magazine. Summer 2010.
Steadfast: FlagShip. April 2011.
Stopping By: Lyrica. September 2006.
Tenari: Ray Gun Revival #44. Reprinted in a slightly different version in the Queen of Swords Press anthology Scourge of the Seas of Time (and Space).
Twenty-One: Afterburn SF. September 2007.
Weaving Threads: Drops of Crimson. June 2009.
Wings: The Absent Willow Review. November 2010.
Poetry
A Winter Night
Ranging from short slice-of-life moments to encounters in the wilderness, to speculative futures, Michael Merriam’s 26 poems run the gamut of human emotions in this exciting new collection.
A Winter Night is available in print from Amazon.
1117 North Indiana: Alaska Quarterly Review. September 1992.
168 Words: A Winter Night. January 2017.
A Myriad of Faiths: Honorable Mention. Mississippi Valley Poetry Competition. September 1992.
A Walk to Work: A Winter Night. January 2017.
Anarchy: All My Tomorrows. Quill Books. February 1993.
Bang Bang, Apple Pie: Down in the Dirt #186. August 2021.
Beware the Dreaded Thesaurus: Down Peaceful Paths Anthology. Quill Books. October, 1990.
Breakfast View: A Winter Night. January 2017.
Cindy: The Shantytown Anomaly #4.
Come Outside: in Journeys – Volume II. Prairie Dog Press. August 1992.
County Road 12: A Winter Night. January 2017.
Dust: Truths and Fiction. April 2017.
I Took the Tear: Illumen. April 2007.
In the Void: The Shantytown Anomaly. August 2006.
The Kitten and the Snake: A Winter Night. January 2017.
Literal Lives: A Winter Night. January 2017.
October Night: Listen with Your Heart. Quill Books. February 1992.
Past: A Winter Night. January 2017.
The Problem Was: Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #36.
The Rabbit: Oklahoma School Feature. April 1975.
Resist: Truths and Fictions. July 2017.
Sixth Son: Gryphonwood Magazine. April 2008.
Susan Responds: Illumen. Autumn 2009.
T.V. Land: Midnight Serenade. June 1991.
Taking in Nature’s Delight, We Find Peace: A Winter Night. January 2017.
War Horse: Carnival Night. February 1992.
Where the Leftovers Go: Beyond Centauri. January 2007.
Winter Night: Truth and Fictions. January 2005.
Creative Non-Fiction & Essays
Silent Night: Haruah. December of 2006.
Strangers on a Bus: Breath and Shadow. January 2009.
We Are Not Daredevil, Except When We Are Daredevil: Uncanny Magazine #24.
Anthologies (As Editor)
By Polaris Bright 
is a third collection of 20 fantastic short stories by 20 talented Minnesota science fiction, fantasy, and horror authors, all members of the Minnesota Speculative Fiction Writers. Published in 2015 by Alban Lake Publishing. Currently out of print.
Sky-Tinted Waters 
is a second collection of 20 fantastic short stories by 20 talented Minnesota science fiction, fantasy, and horror authors, all members of the Minnesota Speculative Fiction Writers. Published by Sam’s Dot Publishing in 2012. Currently out of print.
Northern Lights: 20 MinnSpec Tales 
is a collection of 20 fantastic short stories by 20 talented Minnesota science fiction, fantasy, and horror authors. This anthology was published by Sam’s Dot Publishing on September 1st 2010. Currently out of print.