Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on August 6th, 2026. In the waning days of the Ed Bashir Show, a junior talent booker tasked with assembling the venerable host's final panel feels a self-destructive impulse to tank the whole assignment. He waffles between wanting to do a good job and wanting to do a provocatively bad job, and struggles mightily with both endeavors. He has a bit of a breakdown by the end of it, but perhaps he'll come out better on the other side.

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 9/10/26. In this one, an absurdly handsome and charismatic waiter causes unexpected problems for a consortium of restaurateurs, including their de facto leader, who since his second divorce has been really going through it. The latter man suffers a heart attack but comes through it a better (or at least less internally conflicted) sort of person.

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 7/27/26. In this one, a hapless fellow finds himself a loser in Vegas, despite utilizing what he thought was a elegant and foolproof system for beating the House (at roulette, of all things.) In a desperate attempt to make something of his last few hundred dollars during the last few hours in Sin City that remain to him, he enjoys (and endures) multiple haymaker-caliber swings in fortune. This is kind of a weird one for multiple reasons, but if you like sweaty, hungover protagonist introspection and/or ambiguous endings you'll probably dig...

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 9/1/26. This is one of the ones I wrote in the mini-legal pad, but unlike others from that set this one expanded nicely in the typing phase (so no double feature this week). In this story, a professional photojournalist heads to Yearning, Montana in pursuit of a lifelong dream. He strives awkwardly to make inroads with the locals, including an attractive but acerbic coffee shop proprietress and an old lady hermit-type who seems content to dwell in a junkyard on a hill outside of town. The photojournalist suffers some expensive and embarrassing...

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 7/15/26. In this one, a waitress throws her hat in the ring for a promotion to management. She doesn't get the job but learns a lot from the man who does, a coworker she had initially feared and despised. He's clearly turned over a new leaf; will the mental wellness tips and tricks he shares with our protagonist help her deal with unexpected new tensions in her relationship with her increasingly-preoccupied food vlogger boyfriend? This one's a sort of shaggy, relatively grounded character piece. Not much of a hook, and arguably not...

This episode consists of two weirdly similar Solitaire Stories I wrote in July. The first one only took about 14 minutes so I decided on the fly to double up this week (partially to make up for the travel-related late release of this episode.)

The first story (Story #136, written 7/22/26) is called "The Ballad of Lazy Mike". In this one, an IT professional known somewhat unfairly as Lazy Mike finds unexpected employment at an internet café. At first he finds this work a bit beneath him, and in time he becomes known -- somewhat unfairly, again -- as Angry M...

This is the story I wrote on 7/16/26. From my synopsis notes: "Our protagonist seeks to flip a piece of real estate following a number of ambitious aesthetic improvements. The tile guy goes overboard, which leads to multiple clashes and an eventual (sort of) catharsis." This one is a bit shorter than most as it was a one-page (rather than a two-page) story variant, though it expanded to an (almost) normal length during the typing phase. I ended up quite liking it! (Though note I have a bit of a cold, so this performance might be a bit more lethargic...

This is the story that I wrote on 7/10/26. In this one, an elementary school teacher, disappointed by the contents of an unearthed time capsule at his school, decides to take another run as the project... so as to do right by the schoolchildren of his day, and of the future. However, the teacher's unexpected feelings towards his own planned, "meaningful" contribution to the second capsule gives him second thoughts. Is he pointlessly sacrificing present contentment for some nebulous future benefit? (Also, it's Hawaiian Shirt Day, which doesn't help.)

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 7/9/26. In this one, a well-meaning but neurotic and somewhat aimless grandson of a famous mayor navigates high society during the city's benefit-and-gala season. He also must manage the fraught-but-loving relationship he enjoys/suffers with his semi-retired firecracker of a mother. These two challenges intersect and synchronize, first in a frustrating way and then in a restorative one.

Some dodgy pronunciations in this one! No cussin' though, save a "hell" at the very end. Enjoy!

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 7/2/26. In this one, an entrepreneur, recently separated from his wife, attempts to take advantage of an exploitable gap in the convenience-store-gas-station market outside of Verylong National Park. The whole thing seems like a slam dunk, until it doesn't.

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 7/1/26. In this one, a demolitions man looking to go the extra mile for his new employer develops a major crush on a bank teller and becomes a skilled hobbyist florist in a bid to impress her. The bank in question is a historical location known for its unconventional architecture, but it is not immune to armed robbery, as our protagonist unluckily discovers.

An introverted farmer hears an explosion out in his father's old apple orchard. He investigates and ends up rescuing a beautiful astronaut, at significant cost to his health. The astronaut does not forget his kindness, and some time later the farmer is summoned by her to Houston, where he may had a minor-but-significant part to play in a top-secret mission.

A quiet and observant young reporter on the death-defying daredevil beat is dispatched to cover the retirement of one of the all-time greats of the trade. She's not alone in this journalistic pursuit, and must outwit a better-positioned rival in order to secure the relevant scoop for herself. And then there's the mercurial daredevil himself, who has one final, highly dangerous stunt up his filigreed and rhinestone-studded sleeve... will all his guests survive the big BBQ celebrating his retirement? Turns out it's a legitimate question!

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 6/5/26. In this one, a lady scheduled to testify against a dangerous mobster has been granted witness protection and been secreted away to an unusual mansion in the desert to hide out until her presence is needed in court. Unfortunately, the bad guys have discovered her whereabouts, and they are closing in fast. Will her hunky federal bodyguard and his small security detail be enough to protect her, or was this large and isolated house perhaps a fatally foolish pick for a quote-unquote "safe" house? Find out here! (The title is kind...

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 5/27/26. In this one, an aspiring rodeo clown follows her dream, develops a bit of a crush, and then suffers a career-altering workplace injury. Not necessarily as downer a story as this synopsis would suggest, but not a purely feel-good affair either, despite a slightly above-average allotment of jokes (several of them dumb.) Probably best viewed as a sweet (but rough-edged and somewhat ambiguous) coming-of-age story. Enjoy!

This is a bit of an experimental one; I wanted to see how the Solitaire Stories system works when applied to a single "climactic" fight scene. In this one, a character known as the "Young Duke" squares off against his childhood friend, who is now a notorious (but perhaps heroically justified) "Outlaw". Who will emerge victorious from their rooftop clash?

Be forewarned that this one has a somewhat (semi-comic) gore moment (of the sort one might expect in a closely-described life-or-death swordfight). It also has some grammatical confusion -- I kept switching between past and present tenses...

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 5/21/26. In this one, a young man recently hired by a lumber transport company tries to get in good with his bosses, a father-son team from whom he learns a great deal in a short time. Unfortunately, his sense of loyalty and morality is strained by a bone-headed scheme, and he soon finds himself an accomplice to a stupid sort of crime. Will his beloved, departed grandmother's advice see him safely through this crisis with his honor intact? Or is it all too late already?

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 5/14/26. In this one, an ambitious corporate lady commits to an idea-generating solo retreat in the wild and mysterious Banjothorn Swamps. So as to get a good feel for the region, she (or her company) engage with Angler Bros. Swamp Tours, LLC. Due to circumstances (i.e., the cards,) she ends up with the "wrong" brother... but he ends up being the right brother (in a way.) Enjoy!

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 5/7/26. Per my notes, the synopsis is as follows: "A former collegiate tennis player who went on to professional glory but has since retired returns to his alma mater for the unveiling of his commemorative bronze bust. He hates the wretched thing, the way its eyes look, and the resulting emotions confuse and upset him, and drive him towards making some changes in his life." Mostly comedic, though it can be argued it has a bit of a downer ending (I think it's pretty ambiguous, though.) Enjoy!

A first-person account of a fictional baseball team's terrible fictional August and miraculous fictional September. I ended up doing this one (semi-intentionally) as a bit more of a monologue than usual. I have a bit of a cold on top of that, so this one might sound a bit "off." I think it's an interesting one, though... it's somewhat ramshackle in structure and has a lot of digressions but perhaps you're into that sort of thing, in which case I salute you. Enjoy!

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 5/1/26. In this one, a bookish earling (like a princeling, but for earls) feels pressured to excel on a hunting weekend at the beautiful but dangerous estate of his father's political frenemy, Baron Elgin. The young nobleman performs surprisingly well in multiple ways, but there may be plots brewing in the shadows, and a certain sorrow building on his heart.

This is the story I wrote on 4/28/26. From my notes, the synopsis is as follows: "Once upon a time (in like the 90's) two counselors fell in love at the (once) iconic and beloved sleep-away summer camp known as Camp Longfox. Now, decades later, their daughter arrives to see if she might be able to restore the mostly-abandoned camp to its former glory." This is sort of a love story, and includes an abrupt time jump... hopefully fans of one or both concepts will enjoy. So, enjoy!

This is the Solitaire Story that I wrote on 4/15/26. This one is a light fantasy tale, or at least as light as a story centering on the unexpected death of a mostly-beloved monarch is likely to get while still retaining some emotional truth (hopefully.) Come watch Crown Princess Emmalisa as she navigates a trying but not-entirely-sorrowful week, punctuated by unexpected banquets, sibling rivalry, and near-nightly explosions over Benevolence Harbor.

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 4/2/26. It's a love story featuring two hardworking entrepreneurs in the meatpacking/catering trade (for narrative convenience their professional roles are somewhat vaguely defined). Will a troubling rumor regarding one of their father's purportedly unsavory business practices scuttle this relationship before it even begins? (This one gets a little weird, but I would argue not that weird.)

Content warning: rumors of cannibalism. Enjoy!

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 3/24/26. In this one, small-time, mostly-legit hustler with his fingers in a lot of local pies contemplates buying a boat. He gets a bit obsessed with the idea, in fact! Can his no-nonsense waitress girlfriend reel him in? How about the various carnies he employs? How about a retired Marine? How about the ocean itself?

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 3/16/26. This is the story of three sets of couples who all yearn to be close friends with other couples. It starts as an aspirational, "successful adult couples have couple friends" sort of thing, but becomes something a bit more important to all of them. The tone of this one is a bit too silly to be a proper satire, and a bit too serious to be a farce... I guess it kind of lands in "droll comedy of manners" territory, but I like to think it's slightly weirder-in-a-good-way than that description...

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote back on February 20th. In this one, a lucky guy who doesn't know he's lucky teams up with a disreputable friend to win a bunch of money at an off-track betting place. Over the course of a rainy and chaotic morning, their plan unfolds (and unravels.) Can they work together well-enough to make some real money, or is the scheme doomed from the start? Find out in this episode! Some limited profanity in this one!

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 3/6/26. An anti-mob vigilante who fancies himself something of a Batman gets distracted from his mission of vengeance by a fun fling enabled via his cover career as a D.J. Can his concerned and disenchanted inner circle get him back on track? (Note: I had a bit of a technical/recording issue with this one, but hopefully the resulting necessary stitch isn't too distracting.)

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 3/3/26. In this story, the "real-life" subject of a hit love song by international pop superstar Catlyn "Cat" Arrow struggles with how best to help his island community -- and his own peace of mind -- following a tourism-devastating hurricane. Being "the guy that song's about" comes with perks and headaches aplenty, especially when the pop star's rumored to be coming back to town. I kept mispronouncing character names in this one... plus the beginning is a bit long-winded, and the ending is a bit abrupt. But otherwise I like it!

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 2/14/26. It concerns the first mate of the exploratory sailing ship the Prudent Duchess and what he learns about himself and his fellows on an voyage around a largely-uncharted peninsula. It's a story about unexpected career paths, and also the power of art, and also storms. Enjoy!

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on February 1, 2026. It's about a romance cover model who feels uncertain about a recent career development. He has lunch with his agent and spies a mysterious woman and makes a late-night phone call. Kind of a meandering, character-heavy, portrait type of piece, but I like this one.

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 1/28/26. It concerns the career anxieties and related struggles of a park ranger who really loves pirates, but does not much care for office politics. By the end of the story, she has a better handle on what she really wants, but beyond that I can't say there's much of a traditional arc to this one. Enjoy!

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on January 15th. It's about a retiring science teacher who takes on a new short-term gig involving experimental educational domes. This one has both comedy (at least I think so) and tragedy (kind of)! Enjoy!

Happy Valentine's Day! As an apology for being a couple days late on dropping this episode, this one is a double feature. "The Premiere of the Redeemed" (written 1/20/26) and "The One That Got Away" (written 1/21/26). Appropriate for the holiday, these are two love stories (that are also about other things.) The first is happier than the second, but I think I like the second a little better.

This is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 1/17/26. It's called Exit Interview. A journalist assigned to cover a magical wargames conference ends up getting more directly involved than he had anticipated. It's in first person and set in a whimsical (sort of) fantasy world, if either of those elements appeal to you!

Alternate title: "Chainsaw Guy and The Frogman (2006)." An employee for a haunted hayride pitches an idea to his boss, and then is forced to see it through. Sorry for a few verbal flubs in this one!

This story is set in a low-fantasy sort of realm, where knights can carve out a living in tournaments and so forth. Timely, now that Game of Thrones is back in the zeitgeist! I picked this one for the third episode both as a celebration of finally having ten of the notebook stories typed out (I'm behind in this regard), and because I wanted to experiment with a story that covered a very long time period -- in this case a century or so -- and this seemed like a fun way to do so. If you don't like...

Story written on 1/5/26. A dinner party guest with a secret and a crush attends an unusual sort of dinner party. Mortal peril ensues!

"Quitting Time" is the Solitaire Story I wrote on 1/1/26. It's about a guy who wants to quit his job but then has trouble quitting his job.