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Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover

After about a year of tinkering, I have invented a new method of quickly writing pieces of short fiction. I plan to spend 2026 testing and refining this method by using it to craft a brand-new short story… every single day of the year!This experimental storytelling method requires only a standard pack of playing cards (plus a notebook, or whatever) and a commitment to follow the suggested narrative road wherever it leads. I"ve always loved writing, but have struggled with finishing anything, largely

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All Episodes

24:00

A Junkyard Outside Yearning (Story #163)

Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover ·

2026/09/30

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

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23:00

The Food Group (Story #132)

Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover ·

2026/09/23

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,

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28:00

Short(er) Story Double Feature (Stories #136 and #134)

Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover ·

2026/09/16

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

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18:54

Mosaic House (Story #133)

Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover ·

2026/09/05

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

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20:00

The Second Time Capsule (Story #130)

Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover ·

2026/08/28

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

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25:59

Yeoman Curewell (Story #129)

Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover ·

2026/08/21

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

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24:01

Clark Convenience, North and South (Story #125)

Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover ·

2026/08/13

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.

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23:00

The Inside Job (Story #124)

Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover ·

2026/08/06

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.

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30:00

Second Contact (Story #113)

Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover ·

2026/07/29

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.

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26:40

Daredevil Cake (Story #110)

Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover ·

2026/07/20

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

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21:34

Margot's Close Call (Story #109)

Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover ·

2026/07/09

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

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28:00

Clara's New Clown Curriculum (Story #102)

Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover ·

2026/07/02

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!

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22:00

Swordfight Study No. 1 (Story #106)

Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover ·

2026/06/25

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)

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24:00

Little Jed's Big Dumb Idea (Story #98)

Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover ·

2026/06/16

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

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24:00

Angler Bros. Swamp Tours, LLC (Story #93)

Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover ·

2026/06/09

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!

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22:00

Go Copperheads (Story #89)

Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover ·

2026/06/02

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

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19:00

The Slump (Story #85)

Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover ·

2026/05/26

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!

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20:00

Earling Mortimer Impresses (Story #86)

Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover ·

2026/05/19

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.

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20:00

Week Eleven (Story #84)

Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover ·

2026/05/12

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!

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24:00

Exploding Princess Arrows (Story #75)

Solitaire Stories by Andy Hoover ·

2026/05/04

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.

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