Hey. Welcome to LesterRay.com!

Enjoy what you read!  And thanks for stopping by.  Be sure to tell your family and friends about my stories.

And, by the way, I’m looking for an agent. If you are if you know a good one who might be interested in representing some or all of what I write, please let me know or have him or her contact me directly. Thanks!

Lester Ray.

“Lester Ray” isn’t my whole name.  It’s my first two names.  You know, like “Bobby Joe.”  It’s what my mother called me when I was a little kid – and what she shouted outside our front door when I was late for dinner.  For most of my life, my name – as you’ll see on materials I’ve written – is Les Cohen and I live and write in Maryland.

P.S.  Two important notes…

All original materials on this website – including content, stories and books I have written – are copyrighted by me, Les Cohen, Ellicott City, MD as of when they were first written.  All rights reserved by the author.

As of June 1, 2023, the short-short stories I have written – ebook versions of which are included below – have been read a total of 25,333 times since they were first published, individually, in the Baltimore Post-Examiner.

Pick one!

Hi.  My website is about 7 short stories and books I’ve written.  They’re all ebooks that you can read on your computer, pad or phone – or download them to read later or print.  There’s a post, an article for each one of them.

Click on the link to watch our ebook slider.  When you see something that interests you, click on that slide for more information.

Thanks.  Enjoy the read and let me know what you think.  I read and respond to every email my readers send me.

Lester Ray's Signature

 

 

 

 

Note that some of my books are for sale at Apple Books and affiliated online book stores. Look them up by searching for the title or my name, Les Cohen.  Thanks!

Dealing with Bullies…

*****  FREE ebook!  *****

Or What?
Because bullies never see courage coming.

This is a really good, free! and important short story of 4,758 words on 15 pages that you can read or download at the bottom of this post.  It’s rated for middle grade readers.

That’s an excerpt from the story inside the slide below.  You can read or download the full text of the story using the ebook reader at the bottom of this post.  So, enjoy the read, share it with your friends and be sure to let me know what you think when you’re done.

Or What? Slide

Note that some of my books are for sale at Apple Books and affiliated online book stores. Look them up by searching for the title or my name, Les Cohen.  Thanks!

Sugar Time

*****  FREE ebook!  *****

Sugar Time
A great short-story for early readers.

Sugar Time has just 2,954 words on 10 pages.  It’s free! to read or download – and share with your friends – using the ebook display at the bottom of this post.  And be sure to send me an email to let me know what you think.

The quote in the slide below is from the story.

Sugar Time Slide

Note that some of my books are for sale at Apple Books and affiliated online book stores. Look them up by searching for the title or my name, Les Cohen.  Thanks!

Scary in the Woods…

*****  FREE ebook!  *****

The Clearing
For middle grade and high school (young adult) readers.

The Clearing is a sci-fi short-story with a touch of horror based on real botanical science.  The PDF version has 5,528 words on just 20 pages.  So it’s a quick read that you won’t put down until you’re done – and that you’ll be sure to remember the next time you go camping!

The quote in the slide below is from the story.  You can read or download it – no charge – using the ebook reader below.  And then email me when you’re done with your comments and suggestions.  I answer every reader email I receive personally, as quickly as I can.

The Clearing Slide

Note that some of my books are for sale at Apple Books and affiliated online book stores. Look them up by searching for the title or my name, Les Cohen.  Thanks!

Sci-fi Hiding in Plain Sight….

*****  FREE ebook!  *****

The Water Tower
For middle grade and some younger readers.

They had the perfect hiding-in-plain-sight location – until some neighborhood kids figured it out.  The PDF version has 7,521 words on 20 pages that you can read or download for free! using the ebook reader below.  And be sure to email me to let me know what you – and your friends – think.  Thanks!

Lester Ray's Signature

The Water Tower Slide

Note that some of my books are for sale at Apple Books and affiliated online book stores. Look them up by searching for the title or my name, Les Cohen.  Thanks!

Short-Short Stories…

The short-short stories listed below have been published,
weekly, in the “Literature” section of the
Baltimore Post-Examiner where, collectively, they have already been read
tens of thousands of times.

***  Short-Short Stories Preview!  ***

The Elevator Trilogy
Short-short stories for high school
(young adult) readers.

What’s a “short-short story”?  It’s a short-story that usually has only 3 to 5 or so pages, so each story is a real quick read.  Just the break you need every now and then from the pace and pressures of life. Read the description in the slide below – if you have time.

The stories are about all sorts of stuff, from romance to drama and some sci-fi.  Something for everyone.

I’m doing the final editing now of all 62 short-short stories I’ve written.  When I’m done, the entire ebook will be for sale at Apple Books.  For now, to give you a sense of what these stories are like, here are the PDF versions of the first 27 stories.  Take a look and let me know what you think.

 

The Elevator Trilogy Slide

Here goes…

01. The Elevator Trilogy

02. Last Picked

03. The Prophecy

04. Finding Dana

05. Precocious

06. Dialogue

07. Creative Running

08. Mind Over Maury


09. Dream a Little Dream of Me

10. The Fly and the Blonde

11. Jones

12. Double Fake

13. Bob

14. Guardian


15. Corporate Culture


16. Jimmy Loves Melissa


17. Organic Gardening


18. The Bully


19. The Eulogy


20. Memo to Carolyn


21. Relationship Saving Time


22. The Babysitter


23. Bubba and the Other Tomatoes


24. The Penny


25. Say Goodbye to Jane


26. Dream On


27. Enchilada Books


28.  The Speed Date


29.  Silent Partners


30.  Broken Rose


31.  Lot Boy


32.  The Commute


33.  The Ripple Effect


34.  Exhausted


35.  Next Contestant


36.  HonoLulu’s


37.  Road Trip

38.  Unfaithful


39.  First Date


40.  I, Your Son

41.  The Hangover

42.  Cleavage

43.  Shiny Things

44.  Stranger On The Bus

45.  Craig’s Lisp

Note that some of my books are for sale at Apple Books and affiliated online book stores. Look them up by searching for the title or my name, Les Cohen.  Thanks!