I am a writer who cut my teeth on Science Fiction and Fantasy. I write stories in both genres as well as Supernatural, Thriller, Horror and Mystery. Sometimes I combine genres. Right now I am playing with a set of stories based on the 'Message in a Bottle' concept. Let me explain where I am coming from:

You are strolling along a deserted beach, listening to the seagulls overhead and enjoying the warm sunshine as you stroll. Just ahead of you there is what appears to be a bottle partly buried in the sand. As you get nearer, you can tell there is a note or something in the bottle. As you dig the bottle free, you think to yourself, "How interesting!" Once you have the bottle, you walk over and rinse it in the water. Now you can clearly see that there is indeed a discolored piece of paper inside. It intrigues you, so you tuck the bottle under your arm and continue your stroll.

When you get back to your lodging or maybe your vehicle, if it just a day-trip to the beach, you work the stopper out of the bottle and manage to fish the paper out as well. Unfolding the paper, you discover that it is indeed a message - written to you by name and disclosing specifics that let you know beyond any reasonable doubt that the message was intended for you alone. You look around for the practical joker who might be waiting to laugh at your discomfort, but you are truly alone with no one observing you at this moment in time.

What would be your reaction? What if the note warned of events that hadn't yet taken place? How would you deal with it?

This is the type of story ideas I have been playing with. I would welcome your input. This could take place in any timeline; past, present or future, and in almost any scenario from suspense and horror to a space explorer on a distant moon finding an artifact that held a message to him or her. Run with it and let me know what your thoughts are. I would also welcome stories for possible inclusion. The working title of the story collection is, '99 Bottles of Time on the Wall.'