Category: Featured themes
Themes featured in the fiction I write.
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![For Now [1-page story]](https://adriancowderoy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/For-Now-150x150.png)
For Now [1-page story]
Beatrice glared down at him, her eyebrows creased the way they did when someone contradicted her. “Sam, do something! And I don’t mean research.” Her voice was persistent and unforgiving. She’d arrived unexpectedly, gliding over from her office by the big window. A first. Shoes. Stunning white wedding shoes, created exclusively for the bride with…
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![The Forbidden Question [1-page story]](https://adriancowderoy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/The-Forbidden-Question-sqr-150x150.png)
The Forbidden Question [1-page story]
A closed meeting with the Head—a first for Evita. Impress him. One helpful statement would prove her. “You represent the students,” her department head explained and sent her to the far end of the meeting table. Brian’s eyes were small in a deeply bearded face, and his gaze rested entirely on the three close colleagues…
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![When the Door Closed [1-page story]](https://adriancowderoy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/When-the-Door-Closed-150x150.png)
When the Door Closed [1-page story]
Suzanne closed the door carefully, as wary of its ancient wood as of the publishing house’s history. She turned her back on the stone pillar and faced her colleague. “He used to say nothing would stop a publication date. Something’s happened to him.” She shook her head, not a strand of her bob out of…
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![Cheating the system [1-page story]](https://adriancowderoy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Cheating-the-system-150x150.png)
Cheating the system [1-page story]
The perfect AI job, at last—Maarisa figured. Her enthusiasm was met by an HR person with a stained tea mug and a frown: “Your CV is… unusual.”
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“Stop the panic” – crisis communications example
This is a stakeholder engagement example from a project that hits a crisis, and the previous strategy breaks down. A new strategy is needed immediately.
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“Fightback” – manage a technology failure – a case study
A technology failure. This is a case study of a quality assurance manager facing his worst nightmare, and how he reacted. It’s an example of intelligence-based project management.
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“Today will be different” – how to achieve chaos resolution
Chaos surrounds Libby’s work. She dreams of order. Then a new manager arrives and claims he has a magic wand. … This is a story of chaos resolution.
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Sweet and Sour Chaos – escape from an intelligence agency to industry
An intelligence analyst tries to find a “purpose” after escaping from the “Agency” to industry. Konstantina must save her colleagues from disaster. … The story illustrates challenges of taking intelligence practices and adding them to project management in industry.
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Drumhead Trial – an example, and 6 ways to fight it
“Drumhead Trial”. An intelligence researcher is accused of incompetence when investigative journalists outsmart him. The story shows the danger of being a scapegoat – in almost any job.
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An agency man – a story of an ex intelligence officer in industry
Ex intelligence officers face many challenges adjusting to civilian life. This is a 4 page story to illustrate the transition, and the challenge of hiding their background.