Scars at Pulp Metal Magazine

The dark is seductive.

It needs.

It wants.

It's hard to resist.

Keep the blindfold on.


Scars

at

Pulp Metal Magazine

(scroll to 4th story down)


Thank you to editor Jason Michel for publishing my story.


Carrie Clevenger introduced me to Johnny Hollow. I was smitten. She dared me to write a story to one of their songs. I chose 'Dark Thing', which is playing as you read this. The lyrics can be read here. (Stay tuned to read Carrie's 'Dark Thing' story this Friday. I personally can't wait. UPDATE: Turns out. Her piece is so fantastically wonderful, she will be submitting to a mag instead. I'll blog it when its up.)

My Story at Jim Wisneski's 12 Days Of Christmas

Peace On Earth Is At War

(Day 2 Turtle Doves)

Still enjoying that sweater and hot cocoa? Well, good, cause we plum ran out of egg nog due to them critters up above there.

Zombie cows. More Stones. Farmer Eb, Mrs. Miller, and one ugly politician have a problem this Christmas. You wonder what the heck that has to do with Turtle Doves? Why don't you wander on over and see what all the hoopla's about.

I have the honor of sharing 2 Days with PJ Kaiser and her story, The Turtle Dove. She describes it as "a somber slice of life with a touch of fantasy". If you know her from #fridayflash, you'll know she knows how to deliver.

ps. Thank you to Jim Wisneski for organizing '12 Days' and inviting me to be apart of it.

Weeping Stones At Yellow Mama

Spin the dials on your radio,
nestle in to that cozy chair,
and read yourself quite possibly
one of the strangest stories you’ll ever read.

Weeping Stones

Life might be warm, but death is cold.
Any sucker can tell you that.
So, dear reader, pull up a chair. Put on a sweater.
Do not pull on the cat’s tail and yes, you may make
yourself another cup of hot cocoa.

Most of all, Enjoy.

Thank you, as always, to Yellow Mama editor, Cindy Rosmus.

Ps. If you like this story, be sure to tune in next Tuesday, to Jim Wisneski’s 12 days of Christmas. My story, Peace On Earth Is At War, ‘ll have enough dead’uns to make your toes curl.

Oh you better watch out... #fridayflash

Oh, You Better Watch Out…

The lights lay in the snow blinking crimson and ice. Beyond the glare of Christmas cheer, a shadow crouches under the porch. My heart pounds. I clench my hands around Kimberly's ankles.

"Santa?" She wraps her cold fingers around my neck, and nuzzles her nose in my hair.

"No, honey, that's not Santa…" I whisper, taking small steps backward toward the candy cane lined sidewalk. Oval green eyes blink. A flash of sharp white convinces me. "Definitely, not Santa…"

Kimberly breathes into my ear,"Then what is it, Mommy?" She lifts her finger and points.

You Better Not Cry….

The snow bites into my slippers making my toes ache. Slowly, slowly, I creep backwards. "It's…a…well, a…um…” I don't have a clue what it is.

Watching me like a prowling cat, it tilts its head sideways allowing me to take in the full profile of a creature face, triangular ears, and sharp blades of teeth. Before an "Oh my…" escapes my lips, my foot slips. I grab for a giant candy cane, but Kimberly is already tumbling from my shoulders. The candy cane falls to the ground, and so do we.

It springs from the shadows.

You Better Not Shout I’m Telling You Why….

I drape myself over her body, a protective blanket. It does nothing to block the shock of the green fuzzy blur that halts before us.

Oscar from sesame street, flies through my mind, but much to my horror and yes, amusement, I see it for what it really is.

Its head pauses above mine. I hear the flare of its nostrils. Its breathes in my hair. The heat of its breath licks my skin. It growls low and harsh, "Naughty or nice…"

I reach behind me, feeling for the candy cane.

It lowers its head and sniffs crying Kimberly.

Finding and wrapping my fingers around the cane, I sling it over my head, a candy cane wielding Christmas Amazon, only to have it caught between the fingers of the Grinch himself.

"Nice…" he spits between clenched teeth. Disappointment consumes his brow. He snaps the cane in half, turns, and flees the icy sidewalk. A fine dust of snow covers his tracks.


I previously posted this as a series of three at Six Sentences last christmas. It's obviously been rewritten & more than six (or 18) sentences now. Thanks for reading.

Christmas Is On The Horizon And So Is Many Good Publications

1. Shout out to Maria Schneider, creator of Editor Unleashed! Maria, previously editor of Writer's Digest, brings her skills and experience to her wonderful Writer's community. The discussions are friendly and helpful, the writers a great bunch, and I've always especially appreciated the critique forum. Earlier this year, Maria held a flash fiction contest and invited writers to explore how a judge picks and chooses winning entries. We posted our flash in a separate forum, read the entries, and then voted by giving the entries 1-5 stars. It was a phenomenal experience. Well, Maria's at it again with a "Why I Write" essay contest ($500 to the winner!). Come join her site and see what I'm talking about. Thank You, Maria!


2. Push Cart Nominee and novelist, Jason Michel's Pulp Metal Magazine is up for it's first issue! This new ezine is fast, racy, and sexy as they come. Wicked Noir from the awesome Dan Krokos, Steve Jenson, Melanie Brown, (one of my favs--->)Paul Brazil, and David Labounty. You'll also find bad arse photography (along with one of my own - 'You Made Me Do It') and fantastic art. All sorts of goodies here. Check it out!



3. The multi talented Mark Crittenden has announced he's guest editor (and illustrator) for Lame Goat Press! He's asking for submissions for his horror anthology Howl: Stories of the feral and Infernal. Mark has a fantastic eye and good ear, I expect nothing less than perfection from this antho. Read submission guidelines at his site or email him editormc@yahoo.com .


4. Good writer buddy, Sean Ferrell’s book cover is out! It's gorgeous.This guy's short stories blow me away, and I just can’t wait for August when his book, Numb, comes out. Check out Numb in the Harper Collins Catalog here, and then you’ll want to preorder on Amazon. (I did it, so should you!) Congrats, Sean!




5. While I’m at it I’m going to give a plug to one of my favorite Horror flash ezines, Flashes In the Dark. The zine is holding a Worst In Love contest (deadline Dec.31st). There have been some great entries, including Sean Monaghan's Fiancees Among Us (it's one of my favorite ghost stories EVER). He’ll probably win (or maybe Angel Zapata will- AGAIN. Or maybe the beautiful Ms. Eno?) but I say we give them a good run for their money. Check out contest rules here. Thanks to editor Lori Titus for running an awesome site.


6. Reminder that John Wiswell's surgery donation drive is still going! His hospital bills reached over $17,000 bucks! I know budgets are tight, but this guy is a hellava writer. He has no health insurance due to pre existing neuromuscular syndrome. Please donate to his cause and support a good person.





7. Tune in for Jim Wisneski's 12 Days Of Christmas starting December 14th! Christmas stories of cheer, horror, and about every kind of genre you can think of will be placed in your stockings early (my masterpiece, Peace On Earth Is At War will be on the 15th)! So be sure to read from the 14th through the 25th to satisfy that reader's sweet tooth.

My Muse Likes Cheesecake

My Muse Likes Cheesecake is up today at Flash Fiction Chronicles.

I hope this inspires you and kicks your muse's booty into gear.

Thank you to Gay Degani, editor of Flash Fiction Chronicles, for inviting me to write for (my fav blog on writing on the net!) the site. Follow her on twitter for daily word prompts and Flash Chronicle's author updates.
~~~~~~~~~~
Jeffrey Callico has his new lit zine, Negative Suck, up for its virgin Issue. You'll find my photography and some great writes there, including a bizarre poem from one of my all time favs, Angel Zapata. Check it out.

'Classy Like Frank' Croons At Paul Brazil's Blog

A slice of a knife should make a hit-man's first assignment go down smooth like scotch, right? Them rich people, ya just never can tell.

Check it out 'Classy Like Frank' at Paul Brazil's site.


Thanks to Paul for inviting me as a guest. It's a nail biting experience to submit something to the King of Noir. This genre is new for me. I hope my pen twisted crime worthy of Paul's site.

Feast Of The Flash Results Are In!

Mr. Michael J Solender has thrown this fabulous writing contest, offering to donate $100 to the winner's charity of choice. This is simply fantastic and wonderful in every aspect imaginable. If that isn't enough to knock your socks off - this is: he announced today that he had decided to donate $50 each to the first and second place runner ups - and there are four of us!

What a generous heart Mike has, not just for donating money, but all the time he donated into reading and judging the entries. Wow. My floppy hat off to you, my friend.

Congrats to Grand Prize Winner------
Laurel Wilczek with Thanksgiving Day Pies!

Oh, I adore this woman. She's Super Woman. I fancy her writing away with a red cape, green gloves, and thigh high boots. She finished nano a whole ten days early! Whew- amazing! And this is while she's working with young'uns writing nano at libraries. I asked her if she would share her super powers. She responded. I listened closely, and will share with you. "Sitting upright in a chair for 6 hours. R. Butler calls it the white hot center. Family calls it creepy."

Go read up on the great reads at Michael Solender's Not From Here Are You?
Support creativity. Support Ezines. READ.

The Winners and Their Stories:

11/24: First Runners up:
Mike Whitney -Simple Gifts
J.F Juzwik - Undying Gratitude.

11/25: Second Runners Up:
Jodi MacArthur- Burning Yesterday
Mary Beth Ray - On The Autostrada

11/ 26: Grand Prize Winner : Laurel Wilczek - Thanksgiving Day Pies.

Honorable Mentions
Saturday 11/28: Lee Hughes
Sunday 11/29: Kim Perzy Urig & Aleathia Drehmer
Monday 11/30: Eric Beetner & Hazar Worth
Tuesday 12/1: Christopher Grant
Wednesday 12/2 Paul Phillips & Erin Cole
Thursday 12/3 Angel Zapata & Daniel Stine

Possession At The Bijou

Jeanette Cheezum and I are blindfolding men with scarves and searching for porpoise over at Absolutely*K*te's sizzling, electrifiying ~The Bijou If you get the chance swing by and check it out! You'll also find the works from Harry B Sanderford, Paul Brazil, and the saucy Kate herself.

Painted Black in 'disenthralled'

Issue #2 of disenthralled is up today! Walter Conely has dived into the editing world and designed a dark and beautiful ezine. His story, poem, and shadowy photography selections are nothing short of fantastic.

You can read the works by Bruce Brown, Amy Kelly, Quin Browne, Jeffrey S. Callico, Len Kuntz, Allie Dresser, Paul Dutra, and myself.

Read up. Support creativity, support ezines.

Big Thank You to Walter Conely for publishing my story, Painted Black.

Also

John Wiswell from The Bathroom Monologues asks for pledges of support. He has suffered life long neuromuscular syndrome, because of this pre existing condition; he is uninsured and cannot fully pay for a surgery to remove gallstones. Please support a good man and a good writer by donating whatever you can. You can read more and support him here.

Horror Through The Ages Anthology

Horror Through The Ages

The anthology "Features a multitude of horror stories from virtually every time period, prehistoric to distant future." Thirty poems and stories from authors you'll recognize including Sean Monaghan, Jessy Marie Roberts, Kaolin Imago Fire, AJ Brown, Robert C. Eccles and myself.

My story, Skin, is a sci fi horror piece, sitting right beside Sean Monaghan's The Stone Goddess.

Thank you to Lame Goat Press's Editor Christopher Jacobsmeyer.

Twisted Legends

Hey all!

Twisted Legends: Urbanized And Unauthorized anthology is out! You’ll recognize several names in here, such as: Laura Eno, John Pupo, Ennis Drake, Christopher Jacobsmeyer, Chris Bartholomew, Natalie L Sin, Michael A Kechula, Sam Cox, myself and many more.

My story is called, Bunny Man, a twist on the BunnyMan Bridge urban legend.
If you are in the mood for a creepy scare, you can order the anthology
through Amazon. Support small word presses and short stories.

Many thanks to Pill Hill Press Editor, Jessy Marie Roberts.

'Lovely Creature' At Erin Cole's 13 Days Of Horror

If you get a chance between pumpkin carving, apple bobbing, transforming into vampyres, fairies, devils, ghouls and collecting souls, I mean, candy - swing yourself into the masquerade ball at
Erin Cole's and read 'Lovely Creature'.


AND while you are there, check out the fantastic and horrific writes by Michael J. Solender, Angel Zapata, Paul D. Brazill, Kate Pilarcik, Barry J. Northern, Laurita Miller, Jeffrey S. Callico, John D. Carlucci, and John Wiswell.


A warm thank you to Erin Cole for the invitation and classy pedestal she gave each of us. I’d also like to thank her for inventing the whole '13 Days of Horror’ idea. I feel like I’ve been sitting by a campfire, listening to each tale, and being delightfully scared out of my wits. She’s a fantastic writer and sets the bar for us all when it comes to quality and character.


Thank You, Erin!

#Fridayflash ~ 'Rigged' at The New Flesh

Rigged



The answer to all his problems.

Read at The New Flesh Today!

Thanks to New Flesh editor William Pauley III for publishing my work. The Ezine is fairly new - so check it out, folks.

Also, Erin Cole's 13 Days Of Horror is growing more harrowing by the day. Visit her site for some scares and fantastic stories.

This song played through my head over and over as I was writing Rigged.
Thank you, Aretha!

New Story at Yellow Mama!

One lonely rest stop.
Two sisters.
Their secrets so grim,
even the reaper would kill to know.



Read
Hollow Secrets
At Yellow Mama!



The art work is amazing! A big thank you to Yellow Mama's editor, Cindy Rosmus, for a top notch presentation. I also appreciate the workshop mentality she brings to her magazine to help young authors grow.
This was my first 'real' story accepted last December. It gave me the confidence to keep writing. I appreciate Cindy taking a chance on me - you're the best!

A second shout out to my little sister for whom this story was written.
Happy Birthday, Bobby.
Thanks for helping me drive halfway cross the country two years ago.
And... thanks for not being a serial killer.
Love you!

#FridayFlash ~ Snapped

Ding! Ding! Ding!



The hotel elevator halts between floors twenty-four and twenty- five. The lights flip off, on, off. The exit sign flares red creating a halo about the crown of the old guy’s head, making his deep wrinkles appear as cracked doorways to hell.



To make matters even worse, the fat lady begins to scream.



I feel my center of gravity drop. The elevator is moving and I can’t hear it over the fat lady’s shriek, but I am pretty sure the cable just snapped. We are dropping straight down. It's cool with me though. I fed the monsters in the basement just an hour before; they’d leave me alone.



For now.




Like this one? Read my suspense horror, Hollow Secrets at Yellow Mama !

Featured Author at Full Of Crow

I just about fell out of my chair (and I think I snorted my coffee) when Lynn emailed me with the good news. Lynn Alexander’s talent in expressing art through words and photography (and showcasing others) is 100% classy. I feel humbled to not only have my story 'Art’ published in Full Of Crow, but to be featured as well. (I’m not worthy!)



Thank you, Lynn.



Go check out her creations. You’ll be nothing less than impressed.

Full Of Crow

Mi-Crow

Blink -Ink

The Sphere

Lynn’s Website


Also, read up other Great works that are full of it...Full of Crow that is ~Erin Cole, Michael J Solender, Jeffery S Calico, Walter Conely, M.E. Purfield, and Beto Palaio


pppssstttt....Be sure to check out my micro flash Bunny Bridge at FLASHSHOT this Wednesday, October 7th. Also, coming later this month ~ Hollow Secrets at Yellow Mama and Lovely Creature at Erin Cole's 13 Days Of Horror

#Fridayflash ~ Rabid

'Welcome to the city of lost parents - we will take care!' says the sign.

“I don’t know if we’re doing the right thing. Will they really be happy here?” I ask as we watch rabbits fester through torn tents.

A lady screams and something with curls, a red nose, and lots of white face paint chases her down the street on stilts.

“I already told you, the whistling deer head said they’ll be taken care of. I bet that lady was playing with the clown.”

“I don’t know. Perhaps we should just let them go in the country,” I say and turn to our duct taped parents in the backseat.

“It’s too late,” Greg says as the clowns open the passenger doors and snatch our parents away.

*Some of you will recognize this work previously published on my six sentences blog site . Thanks for reading again!The blog is going wonky. Sorry if the colors are strange and disturbing.

Commitment To Integrity

Well, I just had to write something about the plagiarism Angel has exposed. It is Angel Zapata’s and others words that were stolen, so I feel they should be the spotlights as to the outrage. So I humbly pledge my support with them and leave you with links to their blogs so you can read up what they have found.


Thank you to Angel for the detective work he did on tracking this guy down and starting an avalanche of support the writing community has pledged for each other and the integrity of each of our words.


Please visit their sites and pledge your support!


Angel Zapata
http://arageofangel.blogspot.com/2009/09/ive-been-plagiarizedand-im-not-alone.html


Shock Totem
http://www.eyesoretimes.com/2009/09/grand-theft-boogeyman.html


Aaron Poison
http://aaronpolson.blogspot.com/2009/09/ive-been-violated-and-so-have-many.html


Here are other blogs speaking of the same topic ~


Mercedes M. Yardley
http://abrokenlaptop.wordpress.com/2009/09/30/plagiarism-ticks-us-right-off-obviously/


Erin Cole
http://erincolelive.blogspot.com/2009/09/stealing-babies.html

#Fridayflash ~ Tea Time With Warthog

Beached Whale smiled at me. “Now, Raymond, sit and drink your tea. Soak up the sun while you wait for your grandmother. We all know sun does a body good.”

I placed my paws in my lap and let the red tea lobster.

“Raymond, drink your tea, you know how it makes your grandmother if you don’t. Besides, she pays to keep you out of the…facilities. A grandson should appreciate…” Beached Whale spouted on. I put my paws over my ears. Despite my keen sense of hearing, I couldn’t hear her anymore.

Beached Whale objected and hustled behind me. Her mighty girth and fatty smell won. “Raymond, put your dog gone hands down.” I relented and put my paws over my nose instead. Beached Whale smelled bad.

“Quiet yourself, Myrna. I can hear your blubbering from the house.” Warthog approached, ugly, wrinkly, and grey around the edges.

“Mrs. Whirlse, I’m afraid Raymond isn’t feeling up to tea today. The doctors say that-”

Warthog raised two fingers in the air silencing Beached Whale. She lifted the seat of her black skirt and sat on the edge of her chair. She glanced at me and rolled her eyes. “Raymond, why is your hands over your nose?”

Beached Whale and I exchanged glances. “Raymond, put your hands down and drink your tea.”

Beached whale smiled her fishy grin, so l left my paws where they were. Stupid, smelly Beached Whale.

Warthog sighed and motioned for Beached Whale to put two lumps in her tea. “I’m afraid, Raymond, if you continue to be uncooperative we’ll have to let Dr. Smith give you the electrical treatment again.” Warthog gave me the Evil Grin.

My pulse sped. The electrical treatment was not good. Not good at all. It made me angry. I lifted my upper lip. “Grrrr…grrr….” I said, baring my sharp teeth to let Warthog know I was serious.

“Oh my.” Beached Whale wrapped her arms around herself and stepped back. “Shall I get Kitty?”

I stood up and put my paws on the table. I snapped at Warthog.

“Tell Kitty she is needed immediately in the garden.”
As Beached Whale heaved off, Warthog’s eyes met mine and I sat down. Sneering. Waiting.

“Raymond? You barking off again?” I snapped my head towards the sultry voice and let my tongue loll out.

Kitty’s curvaceous figure sashayed through the garden gate, racing my pulse in ways different from a moment ago.

“Kitty, he’s growling at me again,” said Warthog.

“Aw, Mrs. Whirlse,” Kitty bent to my face giving a good helping of cleavage, “I’m sure Raymond didn’t mean it. Did you, Raymond?”

Kitty’s eyes teased me. I wagged my tail. I nodded my head. I panted. Kitty smiled. I smiled back.

“You wouldn’t want to be punished would you?”

I panted harder, letting drool roll down my chin.

“I don’t think you’ll have anymore problems with growling today, Mrs. Whirlse.”

Kitty stood and patted my head. “Good doggie.”

That’s what she said last night when I made her purr.

“Now, drink your tea or else…” Warthog sat on the edge of her chair looking warty and hoggy.

Beached Whale stepped back and whispered to Kitty, “He’ll need the treatment again.” Kitty ignored her.

I looked at my teacup and lifted it in both paws. I glanced up at Warthog. She bent over the table observing my every move. I raised the cup to my nose, whiffed, and looked at Warthog again. She stared back. Challenging me.

I farted.

“That’s enough!” Warthog slammed down her teacup.

I tipped my head back and poured tea down my throat.

“Good, Raymond,” said Kitty.

I put down the cup. Warthog stood. She raised her nose and assessed me like a doctor would a patient. “You may stay. Tea tomorrow. Same time. If you don’t drink tea you know the consequences. Kitty? Come.”

Kitty followed Warthog out of the garden leaving me with Beached Whale.

“You’re despicable…” she began. I put my paws over my ears and thought about petting Kitty tonight and tea with Warthog tomorrow.



(previously published at The New Absurdist)

The NEXT STEP at FLASHES IN THE DARK

She walks the straight and narrow.



They wait to catch her when she falls.



Read THE NEXT STEP at Flashes In The Dark

#fridayflash ~ Oh Hell, It’s Shail

The lake splayed before him with the illusion of clear blue waters lapping at a clean-cut shoreline, but underneath, hid the dirt and filth of ancient gods and abandoned second chances.

Evil lurked.

And that was why he sat atop the picnic table, his massive legs propped up on the metal BBQ, listening to the sound of his bowie knife as he stroked it across the wet stone. It prepared his mind, his thoughts, his soul - if he should loose the shattered pieces that were left.

The sun faded to a sliver upon the forest, and that glowing coal of pain, the pain that melted his stomach to the sewage it'd become, began its precursor to the hunt that would soon follow the swallowing of the slivered eye into a black sky.

He'd know precisely the moment of evening, for the frogs would not croak, the birds dare not sing, and the wild life would keep to their caves and burrows. Flames of red and hatred of fire would soon be brewing deep into the heart of the Devil's Eye, the pioneer nickname for the heart of the forest. He chanted the rhyme letting it calm his stomach, and sharpen his mind.

Swift night follows

shrink ye lake

for red oft follow

the devil's sake.

Black tarred spears

dripping with blood

spirals with antlers

the devil's flare flood.

Deep in the heart

of green and pines

they eat of the heart and souls true

mind you, you weary, o soul opine

for the Devil's Eye opens amongst you

Sharpen ye swords and knives of steel

And cut off their heads,

And crimson skin do peel

And when morn awakes and opens the sky

Silent it closes, the Devil's Eye

Shail blinked. Night was upon him. He set the wet stone aside and stood. His chest, bare and massive, inflated with furry. The red beings, holding their catches high and frolicking amongst the tree tops, fled to the heart of the forest, where their triumphs of the day would be sacrificed.

(An excerpt of the novel I’ll be writing during nanowrimo)

Creepy Crawly At Flashes In The Dark

Check out my new flash


Creepy Crawly


At Flashes In The Dark Today!


Texas inspired this story. There are more creepy crawlies than one can fathom. Ugly Things. Big Things. So big you can’t stomp because of the mess – you need the flippin’ vacuum cleaner. Slurp.

When it’s hot like it’s been during this drought, the dirt aka lawn cracks open so deep I can stick my hand inside (maybe further – didn’t want to find out). All sorts of things that go bump in the dark hide down there. Thus, a story was born. Some of you may recognize a name in the piece. He happens to be one of my favorite sci fi writers. ;)

I also wanted to put in a plug on John Wiswell’s audio piece called


Possible Origins For Him 1.


I think it’s an amazing piece of writing and John’s vocal skills blow me away.
You can also read it here. I recommend listening to it first.

ps. My blog is misbehaving! The bottom half isn't showing up. So if it shows up for you, go ahead and push stop or pause before you listen to John's Piece.

Flies, Goats, and Flashes Come In Threes

I had a life changing experience this last week. I read Lord Of The Flies. I’m blown away, humbled, amazed…all that jazz. I just can’t believe all that the writer was able to illustrate through a tale of boys being stranded on an island. The slow crumble of humanity without morality. Fear. Good vs Evil. Temptations. Symbology of the conch shell. The imposed social standards of society – when there isn’t a society. He creates these characters I will remember forever. The ironies he brings out…all this in a wonderfully told tale. How can so few words say so much? He has provoked so many thoughts in me; I wonder how life can ever be the same again. Hopefully, this will carry over into my writing. Stories can be so much more than just stories. There is no better education on the writing of story, than the reading of a story. My floppy hat off to Mr. William Golding.

This week I’ve written four fresh stories and received three acceptances:

Lame Goat Press accepted my story, Skin, for their Horror Through The Ages Anthology. Lame Goat Press is relatively new. The editor writes quite a bit himself and is taking a dive into the publishing world. I respect anyone who has the guts to attempt that! I believe they are still accepting submissions. Chief Editor, Chis Jacobsmeyer, is a cool a guy. Check out his site here or email him with questions here.

Less Than Three, an absurdist e-anthology put together by Lynn Alexander and Jeff Calico, accepted my story Mean People Jump Off Cliff. If you are interested in writing absurdist or want to try out for the anthology, you can look up the guidelines here or email Jeff & Lynn here.

Flash shot accepted Bunny Bridge. The BunnyMan Bridge Urban Legend caught my imagination so much I wrote several versions with twists. Flash Shot is extremely short fiction – under a hundred words. Try it out, it’s tougher than you would think!

Thanks for stopping by to read. I appreciate all of your support. ;)

Sister (not so very) Grimm reports Good News!

Pill Hill Press has accepted my submission ‘The Bunny Man’ for their Twisted Tales Anthology. Woohoo! Look for it early 2010.


My sincere thanks to editor Jessy Roberts. This gal is one motivated person in the small house publishing press. She has multiple anthologies scheduled for publication throughout 2010. On a side note, she has a great balance of professionalism and friendliness. Her responses are quick and very personal. I highly suggest checking out Pill Hill Press and submitting your work to them.


Also, I have two stories, Creepy Crawly (Sept. 14) & The Next Step (Sept. 21), coming up in Flashes In The Dark. Thanks to Angel Zapata for introducing me to the quirky flash fiction site (check out his recent interview with editor Lori Titus!) and thank you to Lori Titus for publishing my work. Also, she’s just a down right cool person. Her responses to submissions are very prompt and personal. Support a good website and a good editor by reading and submitting your work to Flashes In The Dark.

Chop That Bean Stalk!

Once upon a time in a land far, far away, there lived a group of people who called themselves writers. Most of these writers spent all their life savings on the special instrument destined to bring them much wealth and recognition. It was the golden pen, made by the finest of goldsmiths and blessed by the wizards of magical yin yang, zing zang and stuff...The writers, enabled with the magical golden pen, wrote best sellers and lived happily ever after.


Sound familiar? It seems to me the more I get around and get to know more people, the more I see this If I Only Had A (brain!) golden egg mentality. I started noticing this in myself also. If I just had that special laptop, just had that writing class, just went to that writing seminar, if I had a super nifty golden pen, the right office chair, a better desk, if I didn't have that cactus thorn stuck in my finger, if I could make a New York Times editor friend, if I could sit on the beach and listen to the waves whisper tales and I could sip hot coffee and if my coffee were more caffeinated and it were Starbucks, maybe if there was a Starbucks coffee shop on the beach so instead of coffee I could have a mocha. Yeah. Then – I could most certainly write a bestseller.

Don’t get me wrong. Mochas help the brain work (so do peanut m&ms). Laptops are super handy. Writing classes help inform the creative brain to organize and write better. What I’m saying is that all these tools DO help, but if we aren’t writing and reading (I’m talking novels and short stories – not emails) daily – all this is nothing. If we don’t actually DO anything we aren’t making progress. If we’ve dumped a couple hundred or even a couple thousand bucks into a craft that we aren’t actively pursuing – it’s all money down the drain. You aren’t pursuing your dreams, you are pursuing a dream of a dream.

Yes, Jack might have given up the family cow for the dream of magic and golden eggs and hot harpy chicks (huh?). But darn it, he planted those beans, climbed the beanstalk, out witted Mister Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum and claimed the golden harp for his own!

The point is, before you sell the family cow, make sure you are willing to climb the stalk (write!) and out wit the giant (read).

Hmmm…Starbucks sounds good.

Critique Crisis

Yep, exactly what it says above. Any of you writers hit one of these? The last couple months, writing and critiquing short stories have filled most of my spare minutes. Sometimes I’m good at it – perhaps over confident. Sometimes, I’m sloppier than I should be.

Two weeks ago, I decided I was going to read Stephen King’s new short story book ‘Just After Sunset’. I wanted to enjoy and read as a reader. So I sat back with my yummy cup of coffee, relaxed, chose a random story, and began to read. Then I stopped. Then reread a sentence. Then stopped. Then reread …just like when I’m critiquing. I kept thinking, no, no, he didn’t write that….which is exactly what he wrote. There were three or four ‘that’s in a row, then a couple adverbs in the next two paragraphs.

My mind kept screaming CUT! Cut! You know, like a movie director or something. The other half of my brain, like The Fonz from Happy Days, kept saying to the director. Chill it, this makes sense. It flows. It unravels. It sounds like the character. We’re cool….I really struggled through the story. The loud mouth director kept screaming at The Fonz. Fonzie kept doin’ his chill thing and my head kept screaming at them both to be quiet.

Finally, they both shut up, and then is when it hit me. It’s the voice King was preserving. His preservation of the voice ranked higher than trying to squeeze as much info out a sentence or scene or a verb. When it comes to character and voice, the truth of the character or the situation or even your own writing voice, is more important than how many adverbs or did we really show instead of tell or how many adjectives do we need to describe this little girl’s, sunshiney, kitten with cupcakes dappled, new but not brand new, polkadotted, sewn by susie’s grandmother’s, dress?

Ok, fine, so I’m exaggerating.

The point is that as writers, or young writers, such as myself, we tend to over analyze every single word, and you know? That’s good and it’s ok when you first start writing. It’s like watching your little one walk or talk for the first year or two or three. It takes concentration and coordination of all the muscles. At some point, it’s time to stop watching the ground, raise your eyes, and aim higher. At some point, we need to stop over analyzing and see the story for what it is and where it could be. Aim toward that goal, and hopefully after a few falls and skinned knees, our new walking (critiquing) skills will get us there.


Now all this doesn’t mean I’m going to be any easier or nicer or meaner. ;) If a story sucks, it just plain sucks. It does mean that my focus is going to shift. It’s going to shift from nitpic workshop mentality to focusing on character, voice, higher goals and depth within a story, and being a better reader.

Who knows? Maybe I’m wrong about this too, but I’m growing as a writer and I try to keep an open mind. And as long as I can keep doing this, as long as WE can keep doing this, we can know we are heading somewhere…(out of Texas!)