Morning, you two happy warriors in the world of writing. Since Laryy has tried some of the Men-Man's coffee, and by his own admission is a 'Survivor' of the experience,I'll do the same and hope for the best.

And speaking of the best, a sampling of the new battch of Sarah's cookies would seem to be in order.

Hope everyone has at least one good thing happen this weekend. ;)

Later, Inspirators.

Today is a special kind of TGIF as in, Thank God It's Finally -Unmask day, at least here in the States.

To celebrate this l-o-n-g anticipated event, I've given the coffee pot a good rinse, filled it with dark roast Louisiana coffee and water from the mighty Kansa River which also supplied the water for the tea kettle. Both have been turned on, so to speak.

Over in that seedy den of depravity in the Red Zone I left a post last night that had some info on Sprite. The bottom line is good news since she claims to be much mo' better.

Coffee's ready. Gonna fill my mug with that ambrosia then fill my free hand with Sarah's cookies. Since the temp is expected to push past 100f again, think I'll sit over at the corner table with the fan turned on.

Later, Inspirators.

Scott, it is a truth, that possibly, maybe even probably,the single most important thing I learned while in college was that Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto is incomparable.

One of the nice things about having an Amazon Echo dset-up is not having to spell Tchaikovsky when I want an earful of his greatness. ;)

Later, Inspirators.

So how you all are? Elizabeth, by my count, you have eye troubles, car troubles and now tooth (crown) trouble. Brings to mind the old song from TV's Hee-Haw show, 'Gloom, despair, agony on me. Deep dark depression, excessive misery. If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all.' IMO, you are very wise to get all this badness over with before it's summertime. ;)

No doubt Verbal would have mentioned this first but I beat him to the punch. Today is the 90th birthday of the oldest, living member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Willie Mays. Jeff, might want to double-check me on this, but I believe the long-time Giant, ended his career on a Mets team that made it to the '73 World Series.

Time to sample some of Larry's fine coffee and Sarah's magnificent cookies. Think I'll take them with me to the corner table, pull up a confy chair and ponder on what bait those scientist were using when they caught that 7 ft long, 240 lbs Lake Sturgeon in the Detroit River. ;)

Later, Inspirators.

There are 27 themed submission calls and contests listed here, for writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Most of the calls pay writers, and none of the contests charge a fee. Some of the themes are: the hero’s journey; love; humans are the problem (a monsters anthology); Wight Christmas; night frights; fire; humorous mysteries; partners in crime; and escapism. One of the anthologies will open for submissions later in the month.

x x x

* from the free online newsletter of Authors Publish magazine -- the links won't work so google the sites for submission details

x x x

THEMED SUBMISSIONS CALLS FOR WRITERS

Tor.com: Africa Risen
This is a speculative fiction anthology open to writers of African descent only. Their guidelines say, “Africa Risen will take readers on a fantastical Pan-African journey inspired by indigenous African lore, and the richness found in immigrant and Diasporan narratives, gathering new tales of alien entities, scientists, spiritual guides, priests, and deities.
Ideal contributors will craft tales that reveal all the rich cultural diversity found on the African continent and every corner of our world, for Africa’s reach is wide and expansive, revealing that Africa is not rising; it’s already here.”
Tor.com also accepts pitches for unthemed non-fiction (do not send unsolicited submissions); pay is unspecified, and submissions are ongoing for those – see this link for details.
Deadline: 14 May 2021
Length: Up to 5,000 words
Pay: $0.08/word
Details here and here.

Heroic: The Hero’s Journey
Heroic is a fantasy fiction publisher. They want submissions for ‘The Hero’s Journey’ fantasy anthology. Their guidelines say, “We are looking for short stories with the theme of ‘The Hero’s Journey’ at their core. Whilst we’re not averse to traditional interpretations, we’re especially interested in explorations that take us into ‘unusual’ territories and subversions that give new life to this classic narrative.”
Deadline: 14 May 2021
Length: 750-5,000 words
Pay: £50
Details here.

Women Slaying Modern Gothic Horror
This horror anthology is open to women writers only – trans, cis, femme-identifying, all are welcome. They want fiction that explores “the grand traditions and tropes of Gothic Horror, reimagined and contemporized for this generation and beyond. … We’re not interested in rewrites of the classics; rather, stories inspired by Gothic moods, subtexts and themes. Take your breast-beating, ghost-plagued protagonists out of the Victorian manor and inject them into outer space; the plague-soaked, paranoiac world outside your window; under the sea; into a splatterpunk meta-fiction; or better yet, surprise us!” Submit shorter stories and poems; query for long stories. They will also consider poetry, especially if it comes with a strong horror narrative. While this is a Kickstarter-funded anthology, writers will be paid, whether or not the Kickstarter funds; writers will be paid a $25 holding fee, and the rest after the Kickstarter campaign.
Deadline: 15 May 2021
Length: 1,000-15,000 words
Pay: $0.04/word
Details here.

Weird Little Worlds: Humans Are The Problem
This is a horror fiction anthology. Their guidelines say, “Monsters are losing their place in a world flooded with technology and false movie representation. Their hunting grounds are diminishing in an “always-on” world. These are the stories of how monsters are adapting to the 21st century and fighting back to regain their place of power.
Bring us your tired tropes reimagined for the new world. Tell us the story that no one has told from the monster that we all think we know. Funny, smart, sad…but always scary.” Also, “All of the stories will have a supernatural element. They might be psychological horror, eldritch, gothic, and more. They will not be slasher/splatter horror, erotic horror, or anything that contains gratuitous violent and/or sexual elements.” This is a Kickstarter-funded anthology, and at the time of writing, the first stretch goal has been met; they will pay more if the second stretch goal is met.
Deadline: 15 May 2021
Length: 1,000-3,500 words
Pay: $0.06/word
Details here.

All Worlds Wayfarer: Prismatic Dreams
This is a speculative fiction anthology featuring LGBTQIA+ characters. Stories can be fantasy, SF, horror, magical realism, fabulist, slipstream, paranormal, surrealism, weird fiction, or any other style with speculative elements.
Deadline: 15 May 2021 (may be open for longer – see guidelines)
Length: 1,500-5,000 words
Pay: $20
Details here.

Claw & Blossom: Screens
This is a quarterly online journal of poetry and short literary prose, that touches upon the natural world. They are reading work for issue 9 (the June Solstice issue), and the theme is ‘Screens’. Their guidelines say, “The editor hopes to see explorations that relate meaningful personal struggles not only to a larger picture of humanity but beyond, to the context of other species and the state of the planet. The editor is partial to work that is layered and shows reflective complexity, and they are particularly fond of pieces that utilize emotional movement or narrative tension. Portraits and odes are unlikely to be a good fit.” The work must contain elements of the natural world – this need not be the main focus, but it should have a distinct and relevant narrative presence. Regarding poetry, they are partial to free verse, and aren’t keen on traditional forms.
Deadline: 23 May 2021
Length: Up to 1,000 words for prose, one poem
Pay: $25
Details here.

Classic Monsters Unleashed
This is a fiction anthology. Their guidelines say, “We’re looking for dark, scary stories featuring a classic monster or monsters (think famous creatures from pre-1960 horror movies). While we prefer new angles that subvert or re-imagine the monster, we are also interested in really good traditional monster stories. Stories can also star secondary characters, such as a well-known sidekick, assistant or love interest, from the classic monster universe.” They do not want general monster types, such as a Cyclops, Bigfoot, Dragon or Zombie. Nor are they necessarily looking for mythological monsters or old monsters, or for obscure characters. See guidelines for character suggestions; also, do not send Dracula stories.
Deadline: 30 May 2021
Length: 1,000-5,000 words
Pay: $0.08/word
Details here.

TDotSpec: Wight Christmas, and other themes
This is an anthology of holiday horror, and in particular stories that subvert Christmas tropes and seasonal clichés. “We are seeking dark reinterpretations of seasonal traditions, and stories that reimagine holiday characters as ghosts, demons, spirits, supernatural entities, or other paranormal phenomena.
Fantasy and science fiction genres are both okay, but in all cases, submissions are more likely to be successful if they are dark and subversive.
No Krampus.” They also accept reprints. They will also publish poetry, and poetry reprints.
Deadline: 31 May 2021
Length: Up to 5,000 words
Pay: Half a cent per word (Canadian) for fiction
Details here (scroll down).
(They are also reading for two other fiction anthologies: Strange Religion – speculative fiction of spirituality, belief, and practice; and Strange Wars – speculative fiction of coalitions in conflict. These are Kickstarter-funded, and at the time of writing, more than 75% of the goal had been reached; the submission deadline for writers is 31 May 2021, and if the Kickstarter funds, writers will be paid CAD0.02/word for stories up to 7,500 words; they’ll also accept reprints.)The Dread Machine: Darkness Blooms
The Dread Machine is a magazine, publishing house, and community of writers and fans of dread-inspiring fiction, according to their website. For the ‘Darkness Blooms’ fiction anthology their guidelines say, “Identity, security, and community are inexorably entwined.

We’re looking for stories touching on at least one of these themes. We want you to explore the boundaries of who we are, what makes us feel safe (and at what cost), with whom we choose to surround ourselves, and our darkest secrets.” All submissions must inspire dread. See their extensive guidelines for details, including their wish list, hard sells, and hard passes. Writers can submit up to three stories.

Deadline: 31 May 2021
Length: 2,000-10,000 words
Pay: $0.08/word
Details here.

Dark Moon Digest: Night Frights Issue #2
This call is for the annual young adult edition of horror fiction, titled Night Frights. Their guidelines say, “We want to introduce young minds to the fabulous world of horror fiction. … We want stories with complex characters and new ideas. Scare us. But also, inspire young readers into a lifelong obsession with the genre.
Cool it on the profanities, no sexual situations, nothing too graphic.”
Deadline: 31 May 2021
Length: Up to 3,500 words
Pay: $0.03/word
Details here.

The Antihumanist
Their tagline is ‘Flash Fiction and Philosophy’. They publish fiction and essays on the antihuman theme, and also commission artwork. Their guidelines say, “We want fiction that challenges human centred narratives, that forces us to confront our place in the universe, that makes us question: Who are we? Why are we here? Is there a purpose? Historically, weird fiction has best captured this goal. However, we are willing to accept submissions from speculative, horror, and literary writers that meet the above criteria.” For nonfiction, “We want essays and letters that challenge human centred narratives, that force us to confront our place in the universe, that make us question: Who are we? Why are we here? Is there a purpose?
Equally, we are willing to accept essays that challenge the antihumanist project and explicitly refute antihumanist assumptions and presuppositions.”
Deadline: Open now
Length: Up to 1,000 words for fiction, 750-1,500 words for essays, up to 350 words for letters
Pay: $0.05/word for prose; $150 for cover art
Details here (fiction guidelines) and here (essay guidelines).

Mystery Weekly Magazine: Die Laughing – An Anthology of Humorous Mysteries
This magazine publishes mystery stories, and they are reading work for mysteries with a humour element for an anthology. They want “stories with off-beat characters, bungling detectives, or funny premises. Be creative, but make it about a mystery/crime, and make us laugh!” They want fiction and B&W comics. They also accept general mystery stories (unthemed).
Deadline: 1 June 2021
Length: 1,000-8,000 words
Pay: $0.02/word for fiction, $25 for black and white comics
Details here.

Parabola: Fire
This is a quarterly journal that explores the quest for meaning as it is expressed in the world’s myths, symbols, and religious traditions, with particular emphasis on the relationship between this store of wisdom and our modern life. They are open for work on the ‘Fire’ theme. Apart from poetry, and retellings of traditional stories (they do not publish original fiction, only retellings), they publish articles/essays (including translations), book reviews, and forum contributions. Their guidelines say, “We look for lively, penetrating material unencumbered by jargon or academic argument. We prefer well-researched, objective, and unsentimental pieces that are grounded in one or more religious or cultural tradition; articles that focus on dreams, visions, or other very personal experiences are unlikely to be accepted.”
Deadline: 1 June 2021
Length: 500-1,500 words for retellings of traditional stories, up to 5 poems, 1,000-3,000 words for articles, up to 500 words for book reviews and forum contributions
Pay: Unspecified
Details here.

The Best of New True Crime Stories: Two anthologies
They are looking for submissions for two non-fiction, true crime anthologies. Send a pitch first. The editor selects material on an on-going basis; writers who submit work in advance often have a better chance of acceptance.
— Partners in Crime: Their guidelines say, “Nonfiction, true crime accounts featuring lawbreaking couples who have joined forces to commit crime. These couples can be married, domestic partners, or lovers. Stories can take place anywhere in the world and be from any time period. I’m interested in material covering a wide range of criminal activity. First-person accounts are especially welcome from writers with a connection to their cases. Add something new to the story, a different viewpoint or angle.”
— Unsolved Crimes & Mysteries: Their guidelines say, “Seeking nonfiction, true crime accounts of unsolved criminal cases and mysteries that can take place anywhere in the world and be from any time period. Material can cover a wide range of criminal activity. First-person accounts are especially welcome from writers with a connection to their cases. Add something new to the story, a different viewpoint or angle.”
Final submission deadlines: 1 June 2021, or until filled, for Partners in Crime; 1 September 2021, or until filled, for Unsolved Crimes and Mysteries; query first
Length: 4,000-7,000 words
Pay: $130 for both anthologies
Details here.

Apparition Lit: Contamination
They accept speculative fiction (fantasy, sci-fi, horror, literary) and poetry and they will open submissions for the ‘Contamination’ theme during mid-May. They have extended their reading period by a week for BIPOC writers only. Their next reading period is in August, for another theme. (They also have a monthly themed flash fiction challenge, which runs from the 1st to the 15th of every month, and pays $30.)
Reading period: 15-31 May 2021 for general submissions; 1-7 June 2021 for BIPOC-only submissions
Length: 1,000-5,000 words for fiction, up to five poems
Pay: $0.03/word for prose, $30/poem
Details here.

Mslexia: Roots
This magazine accepts poetry, short stories, and plays by female-identifying authors and they are reading on the ‘Roots’ theme. “Our Issue 91 theme is about hidden depths and ancestry, about what nourishes and anchors plants and humans alike.” They accept up to 4 poems, 2 short stories, and 2 scripts per entrant. They have also posted some exercises to get you started on the theme. They also accept unthemed work in many genres. Earlier there used to be payment information on their website, but now it’s unclear whether submissions are paid.
Deadline: 7 June 2021 for the themed issue
Length: 2,200 words for stories, up to 40 lines for poetry, scripts of up to 1,000 words
Details here and here.



Writer Shed Press: Second Thoughts
They publish fiction, creative nonfiction, personal essays, and poetry that is directly or loosely linked to the theme of ‘Second Thoughts’.
Deadline: 15 July 2021
Length: Up to 2,000 words
Pay: $20 (they can only pay through the Venmo app)
Details here.

Moonflake Press: Escapism
They are looking for fiction and poetry for their next print issue, on the ‘Escapism’ theme. “This can be escaping worlds, cities, identities or however else you interpret it.”
Deadline: 1 September 2021
Length: 100-2,500 words for prose, up to two poems
Pay: £25
Details here.

The Deadlands: Death
This is a new magazine and they accept speculative fiction and essays. Their guidelines say, “We are looking for speculative fiction that concerns itself with death–but also everything death may involve. A ghost in a shadowed wood. An afterlife discovered through a rusted door. An abandoned house in the middle of a haunted field. A skeletal figure moving with intent toward something unseen. Death personified. Burials in troubled lands. A raised scythe against a clouded sky. Memento mori. The rivers of the dead. The sprawling underworlds beneath our feet.” See guidelines for the hard sells. They also accept fiction reprints. They are looking for critical, academic, and personal essays, as well, that “explore the relationship between humanity and death. We are looking for a wide range of subjects, including but not limited to: cultural funerary practices, rituals of remembrance, historical explorations of death imagery, death imagery used in art and by artists, death imagery found in graveyards and on tombstones.”
Deadline: Open now
Length: Up to 5,000 words for fiction; 1,000-4,000 words for essays
Pay: $0.10/word for fiction; $100 for essays
Details here.

Wyldblood Press: Runs Like Clockwork – Steampunk Anthology
This is a steampunk fiction anthology. Their guidelines say, “We love steampunk – zeppelins and pith helmets, clockwork men and steam driven monstrosities. What if the world ran on steam? What if science took a radically different turn around the time of the Age of Empire and crinoline dresses? What if we could unearth new stories about legendary (and hitherto unknown) Victorian adventures? What if there was a new age of adventure – and it ran like clockwork?” They also accept reprints.
Deadline: Until filled
Length: Up to 10,000 words
Pay: £0.01 per word up to £75 (approximately $100)
Details here.

THEMED CONTESTS FOR WRITERS

Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award
This international grant is for supporting the recipient in crime fiction writing and career development activities. She or he may choose activities that include workshops, seminars, conferences, and retreats, online courses, and research activities required for completion of the work. This is for an emerging writer (see guidelines). The application process includes a writing sample – an unpublished piece of crime fiction, written with an adult audience in mind. This may be a short story or first chapter(s) of a manuscript in-progress, 2,500 to 5,000 words. Previous writing or publishing experience is not required, but the applicant should include any relevant studies or experience.
Value: $2,000; the winner can choose from a range of activities
Deadline: 15 May 2021
Open for: Writers of color
Details here.

Jerry Jazz Musician Short Fiction Contest
This is an international fiction contest. While the story should appeal to the audience of this magazine, all themes will be considered. Their readers have interests in music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theater, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America. Ideally, stories should not exceed 3,000 words, but those up to 5,000 words will be considered.
Value: $100
Deadline: 31 May 2021
Open for: All writers
Details here.

The Black Orchid Novella Award
They want novellas (15,000-20,000 words) that confirm to the tradition of Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe series. They should focus on the deductive skills of the sleuth. Their guidelines also say, “We need to stress that a novella is not a padded short story. A novella needs to be as tight and fast-paced as a short story or a novel. Authors need to ensure that the story they want to tell is properly sized for whatever format they choose.” They are not looking for derivatives of the Nero Wolfe series, or the milieu. They accept mailed submissions only.
Value: $1,000 and publication in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine
Deadline: 31 May 2021 (postmarked)
Open for: All writers
Details here.

Sapiens Plurum: Healthy Together – Innovations for One Health
Sapiens Plurum conducts an annual short fiction contest, opening on Earth Day of each year. The purpose of the contest is to entice authors to conceive of the future in terms of desirable outcomes, and imagine how we might get there. The topic of this year’s contest is, ‘Healthy Together: Innovations for One Health’. Their guidelines say, “One Health is an effort by the CDC that recognizes the connection among the health of people, animals and the environment to achieve optimal health outcomes. … The One Health concept is the basis for this year’s contest.
The news today is full of stories of disease and environmental destruction. We ask authors to imagine a world in which technology has improved One Health — the health of the environment, humans, and all living things.” (See guidelines for further details). Submissions should be 1,500-3,000 words.
Value: $1,000, $500, $300
Deadline: 31 May 2021
Open for: All writers
Details here and here.

The Navayana Dalit History Fellowship 2021
Navayana is an India-based indie publisher that publishes work on the issue of caste, from an anti-caste perspective. They want submissions for non-fiction book proposals on dalit history; the proposals have to up to 3,000 words, and the completed manuscript must be at least 50,000 words. They will award at least two fellowships. They have extensive guidelines, including: “…we welcome histories of movements, campaigns, local struggles, ideological or cultural movements, histories of organisations or periodicals, biographies, or even stories of individual lives. The ambit of dalit history is wide. We leave it to the applicants to surprise us with their interpretations of the term.” Writers can live anywhere in the world, and dalit writers will be given preference; non-dalits must account for their engagement with dalit history. Early-career scholars are encouraged to apply, as are those working on translations pertaining to dalit history.
Value: At least two fellowships of Rs.100,000 (approx. $1,300) each
Deadline: 31 May 2021 for proposals
Open for: All writers engaging with dalit history; preference given to dalit writers
Details here.

CNO Naval History Essay Contest
Their website says, “The Chief of Naval Operations invites entrants to submit an essay that applies lessons from throughout naval history to establishing and maintaining (US) maritime superiority in an era of great power competition.” See guidelines for details on the theme. Essays have to be up to 3,500 words. This contest is open to: US and international professional historians (including history museum curators, archivists, history teachers/professors, persons with history-related doctoral degrees; authors of books on naval history (not including self-published works); civilians who have published articles in an established historical or naval journal or magazine.
Value: $5,000, $2,500
Deadline: 31 May 2021
Open for: See above
Details here.

May the 4th be with you!

Yep, it's national Star Wars Day. Misbehave accordingly. ;)

Curvy, more best wishes heading your way for both you and your mother along with many thanks for keeping us posted on her condition.

The coffee pot has been rinsed out, then filled with Louisiana dark roast coffee and water of uncertin origin. The tea kettle didn't seem to mind getting its share of the liquid, so give it a try.

Having filled my mug with the good stuff and raided the cookie jars, I'll now assume the sitting position at the corner table and wonder where is Princess Leia now that we need her.

Later, Inspirators.

It's another Moanday mourning. Sorry about that. Curvy, glad to hear your mother is back home. Please keep us posted.

Now that those new fangled do-dads Larry mentioned recently are available (sorry about all that high tech jargon) I'm wondering if a small challenge of some sort might be a goodness.
Please feel inspired to share your thoughts, assuming you have any. BTW, 'Are you nuts? would, imo, constitute a valid comment. ;)

In case you were wondering, yes, the coffee pot is now rinsed, rubbed and refilled with primo coffee and the finest tap water available. The Tea Kettle got some of that exotic H2O and is ready to help the tea sippers and choc-o-holics among us.

Me, I've filled my mug, grabbed a handful of Sarah's pineapple/coconut cookies (don't tell her I done it, okay?) Thus equipped, I'll now head for a comfy chair at the corner table to await further developments.

Later, Inspirators.

How y'all are? My son and his two wonder dogs, Ziggy and Simon, spent most of yesterday futzing with my computer settings, then sitting out back while the dogs played in the backyard, and (drum roll) went to Wal-Mart. I have no idea how long it's been since I last entered Wally World.
BIG HUGS to all needing such an overt desplay of affection and support. Everyone else gets regular HUGS to celebrate their not needing one of those BIG HUGS.

Think (in a manner of speakin) I'll take my coffee and cookies over to the corner table, grab me a comfy chair and meditate on something or other.

Later, Inspirators.

Hi ya, Gill! (BIG HUT) Here's hoping you keep getting mo' better.

As for the rest of the Inspirations 'in' crowd, I'd pass along cheery remarks except the coffee pot and tea kettle both need attention.

With those Herculian task out of the way, I'm grabbing a handful of Sarah's goodies and a mug full of Whatever the heck kind of coffee I used and take myself over to the corner table to meditate on compound disinterest and other financial matters.

Later, Inspirators.

Happy Hump Day greetings to all Spacers. I agree, approximately 100% with Survivor about newbies being a goodness. Let me suggest that all who frequent Inspirations invite writers to drop in, especially those whose work has caught your attention.

With Larry having cranked up the coffee and tea making machines while the supply of Sarah cookies remains adequate, he says, checking for any oatmeal raisin cookies, I'll treat myself to some of both. It's a bit nippy outside (55f), but a stint in the great outdoors is calling me. Y'all put on a sweater or light jacket and come join in whatever is going on.

Later, Inspirators.

  Way back when, a friend and I were sitting behind the wired backstop to the church camp’s dusty softball field, playing chess on a small travel board, while waiting for the game in progress to end. We had cleverly positioned ourselves so both of us could watch the softball game while playing the grand game of chess.  Then it happened.  Later investigations revealed a misplayed softball...

Added 12 Apr 2021 | Category Micro Fiction | Votes 14 | Avg Score 5 | Views 131 | 12 Comments

The weak light from a leaden sky revealed a scattering of forlorn leaves clinging to the dark, wet limbs of trees bordering a deserted playground and half-empty parking lot. Cold, misty rain and swirling winds hastened the inevitable outcome of this doomed struggle.  A typical winter's day in New York, thought, Gwen Kaplan, as she took in the scene from inside her snug bedroom. To her,...

Added 27 Dec 2020 | Category General | Votes 8 | Avg Score 5 | Views 285 | 8 Comments

  “...and in local sports, the Mets and Yankees both dropped road…” Debbie Morris automatically switched off the alarm radio she’d carefully set last night to turn on later than usual and glanced at her wristwatch.  Satisfied she was now, as planned,  exactly ten-minutes behind schedule,  she nodded and went back to re-checking her hair and make-up. As usual, she didn’t like what she saw...

Added 26 Oct 2020 | Category General | Votes 8 | Avg Score 5 | Views 237 | 8 Comments

Folks always claimed ‘Buck’ Granderson got his nickname because he still had the first dollar he ever made. It wasn’t true, at least not the part about his name. I had it on very good authority that his parents, two otherwise sober and responsible individuals, named him Buckalew Lavelle Granderson. While few knew about his full name, those who did all agreed it must have been a long and...

Added 24 Feb 2020 | Category Flash Fiction | Votes 13 | Avg Score 5 | Views 533 | 11 Comments

Listening In The Rain I'm a good listener; always have been. Especially here inside the cemetery—just sitting in my truck, listening to the rain, hearing it tell the story, and waiting for Holly. We don’t have nice winter weather around here, just cold and rainy. The only thing it’s good for is hunting, especially for deer. But I don't hunt—not anymore. Winter became my favorite season...

Added 30 Oct 2019 | Category Supernatural | Votes 16 | Avg Score 4.94 | Views 744 | 14 Comments

The Tumultuous Tale of the Tormented Terrier Well, let me tell you, it was like this. Once upon a time, our humble hovel was being run by the daughter-unit’s pet, a small, cute, cuddly and constantly yapping Yorkshire Terrier that answered to the name, Puh-Pet, but only if she happened to be in the mood. She loved nothing better than people-food treats and patroling the backyard. Since it...

Added 15 Aug 2019 | Category Memoirs | Votes 10 | Avg Score 5 | Views 697 | 10 Comments

Newly polished toenails safely propped on the crowded coffee table, Darlene Barnes let out a long plume of cigarette smoke and waited for her friend to come back from the kitchen. Waiting in silence, however, had never been her 'thing'. The thirty-something bottled-blonde looked around at the empty doorway to the kitchen. "You know it's hard for me to believe you're this messed-up....

Added 13 May 2019 | Category Young Adult | Votes 5 | Avg Score 5 | Views 1,093 | 4 Comments

“You guys are nuts.” The Skeptic was in rare form as the four men studied the petite singer flitting around on the dim stage.   “I mean, sure she’s cute, but in a small-town high school cheerleader sort of way. No way is she this smoking’ hot sex object you guys keep raving about. But…”   The Skeptic stopped as the singer approached the microphone stand. Waited for A bright spotlight...

Added 05 Feb 2019 | Category Micro Fiction | Votes 8 | Avg Score 5 | Views 1,223 | 7 Comments

For the benefit of any unsuspecting reader, let me state now that this is NOT an article about how one might become a contented courtesan or smiling strumpet. Nope, not even a titillated trollop. Sorry about any confusion, honest. Truth be told, this assault on good taste and English letters is concerned with the fine art of creating attention grabbing hooks in the opening lines of your...

Added 18 Dec 2018 | Category Musings | Votes 10 | Avg Score 5 | Views 699 | 7 Comments

Now and Forever: a love story The dream was back--so were the eyes. They hovered in an angry sky just above the horizon, seeing everything but focusing on nothing. Amy knew those eyes—knew a time when they’d been filled with happiness and a love of life. But that had been before her brother came back from Vietnam. Young, naked, and skinny, she stood alone and vulnerable on a hill surrounded...

Added 14 Aug 2018 | Category Romance | Votes 8 | Avg Score 5 | Views 670 | 5 Comments