Time Travel Anyone? (Plus a Smattering of Cover Art)

Permuted Press (yes, that Permuted Press) has guidelines up for a new time travel themed anthology. I'm sure competition will be tight, but my muse doesn't seem to care right now. Check out the guidelines here. They open in April.



I shared the link to "The Awful Majesty of Being Gary" last Friday, but I couldn't help sharing the cover art to Port Iris #1.

Green is such a lovely/creepy color, don't you think? The morbid little grave, strange little dude, and shafts of light are just perfect. Port Iris has kicked off with a very nice aesthetic.

Gary Sump might appear again...if I can decide what he'll do next. It's hard to be a god.

I received my contributor's copy of Aoife's Kiss #32 yesterday. A story I used to teach in Sophomore level English inspired my story. "Distillation" is set in an apocalyptic/dystopic future where not everything is as it seems. (Like, when is it?)

The first lines:

Scars are curious things, whether worn as badges on the flesh or pressed deep inside one’s memory. I will always remember the night we lost the old man. It was black and silent, no hints of life outside the factory. He looked at me, his face bunched with wrinkles and his eyes damp. “They’re out there tonight. Can you hear them?” he asked.

Aoife's Kiss #32 has some nice poetry by Bruce Boston and Marge B. Simon, and plenty of fiction. Purchase at the genre mall.

Enjoy Tuesday.

Howard's Game Part 8; Port Iris #1 Up

Transcript of Missing Child Report from Action 6 News, Springdale, October 1st, 2009

Anchor: We have a new Amber Alert this evening for a ten-year-old from the Suncrest Heights neighborhood. Michael Renfro has dark brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen leaving Suncrest Elementary after school this afternoon. According to his parents, Michael walks home from school traveling south on Harvard Avenue to Sixth Street. Any information regarding Michael can be directed to our tips hotline, (811) 766-TIPS.



Transcript of conversation between Howard Talbot and Mrs. Cheryl Manlo, Counselor, October 2nd, 2009

CM: Do you know what I want to talk about Howard?

HT: Talk talk talk. (giggles)

CM: Howard, this is serious. Mike’s parents are worried.

HT: Mike?

CM: Mike Renfro, Howard. He’s missing. He never came home last night, and his mother has called the police. It was on the news.

HT: (whispering) I didn’t do anything to M-mike.

CM: You and Mike had some arguments on the playground—

HT: (raising voice) I didn’t do anything to Mike.

CM: Howard, I know things have been difficult. I’m sorry to hear about your dad.

HT: I’m not.

CM: (chair creaks) Let me start again. Do you know where Mike is, Howard?

HT: (mumbles)

CM: What was that?

HT: Shovel man’s got him.

CM: Howard? Howard Mike’s parents just want to know that he’s okay. Can you tell me where Mike is?

HT: I’m not in charge of shovel man. (giggles) Shovel man ain’t through with him, yet.

CM: Howard…why are you smiling, Howard? Is Mike okay?

(end)

And if you haven't had enough of me this week, Port Iris #1 is up, featuring the latest edition to the Gary Sump Mythos, "The Awful Majesty of Being Gary". It's a retelling (of sorts) from a 3rd person perspective.