One of my more somber 200-word stories, Evie, will be published on the Erotica Readers & Writers Association website for the entire month of November.
While this R-rated, disturbing microstory, which explores childhood memories, death, emerging sexuality and hope, has brief carnal references in it, it isn’t what I, or most people, would call “erotica” – it reads more like a dark mature drama.
If this sounds like something that might interest you, check it out. =)
Monday, October 31, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Let's trade
By Michael A. Kechula
“Can anybody hear me?”
“Yes!” exclaimed the radio operator for Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, aka SETI. “Who – what – are you?”
“I’m the Emperor of Mars. I need your help. We have more dinosaurs than our planet’s ecosystem can support. Do you need any on your planet? We’d be happy to send you some.”
“Dinosaurs? I don’t think so.”
“Do you have any on your planet now?” asked the Emperor.
“No, they all died out long ago.”
“Then you don’t know what you’re missing. I’d be eternally grateful, if you’d take some off my hands. In fact, I’d be pleased to offer you an all expense paid, wonderful vacation on our planet if you accepted a few. This includes lodging at a suite in our best hotel, which is staffed by our most gorgeous and very friendly females.”
“Hmm. A vacation on Mars sounds fantastic,” SETI said. “What if we make a trade?”
“What do you have to offer?” asked the Emperor.
“Gorgeous rats.”
“What are they?”
“The most delightful creatures on Earth. You’ll love them. They’re quite delicious.”
“Sounds great! We’ll ship our dinosaurs tomorrow.”
The next day, six billion dinosaurs arrived on Earth in flying saucers. The same day, Earth dispatched six billion rats to Mars via UPS.
Earthlings were thrilled with their new, imported dinosaurs—until they discovered Martian dinosaurs had gargantuan appetites. They ate cars, airplanes, people, London, Africa, and everything else in sight. Then they ate each other. In six months, everything on Earth was gone, except for mountains of dinosaur dung.
The Emperor of Mars was ecstatic. He’d conquered Earth without firing a shot. And he’d received enough rats to feed his all his subjects for an entire year.
Copyright ©2011 Michael A. Kechula. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce in any form, including electronic, without the author’s express permission.
#
If you like the above story, check out this Michael Kechula-penned tale, Ugly duckling, published on this site in December 2011.
#
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Michael A. Kechula’s flash/micro tales have appeared in 143 magazines and 43 anthologies. He's won eighteen writing contests. Four of his books are published as eBooks and paperbacks: A Full Deck of Zombies - 61 Speculative Fiction Tales; The Area 51 Option and 70 More Speculative Fiction Tales; I Never Kissed Judy Garland and Other Tales of Romance; Writing Genre Flash Fiction The Minimalist Way - A Self Study Book. Ebooks at www.BooksForABuck.com. Paperbacks at www.amazon.com.
“Can anybody hear me?”
“Yes!” exclaimed the radio operator for Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, aka SETI. “Who – what – are you?”
“I’m the Emperor of Mars. I need your help. We have more dinosaurs than our planet’s ecosystem can support. Do you need any on your planet? We’d be happy to send you some.”
“Dinosaurs? I don’t think so.”
“Do you have any on your planet now?” asked the Emperor.
“No, they all died out long ago.”
“Then you don’t know what you’re missing. I’d be eternally grateful, if you’d take some off my hands. In fact, I’d be pleased to offer you an all expense paid, wonderful vacation on our planet if you accepted a few. This includes lodging at a suite in our best hotel, which is staffed by our most gorgeous and very friendly females.”
“Hmm. A vacation on Mars sounds fantastic,” SETI said. “What if we make a trade?”
“What do you have to offer?” asked the Emperor.
“Gorgeous rats.”
“What are they?”
“The most delightful creatures on Earth. You’ll love them. They’re quite delicious.”
“Sounds great! We’ll ship our dinosaurs tomorrow.”
The next day, six billion dinosaurs arrived on Earth in flying saucers. The same day, Earth dispatched six billion rats to Mars via UPS.
Earthlings were thrilled with their new, imported dinosaurs—until they discovered Martian dinosaurs had gargantuan appetites. They ate cars, airplanes, people, London, Africa, and everything else in sight. Then they ate each other. In six months, everything on Earth was gone, except for mountains of dinosaur dung.
The Emperor of Mars was ecstatic. He’d conquered Earth without firing a shot. And he’d received enough rats to feed his all his subjects for an entire year.
Copyright ©2011 Michael A. Kechula. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce in any form, including electronic, without the author’s express permission.
#
If you like the above story, check out this Michael Kechula-penned tale, Ugly duckling, published on this site in December 2011.
#
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Michael A. Kechula’s flash/micro tales have appeared in 143 magazines and 43 anthologies. He's won eighteen writing contests. Four of his books are published as eBooks and paperbacks: A Full Deck of Zombies - 61 Speculative Fiction Tales; The Area 51 Option and 70 More Speculative Fiction Tales; I Never Kissed Judy Garland and Other Tales of Romance; Writing Genre Flash Fiction The Minimalist Way - A Self Study Book. Ebooks at www.BooksForABuck.com. Paperbacks at www.amazon.com.
Monday, October 24, 2011
**One of my poems, Our City of Darkness, was published on the Every Day Poets site
One of my mainstream (but bleak-humored) poems, Our City of Darkness, was published on the Every Day Poets site.
Check it out and leave a comment/star rating, if you're so inclined and have the time. =)
Check it out and leave a comment/star rating, if you're so inclined and have the time. =)
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Nothing to be afraid of
By Cath Barton
It was a long way down. I didn’t dare go to the edge of the cliff like my friend.
“Come on, Sally,” Maggie shouted back to me, her words half-carried away by the wind. “It’s amazing. There must be fifty of them down there.”
A group of walkers coming the other way had told us about the seals down on the beach. There was no way that anyone could get down to that beach from the cliff path, and the seals evidently felt entirely safe. Unlike me. I was terrified. I’d never liked heights, and just the sight of someone else near the cliff edge gave me the jitters.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of.” As Maggie’s words reached me, she disappeared, over the edge. My heart juddered and my head spun.
I sank to the ground, shaking. I lay down and, fingertip by fingertip, dragged myself on my belly towards the point where the world disappeared. It was painful, slow. My body didn’t want to obey the instructions from my brain. I inched toward the edge, my eyes shut.
I have no idea how long it was before I opened my eyes. My blood thudded in my ears, a cold sweat lay on my brow. All the fears of all the worlds were in me.
Something shifted. The shift took the terror with it and I knew that there truly was nothing to be afraid of. The earth, the cliff, the sea and even the sheer drop below me were my friends. I started laughing in relief. Then I rolled, over the edge.
Nothing hurt, and I knew it hadn’t hurt Maggie either.
Copyright ©2011 Cath Barton. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce in any form, including electronic, without the author’s express permission.
#
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Cath Barton is a singer, writer and photographer who lives in South Wales. Her work is published here and there, notably in Fractured West, the Leaf Books Anthology Pod and 100 Stories for Queensland. You can see her exhibition of photographs of Wales at www.camelsaloonwales.blogspot.com.
It was a long way down. I didn’t dare go to the edge of the cliff like my friend.
“Come on, Sally,” Maggie shouted back to me, her words half-carried away by the wind. “It’s amazing. There must be fifty of them down there.”
A group of walkers coming the other way had told us about the seals down on the beach. There was no way that anyone could get down to that beach from the cliff path, and the seals evidently felt entirely safe. Unlike me. I was terrified. I’d never liked heights, and just the sight of someone else near the cliff edge gave me the jitters.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of.” As Maggie’s words reached me, she disappeared, over the edge. My heart juddered and my head spun.
I sank to the ground, shaking. I lay down and, fingertip by fingertip, dragged myself on my belly towards the point where the world disappeared. It was painful, slow. My body didn’t want to obey the instructions from my brain. I inched toward the edge, my eyes shut.
I have no idea how long it was before I opened my eyes. My blood thudded in my ears, a cold sweat lay on my brow. All the fears of all the worlds were in me.
Something shifted. The shift took the terror with it and I knew that there truly was nothing to be afraid of. The earth, the cliff, the sea and even the sheer drop below me were my friends. I started laughing in relief. Then I rolled, over the edge.
Nothing hurt, and I knew it hadn’t hurt Maggie either.
Copyright ©2011 Cath Barton. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce in any form, including electronic, without the author’s express permission.
#
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Cath Barton is a singer, writer and photographer who lives in South Wales. Her work is published here and there, notably in Fractured West, the Leaf Books Anthology Pod and 100 Stories for Queensland. You can see her exhibition of photographs of Wales at www.camelsaloonwales.blogspot.com.
Monday, October 17, 2011
**One of Basil Rosa's stories, "Boss Visa," was published in new anthology, A Small Key Opens Big Doors
One of Basil Rosa's stories, "Boss Visa," was published in a new anthology, A Small Key Opens Big Doors - Volume Three: The Heart of Eurasia.
According to Basil, the anthology, edited by Jay Chen, "focuses on Eurasia, and is one of a four-volume series, with each volume focused on a different part of the globe, all of them celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps. Sales of the book go to help fund the work of the Peace Corps in developing nations."
Check it out, if you're so inclined and/or have the time!
If you're interested in more of Basil's work, also check out his website and his haunting story, He held on and she kept saying time to go, published on the Microstory site on October 5, 2011.
According to Basil, the anthology, edited by Jay Chen, "focuses on Eurasia, and is one of a four-volume series, with each volume focused on a different part of the globe, all of them celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps. Sales of the book go to help fund the work of the Peace Corps in developing nations."
Check it out, if you're so inclined and/or have the time!
If you're interested in more of Basil's work, also check out his website and his haunting story, He held on and she kept saying time to go, published on the Microstory site on October 5, 2011.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
guardian angel {sorta}
By dani harris
Once I was an angel
whose wings were so white
every color could be seen within;
my hair and halo shone gold at night
with lips of pink and eyes of blue ~
I truly was a heavenly sight.
{ahem… well, that’s what I was told.}
#
One day God spoke to me: “I AM SENDING YOU TO EARTH TO BE GUARDIAN ANGEL FOR HUMANITY. YOU ARE NOT TO INTERFERE! MERELY SEND ME QUARTER-CENTURY REPORTS.”
“But Lord,” said I, “Do you really think I’m the right angel for this assignment? After all, I have no experience with humans.” {Peter and I had a thing goin’ on, you know?}
“TAKE THIS ROSE ~ SO LONG AS IT REMAINS PURE WHITE ALL IS GOING ACCORDING TO MY PLANS. IF IT TURNS DARK, I WILL HAVE TO VISIT ANOTHER FLOOD UPON THE EARTH.”
I didn’t even have time to give Peter a proper goodbye.
#
God sent me down to Earth to keep tabs on
…I mean, watch over…
the Earth and humans and all ~
time passed quickly for I had much to discover.
#
One day Peter came to visit but I would have none of it,
feeling he could have come earlier if he really cared a whit.
#
“Rose” said he
looking aghast at me,
“It can’t be true…
is that really you?”
“Whatever do you mean?” I queried innocently.
“Where once your wings were white
they’re now as dark as night;
what’s happened to your golden hair?
I’d suggest a bottle of Loreal hair dye if I dare… (after all, you’re worth it!)
judging by the color of your halo, you’ve fallen short.”
{It was here I couldn’t help but snort!}
“My God, your reputation will be completely shred
if you return to Heaven with lips that red!
Pray tell what happened, my still lovely Rose,
please say that this is not what you chose!”
#
“It’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind.
You said I’m lovely so I know you’re not blind ~
aren’t you attracted to my new earthly charms?
Don’t you want to take me into your arms?”
#
Shaking his head, Peter plucked the now-gray rose from my fingers.
“When Father hears about this, you’ll find no refuge!
Not on Earth or in Heaven or even in Hell.”
Walking away, I whispered “Après moi le déluge.”
{after me, the deluge.}
Copyright ©2011 dani harris. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce in any form, including electronic, without the author’s express permission.
#
This story was originally published on the my heart's love songs site on August 30, 2011.
#
If you like this story, check out dani’s other stories, published on this site: Bugged, Camellia and haboob {another creepy tail}.
#
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
dani {not a boy} began writing poetry in January 2010, opened her blog my heart's love songs in February 2010 and is now venturing into prose, though terrified. It seems her terror manifests itself in much of the prose, becoming a short tale with an element of horror or fantasy. Despite her blog's title, Dani does not write only haiku. Her sensual poetry is never too explicit whatever the length.
Once I was an angel
whose wings were so white
every color could be seen within;
my hair and halo shone gold at night
with lips of pink and eyes of blue ~
I truly was a heavenly sight.
{ahem… well, that’s what I was told.}
#
One day God spoke to me: “I AM SENDING YOU TO EARTH TO BE GUARDIAN ANGEL FOR HUMANITY. YOU ARE NOT TO INTERFERE! MERELY SEND ME QUARTER-CENTURY REPORTS.”
“But Lord,” said I, “Do you really think I’m the right angel for this assignment? After all, I have no experience with humans.” {Peter and I had a thing goin’ on, you know?}
“TAKE THIS ROSE ~ SO LONG AS IT REMAINS PURE WHITE ALL IS GOING ACCORDING TO MY PLANS. IF IT TURNS DARK, I WILL HAVE TO VISIT ANOTHER FLOOD UPON THE EARTH.”
I didn’t even have time to give Peter a proper goodbye.
#
God sent me down to Earth to keep tabs on
…I mean, watch over…
the Earth and humans and all ~
time passed quickly for I had much to discover.
#
One day Peter came to visit but I would have none of it,
feeling he could have come earlier if he really cared a whit.
#
“Rose” said he
looking aghast at me,
“It can’t be true…
is that really you?”
“Whatever do you mean?” I queried innocently.
“Where once your wings were white
they’re now as dark as night;
what’s happened to your golden hair?
I’d suggest a bottle of Loreal hair dye if I dare… (after all, you’re worth it!)
judging by the color of your halo, you’ve fallen short.”
{It was here I couldn’t help but snort!}
“My God, your reputation will be completely shred
if you return to Heaven with lips that red!
Pray tell what happened, my still lovely Rose,
please say that this is not what you chose!”
#
“It’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind.
You said I’m lovely so I know you’re not blind ~
aren’t you attracted to my new earthly charms?
Don’t you want to take me into your arms?”
#
Shaking his head, Peter plucked the now-gray rose from my fingers.
“When Father hears about this, you’ll find no refuge!
Not on Earth or in Heaven or even in Hell.”
Walking away, I whispered “Après moi le déluge.”
{after me, the deluge.}
Copyright ©2011 dani harris. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce in any form, including electronic, without the author’s express permission.
#
This story was originally published on the my heart's love songs site on August 30, 2011.
#
If you like this story, check out dani’s other stories, published on this site: Bugged, Camellia and haboob {another creepy tail}.
#
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
dani {not a boy} began writing poetry in January 2010, opened her blog my heart's love songs in February 2010 and is now venturing into prose, though terrified. It seems her terror manifests itself in much of the prose, becoming a short tale with an element of horror or fantasy. Despite her blog's title, Dani does not write only haiku. Her sensual poetry is never too explicit whatever the length.
Monday, October 10, 2011
**One of my microstories, Behind the wheel, 2006, was published on the Leodegraunce site
One of my mainstream microstories, Behind the wheel, 2006, was published on the Leodegraunce site today. It will be up on the site until next Sunday (10/16/11).
This story is a semi-autobiographical work, about an interstate road trip I took in February 2006.
Check it out, if you have the time and/or are so inclined. =)
This story is a semi-autobiographical work, about an interstate road trip I took in February 2006.
Check it out, if you have the time and/or are so inclined. =)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)