Let’s Start Over

light

PHOTO PROMPT © Nobbinmaug

“As if I haven’t lost enough sleep already,” complained Theo throwing off the bedcovers. Old, thin legs shook when he stood but indignation steadied him as he pulled on his robe.

“Three damn seventeen in the morning and where is that obnoxious light coming from?”

In spite of blackout shutters over his windows, piercing rivers of brilliance continued to stream inward and from the west.

Flat feet flapped on wood floors and then concrete as he stomped outside to solve the luminous mystery. He stared at it hearing the words, “We got the dinosaurs and now we’re back for you.”

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Go A’Hunting In The Kitchen

narrow kitchen

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

“What a horrible kitchen.” Axel padded past the bookshelves to his left. Then his eyes flickered up and around. “Poor old sod,” he thought. “No storage so he has to stuff pots on top of the cabinets.”

He heard a hiss and then saw the gas stove had been left on. Axel held his noosed pole in one hand so he could turn down the heat.

“No good having this boil over,” he murmured. “Now where could he be hiding?” The trapdoor over the bookshelf rattled. “I’m coming for you, Wilbur,” said the pest control guy to the escaped python.

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I Don’t Know If It’s Art, But I Know What I Like

muddy bridge

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Crime scene tape fluttered behind them as Detective Artemis Siku crushed another cigarette underfoot.

“Contaminating the crime scene?” Quinn Healy was new in forensics but still didn’t mind irritating the detective.

“Bet you think that’s mud.” Siku slowly exhaled a cancerous breath.

“Bet you think that’s feces,” countered Healy.

“That would be a lot of s…” Siku began to say.

“Blood,” Healy interrupted. “Just like the other four murders.”

“You’re sure the notes we’ve been getting are from the perp.” Siku reached for another smoke.

“He’s not in it for the killing,” replied Healy. “He likes making graffiti in blood.”

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The Anthology “Relics, Volume One” is Available Now!

cover

Cover art for the anthology Relics, volume one.

RELICS, Volume 1, a fourteen-story anthology of independent science fiction and fantasy, is available in paperback now. The collection was curated by Heidi A. Hill, L. Jagi Lamplighter, and Michael Finney in coordination with Based Book Sale.

The fourteen stories are organized into three sections — The Ruins, The Remnants, and The Restored — around the idea of the relic as an object that endures for a reason. Settings range from a mythic West and 1929 Chicago to a war-torn Italian town, the Sinai, the North Sea, a glacier at the end of the world, a rogue planet, and a relic found on Mars. The contributors move freely between science fiction and fantasy rather than staying inside a single genre. The anthology grew out of the Based Book Sale community and carries its name with the blessing of the sale’s creator, Hans G. Schantz.

Features my science fiction short story, “Legacy of the High Sojourner.” Here’s an excerpt:

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Return of the Knight

sandra's castle

PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

“Maybe the hardest thing in writing is simply to tell the truth about things as we see them.” —John Steinbeck—

Gawain, dressed in a forest green coat, stopped for a moment to admire some scarlet flower petals. The castle Hautdesert, now reduced to a tourist attraction, stood before him stirring lost emotions.

It was a bit early for the plebian crowds, but the main entrance was open for business. The tall man of green mourned silently at how the legends of old had been reduced to children’s tales.

Paying the fee in modern script, he quickly deviated from the visitor’s path to the hidden chamber where the sword Galatine could be found. With this, he would defeat England’s terrible invaders.

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End of Summer Musings

public pool

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

“End of summer,” said Manny standing at his apartment’s patio railing. “They’ll be shutting the pool down soon. Good. People are so noisy.” He scanned up and left. “Whatever they’re doing on the side of that building looks dangerous.”

He took a sip of his coffee and continued to survey the familiar scenery.

“I really need to live someplace without neighbors,” he mused. “I’d like more privacy.”

The serial killer knew the buildings that served the public pool were vacant in winter but still too close to the street to serve as kill rooms plus moving the bodies was hazardous.

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Ending the Unending Tea Party: An Adventure

sign

PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox

“Which way should we go, Mikey?” Exuberant six-year-old Sarah held the young man’s hand while hopping up and down.

“You don’t even know how to read yet,” said her nine-year-old sister Spring in mock disdain.

“I can read some words,” pouted Sarah.

“We’re here for an adventure, said Mike encouragingly, “not to argue, okay?”

The sisters grudgingly agreed with their favorite uncle.

“Don’t tell her what the red sign says,” insisted Spring.

“I know what T-E-A says.” Sarah stuck her tongue out.

“A tea party sounds like fun,” said Mike. “Let’s see if we can ‘unmurder’ time at this one.”

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Science Fiction Anthology “Fangs Out: Aerial Combat Chronicles” Is Available NOW!

fangs out

Cover art for “Fangs Out: Aerial Combat Chronicle”

The science fiction anthology Fangs Out: Aerial Combat Chronicles is available now. It features my space combat short story “The Jupiter War.”

For five years a mysterious adversary in Jupiter’s atmosphere has been attacking human colonies on three of Jupiter’s moons. Today a defense pilot called Irish finds out why.

The action starts above the moon Callisto where Tango Squadron including hotshot pilot Irish has yet another encounter with a group of alien fighters called “pups” delivered by a mothership referred to as a “whale.” While Tango successfully fights off this latest attack, Irish in attempting to follow and destroy the last few alien pursuit vessels is accidentally captured by the whale space craft.

Trapped inside, he has only one hope left: contacting Ganymede’s space defense group during a close flyby. But even if by some miracle he can be freed, can Irish and the other moon’s air support force discover the reason behind these relentless assaults?

Here’s an excerpt from my short story “The Jupiter War:”

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What Does The Lord Require Of You?

Touro Synagogue

PHOTO PROMPT © A member of the Fields Family who didn’t care to be Identified

He might have been a man, tall and imposing, wearing ancient and intimidating armor. He held a drawn sword in his right hand standing before the centuries old synagogue. Strangely, none of the casual passersby reacted to his presence. Only one man was on his face in the grass before him trembling.

“Rise,” said the warrior. “Fear not, for God is with you.”

Young Abraham slowly stood but still couldn’t meet the angel’s eyes.

“What…what do you want of me?”

“What God always wants of His people Israel. Justice. The minions of Lilith are gaining dominion. Ready yourself for war.”

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The Children’s Justice

doll heads

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Sid didn’t know what made him pull off the interstate and drive into that little no-name town. It had only one main street not long enough for a traffic light. He passed a diner offering big burgers and parked in front of a curio shop.

The little bell rang over the door as he tromped in still not understanding why he was there. An old woman greeted him.

“What you are looking for is by the window.”

“Doll heads?” he murmured feeling scared.

The voices of all the children the serial killer had murdered shrieked his name stopping his heart.

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