ED ERRINGTON: Given

Artistic, Submissions, ,

Given within context, he was good, evil, thoughtful, thoughtless, kind, cruel, selfless, selfish, generous, mean, wise, stupid, careless, careful, amateurish, and professional.

Given without context, he was an enigma, a solution in search of a problem, a dilemma, a paradox.

Given the paradox, he was every inch a human being.

Ed Errington lives and relaxes in North Queensland, Australia. Despite being born in the same year as the ‘Rothwell UFO Incident’, he manages to gets on well with earthlings and only uses his tentacles in self-defense.

JC BROTSKY: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

“I was twelve when I stopped believing,” Aaron said. “I was an only child; I always got what I asked for. Santa seemed like a reasonable explanation.”

Jean said, “I was four.”

“That’s pretty young.”

“I asked him for a normal family. Dad left the next day.”

“Oh,” said Aaron.

JC Brotsky is a history student who can usually be found reading comics, drinking iced tea, and procrastinating on writing her novel.

JOHN B. SINCLAIR: Just For Kicks

Amusing, Submissions, , ,

The first time he kicked her it hurt, but strangely she didn’t mind the pain.

It worried her. If it happened again she would have to tell someone.

The second kick was more powerful, making her gasp.

“This baby’s gonna be a football player!” she blurted to a smiling husband.

John B Sinclair is a much-travelled Scot who has now returned to Scotland, where he enjoys freelance writing on a variety of subjects.

PIERRE DUNN: Viking Funeral

Adventure, Submissions, Touching, , ,

She paused high above the fjord’s cold waters, the wind twisting ice snakes through her hair. Far below, Lars’ boat moved silently, almost beautifully, its wake a great, tranquil spiral, smoke drifting behind.

The resistance would go on – it had to! – but she would miss those two gentle hands forever.

Pierre Dunn is currently working on stories and novels in a range of genres and styles, because every story demands its own form. He’s only 66, so he still has time to get published.

BRIAN SUTHERLAND: The Fires of Hell

Artistic, Submissions, Touching, , ,

Hometown boys, grown into husbands and fathers, heroes swallowed up in flames.

If someone had told any of them that they’d be on the news someday, they’d have just smiled and shook their heads no.

Nineteen new, humble firefighters in heaven, their last moments spent in the fires of hell.

 

Brian Sutherland is married to his writing partner. He has two grown amd married children and spends much of his efforts in trying to keep his wife from buying things for yet to be conceived grandchildren. His artwork and writing are featured on www.sobhanastudio.com.

Editor’s Note: This story is a tribute to the Arizona firefighters who were killed in the line of duty on June 30, 2013.

ALEXANDER KEY: Three Bears

Amusing, Submissions, ,

Once upon a time there were three bears, Papa, Mama, and Baby Bear.

They left home one day and a young girl wandered in.

But Papa forgot his cellphone and, though Mama was mad, they returned.

Discovering Goldilocks, they made a quick meal of her, and lived happily ever after.

Alexander Key teaches high school, sometimes, when absolutely necessary.

CONNELL WAYNE REGNER: The Seabed

Adventure, Submissions,

I’m drowning.

I feel cold and see only darkness the deeper I sink, as the distant light above grows dim. I struggle in vain to move my arms and legs to swim to the surface. There’s no air

until I wake and crawl out from the bottom of the bedcovers.

Connell Wayne Regner had successfully avoided writing creatively since he wrote spontaneous lyrics to music some years ago. Although from a linguistic background, he has serendipitously succumbed to fiction. His other dabblings can be found at paragraphplanet and wtdmagazine.wordpress.com.

SUZI HARRIS: Endings

Submissions, Touching, , ,

Golden tresses swayed in an ocean breeze. Bright green eyes glowed beneath a red bandana.

Waves crashed against the rocks below the cliffs with the thunder of memory. My fingertips brushed the faded colors.

The wind whipped the photograph from my hand. One step and the ocean swallowed my pain.

Suzi Harris is a retired technical writer working on her first novel with the support of her crazy Canadian husband and two psychotic cats.

NEWS: Summer Stories Draw Prizes

News

I apologize for the delay on the Summer Stories draw prizes, but I’ve managed to run the random number generator and identify the three winners!

Congratulations to:

Connell Regner
Doug Robbins
Krystyna Fedosejevs

The three of you have won 30%-off Store coupons! They will be landing in your email inboxes shortly.

TAMRA ARTELIA MARTIN: Shreds

Amusing, Submissions, , ,

“I should’ve did this the first time I caught you,” Angie said.

She cut up Ben’s underwear. The ones too ugly to hide. The ones he loved. She threw the tattered pieces to her Rottweiler. He needed another chew toy.

“That’ll teach you to eat the last piece of chocolate.”

Tamra Artelia Martin received her MFA in creative writing from the University of Central Florida. An overachiever at heart and a glutton for academic punishment, or academic joy depending on the day, she’s currently earning her second MFA in stage and screen writing at Lesley University. Check out her blog on writing at http://writerschai.blogspot.com/.