Tag Archives: plague

JOE GIORDANO: Cornelia Quinta

Adventure, Artistic, Submissions, , ,

While I’m stooped and wrinkled, my body savaged by plague and illnesses, reduced to just a brittle twig, know that once I dominated Roman society. Senators were drawn to me like hummingbirds to nectar, my grace and beauty halted conversations, and when I regain strength, my lash will fly again.

Joe Giordano was born in Brooklyn. He and his wife Jane now live in Texas. Joe’s stories have appeared in more than 100 magazines including The Saturday Evening Post, and Shenandoah. His novels, Birds of Passage, An Italian Immigrant Coming of Age Story (2015), and Appointment with ISIL, an Anthony Provati Thriller (2017) were published by Harvard Square Editions. Rogue Phoenix Press published Drone Strike (2019) and his short story collection, Stories and Places I Remember (2020). Joe was among 100 Italian American authors honored by Barnes & Noble to march in Manhattan’s 2017 Columbus Day Parade. Read the first chapter of Joe’s novels and sign up for his blog at joe-giordano.com.

HAWK AND YOUNG: Immune

Submissions, , ,

When the last M&M had been savored, she threw the candy wrapper to the wind. It scampered past empty buildings. No litter police here.

A tattered flag whipped in the gale, golden horse on a blood red field.

The war ended abruptly. The virus had killed everyone. All but her.

Hawk and Young are two sci-fi/fantasy authors, joined by a single mission – to write! We live 550 miles apart, are best friends, but have never met in person. See more at hawkandyoung.com.

ANDREW PATCH: The Last Rider

Artistic, Odd, Submissions, , , , ,

The carousel spun, frozen horses galloping within the abandoned funfair.

She clung to her mount, fingers prying flaking paint away. Dreaming of a heartbeat, the rhythm between hooves and breath.

Tears tracked down her face. She missed horses the most, yet like everything they were gone.

Lost to the plague.

Andrew originates from the UK but lately finds himself drinking black coffee and dodging possums in Brisbane.

Monkey Bar Highway

Artistic, Odd, , , , ,

The virus targeted only medical professionals and civil engineers.

No one was left who knew how to figure out why the plague had targeted such a specific population. But that wasn’t the biggest problem: city planning failed, crooked minds prevailed, and before long, the streets were made of monkey bars.

Y-People Origins: Plague Girl

Odd, Touching, , , , ,

Everyone was avoiding Martina like the plague. (Well, to be fair, they only avoided her “like the plague” because she had the Plague and was quarantined, but they did it very rudely!)

Martina stewed in resentment until she became an evil villain. Then she died. Of the Plague, of course.