Tuesday, October 13, 2009

New Anthology From Cutting Block Press - Butcher Shop Quartet II

BSQII

www.cuttingblock.net

The Breach, by Greggard Pennance

Jared, one of the few survivors from the crash of flight 319, is visited in his dreams by one of the perished passengers. Needing answers, he is drawn to the site of the wreckage -- 140 feet deep in the Atlantic. What Jared finds there is beyond extraordinary, and it sets him on a path to make choices that will determine much more than his own fate.

Road Rash, by Simon Janus

After a botched bank robbery in which the rest of his team is lost, Straley escapes on foot. Toting the loot, he is desperate for a set of wheels. Then his luck seems to turn his way, as he finds the car he needs, but soon he learns that it has come at a terrible price - in acquiring it, he's contracted an aggressive skin rash, and soon it is ravaging his body. When he receives his diagnosis, a terrible curse, he learns that he must use up the last of his loot in attempt to rid himself of this infliction. He must journey into the depths of Central America, where he will find the answer he needs … or doesn't need.

Bodies Raining, by Rick J. Brown

As a young boy, Corey is the only witness to an atmospheric miracle that will signal the beginning of the end of civilization. Years later, after a virulent disease has ravaged the Earth, and with no safe way to dispose of the corpses, Corey must leave his wife to work in space as a 'body dropper'. While human corpses pile up on the surface of the moon, he is sent to the surface to unravel a mystery. There Corey finds that even the most unimaginable of events can be natural, up to and including personal vengeance.

Condemned, Written by Vince Churchill, Story by Ray Brown (R. Lenard Brown)

In a blink the world changes, but Quentin is too busy having illicit sex to notice. It isn't long before things in the Midwestern town of Benson become strange. People are different, neighbors violent. He learns that the Rapture has occurred, and that he was mistakenly left behind. As all Hell breaks loose, Quentin finds himself in the race of his life, and he has one chance to reclaim his salvation. Accompanied by two gun-toting preachers, he must reach the Church of the First God before sunrise, and all that stands in his way is a long night and the enraged souls of the damned.

Friday, August 14, 2009

The Portal (Free Flash Fiction)


The portal shimmered up at him and if he looked hard enough, he could see things. He could see his dead mother, gesturing for him to come to her. Looking harder, he could see his girlfriend, Summer, blowing a kiss.

They drew back from him and he cried for them to stop. If he waited, they'd be gone forever. So he pushed his face through the portal and let his body rest as Summer's face drew close to kiss him. Then he heard the muffled cries of his daughter, Annie, but it was too late.

The child could do nothing but stand there, sobbing, as her father sat on the stool, his head resting in the sink full of water.

[Published in Black Box (C) 2008 by CD Allen]

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Tired. Bubbling.

Argh. Tired. Saw Jen for like two minutes after I got off work as she's doing a sleep over with a RegIV resident tonight. Otherwise I haven't seen her all day. I think I'm ready to sit down and hammer out a new novel. It's bubbling. I'm hoping for some froth. James Devon, my occult detective, is itching for something to do. I think it will be about the Rectors again (see The Rector House in Dark Distortions volume I for more details). I very much a fan of Gothic horror--not subculture gothic, but The Castle of Ontario and The Monk sort of Gothic. The Rector House was my first attempt at working in this sub-genre and the rave reviews about it made me think that that's where I need to be working right now.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Wherein Time Refuses Elasticity

Well, my new official full-time job is as a youth counselor at Springfield Academy in Springfield, South Dakota. So far it's a good job and it's great working with the kids. I usually run the Voyager group (as they call them), which are ages 14 & 15.

Jennifer and I have just sent out our invites. Our wedding is closer (September 12th), so every spare moment is spent getting things done for that special day. Jennifer is glowing and I'm excited, too.

My writing has suffered a lot from all this work. Hopefully I'll be able to pick it up after the honeymoon. There has to be stories hiding in my head somewhere...