Posts tagged ‘fiction’
HAVEN OF HORROR: HORROR SHORT STORY PART III
HAVEN OF HORROR
WARNING
This story contains an ‘F Bomb’ which, in today’s publications, is not a rare occurrence. If you read The New Yorker, among other publications, you are aware of this. Also, sensitive people may find the theme of this story disturbing.
They wondered for an explanation on the source of this ghastly conversion. No one could mine an answer. There were legends of drawings found in the cave, of beings beyond imagination. Monsters with no place in nature. From this knowledge they speculated that beyond this horrible transformation a third journey to, yet another transformation existed. But no one could be certain of the changes awaiting the morphed. Before they managed to isolate those transformed some of the residents journeyed deeper into the cave and thought they heard distant waves crashing on some unknown shore. What did the presence of this unknown ocean mean to those transformed? Could these transformed humans be destined for another phase dependent on the ocean? And what did that turn their friends and relatives into. Were there cities on the ocean floor awaiting new residents? As if all this wasn’t enough to challenge reality, a horrible event took place. The transformed began attacking the still normal residents. Devouring them. The number of mutants was not great and when their threat was realized, it was no problem to repel them to the entrance of the cave. And while a force of guards stood by, a small structure was built above the entrance with no windows and a solitary door. The residents of the town were now aware of the horror that awaited them and did not want to cut off a place where they might survive.
HAVEN OF HORROR: SHORT HORROR STORY PART II
This story contains an ‘F Bomb’ which, in today’s publications, is not a rare occurrence.
If you read The New Yorker, among other publications, you are aware of this.
Also, sensitive people may find the theme of this story disturbing.
HAVEN OF HORROR
Schuylkill Haven, a small town not appearing on any maps, was of little value to visitors who happened upon it. In fact, shunned visitors until they were needed. When this occurred, the residents revealed the heavily rutted road to the town visible and waited for guests. Just as the town was not on maps, so was the road. The entrance to the road was usually heavily concealed for the residents liked, needed their privacy. The road to the town was now uncovered and the people of the haven waited.
The town of Schuylkill Haven came into existence most unnaturally centuries ago. From a small hill far from any inhabitants, late in the 1600’s the town was born.
One day there was movement of the earth on the side of the hill. The bottom of the hill began to push outward forming a cavity which grew into a cave. The first residents of the town began to arrive from within.
Men, women, and children, all naked, streamed out of the newly formed fissure studied the surroundings. At first the light nearly blinded them, but eventually they adjusted to the harsh glow of daylight.
The new arrivals were helpless in this new world. With no food or lodging the were certainly doomed. Coming to their rescue was a wondering tribe of native Americans. With compassion for these new arrivals, they shared food with them, taught them how to plant crops, hunt, construct shelters and make clothing. Eventually explores happened upon the town and were amazed to find white men in such a remote location. With the explorers came more modern methods of agriculture and more substantial lodging. Slowly a town took shape and the residents thrived. But there was a disturbing knowledge revealed to the residents. The elders began to have a greenish tint to their skin and took on strange physical characteristics. Their heads became misshaped and enlarged with mouths wide and menacing. The residents knew they had a secret meant to be kept and concealed these morphed humans.
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN: A HORROR SHORT STORY PART I
I’ll be posting short stories for a while again. The story I’m posting next has not been published. It will appear in seven parts.
WARNING
This story contains an ‘F Bomb’ which, in today’s publications, is not a rare occurrence. If you read The New Yorker, among other publications, you are aware of this. Also, sensitive people may find the theme of this story disturbing.
HAVEN OF HORROR
Jeff and Karen were recently married. Not much later Jeff accepted a better job than he had with more pay. They needed to move. With great anticipation they now were on a road trip to explore the area which would be their new home. Jeff loved wandering down roads he had never traveled, and for him this trip was a treat. A new area to be visited ripe for exploration.
As they drove along, not really sure where they were, Karen said, “I’m tired and hungry. Let’s stop at the next town for some rest and food.” They had been on the road for several days driving from California to Pennsylvania. Today, they had been driving for ten hours and they both needed rest and food.
Jeff spied what looked like a seldom used road, “Let’s go down that road. It must lead to somewhere.”
Karen looked at him as if to say, ‘Give me a break’ for it looked like it would lead to nowhere. The newness of marriage had not yet dissolved, but it was getting there.
Karen glanced at the maps they had brought along, “Jeff, this road is not on the map!”
Jeff’s response was, “Great.” Karen just shook her head. And off they went down an unmapped road hoping to find food and perhaps lodging for the night as the sky was steadily darkening the landscape. He looked at Karen and wondered if the stop would lead to ‘cuddling’ – and perhaps more. He wondered how long those episodes would last. He had heard stories.
With Karen constantly complaining about how tired and hungry she was, they approached a small town. Jeff was hungry too, and ready for some nighttime activity. As they entered the town it was as if they were visiting a page out of history. There was not a modern structure. It was like something of a lot for filming an old movie. There was a gas station with only one pump. An old guy in a chair was leaning against the building.
The old man waved and said, “Hi. Don’t see many strangers here.”
The town was Schuylkill Haven.
WRITER’S FORUM: 30 CHILDREN’S BOOK PUBLISHERS
WRITER’S FORUM
30 CHILDREN’S BOOK PUBLISHERS
Again, the title says it all.
The publishers in this website should provide you with the information you need to work with them in publishing your picture book. However, I can almost guarantee that you receive ads from them or other publishers. If you find that you are interested in a publisher, once again, do your homework. To not commit to anything until you are certain that this is a publisher you want to work with. Also, it is free.
30 Children’s Book Publishers Eager for Your Book (thejohnfox.com)
WARNING
As I’m sure you know in our current society very little is free. When you use a site indicating that it is free your email address or telephone number is probably being added to a list which will be sold. So when using any website consider the value of the site to you and if it is worth the occasion annoying ad.
WRITER’S FORUM: HOW TO FORMATE A PICTURE BOOK
WRITER’S FORUM
HOW TO FORMAT A PICTURE BOOK FOR PUBLISHERS
The title says it all.
The information may be outdated, last post on Dec 9,2014, but there appears to be links to more current information.
It is free.
How to Format a Picture Book Manuscript for Publishers | Editing – Writing – Proofreading
WARNING
As I’m sure you know in our current society very little is free. When you use a site indicating that it is free your email address or telephone number is probably being added to a list which will be sold. So when using any website consider the value of the site to you and if it is worth the occasion annoying ad.
WRITER’S FORUM: MAUSCRIPT FORMATING-WRITING PICTURE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
WRITER’S FORUM
MANUSCRIPTE FORMATING – WRITING PICTURE BOOKS
FOR CHILDREN
The owner of this blog teaches creative writing for adults at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education in Boston.
Subjects covered by the blog include Types of Picture Books, Manuscript Formatting, Cover Letters and Agents.
Concerning agents, you are told what I have emphasized in the past. Never send money to any agent. If an agent asks for money they are not reputable.
The website is free.
Manuscript formatting – Writing Picture Books for Children
WARNING
As I’m sure you know in our current society very little is free. When you use a site indicating that it is free your email address or telephone number is probably being added to a list which will be sold. So when using any website consider the value of the site to you and if it is worth the occasion annoying ad.
WRITER’S FORUM: DUOTROPE
WRITER’S FORUM
DUOTROPE
If you choose not to take the easy path of self-publishing to becoming a published writer, which requires no judge of talent and no gatekeeper, I suggest you look to Duotrope to locate a publisher.
More on my thoughts of self-publishing in a future post.
Duotrope is a fantastic website for locating publishers of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. An annual fee of $50 will gain you access. I primarily seek publishers of fiction and there are thousands listed. You are provided with a questionnaire to fill out for the piece you wish to publish and a search will provide you with a list of potential publishers.
You will find markets which are paying and non-paying, how long the publisher has been in existence and, with some publishers, statistics on acceptance, rejections and response times. A link for each publisher is provided to their website which gives information for making a submission and further information about the publisher.
If you are serious about becoming a published writer with an established publisher I highly recommend that you consider Duotrope.
Here are some links to provide you with information about Duotrope.
Duotrope: A Basic Guide to Using the Site
A SHORT STORY PUBLISHED
A SHORT STORY PUBLISHED
My short story, The Universe in Balance, can now be found on Corner Store Magazine.
Go to the home page, then to Ostarablot, March 21, volume 9 issue 4.
This was one of the first short stories I wrote nearly twenty years ago. It is quite different than the original. I eventually realized that the story’s premise was totally wrong resulting in a series of rewrites. The fact that it now appears in print is an indication that I finally got it right.
PLUMBING PROBLEMS: PART XVII
PLUMBING PROBLEMS: PART XVII
I now knew the source of our plumbing problems. I also had a sickening feeling I’d discovered what happened to Marcus Worthy and to our cat Molly. I was also sure our plumber Dave was no longer servicing anyone’s plumbing. We took Jack to the hospital. He was in pretty bad shape, but the doctors say he should recover.
I next notified the police and got a contractor who immediately sealed all the drains so we would not have a return visit. Finally, we had the old septic tank removed and a new one installed. Once all this work was accomplished, we checked out of the hotel where we were staying and returned home.
A week went by, and we got a call from Jack’s doctor saying Jack was well enough to be released from the hospital. Laura and I left to pick him up. Jack was still quite sore, but ready to go home. On our ride back, I explained about the lab I had found and the source of the animal that had attacked him. I don’t know if he really understood, but he listened intently. As we pulled into his driveway, Jack looked over at our property. He took a moment to inspect the new look of our landscape then said; “I see the hill of dirt where they dug up your septic tank. But what the hell is that tall fence doing around the pond, with all those danger signs?”
“Oh, you mean that six-foot electrified fence around the pond?” I answered. “You see Jack,” I continue, “the septic old tank, when they dug it up – was empty.”
Hope you enjoyed this rather long short story.
There are many more short stories and posts set to arrive.
And all for FREE.
You will never be pestered by any type of ad or request for money.
PLUMBING PROBLEMS: PART XVI
PLUMBING PROBLEMS: PART XVI
I ran to the master bath and saw a sight that defied description. There was Jack, wrapped in a huge set of tentacles. On the floor lay an animal with a body almost four feet across. The body was shaped like a star and from beneath the star, in its center, issued some sort of organ. Suddenly, what little I knew of marine biology came back to me. The way starfish digest their food flashed into my mind. They express their stomach from within their body, capture their prey and bring the digested meal back inside. On my bathroom floor was one of Worthy’s experiments – in the excited state.
I ran back to the kitchen to grab the meat cleaver, at the same time yelling to Laura, “Get Robin and both of you get out of the house!”
“What’s going on upstairs, and what was that scream?” she asked.
“Do what I say, damn it, there’s no time to explain,” I shouted. Laura fled the kitchen in search of Robin. I ran back to the master bath and started hacking at the tentacles. The star-jellyfish pulled its stomach back in and the tentacles slowly released Jack. He had passed out, probably from the combination of being constricted and the hundreds of stings he had endured. I pulled him out of the bathroom and while doing so witnessed an amazing spectacle. With its remaining tentacles, the creature pulled itself back up into the sink. Then, it went from the starfish state to a sink full of foul-smelling jellyfish ooze, and in a few minutes silently slid back down the drain.
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