The Ice Pick
As my body vibrated with pain, Amy gripped my hand. I was so racked and twisted by pain that it must have looked like a scene out of The Exorcist. The one where Linda Blair levitates off the table as the evil spirit practically tears her apart. Amy later told me she was certain […]
Random Facts
As requested by my friend and fellow author, KJ Waters. I’ve had one ambulance ride and they didn’t even turn on the lights or sirens. I can remember pulling a chair up to the kitchen counter to help Mom cook. If there’s nasty weather (tornado watch/warning) in the evening’s forecast, I’ll go to bed […]
Council Shall Come to Order
Inspired by recent events in my town of Simpsonville and with plenty of time on my hands; I imagined that I was the Mayor of Simpsonville and my first city council meeting took place in my bedroom, while I was still recuperating. With a little inspiration from my aching left knee, our city council’s minutes […]
My 2nd Liebster Award
This one comes courtesy of my good friend KJ Waters. KJ is the author of the upcoming mystery Stealing Time. The Liebster is an informal award given to a blogger/writer as a sign of admiration and it comes with a significant cash award. KJ has promised me that my check is in the mail. 1 […]
A Christmas Present
Mary Katherine was petrified and she wasn’t going anywhere. “Mary Katherine, your team needs you, come on sweetheart, I know you can do this.” She shook her head no. She was wringing her hands and beads of sweat had bubbled up on her forehead and upper lip. Yet I was certain that if she would […]
Thankful
For my beautiful wife of 25 years. For my two kids, even though they’re both presently teenagers and at times bear more resemblance to the Martian visitors in Mars Attacks! Both of them have the ability to be kind, understanding, courteous and thankful–just not on the same day. For my extended family. For my many […]
Barbed Wire Butterfly
On first glance Jessica Kristie’s debut novel has a distinct Dickens’ like narrative: Kidnapped pre-teenage children living out a meager existence as slave labor of a shadowy manufacturing complex far removed from the caring eyes of civilized society. The child-laborers are coerced through beatings, rape, intimidation and starvation and should one falter then that […]
Hopping that Blog
My dear friend Shaunda Wenger invited me to participate in a blog hop titled “The Next Big Thing” which is meant to showcase a writer’s work in progress. If you ask me that sort of sounds like a lead-in to an old Godzilla movie. So imagine if you will: Police Commissioner in thick glasses speaking […]
“A Friend is Coming to Visit” Part 4 of Phil and Rannie’s Story
Phil has lost more weight, his pajama clad form looks as if he’s become one with the bed, and his body has sort of melded into the sheets and blankets. I sit down next to him and reach for his hand and he grimaces in pain so I release his hand. For weeks his daughters […]
“I Brought You Some Cookies” Part 2 of Phil and Rannie’s Story
“Chocolate chip with cinnamon.” Phil is lying in bed and looks noticeably thinner, his right eye is a little crooked but when he sees me he breaks into an enormous smile. He props himself up on his elbows, grimaces in pain then his smile quickly returns. Earlier that day I stopped at a traditional grocery […]