In the past week or so, two different online magazines featured new short stories by yours truly.

Unsung Stories in the UK published Then What Happened, which is maybe dark fantasy mixed with literary slipstream. How’s that for not being pigeon-holed by genre boundaries? The story was inspired by this kid in my neighborhood who I call the Wailer who rides around on his bike belting out whatever rap song he’s got playing on his headphones. This kid is awesome. Whoever he is, I thank him for the inspiration.

Theme of Absence published Plaything, a flash fiction piece inspired by a visit last autumn to a break wall near Cleveland. If you’ve ever seen one of these massive constructions, then you’ll understand how their immense scale could prompt such a tale. If you haven’t seen a break wall, then hopefully my description does it justice. It plays around with notions of possessing something, versus truly enjoying it.

Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Joyous Kwanza. Let’s do it all again next year. And, of course, write on.

Ho. Ho. Ho.

REB