“They Were Gods” at Paper Darts
“Hildy is holding Nemo under his front legs with one arm, letting his hind legs and tail sway back and forth under his bloated stomach. She is calling him “my baby” and reaching for a popsicle that I’m holding just out of her reach, just for the hell of it.”
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Patrick Sommerville’s trailer for This Bright River, “put together by the inimitable Susie Kirkwood” (my sister!) and narrated by me! Visit Patrick’s lovely site for full, glorious details!
“Profane” at Metazen
On the bus Vivian sat in-between a man breathing heavily out of his mouth and a seat in which a Mexican woman had deposited four small children, one on top of the other like a short stack of pancakes. The bottom-most child had been chewing on Vivian’s purse strap for a minimum of six stops before his mother yanked it from his mouth, sending one of his front teeth, tiny and white as a Chiclet, flying up and into the open mouth of the baby sleeping on top of the pile…
“Paint by Numbers” at Untoward
What we found on the other side of the door, my faith prohibits me from describing in plain words. My father, God rest his soul, should block his ears in heaven, should I try to convey to you, despite my Catholic sensibilities, the perverse display presented in your painting, the shameless pagan naturism of man in the most engorged depravity. I cannot even begin to describe to you the glut of body, the excess of skin. Rather, I am enclosing some photographs. I think you will agree the finished product depicts a very different Spaniel than the one on your box…
“Stuck Landing” won the Paper Darts Short Fiction Award, and I am excited.
A note from our judge, Amelia Grey:
“Flash fiction sometimes strives to be a different size than it’s meant to be—a sprawling giant with its legs cut off or an ant blown up ten thousand times its size—but this little story packs in everything you need within its 800-word bounds. I picked this story for its efficiency, surprising lines, and the feeling that stuck with me long after I put down the page. And that, Dear Reader, is saying a lot.”
Thank you so much Paper Darts and Amelia Grey!
“Everything Seen & Unseen” at DeComp
He does not like sweets, but the cylindrical shape of the churro, the powdered and crispy tube that now floats in his head recalls the similar shape though relatively smooth physique of the hot dog, which is his favorite non-food, eaten without caloric retribution, a food of the Gods, which satiates while leaving appetite enough to enjoy both the wanting and the consummation of the next meal. John T. Nangle thinks about hot dogs and decides he will buy one and eat it…
I’m reading for Two Cookie Minimum and Piss Fanatics with Maggie Ritchie, Laura Szumowski, Dave Snyder, Kieth Rosson, Adam Drent, and Dan Shapiro. Hosted by Johnny Misfit and Mason Johnson. There will be a free zine made to commemorate this event.
*”Jill Reads For You” jingle courtesy of Daniel Knox.
