Red Thunder

Dust rolls in before the heavens rumble;
vibratory rhythm excites our spirit.
Determination collects, we sharpen the weapons and
ready the herd, burning grass over hair and skin.
Sacrifice the life force, cut the arms and
paint our face with blood clay,
before advancing into a cold dusk,
pungent with pelt and sweat between our braids.

Hunger for meat and warmth sharpens the instincts;
a river of hide and hoof snake through the valley.
Call the ivory whistle made of sacred bone,
and rush upon the weak and old.
Vision of the hawk possesses the eye,
like black obsidian, it cuts through the lowland,
befalling a giant, our tribe’s triumph,
nourishment to the strong and young.

Spade the meat, initiated hearts,
tongues that speak the silent words
Bless the land, prosperity to the herd,
waste not what the Great Spirits bestow
Another year, to live under the sun, another
cycle of birth and death begun.
Following the path of worth, goodness grows,
In the map of life, existence is one.

Secret Deceits

“Please, Malcolm. I’ve never let you down?” But his eyes were as dark as an alleyway in Motor City.

“That’s not the point Lynette,” he said, lighting a cigar. Rings dissipated into his musky breeze.

“I’ve dirtied my hands for you — I want my identity back.”

“Your identity would still be dirty if I hadn’t created you.”

Bastard. I even wore his favorite raspberry lipstick. “The propagation of your lies will eventually surface…and the lab will be sequestered. Nothing lasts forever, Malcolm.”

“Unless you clone it too. Right babe?” He shivered in his Armani trench coat, gawking at my nakedness. “What’s one less beautiful woman in the world? Tragic, I know, but there are more…waiting to be replicated.”

The hood of his trunk popped with the click of his remote and he reached for something inside. “I knew I should have terminated you with the others,” he said, turning around.

The gun fired, silencing the night between us.

“No, that was my mistake.”

I wiped the blood from his black leather and covered my plastics. What’s one less corporate executive in the world? Tragic, I know.

Flashes in the Dark: Wheel of Fate

Flashes in the Dark has accepted one of my stories, called Wheel of Fate. I conjured this twisted horror in an emergency room, hence the morbid humor and dark symbolism; enjoy.

I'd like to thank Lori Titus for running my story. Most know her as the editor at Flashes in the Dark and for her terrific weekly episode, The Marradith Ryder Series, but she is also the short story fiction editor at Sonar4 Ezine, and has a chilling new blog called The Book of the Others, about all the scary things we tell ourselves isn't real.

Thank you again Lori.

Driving Plea

As the weather changes, I hope you all drive careful...because you don't want to get stuck writing one of these:

Dear You’re Honor,

I am writing this written plea of guilty in regards to traffic violation 811.100 for speeding and 822.100 for possession of marijuana. However, please find enclosed a copy of my insurance for violation 806.010, driving while uninsured. At the time of the violation I did have insurance, but neglected to keep a copy of the certificate in my car (because it wasn’t even my Jeep).

I take driving and speeding very seriously, and I believe my record reflects this (as does the wear on these brand new tires). I strive to be a conscious and courteous driver (90% of %10 of the time), and feel this incidence has reinforced my good intentions (one can only hope, right?).

At the time of the violation, I was preceding with the flow of the traffic (I was BEHIND my three friends) on the highway, rather than the speed limit (which changes too often – how am I supposed to keep track?). I understand the dangers of speeding (but do you Officer Sheridan?), especially on the highway I was traveling (actually, I don’t know if it was a highway or a freeway…it had two lanes).

As for the marijuana in my possession (probably now in the crotch of Officer Sheridan’s pants), I do not feel warrants jail time (Oh, God, please no!) because its use is strictly for medicinal purposes (hey, Oregon backs it) and I was not under the influence at the time of the violation (well, define influence?).

I am reminded by these violations (and many others) to pay attention (a feat alone) and respect the law for the safety of others (okay, that one’s for real), carefully obeying to the posted speed limits (maybe you could put more signs up though). I do not want to pose (unless it will get me off) any further danger to others or myself on the roads (but keep in mind I was delivering medicine).

I ask to have violation 806.010 be dropped (because I’ve just Googled your home address). Though I am guilty of not carrying an insurance certificate with me (like I said, it wasn’t even my rig) and having possession of an illegal substance (even though I was BORN in Oregon), but not of driving uninsured (that much is true).

I hope you take into consideration (or you damn well better) my previous driving record and my acknowledgement of the offense (Fuck you very much).

Sincerely,



Erin Cole (famous author, who just started dating your son.)

All Saint's Day

All Saint's Day is a time to honor those who are righteous...that would be my 13 Days of Horror writers and all who supported this event with blog posts, comments to the writers, and word of mouth. My deepest thanks to all of you.

All play and no work, right?



THANK YOU: Michael J. Solender, John Donald Carlucci, Paul Phillips, Lee Hughes, Jeffrey S. Callico, Laurita Miller, Barry J. Northern, Kate Pilarcik, Paul D. Brazill, Angel Zapata, John Wiswell, and Jodi MacArthur for your excellent stories, flash fictions, and poetry.

The Horrors of Halloween are listed on the side of my blog for those who missed a chance to read them.



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November 1st also marks the first day in the National November Writing Month Challenge. Unfortunately I will not be able to participate this year, but since I'd already collected material for it, I wanted to share it with those of you still participating. My best of luck to you!


The Writer's Site
Status? What Status?
Learn the Elements of a Novel: Dialogue
Hacking Your Way Out of Writer's Block


" Writing is easy: All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead." ~ Gene Fowler

"I have tried simply to write the best I can. Sometimes I have good luck and write better than I can." ~ Ernest Hemingway

"If the doctor told me I had six minutes to live, I'd type a little faster." ~ Isaac Asimov

"The scariest moment is always just before you start." ~ Stephen King

" Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia." ~ E.L. Doctorow

"Keep on keepin' on." ~ Joe Dirt

GET READY...SET...WRITE.