News:

Nothing this week.

Works in Progress:

I wanted to get two short stories written last weekend, but that didn’t happen, because on a road trip back home, the sun hits my computer screen, so I just tend to nap on the way back in an effort to avoid carsickness. I did end up finishing the second story on Wednesday, but I’ve discovered that writing in a 19th century gothic style really clashes with the aim of flash fiction, and it ended up too long. I think I can still manage the challenge, so I’ve started on another story that I hope will stay within the guidelines. I do love leaning into more complicated syntax, though. That was part of what I enjoyed about writing Masque.

I realized that, with May Cooler Heads Prevail finished and off my plate, I’m actually done with anything particularly demanding until I decide to take on the We Follow You in the Dark rewrite or the Masque edits, whichever come first. Which means I can work on the creative non-fiction and horror essays that I can accomplish at my leisure, because I really am just doing them for fun.

I did get hit with a cold (antigen tests for anything serious came back negative) Monday evening and am still on the mend. It’s been a while since I’ve been sick, and even with a cold, it always feels like it knocks me right on my back. Honestly, if the congestion could just be managed, I’d feel so much more myself.

Books I’m Reading:

Skeleton Crew by Stephen King (finished)
It was All a Dream 2: Another Anthology of Bad Horror Tropes edited by Brandon Applegate
Cosmic Dyke Patrol by Lor Gislason

Things I’m Listening To:

Miranda Lambert
Thorns playlists
Poetry for the Poisoned by Kamelot

Things I’m Watching:

The Three Caballeros
Lady and the Tramp
The Fall Guy
Fallen
Host (2020)
Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Key to the Castle
Hawaii Five-O series
Elsbeth series (finished)
Will Trent series
NCIS series
Home Town series (finished)
Home Town: Inn This Together series

Poem of the Week:

Somehow shadows survive,
coalesce into penetrating
light of a thousand candles
burning upon a vile mess,
icing atop a foul concoction, combination
of filth, mucosal secretion, ectoplasmic
residue, baked in brimstone oven.
Make a wish, blow, conflagration.
Bring back the darkness.