Dumpster Chicken Music

The Prompt Literary Magazine

2012-01-24T13:36:00.002-06:00

Here's a new journal, on which I am an editor/reader/fan, that you should check out: The Prompt Literary Magazine. As its name suggestions, it's a prompt-based journal: your own prompts, or the ones provided on the site. Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art, hybrid materials, stuff you can't even categorize--if you followed a specific prompt while writing it, submit it!

The Fifth Kraut

2012-01-23T20:56:00.001-06:00

The Fifth Kraut

Here's a great Y.A. novel by a great Y.A. writer. Sound like I'm rubbing it in? I am. But there's a reason, dammit!

(I'm currently reading his next novel-in-progress. Be jealous. Be very, very jealous.)

Cubicle

2012-01-11T14:10:00.001-06:00

This tale of workplace madness has been published in Absinthe Revival.

Misery Lights

2012-01-08T13:22:00.000-06:00

This story appears in the first issue of Ever After Review.

Designated Areas

2012-01-03T18:41:00.002-06:00

This short piece appears in Blinking Cursor, Issue 8. You can download it (free!) here.

Miles and Miles and More

2012-01-01T20:14:00.002-06:00

This story appears in the November 2011 issue of Midwestern Literary Magazine.

Momma Illusive

2011-12-30T19:15:00.002-06:00

This weird little story appears in the Fall/Winter 2011 issue of Tidal Basin Review.

A Sane Man

2011-12-19T20:47:00.001-06:00

You can check out this story in the 2012 issue of Jelly Bucket.

What's Left Behind

2011-12-13T12:43:00.002-06:00

Another Horace and Wilcox story, appearing in the Fall 2011 issue of Verdad.

What Kind of Lie Do You Tell?

2011-12-12T18:30:00.002-06:00

This story, with an abbreviated title for some reason, appears in the second issue of Crack the Spine.

Big Ugly Punch

2011-12-07T09:34:00.003-06:00

This short piece appears in Necessary Fiction. Thanks to Steve Himmer for his helpful advice/critique.

Will the Winter Never End?

2011-12-06T11:57:00.001-06:00

This flash piece appears in the December 2011 issue of Foliate Oak.

Mary Lynn

2011-12-03T21:26:00.001-06:00

This story appears in the December 2011 edition of Tuck Magazine.

A Hard Way To Die

2011-12-01T17:12:00.003-06:00

This story originally appeared in "Fissure" (now defunct, unfortunately). It's been republished here in "Liquid Imagination, Issue 11," with a fantastic narration by Bob Eccles, and some badass artwork.

Moondial

2011-11-10T20:19:00.001-06:00

This poem appears in the November 2011 poetry edition of Red Ochre Lit.

The Nursery

2011-11-09T22:36:00.001-06:00

This flash piece appears in Red Lightbulbs.

Raising the Drowned

2011-10-31T21:48:00.002-05:00

This story, inspired by H. P. Lovecraft and the great speculative writers of old, appears in the fall 2011 edition of Kaleidotrope.

Worm

2011-10-31T07:35:00.002-05:00

This story appears in The Ear Hustler's Halloween mini-issue.

Recession

2011-10-24T20:14:00.001-05:00

In my opinion, this little ditty is the darkest thing I've written. You can find it in the October 2011 edition of "Curbside Quotidian."

Polly Wants a Bullet

2011-10-13T21:00:00.001-05:00

This was the first noir story I wrote. It's finally been published in Issue 5 of Needle: A Magazine of Noir.

Saturday

2011-10-03T11:14:00.002-05:00

This story, originally published in American Polymath, has been reprinted in Midwestern Gothic, Issue 3.

Deserters

2011-10-03T11:12:00.001-05:00

This little piece originally appeared in "The Legendary;" it's been reprinted in the Sept-Oct. 2011 print edition of "Instigatorzine."

Firestorm

2011-09-27T06:35:00.001-05:00

This flash piece appears in the fall issue of Sleet Magazine.

Love in the Trenches

2011-09-22T18:10:00.002-05:00

This is how I do love stories. You can find it in First Stop Fiction.

The Prompt Literary Magazine

2011-09-19T19:10:00.002-05:00

Here's a new kid on the block: The Prompt Literary Magazine. It accepts writing based on various prompts (no kidding). The journal was founded by some great people, and its readers include even more great people (ahem...yours truly, perhaps). So check it out. I dare you.

The Other Side of the Sky

2011-09-13T20:03:00.002-05:00

This story appears in Issue 11 of Litter Box Magazine, which unfortunately appears to be the journal's final issue. Too many good journals falling by the wayside.

Neighbors

2011-09-13T19:24:00.002-05:00

You can find this story in Uptown Mosaic Magazine.

Don't Wake Me When You Leave

2011-09-11T19:11:00.002-05:00

This story, originally published in "Maverick Magazine," has been republished here in the Summer 2011 issue of Loch Raven Review.

Something in the Barn

2011-09-07T19:34:00.001-05:00

This horror story can be found in Roar & Thunder.

A Snap Decision

2011-09-07T19:31:00.001-05:00

This little story can be found in the "We All Fall Down" themed issue of Halfway Down the Stairs.

The Bleeding Walls

2011-09-07T19:21:00.001-05:00

This horror story, inspired by "The Twilight Zone" and Richard Matheson, originally appeared in The DF_Underground (now sadly defunct). It's been reprinted here in The Piker Press.

The Toad Rebellion

2011-09-01T16:16:00.002-05:00

This story can be found in the September 2011 edition of Bluestem Magazine, currently run by (incredible, talented, motivated, driven, etc.) professors at my alma mater, Eastern Illinois University.

Soldiers

2011-08-13T14:57:00.002-05:00

This little oddity, inspired by a dream I had, was originally published in "The Delinquent" in print. It now appears online here in "Red Fez."

Gravel

2011-08-06T10:19:00.001-05:00

You can find this story in Prole, Issue 5.

These Days

2011-07-15T15:25:00.002-05:00

You can find this story in the Santa Fe Writer's Project Journal.

The Tail

2011-07-13T10:35:00.000-05:00

Here's a story in the July 2011 issue of Front Porch Review.

A Fragile Dawn

2011-07-12T17:19:00.002-05:00

Another Horace and Wilcox story, published here in The Monarch Review.

A Winter Colder

2011-06-12T22:00:00.001-05:00

This Wilcox and Horace story originally appeared in "Wanderings." It's been reprinted in 5923 Quarterly. You can find it here.

For Sale

2011-06-08T17:34:00.002-05:00

This macabre little piece, inspired by the work of Bentley Little, can be found in Pink Eye Lemonade.

From "The Road to Wigan Pier"

2011-06-03T16:32:00.003-05:00

The modern English literary world, at any rate the highbrow section of it, is a sort of poisonous jungle where only weeds can flourish. It is just possible to be a literary gent and to keep your decency if you are a definitely popular writer--a writer of detective stories, for instance; but to be a highbrow, with a footing in the snootier magazines, means delivering yourself over to horrible campaigns of wire-pulling and backstairs-crawling. In the highbrow world you "get on," if you "get on" at all, not so much by your literary ability as by being the life and soul of cocktail parties and kissing the bums of verminous little lions.

-George Orwell, 1937

Anniversary

2011-06-03T15:23:00.002-05:00

This flash fiction piece originally appeared in "Apollo's Lyre." It's been reprinted in Sparkbright #6. You can order a copy and read about the contributors here.

The Pretty Ones Yet Always Die

2011-06-01T11:29:00.001-05:00

An oldie of mine, available for the first time here in the inaugural issue of Brain Soup Magazine.

The Elder Gods of Richmond Street

2011-06-01T11:26:00.002-05:00

Here's a quirky tale published in Niteblade #16, available here.

A Small Room At a Hot Time of the Morning

2011-05-31T13:49:00.002-05:00

My first audio publication, with a wonderful narration by Bob Eccles. Available here, in Issue 9 of "Liquid Imagination."

Graduation

2011-05-23T18:23:00.002-05:00

I officially have my Master's degree. Literary Studies with Creative Writing. Hooray.

Deserters

2011-04-28T10:03:00.001-05:00

Here's a little satiric piece, published in the April 2011 edition of The Legendary.

Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha

2011-04-22T14:50:00.001-05:00

Here's a story published in the Spring 2011 edition of Bare Root Review.

Sally Went to the Well

2011-04-20T23:08:00.002-05:00

A suspenseful little story published in Whistling Shade. If you're in the Minneapolis area, you can find a hard copy (for free!) around town. Otherwise, you can read it online here.

The Historian

2011-04-16T10:02:00.002-05:00

Check out this sci-fi story, inspired by a month and a half of watching the entire "Twilight Zone" series, published in Freedom Fiction.

The Cat Wrangler

2011-04-12T14:40:00.000-05:00

Check out this story in the first issue of Red Lightbulbs.

Scarecrow Sally on a Saturday Night

2011-04-11T13:40:00.001-05:00

This poem is published in the 2011 edition of Inscape, published by Washburn University. You can learn more about the journal and order a copy here.

Hodge

2011-04-04T09:06:00.003-05:00

This story, originally published in The Moon: The Publication for Writing and Art, can now be found in the first issue of Midwestern Gothic. Order a copy here.

Stevie and the Toad

2011-04-03T12:36:00.001-05:00

Here's an oddball story published in Stanley the Whale.

"The Beginning of Sorrows," "Pull," and "Blood Moon"

2011-04-01T10:57:00.002-05:00

Check out these three horror poems in Death Head Grin #22.

Shut Down Strangers

2011-03-27T19:04:00.000-05:00

Here's a short story published in Microliterature.

Hobo Jinn

2011-03-18T20:34:00.002-05:00

Here's a quirky little story published in Used Gravitrons, Issue 4.

La Piedra

2011-03-14T17:51:00.002-05:00

Another Horace and Wilcox story, published in Issue 6 of the Ampersand Review. You can order a copy and read selections from the issue here.

Tributaries

2011-03-09T18:37:00.001-06:00

Here's a story published in The Smoking Poet.

Janice's Sister

2011-02-18T21:18:00.000-06:00

Check out this story at Frostwriting.

It's All the Same, It Makes No Difference

2011-02-11T11:17:00.002-06:00

Check out this story over at Bartleby Snopes.

The Kindness of Strangers

2011-02-09T10:48:00.001-06:00

This story is being reprinted in Sex and Murder Magazine's print anthology, "Gospels of Blood, Psalms of Despair." Check it out here.

30 Seconds Before the Explosion

2011-02-04T12:36:00.002-06:00

Check out this short piece, which started as a workshop experiment, in Red Ochre Lit.

Breakfast

2011-01-30T13:39:00.001-06:00

Here's a story, inspired by watching a bit too much "Twin Peaks," published in Issue 2, Volume 1 of Hulltown 360 Literary Journal.

Stony Creek

2011-01-04T18:35:00.002-06:00

A little short story published here in "Full of Crow."

From Mike Wallace's interview with Rod Serling (September 1959):

2010-12-20T22:06:00.001-06:00

"In 11 or 12 years of writing, I can lay claim to at least this: I have never written beneath myself. I have never written anything I didn't want my name attached to. ...But all of [my scripts] that have been on, I'll take my lick. They're mine and that's the way I want 'em."

No Good Deed

2010-12-05T00:12:00.001-06:00

Another of my "dog stories." I love dogs, I swear. This one was published in the winter 2010 issue of Tidal Basin Review.

Trial In Coldwater

2010-11-29T12:17:00.001-06:00

The Western Online previously published "A Cold Morning in Cooper's Fall." Now, they've published this other Horace and Wilcox piece.

Dry Spell

2010-11-18T11:06:00.001-06:00

This short story, originally published in Eastown Fiction (my first publication credit, actually), has been reprinted as a runner-up in Spilling Ink Review's "By Invitation Only" contest collection. You can read and excerpt and order it here.

Gruel

2010-11-06T12:47:00.001-05:00

An odd little poem, published here in Breadcrumb Scabs.

They Do This Kind of Thing

2010-11-03T10:26:00.000-05:00

Check out this story at Necessary Fiction.

The Wasp

2010-10-14T22:10:00.002-05:00

Loosely inspired by a semi-true story! Available here, in Issue 2 of Blue Crow Magazine.

Marco...Marco...

2010-10-14T15:15:00.002-05:00

This little story is available in Issue 4 of Concisely Magazine. You can order a copy here.

The Witch's Grave

2010-10-09T18:05:00.003-05:00

This creepy little poem is based on a local oddity--a woman's gravestone, her date of death listed as "February 31st". It (the poem) can be ordered here, in Blood Moon Rising's Halloween 2010 issue.

He Who Watches

2010-10-01T09:22:00.001-05:00

Check out this dark little story at Viral Cat.

Yesterday's Banana Peels Rotting in the Garbage Can

2010-09-05T11:06:00.001-05:00

A little poem found in Gloom Cupboard. My apologies to Ben Affleck.

Pedigree

2010-08-31T12:13:00.001-05:00

Here's a story that appeared in the Spilling Ink Review.

Random Thought of the Day:

2010-08-30T12:30:00.001-05:00

"Wow, that color really brings out the sex in your eyes."

Foul, Strange, and Unnatural

2010-08-27T12:50:00.002-05:00

Check out this happy little ditty at The Aroostook Review.

Hodge

2010-07-26T15:59:00.001-05:00

A short story published in the August 2010 issue of The Moon: The Publication of Writing and Art.

Macabre Image from the Night:

2010-07-18T00:14:00.002-05:00

A lightning bug flashing while getting flushed down the toilet.

Dodo

2010-07-13T16:23:00.002-05:00

This little flash fiction piece has been published in the latest volume of Fast Forward Press. You can read about it--and order it--here.

My Robotic Ex-Girlfriend

2010-06-30T22:58:00.001-05:00

You can find this sci-fi flash story here in the July 2010 issue of Lightning Flash Magazine.

The Channel

2010-06-04T17:13:00.000-05:00

I wrote an upbeat story! (Kinda.)

It Slips Through Your Fingers Like Rainwater in Jakarta

2010-06-02T09:42:00.002-05:00

You can find this story in Sparkbright.

Treat It the Normal Way

2010-05-22T22:51:00.002-05:00

This story started out as a workshop exercise. You can find it now at the Ozone Park Journal.

The Bee and the Urinal (Print)

2010-05-22T21:00:00.002-05:00

The Foliate Oak's 2010 print edition (featuring my piece, "The Bee and the Urinal," and well as a lot of other great work) is available here.

Zeus,

2010-05-13T14:41:00.001-05:00

A little poem published at Clutching At Straws.

Ironic Moment From the Weekend:

2010-05-05T20:53:00.001-05:00

A U.S. mail delivery vehicle, replete with "This Vehicle Makes Frequent Stop" stickers, running a red light.

That is all.

The Lady

2010-05-01T15:10:00.000-05:00

You can find this story at Pig in a Poke.

The Brave, the Bold, the Battered

2010-04-14T08:39:00.000-05:00

Here's a story published by Short Story Library.

Don't Wake Me When You Leave

2010-04-05T11:37:00.002-05:00

A little flash fiction piece, written after a tad too much Raymond Carver.

Be Careful, They Bite

2010-03-24T08:27:00.001-05:00

This story has gotten published at Glint Literary Journal.

War Stories

2010-03-14T14:09:00.001-05:00

This little social piece can be found at The Fear of Monkeys.

The Bleeding Walls

2010-03-09T10:40:00.000-06:00

Here's a horror story that found it's home at the DF_Underground.

Zap, Donnie, and You're Done

2010-03-01T11:19:00.000-06:00

Check out this story at Buzzard Picnic.

A Good Place to Pass Through

2010-03-01T11:18:00.001-06:00

This is a weird little flash fiction piece.

A Cold Morning in Cooper's Fall

2010-03-01T11:10:00.001-06:00

Another Horace and Wilcox story, published, appropriately enough, here at The Western Online.

The Old Man and the Shoe

2010-02-27T16:19:00.002-06:00

A little poem I wrote one night for fun. You can find it here.

A Winter Colder

2010-02-25T23:21:00.001-06:00

Wanderings has published this story, another Horace and Wilcox piece.

Survival

2010-02-24T13:03:00.000-06:00

This is a dark little poem.