You will find my short story “Confetti Skycade” and my shorter short, “Bubble Jet Fuel” in the newest “Flashy Shorts – The Sequel”. The both happened to win first place over at Good Guy Publishing and another story “Fallen Awake” was also mentioned as an honorable mention. So I think three stories will be published. I actually think these three are really great stories and if you are a fan of something a bit more washed with wonder, you should pick up this edition when it comes out.
Latest
The Monolith is officially Live! “What would you do for one wish?”
After a long delay: Chapter 1.
The Monolith Update: Are You Ready To Die?
The Monolith has 15 chapters done. It was originally intended to be 25 but I realize the story is already almost done at 15. It will probably end at 20. The date is scheduled for late Feburary but is subject to change. And I think it’s fucking an amazing fun story.
Monolith News: [link]
Date: Feb. 24th
Also check out Confetti Skycade my latest short story.
Young Persons Called to Private Grand Jury for Owning Books
Just a few weeks ago, an FBI task force raided a home* in Portland, Oregon very early in the morning. They broke down the front door with a battering ram and threw in a stun grenade, which is non-lethal but produces a very loud and disorienting noise and a blinding bright light. The team locked down the building and secured the sleepy, compliant occupants.
Books can get you in a lot of trouble. That's why I like them so much. - L. Vera
Buy Flashy Shorts Today
When I hear Flashy Shorts, I picture some bright colored shorts, perhaps something Bart Simpson wears. Nonetheless, here is a flashy set of shorts from Good Guy Publishing, coming out Today, with yours truly gracing the pages. The lineup is actually pretty nice, check it out:
Oatmeal Galaxy by K. M. Indovina
Metro Rider by Mark Gatto
Cup Football by Margaret Nesbitt
Duck-egg Blue by Natalie Glenister
The Secret Witch by Debbie Behan
No Criminal by L. Vera
The Flat by Graham Taylor
The Kansas Kindred Killers by Graham Smith
-L. Vera
Diary of a Madman FREE!!!!
You have no excuse not to download this. Even you don’t have a kindle, you can download the PC version here. It’s free till Monday.
Today’s post brought to you be the letter H.
Hiatus.
Been super busy with www.aknifeandaquill.wordpress.com, reading Heath Lowrance’s Dig Ten Graves
- L. Vera
A new blog and we want you to help.
“A Knife And A Quill” is a new blog I’ve created with other writers and artist that will feature dark literature, from self published books to children’s books. So far the staff is four people strong and we have a lot of content coming out on Friday.
So there’s many things you can do to help.
1) Join the team. We are looking for article writers, someone with a little spunk who like to write 2-3 articles a month about writing news, keeping with our dark theme most of the time. We are also letting bloggers use their own amazon affiliate links so they profit off the traffic here.
2) Donate. Soon there will be an icon so that you can donate to make the site more dynamic. We only need $100 every year to make the blog a full fledge website.
Also, click on our Kindle Store link if you plan on making amazon purchases. We get a percentage of anything you buy through our Amazon Affiliate links and even that will help the site.
3) Let us interact with you. Need a book review, let me know. Want an interview, send me a message. Want a contest advertised, shoot me the info. Want your site featured in a blog, then maybe we can trade.
4) Send us any crazy short story you have, which we will throw up on “The Wall”. We’ll showcase strange, weird short/flash fiction every now and then which you can add as a publishing credit.
5) Follow us. It’s that simple. If you have a wordpress account or an email address, we would be thrilled to have you following us.
6) I’m almost out of ways you can help. 
But the last thing I could think of is just communicating with us. I respond to everyone and love talking to anyone who’s brave enough to leave a comment. I may not have awesome ties to agents or big companies, but I do know lots of writers and after talking to you, I’ll know one more.
Diary of a Madman – August 20th
**Author’s notes: This is the tenth piece, the first is found here
You can find the complete, professionally edited and extended book here along with two short stories for $2.99.**
August 20th
Dear Diary,
I’ve been watching the old lady down the hall. This kill is going to be easy. From what I can see out of the corner of my peephole, she leaves everyday at around 8:30 in the morning to get the newspaper and a coffee. Around lunch time she leaves the door open to her apartment till about 8 in the afternoon. She leaves it open for ventilation while she cooks and to air out her apartment.
She takes her smoke breaks around 1, 5, and 8.
I didn’t notice this earlier but Vanessa left me some messages on my answering machine. She mentioned that she will be away for a couple days and, get this Diary, she misses me. So overall, a good day. Tomorrow, will be even better.
The hunger
scares me.
Messages on Todd’s Answering Machine
You have 5 unheard messages.
First message.
Todd, it’s me Vanessa. I haven’t talked to you since Wednesday. I thought you were back in town by now. I hope you’re not avoiding me. Anyways, call me or stop by. I know this may sound weird but I feel lonely when you’re gone. Anyways, call me.
Second message
Mr. Casil, this is Tony, from Frontier Publications. I don’t know how to tell you this but we decided not to go ahead with To My Enemies. What you sent, well… It isn’t what we are looking for. It’s… Look it’s too depressing. A lot of this seems like dribble and crying. I talked to your agent William and we are discussing an alternative to fulfill your contract. William will get together later with you on this. Thanks.
Third message
Todd, buddy old pal. It’s me William. I got out of a meeting with Frontier Publications and looks like they are pulling the plug on your book. But the jokes on them. If they don’t put it out they still have to pay you. You won’t get any percentage from sales but they have to pay you the full bonuses for writing the book. So keep writing. I’ll see if I can find another publisher.
Fourth message
Todd, it’s me Vanessa. I’m leaving out of town for a class trip this weekend. I won’t be back till Monday morning. By the way, I loved your book To Sarah. It’s very beautiful. Whatever happened to her? Anyways, I’ll call you when I get back.
Fifth message
…static…
…static…
click!
