Books and Such

I finished reading one new, hot-off-the-small-press book. I won't say anything because of that saying that mothers like to say about if you don't have anything nice to say.

I am in the process of reading The Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction, edited by Michael Martone and Lex Williford. I'm only halfway through it (it's 600-some pages), but I can't praise this book enough. I feel like it's really bringing me up to speed on many powerful short stories that I've somehow missed. In fact, of the 50 stories therein, I've only read three of them before. The book has restored my faith in the power of the short story.




Also, if you're interested, a few of my newer stories are available on line.

First, a story of mine that has really grown on me, called "NUFOINFO" can be read here:

http://burningriver.info/?cat=30

"NUFOINFO" is on the site as a sample of what appears in Burning River Publication's literary journal, Noun vs. Verb. Man oh man, the editor, the dedicated Chris Bowen, would probably do a little handstand if you actually ordered a copy of the journal.

Also, if you download the free pdf file of issue #7 of Space Squid, you can read my flash piece entitled, "God's Bodyguard Talks to a Reporter": http://www.spacesquid.com/free_sci_fi.htm

The story was inspired by my son who, one morning on the way to school, piped up from the back seat and said, "I want to write a story and call it The Death of God's Bodyguard."

I wish I had a six year old's imagination.