Writing

The Pieces Left Her Body

2012-04-06T03:12:00Z

Like most people I think it’s easiest to forget the pain if I keep my head down and blinders on. Stay busy, stay sharp and keep distracted. If I keep myself overwhelmed, forever struggling to keep my head above water, I may not have to deal with the guilt head on. I won’t have to think about the suffering I caused her, or rather, the suffering I should have prevented.
It’s the quiet moments that I’m learning to hate. In the positive space between distractions something will catch my attention, some sound or smell, and I’m brought back to the night it all began. Like a fender-bender, bang, I’m jolted back to the night Beth became something else, something other than my wife, and everything changed.

Sun Chang Happy Fortune

2012-04-06T00:53:00Z

My boss takes a bubbling sip from his caramel latte and steam from the drink fogs his glasses. His lips are wet and pouting, his eyes are weak and watery. They don’t match the power he’s struggling to project from behind his desk, a giant oak sonofabitch that’s been in his family for generations.

Ozymandias

2012-04-06T00:18:00Z

“Tamerlane online,” said Dr. Chang. A cascade of lights illuminated the control deck and washed over her. “Cortez and Tecumseh saw a 17 percent drop in power but they seem to be stabilizing.” She cracked her knuckles and leaned over the array of controls to view the drone in its launch silo as it ran through systems diagnostics; gouts of steam rolling from exhaust vents and the flicker of external cameras acknowledging its environment. To either side of Tamerlane’s silo his fellow drones creaked and settled into Awareness State. The thrum of their drives could be felt through the concrete walls but, from the insulated Operations room, they were silent. In the silo great slabs of armor would be screeching, slowly dragging against one another, and the drone’s generators would be roaring to life at deafening levels.

A Frittata Lost and a Hero Found

2012-04-05T22:28:00Z

The tremor began slowly, the low subconscious rumble of the subway underfoot, and intensified until the pigeons scattered and a wide split opened in the sidewalk, a ragged concrete maw, swallowing a young couple who had been flirting over their mimosas. My plate skittered off the table spilling my lunch across the sidewalk with a wet slap. The laptop and café au lait followed. I’m not a psychic but I knew this wasn’t going to end well.
A metallic voice, distorted by rage and amplified, electronic modulation echoed in the canyon of the financial district. “GIVE ME THE SOULSTONE, BILLY WEATHERS! YOU ARE THE HOST NO MORE!”

When Summoned

2012-04-05T05:07:00Z

Charlie paused, silhouetted in the doorway, and slapped dust from his leathers while his eyes adjusted to the gloom. A window overlooked the mud of Main Street but the glass had long been stained by grime that choked every feeble mote of light. The Law Office of Martin Banks Esq. was painted on the window in gold script and the lettering was chipped and fading. Like everything in Cherry Cove it was worn and in a state of advanced disrepair.

10,000 Dungeon Masters

2012-04-04T04:31:00Z

    “You know what I hate about zombie movies?” Perry paused and looked around the table then pushed a folded slice of pizza into his mouth. He chewed slowly; his lips slightly parted and he took deep, whistling breaths around the mass of cheese, dough and sausage. “This supposedly badass virus that has no cure and spreads like wildfire across the globe, bringing about the collapse of humanity and the end of the world as we know it doesn’t affect animals. That’s just lazy film-mak…”
   “What about Return of the Living Dead?”
   Perry swallowed. “Excuse me?”
   The kitchen lights flickered and shadows twitched across the pale green walls and IKEA cabinetry. Owls dominated the room: salt and pepper shakers, magnets, dish towels, and needlepoint. The family dog, Pansy, was barking in the backyard at something unseen in the deepening shadows of twilight.
   Barton shrugged and looked around the table at the rest of the gang. “Return of the Living Dead had a zombie dog.”

Blue, Through and Through

2012-03-25T17:43:17Z

“The sky is blue, so why are you?” said the songbird to the chameleon.

“The view is stunning,” said the lizard, “it’s true, but I’m not meant to be flying like helium. God’s gift to me, is color you see, and my color is that of my surroundings.”

“Hmmm," pondered the songbird, "that won’t help you eat and it won’t help you breed; I confess your gift is a little confounding.”

“I share your confusion and would add some of my own,” said chameleon, “for I should be nearly invisible. On dirt I am brown and on grass I am green and my ability is usually reliable.”

“Well, you are hard to see,” said the songbird, “and your color confused me but my vision is really quite keen. If I see a twig move there isn’t much more to prove and its almost as if you’ve been seen.”

“Ah, that’s good to know and in the future I'll show,” said chameleon, “how still and concealed I can be." She swished her tail in the air. "Now I'm sure I'm not getting lighter and I have babies to feed, so you can drop me off wherever you’d like to.”

“I’m sorry to say this just isn’t your day but we won’t be flying much longer,” said the songbird as her talons squeezed just a little bit tighter. “Though you should know I have babies as well and God's gift seems to have failed you.”

Going Nowhere

2012-03-16T03:21:37Z

Molly stopped crying just past El Paso and sometime later, in the harsh afternoon heat, she ate a greasy burger at a roadside restaurant sculpted like a giant metal bull. Under the glare of the bulls glowing red eyes she wiped threads of dried tears and grit from her face, washed her burger down with a soda then climbed back into her car and drove.

Character descriptions: "Dark Side of the Crown"

2012-02-26T00:42:47Z

Quite a few people have been asking me how about the process for writing "Dark Side of the Crown" so I decided to share some tidbits from the story document that Jillina & Co. used to choreograph and design the show. I've removed all plot spoilers from the character descriptions and yes, many of the names are derived from Farsi.

Program Summary: "Dark Side of the Crown"

2012-02-25T21:26:56Z

For centuries the matriarchy of Shabanvah has rested peacefully in a far stretch of the Eastern trade routes. Fair and affluent, the realm has flourished under the rule of benevolent queens who have passed the crown from mother to daughter in an elaborate ceremony of love and politics. Relationships are made stronger or ripped apart in this contest for the crown.

Tonight the beloved Queen Rahvan must choose which of her three beautiful daughters is best suited to rule the realm: the popular Sharnaz, the proud Zahra or the peaceful Kimiya.

In recent weeks the priestess, Elaheh, has suffered dreams of a dark shadow brooding in the court so the Queen’s most trusted advisor, Amrakay, has recommended caution. To set the Queen’s mind at ease General Hafez has assigned his most trusted imperial guards to oversee the ceremony.