I asked fellow Legends – Monsters That Go Bump in the Night anthology contributors to share some things about themselves prior to publication and those generous enough to do so will be appearing here for the next week or so.
Each entry gives a taste of their contribution, a little about them, how to contact them, how their story came about, and definitely a link to Legends – Monsters That Go Bump in the Night (which you should purchase because it would make each and every one of us happy.
you do want to make us happy, don’t you?
i mean, considering what we wrote, you want us to know you’re a good person, right?).
And now, Parlay With Death:
Bradley slid into bed with his laptop and cellphone. It was going to be a long night. This deal had to go through before 12:01 AM and the attorneys for the other side were still negotiating for better terms. He didn’t blame them. Hell, if he was in their shoes, he would be squirreling for better terms too. There was nothing like a last-minute adrenalin rush parlay after dinner. A bottle of valium, a little late night congratulatory treat to fight the insomnia that follows closing a mega deal, sat beside his blood pressure med, and his nitro. A bottle of Milk of Magnesia sat behind those in his little nightstand pharmacy. He looked at his computer, then his cellphone. It was eleven ten, and there were no emails or texts yet.
How the story came about:
The inspiration behind my story “Parlay With Death” comes from personification of the process of death into the creature known as the Grim Reaper, originating during the 14th century Black Plague of Europe, and the Angel of Death whose origins date further back and come from three different theological beliefs. While both characters gather souls, the Angel of Death is typically given the more divine role of guiding souls to the afterlife, whereas the Grim Reaper is portrayed as more of an evil force.
I believe the idea of dying peacefully in one’s sleep is appealing to a vast majority of people when compared to other possibilities, yet at the same time dying in one’s sleep is terrifying. When we sleep we relinquish all control over our bodies, our consciousness, and our thoughts, rendering us unable to fight back when threatened. “Parlay With Death” combines many of those fears into a philosophical horror story.
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About CR Johansson: C.R. Johansson writes gripping thriller, science fiction, fantasy, and even horror stories with a genetic twist. Her characters explore universes where the unknown prevails and the impossible is possible akin to her life with congenital heart disease. She works and plays in the Pacific Northwest with her husband. When not writing, she enjoys listening to the nearby river and communing with nature and the world around her. You can find her on Facebook, Amazon, and GoodReads. |
See all Legends stories here.
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