Category: Fiction

Denise Aparo’s ‘The Pines’ in WordCrafter Press’ Midnight Roost Anthology

I asked fellow Midnight Roost 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 Midnight Roost (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?).

Let’s start with a Hallowe’en-themed introduction to the anthology as a whole:

Denise’s contribution is The Pines. Here’s the opening:

The ping of the brass counter bell resonated through the rustic tavern lobby.
“May I help you?” As the tavernkeeper appeared from behind the mahogany counter, he gave the guest a cheerful smile as he twisted a stark white cloth inside a barrel-shaped stein.
“I have a reservation for a single room under Douglas. Orna Douglas.” She held out a credit card.
Setting the pint glass on the inner counter, he flipped the pages of a large register. He frowned, “Em, sorry, Ms. Douglas. There was no confirmation for the booking. I procured it yesterday. Unfortunately, no rooms due to the storm.”

How the story came about:
The inspiration for her short story “The Pines” came from a weekend visit to the cozy New Hampshire town of North Conway. While staying at a local inn with her husband and another couple, they each experienced unexplained events, like seeing shadows move against the wall and having a feeling of being tapped on the shoulder when standing alone. The more they discussed their eerie feelings, the more the power of suggestion took over!
The visit to the inn, combined with recently learning about her family heritage, and hearing about the miscarriage of a very spiritual friend, prompted the structure of her story.
Continue reading “Denise Aparo’s ‘The Pines’ in WordCrafter Press’ Midnight Roost Anthology”

M J Mallon’s ‘The Cull’ in WordCrafter Press’ Midnight Roost Anthology

I asked fellow Midnight Roost 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 Midnight Roost (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?).

Let’s start with a Hallowe’en-themed introduction to the anthology as a whole:

M J’s contribution is The Cull. Here’s the opening:

Adrian studied his self-portrait, a medium black charcoal piece set against a white
background, turning it this way and that as if trying to understand it. As he stared, the more
disturbing it became. Its painted charcoal mouth startled him by opening wide, its tongue
swelled. It spat, twisting and turning on the page, becoming a spectre of rage.
He yelled. “Stop that! You diabolical, twisted abomination…”
Adrian brought the edge of his hand down hard against the portrait, erasing half of his face in a fury of frustration.

How the story came about:
I wrote this short story whilst working in a Sixth Form College for international students in Cambridge. I was required to have GDPR training at work. Whilst focusing on the finer details (which were quite boring,) I began to imagine what would happen if people were subjected to a computer generated cull… That’s how this story came into being! In my experience, ideas for stories can derive from all sorts of different sources: conversations, visual stimuli, artwork, and even the most mundane day-to-day work tasks can be an inspiration!
Continue reading “M J Mallon’s ‘The Cull’ in WordCrafter Press’ Midnight Roost Anthology”

Sonia Pipkin’s ‘Once Upon a Time’ in WordCrafter Press’ Midnight Roost Anthology

I asked fellow Midnight Roost 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 Midnight Roost (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?).

Let’s start with a Hallowe’en-themed introduction to the anthology as a whole:

Sonia’s contribution is Once Upon a Time. Here’s the opening:

Once upon a time, in a magical forest, woodland creatures lived in peaceful co-existence, and not one human was the wiser. The sky was the perfect shade of azure blue, trees with full leafy crowns filled every corner, and the creatures lacked for nothing since the forest provided it all. Within this land, bears were friends with foxes who were friends with squirrels who were friends with birds, and not one drop of blood had ever been spilt on the soil in the enchanted land until that day.

How the story came about:
I wrote this short story while I was attending Western Colorado University, during a short forms course. I love the idea of combining a fairytale with unexpected horror and that was my inspiration.
Continue reading “Sonia Pipkin’s ‘Once Upon a Time’ in WordCrafter Press’ Midnight Roost Anthology”

Michaele Jordan’s ‘Afterwards’ in WordCrafter Press’ Midnight Roost Anthology

I asked fellow Midnight Roost 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 Midnight Roost (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?).

Let’s start with a Hallowe’en-themed introduction to the anthology as a whole:

Michaela’s contribution is Afterwards. Here’s the opening:

“And you had the light?”
“Huh?” Brad stared, wondering what the officer was saying (and struggling to focus his eyes). Light? The light at the end of the tunnel? Was he near death? He felt fine.
“The light, Sir,” repeated the officer. “You had the green?”
Oh, the traffic light! “Yeah, sure. Of course.” Of course he had the light. He’d He’d have stopped if the light had been red, wouldn’t he? Obviously, he would have. He twisted his neck, trying to see past the EMT lifting him into the ambulance. He failed. “Put me down, you guys. I don’t need an ambulance. I’m fine.”

How the story came about:
I’m afraid I can’t tell you how this story came about. I just don’t remember. I got an idea somewhere or other, and I wrote it down. That happens to me a lot.

(fascinating how that happens to authors. more often than most readers would suspect, me thinks)

About Michaele Jordan:
Michaele Jordan was born in Los Angeles, bred in the Midwest, educated in Liberal Arts at Bard College and in computers at Southern Ohio College. She has worked at a kennel and a Hebrew School, AT&T and a church. She’s a bit odd. In her spare time she writes, supervised by a long-suffering husband and a couple of domineering cats.
Her credits include her period occult thriller, Mirror Maze, and a previous novel serialized in Jim Baen’s Universe, Blade Light. You will find her short stories floating around the ether-including Wizard in F&SF, Message of War in Infinite Science Fiction, and Farewell, my Miko in Visions. The Once and Future Cake is just one of her numerous stories in Buzzy Mag (Check out their website!). Horror fans might also enjoy her Blossom series in The Crimson Pact anthologies.
Her website is undergoing extensive reconstruction, but just grab your hard hat, and come on in.

Paul Kane’s ‘The White Lady’ in WordCrafter Press’ Midnight Roost Anthology

I asked fellow Midnight Roost 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 Midnight Roost (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?).

Let’s start with a Hallowe’en-themed introduction to the anthology as a whole:

Paul’s contribution is The White Lady. Here’s the opening:

It had been a stroke of luck to find The White Lady.
The White Lady in a whiteout. A sudden blizzard that had appeared out of nowhere, forcing him off the road. Behind him, at his back in the rear-view mirror, practically chasing him. Visibility had dropped to nothing, conditions treacherous even after he slowed down, something he’d been reluctant to do. Which explained why he’d skidded and ended up veering sideways into that ditch. Why he’d had to eventually abandon the BMW, its tyres spinning uselessly like Wile E. Coyote’s legs off the side of a cliff. Everyone knew that those kinds of cars were hopeless in the snow, but then there wasn’t supposed to be any snow, was there?

Continue reading “Paul Kane’s ‘The White Lady’ in WordCrafter Press’ Midnight Roost Anthology”