Tag: Rabbit Hole 6

Jane Frankel’s ‘Sadie’ in Writers Co-op Production’s The Rabbit Hole Weird Stories Destination:Journey Anthology

I asked fellow The Rabbit Hole Weird Stories Destination:Journey 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 The Rabbit Hole Weird Stories Destination:Journey (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 an introduction to the anthology as a whole:

“Life is a journey, not a destination.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Emerson’s point has been echoed by many, but in the Land of the Weird the question arises, “A journey to what destination?” At the same time, you might ask, “Is the journey therefore the destination?” The journey may well be an individual’s destination, because it will define them physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And in the Land of the Weird, that journey can take twists and turns that amuse, sadden, or horrify.
This trip into the Land of the Weird offers you 39 unique trails to follow, assisted by 35 different guides, each leading you down their own singular paths, manifesting their own view of journey as destination, some laughing, some weeping, and some, eyes wide with fear, shaking as they point out the spectral footpath for you to follow on your way down The Rabbit Hole.

A Writers Co-op Production
Stories by: Chere Taylor, Brian R. Quinn, Arthur M. Doweyko, Donna J. W. Munro, Tom Howard, Kayla Whittle, Leslie Muzingo, Pete Barnstrom, Emmie Christie, Thomas Nicholson, GD Deckard, Richard DeRobertis, M.C. Schmidt, James Dorr, Rosalind Goldsmith, Margaret Karmazin, J.W.Wood, James Rumpel, Bill McCormick, v.f. thompson, Fran Tabor, David K. Slay, Joseph Carrabis, Jane Frankel, Alice Baburek, Susan R. Morritt, Bobby Rollins, Lee Clark Zumpe, Denice Penrose, Stephen McQuiggan, H. Donovan Lyón, Anna Ross, Michael Pudney, Beth Gaydon, and Tom Wolosz.

Jane’s contribution is Sadie. Here’s the opening:

Ellie’s mother shot herself on Ellie’s eighth birthday. She went into the bedroom, saying she was going to get Ellie’s ‘big surprise,’ and then, ‘Boom,’ what had once been her mother was now just a splatter of brains on the wall.
Ellie didn’t cry. She never cried. Instead she creeped into the bedroom on tippy toes and leaned over her mother’s dead body, taking in the strange combination of odors, urine and shit and perfume that smelled like lilies. What her mother called ‘her signature.’

How the story came about:
I love the idea of possessed dolls and wanted to write a story that compared the horror of the supernatural to the horror of real life tragedy. I also wanted to explore the vulnerability and strangeness of childhood and how children perceive what’s real and what isn’t. The idea of ‘life sized dolls’ has always intrigued me. I think it’s interesting how things that are made to be cute or fun can also be terrifying.
Continue reading “Jane Frankel’s ‘Sadie’ in Writers Co-op Production’s The Rabbit Hole Weird Stories Destination:Journey Anthology”

Denice Penrose’s ‘Building Castles in the Sky’ in Writers Co-op Production’s The Rabbit Hole Weird Stories Destination:Journey Anthology

I asked fellow The Rabbit Hole Weird Stories Destination:Journey 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 The Rabbit Hole Weird Stories Destination:Journey (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 an introduction to the anthology as a whole:

“Life is a journey, not a destination.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Emerson’s point has been echoed by many, but in the Land of the Weird the question arises, “A journey to what destination?” At the same time, you might ask, “Is the journey therefore the destination?” The journey may well be an individual’s destination, because it will define them physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And in the Land of the Weird, that journey can take twists and turns that amuse, sadden, or horrify.
This trip into the Land of the Weird offers you 39 unique trails to follow, assisted by 35 different guides, each leading you down their own singular paths, manifesting their own view of journey as destination, some laughing, some weeping, and some, eyes wide with fear, shaking as they point out the spectral footpath for you to follow on your way down The Rabbit Hole.

A Writers Co-op Production
Stories by: Chere Taylor, Brian R. Quinn, Arthur M. Doweyko, Donna J. W. Munro, Tom Howard, Kayla Whittle, Leslie Muzingo, Pete Barnstrom, Emmie Christie, Thomas Nicholson, GD Deckard, Richard DeRobertis, M.C. Schmidt, James Dorr, Rosalind Goldsmith, Margaret Karmazin, J.W.Wood, James Rumpel, Bill McCormick, v.f. thompson, Fran Tabor, David K. Slay, Joseph Carrabis, Jane Frankel, Alice Baburek, Susan R. Morritt, Bobby Rollins, Lee Clark Zumpe, Denice Penrose, Stephen McQuiggan, H. Donovan Lyón, Anna Ross, Michael Pudney, Beth Gaydon, and Tom Wolosz.

Denice’s contribution is Castles in the Sky. Here’s the opening:

“Oh no! What was it I needed?” Katie stared at the supermarket aisles. She’d been distracted by the sale on those little camisole tops that had been such a life saver this summer. When the hot flushes struck, she could strip right down to the skimpy top for relief. With a light wrap, they even looked decent enough in public. She stuffed two hangers into her basket. She’d have to start at the beginning and see if she could work out what she needed.

How the story came about:
Stories often start with random snippets that eventually coalesce into something meaningful. This one started with watching Sherlock Holmes, and hearing him talk about using a ‘memory palace’ to remember information. It coincided with conversations on ways of remembering information, and then I started wondering about how it worked, and what happened if it worked too well..
Continue reading “Denice Penrose’s ‘Building Castles in the Sky’ in Writers Co-op Production’s The Rabbit Hole Weird Stories Destination:Journey Anthology”

James Rumpel’s ‘Climbing the Intergalactic Ladder’ in Writers Co-op Production’s The Rabbit Hole Weird Stories Destination:Journey Anthology

I asked fellow The Rabbit Hole Weird Stories Destination:Journey 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 The Rabbit Hole Weird Stories Destination:Journey (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 an introduction to the anthology as a whole:

“Life is a journey, not a destination.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Emerson’s point has been echoed by many, but in the Land of the Weird the question arises, “A journey to what destination?” At the same time, you might ask, “Is the journey therefore the destination?” The journey may well be an individual’s destination, because it will define them physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And in the Land of the Weird, that journey can take twists and turns that amuse, sadden, or horrify.
This trip into the Land of the Weird offers you 39 unique trails to follow, assisted by 35 different guides, each leading you down their own singular paths, manifesting their own view of journey as destination, some laughing, some weeping, and some, eyes wide with fear, shaking as they point out the spectral footpath for you to follow on your way down The Rabbit Hole.

A Writers Co-op Production
Stories by: Chere Taylor, Brian R. Quinn, Arthur M. Doweyko, Donna J. W. Munro, Tom Howard, Kayla Whittle, Leslie Muzingo, Pete Barnstrom, Emmie Christie, Thomas Nicholson, GD Deckard, Richard DeRobertis, M.C. Schmidt, James Dorr, Rosalind Goldsmith, Margaret Karmazin, J.W.Wood, James Rumpel, Bill McCormick, v.f. thompson, Fran Tabor, David K. Slay, Joseph Carrabis, Jane Frankel, Alice Baburek, Susan R. Morritt, Bobby Rollins, Lee Clark Zumpe, Denice Penrose, Stephen McQuiggan, H. Donovan Lyón, Anna Ross, Michael Pudney, Beth Gaydon, and Tom Wolosz.

James’ contribution is Climbing the Intergalactic Ladder. Here’s the opening:

Robert Umbright III sat in the waiting rooming, sizing up his competition. He was far from comfortable. His chair was clearly not designed for human beings. The seat was much too low and the armrests were much too high. The stirrups he assumed his feet were supposed to go in were at an awkward angle. He would be more comfortable if he leaned his head back but the row of spikes at the base of his neck made that impossible. He must have looked like some Russian folk dancer frozen in mid-kick. He considered climbing out of the torturous contraption but did not want to do anything to upset his interviewers. No doubt, they were watching his behavior.

How the story came about:
Climbing the Intergalactic Ladder began as a quick look at what it would be like for an Earthling to interview for a job with an extra-terrestrial company. I thought the juxtaposition of a traditional interview with alien technologies and cultures could prove interesting and, hopefully, humorous.
Continue reading “James Rumpel’s ‘Climbing the Intergalactic Ladder’ in Writers Co-op Production’s The Rabbit Hole Weird Stories Destination:Journey Anthology”

Rick DeRobertis’ ‘The Saga of McKADE the Sailor’ in Writers Co-op Production’s The Rabbit Hole Weird Stories Destination:Journey Anthology

I asked fellow The Rabbit Hole Weird Stories Destination:Journey 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 The Rabbit Hole Weird Stories Destination:Journey (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 an introduction to the anthology as a whole:

“Life is a journey, not a destination.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Emerson’s point has been echoed by many, but in the Land of the Weird the question arises, “A journey to what destination?” At the same time, you might ask, “Is the journey therefore the destination?” The journey may well be an individual’s destination, because it will define them physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And in the Land of the Weird, that journey can take twists and turns that amuse, sadden, or horrify.
This trip into the Land of the Weird offers you 39 unique trails to follow, assisted by 35 different guides, each leading you down their own singular paths, manifesting their own view of journey as destination, some laughing, some weeping, and some, eyes wide with fear, shaking as they point out the spectral footpath for you to follow on your way down The Rabbit Hole.

A Writers Co-op Production
Stories by: Chere Taylor, Brian R. Quinn, Arthur M. Doweyko, Donna J. W. Munro, Tom Howard, Kayla Whittle, Leslie Muzingo, Pete Barnstrom, Emmie Christie, Thomas Nicholson, GD Deckard, Richard DeRobertis, M.C. Schmidt, James Dorr, Rosalind Goldsmith, Margaret Karmazin, J.W.Wood, James Rumpel, Bill McCormick, v.f. thompson, Fran Tabor, David K. Slay, Joseph Carrabis, Jane Frankel, Alice Baburek, Susan R. Morritt, Bobby Rollins, Lee Clark Zumpe, Denice Penrose, Stephen McQuiggan, H. Donovan Lyón, Anna Ross, Michael Pudney, Beth Gaydon, and Tom Wolosz.

Rick’s contribution is The Saga of McKADE the Sailor. Here’s the opening:

There was a brave sailor I knew,
Named McKade who was feeling quite blue
“A sea serpent’s at large,
Eating ship, boat and barge,
And smacking his lips when he’s through.”

How the story came about:
A college professor told me that “Ring around the Rosies, pocket full of posies, ashes, ashes, All fall down” was from the Black Plague (roses and posies were charms to ward off disease, ‘ashes’ was meant to imitate coughing), and ‘all fall down’ speaks for itself. Then Tolkien showed how “Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle” was just a contracted version of an old Hobbit song. Therefore, I figured that there was more behind “Rub a dub dub, three men in a tub” than a nonsense rhyme. That always sounded kind of fishy to me and was convinced it was referring to a small boat. I just could not understand why three craftsmen with nothing to do with the sea were out at sea in a stupid little tub. Then I met someone who once knew McKade the Sailor and it all came about.
Continue reading “Rick DeRobertis’ ‘The Saga of McKADE the Sailor’ in Writers Co-op Production’s The Rabbit Hole Weird Stories Destination:Journey Anthology”

H. Donovan Lyón’s ‘Bruja’ in Writers Co-op Production’s The Rabbit Hole Weird Stories Destination:Journey Anthology

I asked fellow The Rabbit Hole Weird Stories Destination:Journey 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 The Rabbit Hole Weird Stories Destination:Journey (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 an introduction to the anthology as a whole:

“Life is a journey, not a destination.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Emerson’s point has been echoed by many, but in the Land of the Weird the question arises, “A journey to what destination?” At the same time, you might ask, “Is the journey therefore the destination?” The journey may well be an individual’s destination, because it will define them physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And in the Land of the Weird, that journey can take twists and turns that amuse, sadden, or horrify.
This trip into the Land of the Weird offers you 39 unique trails to follow, assisted by 35 different guides, each leading you down their own singular paths, manifesting their own view of journey as destination, some laughing, some weeping, and some, eyes wide with fear, shaking as they point out the spectral footpath for you to follow on your way down The Rabbit Hole.

A Writers Co-op Production
Stories by: Chere Taylor, Brian R. Quinn, Arthur M. Doweyko, Donna J. W. Munro, Tom Howard, Kayla Whittle, Leslie Muzingo, Pete Barnstrom, Emmie Christie, Thomas Nicholson, GD Deckard, Richard DeRobertis, M.C. Schmidt, James Dorr, Rosalind Goldsmith, Margaret Karmazin, J.W.Wood, James Rumpel, Bill McCormick, v.f. thompson, Fran Tabor, David K. Slay, Joseph Carrabis, Jane Frankel, Alice Baburek, Susan R. Morritt, Bobby Rollins, Lee Clark Zumpe, Denice Penrose, Stephen McQuiggan, H. Donovan Lyón, Anna Ross, Michael Pudney, Beth Gaydon, and Tom Wolosz.

H. Donovan Lyón’s contribution is Bruja. Here’s the opening:

There was no other explanation for the two-headed albino piglet that squirted out from between the hams of Ramón Trujillo’s filthy and promiscuous sow!

How the story came about:
There’s an element of truth in “Bruja” as there is in virtually all of my New Mexico themed short stories, and various iterations of the tale have been whispered into eager ears in countless homes across the land.
Continue reading “H. Donovan Lyón’s ‘Bruja’ in Writers Co-op Production’s The Rabbit Hole Weird Stories Destination:Journey Anthology”