Villager / Wallflower
Villager A novel by Tom Cox It’s a heavy day, and it hangs all over me. I’m deep in it. I’m so far in it, I’m technically invisible, unless you’re extremely near to me, and very…
The House of the Seven Gables (excerpt)
Excerpt from Chapter 14 of The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne Photos by Frank C. Grace First published in 1851, The House of the Seven Gables is the tale of a cursed house…
The Adventures of Luna and Danzi: Episode One
Illustrations by Morgan Wagner Everyone seems to want to reach for the stars. Then they usually remember that the star closest to one’s home planet can be a colossal jerk, especially in the summertime. Danzi wondered…
One Circle More
Is the spiral the shape of life? From our DNA to galaxies, spirals permeate nature at every level. Spirals are found in algae, flowers, pine cones, shells, vines. Nature often moves in spirals — draining water,…
The Adventures of Luna and Danzi: Episode Two
Savor the Light of Day Illustrations by Morgan Wagner The two held their tongues and counted five long breaths before Luna asked flatly, “Did you say ‘Narius’? What…are you talking about?” “Oh, there’s this crackpot…
The Adventures of Luna and Danzi: Episode Three
Orange Cat Staring at the Moon Illustrations by Morgan Wagner The SUV was beginning to have a mind of its own. Either that, or Luna was ready for repose again as the vehicle rolled to a…
The Adventures of Luna and Danzi: Episode Four
But the Shadows Danced Too Much for Me to See Illustrations by Morgan Wagner For an emotional archivist, Luna was strangely rattled by this newfound pang of guilt. She tried to push it to the furthest…
The Adventures of Luna and Danzi: Episode Five
Morning's Promise Illustrations by Morgan Wagner This phony-gig-turned-kidnapping kicked Luna and Danzi’s instincts into hyperdrive. They were still innocent in many ways about human nature and their temporary home planet. They had only brought their borrowed…
The Adventures of Luna and Danzi: Episode Six
I Will Never Know You If I Sacrifice the Beast Illustrations by Morgan Wagner Something was wrong with that electric guitar. It didn’t have that strange, near-perfect intonation, and the tone was raspy and inconsistent, like…
The Adventures of Luna and Danzi: Episode Seven
Carried Through the Gates as the Contraband of Time Illustrations by Morgan Wagner The French Quarter was often replete with odd skirmishes, but even the most hardened derelicts paused to stare at the melee. Tourists abandoned…
It was one of those March days
Chapter 54It was one of those March days when the suns shines hot and the wind blows cold; when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.— Charles Dickens, Great Expectations READ the…
Wild Man Wyman
The colossal statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee towered imperiously over New Orleans unchallenged for 133 years. As if from an alternate reality in which the CSA won the war, the 16-ft. bronze venerated Lee, arms…