THE LICORICE BANDITS

A few things, briskly, between coffees:

Dreamed I was burgled, and in the process tied to a coat rack – with licorice rope. All that kept me from chewing through the rope (a very simple thing), and apprehending the thieves AS THEY MADE OFF WITH ALL MY FIRST EDITIONS, was my rabid abhorrence of licorice. So I’d no choice but to sit there on the floor, softly weeping, and watch them empty the bookshelves.

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Pleased to report that “Von Claire and the Tiger” – my tale of a wobbly professor who’s eaten by a Big Cat – has been named Story of the Week by Short Story America. Read it now on the SSA website (you’ll have to register, but it’s free), and next year in their paperback anthology/Kindle ebook.

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NOW AVAILABLE – the new issue of The Labletter, featuring my poem “Bev (of the Selfish Same Hills).” Why not pick up a copy?

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On the children’s front, read my new poem “Bat,” in the current issue of COLUMBIAKids; and look for a short story, “BeeGirl,” in an upcoming Bumples.

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COMING SOON – poems and stories in Highlights for Children, Ladybug, Quarterly West, Antigonish Review, Feathertale Review, Wascana Review, and plenty of other reviews.

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Gotta run. My coffee needs me.

MUFFINS, AND OTHER STUFF

HERE’S a portrait of my dotty auntie, who I – and several bystanders – had the recent pleasure of watching eat, with a teaspoon, an oversized dry blueberry muffin. She then wolfed down the butter, like ice cream. I very nearly choked on my own muffin – which I ate with my HANDS, thank you very much, like a civilized person.

HERE’S a shot of the charming ladies of the Nibs Writer’s Group. Brave souls, every last one of them, putting up with my nonsense for over 3 hours. The tarts were delicious.

FEEDING children to tigers isn’t to be encouraged, I suppose; but it makes for splendid fiction. Read “Twylla and the Tiger” HERE (p. 26), and when you’re finished, vote for it HERE (registration is free), if you’d be so kind. I won’t share any of the prize money, mind you, if I win. But I’ll think of you, as I cash the check.

PLEASED to be on the board of A cappella Zoo, for the next little while. Why not send us your submissions?

 

 

 

WATCH for poems and drawings in upcoming issues of Quarterly West, Feathertale Review, Antigonish Review, Wascana Review, Transition, Highlights for Children, Ladybug, Columbia Kids, and one or two dozen others.

COMING soon – a dead celebrity, brought back to life to recite one of my poems (then promptly die again). But until then …

VANISH!