Blog Archives
Issue #15: Elves & Spacerockets (Fantasy & Science Fiction)
Image courtesy of © Gerd Wolf – Fotolia.com
I love science fiction and fantasy. I love tales about Martian princess ninjas who do as they damn well please, you puny humans. I love stories about otherworldly creatures from other worlds and nether-worldly baddies who have no remorse, or who are tragically fated. The accidental vampire. The genetically created dog-soldier. The Messiah who just wants to have a nice, cold pint with his mates in peace. The ninja warrior-ess who yearns to prove herself in a male-dominated clan. Fairies who have seen better days but still want to help a guy out. Crafty, sly, gnome spies. Aliens. Mermaids. Old mythologies, origin stories, and Legends of the New.
This issue has all of these and more. I hope you enjoy reading these stories and poems as much as I did.
Remember, the next issue of The Were-Traveler will be a contest issue and will be about shinigami—the embodiment of Death, or soul reaper(s)—it is open to all and unlike many writing contests, writers can submit previously published stories as long as they fit the criteria listed on the Calls for Submissions page. There will be monetary or gift card prizes. But now, without further delay, Elves and Spacerockets—
Issue 15: Elves & Spacerockets (Fantasy & Science Fiction)
Weredog Green Berets and Ninja Gnomes on Venus, by Jeff Forker (flash)
The Further Adventures of Beer Drinkin’ Jesus, by Daniel Ritter (short story)
Jade Moon Rabbit, by Deborah Walker (poem)
Kuiper Court, by S.E. Sever (short story)
The Grandmaster, by D.L. Smith-Lee (flash)
Remedial Fae, by Ed Ahern (flash)
The Green Rock, by Michael A. Kechula (drabble)
A Century Of Better and Worse and Worse and Worse, by Diane Arrelle (flash)
Frost Bite, by Sasha Janel McBrayer (flash)
Four Haiku, by Denny E. Marshall (poem)
Mermaid Weather, by H.L. Ross (flash)
Impact, by Michael C. Keith (short story)
Incident Report, by S. J. Warren (drabble)
Black Dragons, by Mathias Jansson (poem)
Thanksgiving, by Julie Gilbert (flash)
Mars 1, by Arthur M. Doweyko (short story)
The Gravy Train Stops Here, by Diane Arrelle (flash)
The Sixth Pillar, by Matt Hlinak (micro-fiction)
Shadow Whisperer at the Black Hole Hotel, by Kelda Crich (poem)
Waterskins, by Denny E. Marshall (drabble)
The Whole Picture, by Ray Dean (short story)
The Good Fairy, by Ed Ahern (flash)
Space Ninjas, by Deborah Walker (poem)
Issue #14: Alien Tech
Image courtesy of © Algol – Fotolia.com
The thought of life existing on worlds other than our own, out there in the asteroid-filled expanses of deep space is a fun one for writers. One thing we like to think about is: what kind of tools or machines would aliens use in their day-to-day lives? This is what I asked for from authors for this issue: write about some of the technology employed by off-world sentient races. I got some interesting and fun stories in for this one. There’s an android. And alien potato chips!
As I said to my friend Rexodigis 9.5 from the planet of the Squid People: “Is that a particle gun in your tentacle sling, or are you just happy to see me?”
ANNOUNCEMENT: The Shinigami Stories: Reaping the Harvest of Souls issue will be a contest issue! One lucky author will win a prize for best story ($15). Two-runners up will receive $10 and $5, respectively for second and third place. I’m a broke-ass college student, but I’m also an author, and I know what it’s like to not get paid for your hard work. It’s been awhile since I could afford to do a contest issue, so I’m glad I’m able to do one again. Unlike the last issue, which was a reader’s poll, I may want to have judges for this one. Not myself. Please email me if you are interested in judging the contest at were.traveler@gmail.com. As I’m making this issue a contest issue, I’m changing some rules for the submissions. See the Calls for Submissions page for details.
Now back to your regularly scheduled reading!
Issue #14: Alien Tech
The Purple Gumdrop, by Michael A. Kechula (flash)
Aftermath, by Stephen Sottong (short story)
Readme.txt, by Mathias Jansson (poem)
Not Too Bad, by Lisa Hawkridge (micro-fiction)
Downfall, by Elizabeth Prybylski (short story)
The Crystal Chamber, by Maria Kelly (drabble)
Issue 13: Come One, Come All! To the Southern Fried Freak Show!
Image courtesy of © photocritical – Fotolia.com
We’ve all been to that one local fair or carnival. You know the one? The one where certain carnies, clowns, or ride-operators look at you that special way…like you would make a good target for the knife-throwing act…or they’d like to give you an extra special treat during the Tunnel of Terror ride? Or the special acts…like zombie performers or a funhouse you can only escape from by surviving the knife-weilding carny. And sometimes real life can be freak show, especially if you’re a weirdo married to a psycho.
I’m calling this style of story freakpunk, and I’m planning to do a general freakpunk issue in the future that doesn’t have to take place in carnival settings (imagine, a freak psycho with a funhouse in his basement) and can take place anywhere on Earth, not just in the South (and also designate other character-types besides clowns, not all carnies wear make-up and large red noses, after all). So, I’m working on a list of freakpunk elements for that future issue. Get your Muses ready for that. Meanwhile, this issue brings you face to face with the weirdness and horror of the Southern.
Is that blood on the cotton candy, ya’all?
Issue 13: Southern Fried Freak Show
Swishbone, by Stephen Kerr (micro-fic)
Clownish Delights, by Andrew Patch (flash)
Step Right Up, by Michael A. Kechula (short story)
Funhouse, by Kelly Haas Shackelford (flash fiction)
Meat for freaks, by Mathias Jansson (poem)
Protect Ya Neck, by Edward Taylor (short story)
Shy Heahrug, by Paulo Brito (drabble)
The Circus Tent, by Kerry E. B. Black (flash)
the doom master, by Christopher Woods (poem)
Issue #11: The Day the Zombies Ruled the Earth
Image courtesy of chrisharvey – Fotolia.com.jpg
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from The Were-Traveler!
This holiday we have been overrun with zombies. Zombies have come and their day is at hand.
Among these 16 new zombiocalypse offerings are stories so sad you’ll get a lump in your throat, funny stories, and stories so scary you’ll sleep with the lights on. (But if the lights are on, the zombies will find you!) We also have some genre-blending stories, mixing genres like horror and fantasy or horror and sci-fi together. Extra Christmas Cookie points to those authors!
As a bonus story, I’ve included a version of a longer short story that I wrote for the Zombie Survival Crew (official online fan club of “The Walking Dead”) and they published it in their first anthology. It’s a story about teenage boys and their RPG zombie game and what happens when zombies get Twitter accounts.
Enjoy!
Issue #11: The Day the Zombies Ruled the Earth
29 AZA, by Adam Knight (flash)
The Embers Burn, and Gentle is the Arrow’s Stinging, by Jason Andrew (flash)
Wise Man’s Ending, by Matthew Frassetti (drabble)
Zombie Despair, by Tim Tobin (short story)
Boredom, by Bryan Nickelberry (short story)
Jason and the Zombie, by Bob Simms (flash)
Date Night, by Dana Wright (micro fiction)
Brinker’s Contract, by Michael A. Kechula (short story)
Marital Bliss, by Brian J. Smith (flash)
Safety, by Mac Jones (drabble)
A Light Snack, by Edward Taylor (short story)
Day 39, by Stevenhen Warren (drabble)
Necroambulist: A Story of Discriminating Tastes, by Lori Fetters Lopez (flash)
Onlookers, by Rebecca Gomezrueda (micro fiction)
Precious Cargo, by Michael A. Kechula (micro fiction)
BONUS SHORT STORY: Crunch Time, by Maria Kelly (long short story)
The Were-Traveler 