I cannot believe it’s been over a month since I last posted! It’s been a very, VERY eventful month. Instead of overwhelming you with the details, I figured I’d post a few pictures that I took while visiting my best friend, Angel Vargas, in New York in mid-December. I had a great time visiting the ‘Big Apple’ and really cannot wait to go back. Take a peek at what I captured! And … Enjoy 
~J. Marie
I took this picture a couple weeks ago, and thought it ‘fit’ the way I feel right now quite well. Interpret as you will ….
My God! It’s been almost two months since my last blog post! Time sure flies when you’re having fun, doesn’t it? Though, I can honestly say that many of the things that have happened in the last month or two would not be considered ‘fun’ by most people.
I’ve had my mind pulled in multiple directions. I cannot seem to focus as of late and it’s frustrating as hell! I’ve always been an easy-going person, but find that my fuse is getting shorter and shorter as I deal with the day to day happenings and the people that I am, under normal circumstances, patient with. I find myself daydreaming about slapping the people that annoy me and telling them to STFU.
Okay, I lied a little.
My mind doesn’t work in simple slaps and STFU’s. I’ve actually envisioned a more gruesome end for each of the people that seem to be trying to hold me back from meeting the goals I’ve set for myself. I’ve envisioned somehow gaining supernatural powers and tearing them limb from limb with just a hard thought; or carving my name into their quivering flesh with a dull blade. What can I say? I’m a freakin’ horror writer! Rest assured many of these people WILL be written into something I’m working on in the future; some already have been. Oh how I love cathartic writing! Vengeance is mine! MWAHAHAHAHA!!
It’s as if I am stuck in a vortex, being spun round and round. All I really want to do is move on and I feel as if I am being held back. I am the first to say, ‘life is what you make of it.’ But it seems as if the harder I try to move forward the harder I am kicked back. It’s hard not to get discouraged. I am doing all I can right now, but it doesn’t ‘feel’ like I am because of the snail’s pace I am being forced to match.
For example, I figured that instead of paying the obscene amount of money I am required to pay toward rent (among other things) per month, I’d do just as well by becoming a homeowner. Always practical, I wanted to get qualified first and make sure that I could secure the amount of money I’d need to buy a home.
Of course, the mortgage broker told me what I wanted to hear. “There shouldn’t be any problems at all in securing a loan.” I figured there wouldn’t be any problems either; especially since I know what I can and can’t afford. But, there was a ‘hitch.’ My name is still on my ex’s mortgage. So, the mortgage broker couldn’t qualify me … yet. But she told me, “Start looking now. As soon as you have the decree in hand we’ll qualify you right away.”
I know she had to have some idea that she wouldn’t be able to qualify me while my name remained on my ex’s mortgage. So why make me go through the motions? I cannot even begin to express how sick and tired I am of people providing me with their lip service. As a good friend of mine has recently stated, “Don’t piss on my leg and tell me it’s raining!” Say what you mean, and mean what you say. I know I won’t feed you any lines; so, please return the favor!
Another thing, why do people have to rehash things that have been decided upon or resolved days, weeks, or months ago? I could really do without the repetitive play by play. Make up your goddamn mind!!
Okay, that was random, sorry about that 
I’ve been a nurse for 7 years, and before that, a nursing assistant for another 4 years all at the same facility. There are a few things in my life that I know that I am really good at; being a nurse is one of them. In the eleven years that I’ve worked at this particular facility, I have never been disciplined for anything. A couple weeks ago, I was pulled aside by my boss and given a written warning for something I did. The written warning will remain on my work record for three years. Apparently the person that reported me told my boss that they felt like they couldn’t approach me with their concern because of what was going on in my ‘personal life’ and they didn’t want to ‘stress’ me out.
Okay, I’m old school in this matter. Since when does your personal life have anything to do with your professional life? In any healthcare profession, in any profession for that matter, it’s beyond smart not to allow your personal and professional lives to mingle. So, in saying that, I always try to leave my personal life at the door.
Of course, being that I often spend more time with the people I work with than my own family, I’ve made a few really good friends at work. I even I hang out with some of them outside of the job, and it’s nice to let off a little steam every once in a while. I’ve always left my work at the door when I get home- if I didn’t, I’d go insane with some of the things I’ve seen and dealt with.
It probably doesn’t help that I’ve been in the Army and believe in using the chain of command. If I were concerned about something that someone was doing on the job, I’d go to them first to allow them to change their behavior. Then, if nothing changed, I’d go to the boss. If things still didn’t change, I’d go to the boss again, and disciplinary action would be taken.
Instead of talking to me personally (which should have been the first step) and allowing me to change my behavior, this person went above my head to my boss (second step). So, when my boss pulled me aside, I was completely blindsided- I had no idea anyone was concerned. Furthermore, my boss went to human resources, instead of pulling me aside and giving me a verbal warning. It’s all little overkill for a first infraction, right? At least I thought so. Ironically, the infraction was about internet usage and involved viewing my ‘OBSCENE BLOG’ on work computers. *rolls eyes*
Alright, what made this person think that speaking to my boss was the lesser evil? What made them think that going to the boss wouldn’t affect my personal life? In effect, by going to the boss, this person is fucking with my livelihood. They are, in fact,fucking with my personal life. Now I have some real trust issues when it comes to the job that I’ve held for 11 years. Who wouldn’t?
Yeah, I’m SO not impressed.
You all know that I won’t give up. I’ll get past this point in my life. Things just aren’t moving at the pace I want them to be. I have to wait a whole month until my divorce is final. This just means that I have to wait a whole month to get out of my current living situation. In other words, I have to live with another person’s rules and that makes me ‘feel’ like I can’t be my own person. Not many people would put up with the bullshit I have to put up with on a day to day basis. I’ve just gotten to the point where I smile and nod when someone is talking at me about their issues; while really, in my mind I’m screaming and yanking handfuls of hair out of my head.
I’ll tell ya, when it rains, it pours ….
While writing is normally the BEST escape for me, I haven’t been able to write as much as I’d like. I’ve been stuck in editing mode. Unlike many of my author friends, I have a hard time moving to another project when one is so close to coming to fruition. I have a ton of short stories and the beginning of a new novel sitting in my flash drive just begging for me to work on them.
I cannot even begin to tell you how much I am looking forward to a little rest and relaxation. I welcome the chance to get out from under all the legalese I’ve been reading as of late. I’d welcome some great fiction right about now; because the real life trials and tribulations are really getting under my skin- as I’m sure you can tell. My two week vacation starts today (8th) and ends on the 22nd. I figured I should use a bit of the three hundred hours of vacation that I’ve acquired over the years 
. I am hoping to finish my final edit, query letter, synopsis, and send my finished manuscript to a few publishers during my vacation.
I really didn’t want this blog post to turn into a rant; especially since there are many things that I am thankful for. Among the many things: my two beautiful children, my supportive family members, the great friends that have stood by me through thick and thin, the roof over my head, my job, writing, music, my readers, and my goal-oriented mind.
It seems that I really needed a download. I’ll try to blog more often. Thanks for reading!
~J. Marie
I thought this video and song were quite fitting. After all, I do have quite a bit of rage brewing behind these blue eyes, and really, “I Can’t Afford to Care.”
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
~Robert Frost ‘The Road Not Taken’
Few things in life are clear. It’s as if we stand at a fork in the road with two different paths laid out before us. Each of which is hazy, uncertain. We stand there, mouths agape, looking from one path to the other, just trying to decide whether we take the one that is worn to dirt or the one less traveled.
Which path would you choose? Who the hell knows, right? You’re still on a journey; you’re still learning. So, you blunder along in this life trying to figure out what path is the ‘most right’ for you. After all, neither one of the paths is paved in perfection. There are lessons to be learned. So, you make a few mistakes, take a few wrong turns, and maybe you even get lost for a while. Or … maybe you succeed, another fork in the road presents itself, and you start the process all over again. That is how you learn, isn’t it? Trial and error. To err is human. It doesn’t make you a lesser person to fail every once in a while. But, learn from it!
Pure and simple, life is a game of chance.
As I’m sure you’ve gleaned, I’ve always been a firm believer in the saying, “Life is what you make of it.” Only you can choose where your path will lead.
I choose to take the path less traveled.
When you wear your heart on your sleeve, you make yourself vulnerable to having that muscle shattered into a million tiny little pieces. I know this. I’m willing to take that risk. I think it’s safe to say that I’ve gotten used to picking up the pieces, sewing them back together, and moving on. On the flip side of that, I’ve also been fortunate enough to make some pretty amazing connections, and lifelong friendships. So taking that particular risk is worth it for me. It’s made me who I am today.
I’d like to believe that I am a strong, independent, woman that doesn’t need anything more in my life to experience happiness. The latter part of that sentence is the lie that I keep telling myself to get through the tougher times. Fact is, like everyone, I need help every once in a while too. I’m just one of those stubborn bitches that has problems accepting other people’s love and support because I feel like I am taking advantage of them, and that’s not cool with me.
Many people would turn inward after a negative experience, go into self-defense mode, and never allow themselves to experience true happiness again- only fleeting moments. Well, I can’t do that. It’s just not me. There have been people in my life that have told me that I would fail, that I wasn’t ‘good enough,’ and that I didn’t have ‘what it takes’ to succeed. My response to those fucktards was, and always will be this, “Watch me.” Secretly, I love looking at those assholes years down the road and thinking, “Look at me now!” *shrugs* Admit it, you’ve done it too
I have to take the bull by the horns, or take that mysterious leap (whichever way you look at it). Because if I don’t open my heart and mind to new people and experiences I’ll never live my life the way I want to. I don’t know about all of you, but I plan on living what’s left of my life to the fullest.
I’m not saying that I’ve been given a shite hand. I regret nothing. What I am saying, however, is that how you choose to deal with the negatives, and the positives, shape you as a person. My advice: Don’t dwell in the negatives, or else that is where you will always dwell. I, for one, do not plan to live my life wallowing in self-pity and doubt. I can’t. I’m a gatherer of experiences, good and bad. I experience, I learn, file the lesson away, and decide whether to stay put or move on if need be.
There is a reason that I wrote this post. Someone recently asked me, “how is it that you cope so well with all that is going on in your life?” Well, the above is my answer. And … I wouldn’t say I was coping well; I’m just coping. I deal with things day by day. I would be lying if I said that I never accepted help along the way. I couldn’t do this on my own! There are a select few people that have the same beliefs that I do, and our relationships are, and always will be, ’Give and take.’ In other words, you shovel the shit in; then shovel the shit out. You have a problem and you need to vent? Cool. Here’s a soft shoulder and a ready and willing listening ear. However, when I need you, please be willing to do the same for me. In my opinion, that’s how any relationship should be- ‘give and take.’ I have no problem accepting something that benefits both parties …
However, I cannot succumb to the psychic vampire’s out there. You know, the people that like to drag you down into their messes and make it all about them with no ‘tit for tat.’ They suck the life from you, an emotional drain. Quite frankly, I’ve got my own bit of drama to deal with and don’t need to pile their drama on top of mine. God knows that they won’t be willing to listen to what I have to say *rolls eyes*.
To the ‘give and take’ people in my life: Thank you for being you, and for just being there for me. You all know who you are. Please know that I will always be there for you. I’ll always be willing to lend a soft shoulder and a listening ear anytime you need it. Love yo’ faces <3
To the psychic vampire’s I referenced above: Please, quit being so selfish and manipulative! Quit asking for advice that you’re never going to take. Ultimately, you’re hurting the people that you confide in and making them think hard about whether or not you are truly their friend. Not only that, you’re hurting yourself by burning the bridges that you’ve built over time, and pushing away the people you trust most. We’ve all done this. We’ve all been selfish. I will admit I have done this quite recently- and I’m deeply sorry for that . My advice to you: Get professional help; someone whose job is to listen to you objectively and give non-biased advice. You might be surprised with how much hearing the observations and advice from a stranger can help you. I know it’s helped me. Don’t let your problems cloud your judgement and ruin an amazing friendship- it’s not worth it.
To taking the path less traveled!!
~J. Marie <3
I have been tagged in The Next Big Thing by the beautiful Adriana Noir. To say that I was honored is really an understatement. Adriana is a fantastic writer and friend whose mind is just as black as mine, if not more so. She really does have a way with words; she writes such beautifully dark horror. I absolutely cannot wait for her book, Requiem: Book of the Fallen, to be released this October.
In this game of “Tag, You’re it” my current Work in Progress gets to be tagged and then I have to tag 5 other writers’ WIPs. Look for the five writers I have tagged at the bottom of this post – their “Next Big Thing” posts, should they choose to accept this mission, will be posted between the 30th of September and the 6th of October.
1. What is the working title of your book?
L’Escalier du Diable
(The Devil’s Stairway)
2. Where did the idea come from for the book?
This was actually pretty typical for me at the time …
It all started with a really bad case of writer’s block. I hadn’t written anything significant for a while. I asked a friend of mine for a prompt. He asked me, “Have you ever seen Blade 2?”
I answered in the affirmative.
“You know that scene in the club where the vamps are digging into each other’s flesh just because they can? I bet you could work with that …”
I really needed to find a way to just STFU and write- my mind was always getting in the way. When I am in the midst of a block I usually have to go ‘old school’ and grab my trusty notebook and pen. Even that hadn’t been working. However, the seed had been planted …
So, with a few ideas tumbling around in my blackened mind, I did just that. I grabbed my trusty notebook and pen, went outside, and sat on my porch swing. With my hair swirling around my head in the brisk autumn-like breeze, I closed my eyes, trying to envision a scene as I listened to a little Evanescence. Then BAM! Jenna started telling me her story. I started writing scene after scene; I think I filled eight notebook pages that very night.
Basically, L’Escalier du Diable is the second level of hell masquerading as a BDSM club in Paris, France. Asmodeus is the Demon Prince that punishes humans for the deadly sin of Lust. Because of that, it’s only fitting that he resides over the second level of Hell.
Because of horrifying, recurrent, events that transpired involving a VERY close family member, Jenna Prim (my MC), is a ‘made’ submissive. She’s not only submissive in a BDSM ‘scene’, she’s a ‘rug’ in real life. In other words, she’s very dependent upon others. She’s eager to please because that’s all she’s ever known; all she’s ever done.
After Jenna’s best friend, Veronica Mills (Ronnie), saved her from this horrible situation, the girls ran away and had been living on their own since they were sixteen. I won’t tell you anymore right now … you’ll just have to read on to glean any more information from this writer
3. What genre does your book fall under?
This book would definitely fall under the Horror and Erotica Genre’s.
4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Yeah, I toiled over this one. But, to be honest, I had the first three characters in mind since I started writing it.
Jenna Prim- Jessica Alba
Jenna is normally very submissive; she’s never truly had an identity of her own. She’d bow down to anyone more dominant than her; which was basically everyone. However, she holds this deep-seated anger and resentment for all the people that have harmed her in the past and in her present situation. In L’Escalier du Diable, Jenna has to wrestle her inner demons to eventually bring her more dominant side to the fore. Jessica Alba definitely has the look, and I just know she could pull off this emotionally complex character.
Veronica ‘Ronnie’ Mills- Scarlett Johansson
Veronica Mills is Jenna’s ever-present best friend; she’s known Jenna since grade school. She’s the platinum blonde barbie-doll type. Ronnie is definitely the resident sex pot. She just exudes sex, and for good reason She’s been harboring a deep, dark secret from her bestie *gasp*. I think that Scarlett Johansson just might be able to pull off this confident, bitchy, sarcastic, yet somewhat motherly (toward Jenna) character.
Asmodeus- Ian Somerhalder
After watching Ian play the part of Damon in The Vampire Diaries, I just know that he could pull off the character of Asmodeus. In my book, Asmodeus is a demon that covets that which he cannot have. He’s the Prince of the second level of Hell. The second level is an area of Hell set aside for those overcome by lust; for those who let their appetites sway their reason. Asmodeus is an expert at hiding his true feelings. He’s dominant, sexy, and confident. However, he does show us brief glimpses of his softer side when he’s with Jenna. Ian definitely has Asmodeus’ trademark gaze, the body, and I know he can pull off the ‘holier-than-thou’ prince-like attitude. Just picture this stud as a ginger
Lucian/Lucifer- Mark Sheppard
Alright, this man would play the most AMAZING Lucian! Plain and simple, Lucian’s an ass. He’s got an ego that rivals no other. He has this sinister quality about him that will send a shiver up your spine. He has a sadistic streak to match no other. He likes pain, and likes to cause it in whatever way he can. Just picture Mark with penetrating obsidian eyes and slicked-back black hair (it’s really not hard to imagine that with the image I’ve provided above). I caught an episode of The X-Files that Mark Sheppard happened to be in recently, and I was blown away! He’s definitely the perfect ‘Prince of Lies’!
Angel- Danny Pino
Angel is a lower demon who serves Asmodeus as a guard in the second level of Hell. He’s pretty calm (for a demon); he’s actually the voice of reason when it comes to his drama-queen girlfriend, Ronnie. He’s learned a great ‘ability’ that can help Jenna and Ronnie in the long run. Angel is really the strong, silent type. Picture Danny Pino with black shades on at all times to hide his unusual gaze and a silver stud in his ear. Enough to melt butter, isn’t it?
Leviathan- Djimon Hounsou
Asmodeus’ ‘brother’, and the Demon Prince of the 7th level of Hell in my world. This sinister masked demon will certainly send a chill up your spine. There is a reason I chose the image above. As I’ve already stated, Leviathan wears a mask. While his mask is enough to draw your eye, his large muscular build is what holds your attention. Because Leviathan is a Sea Monster in the bible, I equated his presence to a smell; a putrid, swamp-like smell. He’s a very violent and sadistic soul. He does not forget a thing, and will make you pay for your sins against him!
The Archangel Raphael- Jared Leto
One of the seven Archangel’s, Raphael helps in all manner of healing. He is the celestial being that banishes Asmodeus from Egypt and from walking in the light for coveting the one thing he cannot have in my book. Picture Jared Leto with shoulder-length flaxen hair, and keep those penetrating blue eyes. The Raphael in my head, is quite confident, condescending, and rude. Raphael only makes a brief appearance in this book, but who is to say that he won’t make another in the future …
Tlaloc/Lox- Cillian Murphy
This character will become more prominent later He helps Jenna at the end of my novel. He is a serpentine creature that masquerades in human form. He definitely has his own agenda …
5. What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
Normally submissive, Jenna Prim must fight her own demons to bring her more dominant side to the forefront to survive after she walks the Devil’s stair.
6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I really don’t know yet as I’m just finishing up with the first rounds of edits/revisions. This is my first novel and I really don’t know what route to go. However, I do plan to send my finished manuscript to various publishing companies and see what comes of it
7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
L’Escalier du Diable actually started as a short story that I wrote for a contest that Adriana Noir was running on Writing.com in August of 2011. After all was said and done, I found that my main character, Jenna Prim, was still whispering in my ear; she obviously really wanted her stor+y to be told. How could I refuse her call? I’ve written on it on and off since. I just finished it a couple weeks ago.
8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I really don’t know of anything in my genre that compares. Some would try to compare this novel with Fifty Shades of Grey. But, I assure you that these two novels are nothing alike. The ONLY thing that they have in common is a little BDSM
9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I’ve always been interested in reading and writing in the genres of paranormal romance, horror, and erotica. As I said above (reference question #2 and #7), I started writing L’Escalier du Diable as a short story for a contest after a friend brought up the club scene in Blade 2.
I’ve dabbled in writing about vampires and other supernatural creatures. I’d also written my share of straight erotica (no horror involved. Unless you’re like a friend of mine who thinks that a little light BDSM involving clothespins is horror). I’d never really written about Angels or Demons, and I was interested in doing so. I researched a bit and found Dante Alighieri’s version of Hell quite interesting. I took bits and pieces from everything I’d read and researched to create my world.
Music helped to conjure the amazing imagery in my mind. It also helped me to keep a typing cadence. I listened to whatever fit the mood for the portion of the book I was writing. Really, I listened to all types of music; from Nox Arcana to Red. But I have to say the most predominant genres of music on my L’Escalier playlist were techno and trance.
All in all, I really just wanted to combine the two genres in my own way. I gotta say, I’ve really enjoyed writing L’Escalier. I mean, what better way is there to combine the horror and erotica genres than to write about sex demons (Succubus/Incubus) and the second level of Hell?
10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
~I think that every single one of us has had problems figuring out who we truly are; especially when we’ve been forced to lose ourselves in someone else’s life or in the day to day responsibilities of our own lives. Many of us are lucky enough to figure out just who we really are at an early age; but, some of us lose ourselves along the way. Some of us have even been affected by a past abuse. Whether it be emotional, physical, or sexual, we will never be the same. But that doesn’t mean that we are completely broken. Sometimes it’s just really hard to pick up the pieces and move on- but, it can be done. I’m a strong believer in the phrase, “What doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger.” This is Jenna’s journey. I think that many people will be able to identify. I just happened to throw in some supernatural appeal and hot demon sex along the way. That, in my opinion, will also pique my reader’s interest.
~There is a little of everything in this novel. Mystery, drama, suspense, violence, romance, etc … did I mention that there is SEX in this novel? I don’t know about you, but I love to read a story that keeps your mind working. I’m not a huge fan of backstory- just get to the nuts n’ bolts and keep goin’!
~My character’s; you either love ‘em or hate ‘em. Or … love to hate ‘em.
~I have done my research and did dive into Asmodeus’ past. For those of you that are history buffs, this might interest you.
~ Have I mentioned the hot demon sex? *giggles*
Hmm … who shall I tag? Oh! Oh! I know!
Get ready Angel Callido, Elizabeth Michaud-John, Nettie Neal Bell, Kimber Vale, and Julianne Snow! You’re next!
Alright, that’s all I have to give, for now …. I can’t wait for you to read it! I’ll keep you posted! Thanks for reading 
LYF’s <3
~J. Marie
Sirens Call Publications has released its latest anthology titled:
Now I Lay Me Down to Reap
The eighth commandment; thou shalt not steal.
But everyone covets something that isn’t theirs…
Wander down the darker paths of the minds of twelve brilliantly talented authors as they conjure stories of retribution, deceit and betrayal.
Would you chance your family’s fate to the gods in return for a favor? Are the finer things in life worth having once you know the cost someone else had to pay for you to indulge in them? Would you give up your most addictive passion so that others might reap the benefits, regardless of the reward? Or perhaps, the chance at a fresh start and a new life appeals to you? Are you prepared to reap what you have sown?
Within this collection, you’ll find tales all too believable and beyond your oddest imaginings. But there is one thing you will not find… In this anthology, there are no happy endings.
Featuring the literary talents of Ryan C. Anderson, Thomas James Brown, Aspen deLainey, John H. Dromey, Amber Keller, Christian A. Larsen, Jeffery X Martin, Lori Michelle, Sergio Palumbo, J. Marie Ravenshaw, Bill Read, and Adrian Tchaikovsky.
***
Check out these excerpts from each of the stories featured in Now I Lay Me Down to Reap …
Fugue State – Christian A. Larsen
“The skyscrapers hunched over the wandering man like curious children studying ants. None of them had magnifying glasses, but they looked sinister enough—black, faceless monoliths with no emotional connection to a lone man adrift, just a cold, distant intellectual interest, the way a vivisectionist cuts into a live animal just to see what makes it tick. The funny thing was, the man wanted the same kinds of answers. He just couldn’t afford to be as dispassionate with the scalpel, be it literal or allegorical.
He had woken up in an alleyway next to a dumpster on a pile of empty cardboard boxes wearing a gray suit, expensive, by the looks of it, and shoes to match, but no watch or jewelry, though there were pale outlines suggesting that he had been wearing a watch and a wedding band. His pockets were turned inside out. He had no keys, wallet or cash—even enough loose change to buy a newspaper—so he crouched down in front of the newspaper box to read the date above the headline, something about a Senate race…”
Gable’s Leatherworks – J. Marie Ravenshaw
“Her father, Joseph, blamed the wildcats in the area. However, deep down, Abigail knew those screams were the result of something far more sinister.
She walked back to the desk and plopped down in her chair. As she grabbed her pencil, she yelled out, “Hey Dad! Sounds like the wildcats are at it again!” She rolled her eyes and started to read through the notes that she’d taken in History class.
Her Father’s roughened voice echoed into the study from the hallway, getting ever closer, “Yep. I heard it Abby girl. Don’t concern yourself ‘bout that.” Joseph Daniels strode into the room, his brown eyes gleaming in the overhead light. With his hands buried deep in the pockets of his torn denims, he nodded toward the desktop and said, “You’ve got far more pressing things to worry about…”
Me and the Monster – Ryan C. Anderson
“You come highly recommended,” Phil said fast, his mouth barely opening to form syllables
He was strikingly handsome, and his apprehension to the light made me uneasy. I squirmed in my plush, leather chair. The suit he wore was clearly Italian. I could tell by the worsted wool fabric and tailored royal blue pinstripes, which led the eyes directly up to a chiseled chin that jutted out like the bow of some mighty ship. A strange period of silence overtook the room, and after what felt like days, I spoke. “Mr. Winikoff, how can I help your mouth look better?”
I saw when he smiled.
What he wore on the outside was no more than a cocoon, a casing to hide his evil from the natural, human world. His mouth agape for my observation, I saw rigid pikes of teeth; rows of jagged points that shot out of raw, bleeding gums, in no conservative or organized direction, only agreeing upon the similarity of sharpness and rot…”
Sweet Addiction – Aspen deLainey
“Aeryn sniffed. Yes, it smelled delicious. A human; chaste and celibate. It even seemed female. He stretched out his neck, seductively shaking his long mane, luring it out of its nest.
A musty smell of rags, rotting cardboard, dirt and neglect preceded it as it crept close. Its hand stretched out to touch his gleaming white nose.
Aeryn allowed it to pet his velvet muzzle, waiting till he felt its fingers curl up into his mane. When its head was directly under his mouth, he struck. His dislocated jaws opening wide enough to swallow it whole.
He would have preferred younger, sweeter meat. Unfortunately, in this state of hunger, right now he would take anything he could get his teeth into, literally.
He ate as quickly as he could manage, fearful this might be his last decent meal if they caught up with him…”
Good Taste – Adrian Tchaikovsky
“It’s because of all you judgmental thin types that fat people aren’t jolly any more.
It was a long damn way to the Harley Street clinic from the station, too. I’d have flagged a taxi, but last time the sod kept the meter running all the time it took me to get out – and didn’t offer a hand – and charged me for it. Being short on money was why I had volunteered to take part in this stupid medical experiment in the first place. Just half an hour of my time, they said, and no drugs or operations or anything, and the money! I was completely puffed by the time I got to the address, but £500 for a little quackery was hanging in front of me like a carrot. Maybe something more substantial than a carrot. Who the hell’s going anywhere with nothing more than a carrot to motivate them?
Five hundred pounds, though. I mean, it’s not that I don’t have a day job, but when you tend to eat beyond your means, a nice fat cheque is always welcome…”
The Game – Amber Keller
“David reached into his pocket and rubbed the small, velvet box. This was the moment he had been anticipating for weeks. He would ask her when they got to the lake.
The winding road was starting to become covered lightly by leaves. With fall almost here, the late afternoon sun warmed the breeze that swirled through the trees, bringing the smells of summer’s last moments. A golden glow cast across the hood of his car as he crested a small hill, reflecting into his vision and temporarily blinding him.
David’s eyes filled with tears and he rubbed at them vigorously to try and clear his vision. White spots danced before his eyes, and he let off the gas, not able to see the road.
Stephanie’s piercing scream suddenly filled the car.
“DAVID! LOOK OUT!”
You Should Have – Lori Michelle
“They shook hands; the sexuality exuding from her pores impressing him. It was as if she knew she was in complete control of the situation. “So nice to meet you, Mr. Jones.”
“Please, call me Henry.”
He led her into his office and sat her down in one of his chairs, never once letting go of her hand. He wasn’t sure where this act of chivalry came from since he had never done this for anyone else that walked through the doors. “So what can I do for you, Ms. Williams?”
She waved her hand dismissively. “Clarissa. And I understand that you are looking for a temporary replacement for your secretary.”
Henry was shocked. His secretary just told him yesterday that she needed to take a sudden leave of absence for a couple of months. “How did you know…?”
A False Odor of Sanctity – John H. Dromey
“Why would they want this body? Is there a university nearby or a teaching hospital?”
“There’s neither.”
“What about a doctor?”
“I only know of one, Dr. Ferguson, and he’s already established himself in a good practice.”
The two men climbed out of the grave. Unable to conceal his frustration, one of them angrily jabbed the cutting edge of his shovel with all his might into the mound of loose dirt, then bent downward to get a firm two-handed grip on the smooth, sweat-stained wooden handle. He straightened up again, swinging his arms backwards a short distance, as he prepared to hurl a heaping shovel full of soil back into the gaping hole in the earth.
“Leave it,” the other man said. “There’ll be another candidate for this grave soon enough. The town is full of paupers.”
“My son was not a pauper…”
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing! – Jeffery X Martin
“Listen.
It was Tuesday. We were asleep, fast asleep. It was the middle of the night.
And the sky exploded and began to scream at us.
***
The moon went away. Constellations disappeared and the sky looked like wrapping paper that a child had ripped apart at a birthday celebration. Shreds of black, where you could still see the stars, seemed to dangle in front of an overwhelming brightness. The night had reversed itself.
And then the Angels came…”
Beasts of Burden – Thomas James Brown
“The focus of Coll’s anger that afternoon could not have been more apparent: two burly oxen rested their heads on the fence outside Hanker Farm. It was a wonder the rickety slats of wood withstood their weight; the creatures were monstrous, with vast, curling horns and shoulders as broad as the family’s cart. Slabs of muscle shifted beneath their flesh, each larger than any of the eight men standing around them, and their breath blew hot and wet on the air.
At the sound of his name, Frederick grinned. “Don’t you see, Father? With these beasts we can plough twice as fast and twice as far! Hanker will be spoken of as far off as the White Cliffs!”
“With these beasts…” The old man spluttered into his beard from the other side of the assembly. “Look around you, Frederick. The fields are already tilled. We don’t need more oxen, especially not these overpriced beasts!”
The Fairies in the Wood – Bill Read
“Bizarre, thought Edward. Most girls of her age would have brought black tee-shirts and ripped jeans– but then most teenage girls wouldn’t want to have anything to do with their fathers – particularly divorced ones.
They walked to the car.
“Is it far away?” asked Maribel. “I’m so looking forward to seeing it!”
“Only about five minutes,” said Edward. “I think you can walk through the woods to get there but I thought I’d better take the car.”
Two puritanical-looking ladies emerging from a shop across the road shot an invisible wave of disapproval as he opened the car door for her. Edward felt like going over to them to explain that he was sorry to spoil their day but his youthful companion was not only young enough to be his daughter but really was. Admittedly they didn’t look alike. Maribel had got her looks from her mother and her temperament from Enid Blyton.
Which reminded him…”
The Eater – Sergio Palumbo
“Alchemical Science originally referred to a medieval quest for an elixir by which one could discover the truth about reality, its structure, laws and functions, making the researcher himself, for example, capable of turning base metals to gold. But Jenő’s dark studies had gone even farther than that.
Evidently, the alchemist had soon started considering, if the perfect metal is gold, the perfect life must be endless… Being both a philosophy and an ancient practice focused on the attempt to accomplish this transmutation, investigating the preparation of the ‘elixir of longevity’, and searching for the divinization of matter and man, there were many heinous actions committed worldwide on the pretext of such an occult science. But some of the worst and bloodiest ones in history were undoubtedly performed by Jenő De Carignano himself.
The man was extremely interested in the human body, and apparently also in secret experiments performed on it. Claiming that his treatments were a sort of modern medicine, many servants of his household underwent heinous tests, along with their younger sons, some of which made them seriously ill…”
***
Now I Lay Me Down to Reap is now available at:
I’m very proud that my story, Gable’s Leatherworks, is included in this anthology. There are 11 other stories written by great authors to check out as well! So, what are you waiting for? Go get your copy today! Enjoy!
~J. Marie
I realized that I hadn’t shared any of my short stories as of late and decided that I would today. I actually wrote this flash fiction over a year ago (July 2011) for a writing contest. The prompt was: an animal is following you. Enjoy!
Prey
Written by J. Marie Ravenshaw
I’d taken this route through the woods many times before; but, there was something about the atmosphere that night that gave me the creeps. I couldn’t seem to shake the feeling that someone, or something, was following me. I turned around several times to see if something was there, only to find nothing.
The moon overhead was so bright and full that the trees surrounding me cast macabre dancing shadows over the pathway. I shivered in the crisp night air, wrapping the jacket tighter around my body.
The sound of snapping twigs drew my attention. I whipped my head around; narrowing my eyes, trying to catch a glimpse of whatever caused the noise. Something was coming toward me. The sound of heavy footfalls in dry brush echoed throughout the woods surrounding me.
My heart was racing, beating into my throat. My chest heaved with my quickened breaths. My fight or flight response was firing on all cylinders and I turned tail, running as fast as I could.
The wind rushed through my hair as I sprinted through the thick foliage. Thick branches broke behind me; I was being pursued, hunted. I could see the edge of the woods ahead. A burst of speed, my strides were lengthening. I was almost there …
Something hit from me from behind, hard. I flew into the clearing and rolled once, twice. White starbursts exploded behind my eyelids as the back of my head struck the ground. I lay there, gasping for breath; then slowly opened my eyes. My vision was edged with fog; a wave of dizziness overcame me. I quickly closed my eyes once again and swallowed past the lump in my throat, trying to keep the bile that crept at bay.
I could hear it before I saw it. A low rumbling sound assailed my ears, growling. My eyes snapped open. I found myself staring, wide-eyed, at the full moon above. The ground had a slight tremble to it. Whatever was stalking toward me was massive. I slowly lifted my head.
A blood curdling scream bubbled up from the depths of me. I scrambled backward, and flipped over onto my stomach trying to gain my footing. My fingertips dug into the moist earth as I tried to pull myself up.
I’d started running full-tilt when I was hit from behind again. The beast was on me; his body weight pinned me to the ground. My cheek was pressed into the moist earth. A musty, cloying scent wafted to my nostrils. My body vibrated with the beast’s growl. My eyes shifted upward.
The beast’s lips curled back from its sharpened teeth, glistening in the moonlight. It snuffled along my neck, its hot breath scalding my flesh. Its breath smelled of meat … raw, bloody meat. Thick strands of saliva fell from its gaping maw, dripping and pooling onto the back of my neck.
I winced, whimpering as tears ran down my cheeks in rivulets. I knew what was coming. I didn’t even have a chance. The beast toyed with me. It seemed to want to drag out the fear as if the waves emanating from me were a fine wine that it sipped delicately.
My panic seemed to excite the beast. It threw its head back and bayed at the moon. The ominous sound echoed through the woods, causing shivers to run up and down my spine. I started sobbing even louder, my body was trembling.
The last thing I remember was teeth tearing into my neck …
The End
The eighth commandment; thou shalt not steal. But everyone covets something that isn’t theirs…
Wander down the darker paths of the minds of twelve brilliantly talented authors as they conjure stories of retribution, deceit and betrayal.
Would you chance your family’s fate to the gods in return for a favor? Are the finer things in life worth having once you know the cost someone else had to pay for you to indulge in them? Would you give up your most addictive passion so that others might reap the benefits, regardless of the reward? Or perhaps, the chance at a fresh start and a new life appeals to you? Are you prepared to reap what you have sown?
Within this collection, you’ll find tales all too believable and beyond your oddest imaginings. But there is one thing you will not find… In this anthology, there are no happy endings.
Featuring short stories written by the following Authors:
Ryan C. Anderson
Thomas James Brown
Aspen deLainey
John H. Dromey
Amber Keller
Christian A. Larsen
Jeffery X Martin
Lori Michelle
Sergio Palumbo
J. Marie Ravenshaw
Bill Read
Adrian Tchaikovsky
Available here:
