Looking Back: The Doll!

Since it is Halloween and I am too tired to pen a new horror story, allow me to simply link you to a four-parter that I have always loved:

https://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2012/12/01/a-story-in-three-parts-valley-of-a-doll/

https://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2012/12/03/3149/

https://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2012/12/05/3178/

https://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2012/12/06/doll-story-conclusion/

Happy Halloween.

Namaste,

Scott

Friday Fictioneers – 6/7/2013 – “Invasion, Seriously!” – PG – Genre: Sci-fi

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Friday Fictioneers – 6/7/2013

Invasion, Seriously

By Scott L Vannatter

6/5/13

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“Come on, you gotta see this!”  Cal hollered at Rem.

They climbed to an overlook of the valley.  Below were a hundred spaceships.

The aliens were part elephant, giraffe, tiger, and zebra.

“See?”  Cal turned to see Rem rolling on the ground laughing, his shirttail out, and his shoes falling off.

“That’s their best weapon!  They are totally disarming!”

He continued to look as Rem began to turn red and choke a bit on his own spit as he bellowed.

“They will walk all over us,” sighed Cal as he turned back, leaving the snorts and giggles in the background.

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Namaste,

Scott

Five Sentence Fiction – Prompt: Words

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week:  Words

Don’t confuse this with Friday Fictioneers!  That is 100 words from a photo prompt.  Go here for that.  For FSF click on the above pic (after you read my story!).

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In a Word: Armageddon

It had been scary, then exhilarating, when people discovered that Frank Herbert had been right: words did carry physical power; they could kill or destroy.

The wars started with those who would rule the world sending armies yelling hateful words at a city or at armed forces, and the energy generated by the awful words would level the field, destroying everything in its path.

No one knew what to do; it seemed that the entire earth was going to be decimated and overrun by the mongers of hate and destruction.

Then, one city stood firm and resisted totally the full efforts of the enemy, and their methods were copied by the free and good world.

The enemy’s full destructive force was nullified totally by the thousands of people in the city who had banded together in hope and were singing joyfully at the tops of their lungs; the world would be saved, once again, by love.

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Namaste,

Scott

At Last! (Mixed Blessings)

Well, last night and today have been mixed blessings.

I found out last night that I am, finally, published!!!  That’s right.  Finally, after waiting since around June 2012, the online magazine “Atomic Avarice” published my work, “The  Way It Is.”

Just go to http://www.atomicavarice.com/ , then click on “Fiction” and I am in the bottom row (as of 7:00pm).  I am both pleased and proud of the story.  It concerns the dealing of a union for haunting houses.  I was supposed to write something that was a type of political satire and horror.  Apparently, I did well enough.

That was the great thing.  The not-so-great thing?  The magazine published the story and didn’t pay me.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  It’s not a lot to begin with.  But the idea is that I have a signed contract that stated they would pay me before they published the story.  So, I don’t truly even know when they did so.

I am not angry.  After all, it is my first story and I, probably, would have sent it to them even without pay in the deal.  However, I do have a contract; they sent it; I returned it; and I will honor it, so they should, too.

Now, do understand.  I am fairly easy-going.  I sent them a rather nice letter and told them about my concerns and asked them to fix things (I used the word “rectify” as that sounds much more important, don’t you think?).  There are several things I can think of that might have gone wrong and I am not screaming at them about this.  I just want what I was promised.

So, we shall see.  The other publishing company (in England) sent out notices that the first of my 4 anthologies, “The Dead Sea,” is, finally, done at the printers.  The publishers are being sent a hard copy to approve, then it will be out in 7-10 days.  He felt certain that this one would be done and out to read by March 1st.  I know he is frustrated; you can just tell.

After that, the other 3 anthologies are supposed to come along quickly.

So, as I said, mixed blessings.

I will end the post with a wonderful picture of my cat, Tamika, who is ever vigilant and attentive, especially if birds are involved.  Enjoy.

Namaste,

Scott

Friday Fictioneers – Where, Then? – Genre: Humorous

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Where, Then?

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Dale walked around the torn-up yard and the nearly collapsed barn.  He looked everywhere.  June, finally, stopped him.

“What are you doing?”  She said.

“Looking.”

“I can see that.  What are you looking for?”

“Well, the house is gone.  I was looking for the owners.”

“Gone.  I told you all this.  It’s a great buy and we won’t have to tear everything down.”

“Yeah, you told me.  You said a girl and her aunt, three uncles, and a dog, right?”

“That’s right.  The tornado took the house.”

“Well, it could be worse.”

“How so?”

“At least, we’re not in Kansas.”