Ian threw Michael a can of Dragon Soup.
“Are ye still getting kit from Jinky?”
“He’s the only one I go to, well unless any emergencies come up… How?”
Michael swallowed a few mouthfuls and rifted.
Author: gwencron
Literally Stories – Week 52
Well here it is, week 52. That must be a good twelve months but not if you multiply the four weeks that we have in a month with the twelve months that, was it, the Roman’s gave us? Oh and don’t start me about five week months. For anyone who is paid monthly then every four weeks ends up with thirteen pays a year. That will always sound good until you realise that there is no difference to your annual salary.
I suppose that week 52 should maybe be called week 54 as our anniversary on the 17th was mentioned two weeks ago on week 50 as the said anniversary was coming up the following week, which is of course a week behind as week one is at the end of the first week which is therefore read into week 2.
Now if anyone is left reading we come to a wee review of our stories this week. Before I go on I will swallow some Prozac. I can’t say for definite but I think dm gillis has given us our only Christmas story. Now don’t take that as an invitation to send any sentimental or sugary family friendly beigeness!! (A challenge folks… Come on give us something different. Give us something that makes us feel weird and uncomfortable. Let’s bomb out Christmas stories. Be inspired by those old black and white unsettling films that were so out of place on Christmas night but made us all feel alive.)
It is a privilege to continue publishing Tom Sheehan’s writing. Nik and myself have put ourselves out there again and we have a new person. A writer with a very different structure to his story. We welcome Adam Kluger.
We are working hard through the submissions this week and it is excellent to have so much interest but please don’t let up, keep submitting.
A last mention about the anthology. We are so happy to see some reviews being posted. Come on… You are all writers, send Amazon a review!
United Forever by Hugh Cron – Adult Content
…It was the beginning of a new term. There was a volatile mix of the noisy, frantic new starts, in amongst the typical surly teenagers. A man stood staring at his new charges. If you didn’t know otherwise you‘d never have taken him for a teacher, he looked like a yeti. He eyed them up and down and tried to spot the ‘Wee fudds.’ He had tolerance and intolerance in compassion with sarcasm. There was also a mix of shyness with confidence but this would never be shown to the kids. His intelligence was well-known amongst his work-mates and friends. He kept it hidden though, his brains were covert. He was a person of opposites. He was by no means atypical, more unique.
Continue reading “United Forever by Hugh Cron – Adult Content”
Literally Stories – Week 51
Before we begin I am sure that all of us here at Literally Stories wish to convey our deepest sympathies to the people of Paris. The unfolding story was more of a horror than anyone could ever write.
Our thoughts are with you all.
I sent for a copy of the anthology and was very happy to receive it this week. There is nothing better than the look, feel and smell of a new book, especially one that you have been involved with. I hope that all our writers, their families and friends ask the old boy with the white beard to bring them one in a few weeks time. (I refuse to mention that time of year without Prozac.) It is a privilege to champion the short story not only on a daily basis but now with something more concrete.
Our stories this week were another mixed bag. We had sadness from both our new writers, Sarah Walker and Ronald Friedman. Tom Sheehan put together a tale with a twist. Nik gave us a bit of future-thinking satire and I questioned acceptance.
We have had quite a few submissions from new writers this week and we are in the process of reading and deciding. So if you are reading this and thinking ‘Mmm, I wonder?’ Stop wondering and send! It is a pure delight for us to find someone who has that new writer enthusiasm!
Last two comments are reiterations… Happy Anniversary to the site in the past week. And of course a huge thanks to all of you for the past year!!
Lisa’s Lips by Hugh Cron – Adult Content
I look at my scars and I know why I am the way that I am. You stood by me more than you ever should and I will always love you for giving me that chance. I blew it. Lifting my hands was the biggest mistake of my life and I am eternally sorry. I am glad that you left and are out of harm’s way. You are out of my way. The medication I am on I am not proud of. The therapy sessions that I have been ordered to take don’t help. I know why I am the way I am. I know that I can’t handle the things that I saw. I have night terrors. I don’t understand why I can’t look at the wounds as I would an operation scar and only be thankful that I am still here. The mark on my neck especially scares me. I am paranoid. Hateful. I am terrified. I wish I could resent as that would be a more understandable thought but I can’t. I don’t know how to focus anymore. I only feel anger and terror and hate. I can’t control any emotion and more importantly, I can’t focus my hate on who deserves it. I am dangerous and I am only too aware what I am capable of. I look at the world as a rabid dog. Head down, eyes up and then I snap.
Literally Stories – Week 50
A year is a long time. Well a good three hundred and sixty-four days. If you don’t believe me multiply the seven days we have in a week with the fifty-two weeks in the year. Anyhow, I mention the year as that is the time that has passed since our first ‘Post’ was published. I wonder if Jenny Morton Potts realises that she is now part of our history?
We have had a ball. It hasn’t always been easy. To be truthful the submission numbers have at times been a bit of a disappointment and sometimes a struggle. We have always kept true to our initial ideals. We have only published what we thought was either interesting, unique or edgy. If we got all three of those, we were delighted. The writing always had to reach the standard that we insisted on.
So to all who we have published, to all the friends that we have made and to everyone who has submitted, we can’t thank you enough!!! It has been a pure privilege. We hope that you have enjoyed this past year and being a part of the site.
Now to The Anthology!
We are delighted to be associated with this. This book is a representation of the versatility of the stories from the site.
I think all of us who have worked on this must thank Diane especially. She has worked like a wee Trojan Beaver Bee. Her knowledge and input has been invaluable. She has grafted away for days on this and as I say, we must all thank her for her patience, skill and professionalism.
We have posted a page on the dynamics of the charity and would like to thank ‘The Book Bus’ for it’s acceptance of our proceeds. Believe it or not, it is sometimes difficult to give money away!! We wish them every success and hope we raise some awareness and funds for them. Please help with a few purchases. The links and information regarding how to buy a copy is at the end of this post.
Now onto our stories. Myself and Diane have put ourselves out there again. Fred Foote and Des Kelly have contributed. Please check out their stories this week and their back catalogue as they are two very versatile and skilled writers. We have a newbie to the site. Karl McDermott is a master of the short sentence. His witty story is worth a look and we are sure that he will also have a back catalogue soon.
I hope that on the 17th you all join me and my fellow editors and take a moment to pour out a huge drink of your choosing, look to the sky and toast the site that is Literally Stories. We will then look to the heavens and toast each and every one of you!!! Our respective Ambulance Services are on standby.
THE ANTHOLOGY: OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE:
So, yes it’s been hard work and time-consuming because we wanted it to be as good as we could make it. Out of respect for our wonderful authors and to ensure that anyone who buys this will feel that they have bought a well presented collection of short fiction. We hope that you approve. For those of you who have pre-ordered — thank you and for anyone else this will be available for purchase from all Amazon marketplaces on our Anniversary 15th November. Get it for your Kindle, your phone, your computer, your cat — oh your cat doesn’t have an iPhone — No problem. In response to several requests we decided to take the extra step and publish the book in Paperback and so you can also have a copy to hold in your hand. As with the e-book the proceeds from sales go directly to The Book Bus. So, if you want a happy cat order your copy either from Amazon or directly from Createspace it’s your choice . We do hope you like it.
Huge thanks are due to Angela at studioanjou for making us a beautiful all round genuine cover.
A final note — the book is also enrolled in the matchbook programme on Amazon so if you buy both you get a “deal” one for reading and one to brighten up your coffee table!!
What’s not to like?
Sonny Dodds – The Magical Years by Hugh Cron – Adult Content
Foreword.
And so it came to pass –
It turned out Fly Mary was telling the truth in her lies about ‘The Second Coming’. The upstairs neighbour had been a Jaffa and Sonny was who she lied he was.
The question on god wanting to shag a skanky, cider drinking, random hoor has never been considered.
This is the story of one specific day in the life of Sonny and his morning resurrection.
Continue reading “Sonny Dodds – The Magical Years by Hugh Cron – Adult Content”
The Second Coming by Hugh Cron – Adult Content
“Joe Dodd!!!! Get your arse in here!!!”
“I’m coming! The census man was at the door. I told him that there was no spare room!”
Joseph ran to his wife. She was lying in bed with her legs very tightly together.
Continue reading “The Second Coming by Hugh Cron – Adult Content”
He Stood And Stared By Hugh Cron
The door was unlocked and he was taken into the room.
“We’re right outside if you need us Doc!”
The two guards watched as he sat and then they left.
Overthinking by Hugh Cron – Adult Content
“Well as big Rod once sang, ‘Tonight’s The Night!”
“It’s tomorrow.”
“I know but the joke wouldn’t work! So tonight is the last night of you being alone. I think that was a Heart song. Did you like the one about her picking up a guy for a shag cause her hubby was a jaffa? There is a shit line in it about planting a tree!”
Continue reading “Overthinking by Hugh Cron – Adult Content”
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