Cries in the Woods

Last spring, my sister and I drove to a dog park a bit further into the country. This "dog park" is better pictured as a pasture for horses: a wooden fence frames a massive field of rolling grass. The dogs did their dog-thing, and we headed to leave. Before piling into the car, though, I … Continue reading Cries in the Woods →

Corporeal Delicacy

I've been meditating on poison—easing my way into a poem, I think, as I work toward completing a chapbook's worth of poems "spoken" by ghosts. Re-reading Browning's "The Laboratory" was a good start... a jealous lover glorifies a chemist's work as he crafts a poison to kill her rival. I'm settling into exploring how poisons … Continue reading Corporeal Delicacy →

Poltergeist?

My childhood Kentucky home has seen some odd events. One Thanksgiving, a glass exploded during the blessing. *pop* Shards flew into grandma's hair, peppered the table—including the food. Though we had enough for a second spread, leftovers were thin that year. Still, explanations could usually be had: That Thanksgiving, the glass of water had been … Continue reading Poltergeist? →

Five 50-word Stories

This year, Every Writer's 50-word horror story contest exploded. Over 4,000 entries. From the website, it looks like the wild popularity brought some drama too: The comments were all still up, last I checked. Eh, coupling a $500 prize with no limit on the number of submissions was... ambitious. But hey, the winners are posted: … Continue reading Five 50-word Stories →

The Fragility of Glass

This October, here's an entry for the Official Kidlit Fall Writing Frenzy! This competition is hosted by the talented Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez. Her blog, Math is Everywhere, follows her own writing journey and offers plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow authors. The competition asked writers to select one image (see mine below) to inspire … Continue reading The Fragility of Glass →

Then the Doorknob Rattled

Old doorknobs make a very particular sound. It's a hollow rattle, metal on metal in a tight gap. That sound of a space being entered—it'll carry to all the rooms in a quiet house. A doorknob rattling is perfect punctuation for a scene: something's right on the boundary, on the edge of crossing over a … Continue reading Then the Doorknob Rattled →

Ironwork in Peru

Barranco, Peru. Barranco means ravine in Spanish. It's a historical city with an ocean view. The fog is thick sometimes, especially in the mornings. Technically, it's also a desert city, so despite the ocean, shop owners are always sweeping at dust with long palm leaves. They're trying to keep the desert at bay. Three years I've … Continue reading Ironwork in Peru →

The Satisfying Weight of an Old Key

A maroon suitcase stuffed with old documents lives in the hollow headboard of our bed. My husband dug it out last week to photocopy something, and he left it open on the bedroom floor. As I picked through the old certificates and deeds (the smell of aged paper was irresistible), I stumbled into a reward … Continue reading The Satisfying Weight of an Old Key →