​It’s been one long journey, but here we are, finally at the end of the road for the Freaky and Fantastical 500 (Words or Less).  It’s been a good, productive three months so there is plenty more to share and I’m actually happy to be finished with this reflection on my first trip into self-publishing.  So without further ado, here is the review of the last six pieces from my anthology.
 
“My Flesh and Blood” is a story I’ve had in my mind for some time.  I developed a full story but what is presented here is a single scene from that tale of humans surviving in a world overrun with bloodsucking and flesh-eating monsters.  I intend to have the full story told in visual form, either as a screenplay or comic.  I know, I know… vampires and zombies are overdone, but it’s just a matter of how the story is told…
 
“The Power of Words” is a pretty straightforward piece.  I can really say no more to add to the message of this story.  Enjoy!
 
“Unusual Tastes” is also rather straightforward, but there was a twist.  The story is meant to show how people can humanize an animal, or in this case an alien, but also have no aversion to consuming those animals.  We have certain attachments to pets, and people all over have animals of every kind as pets in their homes.  Pets can substitute for children in some homes. But there is a food chain, and one person’s “child”, could be another person’s meal.
 
“Seventh World Problems” is a story about limitless imagination, acceptance, and world peace.  Worlds without borders blend into a perfect world where the power of the spirit and mind create something special but also eventually destroy it.  It describes several universes that once existed as one but only remain as memories, myths, and legends that inspire future generations.
 
“Crafty as a Fox” is another favorite of mine.  This is my own original fable based on the tricksters of various cultures.  I may develop this story further one day in another form of media as well.  I think it is a great tale about competition between friends and rivals that can sometimes get out of hand and it demonstrates the roles of tricksters in every form.
 
And… as a bonus: the final piece in this book, “In Short: Think For Yourself” is a poem and a call to action.  There are enough problems, critics, and consumers in the world.  At least, that’s what I think. 
 
I think people were placed in the world to create new things and share experiences with each other, make legacies.  This book is just one of the things I want to add to my legacy.  It was only an experiment for me, but it is also a template for future works.  I hope that the ideas I’ve shared in only 500 words or less actually resonated with someone.  There are only 99 shorts in this book but hundreds of ideas rolled into it.  Sharing my ideas in words is one thing I do well, but that is not where my skillset ends.  And the last page of Freaky and Fantastical 500 (Words or Less) is not where my story ends…  There is always more to come!

Welcome back for the second-to-last installment in the Freaky and Fantastic 500 (Words or Less) review.  It’s been a long three months covering this so you should already know what it is by now if you’ve stuck it out and if you don’t then still feel free to jump in and see if my ramblings pique your interest in my book!

​“A Collector’s Price” is a story about a man who lies, cheats, and steals from multiple people including those closest to him in order to obtain some rare, magical objects.  This story was written with the question of what would someone sacrifice to gain material wealth and is it worth it in the end?  I myself am guilty of always desiring to have a full set of something, whether I need a set or not, whether it’s a set of coins, an evolutionary line of Pocket Monsters, or rare cards that were in limited print.  I may never use these things, but in my mind the value is greater when you have it all… But I would not condone what the man in this story does.
 
The short narrative poem “Last Wish” is dedicated to one of my best friends.  I basically wrote a conversation we had about what his dying wish would be and what lengths I might go through to fulfill it.  As crazy as this piece might sound, it kind of makes you wonder how far a friend would go to honor you, dead or alive.  In the end, this poem is about leaving behind your past sorrows and moving forward with life no matter where you find yourself.
 
“The Standout” is probably a story that we’ve heard or seen too many times… But you know what?  I WROTE IT ANYWAY! Pretty much every story is about a protagonist who lives a simple life by society’s rules only to receive a call to action or just wake up and make a decision to be great, no matter the consequences.  That is really all this story is.  So, accept the call to action, and be great!
 
“Evolution” is probably one of the oddest stories in the book, but I thought it was worth including because it was written with the idea of the creator’s relationship with the creation.  It’s about a son’s acceptance of who he is, but also aspiring to be like his father and understand him, just as humans possess curiosity about our existence and the desire to be greater.  The story is about passing on a torch, from teacher to student.  It is also modeled after God and Jesus… obviously.
 
“Roadtrip” is another cautionary tale about how the benefits of technology can also be dangerous.  While machines are manmade there are some things in the universe, such as time and space, people shouldn’t tamper with.  I explicitly state in the story how our culture has become more interested in instant gratification, but I also imply in the end how accidents can reveal opportunity.  (SPOILER /MAN-SPLAINER ALERT: If it is not clear, in the end the elderly people see an opportunity to stop their own aging process so that they can essentially live forever.)

And that wraps up this bit!  Only 6 more stories to cover and more fun to be had in my reflecting on this first book of mine.  Check it out here and come back for more ramblings, because of course there is always more to come!

​Now we’re three-quarters of the way to the end of the Freaky and Fantastical 500 (Words or Less)review journey!  I’ve got a few other projects I’ve completed and started that I would love to talk about too, but the focus is on the book for now, so let’s get to the next five-parter.
 
First, “Peerless” is a story about an arrogant brat in a school for psychics who believes he has attained the peak of his education… until he meets the new girl.  This story is built on the moral that no matter how great we believe we are, there is always going to be someone better.
 
“Metal Versus Mutants” is a flash fiction piece I included in this book which is actually a world-building story tied into one of my first published short stories, “Xeros”.  I’ve played with “Xeros” a bit and continued to add more over the years, using the very first story as a first chapter.  I thought of making a novella out of it, showing the progression of the tragedy that results in this era of “forced evolution” and exodus and I’m even playing with the idea of making it a comic or screenplay (more on this at a later time).  This story doesn’t add a whole lot to the original short, but it does give readers an idea of where I intend the story to go.  You could find “Xeros” in Megabook 2, available on Balloon’d, My Digital Comics, and DriveThru.
 
The next story, “Spiritual Teacher, Warrior”, is also a snapshot from a series I’ve been playing with for some time called “Ascension” (working title, of course).  In a world where the angelic Empyreans fight the demonic Hadeans in a war invisible to humans, the rules are about to change, and humans champions will soon be more involved in the struggle for their very souls.  I think that last sentence, actually sums up everything quite nicely!
 
“Rock, Paper, Scissors” is a story about a love triangle.  I used the concept of the game to tell a story and relying on a little word play I hoped to convey the concept, but the title would give it away, so… yeah.
 
Finally, “Married to Murder” is a story that I think came to me in a dream, and I loved it so much I used it as a flash fiction piece here and even wrote a screenplay with it!  It is a story about a hitman who has assignments transported into his mind via telepathy.  Unable to remove the visions of his targets until he completes his assignment, he struggles to commit to a family life.  Besides the psychic intrusions, being a contract killer does him no favors either, but his loving wife deals with it.  This concept had so many possibilities, I actually enjoyed rewriting it as a screenplay more.  There is plenty of potential to build on it and I’m excited to see what else I can find once I take the time to evaluate this story further.
 
And that is all for now, folks!  Another post down, and another five stories covered!  Because I have been slack on here I will continue this series of posts with the five-parters for the next two weeks, so check back soon!

We’re nearing the end for this Freaky and Fantastical 500 journey, but there is so much more to cover so I will just get into it.

​“Connected Lives” is actually a concept I was playing with for a few years with a project to be titled “Missing Links”, about a race of powerful interdimensional beings that would ultimately take control of the Earth from mankind.  In this story it is more of a reflection on mankind’s propensity for violence against one another from these creatures’ perspective.
 
“Majestic Pride and Death” is a royal revenge story.  One prince discovers the truth of his paternity and the wickedness of the man he thought to be his father.  However, in this revenge plot, the king decides to go out on his own terms and condemn the prince in the only way he can.
 
“Evergreen” is another alien invasion story, but with a happy twist.  In this tale, Earth’s conquerors are a benevolent race of plantlike beings that actually come to aid humanity and the environment rather than enslave or eradicate the people.   The aliens provide mankind with more efficient ways of living and more advanced technology.  I probably wrote this on Earth Day, now that I think about it…
 
“Nothing Special” is a story about a world where shape-shifting beings are a norm.  When a lone gunman starts to terrorize shoppers in a mall, one young man steps up to protect everyone with his less-than-unique gift.  I guess this story could be kind of a preview for the "Chimera" series, even though it was not my original intention for this to be established in that universe.  And on a side note, I wrote this some time last year, but I understand if due to the recent string of gun violence this story would turn some people off, despite the lighter tone of the narrator.
 
“Soul-Searching” I think is one of the more relatable stories in this anthology, especially for someone with successful siblings.  It follows a young man who is trying to decide on a career path while also feeling inferior to his other talented siblings.  Every pessimist deserves an optimistic guide/friend.  Even when I have low moments, more often I find myself telling someone to consider what they want/can do instead of focusing on what they do not want/cannot do, which is how I came to write this story.  It is about finding encouragement and passion in the unlikeliest of places and overcoming defeatism.
 
This is all for today.  So much diversity in this set of stories and so much inspiration abounding!  It’s nice to reminisce on how each story came to be and to even revisit the sources of inspiration.  Please check out these stories in Freaky and Fantastical 500 (Words or Less) today.

So after a week off, we’re back again with another five-parter!  It is disappointing that I’m not keeping with my intended schedule, but I’m not disappointed in what I am accomplishing for the future.  On that note, I want to again thank you all who have already purchased and recommended Freaky and Fantastical 500 Words or Less.  While this was just an experiment in idea generating and publishing for me, I appreciate the support.  With all of this said, onto the five features for the day!

​The first story, “Ego and Heroism”, is another story making fun of superheroes.  In a world where supermen are actually grown in a lab, equivalent to cloned humans with shortened lifespans, despite their powers.  These beings are used as superweapons, deterrents of international aggression in place of nuclear weapons, and champions of their native countries meant to resolve international conflicts, while preserving human life.  But when peace is established on Earth and more threats arrive from beyond our solar system these superhumans become more valuable.  However, when the demand for these artificial heroes begins to outpace the supply of quality goods, one doctor decides to take it upon himself to attempt to become the hero the world needs—or die trying—in the most common comic-book way.

“Discord” is a story about a girl who is literally overcome by her personal demon.  In an effort to gain the power to protect her family, she makes an unholy deal.  When the righteous heart is corrupted by a lust for vengeance and mayhem, the former person dissolves, losing sight of who she wanted to be and wanting to kill everything she used to be.  This story sums up what I think a lot of people feel when they compromise themselves for others or even try to do something bad for the sake of good.

“Afraid to be Alone” is a horror story about a man being hunted by a monster that only attacks a person when no one else is around.  The story follows the man in his normal routine of trying to keep company around him only to eventually find himself isolated.

“The Town of Rumplestiltskin” is a new take on the old story of the eponymous character.  It is more of a legacy story instead of an isolated incident as the original was, following generations of people blessed with good fortune in exchange for one child from their town every year.  Of course, I reversed the ending, but in stories where children are taken, I usually prefer a happy ending.

Finally, “Fantastic Detectives” is another story made completely with dialogue, following two detectives with names that oddly resemble a famous detective from literature and his doctor-sidekick.  There isn’t a deeper meaning to this story, other than reimagining this detective in a fantasy world and playing with funny dialogue.

​That covers it for this go-around.  Five more down, and plenty more to go.  I didn’t expect to finish these features until June, so I will continue to crank these out by the twos and fives as necessary.  Be sure to check back, because (obviously) there is more to come!  And go on and buy, rate, and recommend Freaky and Fantastical 500 Words or Less if you haven’t already!

Hello again and Happy Friday!  I'm finally getting to round 57 and 58 in the stream of Freaky and Fantastical 500 Words or Less features.  If you've been with me for the last 56 story talks, you know what it is and I commend you for still dropping in.  If you're just joining me, then you still picked a decent time to read my thought process and commentary on the stories in my first sci-fi fantasy anthology, now on Amazon!  Today I will cover the stories "Ascension" and "Untamed Fears".

"Ascension" is a story that essentially reminds us to be careful what you wish for.  It's told from the point of view of a man who has attained what he thought was the immortality he desired.  He is practically a godlike being, able to observe and influence people , but to never actually feel pleasure or have real human interaction.  His gift of this power becomes a curse for him when he realizes he is basically alone in the world because his existence cannot be perceived or appreciated no matter how much he may do.  Perhaps that is one way to look at how God feels about unbelievers...  I am actually currently playing with a similar concept to be made into a horror movie script, which I will discuss more once I complete this book promo series.

"Untamed Fears" is kind of a Pacific Rim-type story, involving military forces and emerging kaiju, but focusing more on people having a supernatural bond with the giant monsters.  If multiple monsters started arriving from beneath the earth and from the depths of the sea, but a select few were able to control them, what kind of world would it be?  Would the monsters be used to bolster military power?  How would the two-way bond affect the human's daily life?  If it were you, could your own family even deal with the odd behavior you would exhibit being one half of a force of nature?  This story is told from the point of view of a mother whose own daughter begins to act strangely when she is bonded with a monster.

These two stories could really be told from different perspectives and be fit into multiple genres as we've already seen in mainstream media.  If I were to look back at them some more, I may end up recreating them in other formats with a completely different spin, but that remains to be seen for now!  Until next time, folks, read on in Freaky and Fantastical 500 Words or Less and look for more ramblings here because there is always more to come!

From Freaky and Fantastical 500 Words or Less, for this 31st and 32nd time I am looking at my stories "Plugged In" and "Police Academy".  

Before I talk about "Plugged In" I have to mention that I've never read the book Ready Player One but I saw the movie and it was awesome! I would highly recommend it to anyone.  And going back to my own creation, this story is about the dangers of gaming to put it plainly.  For some, gaming is a lifestyle.  We already have the ease of connecting multiple networks and online profiles, but once haptic technology is better improved and more  available (as seen in the aforementioned movie) and our own minds can be connected to the Web, privacy and safety might be sacrificed.  "Memories" are already shared on social media, but when real memories can be stripped from your mind, the risk of using the technology we integrate into our everyday lifestyles becomes much greater.

"Police Academy" imagines a world where superpowers are real.  The government would naturally place controls on people who possess powers (Captain America: Civil War, anyone?), requiring them to use their power in the military, law enforcement, some other public service, or not at all.

That is the short and sweet end of this review.  Also, please check out the interview my wife did with Yours Truly on her blog over here when you get a chance!  Until next time, folks!

We are now in the 23rd day of the freaky and fantastic journey and this time the spotlight is on the story "Charlie's Sons".  This is another story told completely through dialogue from the point of view of the town gossip about a small town invaded by strange, otherworldly beings.  I'm not a fan of alien probe stories (not that this is one), but for this story I wanted to channel the character of the people commonly seen in the media who share such bizarre tales of their close encounters of the third kind.  These stories have the same kind of appeal as urban legends to me, especially among those fans of conspiracy theories.  There is always the lingering question among us about if there is life beyond the stars, has it already approached us, and what would happen if it did.  This story is a horror story version of that, which is what we would see in movies and often hear about (people who claim to have had encounters usually use the term "abducted" which is not a word associated with benevolent creatures), but the tone of the story is only lightened by the narrator.  Often, even when horrifying news is delivered to us, it really comes down to the credibility of the person presenting it.

That is all for today.  Check out "Charlie's Sons" in Freaky and Fantastical 500 Words or Less now and be on the look out for the next installment here as we continue the 99 day journey!

From my Freaky and Fantastical 500 Words or Less anthology I've got two more stories, "Christmas Warrior" and "For No Man's Eyes" to highlight as I catch up on my 99 day review of the book.  "Christmas Warrior" is a new perspective on the iconic legend of the Yuletide season, re-imagining him as not only a charitable supernatural gentleman, but also as a jolly collector of magical items in an attempt to explain some of his abilities.  The horror story "For No Man's Eyes" is another favorite of mine.  It is the story of an ambitious journalist who, in an effort to take his brand to the next level, journeys to a brothel to expose the truth behind a new myth circulating the internet, however what he finds is more than any man is meant to witness.  This story would probably be excellent as a first-person, Blair-Witch style movie (coming soon possibly) and is reminiscent of an episode of Tales from the Crypt.

That is all I want to say about these two stories or could say without spoiling them.  Summaries of super short stories have to be brief to leave something for the reader to discover, right?  Read these stories and 99 others in Freaky and Fantastical 500 Words or Less  today and check back because there is more to come!

Whoops! I missed a day but I will continue to only double up as needed, so let's jump into it.  Today I will be focusing on two of my favorite stories from Freaky and Fantastical 500 Words or Less, "The Tale of Noir" and "A Flower Beyond the Gravestone".  

"The Tale of Noir" is a narrative horror poem that tells of an urban legend originating from me.  Urban legends have a certain allure behind them because the mystery and the level of truth they bare can frighten us, especially when the stories are set so close to our own home.  Narrative poems, and even songs that tell us stories, also charm us in unique ways because beyond a good hook, a nice beat, and a few other words that get stuck in your memory, there is rhyme and reason.  This particular story deals with mad science, a motherless woman, and children being children,  and it may have taken place in your very own hometown for all we know...

"A Flower Beyond the Gravestone" is one of a few second-person POV stories in my anthology that is more of a love story with shades of horror and fantasy.  Inspired by stories of Greek mythology about people journeying into the underworld via the river Styx, as well as Dante's Inferno and other myths of heroes journeying into the realm of the dead for lost love, revelation and other reasons, I wrote this "instructional guide" to help others find their way.  One could choose to obey the instructions to return unscathed or remain in a state in between life and death, forgotten by the world...

That is all for now but there is always more to come!  Check out Freaky and Fantastical 500 Words or Less on Amazon and pick up your copy to read these and 97 other horror, fantasy, and sci-fi stories.