"Key Holder", to put it simply, is a story about escapism. Ever since I was a kid, I enjoyed creating new worlds or investing time in the imaginary worlds of video games and books as a way of escaping the things that annoyed me about the real world. "Key Holder" follows one child who has the ability to literally unlock a portal to alternate realities (think Sliders or Mighty Max or even Penn Zero, Part-Time Hero).
"Never Meet Your Heroes" is exactly about what the title says. A reporter gets the opportunity to interview the local superhero who he has idolized all his life, but the old man he meets has some dark secrets to share about his past that no fanboy is ready to accept. It is a story meant to make us take a second look at some of our real-world idols. In the past couple of years, people have already learned more than they care to know about former role models. The closer you get to a shining star the more your eyes might burn though...
We're halfway done with Freaky and Fantastical 500 Words or Less reviews now. Check out these two stories, the first 48 I've covered, and the next 49 when you get your own copy and leave a review. That will be all for now but there is more to come!