Abra slips out a doorway webbed with shadows and walks down Ninth Street, kicking at rain-dimpled puddles of water, the air around him roaring with the steady cadence of the rainstorm. Street lamps gleam above the worn cement like demon’s eyes, seeming to bend and examine Abra’s soul. Twilight is an hour away, but an…
Tag: must read
An IN THE AIR Excerpt: “Aeolian Variations” by Robert Walton
We stepped onto his apartment’s balcony. Like most Upper L.A. apartments, Felix’s balcony had no railings. We admired the unimpeded view for a moment. Then, Felix stepped over the edge. The building was on the job, of course, and instantly provided him with an energy path that looped over to connect to the nearest permanent…
An IN THE AIR Excerpt: “The Treasure of the Wind-Walker” by Bryan Dyke
The sea around him turned choppy. The palm trees convulsed. The shallows blossomed with odd waterspouts and turbulence. Even closer, an unnatural twister formed across the beach dunes and rushed toward him and his claim, the air charged and alive. Within the tumult, the outline of a human figure formed: tall and muscled, garbed with a…
An IN THE AIR Excerpt: “Float” by Alex Zalben
As the wind whipped and pulled at Laney’s hair, she paused on the last snap. If she did this—really did this—that was it. She was gone, forever. But honestly, who would care? Her heart pounded, blood rushing over the wind in the park. Do it, she willed herself. You coward. Was this cowardice, though? Giving…
An IN THE AIR Excerpt: “Burke’s Mission” by Victor Hawk
He gave himself back over to the mechanical work of bicycling. Put enough leg effort into something, you don’t have the glycogen available for putting thoughts together. The sun rolled across the blue backdrop. “Posted. No trespassers.” Throop had put in a new cattle guard. Treacherous things on a road bike. Hickey had once caught…
An IN THE AIR Excerpt: “Silap Inua” by Joanna Koch
The palace of the Frost King was as silent as snow. A library towered through the core of the mountain to its tallest peak. Not books or words or pages, but amorphous crystalline shapes in a calligraphic dance spoke from the volumes extending on shelves up through the sky and out to the stars. Movement…
An IN THE AIR Excerpt: “Just Another Word For” by Deanna Smith
“This world was a wild and turbulent place when I was your age. Younger than you. I wanted all of it, body and soul. So I threw myself to the wind.” “Throwing to the wind noted.” His voice was almost pious, letting his cloak briefly flutter open for a brief glimpse of his skin. “You…
An IN THE AIR Excerpt: “Spore” by Lorraine Sharma Nelson
When Reva pulled into her driveway, her neighbor’s odd stance at the edge of her rose garden drew her attention. She hopped out of her car. “Hey, Mrs. Bonifassi.” The woman gave no indication of having heard her. Reva took a couple of steps toward her. “Mrs. B.? Are you all right?” The woman whirled,…
An IN THE AIR Excerpt: “Easy as the Wind” by Bill Davidson
I hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Bobby and Mags in weeks, but from time to time, I caught glimmers of light coming from gaps round the back windows. That made sense. They wouldn’t ever light a candle near the front for fear of bringing attention to themselves. Because people were desperate now, you understand?…
Release Day: IN THE AIR Story Teasers
I’m always excited to send a new book out into the world, and this collection of stories has some twisted themes, events, and characters. Just the way I like it. And to do something a little different for today’s release, here’s a series of teasers. One from each story. Just for you. Take a peek…
An IN THE AIR Excerpt: “The DeVore Incident” by E.J. LeRoy
“I knew it was only a matter of time before something like this happened,” Senator Green said at the press conference. Ambassador Frost rolled her eyes as she watched the broadcast from her official residence beside the palace. It was just like the senator to take advantage of every conceivable opportunity to plant himself in…
A TRANSCENDENT Excerpt: “It’s Only A Dream” by Robert Petyo
When Trevor Goodwin and his partner Bria got home from the four-hour movie, he still had five hours to fill before returning to the lab for another day of experiments. Since Bria rejected his efforts to discuss the show, he secluded himself in the corner and tried to fill his time by scanning the background…
