Short Fiction

Author KK Brown brings an important lesson about writing and its consequences.

Deadlines, day jobs, and distractions: they're all part of a writer's life. But here's a hint: don't mention pizza in front of non-writers when you have a story brewing!

Hermann Potgieter's grandfather was a clever man as well as a great marathon runner, managing to win the Comrade's Marathon many times. However did he do it?

Oh, to be sure that when you sit down to write, the funny stuff will be right there at the tips of your fingers -- wouldn't that be worth a pouchful of gold and silver? "Fork over some big-time gold pieces," says Aser, "and you will be a regular laff riot."

A lovely invitation to dine with Lord Patu -- but how could one have forgotten to inform one's wife that the host normally doesn't bother with the aggravation of clothing?

When you look into someone's eyes and recognize that their loneliness matches your own, all you want is to take their hand and walk with them ...

Release from pain, a happy haze of comfort. That's all Trina can ask for any more. That, and to watch what lies outside her window ...

Just a little reminder this week ... be nice to your mother.

Uncle Edgar was watching the evening weather with me the other day, and told me not to worry so much about the freakish unseasonable rains we've seen this Spring. "You want weather to worry about? I'll tell you what kind of weather you'd need to worry about!"

For some sleep is a precious activity during the day. When Helena's sleep cycle gets interrupted, she'll go through anything to get back into her cozy bed and enjoy the dreamlife--even if it means battling a strange creature. (Originally appeared 2005-08-08)

Laws can be useful guidelines for establishing order. But a set of laws that works well in one circumstance doesn't necessarily work well in another. Occasionally, it's better just to scrap the whole thing... (Originally appeared 2005-07-04)

A slightly alcohol-soaked narrative outlines a tale of mercantile sin and meteoroligcal salvation as a graying barfly describes the night he piloted the Davemobile through the Storm of the Century. (Originally appeared 2005-03-27)

Life may be all games for virtual reality play tester Tod Ruckle, but the fun drained out of it a long time ago, somewhere between the ex-wife, the downsized job, the mortgage payment he can't meet and the compulsive gambling problem. But a phone call out of the blue may just change all that. Part 1 of 5. (Originally appeared 2004-08-14)

Maybe he was going to die for that rock, but he wanted to make sure his grandchildren had a good life. All he had to do was get there first, and hope for some sweet savior to bring him some air ...

A freak? Far from it! Little Buddy was the most considerate roommate ever.

Being wise isn't easy, especially when doling out wisdom about marriage that includes boobs and pit vipers.

Antonio Hopson's upcoming novel, Ogden Messiah, is a tale of breathing life into the impossible, giving color to faded corners of consciousness and bringing closure to an act of terrible sin. In this excerpt, Abeque-Abeque witnesses the hand of destiny in a very special way.

A bum sipping from a brown bagged bottle, a stray dog sniffing about, squirrels scampering through a park - would you recognize the end of the world if you saw it unfolding before your eyes? Maybe. Maybe not.

If you're going to steal a shaman's pretzels at the inn, you better make sure your back is covered...

A young man is about to quit his job with regardless of the consequences. Meanwhile, a dissatisfied barrista is about to complete the strangest job application of her life.

Dorothy Hall found three more children to add to her family. The only problem with that is that they're in the garage, and have been dead for ten years. At Christmastime, even ghostly kids could use a mother who cares about them ...

How does Santa actually determine who has been naughty or nice? Find out in this first prize entry in the Piker Press 2004 "Letters to Santa" contest.

Tomorrow, there will be debts to pay, but for today, there's still one last sunset to ride off into. A fantasy concludes.

Sometimes there is no following when they leave.

Once, long ago, they came to his rescue. Now, there is a price he must pay. How one mortal biker lives determines what will happen to him after he dies, on a lonely stretch of highway haunted by those on an eternal ride. Part 1 of 2

Saying goodbye to an old friend. He always did have to do everything big.

Just because you walk away from the wreck doesn't mean you've survived.

He had the territorial aggression and fearlessness of a wolf, but he was lucky to top the scales at ten pounds. Ultimately, it would prove the little dog's undoing.

When you're running a bed & breakfast, attention to the little details is everything. Even so, sometimes you never hear from a guest again...

He's made his apology. She's told him to go away. End of story? Almost. But then the elevator broke down... Part 2 of 2.