Last Ten FLASHSHOTS

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LAST TEN FLASHSHOTS

PERSON OF INTEREST
By Susan Amber

The sea was a tangled marl of light with evening sun fracturing the waves. “My God,” said Jack, binoculars to his eyes. “There’s a boat out there – a big one. I see its lights –it’s coming closer!”

She stood stiff on the balcony next to him. Later, she told police it was like a very large gull, maybe an albatross, flying at them, its glittering eyes growing brighter in the dusk until she shut her eyes. She opened them, and Jack was gone.

No, they hadn’t been drinking. Yes, they had been arguing earlier.

No, she wouldn’t leave town.
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Susan Amber has published her speculative fiction at AlienSkin and in Rain magazine. Under the name Susan Firghil Park, her poetry has appeared in The Alsop Review, Branches Online, and Kaleidowhirl, and her poetry chapbook, Estuary Light, was published by Finishing Line Press in 2005.
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Copyright © Susan Amber

Ghosts! Vampires! Werewolves! Get them ready for the FLASHSHOT Halloween Contest! Win a copy of the new FLASHSHOT anthology. For more details see http://www.gwthomas.org/halloweencontest.htm

THE TRUTH ABOUT VAMPIRES
By Jack Runner

“Can you believe those Vampires in Twilight?”

“Yeah, right. Vampires aren’t romantic, brooding loners.”

“Bloodthirsty savages is what they are.”

“Amen to that.”

“How you suppose folks got that misconception of these beasts?”

“Dunno, Charlie, dunno. Pass me another piece.”

“Here you go.”

“Looks like it’s almost all gone.”

“Yep, it is.”

“Guess it’s time to hunt down another kill.”

They stood up from the bloody remains, wiping their mouths with the backs of their hands. “Vampires sure are good eating though.”

“Now a story about Zombies. That’d be something.”

The two shuffled their rotting bodies off into the night.
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Jack Runner is a new author in the fields of comedy, horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. Little is known about him except that he might possibly be a Zombie.
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Copyright © Jack Runner

Announcing the FLASHSHOT Halloween Contest! Win a copy of the new FLASHSHOT anthology. For more details see http://www.gwthomas.org/halloweencontest.htm

THE MEETING
By Pavelle Wesser

In a darkened cellar on a lonely night, she attended a clandestine meeting where everyone complained about the evils of a hostile universe.

As the others reported the aches and pains of the ages, she could sense her destiny unfolding in distant hallways of gloom.

When the meeting was over, they sat in the shadows of their respective unresolved fates and debated options that were unavailable to them.

Although she concluded that the meeting was a waste of time in the absolute sense, she took great comfort from the milk and cookies offered her throughout.
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Pavelle Wesser’s writing has appeared in many ezines, including Alienskin, SNM Horror and Everyday Weirdness. She is a previous contributor of Flashshot. She lives with her family and an assortment of dogs in New England, where she teaches English.
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Copyright © Pavelle Wesser

Visit www.blackgate.com to experience the Black Gate blog -- dozens of writers bringing you daily news, reviews, and opinion on the best in new fantasy books, comics, games and movies. Or try the print version: over 200 pages packed with the finest in adventure fantasy, plus an ongoing Knights of the Dinner Table strip!

HEALTH CARE PLAN
By Kate Thornton

She was DOA and homeless. The EMTs phoned it in, but you needed a doctor to pronounce, so Roger drove the ambulance into County General's Emergency bay.
"DOA," the doc said, pocketing his cut in cash.

Roger once suggested saving the County money by having indigent DOAs routed to a County mortuary with a pathologist on duty.

But the County was looking for even more savings, what with the new health care laws.
Roger switched the magnetic signs from "Ambulance" to "Delivery" and hit the gas.

Selling the corpses to a pet food manufacturer was real health care savings.
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Kate Thornton writes mystery and science fiction, using her vast powers of nosiness for story ideas, You may find out more about her at It Doesn't Take a Genius.
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Copyright © Kate Thornton

ROCK-N-ROLL
By Matt Larsen

When the aliens wore masks to the press conference, reporters went wild. The History Channel exclaimed, "You descended from the heavens like the gods of our myths!"

Tendrils writhed behind the alien's blank face. "Oh, yes. We come before."

Rolling Stone gushed. "You have great taste in music!"

"Thank you! Our English not great, but 'We will rock you!'"

The High Times demanded, "What can we call you? And what's behind the masks?"

The aliens turned to the cameras, pulling away their false faces. "Medusans," they answered, but, meeting their terrible gaze, the reporters were more than slightly stoned.
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Matt Larsen is a writer and performer whose work has been published previously in Flashshot, Sonar 4, Golden Visions, Static Movement and With Painted Words. He can be seen on stage with improv juggernaut International Stinger. His most recent work, his daughter Simone, arrived November of 2009 and can be seen in limited edition in the Chicago area. Friend him on Facebook at facebook.com/matt.larsen.chicago.
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Copyright © Matt Larsen

Black Gate magazine is a modern magazine of adventure fantasy. 200+ pages per issue, packed with pulp reprints from Edmond Hamilton, Murray Leinster, and Charles Tanner; new fiction from names like Michael Moorcock, Charles de Lint, Martha Wells, and James Enge; and detailed retrospectives of the best in fantasy. www.blackgate.com

LUCKY BOY
By Thomas Faughnan

Christian couldn’t believe his good luck. He looked around the table at the three most gorgeous women he had ever seen, all with those high Slavic cheeks, pristine white skin and beautiful even teeth.

“I would like to thank you all,” he said, “for inviting me to dinner.”

“Oh, you silly boy,” Drusilla said, her flawless teeth becoming fierce sharp fangs before his eyes. “You weren’t invited to dinner you were invited for dinner.”

A terrifying glance revealed his other two hostesses had made the same transformation.
Their shrill laughter drowned out his horrified screams.
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Thomas Faughnan is an aspiring writer that lives in Anchorage, Alaska. He dines alone.
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Copyright © Thomas Faughnan

Try Black Gate magazine -- publishing the best in adventure fantasy since 2001. Original fiction from Michael Moorcock, Charles de Lint, Jeffrey Ford, Cory Doctorow, Martha Wells, James Enge, Jay Lake, E. E.
Knight,Michael Shea, Mike Resnick, and many more! Two issues for $19.99, or four for $39.95. www.blackgate.com

MIMECRY
By Milo James Fowler

Happy clowns give Hermann nightmares of teeth stained crimson red and patches of gray skin smeared through chalky white. In the silence, he imagines their cackling, hiccupping laughter. Bloodshot eyes staring through him, challenging his sadness, twisting it into fearful knots.

Mimes don’t bother him.

Melancholy mimes bring him joy with their invisible glass boxes and nonexistent lengths of rope. Their white gloves are always spotless. That one at the park with the tear painted on his cheek? Hermann’s favorite.

He imagines the whole world contained within a single blue teardrop.

And he sheds one all his own.
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Milo James Fowler is a full-time jr. high teacher and a part-time writer. When he’s not grading papers, he’s submitting short stories to magazines, revising his manuscripts, and sending query letters to prospective literary agents. His work has recently appeared in A Fly in Amber and Everyday Weirdness, and one of his stories received an honorable mention in the May 2010 issue of Allegory. Visit his blog anytime, day or night: http://www.milo-inmediasres.blogspot.com/
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Copyright © Milo James Fowler

MIDNIGHT SURPRISE
By Linda Garnett

“Sam, we’re not going to make it. We should have left the dance earlier.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll make your curfew.”

“I told you I have to be home exactly at midnight.”

He laughed. “You didn’t need to make up a stupid story so I’d get you home on time.”

“I didn’t make it up. Now drive faster!”

Sam parked outside her house and glanced at his watch.

“Not bad. It’s only a minute past midnight.”

He looked at the passenger seat and screamed. Nestled in Jackie's dress was a scowling garden gnome.

“Damn, I guess this means no good-night kiss.”
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Linda Garnett is currently writing her first novel, a science-fiction comedy. Her work has appeared in Stories That Lift, Static Movement, The New Flesh and Flashes of Horror. When she's not writing fiction, she profiles up and coming musicians on her blog Music of Note, at http://musicofnote-lindag.blogspot.com.
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Copyright © Linda Garrett

NEW TUNDRA: THE GIRL WHO ESCAPED
By Jeff Sinclair

Terrors in the dark. Even after the nightmare is over, true evil leaves ashen memories behind--a residue--and screaming won't scatter its molecules.

She wakes in a veil of sweat-drenched black ringlets, petals of smudged mascara spotlighting white-blue windows to a wounded soul. Howls sift through the night sky. Her heart skips a beat, stealing breath. It was no dream. It was a vision.

The proof of darkness prevailed is all around; a world devoid of light, laid out before her.

No salvation, she says, reaching for the backpack and the machete.

Sometimes you've gotta make your own.
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Jeff Sinclair hopes you’ve enjoyed the post-apocalyptic vision that is New Tundra and would love to share more with you.
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Copyright © Jeff Sinclair

Try Black Gate magazine -- publishing the best in adventure fantasy since 2001. Original fiction from Michael Moorcock, Charles de Lint, Jeffrey Ford, Cory Doctorow, Martha Wells, James Enge, Jay Lake, E. E. Knight,Michael Shea, Mike Resnick, and many more! Two issues for $19.99, or four for $39.95. www.blackgate.com

ONCE UPON A TIME
By Angel Zapata

Once upon a time there was a man named “Once,” and he was in love with a woman called “Time.” When they thought about living a fairytale life, they never pictured themselves in this story.

Then one day, Once got drunk, and against her will, took his Time.

The visual here is “Once upon a Time.”

Nine months later, they had a baby boy.

They called him “The End” of their relationship.
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Angel Zapata has fiction appearing in the Toe Tags Anthology, House of Horror: Best of 2009, Mausoleum Memoirs, Flashes in the Dark, The New Flesh, and Howl: Dark Tales of the Feral and Infernal. Visit http://arageofangel.blogspot.com.
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Copyright © Angel Zapata

LESSONS LEARNED
By Barbara Barth

Dog. God. To her they were both the same.

The Dog had saved her life. Came to her right after the bad divorce to comfort her. God kept her from shooting her husband when she found him with another woman. They both brought her something she needed to know.

The Dog taught her unconditional love. He was there for her, waiting for her arrival, greeting her with kisses.

God taught her what the media has been saying all along. Do not keep a loaded gun in the house. Lucky for her the bullets were in the dresser drawer.
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The Unfaithful Widow is Barbara’s first book. It is a series of essays on the year following the death of her husband. Written with warmth and humor no subject is taboo. Her unwillingness to accept cliché roles dictated by age, custom or gender are important lessons for everyone. She is able to pluck humor from sadness. She shows proper respect for the past without being its prisoner. A great read for anyone, but if you love dogs and a little dirty talk, this may be perfect for you. Available on Amazon and Amazon Kindle. Visit Barbara at her web www.barbarabarth.net.
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Copyright © Barbara Barth

Black Gate magazine is a modern magazine of adventure fantasy. 200+ pages per issue, packed with pulp reprints from Edmond Hamilton, Murray Leinster, and Charles Tanner; new fiction from names like Michael Moorcock, Charles de Lint, Martha Wells, and James Enge; and detailed retrospectives of the best in fantasy. www.blackgate.com