Douglas Hackle's Blog, page 14

“I Flunked Kindergarten” in Drabblecast – Episode 247

Hey there, boys and girls of summer.

As luck would have it, the drabble featured in the latest episode of The Drabblecast (Episode 247) is “I Flunked Kindergarten” by yours truly.

For anyone unfamiliar with the term, a ‘drabble’ is a story of exactly 100 words—not one word more, not one word less. “I Flunked Kindergarten” is the true story of how I flunked kindergarten 13 times. Its publication also marks my first appearance in a podcast.

The featured short story in the episode is “How I Crippled a World for Just 0.01 Cents” by Michail W. Lucht, a tale that takes a look at what the world might be like if all scientific theory were copyrighted.

http://www.drabblecast.org/

Ray Bradbury (1920 – 2012)

Ray Bradbury has been a big influence on me both as a reader and a writer ever since I first read Fahrenheit 451 back in the ninth grade about nine million years ago. No doubt many folks across the internet will be posting words of tribute, veneration, and remembrance in his honor in the days to come. I suppose these are mine.

Last year, I wrote and published a little tribute to Bradbury in the form of a strange flash fiction story titled “Offensive Face.” In this yarn, a small group of people attempt, in a somewhat bizarre and symbolic manner of speaking, to “imitate” the inimitable Ray Bradbury. But, as you might imagine, their efforts are met with failure. Here’s the link:

Offensive Face (@ the New Flesh Magazine)

If you like the story, please don’t hesitate to share it via twitter, facebook, etc.

It’s beautiful outside here in Northeast Ohio right now. Before the sun dips too low, I’d better take my beer out into the backyard, pour a libation into the grass—over there by that cluster of dandelions—get a little bit drunk, and mourn a little for an uncle I never had the pleasure to meet in person.

Falco’s Got Nothing on Me

Hey. My latest short story, “Nobody—I said NOBODY!—Fucks Over Amadeus Huxtable,” was just published at SYWzine, a new webzine that showcases fiction, poetry, photography, and art, along with book and music reviews.

My primary reason for penning this story was to write a tale with a character named Amadeus in it. I know that’s a f*cking stupid reason to write a story, but it is what it is.

New Story Up @ Jersey Devil Press

Issue 29 of Jersey Devil Press in now live. The loose theme of this installment is literature, writing, writers, words, etc. The issue includes my short story "James Joyce, Herman Melville, and God Get Rejected!" wherein even God discovers that the blatant disregard for submission guidelines has its consequences.

Here's the direct link: JDP: Issue 29

Green Ireland Revisited

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I'm reposting the link to my classic flash fiction story "Green Ireland," which was published last year at The Mustache Factor. Alright, I'm goofin' around a bit—this story is not "classic" in any sense of the term, and a whole five people know I even exist as a writer. One of those people is me. Another is my mommy.

But if you can somehow manage to pull yourself away from your repeated, looped viewings of Leprechaun in the Hood for just two or three measley minutes this March 17th (I know I won't be able to, but you're stronger than me) then consider clicking on the link below and checking out my little bizarro tribute to the Emerald Isle.

GREEN IRELAND

RIP Brain Harvest: Another One Down

In the short acceptance letter I received from Brain Harvest this past January for my story “Ice Cream in Amerikkkka,” the editor wrote, “It’s rare when I find exactly what I’m looking for, at the exact moment that I’m looking for it.” These words made me feel all warmy and fuzzy inside, and I was high on them for the rest of the day after I read them. Yet at the same time, I felt the statement was subtly engimatic, implying something beyond what was written, something in between the lines.

After three years of publishing short speculative fiction online, Brain Harvest announced it is permanently closing today.

The editor’s words now make sense: my absurdist little story, with it abruptly explosive ending and repetition of the phrase “THE END” (at the end), was chosen to be the final story to appear on the site.

I only discovered Brain Harvest not too long ago myself, but have since read some excellent flash fiction at the site. I encourage anyone who likes strange little stories to check out Brain Harvest, as the site will remain up with three years worth of archived stories.

Brain Harvest

RIP Brain Harvest: Another One Down

In the short acceptance letter I received from Brain Harvest this past January for my story "Ice Cream in Amerikkkka," the editor wrote, "It's rare when I find exactly what I'm looking for, at the exact moment that I'm looking for it." These words made me feel all warmy and fuzzy inside, and I was high on them for the rest of the day after I read them. Yet at the same time, I felt the statement was subtly engimatic, implying something beyond what was written, something in between the lines.

After three years of publishing short speculative fiction online, Brain Harvest announced it is permanently closing today.

The editor's words now make sense: my absurd little story, with it abruptly explosive ending and repetition of the phrase "THE END" (at the end), was chosen to be the final story to appear on the site.

I only discovered Brain Harvest not too long ago myself, but have since read some excellent flash fiction at the site. I encourage anyone who likes strange little stories to check out Brain Harvest, as the site will remain up with three years worth of archived stories.

Brain Harvest

“Ice Cream in Amerikkkka” is now up at Brain Harvest

My flash piece “Ice Cream in Amerikkkka” is now up at Brain Harvest.

This one earned me $22.50. Why if I only had a hour to live, I could retire on that kind of scratch. I’d just need the following:

• one large pepperoni pizza from my favorite pizza joint – $9.50
• one six pack of Guinness Extra Stout – $9
• a tip for the pizza delivery guy (including an extra two bucks for picking up my six pack) – $4
• unlimited listening on youtube of Johnny Cash’s cover of “Dream Warriors” by Dokken – free!

“Ice Cream in Amerikkkka” is now up at Brain Harvest

My flash piece “Ice Cream in Amerikkkka” is now up at Brain Harvest.

This one earned me $22.50. Why if I only had a hour to live, I could retire on that kind of scratch. I’d just need the following:

one large pepperoni pizza from my favorite pizza joint – $9.50
one six pack of Guinness Extra Stout – $9
a tip for the pizza delivery guy (including an extra two bucks for picking up my six pack) – $4
unlimited listening on youtube of Johnny Cash’s cover of “Dream Warriors” by Dokken – free!

"Ice Cream in Amerikkkka" is now up at Brain Harvest

My flash piece "Ice Cream in Amerikkkka" is now up at Brain Harvest.

This one earned me $22.50. Why if I only had a hour to live, I could retire on that kind of scratch. I'd just need the following:

a large pepperoni pizza from my favorite pizza joint – $9.50
a six pack of Guinness Extra Stout – $9
a tip for the pizza delivery guy (including an extra two bucks for picking up my six pack) – $4
unlimited listening on youtube of Johnny Cash's cover of "Dream Warriors" by Dokken – free!