By: Zenia deHaven I’ll admit it: I have bought a book based on its cover before, and I will again. There are times when I don’t even read the book’s blurb and just shove that bad boy right into my basket because the cover has a cool dragon. I enjoy coming home to a collection of novels with sprayed edges and art so magnificent and heartfelt that it should belong in a museum. But my Read more
By Jade Danelian Your ex is evil. Terrible. Wicked. There truly is no better person to base the antagonist of your novel on; everything about them screams merciless, power-hungry villain, and so, as you write, you picture the color of your ex’s hair, the shape of their eyes, and even that one sinful mole above their belly button. And when the hero of your story uncovers the antagonist’s cheating addiction, you are thrilled. Readers are Read more
By Nick Mendillo I met Tim Weed while I was a student enrolled in the Newport MFA at Salve Regina University. He was a professor, resident author, and my mentor for a semester. Throughout his lectures, our Zoom meetings, and our general conversations about writing over the course of the program, I found Tim to be an artist with a clear perspective on humanity. Let’s play two truths and a lie: Give up? Number one Read more
by Brett Cadigan Without the pills, I’m starting to remember. The headaches are getting worse. But it’s all worth it. I’m going to rescue her from this cold, antiseptic place. Oh, no… the headache is coming back. It’s getting harder to hold on to what’s real. I’m blacking out again— *** I’m at a lunch table with another scientist, Paul. A friend. At least, that’s how I used to see him. The pills make you Read more
by Vincent Bernabeo (Fragments from the recovered journal of Dr. Thomas Raines, Adjunct Professor of Philosophy, Pacific Coast University) March 2 Headache again. Behind the eyes, like someone’s pushing outward.I nearly passed out in the middle of class today. I was talking about Nietzsche—the abyss gazes also, etc.—and I could feel something stir at the edge of my vision. A shadow in the corner of the room that seemed to breathe when I did. After Read more