Features

Horror/Sci-Fi Contest “Psychics, Secrets, and Lies” Winner: The Mind Eater

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

By logan.farley, ago

Hafsah Faizal at the Boston Book Festival

By Kathryne McCann This past Saturday, on the second floor of the Old South Church on Boylston Street, Hafsah Faizal captivated rows of fantasy fans and hopeful writers. The audience ranged from teens and tweens to adults of all ages, each and every one enthralled by the 32-year-old author who has taken the YA fantasy scene by storm.  Faizal, author of the New York Times-bestseller We Hunt the Flame, was the Young Adult Keynote speaker Read more

By logan.farley, ago

Thriller/Mystery Contest “Autumn Enigma” Runner-Up: “Can You Taste The Disaster Heavy On My Tongue?”

by Chelsea Corarito “What kind of pie did you say this is again?” Brenda whiffs the barely-there slice she’s put on a piece of fine china. My set is gathering dust since it was used last Thanksgiving.  “Cherry pie. It’s a secret family recipe.” I carry my plate with precision as she leads us to the adjoining sunroom. “Funny, I could have sworn I caught a whiff of almond in there too. I suppose it’s Read more

By logan.farley, ago

Thriller/Mystery “Autumn Enigma” Contest Winner: The Plunge Investigations Unit: Candy Apple Red

by Cory Cart I’m three hours into my Halloween shift at The Plunge, New Orleans’ longest-surviving queer dive bar, when there is a commotion at the front door. The wig comes in first. Tall, purple, teased to the heavens, and dipped in glitter. It walks in like it owns the bar, attached to a body that doesn’t glance left or right. No one recognizes it—not even Claudia, who has a photographic memory for wigs. Then Read more

By logan.farley, ago

That Strategy Guide Feeling: Video Games and the Writing Process

By Bretton Cadigan As a kid I’d often head to the mall with my parents, and if I’d saved up enough allowance, I’d head to GameStop and buy a new video game, along with the strategy guide. If you don’t know about strategy guides (maybe you don’t play games, or you play games better than I do), a strategy guide is a beautifully illustrated paperback manual of hints and strategies meant to help uncover and Read more

By logan.farley, ago