I’ve just been rereading other people’s pieces in “Alternative Theologies: Parables for a Modern World.” Two pieces particularly speak to me: Megan Bee’s poem “Dear Mary, are you there?” evokes the raw reality of grief, and the ways in which well-meaning religious words of comfort can just rub that rawer. (Reminds me a little bit, … Continue reading Alternative Theologies, part II:

"Alternative Theologies: Parables for the Modern World,"  which includes my "Open Letter to the Christian Right," is now available from B Cubed Press. I don’t know how to be openly Christian in the US today. This isn’t because Christians are being persecuted by godless liberals or cultural Marxists. It’s because ‘Christianity’ is being invoked to … Continue reading Alternative Theologies

Normal Deviation is now out in the world and ready to read! Each story in the collection was inspired by the picture above. As the editors put it, "The stories include absurd aliens, philosophical questions about life and death, Death itself, befuddled activists, prophecies, and post-apocalyptic pigs." The befuddled activists show up in my story … Continue reading Normal Deviation is now in print

I have an odd little speculative political fable coming out in the Normal Deviation fiction anthology, which is now Kickstarting. I've often complained about the covers of speculative fiction books and magazines. But this cover image fits the stories perfectly, because they were all written to describe it. The submissions call asked us to briefly … Continue reading A most peculiar picture

My flash fantasy Doorkeeper is out in the first issue of Factor Four Magazine. I've just been reading the other stories on the site (all short-shorts, as per the guidelines) and enjoying how much they make me think.  I love huge rambling stories--my favorite novel is Les Misérables-- but I am coming to appreciate what a … Continue reading Story questions, question stories