Hey - we now have a website banner that doesn't entirely suck!  How about that? 


Also, I have begun writing The Clocks of Ash Tree Hill, having completed most of the outlining work.  I'm up to approximately 1900 words, with perhaps three hours of work invested.  


Its quite an interesting writing book, thus far.  It starts like this:
















                                            The Rules:








I.   A DOOR may be established between any two rectangular apertures so long as they are both on the hill.






II.  No DOOR may be established more than three hundred and eleven meters away from the geometric center of the hill.






III.    One side of the DOOR may exist at any orientation, scale, or time relative to the other.






IV.    The DOOR is active only at night, but effects may remain in daylight.






V.   Do not assume that the DOOR does not wish you harm.  

The Jungle Comes is now live, for your appreciation/ambivalence/scat throwing target practice.  


Next week, I've got something special for you guys.  Unless something even more interesting pops up, I'm working on a story tentatively entitled "A.M.E.D. (or, How To Shock Your Way To a Better You)."  It's about self-improvement through elective brain surgery.  I sincerely hope you enjoy it.  


On an entirely unrelated note, my favorite phrase of the day is "napalm-grade stupid."


Goodnight and good luck,
A.   

I'm working on a new story for Thursday with a more optimistic bent, as a sort of companion piece to "The Hungry."  "The Jungle Comes," though, has a much more tech-positive bent to it, to counteract the ME AM PLAY GODS atmophere of "The Hungry."  


I'm writing both of them to explore the positive (and very, very negative) effects of disruptive technology on the world as we know it.  Both explore issues of biotechnology devised to make life better, and the radical and unexpected changes produced by both.  



On an unrelated note, I got 2500 views on this site last Thursday.  Hopefully, at least some of you will stick around.  To help entice you, I'm going to start throwing up new stories at random points throughout the week when I have a surplus.  I'll keep it to at least one every Thursday, but may post more as I have them.


Pax,
A.  

...is now up under Writing -> Thursday Stories.  


It's my first attempt at a horror piece.  Enjoy.


Regard,
A.

My dearest Isobella:


This is your loving, mad old grandfather.  I must tell you something terribly important, and I'm afraid you will not understand.  I'm sorry that I afford you so little time: I must have allowed myself much more, and I understand that this must seem terribly unfair.  

I am sorry for what you're going to have to go through, but you are my last and best hope.   I've died too many deaths to give up now.  Our blood is watered too thin already, and I am afraid that we cannot endure much more of this.  


While I am confessing my sins,  I ought to tell you the things I did to ensure my your birth.  Each time a miracle, and a calculated dissapointment.  A half a dozen attempts.  But, my old heart is failing me, and I don't think I would survive another recounting of my crimes.  Suffice to say that I have been punished for them many times over.       


But let us cut this to the quick.  In a few days, or perhaps a week, I shall be dead.  Do not cry for me, lord knows I deserve it.  But, and this is important, Isobella, you must come with your parents when they come to collect me.  They will allow you, I have made preparations.  When you arrive, you must go to the old tree, I have left a gift for you in the strong box among its roots.  You will need it.    


I apologize for the shortness of this letter; but my time is short.  It will find me out sooner or later, and attempt to stop me.  It always did.  In any case, I don't know that my words would serve you any.  



My love to you, always,
Grandpa Izzy   

My latest story is now live.  You can read it under 'scratch pad'/  Also, the site has been streamlined.  We now have drop down menus!  If you like Rabbit Rising, please upvote it on Reddit, submit it elsewhere, email it to your friends, whatever.  


Outlining work continues on Clocks.  I'm trying to make sure that I have the whole contorted, screwed up and vaguely impossible structure in my head before I sit down to write anything.


And now it is late, and I am tired.


With respect.
A.  

I've begun preparation for my next novel-length writing project, "The Clocks of Ash Tree Hill."


To give you some idea of the structure of the book, I feel I should warn you that I've currently got in my hands a pair of scissors and a print out of my initial outline.  I'm in the process of making my outline into a moebius strip.  


Why?  You'll just have to read the book.  


On an unrelated note, my next short story, free as in beer, is ready to drop tomorrow morning on this website.  I'm looking into how to license my stuff under Creative Commons, but until I work it out, please feel free to spread my stories around as much as possible - just attribute it properly, please.  


Yours,
A.