Podioracket Presents-Visionaries

Brian Holtz and I have brought together a 16 story collection of short stories from some of the best Podiobooks.com authors.  Some stories are strange, others are scary or humorous. Search through the mix of audio short stories to find something you like in Podioracket Presents- Visionaries.

 Five stories are available now!

The first story in the anthology, one of several prequel tales for J.C. Hutchins‘ thriller novel 7th Son: Descent, stars Kilroy2.0, a deranged Washington DC-based computer hacker. Incensed by recent federal scrutiny, Kilroy2.0 declares to his followers that today is a day of … ruination.

Listen to Brian Holtz’s award-winning, never before aired in audio, short story Jeremy’s Potential. This slipstream short story brings us Jeremy, who learns that his life is much bigger than he’d ever imagined. He finds himself spiraling from one reality to the next, searching for his daughter. To stop the nightmare he’ll need determination, quick reflexes and…a teddy bear. If you enjoy it, try one of Brian’s other Podiobooks.com novels.

Writer Patrick McLean won a “Best Fiction (Non-speculative)” Parsec Award  for this humorous piece, Death of a Dishwasher! Find more of Patrick’s work on Podiobooks.com, including How to Succeed in Evil.

Paul E. Cooley, the author of Tattoo, brings his horror short, Canvas, in which an artist discusses his philosophy of painting with a captive audience.

Seth Harwood’s thriller Junius, is the precursor to his novel Young Junius, which was just picked up for publication. Junius Ponds came up on tough streets outside Boston way back in the day. In the middle of drugs, gang violence, and the toughest set of tower-projects you ever knew, he seeks to avenge his brother. Learn more in the novel based on this short story, Young Junius.

Coming next week . . . . Ron Vitale!

Check out Podioracket Presents- Visionaries.

Meanwhile, I’ll continue writing.

P.G. Holyfield will also be creating a clean, edited audio version of the story in the next month or so. I’ll see if I can add that to my feed as well.

Thank you to anyone who attended the reading.

Undergrowth cover by K. Siegenthaler

Guilt and Pruners Don’t Mix:

Torsten is a xenobotanist whose specialization in dangerous plants has already meant hideous death for someone he loved.

The Lumentera is a beautiful specimen whose hallucinogenic and luminescent qualities make it an invaluable commodity. But when the Lumentera blooms, the bait is set in a mind game whose outcome is as uncertain as Torsten’s sanity.

In the planet of Scillia’s uncultivated forests, amputation, lost love, and unrequited desire play out. But is Torsten strong enough to grab hold of the new happiness offered to him? Or will guilt own him forever?

Where to Get It:

My newest short story, the horror sci-fi piece entitled Undergrowth, airs on Emerian Rich’s Horror Addicts podcast. I think the audio adds to the story, so definitely consider listening to the half-hour podcast story within her podcast. Be warned, some of the news stories prior to my interview are pretty gruesome.  If you love horror, listen to the whole ep. My brief interview starts 42 minutes in and the story is the last half-hour of the podcast.

You will love it!

I think that the audio is the finest I’ve done, I even took the time to add sound effects in the podcast, but I am also offering a .pdf of the text of Undergrowth for you to read. Check it out and let me know what you think! If you try both, I’d love to hear which you prefer.

This story is unlike most of my work because it isn’t science-fiction. Let me know if you enjoy it. It’s short enough I’ll simply add it to the blog.

Hunting the Brutal Truth

“I hate it out here.” Ronnie flopped onto a fallen log panting slightly and settling heavy hips as if she were a new fungal growth rooting into the dead timber, “If we ever find our way back to a path and civilization I’m going to KILL those guys.”

Veronica nibbled on her lip and moved her rifle to the side furthest from Ronnie. Ronnie raked crunchy leaf bits from frizzled coils of unwashed hair. She continued in the same tone, “Well we could die out here, all shriveled up from thirst and frozen in the night. Searchers would find us in fetal position under dead leaves we’d piled over us to stay warm, corpses roiling with beetles, and all because our husbands thought it would be funny to take us hunting.”

Veronica studied Ronnie’s petulant movements and cleared her throat. Instead of her usual soft voice she adopted a storyteller voice that caught Ronnie’s attention, “A man calls 911. ‘I think my friend is dead! We were hunting, he tripped and the gun went off.’ And the operator says, ‘Stay calm sir. I can help. First, let’s make sure he’s dead.’ There’s silence and then a gunshot. The man gets back on the phone and says, ‘Okay, now what?’”

Ronnie laughed. She held her sides and rolled on the log, her hysteria giving strength to her mirth.

Tiny lines of satisfaction crinkled the corners of Veronica’s mouth.

Ronnie stopped laughing and wiped tears from her eyes, “I’ve been camping with you all weekend and I had no clue you were funny.”

Veronica shrugged and dropped her eyes once more.

Ronnie scooted over on the log, “Carl doesn’t like for you to talk much, huh?” she patted the rippled bark invitingly.

Veronica moved from foot to foot, but didn’t sit with the older woman. “He’s just stressed about work. Being here with his boss . . . ,” she lifted her arm and her weak voice trailed away. Ronnie’s eyes moved to the sleeve that lifted with Veronica’s gesture. Purple and green bruises limned the narrow curve of Veronica’s wrists.

“He seems like he gets stressed a lot.” Ronnie sat forward, “We don’t know each other well, and Derek is Carl’s boss but that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. Maybe you could use a friend?”
Birds tweeted and things croaked. Something bigger rustled in the distance.

“Do you see them?” Ronnie asked, wondering whether Veronica glanced around because she was wishing the men would appear or fearful that they would.

“No,” Veronica tried to smile, “But Carl brings me out all the time. I can find us a way back, and I’m as good a shot as he is.” She patted the rifle.

“You LIKE camping?”

“Not really,” Veronica admitted, “But Carl likes it.”

“Bully for Carl.” Ronnie muttered.

Veronica picked at a pimple on her cheek and flicked thick foundation from under her nail. Two days without a shower yet she’s wearing full-on makeup. Ronnie inspected what else the makeup might conceal.

Ronnie said, “Actually, I’ve been hoping we’d find some time together. Derek tells me everything, Veronica.” She put on her serious expression, enjoying herself and forgetting they were lost as she circled the topic on her mind.

Veronica frowned slightly, her subdued manner showing its first crack. She slung the rifle over her back and began walking. “What does he tell you?”

Ronnie hurried to follow, “I know you have accidents. I’m his wife, he calls me to tell me when he has a longer work day because you’ve slipped in the shower or tripped on the stairs. Carl’s missed a lot of work recently.”

“Carl and I are going through a rough patch.” Veronica snapped. She turned and stared at Ronnie with wide eyes. “Does Derek really say that?”

“There they are!” Ronnie pointed down the ridge, “Isn’t that them behind that boulder?”
“I don’t see them, but they’re watching that buck, see there?” Veronica hunkered down and Ronnie followed her example. Veronica unslung her weapon

Ronnie put her hand on Veronica’s back, “Look through the sight, can you see them now? “
The tip of the gun moved smoothly as Veronica scanned the brush. Ronnie continued to talk behind her ear, “They want us to rely on them, but you put yourself in their power and they use it to hold you, to control you. They make promises, but the pain is just waiting. I had a selfish ex-husband before Derek so I can understand; how it feels to trust, to wrap your life around someone else.”

Ronnie put her hand on Veronica’s shoulder. The gun had stopped and held in place with firm accuracy.

“Do people know you’re a good shot? It would be so easy to slip up, wouldn’t it? You can hardly see them. No one would be surprised if we got confused, we were lost, and an accident happened.”

Veronica’s eye remained glued to the sight, “You think that? Really?”

“I have two kids. Just think what it would be like if you had kids! Better it end here and now. Did he make you promises? It won’t really be different. I was you, and I would never go back. I lost all faith in men until I met Derek. They think they can inflict whatever they want but you have power too.”

“Oh, God,” Veronica said, “It hurts so much.”

“Accidents happen.” Ronnie held her breath.

Veronica moved her finger from the trigger guard to the trigger. She could feel Ronnie at her shoulder.

Crack!

Echoes of the shot sang back to them as one of the men below slumped over and crimson trickled from his forehead’s receding hairline.

Ronnie gasped and rose to her feet, “You shot the wrong one!” She snatched the long rifle from Veronica as if she might make the same mistake again.

Veronica peered through the greenery at the body. She swallowed and guilty green eyes lifted, “No baby, I didn’t. I’m a good shot.”

“But you shot MY husband.”

“Double-dealing two timer, that’s who I shot. It’s bad enough we were cheating on Carl. But Derek called him a wife beater?” she spat on the ground. “It’s been so awkward, I thought you knew. But you just wanted to help me.”

Ronnie gaped uncomprehendingly.

Veronica yanked her sleeves back and showed the purple of her wrists, “Your husband’s into bondage.”

Ronnie whipped the gun up, “What?!”

Crack!