SUMMER CHILLER CONTESTANT

It was a creepy crawly for sure and it was hiding in the hole. Panic and shock evaporated an hour ago, about the time McPherson had found me.
 
“So I told Ol’ Joe he’d better put down his pitchfork and get on over here.” McPherson squatted over the barrel size hole. Sweat dripped off the tip of his long nose and fell into the abyss at his feet. “Rae Lynn will be here soon and I’ll have her make you some black coffee. Heck, son, you look like you need it.”
 
He looked over at me and all I could do was stare back. I thought it strange when the hole had appeared on the ranch a week ago. I’d asked Ol’ Joe about it. He’d given me his cankerous grin and said it wasn’t unusual in the south.
 
“Sam, you look like you’ve seen a real shocker. Thinking about it, I saw something that gave me a start last night. Something was running between your ranch and mine. I caught a glimpse of something white with long legs, tall as wheat stalks.”
 
I saw them too. Plus more.
 
“There’s mighty weird creatures here in the desert, a lot of creatures you wouldn’t see, wouldn’t even fathom up north. Roger, my oldest, studied them when we first moved here. He had a real fascination. I remember him telling me about Eysin. It’s the weirdest looking critter. It buries its eggs deep in the earth. Every ten years or so, they hatch, dig their way up to the surface all white and gushy like a grub worm, and they got these legs. So gosh darn long, like a creature from a nightmare – eight of ‘em like a dandy long legs. Strange eating habits too. That’s why I remember them so well.” He removed his bowed hat, scratched his head, then replaced it. He squinted up at me. Sweat trickled into my vision. I wanted to blink it away. My eyelids felt glued in place.
 
 “They eat eyes, any kind of eyes. It don’t matter if the creature is alive or dead. It bites you first, numbs you up so you can’t move or speak. Then wraps you in its silk, pries your eyes open with its legs and well, you know. Strange creatures. Strange indeed…” His voice trailed off as he glanced down the hole again. He looked as if an idea had just occurred to him.
 
I couldn’t move. I couldn’t speak. In fact, I haven’t been able to find my voice since earlier in the morning when Lassie wouldn’t stop barking at what I had thought were coyotes. Where was Lassie?
 
“Son, you’re making me nervous. Cat catch your tongue?” He stood up and peered at me.
 
I looked at the hole, the darkness lurking within. Yes, yes, I suppose it had. Only it hadn’t been a cat.
 
McPherson picked up his shotgun and nodded towards the hole. “Something just gives me the willies. Glad I brought this along. I got your back covered for now, boy. Why don’t you find a shady spot to relax in.”
 
I glanced at the mesquite towering above the hole. Its long thorny branches swayed in the humid breeze. I wasn’t moving any closer to that hole, even if I could.
 
“I heard ya got a problem.” Ol’ Joe stepped around me and spat. His withered skin crinkled more as he studied me. “Well, now. Let’s take a look and see what ya got.”  He stuck his pitchfork in the ground and bent over the hole.
 
 “Yeah, it’s given Sam here quite a fright. I don’t blame him myself. I saw something strange last night. Some big spidery critter.” McPherson drew up a lawn chair. “Sit down, Sam. You’re lookin’ awfully pale.”
 
I remained standing.
 
 “Here, I’ll help ya.” He gently pushed on my shoulders. I collapsed sideways into the chair. McPherson sat me upright.
 
Joe stood and pulled his pitchfork out of the earth. He walked over, bent down, and met my eyes. His face drew so close I thought he might kiss me.  I smelled tobacco and cynicism on his breath. “Son, you and McPherson are full of it. I’ve got some work to do in my garden. Them weeds are full of sin and need some flippin’.”
 
“Joe, this isn’t a joke.” McPherson glanced at me nervously. “Something’s wrong with Sam. He hasn’t spoke or moved since I found him here, staring at that hole. I need to get him some help. Rae Lynn was gonna come, but she was talkin’ to her mama and you now how women are. I need you to stay until I get back.”
 
Sunlight reflected off the tip of the pitchfork. Ol’ Joe nodded. McPherson shoved the firearm into Joe’s other hand and hurried away. It didn’t bother me. Nothing bothered me now. I felt numb and tired. So very tired. My mind drifted in dark gray hues.
 
The sound of gunfire echoed through the desert as Ol’ Joe fired into the hole two, no three times, then threw the gun aside by the mesquite. He spat tobacco at my feet.
“See, Sam? If something is creepy crawling down there, it ain’t no more. Now, I got  gardenin’ to attend too.” He picked up his pitchfork and gave me one last look. Cruelty glinted in Ol’ Joe’s eyes. “If ya don’t mind.” He turned and walked away.
 
I watched the hole. I hardly cared when I saw its spindly legs slip out. Fear and anxiety had long passed. Blissful numbness lulled my mind in its caress. A burst of white emerged. The world went dark. I couldn’t feel my arms, legs, or feet, but I knew I was being blanketed in silver, spun around and around. My thoughts fell as I heard the soft gnawing on my face…

©2009 Jodi MacArthur

Exiled in deep southern Texas, Jodi MacArthur is a Seattle author hoping to write her way back to the Pacific Northwest. In her spare time, she twitters at her beloved finches, Hitchcock and Emily, and drinks coffee - but never at the same time. Her work has been published at Six Sentences,  6sV2 Anthology, Absent Willow Review, Ray Gun Revival, Outsider Writers Collective and will be forthcoming in Harbinger*33 Anthology (Date TBA), and Yellow Mama (Oct & Dec ‘09).  Website: www.jodimacarthur.blogspot.com 

William Pauley, III granted me an interview to discuss his new book, LIVINHELL, and his groundbreaking website The New Flesh. The author is just as scathingly brilliant and twisted as the stories he creates.

LT:  Tell our readers about your new book.
 
WP III:  LIVINHELL is a collection of demon writings dating from June 2007 to May 2009. It includes two of my novellas, a dark poetry collection and a secret decoder ring. Okay, so not a secret decoder ring… I’m still working on that.
 
LT:  Tell us about your anti-hero, Mr. Malin.
 
WP III:  Vincent Malin is a dead man… literally. The story [Mr. Malin and the Night] begins 45 minutes after his unfortunate demise. A devil named Gonn has come to collect his soul. But after a quick surveillance of the events that led to Mr. Malin’s death, Gonn instead gives Vincent an offer he can’t refuse: one final night of revenge! Gonn gets more souls, Vincent gets his revenge… everyone wins, right? Wrong. So very, very wrong.
 
Vincent is given a ‘donor body’ to live through until dawn, but the body he is given has a troubling handicap. Needless to say, the night proves to be much more difficult than he had initially expected.
 
The story takes you on a dark and scary ride through the life of Mr. Malin; slowly unfolding the events that lead up to his death. It turns out that Mr. Malin isn’t quite the victim he originally makes himself out to be.
 
LT:  The main themes seem to be love, revenge, and the search for redemption. Why do you think these particular themes are so prominent in your work.
 
WP III:  Wow, I feel like I should be lying down for this. Do I have to pay for this session??? Haha.
 
Seriously though, I think love is probably the most obvious. Everyone has had those people in their lives that have changed them in some way, whether for better or for worse. There is the one who burned you, the one who sacrificed for you, the one who needed you, the one who used you, the one you met at a coffee shop and talked to for ten minutes, she changed your life and you never saw her again, etc. Those people all had a hand in shaping you, making you who you are today. I find it interesting to analyze your own decisions in life and trace it back to a certain person or a certain event. I feel it is essential to do the same when developing fictional characters as well. What makes this character the way he is? Whose fingerprints are found on his soul?
 
Redemption is a whole different beast. I’ve always been interested and equally confused with the concept of religion. For years, I studied a variety of religions - looking for answers, looking for something I could understand and believe to be true. But I could never separate fact from fiction. The stories are so ancient. What separates religion from mythology? Does it only become myth when one no longer believes it? I’ve had personal discussions with pastors, priests, ministers, etc. and not a single one could answer any of my questions. I guess I mean to say that I want to believe in something, but I can’t put “faith” in something that I don’t feel. I guess that is why redemption is so prominent in my work.
 
And revenge… well, revenge is just fun.
 
LT:  The book has an unconventional, casual format. What inspired you to try this?
 
WP III:  Honestly, the business of writing has become pretty boring. Everything is about word count these days. Most magazines or publishers won’t even read your stories if they’re not within a certain word range. It’s all bullshit. Authors just need to tell their story! If it takes only 200 words to tell that story, then only use 200 words to tell it! So many authors (especially successful authors) will fluff the hell out of their stories. They will stick in so much crap and unnecessary descriptions that they turn their 17,000 word idea into an 80,000 word novel. I get so bored with it all. I was reading a novel the other day and half of an entire chapter was dedicated to telling a ridiculously detailed description of how a man shaves his face! I just put the book down.
 
When you read one of my novellas, you won’t find the standard “he said, she said” filler. Instead, you will read a streamline of thoughts from the main character on the left-hand side and the dialogue on the right-hand side. The result makes for a quick and interesting ride as you explore the clockwork inside of the character’s mind. You can really see what makes them tick. And the best thing is that it won’t take a week, or a month, to read. All of my stories can be read in a matter of hours. I strongly believe in being able to tell a tale in one sitting, no matter the length. Readers are taken away from the story every time they put the book down. So, don’t let them put the book down!
 
Also, the format really allows for a more poetic feel. People never know what I am talking about when I describe my style as ‘Cronenberg, if channeled through Bukowski’. Haha.
 
LT:  Out of the stories in LIVINHELL, which character surprised you the most?
 
WPIII:  I’d have to say Lazarus from If You Don’t Sleep, You Don’t Dream. I had a very difficult time starting this story. I had somewhere around ten false starts with this one, before Lazarus finally took control of my brain and wrote it for me. The first chapter spilled out of my fingertips in minutes. I was amazed at how easy it was to write once I found his voice. I never knew what he was going to do next. It was really fun for me to write.
 
LT:  Tell me about your site, The New Flesh.
 
WP III:  The New Flesh is a blogzine that publishes odd flash fiction stories daily. There are so many great flash sites out there for horror, such as Flashes In the Dark, but not many for just strange, odd works. I’ve been very fortunate with the quality of stories I have received so far. The writers who have submitted to me I feel are some of the most talented in the business. I am very grateful for their submissions. If anyone would like to read or submit a story, please visit:  http://newfleshmagazine.blogspot.com

LT:  What other projects are you working on?
 
WP III:  I am currently working on releasing an anthology with Brian and Stephanie Barnett entitled Toe Tags. Brian and I discussed the possibility of an anthology and then came up with our little ‘dream team’ of horror writers. The list consisted of who we felt were the most talented new horror writers out there. Authors whose works we have admired and enjoyed since we first broke into the writing community. We decided to invite these writers to contribute to our anthology, and surprisingly everyone from that list accepted! We have most of the submissions in and the stories are nothing short of fantastic. We are also working on accompanying art pieces for each of the stories. We are very proud of this collection of works and cannot wait to share it with the world in October 2009.
 
Here are the authors tentatively involved with this anthology: Brian Barnett, William Pauley III, Chad Case, Oonah Joslin, Joshua Scribner, Joshua Day, Robert C. Eccles, T.J. McIntyre, Stephanie Barnett, L. B. Goddard, Nathan Rosen, Graeme Reynolds, Angel Zapata, Lori Titus, Brett Saunders and Jimmy Calabrese.
 
As you can probably tell, we have plenty of scares in store…
 
LT:  What scares you?
 
WP III:  David Lynch. His movies are amazing, but they never fail to completely freak me out. I love it.
 
LT:  Who are your favorite authors?
 
WP III:  In no particular order:  Charles Bukowski, Mark Z. Danielewski, Hunter S. Thompson, Joseph R. Lansdale, Michael A. Kechula, Brian Barnett, Joshua Day, WillyToad, Donna Drake, Lori Titus, Clive Barker, Stephen King, Kurt Vonnegut, David Foster Wallace… writers in film: Melanie Pauley, David Cronenberg, David Lynch, Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Woody Allen, Guillermo del Toro, Charlie Kaufman, Nick Cave… so many more.
 
LT:  Tell our readers where they can get a copy of LIVINHELL.
 
LIVINHELL is available at Amazon.com right now! Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1442167947/

 ©2009 Lori Titus