Here you'll find a fun-twisted tale inspired by my life in the Mojave Desert as well as other writings.
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Dormant Last read · last published · next check
Read 5 days ago and current, but nothing has been published for 3 years.
I've been thinking about the past seven months and my time writing Find Us in the Shivering. It started with a weird idea of a guy in the desert, his car breaking down, and a talking bipedal coyote. From there, the story shaped into something weirder and weirder until I realized this is a great world to explore, full of colorful characters with a great deal of secrets, conflicts, and agendas.
Josh heard the incoherent whispering voices long before he came upon the guarded mineshaft. He approached on his belly, crawling slowly as soon as he heard the troubling sound. Despite the urging of his grandfather through his walking staff, Josh trembled with each inch forward. When he finally came up to the rise and was able to look out over the scene, his breath caught.
It did not require him to get close; Josh could make out the form of the steam engine standing askew in the middle of the desert wasteland in the early morning light. There were no train cars behind it and as far as Josh could make out from his hilltop view, there were no tracks. It was as if the steam engine had been dropped from the sky and landed with a force that probably felt like an…
A rumble woke Josh and he found himself in the early hours of the night.
The world tricked Josh's eyes as he lifted his head. There was no sign of the woman who had been there moments ago. Was it moments ago? Or longer?
The snipes scattered up above the cavern but several felt the need to test their intruder. The winged creatures zipped down and attacked Walter as he hurried towards Josh. The coyote yelped and bit at those that managed to get their strange mandibles of teeth onto his flesh.
Hello everyone! Next Sunday you can expect the next chapter of Find Us in the Shivering. I did want to take a few minutes and explain what's coming as Josh's story comes to an end. I did not intend for this story to become an anthology series but I believe there's more to explore and tell from different perspectives through different periods of time. I am excited to tell you that I am finishing up…
For Two Weeks
Josh considered going back up and walking around the lava field but it was quite expansive and he could not be sure the glass arrows would be on the other side of the cavern wherever he ended up. Mavis' instructions were quite clear and he did not want to chance losing his progress out of convenience.
With fast hands, dropping his grandfather's staff, Josh found the pull tabs underneath his shirt and pulled. The water vest emptied onto his shirt and down his pants, soaking him completely as the water even came up and over his head. Cold and stale in taste, Josh spit the water out that found its way into his mouth.
Mavis waved him forward but Josh could not move, afraid to stray too far from the door.
Josh had everything back in his possession after leaving Syd's shop, going around the corner, and looking through his bag. With his face covered and focused back on his goal, Josh made for the funeral home finally. His time in the town felt like weeks just after a few days; spending the rest of his life there would not do. No more obstacles, he decided and watched for Cannon or anyone else who…
Once again, Josh ventured into the desert town alone and hoping he would go unrecognized as people went about their daily routines and tasks. The wind still blew, never seeming to go away completely. While just a breeze, people did walk about with head and face coverings as if always ready to protect themselves like others would have an umbrella handy for a sporadic downpour.
Sleep came at a price for Josh. He had searched and found a half full bottle of rye whiskey tucked away on a high shelf in Sylvy's kitchen area. He made it through two half glasses before his fogged brain finally fell into a dreamless sleep. He could not remember the last time he did get any sleep but at least realized--if the words of Anson and Sylvy were true--he would have the rest of his life…
I'm listening to the audiobook Consider This by Chuck Palahniuk, who also wrote Fight Club, and I feel like he's speaking directly to him at times. Something he says throughout the book is, "If you were my student, I'd tell you..." and he gives direction and suggestions freely that makes you feel as if he is daring you to take his advice. His advice is not what you'd typically find some of the…
Josh twisted away from the woman's hands as she helped him to his feet, accidently grazing his ribs. "Son of shit dick bitch!"
Tongue in cheek...
A bell sounded outside the room and Madam Cree stepped over to the large window before exiting the room quickly.
Sometimes while I'm going through my day to day, I have very random thoughts that result in me going down rabbit holes. I realized that I want to write about these thought threads in order to get them out on "paper" but also realize that they probably won't warrant a full multi-paragraph post. So we'll have a go and see what happens.
Josh stared at the blood and piece of Jim's tongue on the floor, very aware of Anson's eyes on him. There would be no lying here. "I'm looking for the kids. The ones that are lost," he said.
