When Drew Chial was very young, he found an attic hidden in his bedroom closet. He discovered it investigating an indentation in the ceiling, nudging it with a broom, until it fell inward. There was no stepladder for him to climb, so he scaled the shelves. Shining his flashlight, he found a long triangular hall, twice the length of his bedroom. Every surface was coated in pink insulation that made his skin itch. Creeping into the basement, Drew stole a sleeping bag that he unrolled on the attic floor. He set a tiny aluminum lock box on top of it. This is where he hid the things he wrote. Now Drew hides them in plain sight.
The following is an excerpt from something I’ve been working on for the last year. I’ve been eager to show people what I’ve been up to, so I’ve decided to share a few chapters. Out of context, these chapters serve as excellent short stories. Since this first chapter is over five thousand words, I’ve decided to break it down into bite sized little scenes. This will be the first. Please forgive it’s rough shape. I never edit while I’m writing.
This piece is from my novel The Dark Parliament (name pending). It’s an R-rated tail where the imagination of an orphan day-dreamer is pitted against the nightmares of adults. So without any further ado here’s:
The dream always sets me in the middle of the building, far from a source of natural light. The space yearns for windows, for a skylight, for a glass panel above the doorways, something. Instead there are miles of low hanging ceiling tiles, oppressive fluorescent lights, industrial air-conditioning vents. There are a few scant variations in the terrain. Dips in the carpet. Steps that lead to lounging parlors. The seats are chiseled into the floor. There are plants drooping over the edges. They starve for photosynthesis. For all I know, I’m deep underground. Continue reading In the Halls of Sleep→
In Stephen King’s book On Writing he tells the story of how his first novel Carrie was almost scrapped. This was back when he was making sixty-four hundred dollars a year teaching high school English. Back when King and his wife Tabitha (a budding author in her own right) lived in a doublewide trailer. He would later dub the town they called home, “the asshole of the world.” He typed the first few pages from the laundry room. The churning washing machine set the mood. Uncertain of his concept or the likeability of his characters, King crumpled up the first draft. He chucked it in the waste basket with the cigarette butts and the beer cans.
In the spirit of Halloween I’ve decided to sell you on my favorite TV show of all time: The X-Files. The entire series is on Netflix and iTunes. You have no excuse. These are my top ten funny episodes. The following episodes are filled with the whit, charm and the banter that made me fall in love with these characters. If you’ve ever kicked at the tires of this series, may you start with these fine selections.
Another night another dream about teeth. They fall from your gums. A rotten, cracked, ivory rain. Coffee stained marbles rattle down the drain. They fill up the bathroom sink. Look up. Your reflection smiles like a Jack-o-lantern. There’s a hail storm brewing between those lips. Continue reading The Tooth Abductee→
This is the second part of my list of favorite horror films. I’ve tried to omit the obvious classics and the widely known new school horror flicks. This is for those of you willing try something obscure this Halloween, something a little different Continue reading Drew’s Scary Movie Picks: Part 2→
I figure I can post this in the middle of the night. No need to share it on any of the social media sites. So if you’re reading this, then boy did you take a wrong turn at Albuquerque.
I’ve been out sick for the last week. Every time I cough, the iris closes in, everything fades to black. The apartment is giving me cabin fever. It’s made me sentimental. I’ve been digging through old memo pads, sifting through the ghosts of stories past. Continue reading A Rock and A Hard Place→
Halloween is upon us and that means it’s time to curl up with some scary movies. Now before you go and reach for the usual thrillers and slashers, might I make a few suggestions from left field? This ongoing series will showcase what I like to watch in the days leading to Halloween. Some are underrated, some are waiting to be discovered, some aren’t really movies at all. I won’t promise high art, but I will promise a few good jump scares. Check them out. Continue reading Drew’s Scary Movie Picks: Part 1→
The following is an excerpt from something I’ve been working on for the last year. I’ve been eager to show people what I’ve been up to, so I’ve decided to share a few chapters. Out of context, these chapters serve as excellent short stories. Since this first chapter is over five thousand words, I’ve decided to break it down into bite sized little scenes. This will be the first. Please forgive it’s rough shape. I never edit while I’m writing.
