Tag Archives: Fiction

Chapter 12 of Martha’s Children, and blog changes coming

If Ned’s ever going to be a cop again, he’s going to need the list of cops Martha turned into vampires. Because Love told him it was the only way, he’s risked his life, and come close to killing Martha, … Continue reading

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The writer’s happy lament; or, writer’s block as an aid to writing

I have been suffering from writer’s block for a month. It’s not that I couldn’t write. I just couldn’t write anything that felt good. That, as it turns out, was a valuable warning sign. It told me I needed to … Continue reading

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Chapter 11 of Martha’s Children, and vampire lust in “The Hunger” (1983)

“The gentle art of persuasion,” chapter 11 of Martha’s Children, is now up and available. Ned and the sorceress Love try to remove the diminutive vampire Martha from Chicago before she gets out of hand. Maybe they’re a bit too late? … Continue reading

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Chapter 10 of Martha’s Children

“The blood brotherhood of vampires,” chapter 10 of Martha’s Children, is now available. “Scratch” Wilson didn’t get to be the leader of the Bronzeville vampires by being stupid or hasty. And he’s no great fan of white cops, even if … Continue reading

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Chapter 9 of Martha’s Children, and the ongoing Boston bombing story

“Can’t get enough of you, Love,” chapter 9 of Martha’s Children, is now available. Martha warned Ned to stay away from sorcerers. By reputation, they are dangerous, devious, and capricious. All of which describe the sorceress named Make Love Not War … Continue reading

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The land of the dead

I grew up among the dead. My local landscape was inhabited by stories about ancestors who had lived and died in nearby places for centuries. My mental landscape was haunted by ghost stories. I had relatives who ran a funeral … Continue reading

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Chapter 8 of Martha’s Children, and the logic of enthrallment

“It’s not that I don’t like you, I just want to kill you,” chapter 8 of Martha’s Children, is now up on my blog. Cops are loyal to their partners. But what happens when your partner turns up as a vampire? … Continue reading

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Chapter 7 of Martha’s Children, and not much else

In “Home is where the bleeding heart is,” chapter 7 of Martha’s Children, Ned finds himself  without Martha to instruct him in living as a vampire. So what does he do now? If you’re not reading Martha’s Children, my tale of cops … Continue reading

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Writing to offend

Writers have an almost unlimited opportunity to offend their readers: sex, violence, race, religion, politics, profanity, gender, class, and so on. Americans in particular live in a society that officially encourages freedom of speech, and at the same time says … Continue reading

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Chapter 6 of Martha’s Children, and Chicago Bronzeville

“Bleeding in Bronzeville,” chapter 6 of Martha’s Children, is now available. Ned finally gets  out of the basement to go visiting with Martha! But the friends of a vampire are, shall we say, a trifle unusual, not exactly the sort of … Continue reading

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