fiction
1. “At The End of the World” by David K. Yeh
“Names change,” hissed the devil, “and many creatures have more than one.”
“But you know this one,” said Fobister. “You cannot lie to me.”
2. “Suckers” by Kirsty Logan
Steve’s only problem with sunlight is its effect on the comics: it warps the covers and fades the colours, making the faded edges curl into spirals that get torn when careless customers shove the comics back in the racks.
3. “Drinking Problem” by Hilary C. Smith
Experience, maybe. Strength and hope are what I came looking for. It’s now or never. Can’t do it.
4. “John-A-Dreams” by Steve McGarrity
“I’m at my most lucid when I’m on-stage,” he insisted. “Everything there is so very clear and predictable. It’s off-stage I’m getting... out of focus.”
5. “Touch the Dead” by Brent Knowles
He chanced a glance back. Lars was standing now, looking around, surprised and angry. The spirit had not yet seen his body.
6. “Henry” by Erin O’Neill
Henry’s grandfather was the only person to believe Henry when he confided in him about what he saw in the world.
7. “Block Party” by Andrew S. Fuller
Then someone whistled the alarm and they all rushed back into place.
poetry
1. "Reality Check" by Christian McPherson
2. "Buddhist Jet Lag" by Christian McPherson
nonfiction
1. "Writing as a Violent Act" Editorial by Susan J. MacGregor
2. “The Wild and Whirling Words of Steve McGarrity” Author Interview by Roberta Laurie
3. “Ellen Jewett“ Artist Interview by Cat McDonald
about our contributors
Andrew S. Fuller grew up in Nebraska and other places, climbing trees and reading books. His fiction is published in Abyss & Apex, Fantastic Metropolis, The Harrow, A Fly in Amber, and Ink-filled Page, among others. Damnation Books released The Circus Wagon in September 2010. His screenplay Effulgence recently won the Best Screenwriter Award at the 2009 H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival. Now he lives in Portland, where he climbs rocks and writes stories. Learn more at http://www.andrewsfuller.com
Brent Knowles is a game designer and author. He has been published in several magazines and anthologies including Neo-Opsis, On Spec and Writers of the Future (Volume 26). He lives in Edmonton with his wife and two sons. Online he can be found at www.brentknowles.com where he blogs regularly about game design and writing.
Roberta Laurie won her first writing competition when she was 17, and she’s been writing ever since. She has been published in three anthologies and is co-editing a fourth, Snapshots of Stony Plain: A Writers’ Landscape, due to be released this year. Roberta has written for several magazines including WestWord and Yoga Bridge and volunteers for the literary magazine Other Voices. You can learn more about Roberta by visiting her website at www.creativewhispers.ca.
Kirsty Logan is a writer, editor, teacher, reviewer, and general layabout. She lives in Scotland with her girlfriend, who is slightly less of a layabout. She holds an MLitt (Distinction) in Creative Writing from Glasgow University. Her writing appears in Reflection's Edge, Goblin Fruit, Cabinet des Fees, Oysters & Chocolate, and others. Kirsty is the founder and editor of Fractured West magazine and the reviews editor for PANK.
Cat McDonald is an editor, designer, and writer living in the Edmonton area whose short fiction appears in Tesseracts 16. She is still trying to figure out Electric Six songs.
Steve McGarrity is 50 and lives in North Yorkshire, England. He works for the National Health Service. 'John-A-Dreams' is his first published story.
Christian McPherson is the author of “Six Ways to Sunday,” “Poems that swim from my brain like rats leaving a sinking ship,” and “The Cube People.” His poem is part of his new book “The Sun Has Forgotten Where I Live” (April 2011 Now Or Never Publishing). He lives in Ottawa with his wife and two kids.
Erin O’Neill is 17 years old, and just a few steps away from being able to drive a car on her own, and mastering the very frustrating art of parallel parking. She horseback rides, has been on the school track team, and tries to spend as much time as possible with her invaluable friends, between homework assignments and tests. She volunteers with a therapeutic riding organization called TROtt. Erin has also been published in Teen Ink magazine.
Hilary C. Smith is a lifelong reader and freelance advertising copywriter. In addition to writing fiction, she gardens and is card-carrying member of the North American Lily Society. She lives in Southern California with her husband, David Cantor, a Canadian.
David K. Yeh lives with his partner in Toronto’s east end, between Chinatown and Little India. He is boycotting the Starbucks opening on the corner. David has been published twice before in On Spec.
In Upcoming Issues
Dave Cherniak, Tyler Keevil, Marissa K. Lingen, Kevin Shaw, Catherine Knutsson, Paul Kennebeck, Steve Donnelly, Megan Fennell, Kim Despins, Regan Wolfrom, Steven Popkes, Scott Overton, Kevin Cockle, Steven Popkes, Leslie Claire,