Sometimes the only thing we want is to go home. This issue tries to bring us there. First, let me apologize. I do my best to create a new issue of 50 to 1 every week; however, my life has become a tad bit busier than usual, so I was forced to delay this issue. Hopefully, you, the faithful readers, understand. TAKE US HOME features work from: Doug Bond, Mike Shafer, Susan Carleton, Matthew Dexter, Melissa Jones, Ozzie Nogg and Casey L. Clague. It is awesome and it will make you desire nothing but the warm, soft comfort only your bed at home can give you. As usual, please visit the contributor's sites and leave some positive comments. I am glad to say the submissions of 1st lines has increased in number. Excellent! Anyway, after this long-winded introduction, please enjoy!
- Glen
Keeping Time by Casey L. Clague
I spend weekends at swap meets with tailgate gypsies. I’m blanketed in thrift store dust. In fits of impulse, I’ve traded cars for wristwatches. People see a hoarder, but I am making an investment: This collection of clocks will afford me the luxury of never seeing the same minute twice.
Casey L. Clague sporadically blogs at www.indoorfireworks.wordpress.com and, only slightly more often, writes music reviews for www.mammothpress.com. He gets nervous when referring to himself in the third person.
I spend weekends at swap meets with tailgate gypsies. I’m blanketed in thrift store dust. In fits of impulse, I’ve traded cars for wristwatches. People see a hoarder, but I am making an investment: This collection of clocks will afford me the luxury of never seeing the same minute twice.
Casey L. Clague sporadically blogs at www.indoorfireworks.wordpress.com and, only slightly more often, writes music reviews for www.mammothpress.com. He gets nervous when referring to himself in the third person.
1st Line by Ozzie Nogg
When Nadia’s great-uncle, the Golem of Gdansk, flew to Detroit to visit her family, she took him to school for Show & Tell.
Sitting at her iMac in Omaha NE, Ozzie Nogg writes personal essays, memoir, poetry and short fiction. In 2003, her story, Blue Plate Special, appeared in MARGIN: Exploring Modern Magic Realism, and was later nominated for a Pushcart Prize and the E-2ink Award. Her book of personal stories, Joseph’s Bones, was the First Place winner in the 2005 Writer’s Digest Press International Self-Published Book Awards. She'd love you to visit her website at http://www.rabbisdaughter.com and her now dormant-for-the-winter blog at: http://themeditationsofmyheart.blogspot.com/
When Nadia’s great-uncle, the Golem of Gdansk, flew to Detroit to visit her family, she took him to school for Show & Tell.
Sitting at her iMac in Omaha NE, Ozzie Nogg writes personal essays, memoir, poetry and short fiction. In 2003, her story, Blue Plate Special, appeared in MARGIN: Exploring Modern Magic Realism, and was later nominated for a Pushcart Prize and the E-2ink Award. Her book of personal stories, Joseph’s Bones, was the First Place winner in the 2005 Writer’s Digest Press International Self-Published Book Awards. She'd love you to visit her website at http://www.rabbisdaughter.com and her now dormant-for-the-winter blog at: http://themeditationsofmyheart.blogspot.com/
1st Line by Melissa Jones
"My mother always used to tell me that I could be anything I wanted when I grew up, but that turned out to be a lie because I could never be the one good enough for you."
Melissa Jones was a student of Art History in college and wishes that she could have found a career somewhere in that field. In the meantime, she tries her hand at writing.
"My mother always used to tell me that I could be anything I wanted when I grew up, but that turned out to be a lie because I could never be the one good enough for you."
Melissa Jones was a student of Art History in college and wishes that she could have found a career somewhere in that field. In the meantime, she tries her hand at writing.
Benevolent Beggar By Matthew Dexter
The blind man stands there almost every day like a soldier, holding his hand open, presenting a nice, stoic smile to the world. A sombrero on his head and a beautiful expression on his face, he’s usually in front of the bank. Someday I am going to shake his hand.
Matthew Dexter is a board-certified American anomaly living in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. He writes and drinks. When Matthew is not writing he enjoys Cerveza by the ocean; beautiful beaches, breathtaking views, reading, and being inspired. But never candlelit dinners on the beach. He’s afraid of Pirates.
The blind man stands there almost every day like a soldier, holding his hand open, presenting a nice, stoic smile to the world. A sombrero on his head and a beautiful expression on his face, he’s usually in front of the bank. Someday I am going to shake his hand.
Matthew Dexter is a board-certified American anomaly living in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. He writes and drinks. When Matthew is not writing he enjoys Cerveza by the ocean; beautiful beaches, breathtaking views, reading, and being inspired. But never candlelit dinners on the beach. He’s afraid of Pirates.
Futility by Susan Carleton
He didn't want a will dividing his children, so he was cremated with all he owned on his houseboat, leaving them nothing but each other. His eldest toasted his spirit with champagne. His youngest thought it selfish and crazy. They argued, then left, and never spoke to each other again.
Susan Carleton lives a mostly imaginary life in northwest Ireland where she blogs daily at www.stonyriver.ie. She's a recipient of the Art Council of Ireland's Bursary Award in literature, a mother to autistic children, and serves as a LocSec for Irish Mensa.
He didn't want a will dividing his children, so he was cremated with all he owned on his houseboat, leaving them nothing but each other. His eldest toasted his spirit with champagne. His youngest thought it selfish and crazy. They argued, then left, and never spoke to each other again.
Susan Carleton lives a mostly imaginary life in northwest Ireland where she blogs daily at www.stonyriver.ie. She's a recipient of the Art Council of Ireland's Bursary Award in literature, a mother to autistic children, and serves as a LocSec for Irish Mensa.
1st Line by Mike Shafer
Warren wants to fuck a cliche.
Mike Shafer studies fiction at the University of Colorado-Boulder.
Warren wants to fuck a cliche.
Mike Shafer studies fiction at the University of Colorado-Boulder.
Turning Into It by Doug Bond
Small and curled, she peered through the slats into the darkness, saw them whitefaced in torchlight. Ready. Waiting.
"Don't open it!" Raven stood tensed, his hand on the knob. Glass bottles, storm windows, the gate broken and now the boots rising up from the cellar stairs.
Doug Bond is a writer, runner, husband, father, and singer of songs who has endured life in Manhattan and along the Western fault lines, most recently in San Francisco in loving, creative partnership with his wife, daughter, Ben (a Lab), and assorted other creatures.
Small and curled, she peered through the slats into the darkness, saw them whitefaced in torchlight. Ready. Waiting.
"Don't open it!" Raven stood tensed, his hand on the knob. Glass bottles, storm windows, the gate broken and now the boots rising up from the cellar stairs.
Doug Bond is a writer, runner, husband, father, and singer of songs who has endured life in Manhattan and along the Western fault lines, most recently in San Francisco in loving, creative partnership with his wife, daughter, Ben (a Lab), and assorted other creatures.