Found: A Library in My Pocket.
Laura Cody August 10, 2020 – 5 min read No doubt about it. The last several months have been hard. Total garbage. But sometimes, buried in the dark, garbage-y muck, are small, unexpected treasures. I discovered one of these treasures when I stumbled upon the Libby public library app. Of course, it’s possible everyone else has known about the digital library for ages, and I am just late to the party. Certainly wouldn’t be the first time. But it doesn’t really matter, because now I know that I can link my library card to an online borrowing service and … read!And I mean read everything – new releases, hot summer reads, New York…
How to create an action hero with feelings
Laura Cody June 23, 2020 – 4 min read Consider two approaches to the same problem: Approach #1: -Lay problem bare under harsh fluorescent lights. -Excise problem. -Fill void with something plastic or titanium. -Stitch back together. Approach #2: -Verbally explore problem from comfort of an upholstered couch. -Break problem down into small pieces; process and digest. -Breathe deeply, be mindful. Aim to get a good night’s sleep -Forgive yourself when sleep proves elusive. Approach #1 definitely has its appeal. It is how my writing partner, Graham the Orthopedic Surgeon (yeah, that’s how he refers to himself, in all caps … kidding) solves problems in our writing. When he sees…
Quarantine (Incarnate)
Day 55, November 3rd Arizona They said it wasn’t contagious, but what the hell did they really know about anything. They had been spouting horseshit since day one. Pure, high-grade, Kentucky-Derby-winning, horseshit. Nate Williams grabbed a full piece of red chalk from a small Ziploc bag in a drawer. He dropped a diagonal line across four hash marks, stood back from the kitchen wall and counted out loud. “Eleven sets of five equals … fifty-five days. Fifty-five days since the power went out.” Fifty-five fucking days. “Don’t worry.” Nate’s head tilted from side to side as he mimicked, “That big ole flare just fried a few transformers. We’ll have ‘em up an’ runnin’ before…
I’m a Situation
Day 13, September 22 Boca Raton, Florida Exactly twenty-three minutes after he died, Francis Jaynes sat up slowly in his bed. He swiveled his neck from side to side and, by the soft moonlight filtering through the window of his room at the Welcoming Arms Nursing Home, could discern the familiar silhouettes of each piece of furniture. Everything appeared precisely as it always did. Gripping the side-rail for stability, he lowered his feet to the ground and pulled himself into an upright position. He switched on the battery-powered lamp beside his bed and squinted as he slid his glasses onto the bridge of his nose. He looked around for a…
Becoming Nothing
Day 53, November 1st Reykjavik, Iceland An explosion of greens, reds and purples prismed through the darkened windows bathing the small office in a cocoon of soft, disconcerting light. It was a spectacular demonstration of the sun’s power, but Lilja payed it no mind. She had seen it all before, every day and night since the beginning. Instead, sitting on the edge of her office chair, she stared at a clump of long grey strands of hair in the palm of her hand, the roots weeping with droplets of bright red blood. Voices reached her through the locked door. Scared voices. “I’m telling you she’s sick, she’s changing.” “She’s just depressed.”…
A Hospital Goes to War
Graham Elder April 2, 2020 – 5 min read The enemy is nanoscopic in size, but infinite in numbers. It attacks like a swarm of tiny Terminators showing no emotion, no mercy. It exists only to infect, to reproduce, and often, to kill. It seems to have come out of nowhere, and yet we have been attacked by its kind before. This is an enemy that has awakened our collective consciousness and forced humanity into a corner. We are at war. A world war. This war isn’t about vanquishing or eradicating; it is about surviving. In an age of unprecedented technology, it is also the most recorded of all wars.…
After Summer comes the fall
Day Zero, September 9 Utqiagvik, Alaska In the dream, the sun shone brightly and the day was cold. Rosemary walked the tundra alone on her way into town. She was nowhere near town. There was noise in the distance, but she resisted the intrusion and focused on her walk. Her boots trudged through haphazard lanes between proud pines that refused to lean under the weight of snow. She was in a place that she had never been before, but everything was familiar. She was on her way to town for – “The grocer’s shipment,” Philip said, suddenly walking beside her. “Yes.” Rosemary gave a nod of confirmation, her purpose suddenly…
Every Story Has a Beginning
Graham Elder January 20, 2019 – 4 min read Why, in the name of God, would you want to write a novel with someone else? A potential recipe for frustration if ever there was one. Still, it seemed so simple at the time, 5 years ago, each with a glass in hand celebrating our 20thmedical school reunion at a wine tasting event. “Hey, how do you feel about writing a novel together? I’ve always wanted to write something. We could help each other learn the trade. How hard could it be?” Diamond hard? No. Harder. But why submit ourselves to the humiliation of being neophyte learners once again? Practically starting…
Welcome to our Blog
In the world of writing, what do you get when you cross a psychiatrist with a surgeon? Cutting insight into human behavior? Minds filleted open on a platter, ready for curious readers to explore? Disturbing descriptions of physical and mental gore? All the above? We’ve been writing together for four years now, and with two books under our belts – and several more in the oven – we’ve finally decided to take the plunge and reach out to the world. We will explore a variety of topics surrounding our current book series – The Epsilon Project. This will include everything from solar flares and real-life zombies to dealing with different…
