Mighty Roman Pub Party June 23

The publication party for The Mighty Roman took place on June 23 and it was a fabulous evening. Heartfelt thanks to those of you were attended and those who were there in spirit!

A wonderful evening with dear old friends and new friends too.

New Story: "Treehouse"

Today was the launch of a story, "Treehouse," which considers the nature of fatherhood and manhood in America today (as The Mighty Roman does). It's a free ebook, so climb that tree! And leave a comment ... I'd love to hear from you.

Contest Winner, "Apollo's Light"

God I love the ancient Greeks. And I had the chance to share a little of that love in a flash fiction contest requiring the tale to be set in Delphi. It explores the Apollonian-Dionysion divide (I use the less familiar Hellenized "Dionysos" btw) and copped the celery wreath (that's what they won in the Nemean Games at Delphi; the familiar laurel wreath is an Olympian thing). The contest was sponsored by
Doorknobs & Bodypaint; "Apollo's Light" is here.

Flash: "Insidious"

My flash fiction piece "Insidious" won honorable mention of sorts in a contest by the fine flash fiction zine Doorknobs & Bodypaint. The parameters were: 250 words max, set in 1946, had to employ the phrase "without right," major theme treachery, sub-theme insidiousness. That was almost longer than the story!  Thanks always for reading.

"Fig Tree Gazing" in Compass Rose

     Can a longtime couple get it together? "Fig Tree Gazing" touches this tender topic in the just-published annual Compass Rose, the wonderful lit mag of Chester College in New Hampshire. The editors favored the story with their Editor's Choice designation. This is really a beautiful magazine. The print and main online editions are lovely, and the iPad edition has a marvelously fluid interface. And they're wonderful lit-loving people, too. Check them out, and if you'd like to support a great college lit mag, why not order a copy for ten bucks? If you'd like me to inscribe a copy for you, shoot an email and we can arrange it: jstevensondell@gmail.com
     The title of the tale? A riff on an Emerson allusion to an Arabian proverb. Enjoy a fig now!