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February 22, 2010 | Columns from TC 9:4
Best of the Boards
"The Stiff" by Kirk Becken
Sandra looked at the lifeless form in front of her. A few minutes ago, he had been alive. Very alive, in fact. But apparently she had misinterpreted his last few cries. Pleasure and pain could be quite close in Sandra's experience, but never had that concept been quite this clear. She didn't know how long it took a body to become stiff after death, but one particular part seemed intent on leading the way there. Amazing. Suddenly Sandra felt a wave of embarrassment and covered him with the sheet, then immediately felt foolish as she looked down at the little tent he made.
The Snark Zone: Letters From The Editors
"Pattern Recognition" by Theryn "Beaver" Fleming
As I was putting together this issue, I realized that we have six repeat contributors this time around. Five of those are appearing for their second time: C.L. Bledsoe, Kate Gibalerio, Kimberley Idol, Charles D. Phillips and Janice D. Soderling. Two of those writers (Gibalerio and Phillips) have pieces in different genres than they did in their first appearance in Toasted Cheese. One (Bledsoe) is returning after a four-year absence. From an editor's perspective, both of these things are rewarding to see.
Posted by The Editors at 11:46 AM in Literary Journal
February 15, 2010 | Contest Winners from TC 9:4
Gold: "Dante's Grid" by Liz Mierzejewski
When I first met Dante I was still in college. I was in my junior year attempting to earn my degree in English Lit. At that time I was planning on becoming a teacher. "You know what they say," Dante would tell me back then. "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." He would laugh at his own joke, and at first I would get all insulted, but to be honest, I was never much of a writer. So eventually, when he'd tell that joke, I would have to agree. After all, I wasn't the creative one. Dante Benedict, future world-famous inventor, was the creative one, and I loved him then even as I love him now.
Silver: "Tech Support" by Ari Susu-Mago
Albert Woodler had been poring over ancient volumes of text for nearly three days when he finally found what he was looking for. It was almost dusk, and the dusty light that filtered through the workroom window pooled on the long worktable as Albert thumbed through the heavy books before him. His vision was beginning to blur even with the help of reading glasses and he paused to rub his eyes and glance over at Julia, who was once again settled on her perch with her head tucked under her wing. Lucky bird, Albert thought. He sighed and took a swig from his water bottle, managing to slop a sizable amount down his shirt and jeans in the process.
Bronze: "Prisoner's Potion" by Dixie Sorensen
The prison door banged open, and my eyelids flew apart. I scrambled to the door in surprise and peered out of the small barred window as two guards and a soldier walked down the rows of cells. I frowned. Meal time was not for another three hours.
I slipped back to the corner of my dark cell. Their arrival couldn't have anything to do with me. I hadn't had a single visitor in the eight years I'd been a prisoner.
Posted by The Editors at 09:00 AM in Literary Journal
February 08, 2010 | Editor's Picks from TC 9:4
Boots's Pick * "Infidels" by Jim Harrington
The photon blast rocketed past my ear and hit the metal wall behind me. Fiery tendrils exploded from its core like fireworks on the Fourth of July. I uncovered my eyes in time to see the heel of Zorton's boot disappear down the hallway leading to the crew's quarters.
I paused when I reached the junction of the two passageways and snapped my head around the corner and back. No Zorton. I edged into the hallway and was greeted by a waving Nolander. He wore a purple and yellow tunic. His hair sprouted from his head like the branches of a willow tree. The thump, thump of a cane tapping the floor preceded him down the hall.
Baker's Pick * "Meegan Kissinger Wore White" by Amanda Viviani
In my opinion, weddings are just a pissing match for girls. You get 100 of them in one over-priced, floating-candle and gardenia-bedecked banquet hall, and the hidden agenda becomes whose five-inch heels and $90 celebrity knock-off commands the most attention. The rest of the evening is spent taking bets on which member of the Sex and the Single Girl set, sloshed with champagne and teetering around on her gold spikes, is going to fall into the decorative fountain or drip rivers of cocktail sauce down her purple silk frock.
When we aren't going to weddings, we work at them. The Old Man makes food for apple-cheeked, hand-holding young couples, wanna-be hipster brides, white-trash family barbecue nuptials and politically correct lesbian faux-ceremonies.
Ana's Pick * "One Last Storm" by Chris Yodice
The snow was relentless that year—and surprisingly consistent. The first storm came on a Friday. It lasted three days, leaving ten inches at the shallowest point and drifts that threatened to consume whole houses like ocean waves. It had been twenty-four hours since anyone in my family could see out the windows; we knew it had ended only because we were told by the woman on the radio.
She was the one we really listened to. The television weatherman appeared once every few hours; through a practiced smile, he spoke of satellites and radars and air masses. He was unaffected; he could have been talking to us from anywhere. His suits—he wore a different one for each appearance—were unwrinkled. His hair was perfect. This woman, though, seemed to stay with us the whole time. If she slept, I don't know; she must have, I suppose. But I am sure she didn't go home. And as the hours wore on, her tired voice only grew more intimate.
Posted by The Editors at 10:35 AM in Literary Journal
February 01, 2010 | Dead of Winter Winners!
Dead of Winter is our annual short horror fiction contest. This year's theme was "the hidden grave." We had many entries this year and are very pleased with our finalists.
First place: “Inside Voice” by Lana Thiel
Second place: “The Red Blanket” by Tamara Eaton
Third place: “Whitcher Cemetery” by Erica L. Ruedas
Honorable Mention: “The Other Side of Darkness” by Julia Traylor
1st, 2nd and 3rd place stories will be published in the March 2010 issue of Toasted Cheese.
Our next contest is the spring Three Cheers and a Tiger. Write a mystery in 48 hours using the given theme and word count limit. There are no entry fees for TC contests. Prizes include Amazon gift certificates and publication.
Congratulations to our winners!
Posted by The Editors at 11:50 AM in Contests
Creative Non-Fiction from TC 9:4
"Muse at Work" by Kate Gibalerio
You need to write something. Anything. Emails don't count. We've gone over this. The same for tweets, texts, and Facebook chats. Just say ciao to your cousin from Rome and log out. Peek at Google News, if you must, but limit yourself to one article about swine flu—you're on deadline. You need to write something for this evening. Get your venti latte, then sit, and start writing—anything—to share at Writers Night.
Posted by The Editors at 08:48 AM in Literary Journal