In Old October

Author Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938) wrote, “All things on earth point home in old October; sailors to sea, travelers to walls and fences, hunters to field and hollow and the long voice of the hounds, the lover to the love he has forsaken.”

That’s all well and good if home is a place worth going home to.

In a couple of this month’s stories, you might be better off heading to Timbuktu.

To celebrate that odd Christian/Pagan crossover festival we call Halloween, we have some deliciously creepy stuff.

Like “Daisy” by Paul DesCombaz. The title sounds innocuous enough. Kinda cute. No, no. Be prepared for those tingles up your spine. And lock the dog in the bathroom tonight. Trust me. You’ll want to.

And from Shannon Peavey, a little story called “White Elephant” that gives a whole new meaning to exchanging stuff you don’t want anymore.

In addition, we have “Thirty-two Years in the Cooler” by Alter Reiss, a great little noir-esque sci-fi tale.

In our Previously Published Fiction box, we offer “Space Travel Loses Its Allure When You’ve Lost Your Moon Cup” (originally published at Crossed Genres in 2014) by Sylvia Spruck Wrigley. Before you decide to read, you might want to know what a Mooncup is. So Google it, then read the story anyway. It’s worth it.

Be sure to click over to an interview with Sylvia by FFO Staffer, Stanley Lee (unfortunately not THAT Stan Lee, but we like him anyway).

Last up, FFO Staffer, Jason Ridler, gives us an article called “Carlin’s Way,” about fearlessly choosing your way, using George Carlin as an example. I loved George Carlin!  

Enjoy! And Happy Halloween!