Author Archives: slforrester

I wrote this short story a few months ago and submitted to a few places. Since none of them decided to accept the manuscript, now I share it here. This is a piece of speculative, dystpoian fiction, faith-based and visceral. TW: suicide. I take my seat in the stadium, ready for the concert– a state-sponsoredContinue reading “Toy Soldiers”

After tackling NaNoWriMo in November I started feeling burnt out on writing for the first time in two years. I decided to give myself grace and take December off from all writing endeavors, and now I’m feeling more ready to jump back into it. It probably still won’t look the same as it did, though.Continue reading “Back From Vacation”

I wrote this poem in 2015 and shared it on Facebook. Every year around this time it pops up in my “Memories,” and this year I decided to share it here. The meter (and some of the phrasing) is based on The Night Before Christmas, and is about a deer that got hit by aContinue reading “About a Deer, or The Night After Hunting Season”

Previous What is This? OREILIN The next morning began early for Oreilin, with Kamelain coming to her room and presenting her with her official schedule for the day. “But there will be little time for leisure,” Oreilin observed to Rodget in Alturian, after hearing the agenda to the end. “Perhaps that is the purpose,” repliedContinue reading “Heroes of Berea 1.I”

Previous What is This? Next OREILIN It was good to hear her family’s voices. Her day had been very strange, but at least her evening could end on a high, Oreilin thought, as she listened with joy to her little nephew singing her favorite Alturian anthem. All the children were eventually shuffled off to bed,Continue reading “Heroes of Berea 1.H”

Previous What is This? Next FENRICK There was only so much idleness a self-respecting man could take. So despite Velvina’s admonition that he rest, Fenrick soon set about searching the apartment for a project. He found it: a broken closet in the second bedroom. He found a basic toolkit in the hallway cabinet and setContinue reading “Heroes of Berea 1.G”

Previous What is This? Next VEL She descended, with dampened hair and clothing, to another basement room not unlike the one she’d taken Oreilin to. Only this one was dust-free. Covertly maintained by the Organization as a “safe room” on campus, Vel had been here several times before. She knocked on the door to announceContinue reading “Heroes of Berea 1.F”

Previous What is this? Next VEL The parasite theory. The idea stuck in Vel’s head as she washed and dressed, leaving a note for Nema that she would be gone for supper, but not stating where. Different Enhanced people had different ways that they received their Enhancements. For some, it was accidental: they’d wake upContinue reading “Heroes of Berea, 1.E”

Previous What is This? Next VEL It wasn’t so much that she had other places to be, or other things to do. She simply couldn’t bear to be in the same space with Fenrick’s overwhelming emotions. Grief. Loss. Anxiety. Mingled with hope, longing, and a desire to be helpful. She had told Fenrick she wouldn’tContinue reading “Heroes of Berea, 1.D”