This one came from a workshop/class with Stephen Graham Jones and I have to thank him for his editorial suggestions. Probably the scariest thing I’ve written, at least for me, but you’re the reader. I hope you like it. Thank you for reading.

Stephen Graham Jones’ The Last Final Girl is one of the best books I’ve read thus far in 2012. I wrote about it in all its slasher glory. Follow the link to read the review and do yourself a favor by tracking down this book. 

A pulpy night of revenge and celebration: This story was originally workshopped in a class with Dr. Stephen Graham Jones, so hopefully it has some essential elements of what makes a good story: an ease of knowing who is doing what and where, hook lines, effective dialogue, etc. As per the assignment, the content was inspired by a list of questions posed by writer/reviewer/columnist, Richard Thomas. That list fell to me to craft into a story and this piece, “A Cauldron for Angelo,” is the result. Thank you to Pulp Metal Magazine. This is my second story with them and it’s always a pleasure to see my work in the context of other contemporary pulp stories. To the reader: thank you for your attention. Also, of course, Dr. Jones and Mr. Thomas, thanks for your support and advice.

I wrote this piece while deep in a Stephen Graham Jones workshop, but kept this one private—wrote it on the side. Years ago, fresh out of high school, I delivered furniture, spent time (with permission) dropping things off at important people’s houses when they weren’t home and always wondered what if something was in there waiting for me … what if that innocent boss of mine was hiding something. The result of that paranoid delusion is this story. Thank you, Mustache Factor. I grow my mustache for you.