Kalia

Kalia watched the dancing water gradually become calm, even as he readied to disturb it again. One rough callused hand fingered the smooth round flawless surface of the second pebble. His eyes, although still young and sharp, were red rimmed and hooded with crusty lids and small sparse eyelashes. At the moment they were narrowed and shielded by his shaggy eyebrows, puckered and closing ranks together against the blazing afternoon sun. With the other hand he brushed back the tail-end of his turban, now soggy with sweat and moisture of the humid air of Fatehgarh village, tucking a stray lock...

Read the full story in the Volume Nine, 2011 issue of Kansas City Voices

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Request to read the original story via email for just 99p! (T&C apply)

1900 words
Fiction/Drama
US publication

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Words from the Wise

"We feel that it has a unique voice and that the description of the characters and setting are excellent."

Susan Peters

Prose Editor

Kansas City Voices

"The detail is good and the images are strong"

Melinda Selmys

Editor

Vulgata

"It’s a well-written story, and we were impressed with your craft. Clearly it came from a capable hand."

Luc Saunders

Editorial Associate

The Sun

"It is a pleasure to accept your manuscript... fine contribution."

Nathan Grant

Editor-in-Chief

African American Review

An idol is forever, not just for Christmas

10th May 1979. Margaret Thatcher has just become the new prime minister of England. Pluto moves inside Neptune’s orbit for the first time ever since either planet became known to Science. The Sahara desert experiences snow for a period of thirty minutes.

In a small dusty village in the remote interiors of a large state of west India, a tall young man is anxiously pacing the floor outside his house. From time to time, he stops to glance through the open door, then resumes pacing as vigorously as ever. He is oblivious to the heat of the afternoon sun on his bare head, unaware of the scorching earth...

Read the full story in the November 2011 issue of Underground Voices

or

Request to read the original story via email for just 99p! (T&C apply)

1090 words
Fiction/Drama
US publication

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Words from the Wise

"Very well written, and I liked the cycle being played out here."

Anonymous

Editor 1 (of 6)

Flashquake

"We love it."

Anonymous

Editor-in-Chief

Flashquake

"Terribly well written"

Geoffrey C Porter

Editor

Untied Shoelaces Of The Mind

"It is well-written, and the opening is particularly gripping"

Elizabeth Rosen

Essay Editor

Ducts

"I like your work."

Anthony Brown

Editor

Stickman Review

"It's a delightfully written story"

Penni Mitchell

Managing Editor

Herizons

"This is fine writing"

Valerie Polichar

Editor

Grasslimb