First Impressions: PULP INK 2 Anthology

Cover by Eric Beetner

I thought I’d do something different this week. Instead of featuring three openers from three books, I decided to post the openers of three short stories from a recently released crime fiction anthology called Pulp Ink 2.

I want to spotlight this because co-editor Nigel Bird (with Chris Rhatigan) says in his introduction that all proceeds from the book go to an organization called Place2Be, which offers counseling sessions in schools to students, their families, and teachers to resolve any issues that might get in the way of the children’s progress and hurt their self-esteem.

So, here’s a taste of three of the stories:

“Kidnapped” by Mike Miner

Kids can spot crazy. Just like you and me. Maybe better. Eleven-year-old Bobby knew his dad’s new girlfriend was crazy. He could see it in her eyes, hear it in her voice, feel it in his guts.

But kids don’t realize how dangerous crazy can be. Bobby didn’t know she was dangerous. Not yet.

“My Life with Butcher Girl” by Heath Lowrance

I want to tell you about her eyes, but I lack the poetry of spirit. They were green, but not just green. They were the green of a wild animal, or an innocent alien visitor from another planet. They were wild and hungry, and a sort of sweet, glorious death lingered in them.

You could see a million worlds in those eyes, even if you only saw them on TV, on the news, that clip they always showed of her hurrying through the courthouse hall, body half-hidden by her attorneys after she’d been convicted of triple murder.

“Rats” by W.D. County

The scurrying rats within the walls of her apartment kept Jane awake wondering what sort of lives could be led by such pitiful creatures, trapped within a world of dark and narrow confines. The rag stuffed in her mouth wasn’t conducive to sleep either, but by now she’d pretty much gotten used to the gag, the handcuffs, and the worn kitchen linoleum sticking to her bare skin. Sometimes she felt as though she could send her mind out of her body, away from the pain, even without the injections that Mumbles gave.

Interested in reading more? eBooks can be purchased for Kindle and Nook; a paperback copy is available through Amazon. Go forth and help the children!

What do you have on tap for this weekend?