Ten Thousand Lions by Catfish McDaris

Blood curdling screams filled the inky darkness.

Pushcart Prize Nominations 2017/18

Lonesome October Lit is pleased to announce our first ever nominations for the Pushcart Prize. Our six pieces this year are…

‘Singing for These Dancing Bones’ by Jenne Kaivo

‘Bleak Row’ by Laura Potts (to be published in December)

‘Lullaby’ by Ali Jones

‘Artists in the Underworld’ by Richard Wayne Horton

‘Our Lady of the Sewer Grate’ by Robert Beveridge

‘A Friar Prevails on Father Grandier’ by John Grey

Congratulations and good luck to our nominated writers!

Evelyn’s Country Depot by Scott Hughes

+++ Nick steered a truck pulling a flatbed trailer a quarter-mile through a pecan orchard, and finally the house came into view: a two-story cottage, white with black shutters.

Prayers from Dunwich by James H Duncan

Father, I’ve prayed
the noisome breathing
coming down the chimney
to stop, please stop,
I’ve prayed in your name
and mine

Parched by Nick Romeo

++++++“I think I have just enough fuel in the generator so we can watch the five o’clock news,” Mark says while he adjusts the rabbit ears. His boots echo from the steel flooring and walls as he makes his way to the couch.

Artists in the Underworld by Richard Wayne Horton

The town had been a river port. Barges filled with golden grain had steamed away. Ships filled with wines, pianos, furs and jewels had arrived.

Song of the Silent Woods by Sheikha A.

A thousand fireflies flocked
to rest on the moon like a robe

The Dolorous Hour by Jude Cowan Montague

I woke up once. It was still night, I knew.
I was running lying down. Such a night head.

Hagstone by Susan Castillo Street

Flat grey stone, holed through its core.
Some call it adderstone, say it comes
from stings of snakes. Others call it
witch stone, good to ward off nightmares,
keep the dark at bay.

Were by Bryan Marshall

‘The howl that sits in
my mouth,
swallowed
by your black hole
of teeth’  (from The Shape of a Forest by Jemma L. King)