Issue Seventeen now online!

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There’s a thin line between love and hate, between friends and enemies, between helping someone and hurting them. And there’s an even thinner line between lust and a trip to the emergency room, between leaving a man behind and laying down cover fire while he makes his escape, between poetic license and an ill-conceived run-on sentence. And the line between wanting a hamburger and punching your buddy in the face? You need a microscope.

So, to honor that thin, poorly painted, hard-to-see line – the one that runs haphazard through your psyche, crosses a busy interstate and then doubles back on itself and jumps off a cliff, leaving you simultaneously sad, furious, horny and tired – we bring you issue seventeen of Jersey Devil Press.

First up is the based-on-a-true-story “The Monster at Baggage Carousel #3,” by Matthew Bey. Next it’s Carol Deminski’s tender “The Fortune Teller,” followed by Ken Ledford’s “Space Creature Versus Earth Creature.” Then we move onto the action-adventure part of our program with “Courting Aleksandra,” by Mark J. Reagan, and “Out of Sight, Out of Time,” by Timothy Miller.

Five magnificent stories presenting a grab bag of emotions, all guaranteed to be less straightforward than you’d think.

Read it online here, or download the .pdf here. As always, if a particular story tickles your fancy – or any other parts, for that matter – be sure to leave a comment, or share it on the social site of your choice, or buy the author a drink. Or all three. Trust me, they’re not gonna mind.

Something in the Night

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I’m gonna go ahead and declare this National Mike Sweeney Week. He’s pulling double duty, sitting in at Our Band Could Be Your Lit and breaking in our Brilliant Disguise feature.

I look down the avenue to where the Palace used to stand, the one beyond which hemi-powered drones once famously screamed. I had my first date there. We played skee ball. Her name was even Wendy.

Now, Mike will be the first to tell you “Something in the Night” wasn’t 100% inspired by a single Springsteen lyric. But it’s rife with quotes and allusions to Jersey’s favorite son so we’re gonna take it. And, given this story about the Boss dropping in unannounced during a recent Asbury Show, it may very well hold some sway over the man himself. I know I wouldn’t doubt it. Sweeney’s just that good.

P.S. You should really send Ryan Werner a suggestion for OBCBYL while you’re in this musical state of mind. He’d love to hear from you.

Perhaps I will!

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The always lovely and magnanimous folks at Fandomania went for the hat trick and reviewed Perhaps., by Stephen Schwegler!

If I had to use one word to describe this book, it would be “quirky.” Schwegler has sought to use the world around us and give it a slant. With appearances by intelligent squirrels, talking food, and even Jesus, the range of story subjects will make you look at reality in a new way.

I found it a relaxing way to end my day, as I gave my mind time to decompress and realize that the world around us is indeed full of things that just don’t make a lot of sense. But we push on and persevere.

You can find the whole review here. It’s also worth nothing that the reviewer, Kimberly Lynn Workman, is a certified genius. So, you know, you should listen to her.