Category Archives: Short Stories – Print

My first Pushcart Prize Nomination!

I know all of you talented authors out there probably have dozens of nominations, but I just got my first Pushcart nomination, for my story “Terrapin Station” in Pear Noir! #5. Very excited and honored. Thanks PN and Daniel for the support. PN5 is OOP but there are a few copies up at Rhythmplex, if you want to snatch one up.

This is a story that I wrote in my MFA program at Murray State University. And while my Pulitzer nominated professor wasn’t particularly in love with it, I always liked it. Partly because it was a sweet story, different then my usual darkness, and partly because it is set here in Chicago, where I’ve lived since 1990, and depicted parts of the city that I really love.

So, wish me luck. It’s a long shot to make the anthology, and even longer to win, of course, but hey, it’s all a long shot, yeah?

Jay Slayton-Joslin interviews Richard Thomas about Transubstantiate, Disintegration, Shivers VI, neo-noir, and so much more

“You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? Then who the hell else are you talkin’ to? You talkin’ to me? Well I’m the only one here. Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?”

That’s right. JSJ is talkin’ to me about my debut novel, Transubstantiate, my story “Stillness” in Shivers VI with Stephen King, Peter Straub, Brian Keene, and so many others talented authors, my next book, Disintegration, and what the hell neo-noir fiction is anyway.

Thanks, Jay for the support. Had a blast doing this.

We have a winner! 1000 Facebook Fans!

GRANT SPANIER is the 1000th person to join my Facebook Fan Page! He is the winner of a signed copy of Shivers VI, with my story “Stillness” as well as great work by Stephen King, Peter Straub and so many others. Congratulations to Grant, and thanks to everyone that joined this past week, and over the past year. I couldn’t do this without your support.

I’m still giving away one more copy over at Goodreads.com, so head over there if you want to.

“Terrapin Station” is in Pear Noir! #5. Richard does lit. Out now.

A story that I wrote for my MFA program with the Pulitzer nominated author Dale Ray Phillips entitled “Terrapin Station” is now out in print in Pear Noir! #5. This is a really cool, eclectic journal. I recognize several other authors in here as well: Kim Chinquee, Kevin Moffett, Gabe Durham and Michael Kimball, so I’m in good company. These do tend to sell out. All past issues (1-4)  are sold out, if memory serves me correctly.

“Terrapin Station” is set in Chicago, off of Michigan Avenue, about a man who leaves the corporate world behind to carve turtles while sitting on a park bench, living in a tree in Grant Park. He pines for the woman at the office that he leaves behind each year to head down to New Orleans, and hopes that this is the year that she joins him.

This is not my usual dark fiction, so if you’ve ever wanted to read something more literary or more upbeat, here you go.

“Victimized” is now out in Murky Depths #15

I can’t begin to say how excited I am about my 5,000 word short story “Victimized” being in Issue #15 of Murky Depths. They are such a cool publication, I mean, look at that cover? And this is one of my favorite stories. When I get the spread artwork from my story I’ll add those up. Murky Depths is really coming into its own, having won the British Fantasy Award for BEST MAGAZINE. Pick up your copy today, while they last.

In case you wanted to know more, “Victimized” is about a young woman in the near future who has decided to go into the boxing ring that is now used to punish criminals, an option offered up by the government and police as an way to find closure for those that want to have a more “hand on” experience in dealing with somebody that raped or murdered a family member or friend. It’s a wild ride, one I think you’ll enjoy. It’s a mix of horror and neo-noir, mystery and crime, with a bit of SF and fantasy and sex tossed in. My usual.

ENJOY!

Excerpts from Transubstantiate in Vain #9

NOTE: Issue 9 is NOW OUT!

Vain does such beautiful work.  Some excerpts from my novel Transubstantiate are in here (I originally published my short story “Underground Wonderbound” a naughty little tale about a sex club in Issue #5 with Vain in 2009) as well as some beautiful artwork. I’ll also make an announcement when it actually releases, but they don’t make many of these, and do them all by hand, so be sure to get one. #9 has to do with the “fantastical” and my excerpts are the more surreal and fantastic from the book.

Shivers VI Announced – Stephen King, Peter Straub and ME!

Shivers VI - Cemetery Dance

Wow, got the announcement tonight, and Shivers VI, which I knew was coming (produced by Cemetery Dance) will have a novella by Stephen King and Peter Straub in it. WOW. My story “Stillness” will be in such great company, I mean, these are the guys I grew up reading, my idols. I’m floored. It’s a huge book, 400 pages, and they’re issuing it as a limited lettered, limited edition, and paperback. While they last.

This could really win a Bram Stoker award.

SHIVERS VI

Table of Contents:
“Serial” by Blake Crouch & Jack Kilborn
“The Crate” a novella by Stephen King
“The Last Beautiful Day” by Brian James Freeman
“Cobwebs” by Kealan Patrick Burke
“The Old Ways” by Norman Prentiss
“Waiting for Darkness” by Brian Keene
“Like Lick ‘Em Sticks, Like Tina Fey” by Glen Hirshberg
“Ghost Writer in My Eye” by Wayne Allen Sallee
“Palisado” by Alan Peter Ryan
“Stillness” by Richard Thomas
“In the Raw” by Brian Hodge
“I Found A Little Hole” by Nate Southard
“Fallow” by Scott Nicholson
“Last” by Al Sarrantonio
“Mole” by Jay Bonansinga
“The Shoes” by Melanie Tem
“Bits and Pieces” by Lisa Tuttle
“Trouble Follows” by David B. Silva
“Keeping It in the Family” by Robert Morrish
“It Is the Tale” by Bev Vincent
“A Special Place: The Heart of A Dark Matter” a novella by Peter Straub

VAIN Winter Issue is out now!

Underground Wonderbound in the Winter Issue 2009 of Vain

Underground Wonderbound in the Winter Issue 2009 of Vain

SWEET! They redesigned the website, but here it is.

http://www.callmevain.com/

http://www.callmevain.com/2009/02/winter-2009-issue-available/

They do these really nice, high end chapbooks, that’s what I’d call them. Lots of great art and photography and I’m the first story.

Peace,
Richard