December 14, 2009

"Paper Boats" -- two ways

There is a creek in Cherry Hill, Tennessee where I’ve hidden my memories from childhood. Mom and I would walk down to the creek every day to escape the tiny apartment and everything and everyone in it. At the water’s edge, I would tie each memory to a stone with an invisible string and throw them one by one into the middle of the creek.

This is the start of my recently-published story "Paper Boats."  It's about a magical creek and a young boy that uses it to rid himself of things he'd rather not think about.

The great thing for me as a writer is that Paper Boats is available two different ways. 

It was published at Twelve Stories, which is an online venue that I've loved since its inception.  In its first issue, it had a wonderful story by Matt Bell called "The Founder of This Town" - which is the reason I submitted Paper Boats to Twelve Stories.  So, to get to the Twelve Stories version of my story, click here:  "Paper Boats"

Paper Boats is also available from Press53 in their 2009 Open Awards Anthology.  Press53 is a great small press that publishes important and innovative work.  They have an annual contest for various types of stories and Paper Boats won second prize in the Flash Fiction category. The Open Awards is a unique contest in that it is open to all writers at whatever stage in their writing career and is also open to stories that have been published previously elsewhere.  Here's info on the anthology if you're interested:  2009 Open Awards Anthology.

I hope everyone is having a great year and looking forward to Christmas.

Thanks, Jason

September 2009

I'm really excited about my latest short story, "To Sleep, Perchance . . . " which has just been published by A Thousand Faces.  What are you waiting for?  Go read it - and let me know what you think!

Thanks, Jason

March 5, 2009

My latest story, "The Last Time," recently appeared at Every Day Fiction.  Here's the link (or just click on the pic).

Let me know what you thought.

Thanks, Jason

March 1, 2009

My latest story, "Henry and His Best Gal," recently appeared at The Battered Suitcase.  Here's the link (or just click on the pic).

Let me know your thoughts about the story.

Thanks, Jason

February 17, 2009

Auto Shop by Jason Stout

When I was about eight years old, my mom married my stepfather, Morris. Morris is one of nine children - eight brothers and one sister. They are a car family. And by that I mean they don't just sort of like cars. They know cars inside and out.

I guess this shouldn't be a surprise. Their father, whose name was Clarence (though everyone called him Skeeter), owned and ran an auto shop. The garage, complete with hydraulic lift, was located on the same property, down a gravel road, as the family home.

One of the things I treasure about Morris' family is how welcomed my brother (3 years older than me) and I were made to feel after my mom and Morris' wedding. We would go to their house for holiday meals and everyone would congregate down at the garage to play cards, shoot the breeze and generally goof off. The kids scooted around on "creepers" - those little wooden pallets with wheels that mechanics lie down on to work under cars. There was even an old-fashioned soda machine that was used as a makeshift cooler - no money was required to grab a cold bottle of Coke out of the machine.

Growing up I was always fascinated by the hydraulic lift and every once in a while Morris would take me down to the garage to watch while he worked on his pickup truck. Mostly routine maintenance. Oil change. Brake pads. But sometimes he would enlist one of his brothers to help do some more complex repair jobs. I think between all of the brothers there wasn't anything they couldn't fix on a car. There were brothers who specialized in body work; engine repair; air conditioning. If it was on a car, they could handle it.

To continue reading "Auto Shop," click Here.

Best of Every Day Fiction - 2008

December 5, 2008

Every Day Fiction's "Best of" anthology is now on sale.  It contains two of my short stories -- "Larry Legend" and "My Corona."

Here's the blurb from the Every Day Publishing crew:

"Flash fiction is generally recognized as being fiction under a thousand words - the perfect length for a coffee break - but despite its appeal as a quick read, it is not simplistic. Quite the opposite; it can and should be one of the most demanding literary forms, with a need for perfectly crafted prose, a complete story arc in a tight space, and an immediately engaging hook.

The Best of Every Day Fiction 2008 brings together one hundred flash fiction pieces selected from Every Day Fiction's first year of publication. These stories cross boundaries of genre and geography, with tastes of science fiction, humour, romance, fantasy, horror, and surrealism alongside the more traditional literary pieces, from authors writing in Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Finland, India, Israel, Nigeria, the United Kingdom and the United States."

It comes in trade paperback and a gift edition hardcover for $15.95 and $28.95 respectively.  If you're interested in buying a copy, here's the link.

You can also buy it on Amazon:  here.

Or Barnes and Noble:  here.

Thanks, Jason

December 4, 2008

Exciting News!  I'm pleased to announce that my short story, "Larry Legend" has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize.  The Pushcart people put out an annual anthology of top stories culled from nominations made by magazine editors.  I'm honored to be nominated by Every Day Fiction.  Here is additionan information on the Pushcart Prize.

Congratulations are also in order for the others nominated by Every Day Fiction. The complete list of nominations:

ONE BRIGHT MOMENT by Joel Willans

LARRY LEGEND by Jason Stout

WITHOUT NAPIER by Michael Ehart

SPRING MELT by Gay Degani

WING MENDING by Dave Macpherson

WITH LOVE FOREVER YOURS by Alex Moisi

Click on their stories and give them a read.  Great stories, all.

Thanks, Jason

November 27, 2008

My latest story, "And the Well Runs Deep," recently appeared in Every Day Fiction.  Here's the link (or just click on the pic).

Let me know your thoughts about the story.

Thanks, Jason

October 5, 2008

My story, "The Unstoppable Evelyn McHale, May 1, 1947," has been published by Every Day Fiction.  Here's the link (or just click the pic).

Rate the story and leave a comment if you have the time.

Thanks, Jason

August 26, 2008

"My Corona" -- my most recently-published short story has been published by Every Day Fiction.  Please check it out when you get a moment.  Rate it and leave a comment if you have the time.

Thanks, Jason

July 21, 2008

Pirates by Jason Stout

My son Owen was invited to a birthday party recently by one of his buddies from preschool. I was "elected" to take him. It wasn't a drop-off party so this wasn't an undertaking I necessarily relished. Three hours hanging out with a bunch of preschoolers on a hot Atlanta summer day isn't my idea of a great Saturday afternoon.

The theme for the party was "Pirates." What I didn't know at the time was that pirates apparently have 25 foot inflatable water-slides hooked up in their backyards when they party. A little pillaging; a little plundering; a little water-sliding. All in a days' work for a modern day (and 5 year old) pirate.

To continue reading, "Pirates," click here.

July 7, 2008

Soundtracks by Jason Stout

I'm a big fan of movie soundtracks. Not the soundtracks that purists probably like with 70 minutes of freshly composed orchestral music that works solely as the background for the action in the movie. Instead, I like the soundtracks that feature songs from a wide variety of singers - some well known, others not - and genres. If nothing else, it's a cheap way to get introduced to a lot of different music.

To continue reading "Soundtracks," click Here.

June 26, 2008

New Story -- My story, "Larry Legend," has just come out at Every Day Fiction.  Please check it out by clicking the link here or clicking on the pic.  And don't forget to leave comments on Every Day Fiction about the story.

Thanks!

June 3, 2008

Kryptonite by Jason Stout

One of my fondest memories from when I was a kid was riding the bus to my Grandma's house after school. My mom worked at a furniture factory one town over and I wasn't old enough yet to stay on my own. My Grandma worked part-time as a nurse's assistant and the best arrangement for both of us was for her to take care of me after school.

To continue reading "Kryptonite," click Here.

May 25, 2008

My short story, "Resume," has been published at Pequin, an on-line journal.  Click the pic to go to the story.

May 19, 2008

Kinko's by Jason Stout

One of the jobs I held during college was at one of those copy-store shops - Kinko's. I had been a lifeguard at one point in my younger life, but on a college campus there are more than enough lifeguards and former high school swim champions to take those spots. And, as humbling as it is to say it, halfway through my college "career" I wasn't worth more than the $5 hour I was making at Kinko's.

To continue reading "Kinko's," click Here.

May 6, 2008

I have to plug Pete Gall's new book, "My Beautiful Idol."  It is a thoughtful, challenging book about living a modern Christian life and the addictions we all face.  I highly recommend it.  I know Pete from IU where we lived in the same dorm our freshman year. 

If you'd like to know more about the book (and see sample chapters), click here.

If you'd like to order the book, click here.

May 5, 2008

Re-Runs by Jason Stout

I was up late the other night - couldn't get to sleep - so I had the TV on. I was flipping through the channels and saw a re-run of the show M*A*S*H. You probably remember the show from when it originally aired on TV from 1972 to 1983. But even those of you who don't remember it from then, get to see it now in re-runs. It even plays on cable on TV Land.

To contine reading "Re-Runs," click Here.

April 24, 2008

Paper Airplanes by Jason Stout

One thing my son Owen likes to do is make paper airplanes. Actually, he doesn't like to make them, just fly them. I have to actually construct them. I'm not very good at it, but I try every once in a while. I'll make a bunch of airplanes, and he'll spend a few hours throwing them around - but eventually the noses get bent and they won't fly right. Or they get stuck behind a dresser and I don't feel like getting them out. And things sort of wind down from there. It's a few hours of harmless fun.

To continue reading "Paper Airplanes," click Here. 

April 8, 2008

Rocks by Jason Stout

Stephen Covey in his book "First Things First" tells a story.  It goes like this.

     There's a speaker at a seminar. And he announces to everyone that it's time for a quiz. So he takes out a wide-mouth, glass jar holds it up, puts it down on the table. And then he pulls out some rocks. He holds out the rocks for everyone to see and asks the audience to guess how many of the rocks he can fit in the jar. The audience yells out some guesses, so the guy says, "OK, let's see."

To continue reading "Rocks," click Here.