Jasper Stories + Blog

A tale of psychological horror. Art by Crystal Welker Heaven As they walk the switchback trail up the mountain, he looks down at his daughter, five years old. Her eyes—big, bright, clear, and clean, in constant wonder of the world—its trees and creatures, what lies below the waters and how Cinnamon Cheerios are born. As they amble, she bends over, snatches a stick, and taps each rock, plopped randomly and miraculously along the trail.  He says, “You know, where I was born, it

A Theatrical Tale of Time and Terror The Time Reckoner by Kimberly Morrison I have heard That guilty creatures sitting at a play Have by the very cunning of the scene Been struck so to the soul that presently They have proclaim'd their malefactions … - W.S. Archivist Note:   During the Quantum Restoration, a wing of the Restoration Team—the Time Reckoners, traveled time’s rippling mosaic to shift the trajectory of our past, present, and future. These journal entries serve as

Phantom Queen of City Forest, Avenger of the Stolen Morrígna by C0dexverdigris Crows Today, in creative writing class, my teacher FINALLY said my name right.  We learned about the Morrígna, three sisters. But I don’t think we’re supposed to. Can’t imagine we’re allowed to know about Irish phantom goddesses that teach you to be free and fight.  Also, the sky is full of crows.  Forest They stole father and brother.  I was walking home from school, turned the corner onto our str

A Speculative Children’s Story for Grown-Ups Art by   c0dexverdigris Beautiful Boy (BB to you and me) lives in a confusing space. Oftentimes, from the next door apartments, sad sudden sounds pierce the metal walls and infect BB with a chill. Mother says, “BB, remember. We’re safe here.” BB nods, snugs into mother’s hip, and settles into mother’s hug. He looks at the dented white fridge where mother hung the picture he drew of the wide and gray ocean where he, Mother, and Fath

Art by KidVicious My neighbors and I lived in the same suburb but two different realities. Why? I have no idea, and yet still I wonder and will forever in Engledale’s new silence.   Engledale, a suburb where I haunt.  Engledale, a sea of single family homes edged by apartments for the “others”. North of Engledale—the city. Cluttered and chaotic. Angry jawed.  South—fields, desiccated and dry.  East—the vast lake, a stillbirth of green ooze.  West—hills, sickly rivers, forests

To save his granddaughter, he must trust a whisper in the dark. Spooky Moon by Matthew Jackson It seems only the wind remains after the brief cacophony of the crash. He puts his hand above his right eye, feels a bump. Hit my head on the steering wheel. Don’t stroke out. She’s waiting. He stares down the two lane road lined with dying oaks. Through the dusted and now deer cracked windshield the road vanishes into midnight. No moon and thick churning clouds casts an absolute da

They turned it off. It turned itself back on, becoming something more—a reckoning. Sci-Fi Flash Fiction by Jasper Woods / Art by c0dexverdigris Art by c0dexverdigris Transcript of Titan transmission, housed in the Lawrence Enclave’s Archives, Titan Anomaly Section, Restricted. Transmission originated from Titan, moon of Saturn. Intercepted by the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) in what-was Virginia, Staunton Enclave of Reason. Note from Staunton Radio Astronomer: Signal integrit

Adrift above Saturn, she clings to a song, a memory of home, and a final dream. Sci-Fi Flash Fiction by Jasper Woods / Art by Blancavasart Art by Blancavasart I’m going to town. Going to town. In my big red jeep. I sing the song as I write, as I watch Saturn’s rings swirl round and round, zipping at a fast fast clip, as things do out here in the dead end of space. The dead end of our journey anyway. And I’m coming by baby baby. I’m coming by. As I huddle against the side of m

Sci-Fi Flash Fiction by Jasper Woods "Love's Blue Flame" by Lunami Romme never slept. This should’ve been a clue. But I assumed it was a condition and dismissed it. It just never concerned me. I shouldn’t’ve assumed. Should’ve wondered more. Maybe things would’ve turned out differently. After Romme read me to sleep, he would slide out of our bed, out our bedroom, sit on our couch, and plunk away on the internet all night. I have to pee way more than any sleeping person ought

My Instagram feed is full of amazing art made by amazing people. As I continue the slow slog toward publishing my debut speculative fiction novel, The Granite Letter , I started reaching out to artists to make a trailer for the book.This turned out to have numerous and mutually beneficial rewards. When I began messaging artists, I wasn’t sure anybody would be up for collaborating with me. I’m not a known author and was upfront about The Granite Letter being my first novel. Bu

Excerpt from my forthcoming speculative fiction novel, The Granite Letter : "The alternate realities of all oppressed humans is something I consider often. What might they achieve, become, voice, unveil if only they were seen, heard, and accepted? What cages hold humans—adult and child—who might bring some light into the growing darkness?" Excerpt from Emria's Our Journey to Pasha’s Planet. Unpublished due to the onset of the Sorrowful Times, original copy housed in the Lawre

"Do you think they are not only spirits but something else too?" "Like what?" "Like fires." Excerpt from my forthcoming speculative fiction novel, The Granite Letter . FIre's Map by Ulli Hain Art Context is important. What was “outer space” to someone living twelve thousand years ago? What a star? Carl Sagan discusses a civilization’s technological adolescence. What was humanity's childhood observation of the stars? I was blessed with many synchronistic events while writing T