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Steven Saus


Last Updated: 8/23/2009

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Gender: Male
Status: Married
Sign: Sagittarius

City: DAYTON
State: Ohio
Country: US

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October 31, 2009 - Saturday 

Category: Writing and Poetry
This was again part of the 100 Word Stories Weekly Challenge.  There's no voting this week, but you can still go and listen (and read) the rest of the stories over at the 100 Word Stories site.  If you just want to listen to mine alone, you can do so using the player below.  (If the player's borked, try this link.


When I was a kid, I loved Indiana Jones.

I would walk around with my shirts unbuttoned to my pasty navel,
carrying a string for a whip. I ran around the schoolyard humming the
theme song.

I also loved my Luke Skywalker Underoos. When friends came over, I
would sometimes show them off, coming downstairs wearing nothing but
the orange underwear.

That was decades ago.

Yesterday, a friend asked me what I was going to be for Halloween.

"I don't know," I replied. But my hand fidgeted with my shirt
buttons, and I swear my underwear suddenly turned bright orange.
21:17 
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October 29, 2009 - Thursday 

Category: Writing and Poetry
[Full disclosure:  I have a story in this anthology. I'm serious about what I say below, but hey, you should know. - Steve]


I like themed anthologies.  It's partially because I'm a fan of short stories in general.  Even more than that, I like to see how different authors can take a basic idea and do all sorts of fun and unexpected things with it.

On that front, Hungry for Your Love fits the bill.  This is an e-anthology published by Ravenous Romance that starts with a twist:  Forget vampires - what about zombie romance?

The twenty one (well over 300 pages!) of stories capture a huge range of zombie-related stories.  Some are sweetly romantic.  Some are revenge stories.  Some talk about lost loves, or finding someone when the whole world is against you (whether you're a zombie or a human).  Some take place in the midst of a zombie infection, some are after things have settled down again.  There are occult zombies, superscience zombies, and infectious zombies. 

If you're getting the idea that this anthology has something for most people - and definitely something for both lovers of horror and romance - you're on the right track.  The stories encompass a huge range, with some of the stories nearly becoming erotica (so yes, it's not for the kiddies), while others are mostly horror with the romance being seen through holding another's hand.  One made me kind of sad, and still others were simply funny enough to get me to laugh out loud.

With twenty one stories in this anthology, it's well worth the $4.99. (Yes, that's less than a quarter a story.)

I'm pretty stoked.  I had fun writing my story for Hungry For Your Love, and had just as much fun reading it. I think you will too.  To help celebrate that, and to spread the word about this book, I'm running a small contest.  If you're on Twitter, post a tweet linking to this blog post or the book itself with the hashtag #zlove .  Today through Halloween, I'll choose one (or more) random tweet per day and send them one of my 100 word stories on a postcard.

So what are you waiting for?  Go check this book out
20:15 
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October 25, 2009 - Sunday 

Category: Writing and Poetry
This was again part of the 100 Word Stories Weekly Challenge.  There's no voting this week, but you can still go and listen (and read) the rest of the stories over at the 100 Word Stories site.  If you just want to listen to mine alone, you can do so using the player below.  (If the player's borked, try this link.) Also, the background music is from the awesome Ghosts album by NiN, via the Creative Commons license. And now, on to the story.

Before, there was screaming.

The screams were in my head.  It was all too much.  Keeping up the house.  Having the newest car.  The stupid forms at work.  Her marathon shopping sprees.  The kids deciding their new hobby was too boring after we'd rearranged our schedules.  Working twelve hour days to afford it all.

Even the dog growled at me.

Then the bum bit me.  Twelve hours later, and I'm infected like him.  It's simple now.  I hunger for human flesh, and I kill.  And I eat.

The screams are outside my head now.

But my mind is at peace.
18:48 
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October 19, 2009 - Monday 

Category: Writing and Poetry
You'll want to listen to this story;  I think the music (from here) really adds something to it.

As before, this story was entered in the weekly challenge.  I'd appreciate it if you take a moment to vote for it at this site.

I loved Sally, though I couldn't understand why a model like her would be with a nerd like me.  I told myself I would do anything to get a girl like her.

That's why I didn't object when she squished the bug during sex.  "It's what gets me off," she said.

It had been so long, I didn't care.  And at first, it was a little exciting.

Then it was spiders. Centipedes.  Mice.  Birds.  A hamster.

When it was finally my own head squeezed under her stilleto heel, I realized I didn't really love her.

It was only a crush.

17:18 
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October 12, 2009 - Monday 

Category: Writing and Poetry
Once again, I've entered this story into the Weekly Challenge.  Feel free to stop by there and vote for my story;  you can also read the other entries and hear them there.  If you just want to hear mine alone, the MP3 is here.

In this world, lawyers are real predators.  Feral copyright attorneys hunt the streets.  Outside, a patent infringer's gunship ravages a corporate skyscraper.  The building rumbles, preparing to launch into low orbit.

I shake my head.  The scene fades as I toss the paper - my fortieth attempt at a believable world - into the wastebin.

I write again, and the world fills in around me.  Giant insects buzz, a velociraptor screeches, and I quickly throw that paper aside.

I pick up my pen again.  This time, I write you.  Your world, your cities, your people.

I'm not sure if I like it.

19:26 
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