Why Carla Phoned for Help

The Alienation and the Black Stones: A Teaser

A woman named Carla phones a documentary team that investigates supernatural phenomena. She feels crazy for calling them, but her husband abruptly left and she doesn’t know where else to turn to.

Breathlessly, she begins, “I said once that Christian was a good Christian, and, I know how that sounds, it’s like I’m making fun of him, like I don’t believe in that stuff, haha - but I don’t know, I don’t think I ever came right out and said it’s all foo-fah, I just had some fun with it, but you should know that, even if I didn’t totally take it entirely seriously all the time, that Christian did. And part of that, as cheesy as it seems, is family; dedication to family, lecturing people about family, making time for family; for dinners; for church; for little outings, and I don’t think any of you realize, completely, what it would mean for him to just pick up and leave. And if you combine that with his weeeeird readings lately – you don’t understand how strange it is to have a man read you bible verses over dinner while you smile and nod, and then one day to have him come to dinner talking about witchcraft and rituals and – I’m sorry, I’m ranting. It’s just not him. Something is wrong, and I need to find out what, and find out how to help him, and bring him home! He should come home, right?”

This teaser is for a novella called The Alienation and the Black Stones. Chapter 1 is here as a preview:

The Alienation and the Black Stones: Chapter 1

If instead, you find writing about writing to be more your thing, check out

Rhythm in Pulpy Fiction, with Two Examples