The Burning Hearth September 2020

Welcome back! I’m so glad you are here, and I hope you and your families are safe and well. Fall has officially arrived. We are busy in my house with online schooling, which for the moment is going smoothly. Mums and pumpkins decorate my yard, and I welcome the return of soup season.

I am never more productive than during the autumn months. Many things get set in motion during this time, providing me with motivation and momentum through the cold, dark days of winter. Currently, I’m working on two projects: a novel set in southeastern Iowa in 1977, and an epic fantasy trilogy. Indeed, I have my work cut out for me.

And, now, I’m thrilled and honored to share Christine Baerbock’s work with you. Christine is a fellow member of my Red Oak writing group led by Robert Vaughan here in Milwaukee. She is a master of the short short form. Her writing leaves me speechless, as I am amazed at the fullness and complexity of the stories she weaves with so few words. Often dark, but always compelling, Christine creates images you won’t soon forget, forcing you to look, when you’d rather turn away. The three pieces she shares with The Burning Hearth are well crafted and pitch perfect. Enjoy! And, please share any comments you might have. Christine, and I, will appreciate it.

                                                                      

Christine Baerbock resides in Wisconsin. Her work has appeared in Boston Literary Magazine, Peninsula Pulse, (b)oink, DASH, Bending Genres, Spelk, Citron Review, Flash Boulevard. Nominated for a Pushcart Prize, her work has been included in several anthologies.

Next month is going to be a little different at The Burning Hearth. On October 1, I will be posting an audio and print version of a story I wrote this past summer that has a fun Halloween creepiness about it. For my regular posting on the 15th, I will be featuring my friend Myles Hopper, author of the newly released My Father’s Shadow. I will include an excerpt from his book along with an interview and a review. Until next time…