Southe-rn Gothic: You pass a recent roadkill on the highway. In the split-second glimpse you get of it, it seems too big for a deer. There are too many limbs. A high-pitched ringing starts up in your ears and you quickly look away. When you drive past the spot again later that day, there’s nothing there. You’ve been driving for hours. Surely you’re out of state lines by now, you tell yourself. But the scenery hasn’t changed at all, and the sky has long turned dark. You can’t remember the last town you went through. "Sorry, there was construction.” They say to explain their lateness. you nod in understanding. Roads are always being closed for construction. Sometimes they reopen. but if something was built, no one ever sees it. At night, you can see men fishing from the boathouse. At least, you assume they are fishing. At least, you assume they are men. There is a new baptist church in town. It sits across the street from another. and another. and another. and another. “Remember the Alamo,” people say. They glance toward the horizon with fear in their eyes and plan their yearly pilgrimage to San Antonio. The Alamo does not like to be forgotten. “It’s a dry heat,” the grocery store clerk reminds you as you buy your 6th bag of ice. “It’s a dry heat,” your second grade school teacher says as she refuels her SUV, white hair tangled with sweat. “It’s a dry heat,” the old man on the corner says as he rolls up the sleeves of his poplin shirt. “It’s a dry heat,” you repeat. The humidity is only 97% today. Each winter, the Northerners come, driving in by the dozens from Michigan and New York and Oregon, even Canada. “We’re getting too old to brave the snow,” they tell you. “It’s so warm here! Such balmy weather. You must love living here year ‘round.” They look somehow thinner than they were when they arrived, eyes fever-bright and fingers twitching nervously. “Such nice weather,” they whisper. “So warm.” You try to tell tourists to save themselves, but all that comes out of your mouth is a peppy “Howdy y’all” (With apologies to the Texas Gothic tag on Tumblr.)
Okay, found my old draft and read through it last night. Man, does it need some work. I guess it's good that I'm a much better writer than I was three years ago? (The last time I touched Phase.) At least the prologue is pretty solid. I'm gonna update that and post it later today maybe.
Okay folks. Got me a Tumblr more-or-less sorted out for the book. ( https://phase-book.tumblr.com ) Here's the link to the prologue: 0000.0000.0000 First chapter will come a bit later. I'm kind of brain dead right now and haven't been able to work on it much.
