Jim Stitzel
Jack-of-All-Trades, Master of WordsExcerpts from Life
Postcard Micro-fiction
I've been a fan of Apex Magazine almost since the day of its inception. So when Jason Sizemore posted on his Facebook page recently that he had free Apex postcards, I immediately thought, Sweet! Free Apex stuff! and messaged him to make sure he had my current address....
Mental Wellness: It’s an Ongoing Process
The last four days have been some of the hardest I've experienced in quite some time. I've been mired in a state of depression that probably hasn't been this severe since the early part of my recovery last summer. I've fought and struggled and despaired and clung onto...
Small Blessings
It's Saturday morning, and my children are taking advantage of the cooler morning air to be outside, playing in the yard, blowing bubbles, creating chalk creations on the sidewalk. I was able to get a full night's sleep last night, the first all week. My mood today is...
Fiction
The Fold
The fissure hangs in the air, suspended over red sand and glass. It warps the air around it, folding it into intricate patterns and waves. Electricity reaches out in slender fingers, groping for something, anything, but there is nothing near it for it grab onto. The...
The Statue
They entered the basement of the old theatre. It was dark, damp, and musty. The place had been abandoned for years and so was in a profound state of disrepair. They flicked on their flashlights, beaming them across the floor, the walls, the ceiling. Water puddled in...
The Dead Horse
It's 8am, and there is a dead saddled horse in my bed. Mind you, it's a very small horse, a miniature pony, if you will. But it is fully saddled, complete with bit and bridle, and it is most definitely dead. Two questions immediately arise: 1) just how in the hell did...