Tag Archives: spotlight

The Lone Ranger Alone by J.R. Solonche

White horse galloping, dark woods in background
 

My favorite television cowboy was the Lone Ranger because he didn’t sing, he didn’t kill Indians for the fun of it, and he wasn’t even a cowboy. He was a hero with an Indian for a sidekick. His horse was named Silver. It was a white horse, which is the best kind of horse for a hero because you can always see him coming. His bullets were made of silver. They were very expensive. This meant he couldn’t waste them. This meant he was a damn good shot. His black mask was the stark geometry … Continue reading The Lone Ranger Alone by J.R. Solonche

Blindsided by Wally Swist

sticker on wall that says "Be Kind"
 

There are times when Dr. Amanda Mullen’s visage takes on that of a lion tamer about to open the locked gate to the ring where the lions are gathered for them to be put through their traces; or, the look of a guide in Denali National Park on a trail in brown bear country, with an air of utter respect but also with an eye on possible danger.  Dr. Mullen is sitting across from me as I recount how I have been blindsided. I tend to be a scrupulous planner, especially when I take Tevis … Continue reading Blindsided by Wally Swist

Left Behind by Claire Rubin Scott

two long human shadows on beach
 

I thought it was all behind me remission said my doctor now only periodic PET scans to be sure only blood tests to double check numbers months of chemo, nausea and mouth sores left behind on a distant shore sailing easily on a salty breeze no worries weighing me down what I didn’t know is that remission means never really left behind cancer walking silently beside you like a shadow a part of your life forever like your best friend from first grade listen, can you hear the waves swooshing as you sail near the … Continue reading Left Behind by Claire Rubin Scott

A Tavern in The Village by David W. Berner

Photo of old church and cemetary
 

Black-faced sheep stand still in the valley along the Great Western Railway line, filling their bellies with the grass of the English countryside. Some hold onto the hillsides, their tails in the air, gathered in threes and fours. And near the train tracks, a stream runs, and shirtless young boys carry on in a waterfall. I travel through Western England, a few miles east of Bristol where outside the old village, rows of brown and grey stone homes lean against gardens of red roses. I’m heading for Portsmouth on a Sunday in June to stand … Continue reading A Tavern in The Village by David W. Berner

The Artful Constructs of Scott F. Smith by Russell Hart

Abstract black and white photo
 

When photographer Scott Smith isn’t observing the world, he’s building one from scratch. Standing in his well-ordered studio at Charlottesville’s McGuffey Art Center, Scott Smith muses over a framed print of one of his recent photographs. Created in the studio with small lights and unremarkable materials that include metal foil and the discarded label from a bottle of Gatorade, but rendered in dramatic black-and-white, the image is highly suggestive of a landscape, with a strong horizon line dividing an illusory mountain from its apparent reflection in water. Smith recently included the piece in a one-person … Continue reading The Artful Constructs of Scott F. Smith by Russell Hart

Thank you for Calling by Margaret Watson

podcast fiction
 

Streetlight Voices: Short Fiction & Memoir · Thank You For Calling by Margaret Watson Podcast: “Thank you for Calling” is a story about endings. A fictional story performed by Jennifer Sims. Read the story online: “Thank you for Calling” by Margaret Watson Jennifer Sims is an actor and voice over artist who has voiced hundreds of projects across all genres. After attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts she wandered into a career in advertising. She worked as an ad agency producer for ten years before she found her way back to her creative path … Continue reading Thank you for Calling by Margaret Watson