Steve Doyle's Blog: tHP Submissions

Submitted for Project # 21: "Pretty Paper, Ribbons, and Bows" as a gift for tHP member Saana Tykkä
On my recent world tour to promote the Herscher Project Anthology I traveled to Finland for a visit with one of the other writers. In the evening the children begged and pleaded for a bedtime story so everyone gathered in the sitting room and while the little ones sat wide-eyed at her feet, Saana told the following story:
Now, everyone knows the Lion is King of the Jungle. One day the Bear thought...

Submitted for Project # 20 "Through the Looking Glass"
Author's note: This story is actually a sequel to my earlier work, "The Black Mirror", which can be found on my website. 

“When Dame Alice fled to England, one of her apprentices managed to escape with the Black Mirror. Its whereabouts were kept secret for over two-hundred and fifty years until it was discovered among the possessions of the Earl of Desmond.”

Pausing for effect, I took a sip from my brandy snifter, glancing in turn to e...

Submitted for Project # 19 "The Gift of Vision"
About this Project: (For details see the post entitled "An Angel in Flanders")
The second card for which I wrote a Project # 19 story was this one called "Pox" by Cornelius Brudi: 
 This is a scene from my work-in-progress novel.

The Doctor's Hammer The red flag fluttered in the cold wind outside the Hammatt house, serving as a warning to the other inhabitants of Plymouth. The dreaded pox had struck the household.

Inside, Abraham Hammatt la...

Submitted for Project # 19 "The Gift of Vision"
About this Project:
Back in 1995, Wizards of the Coast, Inc. published 'Everway', a game by designer Jonathan Tweet. However, WotC is more widely known for Richard Garfield's earlier collectible card game, 'Magic: the Gathering'. In the lengthy preliminary steps we have suffered through, we each have arrived at a topic that will be the basis for our stories, poems, or artwork in Project#19.
Jim selected five MtG cards to match each of these...

This poem was written for Project #17: Dragon's Breath
During the Chinese New Year, leaflets were dropped on VC positions with a picture of an AC-47 with a dragon draped over the top breathing fire. In ancient times, dragons assumed different shapes to trick evildoers. The Vietnamese peasants were still very superstitious.


Young Jackie Paper was a long way from home
A little boy no longer, but a man fully grown.
The innocence of youth had left this brave young man
Who found himself in trouble in t...

This poem was submitted for Project #15, " Aging, Ascents, & Entropies"

Returned to the village from the hunt
In strode the smiling braves
Trailed by a troop of toddlers;
A host of bare-bottomed babes.

The chief was displeased.
What have you done?
Why have you taken these children?
To rescue them, soldiers will come.

One of the braves spoke, No one will come.
For these children are men.
Who were playing in the magic fountain
When we crept up and discovered them.

They've crawled out of their clothes
And...

This story was written for The Herscher Project Edition 14, "Dark Futures", the focus of which is based on the speculation of author Chris A. Jackson in his short piece titled "A Flash in the Pan", which details twelve scenarios for the fate of mankind.
The scenario I chose to expand upon is number ten:

10) The cybernetic solution scenario 

Man has placed all the mundane factors of existence in the care of computers. Computers run the machinery. Computers solve the problems. And computers f...

This story was written for The Herscher Project Edition 14, "Dark Futures", the focus of which is based on the speculation of author Chris A. Jackson in his short piece titled "A Flash in the Pan", which details twelve scenarios for the fate of mankind.
The scenario I chose to expand upon is number ten:

10) The cybernetic solution scenario 

Man has placed all the mundane factors of existence in the care of computers. Computers run the machinery. Computers solve the problems. And computers...

Submitted for Project #13 Triskaidekaphobia (Which is fear of the number 13)
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Dan McAvoy rapped on his twelve-year-old daughter's bedroom door. "Almost time for church. You about ready?"

"I'm not going."

"Not going? What's the matter, Honey? Don't feel well?"

"I feel fine. Just not going to church anymore."

"What? Ever? We've been going to church together for years. Now a week before Christmas you decide you're never going again? What happened?"

"I don't like the Church. I...

Submitted for Project # 12: "By the Numbers"
About this Project:
Back in 1995, Wizards of the Coast, Inc. published ‘Everway’, a game by designer Jonathan Tweet. It was an interesting blend of collectible card game and roleplaying game system. Although it has faded into obscurity since then, the mechanics and artwork of ‘Everway’ are still fascinating to those who follow the ebb and flow of the gaming industry. Along with the other game components, ninety “Vision Cards” were included with the o...