Gregg Sapp's Blog: Fresh News Straight from Heaven

I had a short piece published in the online humor magazine, The Haven. See "Otorhinolaryngology Explained. https://medium.com/the-haven/otorhino...

Gregg's short story, "Clean Enough to Eat Off," was published in the summer, 2021 issue of the arts journal, 86 Logic.

New book trailers for "Upside Down Independence Day" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xcUM...)

and "Murder by Valentine Candy: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeyOD...)

Gregg's short story, "Nocturnal Emissions," was published in the Summer, 2020 issue (number five) of Goat's Milk Magazine. https://goatsmilkmag.com/work

An excerpt from "Fresh News Straight from Heaven" was published in the journal "History and Fiction." Check it out at: https://historyandfiction.com/list-of...

My second novel, "Fresh News Straight from Heaven," which is based upon the story of Johnny Appleseed, was released in December, 2017 by Evolved Publishing. It can be purchased at the publisher's site: www.evolvedpu.com/FNSFH.

Check out the trailer at: https://youtu.be/PA23DBa92Bw

Gregg's second novel, "Fresh News Straight from Heaven," has been accepted by Evolved Publishing (http://evolvedpub.com/) . It will come out in Spring, 2017.

Two stories by Gregg have recently appeared in literary magazines. "Drop Zone" was published in the Spring 2016 issue of MIDWESTERN GOTHIC. "Scream It Forward" was featured in Spring 2016 issue of Kestrel, the lit journal of Fairmont State University

Gregg has placed two recent publications. One, a short story entitled "Coitus Interruptus," appeared in the September issue of Infective INK:

http://infectiveink.com/?cat=4,

Another, a short humor essay,"On Kindness for Germs," was published in Defenestration, http://www.defenestrationmag.net/2014...

Gregg has just finished his second novel. Entitled "Fresh News Straight from Heaven," it is based upon the live and "true mythology of Johnny Appleseed. Here's a brief snyopsis....


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“I happen to believe that genius is a form of mental illness,” the storyteller says, explaining how Johnny Appleseed could be at once so peculiar and so profound.

Between 1801 and 1812, the Ohio and Indiana territory was a brutal place where peace was fragile, living conditions were savage, and the laws of civilization were far away. Still, settlers staked everything they owned on the chance that they could build better lives for themselves in this new frontier. John Chapman – aka, Johnny Appleseed – knew this land better than any white man. He believed that God had chosen him to prepare it for prosperous settlement and peaceful coexistence with the Indians. Folks incredulously asked him “how?” “Through fruit, grace,” was his reply.

Promoting that vision, though, was no easy task. Most folks thought he was mad. This land was populated by a miscellaneous assemblage of soldiers, scoundrels, freebooters, runaway slaves, circuit riders, and religious cultists. Ambitious politicians, like Aaron Burr and William Henry Harrison, had dreams of creating a new empire. Meanwhile, a reformed drunkard emerged as a new Prophet among the Shawnee, and along with his brother, the war chief Tecumseh, began building an Indian coalition to take back their land.

Even while the tensions mount, Johnny skates blithely through the crossfire and turmoil, spreading his message, impervious to the mockery and derision being heaped upon him. Throughout his mission, Johnny is dogged at every step by Colonel Frank Bantzer of the Ohio militia. The two men share history with a woman -- Sister Mona Junkin of a schismatic, all-female sect of the Shakers – whom Johnny befriends after she’d been betrayed by Bantzer.

Finally, Johnny’s faith is challenged when war breaks out in the land, leading to the bloody battle of Tippecanoe between Harrison’s army and the Shawnee Prophet’s warriors, and ultimately to the declaration of the War of 1812. A violent massacre near the northern Ohio town of Mansfield leaves its citizens terrified and vulnerable. In a desperate act of faith, Johnny promises the people that he can save them.

And thus Johnny dashes off on a midnight run, seeking to spread peace across a land on the brink of war. But, on his way, he must face various demons from his own past, settle old scores, and make things right. Standing in his way is an enraged Colonel Frank Bantzer. With his and Sister Mona’s lives at stake, Johnny has to confront the ultimate test of his convictions.