13

by David Tomaloff

Thirteen thirteen-word horror stories for Halloween!

ebook

First published October 31, 2011

About the author

+David Tomaloff is a very important something. His written and visual works have appeared in several chapbooks, anthologies, and in fine publications such as Connotation Press, Sundog Lit, Lost in Thought, A-Minor, and HTML Giant. He is co-author of the collaborative poetry collection YOU ARE JAGUAR, with Ryan W. Bradley (Artistically Declined Press), and he is working on another collaborative effort, this time with J. Scott Bugher, titled LEDGER & STRING. His latest chapbook, SLEEP, is forthcoming from Plain Wrap Press.

+As a lifelong musician and composer, David Tomaloff has participated in recording, production, and performance aspects of many projects including his own as a singer-songwriter as well as the entity known as The Dammitheads. His musical works have been featured in various television programs, documentaries, and independent films, including ABC’s Invasion, Oxygen’s Good Girls Don’t, MTV’s Real World Road Rules Challenge, a German zombie film titled Red Harvest, a table tennis documentary titled Niche Table Tennis (produced by Daft Films), and a video series by BMX Magazine.

+His silence can be bought. Reasonable offers accepted.

Reviews

[Eryk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This e-chap is an exercise in writing restraint, and is by a maestro with words: Mr. David Tomaloff. I've had the pleasure of corresponding with him, and he's not just a fabulous writer, but also a photographer, musician, lion tamer, and an Olympic gold medalist in luge. (Okay, I made the last two up.) Read this! There are 13 thirteen-word stories that will send shivers down your spine. It's amazing how, with 13 words, he can form an entire movie script in your head. These are not to be missed. Just in time for Halloween! And they're published by a great, small-independent press, too!

Here's the 13th poem in the book:

{XIII} HE WOKE UP IN THE CAR, his
mouth desperately seeking the water’s surface.


Chilling!

[Aidan Salier · Rating 4 out of 5]

David creeped me out while i was at work and supposed to be working. he did this in 13 lines or less. number IX and number XII were my favorites. some of these were actually funny, like VIII, which recalls werewolfism.

David, if you're reading this -- you should use some of these as first lines and write short flash fictions out of these, or maybe even longer pieces.

[Laura Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Tomaloff's new chapbook, "13", is radder than rad. If pressed to describe my emotions after reading this, I would say: "Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot." And then I would dunk my head in a bucket of cold water.

Because it is refreshingly wonderful.

Well worth a click and a scroll, folks.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

"i am wearing a dress right now. just took a shot of jim beam. 13 is the best book i read all day." —Robert Duncan Gray

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

With 13, David Tomaloff stakes his claim as the punk rock Edward Gorey.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another example of incredible indie imagination. Creativity at its strictest.

[Kristine Muslim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strange well-crafted ditties....

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creative idea for a horror "story." 13 has most certainly been an unlucky number in my life.