Ashes and Coffee

by Sumiko Saulson, Eden Royce (editor)

Death is stalking Berkeley, California in a sleek new jacket and snazzy checkered fedora. Insects and animals collapse in his wake. When the indigent begin to mysteriously die in the streets, the rest of the town is indifferent. Red Montgomery, a nineteen year old black homeless woman, is the only one who can see him. She feels powerless to intervene. But is she?

29 pages, ebook

First published October 8, 2014

About the author

Sumiko Saulson (ze/hir) is a 2x Bram Stoker Nominated and Elgin Nominated poet, graphic novelist, zinemaker, and an award-winning author of Afrosurrealist and multicultural sci-fi and horror. Editor of the Black Magic Women, Scry of Lust, Scry of Lust 2, Black Celebration, and Wickedly Abled. Winner of the StokerCon Scholarship from Hell (2016), 2nd Place Carry the Light Awards (2016, 2017 and 2018) for short fiction, essays and blogging. Mixy Award (2017). BCC Voice Grand Prize Reframing the Other Essay Contest (2017), Afrosurrealist Writer Award (2018). Semifinalist: HorrorAddicts Next Great Horror Writer’s Contest, (2018). Horror Writers Association Diversity Grant (2020).

Member, Horror Writers Association.

AA in English from Berkeley City College. Staff writer, Search Magazine. Proofreader, Mocha Memoirs Press. Columnist (“Writing While Black”) for The San Francisco BayView. Host, Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District’s Erotic Storytelling Hour. Social Media Team, Horror Writers Association.

Novels: Solitude, The Moon Cried Blood, Warmth. Short fiction collections Things That Go Bump in My Head, The Void between Emotions, Spit and Pathos and Within Me Without Me

Short works in anthologies: Horror Addicts Guide to Cats (Horror Addicts Guide), Ashes and Coffee (Death’s Café), Enclosures (Tales from the Lake, Vol 3), Jacob’s Reunion (Forever Vacancy), Clockwork Valentine (Clockwork Wonderland) Sweetness (Beasts and Babes), Agrippa (Carry the Light, Vol 5), Character Flaws (Carry the Light, Vol 5), Under the Water (Horror Bites Next Great Horror Writer, Horror Addicts), Unheard Music in the Dank Underground (Tales from the Campfire), Shades of Domesticity (Horror Writers Association Poetry Showcase Volume VII), Asi’s Horror and Delight (Slay: Tales of the Vampire Noire)

Graphic novels: Agrippa, Dreamworlds, Living a Lie (illustrator), The Complete Mauskaveli.

An American author of African American and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. Native Californian, living in Oakland, California. Pronouns: ze/hir or they/them. Find hir on social media at sumikoska (Twitter, Facebook, Tik-Tok), sumikosaulson (Instagram), skavibe (Twitch) and www.SumikoSaulson.com

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is beautiful story. I think it is a tender homage to Masque of the Red Death. I think shorts are extremely difficult to produce . There is a masterful control of detail and tone here. At certain points the perfection of the prose brought tears and a sense of wonder. I was also thinking of one of my favorite poets Emily Dickinson and her poetic meditations of her friend Death. Well done

[Josh Bisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great read. I loved the metaphors and theme. Would be cool if the whole series was in one book, this way fans could discover the other authors, and build off of each other.

[Amy Bellino · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a pleasure to read the short story Ashes and Coffee by Sumiko Saulson.
This tale is a delightful account of Death visiting the world. Red, a young homeless woman, encounters Death as he strolls about town in his dandy clothes pointing his finger at helpless insects and animals. Red comes to realize she is closer to Death than she suspected.
Sumiko’s descriptions are both intriguing and beautiful. Her take on ghosts becoming corporeal is fascinating as well as contemplative. Her portrayal of the ‘rip in the veil’ between this life and the next is both elegant and exquisite. Sumiko is always on the cutting edge and front line of the horror and dark fantasy genres. Once again, Sumiko has written a fantastic tale with virulent undertones that will take both your mind and spirit on an adventure.