Pretzel Logic: Tales of Love and Horror

by John Paul Allen, K.H. Koehler (Illustrator)

In 2003, when John Paul Allen wrote Gifted Trust, he was questioned by the police and lost his job as an educator, because of it. He was also nominated for the Southeastern Science Fiction Award. One decade and ten stories later, he offers the best of his work from his Biting Dog Publication era Gifted Trust - A 17th century British army officer, a 1930 literary agent, a serial murderer in 1970 and a 2001 PE teacher - connected by one soul and an evil entity. Death is not the end... it's a brief interruption. Weeping Mary - When Marissa Ruiz entered foster care she was warned, "Don't let them get too close to you, don't let them get you alone and don't let them tuck you in at night." She was prepared for anything until the white van pulled up and she met Shepherd, who taught her of The Church of the Weeping Mary. Hello Neighbor - Bill Metter is landscaping his yard. A neighbor doesn't like it. Yaz the cat is missing. House Guest - Terribly injured in a car crash, Chastity Bream lives on life support in the guest room of her parents' home. Her boyfriend lives in her closet. A story of love winning against all odds. Pit Stop at Hoo Hoo Hollow - While on the run from the law, Kerry and Robin learn the meaning of that special room in hell waiting for those deserving. Prader-Willi - Mike Pratt's cousin is kind of entertaining. That's what he tells his friends. It appears she'll eat anything. Little Miss - An imprisoned mother explains to a tv reporter that it isn't important how one wins as long as one wins. Runs Like Rabbit - Family drama over major life changes and an answering machine with interesting voices. Marquee - Scott Dryden just can't get rid of Duffy, the maintenance guy. Even getting killed doesn't do the trick. What invisible thread holds these two together? Monkey Love - When Professor Sandra Rixx lost her husband in a terrorist bombing, she turned toward her work for salvation. When Richard kept his vow and returned three years later, she learned to mix business with pleasure. Sometimes we can't help who we love. Sometimes we can't help what we love.

402 pages, Paperback

Published January 12, 2016

About the author

Born and raised in Michigan, the youngest of five boys, John Paul Allen is described as "Hard to nail down, hard to put down, John Paul Allen's words will envelop your senses and fill your mind with worlds and people too real not to believe." (William Cook - Blood Related). Coming to horror and writing later than most he has quickly become known for his knack of crossing lines in order to tell a story.

His published works include the novella Monkey Love, short story collection Dark Blessings, short stories Weeping Mary and House Guest.

Allen's novel Gifted Trust (originally published in 2002) was recently released as a major revised version and his short, Little Miss is part of the the Fresh Blood Old Bones anthology.