One of the joys of producing this series of books is working with the amazing cover artist, Marc Sutherland. His work always tells stories that extend beyond the mere two dimensions in which his images are wrought. Since the cover to NH Pulp Fiction 2 (Live Free or Die, Die, Die!) was completed independently of any of the stories contained within, I made an offer in the front matter of that book to anyone who cared to attempt to bring the cover to life with words. In effect, I said that if you write it, I’ll post it online as a permanent (if virtual) addendum to that otherwise completed work.
Writer Robert Owen took me up on the challenge and produced a remarkable, full-length story based brilliantly upon Sutherland’s art. You can read it here. Just click on the first line of his story, reproduced below as your portal:
Richard Tracy pulled the tavern door shut behind him as he stepped out onto Elm Street. The full moon looked gigantic as it rose above the Queen City sky line.
UPDATE: Writer Phil Soletsky, who is featured in NH Pulp Fiction Volume 2, could stop there and decided he, too, would take a crack at illuminating the cover art with his words. Here’s a click-through first line to his excellent effort
My arms quivered with the effort of holding my wife. My knees shook. I looked down at Valerie draped across my forearms, her head hanging back, neck exposed, a gun dangling from her limp hand.
And here is the art that inspired both works:
Writers are invited to turn this image into an original story.
There’s room for more links from this page and my offer stands for any other writers bold enough to take on the challenge. Next time you feel like some two-fisted fiction, you know where to look.
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