Introduction
I wanted to write a novella. I became obsessed for a time with the after-life—and this long piece was actually inspired by a relatively stupid initial conversation about writers’ workshops. Hence, “The Cave of the Writers.” I suppose I love this story for it being the origin of “Satan’s awful peristalsis” and other fond phrases. The tale also features Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, Poe, Bob Haldeman, and of course, Mr. B.L. Zebub himself—it’s hard to see why the guy couldn’t just take Prilosec. It was published in Elysian Fiction by James Bailey, a young man who expressed his belief in my work after reading my first published story.
Thank you, Jim.