army Archives - Wordsmith Holler

Jake Rutledge and the Guy With Bad Timing: Jake Rutledge and the Guy with Bad Timing – Part Four

By Michael Shawn Sommermeyer | July 23, 2018June 27, 2019 by Michael Shawn Sommermeyer

Through the night, we stayed huddled around Dan who alternated between sobbing and screaming. We kept him as comfortable as possible, changed his bandages, and tried to keep him from moving around with little success. At one point, he tried to sit and all he ended up doing was sliding across the pipe protruding from his stomach. He shouted in pain and promptly passed out. This was really for the best because if he moved…

New Pulp My Craft Serialized Stories

Jake Rutledge and the Guy With Bad Timing: Jake Rutledge and the Guy with Bad Timing – Part Three

By Michael Shawn Sommermeyer | July 17, 2018June 27, 2019 by Michael Shawn Sommermeyer

He started whispering gibberish. Most of it I couldn’t make out except for a few pieces. He plainly said “a fob” and he kept mentioning “weapon protocol.” The second phrase scared me, but the fob piqued my curiosity. What if it could stop all of this craziness? He really didn’t look very good and I needed to figure this out. I grabbed two mugs, filled them with coffee, and found a corner booth to talk things over with Charlie.

Very Short Stories My Craft

The Road to Kelso

By Michael Shawn Sommermeyer | July 13, 2018July 13, 2018 by Michael Shawn Sommermeyer

The bus broke down five miles outside Kelso on the Joshua tree road near where the train tracks hang on the yellow hills. The few tourists unloaded their bags deciding they would rather walk than stand in the heat. Sally smoothed her pettifor and adjusted her wide-brimmed hat. She would wait in the bus. Twenty minutes later a private stuck his head into the bus and offered a ride and Sally joined the bus driver…

My Craft Fish Tacos My Favorites

A Visitor Awaits

By Michael Shawn Sommermeyer | October 19, 2016March 27, 2019 by Michael Shawn Sommermeyer

The desert wind blew warm and dry across his face layering grit on his chapped lips. He dropped the square bottle to his mouth and let the agave drip down his chin. The cold air bit into his bones. He wrenched the long robe tighter around him.