STEVE BENTON

It was my final night in Moscow. The World Cup so far had been nothing short of amazing. I had met people from all over the world, but what affected me most was the warmth and kindness of the Russian people. From English-fluent hotel employees, to not-so-English-fluent cabbies, I was astounded. Everything I had been taught throughout my life was that Russians were alien, cold and quick to take advantage of foreigners. I couldn’t have been proven more wrong. On this one last night, after strolling through Saint Nicholas Street with my wife, Marielena, (and eating the most amazing hamburger ever) we decided to go back to our hotel, situated in a Soviet-era apartment apartment block fairly close to the Domodedovo Airport. And that’s where it all began. We boarded the Green line (#2) southbound. It was packed. Like sardines. I stood up in the back after I managed to secure a seat for my wife. Looking around, it seemed Marilena and I were the only non-Russians on the car. Now, let me...

I don't usually write tutorials or critiques (although I did write a post called Creating an Alien Language for your Manuscript) , but the other day I was fighting with someone on a web forum (I like fighting. It's fun!), and someone corrected a poster, stating that the person had incorrectly said "their" when it should have been "they're". In essence, the line read "they already have their tickets." Possessive - tickets that belong to "them." However, the responder said it should have been written, "they already have they're tickets." Ooof. My pet peeve. The three "theres" Look, it's all very simple. There are three words that sound exactly the same but are used differently. "There" has many forms (data from dictionary.com). adverb 1. in or at that place (opposed to here ): She is there now. 2. at that point in an action, speech, etc.: He stopped there ...

Revisiting the fantastic, yet decimated world of Alternative Earth from LIVES OF LOST ANGELS, we again meet up with clean leader Dons, Adam the fake mage, neko sisters Minnie and Cassandra, and Lennie and Jelly, the vampire musician couple. We are also introduced to a new protagonist in The Prīmulī Prophecies - Kam Andreessen - just a normal, everyman who never quite gets the girl. But that's all about to change. If he doesn't get killed first, that is... https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/810674

THE COMPENDIUM OF IMAGINARY STARS is now available at SMASHWORDS, and will soon be distributed by iBooks, Barnes and Noble and more. A small collection of short stories by yours truly, these were originally published by OMNI Magazine (before they became a penny-blog and then changed their name). Check this short read out. Best of all, it's free! SB