Author Archives: jeffbaker307

Crowns, Romance and Maybe A Little Salsa? Flash Fiction Draw Challenge Draws For February 2026 From Mike Mayak.

Posted on February 9, 2026 by jeffbaker307

First, here’s the prompts for the February 2026 Flash Fiction Draw Challenge, then my usual long-winded explanation: A Romance Involving A Crown From A Theater Prop Room Set in A Mexican Restaurant Now, on to the details. Hi! I’m Mike … Continue reading →

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Swords Sorcery and Suburbia. Friday Flash Fics From Jeff Baker, for February 6, 2026

Posted on February 6, 2026 by jeffbaker307

How Vargon of Keltpagore Came to Country Acres by Jeff Baker “Honey,” Todd said looking out the window of the couple’s breakfast nook. “Come look at what the new neighbors have on their fence.” “Another practice dummy for his broadsword … Continue reading →

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Hear “The Rime Of the Ancient Mariner.” Friday Flash Fics a Day Late from Jeff Baker. (January 31, 2026)

Posted on January 31, 2026 by jeffbaker307

Rime Of the Ancient Mariner by Jeff Baker Johnson “Dobby” Dobbins III half-walked, half-staggered into the second floor apartment he shared with his partners, tossed his overnight bag on the sofa and considered calling out “Honey, I’m home,” except that … Continue reading →

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Rainbow Snippet from Cait Gordon’s “Selected Shorts.”

Posted on January 24, 2026 by jeffbaker307

Every Week at Rainbow Snippets https://www.facebook.com/groups/RainbowSnippets participants post six lines of a work of theirs, a work-in-progress or a work by someone else that has LGBT characters. My snippets this week come from “Selected Shorts,” Cait Gordon’s fine anthology of … Continue reading →

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Travel “Just Off The Blue Area” for Friday Flash Fics from Mike Mayak. (January 30, 2026)

Posted on January 23, 2026 by jeffbaker307

Just Off the Blue Area by Mike Mayak NOTE: Didn’t expect to do another sequel but I guess this is Part Three. Check the earlier stories taking place in The Under: “A Bicycle Built Fortuitously” and “Blue Shoes” also on … Continue reading →

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Progress Report for December 2025/January 2026 from Jeff Baker. In Which I Make Some Serious Progress! January 20, 2026

Posted on January 20, 2026 by jeffbaker307

As I said last time, my New Year’s Resolution is to write every day. Inspired by Frederik Pohl who wrote four pages a day for decades. I won’t hit that number but I plan to try and kick it into … Continue reading →

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Reading Report, December2025/January2026 from Jeff Baker. January 20, 2026

Posted on January 20, 2026 by jeffbaker307

Beta read another of J. Scott Coatsworth’s fine stories. Doubtless it will be published soon. Read Jeffrey Marks’ story “The Fall Of the House Of Fresher” in the LGBT-themed mystery anthology “Crime Ink: Iconic.” An homage to Dupin and Ellery … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Cait Gordon, Collection, E. H. Timms, Jeffrey Marks, Kaje Harper, LGBT, Nelson Bond, O. Henry, Reading, Reading Report, Rick Bowes | Leave a comment

“Blue Shoes,” A Friday Flash Fics Sequel by Mike Mayak (January 16, 2026)

Posted on January 16, 2026 by jeffbaker307

Blue Shoes by Mike Mayak (Sequel to “A Bicycle Built Fortuitously”) Franco and Anthony had followed the Yellow Man’s directions and pushed the bicycle to The Midnight Cafe which was positioned under a yellow, neon sign of a crescent Moon. … Continue reading →

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Cait Gordon’s “Speculative Shorts.” New Collection Reviewed by Jeff Baker. (January 15, 2026)

Posted on January 15, 2026 by jeffbaker307

Characters who sign. Accessibility. Ableism. This book deals with issues of… No. Wait… Two Opera divas in an otherworldly rivalry, complete with tentacles. Love stories across every gender spectrum. A non-binary Alice meets a different kind of Cheshire Cat. People … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Cait Gordon, Collection, Fantasy, Fiction, LGBT, Reviews, Science Fantasy, Science Fiction, Short-Stories, Speculative Shorts | Leave a comment

Flash Fiction Draw Challenge Results for January 2026! A Zamboni and a Horse Or Two!! January 11, 2026

Posted on January 11, 2026 by jeffbaker307

Hi! I’m Mike, A.K.A. Jeff Baker. The draws for the January 2026 Flash Fiction Draw Challenge were: A Fantasy Set in a Skating Rink Involving a Plastic Toy Horse E. H. Timms wrote: “Zamboni” https://thinkingthinking123.blogspot.com/2026/01/flash-fic-challenge-zamboni.html And I wrote: “The Way … Continue reading →

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