The PineBox Pickings (1)
To the community that I died for.
Hello again! Don’t mind the queer reverberation of the voice bouncing around the stone. Just listen, and — you should be used to the disembodied bones at this point, anyways. Well... I must admit, I am very happy you are back.
As I mentioned before — o’ so lonely . . . and cold. You don’t happen to have any extra clothes with you? Maybe even . . . shiny stuff? Not even with the special offer? Lasting for months???
Didn’t think so. Anyways, you don’t have a say in your selection tonight. For tonight, I bring my own pickings. Beautiful words I happened to capture while wandering around this God-forsaken place. (Yes I am talking about you
) Come along and take a peek into the abyss. Don’t be scared, it has more than horror to offer.PINEBOX PICKINGS:
Maryellen Brady will write the rest of us into dust and ash. Her work ethic seems unmatched on here. She pumps out writing like its what is singlehandedly keeping her heart beating and you can feel that with every piece she puts out. It is truly a wonder to witness.
Not only that but her support for this community is unmatched. Too experience her writing is a blessing. Below you will find two of my favorites:
Ground Zero -
A tragic story interwoven in dreams and grief. It has helped me understand my own and those that I love even more.
The Outsider -
To put it plainly, this story is badass. A perfect twist on a ‘Western’ that makes it fresher than ripe fruit. While also keeping what embodies the genre as a whole. I love it.
Asteria’s words twist into my DNA. Their stories come at the perfect moments and they always sharpen themselves into where they’re needed most. The character they have created currently lace themselves between the squiggles of my brain. I mean Little Sir Menace will be there free of charge forever. Their work is profoundly unique and I pray it makes its way in my hands one day. It could truly change lives. It’s the type of work I know child me would have murdered for. And I am positive the future will be touched by the Four-Fourty-Four itself. On top of poetry that’s beautifully dark.
Asteria is also going crazy with the readings. They are a BEAM of support in this community too. As before, here are two of my favorites and a link to their table of contents:
First Steps -
Take a step and lose yourself in some of the most underrated writing on here.
the edge of the rooftop -
One of my essentials on this site. It imparted itself onto my soul the night I read it. Something that smiles with you. It left me with hope.
the town that sleeps in pieces -
Another side to the four-fourty-four that keeps you on your toes. A regretful visit.
JP has something unique and completely special. Ever since I read my first piece from him back in February, I knew there was lightning running through those words. An unmatched energy I cannot find anywhere else. His work has been a constant inspiration in my own work and I am glad to personally call him a friend. His work is something to look out for, because trust me, his writing will be read and studied for future generations bound to come across it. It is boundary pushing, raw, and full of humanity. His support on this journey has been nothing short of the sun itself.
His work speaks for itself. Here are two of my favorites:
To the Moon, Darkly -
A fever dream that booms into waves of an unveiled soul. The type of piece that I come back to often.
The Lobby -
A Sci-Fi with all of the best bits of gritty and fun. A mindful prison escape, but this isn’t just any prison.
The chaotic gremlin themselves. Kaaos is someone who goes above and beyond in everything they set their mind too. It is truly such a wonder to witness. Kaaos has been a shining example of how to support this community too, which a lot of these highlights have in common. They have sent out submissions FOR other writers that went on to recieve some medallions on Substack. A role model.
Their writing is also fucking magic. They use the power of words to whisper hymns of humanity into the veins. Feelings that hold onto your heart. Fantastic all around:
The Places Grief Made -
A ballad of what once was and what could no longer be. Crushing in the best ways.
The Life of a Misunderstood Pest -
An ode to the small ones. The pests that still hold vigor and beauty.
The Renaissance Woman! A master of multiple mediums. Words and Images. Her writing pairs so well with the art she puts out, a true perfect pairing of the two. Rachel’s writing is FORCE. Something to be on the look out for. Something that you need to read for yourself to feel.
She puts in an insane amount of work on here, in terms of her overall engagement and writing. And she is a lovely human being all around. Here are some of my favorites:
Whispers of the Northern Lights -
A sleepwalk through the fantastical. Secrets lost to the stars.
Rings of Fire -
A legend in the making.
The absolute legend of the Substack fiction community. His welcoming presence truly broke me out of my blackened shell on here. The support he displayed was INSPIRING. So I put the same effort into uplifting others too. I think he has created a ripple affect in this bubble that is simply here to stay. Not only that but his worth ethic is second to none. It sounds like insanity, but he does it with efficiency. Always outputting some of the best on this site.
His own writing is full of adventure, heartbreak, action, AND horror. He tunes in very well into an all encompassing genre bender, like the man is an entity himself. So here are two of my favorites from him:
Crush Depth -
A descent through the threshold. A story told through mission logs and dialogue. Amazing twist.
A Soul, Bound to Steel -
A D’veen tale! A mix of high fantasy and sci-fi that comes together harmoniously.
FLASH LIST! FOLLOW THEM. ALL FICTION AND MORE.
(FICTION IS CULTURE)
Every single one of them is amazing and deserve to be supported for their work. I know it is a lot of effort. All of them very dope.
Well my pretty people, I hope you enjoy the pickings. You have made it past the juiciness of the bone marrow and have entered back into the pit of the PineBox. Right past my ramblings you will find other pieces E.M.R is apart of. Stuff like rituals, turtles, and graveyards . . .
Oh and don’t leave without checking out the PineBox’s song spotlight. A hand picked song from E.M.R. Only to fawn over.
You are appreciated. Now keep going.
Short story and Poetry highlights. Submit some work! We’re expanding!
A place of wonder and imagination.
A ritual. A harmony of evil. A realization. Read by the best, .
Song Spotlight: A song I will be more than fine taking a last breath to. It is a dip into a warm river, brimmed with reeds on its banks. It is a lazy float until the rapids submerge your head in a crescendo of euphoria.
Music is an odd thing. Tastes expand and refine over time. The ear catches new sounds it enjoys, and old ones you thought you never would go back to. It is completely subjective. So even if you do not enjoy this, here are some lines that I envy and admire all the same, and maybe you can too:
“Maybe I am still right there alongside you/Counting syllables in your room.”
“While time hides in the mirror/I feel the moment’s pleasure.”
“I want to step inside to know a wound/I want to write a river to be found in blue.”
“Adrift a little.”
hahaha I'm listed twice homie. but thanks for the mention! big appreciate it.
Quality stuff here! Thanks so much for the shout 🙏🖤