Playing Outside
My daughter loves playing outside. LOVES it. She’s like a little feral cat, or a hippie. If I let her, she would spend 100% of her time outside, like an animal.
I’m told that this is a good thing, mostly by people in my parents’ and grandparents’ generations. If you listen to older people talk, they basically spent the entirety of their childhoods outdoors, and it turned them into wonderful super people, and it’s just a shame that kids spend so much time indoors these days, and GET OFF MY LAWN!
In addition, there are lots of psychologists and scientists who say that fresh air and sunshine are important for healthy physical and psychological development, and you need to make sure your kids spend time outside.
Ok. Fine. Since the whole world seems to think that being outside is the best thing ever, I do it. Despite the lupus, and the fact that I need a tub of hypoallergenic sunscreen and a parasol, I do it. I dutifully take my child outside to play, every single day.
Crow Training
At a party, I recently learned that it’s possible to train crows to bring you loose change that they find, and I was instantly enchanted. That is a career that has Dana written all over it. No phones. No angry customers. No forms and paperwork. No fax machines. Also, I like crows.
I announced to my friends and husband that I planned to train me up a murder of crows to do my bidding. No only would I train them to bring me change, I would train them to send letters as well. I know eight Game of Thrones Geeks off the top of my head who I’m certain would pay me to send letters for them by crow.
My friends and husband laughed, assuming that I was just drunk and full of bad ideas, like usual.
They were wrong.
The Worst Breakfast
This is the worst breakfast you could possibly eat. I’ll show you the recipe and picture first, then I’ll explain myself.
Alright. I assume you’ve taken that in.
First of all, I get that some people like coffee, and believe that they need it to function in the morning. Bitter vomit flavor is appealing to lots of people. I don’t pretend to get it, but I understand it on an intellectual level. So on its face, a coffee smoothie sounds like a pretty good breakfast idea. You’re killing two birds with one stone, getting your coffee and nutrition all at once. But you guys, this is not the way to do it.
All this “smoothie” is is a milkshake. Read the ingredients again. It’s coffee, ice, dairy and chocolate. It could be argued that vanilla Greek yogurt is preferable to ice cream, but I raise my eyebrow. It’s basically the same thing. Sugar, cream, vanilla, in that order.
My Best Friend Athena
Hello!My middle grade fantasy novel, My Best Friend Athena, will be released February 7th, 2023, by Cinnabar Moth! If you’d like to read and review an advance copy, here is a link.https://booksirens.com/book/CLTIKRK/SW3Y85N
An Incident With an Orca
My play has been published in this anthology. Check it out!https://www.lulu.com/shop/som/contemporary-one-act-plays-volume-5/paperback/product-zg9rvp.html?page=1&pageSize=4
Upcoming presentation, October 15th
Come here to see me talk about writing! Tickets are $25 for SCWA members, and $35 for general public. I will probably be sober. ...
The Retreat
Winner of the 13Horror.com Film & Screenplay Contest 2020!
A mother and son are kidnapped and forced to spend a weekend with a religious cult.
The Binge-Watching Cure II: An Anthology of Horror Stories
Tom is a ghost, trapped in his apartment. In order to pass on to the next world, he must make amends for his past mistakes.
Pick up your copy of The Binge-Watching Cure II: An Anthology of Horror Stories to read Dana Hammer’s new short story – Tom the Ghost!
Kill Switch - A Horror Anthology
It’s a self-operating lawnmower. What could go wrong?
Pick up your copy of Kill Switch to read Dana Hammer’s new short story – Mow Bot!
Dead Viking Rehab
When Haldor the Viking is killed in battle, he expects to be welcomed into Valhalla, as a warrior should be. Instead, he is sentenced to guardian angel duty, watching over his thoroughly modern great-granddaughter. In order to be admitted to Heaven, he is tasked with finding her a man to marry — and he cannot use violence. If he fails, he will be sentenced to Hell for all eternity.
Dead Viking Rehab is a hilarious tale of redemption, love, and so many killings.
Pazuzu Versus the F***ing Fairies
Pazuzu the demon’s desires are simple. He only wants to have some father-son bonding time in the forest, and engage in some light arson. But his sensitive artistic son wants nothing to do with it, preferring to play video games and befriend the whimsical, brightly-colored fairies who dwell in the woods.
Pilcrow & Dagger: January 2019 - The Survivor
Pick up your copy of the January 2019 issue of Pilcrow & Dagger to read Dana Hammer’s new short story – Community!
The Rabbit Hole: Weird Stories Volume One
A woman with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder is trapped in her home, when it becomes covered in birds.
Pick up your copy of The Rabbit Hole to read Dana Hammer’s new short story – Birds!
The Difference a Thousand Dollars Can Make
The story of a woman who fought to get a salary for homemakers, and the man who wants revenge.
Read Dana Hammer’s new short story – The Difference a Thousand Dollars Can Make – on The MOON Magazine for free!
The Story Of Lorelei
Now on Amazon!
Lorelei deals with her cockroach roommates.
Dana Hammer’s short story, The Story Of Lorelei, appears in Murder in the Park After Dark Volume 1, edited by Karter Mycroft!
Ali and Amy
Read Dana Hammer’s new short story – Ali and Amy – on Cliterature for free!
The Unpleasantness in Room 27A
Now on Amazon!
Where is the worst place to commit murder? Did you say “The Happiest Place on Earth?” Dana Hammer did, and she wrote a story about it.
Dana Hammer’s short story, The Unpleasantness in Room 27A, appears in It’s All in the Story: California: An Anthology of Short Fiction, edited by D.P. Lyle!