In April 2015, B.K. Stevens debuted the blog series “The First Two Pages,” hosting craft essays by short story writers and novelists analyzing the openings of their own work. The series continued until just after her death in August 2017, and the full archive of those essays can be found at Bonnie’s website. In November 2017, the blog series relocated to my website, and the archive of this second stage of the series can be found here.
One final essay this week wraps up a series celebrating contributors to the just-published anthology Heartbreaks and Half-Truths, edited by Judy Penz Sheluk and available here. The collection features stories by Blair Keetch, Buzz Dixon, Chris Wheatley, Christine Eskilson, Edward Lodi, Gustavo Bondoni, J A Henderson, James Blakey, James Lincoln Warren, John M. Floyd, Joseph S. Walker, Judy Penz Sheluk, Kate Flora, KM Rockwood, Paula Gail Benson, Peggy Rothschild, Rhonda Eikamp, Robb T. White, Sharon Hart Addy, Steve Liskow, Susan Daly, and Tracy Falenwolfe. Over the last two weeks, we’ve hosted James Blakey on his story “The Greatest Secret” and Christine Eskilson on “For Elizabeth,” and today Buzz Dixon talks today about “Tongor of the Elephants.”
As Buzz Dixon’s website explains, he “wrote a big hunk of your childhood, from Thundarr to Tiny Toons, G.I. Joe to Jem, Transformers to My Little Pony, Batman to Chip & Dale — and he ain’t done yet!” Buzz’s new story hearkens back to B-movies and old-time serials, as you’ll find in the essay below—and he also reveals, quickly, that beyond that, he didn’t entirely plan out what he was going to do. But like a good chess player….
Well, read the essay below, and you’ll not only learn about Buzz’s approach but also get a nice taste of his fiction. You can find our more about his work at his website too!
Please use the arrows and controls at the bottom of the embedded PDF to navigate through the essay. You can also download the essay to read off-line.
Dixon-Heartbreaks
Thanks for sharing this, Buzz, and thanks Art for your support of this anthology. I loved Buzz’s story on first read, and it was the first story to make my long list of 35 (105 submissions received). While some on the long list, after multiple reads, didn’t keep me hooked, every time I read Tongor of the Elephants I enjoyed it all the more.