Böcker av Mickey Collins

These winter months of cold are dark give us the chills and goosebumps. Or perhaps that's just the feeling of anticipation that comes when you have new prose and poetry to read.It's been too long. Did you think we ghosted you? You certainly ghosted us and we're happy for it. Thanks to you, Deep Overstock is back in the flesh...or lack thereof. Within these pages you hold are haunts both happy and sad, with a feeling of unfinished business. To open this tome is to invite the ghosts of family, friends, strangers, and even houses into your life.Just remember that even after you close this journal, these stories will continue to stay with you, so make your peace with them as you go.Now, as we lay Ghosts to rest, we ask that you resurrect classic tales of old. We ask that you send us re-tellings of tales been told, stories of classic cars, one-liners that never get old, or whatever other classic you dig up, and send them to us for our Classics issue before the February 28th, 2024 deadline.

You've been knotty, haven't you? Just a little? That's ok. We've tied all of that up into a neat little journal here. Don't worry, we won't string you along. Please enjoy the knot pieces within Deep Overstock 22. We have poems (and a couple prose pieces) all about how knots, and ropes, and strings, and twine bring us together, or keep us apart. But we're hoping that knot even death will keep you from submitting to our next issue: Ghosts. We want ghosts of Christmas future (it's just around the corner), ghosts that moan and howl, ghosts of past lovers, or forgotten lunches. Give us your scary ghosts or your friendly ghosts. Whatever haunts your halls, send them our way. We'll bust 'em.

We love you. We want to take you on a date, woo you, bring you home to meet our parents and our cat. We'll cover you in kisses, or hold your hand, or just sit across the table from you with a knowing look in our eyes. We'll spend long days sitting in the same room reading to ourselves or each other in front of the lit fireplace, if that's what you want. And you've told us what you want and we're going to give you all that and more. In the pages you hold near and dear to your heart we have tales of meet cutes, of awkward teenage loves, of crushes and lusts, of long-lasting relationships, relationships gone right and wrong, the love of another person, a physical thing, or idea. Treasure these stories and poems while they're here. Let them sit with you awhile and share their desires.

In the pages before you are tales of children, parents, grandparents, friends, and life in an early stage of our development: childhood.Do you remember your childhood? Was it full of smiles and playing outside? Meeting new friends, or shyly introducing yourself at the front of the classroom.Childhood should be an age without worry, but it can also sometimes come as harsh lessons and difficult decisions. As adults we hope that children don't grow up too quickly; we try and shield them from the world's problems. We want children to smile and be free. Some of the children in these stories and poems smile and some don't. In any case, we hope that you can find a glimpse of your inner child here. Next issue, Deep Overstock ages and gets mature with Romance.

Are you buzzing with excitement over this issue? Can you not wait to read the honeyed words that our contributors have written? Ready to comb through and find the sweet nectar that resides within?This issue we have queen bees, nurse bees, mason bees, Buddha bees, bees in fairy tales, bees in fall, bees in winter, beekeepers, and honey by the gallonful.It has always been our pleasure to read all of the different submissions we receive. This issue was no different. However, we received so many great submissions we have put together our biggest issue yet. We feel like queen bees of the hive, with drones bringing offering after offering to feed our fat rumps so that we may continue to lay little bee eggs in the way of these journals. So thank you, dear contributors. And thank you readers for picking up this issue, as heavy as it may be.And thank you bees! Bees do so many great things, it's no wonder that they're so busy all of the time. Without bees humankind would likely have starved. Go out there and plant some flowers so bees can keep being themselves and doing what they do. But first, help yourself to these poems and short stories.And after that, consider submitting for our 18th issue: Old Favorites, in which we are seeking pieces for any of our past 17 themes (including this one, if you feel so inspired after reading these pieces).We will bee with you always,Deep Overstock Editors

Look up in the sky! There, above the shelves and moving through the clouds. Is it a bird? A plane? Or some sort of bird-plane hybrid? No, it's the 16th issue of Deep Overstock: Superheroes!Thank you for donning your capes, your masks, your tights, and saving us in this tumultuous time with your stories and poems on caped crusaders, vigilantism, and superpowers.This issue is full of BAM! super men, WHAM! wonderous women, ZAP! a couple of babies, and it all adds up to a team-up of epic proportions. No villains could stop what you've created in these pages.