"Ray the Vampire" by Mercedes M. Yardley will go live on Halloween. It's fun, and if you want to see what it's about (and get a look at a really cool text technology), check out this Wordle I made with its text.

Happy Halloween!

Our artist-in-residence, R.W. Ware, is a tattoo artist. He's going to the Down East Tattoo Show (DETS) in Bangor, Maine, this weekend. He's blogged about it -- along with the latest FLash Fiction Online offering and his Writers of the Future entry (busy contest-oriented week for him!) -- and you might like to check out his Web site to see work done a little differently than you'll see around here.

Even if living human vellum isn't your favorite parchment, you've got to admire his skill. And his versatility! Good luck, Rich!

If you've read the past two issues of Flash Fiction Online, you've seen the artwork that accompanies each story. It has been relevant and tastefully done in different media to match each story. It's mature, sensitive, appropriate art through-and-through.

That excellence has been achieved through the toil of our art director and resident artist, Rich Ware.

Now other people are giving him the credit he deserves. Over on Andrew Burt's Preditors & Editors Poll, someone nominated R.W. Ware in the "Artist Publishing in 2007" category. As I write this, Rich is #6 -- a testament to his skill and thoughtful craft work.

If you agree, click here, scroll down to R.W. Ware, and cast your vote.

Thanks!