HEAD-SHRINKERS: Short-scale Speculative Stories

W. J. Manares a. k. a. Willer Jun Araneta Manares is a one-of-a-kind persona in the literary scene of Aklan - the oldest province in the Philippines. He usually writes Steampunk Science Fiction, High Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Erotica and the in-betweens. Known to some as "Tigasing Toro (Stiffbull)" and to others as "Manunula't Manunulat (Poet & Writer)" but to the tribal people he is called "Langaw" or Fly. He authored 17 Books in different genres and still counting. He edited more than 10 anthologies. He independently edits and publishes through The Free Publishing Movement. He is the editor and publisher of this anthology and others.

Jim O'Loughlin is the author of the science fiction novel THE CORD (BHC Press) and the flash fiction collection DEAN DEAN DEAN DEAN (Twelve Winters Press).

Jacek Wilkos is an engineer from Poland. He lives with his wife and two daughters in a beautiful city of Cracow. He is addicted to buying books, he loves black coffee, dark ambient music and anything that’s spooky. First he published his fiction in Polish online magazines, but in 2019 he started to translate his writing to English, and so far it was published in numerous anthologies by Black Hare Press, Black Ink Fiction, Alien Buddha Press, Eerie River Publishing, Insignia Stories, Reanimated Writers Press, Iron Faerie Publishing, KJK publishing, CultureCult, Wicked Shadow Press. https://www.facebook.com/Jacek.W.Wilkos/

M.E.V. Amodia is an author, aspiring hybrid athlete, and dog lover living in Cebu. When she's not writing she enjoys spending time with her family, swimming, and watching old black and white movies.

Jose Anthony Gerard V. Muyco is a teacher at Iloilo Doctors’ College, currently teaching humanities subjects. He is deeply influenced by writers like Murakami and Neruda, and philosophers like Nietzsche, Camus, Adorno, and Jung. He believes that people should explore every side of the human condition whether good or bad. He also won Poet of the Year, in Ukiyoto Press’ Literary Awards 2022, for his poetry collection Book of Nothingness.

Matt McGee writes in the Los Angeles area. In 2023 his work has appeared in Spectrum, Gnashing Teeth and The NonBinary Review. When not typing he drives around in rented cars and plays goalie in local hockey leagues.

Binod Dawadi resides in Nepal, in the city of Kathmandu. Dawadi holds a master’s degree in Major English. He is the co-author of the book entitled, "The Power of Words". Dawadi’s works are published in several Anthologies and global magazines. His vision is to change society through knowledge, therefore he wants to enlighten the world through his writings.

Christopher T. Dabrowski is a writer and scriptwriter from Poland.

Kyle V. Sarona is a 22-year-old graduate of Cebu Normal University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Major in Broadcast Journalism as part of Batch 2022. Kyle graduated Magna Cum Laude and was awarded the Journalism Award during his third year in college. His passion for writing stems from his desire to provide a form of escapism for people like him who want to immerse themselves in fascinating and exciting worlds. He loves Epic Fantasies and hopes to create multiple worlds for his readers to immerse themselves into, inspiring hope, courage, and faith. Through his writing, Kyle as K.V. Sarona hopes to share his unique perspective and experiences with his readers, creating stories that are both captivating and inspiring.

Linda M. Crate (she/her) is a Pennsylvanian writer whose works have been published widely both online and in print. She has twelve published chapbooks the latest being: "Searching Stained Glass Windows for An Answer" (Alien Buddha Press, December 2022), four full length poetry collections, four micro-poetry collections, and two novellas. Her debut photography collection, "Songs of the Creek" is forthcoming in April 2023.

Joseph Okojie, born to the family of Pa Okojie Imoisi Oyabe of Id'ogo Ewohimi Esan South East Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria holds a Master's Degree in Management from Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria. Retired as a Director of Computerization, Edo State Civil Service and presently with the judiciary as a Customary Court adjudicator. An author of several books, married with children.

Irina Tall Novikova is an artist, graphic artist, illustrator. She graduated from the State Academy of Slavic Cultures with a degree in Art, and also has a bachelor's degree in Design. Her first personal exhibition "My soul is like a wild hawk" (2002) was held in the museum of Maxim Bagdanovich. In her works, she raises themes of Ecology. In 2005, she devoted a series of works to the Chernobyl disaster and draws on anti-war topics.

John A. McColley writes from his cave in the woods of New England. He's a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, New Hampshire Writers Project, and has a Patreon where he serializes Scifi and Fantasy novels: https://www.patreon.com/JohnAMcColley . He has a novel, "The Weight of Darkness," coming out from https://ascendentpublishing.com/ at the start of 2024

Sarah Sarai has poems in "Pine Hills Review," "Threepenny Review," "New Ohio Review," "The Southampton Review," and many other journals. Her fiction and flash fiction are in "The Rye Whiskey Review," "Six Sentences," "McQueen's Quinterly," "Tampa Review," "Cleaver," and many others. She is author of three poetry collections, "That Strapless Bra in Heaven" (Kelsay Books) being the most recent. She lives in N.Y.C. and works as an independent editor. She apologizes to Michael Caine.

Giselle Paraan is a teacher who enjoys reading and writing poems and stories during her free time. She believes that without literature, life would be dull and boring.

James Austin McCormick: "I'm a lecturer from Manchester, England who writes all types of speculative fiction. Where possible I like to blend genres together. I have been writing for over 25 years and have been lucky enough to have had several short stories published in various anthologies and also had several novellas and a novel published by Class Act Books. My biggest writing inspirations are H. P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard and Clive Barker."

Mark Antokas on Facebook with two novels and two collections of flash fiction lives and writes most of the year on a Greek island in the Agean.

Til Kumari Sharma was born in Bhorle- Hile, Paiyun 7, Parbat, West Nepal. She is known as Pushpa ( youngest daughter ) too. Her parents are Mr. Hari Prasad Basel Sharma ( Mayor of Village Assembly in the time of Kingdom ) and Mrs. Liladevi Bhusal Bashyal/ Basel. She has her school as ( Shree ) Janata Ma.Vi. Bhorle, Parbat, I.A. from People's Campus, Paknajol, Kathmandu. She has her B.A. from R.R. Campus Pradarshani Marg, Kathmandu. B.Ed. ( Eng. and Pop.) from T. U. Kirtipur and M.A from Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur. L.L.B from Nepal Law Campus Pradarshani Marg, Kathmandu. Her PhD is in English Literature from Singhania University Pacheri Bari, Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan ( India). She was not allowed to study PhD by her own country and she went to India. She has published many thousands of poems, essays, stories and other literary writings ( in Amazon. com and Magazine from Russia, America, England, Scotland, Indonesia, Bangladesh, South Africa, Kenya, North Africa, Trinidad and Tobago , Spain, India and others ) from Nepal & different countries of world. It is wonder that her own relatives and major national newspapers ( media ) do not write for her international achievement even she is rewarded in the world as best writer. Now she is world famous author and poet/ poetess. She is the featured poet in World -renowned Cellist Yo Yo Ma in America. She is co- author in best selling anthologies.

Marcelo Medone (1961, Buenos Aires, Argentina) is a fiction writer, poet, essayist, playwright and screenwriter. He received numerous awards and was published in multiple languages in more than 50 countries. He was awarded the First Prize in the 2021 international contest by the American Academy of the Spanish Language with his short story "La súbita impuntualidad del hombre del saco a rayas llamado Waldemar" ("The Sudden Unpunctuality of the Man in the Striped Jacket Named Waldemar"). His flash fiction story "Last Train to Nowhere Town" was nominated for the 2021 Pushcart Prize. He currently lives in Montevideo, Uruguay.