Crush the Maple's Fire

The pale moon casts blurred shadows. Luna’s face sheds tears amidst the leaves, as the rugged possum feasts upon fallen apples. Footsteps crush the maple’s fire like so many shattered dreams. Welcome to American Fantastic’s 2024 fall update.

A breath of fall by Bruce Whearty

American Fantastic welcomes Bruce Whearty who graces us with this breath of fall. He’s a photographer and retired elementary school teacher from Louisville, KY. Come visit his gallery to catch a blue jay in flight, and the pale face of our shadowed moon.

The Summoning by Jack scally IV

Jack Scally IV returns with images from this year’s Inktober series. He reflects our love of the written word, and its primal fury, in this illustration appropriately titled “The Summoning”. View his gallery for more of his images, and follow Eradelphic on Instagram.

American Fantastic also welcomes the poet Claude Les Champs. Claude publishes his poems as images, so we’ve included the full text of his Untitled I below. They are a Louisville activist and writer who creates poems that walk the tight rope of beauty and revolution. Visit his gallery to view more from his bibliotheque.

untitled I by claude les champs

forbidden archives logo by nicholas mazat

Forbidden Archives, our podcast that dives deep into a number of nerd topics, has new episodes, including ones about the movie I Saw the TV Glow, the dimension of the Fey Wild within Dungeons and Dragons, and the comic book about rabbit samurai Usagi Yojimbo. Unwind with hosts John Beechem and Nicholas Mazat as they guide you through the strange and wonderful.

And last but not least, writer John Beechem has penned a new short story, “The Good, the Bad and the Dead: Part 2: Lone Wolf and Cub” (you don’t need to have read Part 1). Join the gun-wielding Sylvia and the girl Remi whom she protects (and is sometime protected by), as they journey in a raft along the Ohio River to the city of Cairo. Along the way, they fight river pirates, plenty of zombies and the tension of failures best left forgotten.

For more of John’s writing, check out the rest of his works on this website, or purchase his short story and poetry anthology Delusions of Grandeur: Stories and Poems from Amazon, the bookstore Carmichael’s in Louisville, KY or email americanfantastic@gmail.com to purchase from his directly.

Thanks for visiting American Fantastic! Please share this content with a friend (or enemy), like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, share us on social media and become a member on Patreon for as little as $1 a month. Anything helps.

And remember, when reality becomes a burden, enjoy a sojourn into the fantastic…

Shed Like Feathered Tears

Leaves fall gently, able to let go so easily of the gnarled branches that once held them. The maple sheds them like feathered tears. They whisper beneath my shoes, telling stories of the wind and rain. Welcome to American Fantastic’s 2023 fall update.

fALLING LEAF BY JUSTIN ZOELLER

Justin Zoeller returns with an image of this leaf suspended in mid-air. Let the breeze land you gently on the earth with the rest of these images. Follow @justinzoeller.

you can’t control everything by jack scally iv

Jack Scally IV blazes like an inferno with this new haunting image. Don’t stand too close. Follow @eradelphic.

Makalani Bendele Photo by Andre Howard

American Fantastic welcomes poet Makalani Bendele! Makalani is a poet from Louisville, Kentucky. He has received a number of honors and awards for his poetry. He writes about the Black experience, music, and what it means to be alive. Check out more of his work on his website.

You can also catch up on the latest episodes of American Fantastic’s podcast, Forbidden Archives. Dig deep into topics ranging from the reptilian alien conspiracy in pop culture, to the greatest firebenders from Avatar: The Last Airbender. Hosts John and Nick will take you for a ride.

ahool by kenard

And finally, writer John Beechem has penned a new tale of terror and war, Nightflyers. This short story is about a group of soldiers during the Vietnam War who encounter nightflyers, flying humanoid bats who are also a documented cryptid seen around the world.

Thanks for visiting American Fantastic! Please share this content with a friend (or enemy), like us on Facebook, share us on social media and become a member on Patreon for as little as $1 a month. Anything helps.

And remember, when reality becomes a burden, enjoy a sojourn into the fantastic…

Violets Push through the Earth

Violets push through the earth, their petals soft as baby’s breath. Feel them caress your sole. Welcome to American Fantastic’s 2023 spring update.

That feeling when you finally get out of that seasonal funk by justin zoeller

American Fantastic welcomes photographer Justin Zoeller! Justin has a keen eye for the natural world and the beauty it contains. Come stroll through the garden with his magic lens. Follow @justinzoeller.

so how’s your love life? by yoko molotov

Yoko Molotov’s artistic accomplishments have taken her all the way to the land of the rising sun! She’s involved in an art residency in Japan. Help keep her fed by purchasing her Off Color Coloring Book, available for a limited time only. You can also read a profile of her written by John Beechem. Follow @yoko_molotov.

Mesc by jack scally iv

Jack Scally IV haunts the forest in this ominous new image. Careful, some of these mushrooms may be poisonous. Follow @eradelphic.

Poet John James offers up two new poems about the tangled relationship between nature and humanity. He’s also published a new chapbook, Winter, Glossolalia. Come taste the sublime.

Forbidden Archives has a new look! Catch up on the most recent episodes including ones about Assassin’s Creed, Stephen King’s Eyes of the Dragon and The Last of Us. Also available on your favorite podcast app. Art by @gambit.designs.

You can also read two new poems by John Beechem. Learn about the noble sacrifice of the pick-up truck, Little Red, and live a day in his life. Unravel the threads one word at a time.

Thanks for visiting American Fantastic! Please share this content with a friend (or enemy), like us on Facebook, share us on social media and become a member on Patreon for as little as $1 a month. Anything helps.

And remember, when reality becomes a burden, enjoy a sojourn into the fantastic…

The Veil is Thin

The spirits are alive tonight. Can you feel them? Wisps of ghostly energy slide through your fingers like strands of gossamer. Strange whispers warm your ears. Hold tight their cold embrace. Welcome to American Fantastic’s 2022 fall update.

Get Lost by Jack Scally IV aka @eradelphic

Jack Scally IV invites you to Get Lost with this new haunting image. Follow Jack Scally IV as @eradelphic to see more of his work including his Inktober series and Free Art Monday’s. His work will keep you company you this chill autumn night.

Abandoned Kentucky by Sherman Cahal, Adam Paris and Michael Maes

American Fantastic congratulates Michael Maes for his new book, Abandoned Kentucky. Available locally in Louisville, Kentucky at Carmichael’s Bookstore and on an online retailer that shall remain nameless. Come see inside the creeping darkness and find the old new again.

Art by Samantha Rose aka @__samantha_rose__

American Fantastic is pleased to announce its newest podcast, Forbidden Archives. Come listen to John & Nick take deep dives into topics (mostly) related to fantasy. You can listen to them here, or subscribe to Forbidden Archives on your favorite podcast app. Keep your ears open.

Last but not least, John Beechem has panned his newest horror story, “Employee Feedback”. It’s the tale of a man who’s tied to one of the machines his company makes as it slowly kills him. Inspired by Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Pit and the Pendulum”. Come experience the madness.

Thanks for visiting American Fantastic! Please share this content with a friend (or enemy), like us on Facebook, share us on social media and become a member on Patreon for as little as $1 a month. Anything helps.

And remember, when reality becomes a burden, enjoy a sojourn into the fantastic…

Time to Feast

Welcome to our ceremony. The ritual is almost complete. May this full moon bless our harvest. Let us give thanks for its bounty. Now it is time to feast. Welcome to American Fantastic’s 2021 Fall update.

Jack Scally IV blesses us with new illustrations including this rather haunting specimen. He’s continued his painting series that pairs dark images with twisted words. Check out his gallery to see more of his work including “Nosferatu” from his Inktober series and “Rusted Waters” that features his psychedelic pen and water color style. You can find even more of his work on Instagram @eradelphic and purchase his work at his store.

Caleb Beechem returns with vivid photos of plants and animals in all their natural beauty. This new mirror image captures a perfect blend of sky, land and water brought together by a transcendent flock of birds. He also offers new images of a praying mantis and a sunset colored flower. You can follow Caleb on Instagram @beechemphotography and purchase works from his store on Etsy.

We welcome painter Kevin Dennis who shares some of his work from his 60 for $60 series. Kevin is painting sixty new works that he sells for $60 each. His colorful and dazzling style weaves a web of wonder. These also include a painted frame. You can see more of Kevin’s work and buy his paintings at his online store.

John Beechem has penned a new tale, “The Man With the Silver Gun”. Inspired by Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels and werewolf mythology, this story is about Thomas Barnes, one of Her Majesty’s best operatives, sent to recover a lost CIA agent and fight a couple werewolves along the way. It’s worth its weight in silver.

Thanks for visiting American Fantastic! Please share this content with a friend (or enemy), like us on Facebook, share us on social media and become a member on Patreon for as little as $1 a month. Anything helps.

And remember, when reality becomes a burden, enjoy a sojourn into the fantastic…

Library of the Macabre

Welcome to our library of the macabre. Does the hazy smell of candle wax please you? We find it quite inviting. Grab one of our old tomes to sink your teeth into. Or gaze for a while at the strange images framed upon the walls. Welcome to American Fantastic’s 2020 Fall update.

Wyrmwood by Jack Scally IV

Jack Scally returns for another year with his Inktober series. Inktober challenges artists from around the world to create 31 new ink illustrations for every day in October. Each illustration revolves around a different word—the one above, titled Wyrmwood, is inspired by the word “coral”. We love Jack’s black and white work, but make sure to check out his gallery to witness his incredible sense of color too. You can find even more of his work on Instagram @eradelphic and purchase his work at his store.

Rakshasa by Michael Maes

Michael Maes has created even more windows into the psychedelic with his digital photography. This piece was named Rakshasa, after a supernatural being in Hindu and Buddhist mythology. They’re also called “man-eaters”. You can see some of Michael’s more traditional (but no less remarkable) photography in his gallery, follow him on Facebook and purchase photos from his store

Pink Clouds by Caleb Beechem

Caleb Beechem has created more masterpieces of symmetry. In this piece, he’s captured an image of birds flying through clouds warmed pink by the sunset. Caleb is a master at blending nature photography with his own sensibilities. In his gallery, we’ve also added an image of a barn behind rows of pumpkins and one of a curtain of autumn leaves. You can follow Caleb on Instagram @beechemphotography.

John Beechem has written the newest entry in his annual Halloween Series, an acrostic series of poems, Thirteen Halloween Dead. What makes this an acrostic series is that the first letter of each poem spell out ‘Halloween Dead’. It’s a sometimes macabre examination of death and dying.

You can also listen to John read this series on our podcast American Fantastic Theatre. Our entire audio storytelling and poetry collection is available through American Fantastic on this website, or by listening (and hopefully subscribing) to American Fantastic Theatre on Apple Podcasts (aka iTunes), Pocketcast, and many other podcatchers.

Thanks for visiting American Fantastic! Please share this content with a friend (or enemy), like us on Facebook, share us on social media and become a member on Patreon for as little as $1 a month. Anything helps.

And remember, when reality becomes a burden, enjoy a sojourn into the fantastic…

The Calm After the Storm

Follow the song bird to her nest. Feel the cold kiss of morning rain upon your feet. Squint your eyes against sunshine reflected in a puddle. Bathe in the calm after the storm. Welcome to American Fantastic’s 2020 Spring Update.

TWIN BIRDS BY CALEB BEECHEM

Caleb Beechem expands his gallery with echoes of images reflected against themselves. From a bird’s bright plumage to the soft petals of a flower, Caleb’s photos reveal nature in all her delicate beauty. See the rest of Caleb’s gallery, follow @beechemphotography on Instagram and visit him on Facebook.

HOPE BY JACK SCALLY IV

Jack Scally gives us Hope in this new acrylic painting. He’s also crafted two new illustrations of human vessels amidst the vast ocean, one showing a classic three masted ship and another with a NASA space capsule waiting to be recovered. Visit the rest of Jack’s gallery, follow him on Instagram @eradelphic and buy his work here.

BLUE CRYSTAL BY MIKE MAES

Mike Maes continues to develop otherworldly photographic art. He straddles the line between reality and illusion in these kaleidoscopic images that dazzle and delight. Visit the rest of Mike’s gallery, and follow him on Instagram and Facebook.

RICH RHYMA AT OPEN COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER

American Fantastic celebrated its 10th Anniversary Celebration at OPEN Community Arts Center in Louisville, Kentucky on Friday, March 13th, 2020. We welcomed many wonderful performers and had an incredible time raising money to support local artists and art spaces. Andrew Massie read his short story What Moves Beyond the Wall, John Beechem read his poetry and fiction and also read poems by Lizzy Carraway. We recorded a live episode of our podcast Hip Squared, and featured music by Maplex Monk and Rich Rhyma. Many thanks to OPEN and all of the artists who participated in our event, and to everyone who came out to support us!

Thanks for visiting American Fantastic. Please share this content with a friend (or enemy), like us on Facebook, share us on social media and become a member on Patreon for as little as $1 a month.

And remember, when reality becomes a burden, enjoy a sojourn into the fantastic…

Moonlit Avenue

Good evening, stranger. Welcome to our hideaway saloon. Tonight, drinks are on the house. The entertainment has begun, so please take a seat. Welcome to American Fantastic's 2019 Fall update.

TATTERED ROOM BY MICHAEL MAES

Michael Maes has returned with a new batch of photos, including this digitally edited piece that showcases a room in tatters. Mike has a fondness for the abandoned and forgotten. He's also created a flaming skull sculpture and captured the beauty of leaves falling into into a natural pool of water. See the rest of his gallery here. You can see more of Mike's work on his Instagram @michael_maes and purchase prints of his work from his etsy store MMaesPhotography.

SKELETON AND DRAGONFLY BY JACK SCALLY

Jack Scally IV strips everything bare with this new drawing from his Inktober series. Follow Jack on Facebook or his Instagram @eradelphic. See his gallery for images of bats swooping through a valley with a green sky behind them, and a twisting white dragon reminiscent of Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away. You can purchase his work at his store on Big Cartel.

FOREGROUND FOLIAGE BY CALEB BEECHEM

Caleb Beechem has returned to dazzle us with new images of the natural world. His recent photography includes red leaves hanging like banners from their branches, a lake reflecting the sky, and the moon in triplicate. View the rest of his gallery and see even more of his work on Instagram @calebbeechemphotography.

SABRINA BY YOKO MOLOTOV

Yoko Molotov casts a spell with this illustration of Sabrina and her feline friend. She’s also created a cyborg and we’ve included the Two of Swords from her Tarot series. You can see the rest of her gallery and read a feature written about Yoko Molotov by John Beechem here. Follow Yoko on on Instagram @yoko_molotov. To purchase her work, visit her website.

Hip Squared has wrapped up Season 2 with an examination of the Angry Videogame Nerd and the Witcher book series. Other recent topics include the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov, the comic book series Paper Girls by Brian K Vaughan and Cliff Chiang, and the animated G.I. Joe: the Movie. Hip Squared delves into new pop culture topics every week. It’s hosted by John Beechem and Troy Kremer, and produced by Maplex Monk.

You can also listen to the second episode of 50Talk2, a long form interview show with Louisville artists hosted by John Beechem. In this episode, John interviews Krishna and Marty Edlin, a father and son musical duo who rock together in the heavy metal band Cyclops Shaman and in the Alice Cooper cover band Sick Little Things. Stay tuned for conversations with even more Louisville artists. Contact americanfantastic@gmail.com if you know someone who would be good to interview (including you).

American Fantastic Theatre debuts with three audio stories by John Beechem, The Cottonwood Curse, Thirteen Candles and The Lost Journals of Nelly Bly: Clash of the Kaiju. These stories can also be read for free on American Fantastic. For those who have difficulty finding time to read, or just like to listen to stories, American Fantastic Theatre offers an audio version of the written word. Keep listening!

Hip Squared, 50Talk2, and American Fantastic Theatre can be streamed and downloaded from American Fantastic. You can also follow them on Apple Podcasts (aka iTunes) and Google Podcasts. Please subscribe, rate and review!

And for his Halloween horror story, John Beechem has penned The Lost Journals of Nelly Bly: Clash of the Kaiju. This story imagines an adventure to Japan with the pioneering 19th and 20th century journalist Nelly Bly and the writer HP Lovecraft. Together with some new friends, they must prevent the rise of one of the Old Ones, but this leads to a monstrous conclusion of epic proportions. Read the story, or listen with American Fantastic Theatre.

Thanks for visiting American Fantastic! Please share this content with a friend (or enemy), like us on Facebook, share us on social media and become a member on Patreon for as little as $1 a month.

And remember, when reality becomes a burden, enjoy a sojourn into the fantastic…

Petals in the Mud

Follow the scent where it leads you. Here in our garden, we have many fine specimens. Careful to mind the thorns. Taste the nectar, and let your worries cease. Welcome to American Fantastic’s 2019 Spring update.

NEVER FIND ME BY JACK SCALLY IV

Jack Scally has a new set of illustrations. Never Find Me dwarfs the viewer with its massive landscape of Chimney Top Rock in Red River Gorge, Kentucky. Within its swirling aperture, we see Jack’s signature psychedelic pattern rising over the horizon. Jack’s gallery includes more of his recent work including a red sunset over calm waters, a human polymorph shifting with strange energy, and a tree whose bare branches reach like fingers into the sky. You can also follow him as @eradelphic on Instagram.

NIGHTSHADE BY YOKO MOLOTOV

John Beechem has written a new feature about Louisville artist Yoko Molotov. Yoko is a “gender-fluid, transgressive, multi-media artist, poet and musician” who also creates manga, draws portraits and illustrates commissions. Learn about her newest manga series Nightshade, and view some of her other creations. You can see more of her work on Instagram @yoko_molotov.

BUTTERFLY FLOWERS BY CALEB BEECHEM

Caleb Beechem returns with a trio of new photos that reveal the natural world, its dazzling colors and promises of the future. These flowers mirror like the wings of a butterfly. View the rest of his gallery to see a plant hanging from a window, suspended in glass, and a cloudy sunset in all its fiery beauty. You can also follow Caleb on Instagram @beechemphotography.

BUTTERFLY AND FLOWER

Mike Maes has begun experimenting with macro photography. See the world in full bloom, from a bug’s eye-view. Mike’s gallery also includes a colorful mosaic of bubbles and water, separating light into magnified puddles. You can see even more of Mike’s work by following him on Instagram @maes6267.

THE MILK HOURS BY JOHN JAMES

We congratulate poet John James for his new collection The Milk Hours, winner of the Max Ritvo Poetry Prize. John’s poetry is lyrical, poignant and has a lot to say about these strange times we live in. Read his title poem and five others here. Visit Milkweed Editions or your local bookstore to pick up his book.

collage by troy kremer

Hip Squared has continued its many conversations about all things pop-culture. Recent topics include podcasts The Walk, Mysterious Universe, and Astonishing Legends, musicians Dr. Dundiff, Otis Jr., Touch AC and Anderson East, and video games like the Stranger Things mobile game and Stardew Valley. Hosted by John Beechem and Troy Kremer, produced by Maplex Monk, Hip Squared is now available on iTunes and Google Podcasts. Check it out!

To support us, tell a friend (or enemy) about American Fantastic, like us on Facebook, share us on social media and become a member on Patreon for as little as $1 a month.

Thanks for visiting! And remember, when reality becomes a burden, enjoy a sojourn into the fantastic…

Footsteps in the Shadows

Follow the lantern’s light, and let it guide you to our hearth. Beware the shadows, for strangers lurk nearby. Drink deep the cider and let your worries cease. Welcome to American Fantastic’s 2018 Fall update.

Strange Country by Jack Scally

Jack Scally returns with a pair of paintings in a new style. These stark images reveal a plain and affecting reflection of his emotions. Peer through the keyhole into the room inside his mind. If you'd like to see more of Jack's work, or even buy some, make sure to visit his website. Follow him on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with his recent work including animated versions of some of his previous illustrations.

Caleb Beechem offers us a glorious view of Autumn leaves. Feel them crunch under your feet as they dance in the wind. Caleb has also created a new symmetrical reflection of a butterfly flying in a field of lavender and a photo of a large, foreboding house. To see even more of Caleb's photography, follow him on Instagram or visit his website.

Mike Maes is raising hell with this new photo of Pinhead. He’s also photographed the sun shining through some burning fall leaves. Check out the rest of Mike’s gallery for other frightening and autumnal images from seasons past. Follow Mike on Facebook and visit his website to see his even more of work.

Dracula A.D. 1972

Hip Squared is back with Season 2. Catch up on the first three episodes of the new season, or listen from the beginning. In the Halloween episode, John and Troy talk about Hammer horror films and go on a journey to the haunted realm of Innistrad in the universe of Magic: The Gathering. Produced by Maplex Monk.

David Jacobs has penned an account of his interactions with the paranormal, Keep My Eye on the Shadows. Read about his encounter with Shadow people alongside his girlfriend, Liz. This is a real-life story about being haunted by beings beyond human understanding.

Thanks for visiting American Fantastic! Please share this content with a friend (or enemy), like us on Facebook, share us on social media and become a member on Patreon for as little as $1 a month.

And remember, when reality becomes a burden, enjoy a sojourn into the fantastic…

A Whisper in the Willows

Dandelions grow tall and spread their seeds upon the wind. Robins shed blue shells for breasts of red. A weeping willow's roots draw deep water as she sheds tears among her blossoms. American Fantastic is proud to present our 2018 Spring update.

Cherry blossoms (sakura) by Caleb Beechem

Caleb Beechem has captured three new images that unveil the infinite majesty of the natural world. Witness the power of symmetry, and see the exquisite detail in a pair of photos that form a reality split in twain. These images are a good reminder to stop and smell the roses, but be mindful of the thorns. To see even more of Caleb's photography, follow him on Instagram or visit his website.  

white tree red sun by Jack Scally

Jack Scally has crafted new worlds for us to peak into. Follow the roots as deep as they go. Visit Jack's gallery to see a psychedelic pattern weaved into thick coiled lines that are reminiscent of stained glass. You can also set sail in an illustration of boat cresting the waves beneath a stark cliff, one that brings to mind Hokusai's The Great Wave off Kanagawa.  If you'd like to see more of Jack's work, or even buy some, make sure to visit his website. Follow him on Facebook to keep up with his recent work. You might even be lucky enough to snag some free art. Jack is donating some of his works by placing them in random locations in and around Louisville, KY (and posting about it on Facebook). They're free to any passers-by lucky enough to find them. Keep your eyes peeled.

Red Room Abandoned by Mike Maes

Mike Maes returns with a few new photos that reveal the hidden beauty of things left behind. He's also captured an image of two stone butterflies fluttering near a statue (part of a cemetery monument), and a blonde, speckled duck with a strange tufted crest. Mike was featured in the April 4th, 2018 LEO Weekly with an article by Kevin Gibson. Check out the article to learn more about how Mike finds these abandon places, how he documents them and what brought him to see the world through an aperture. Follow Mike on Facebook and visit his website to see his even more of work.

Joshi Butts by Dordji

Dordji piledrives your consciousness with this incredible illustration of some gorgeous ladies of wrestling (but not those gorgeous ladies of wrestling). Jump off the top ropes and into Dordji's twisted imagination by checking out the rest of his gallery. You can also visit his tumblr and follow him on Facebook (if you can find him) to see even more of his work.

The sword of acad by The clawhorn

The Clawhorn has forged this blade in the fires of a thousand hells, and brought it gleaming into the mortal world. This detailed line work shows how the Sword of Acad was forged one mouse click at a time. Check out this gallery to see detailed close-ups of each part of this sword. Print them out and piece them together to create a massive coloring project, or to wield the sword yourself. 

hilt detail by the clawhorn

To learn more about the artists we admire, listen to the pilot episode of 50Talk2, an interview show hosted by John Beechem and produced by Maplex Monk (we let him on mic every once in a while too). In their debut episode, John speaks to Mickel Green and Mikayla Byrd from Green Byrd Comics about their comic book Black Angel. Then John and Maplex speak to Kavi Shakur about his return to Louisville and his newest song, Double Edged-Sword (it cuts both ways). Plug in your Earbuds of Entertainment +1 and press play to enjoy.

Black Angel by Mickel Green and Mikayla Byrd

American Fantastic welcomes the writer N.J. Florence. We've featured her blog What She Does, an excellent and relatively recent creative endeavor. To paraphrase N.J. Florence's own self-description, 'she lives in an old apartment building with her musician boyfriend, their two cats, and several houseplants. She's been writing since she could hold a pen, but never for an audience. This is the year she changed that'.

We welcome N.J. to our curious menagerie, and encourage readers to dig into her work. It's intelligent, self-reflective, and kind of weird sometimes--but only in the best ways. 

Photo by Aunt O

Selena McCracken has penned six new poems, The Storm, Clarksvillage, Trains of the Heart Land, FLINT, Can't Keep, and Check. Most of these poems involve the indignities and triumphs of people living in poverty and around the margins of society. Can't Keep is about metamorphosis, transformation and sisterhood. Selena is an Indiana native who now lives in Bloomington. She is a writer, student and activist. Follow her on Facebook to read her newest poems.

John Beechem has published a preview of his upcoming young adult (YA) fantasy novel, Valley of the Wind Riders. Read the first three chapters of this story about Petyr and Bianca, two Wind Riders, small, magical people who have bonded with birds and ride with them on their backs. During their initiation, a powerful artifact is stolen from their village. Together, they embark on a quest to recover this artifact and learn its truth. Along the way, they encounter tall giants, wicked wizards, terrifying monsters and all kinds of adventure. These chapters encompass the story's first arc.

Valley of the Wind Riders is influenced by fae (fairy) folklore and Studio Ghibli films, especially Princess Mononoke. It will be published in 2019, but follow John and American Fantastic on Facebook to keep up with its progress in real time.

royalty free art from erkerri

You can also read John's newest poem FATHERHOOD IS, a piece that needs no introduction aside from its title.

Thank you for visiting American Fantastic! To support us, like us Facebook, share us on social media and become a member on Patreon. Artists of any kind can submit original work to americanfantastic@gmail.com.

When reality becomes a burden, enjoy a sojourn into the fantastic...

Ghost of a Chance

Autumn has returned, wearing her fiery dress. Listen to the leaves crunch underfoot. Smell the wood-smoke in the air. Taste the pumpkin seeds we have to offer. American Fantastic is proud to present our 2017 Halloween update.

Undressing the Problem by Jack Scally

Jack Scally returns with a haunting image of a strange women shedding her skin. Injecting his unique psychedelic pattern into a new haunting image, Jack has created a drawing with pen and ink that is true to himself and to the season. If you'd like to see more of Jack's work, or even buy some, make sure to visit his website.

Reflecting moons by caleb beechem

Caleb Beechem has a pair of new photos that ascend into the night sky. Reflecting Moons creates a Rorschach effect with a tall pine tree, guarded by a pair of lunar sentinels. Visit his gallery to see more night-time photography, including a starry sky framed by the shadows of the forest canopy. To see even more of Caleb's photography, follow him on Instagram or visit his website. 

Chad Horn has offered up some new poems. He's created two acronym poems, AERONAUGHTICALLY and UNTRANSLATABLE about the thrill of climbing above the clouds, and the futility of language. Chad has also written a set of poems, VARIOUS STATES OF AGREEING, BEING AND SEEING about the multitudes contained in being a human being. You can also check out some of Chad's creatively lined visual art. 

John Beechem has penned his newest Halloween horror story, "Thirteen Candles". It's about a boy named Noah and the ghost that haunts his school. Noah struggles to understand his own sexuality, and comes up against his classmates and the ghostly legend of "Moshe's curse". If a boy or girl at Noah's school does not share their first kiss by their thirteenth birthday, they risk Moshe's curse and the ire of their friends. Learn Noah's fate in this story about one of life's scariest times: growing up.

When reality becomes a burden, enjoy a sojourn into the fantastic...

In Bloom

Tiny buds open as gently as the doors inside your mind. Feel the soft petals smooth beneath your fingertips. Hear the whispers of the wind, and breathe in the strange scent of American Fantastic's 2017 Spring update.

A lovely bouquet. Photo by Caleb Beechem.

Caleb Beechem returns with a new round of nature photography, celebrating the flora and fauna of the Pacific Northwest.  In this season of rebirth, birds and plants herald the dawn.  You can find more of Caleb's photography at Beechem Photography and follow him on Instagram.
 

"From Hell's heart, I stab at thee!" Art by Dordji

Dordji returns to document an epic struggle between a one-eyed man and his opponent, a fearsome spiny salamander.  Whether formed inside his own imagination, or recorded from the titanic struggles undertaken among various role-playing groups, his illustrations bring the other-worldly to life.  You can find more of his work at Magar-Art.
 

Guardian of the Gate. Photo by Mike Maes.

Mike Maes has captured a fearsome bronze door knocker, among other other strange metallic artifacts. He's also revealed the feathers and flowers he's discovered in his journeys. You can find more of his work on Facebook.
 

Ethereal Convergence. Art by Jack Scully.

Jack Scully has created a crystalline monolith intersected by an ethereal convergence. His magical and surreal creations open a portal into strange new worlds.  You can find and purchase his work on his website.
 

You can also catch up on all the recent episodes of Hip Squared, American Fantastic's pop-culture podcast.  Co-hosts John Beechem and Troy Kremer talk about all kinds of pop-culture, from the cutting-edge to the classic,  mainstream, and obscure.  Maplex Monk produces the show.  Tune in and turn on.

John Beechem has also concluded "That Stone Could Begin to Crack", his two-part story about a pair of fraternal twins, Alan and Julie, who begin to navigate life together after many years apart. Inspired by research into psychedelic substances used to treat depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, Alan and Julie take a trip down the rabbit hole with their friends Zach and Diane in part 2, "Beneath the Shade of the Mushroom's Cap".

Thank you for visiting American Fantastic!  Please tell your friends, share on social media and consider supporting us on Patreon.

And remember, when reality becomes a burden, enjoy a sojourn into the fantastic...

A Fire Rooster Crows Steam Through the Ice and Welcomes a New Year

Come close, traveler, and sit by the fire.  This is our 2017 Winter update.  Stay warm with the words and images we've provided.  Hear the crackle of sticks and smell the smoke as our fire blazes in the moonlight.  If you have some speakers or a pair of earbuds, you can even hear our voices inside your mind.  But we are all a bit mad here, so you may hear other voices too....

We are pleased to announce our new audio section!  Our first offering is Hip Squared, a pop-culture podcast hosted by John Beechem and his younger brother, Troy Kremer.  John and Troy talk about everything from the mainstream to the underground, independent, weird, old and local.  You can catch up on all five episodes, and come back every week for a new conversation. Like us on Facebook to find out when new episodes are posted. We plan to post the newest one each Friday. 

Also make sure to listen to the archives of the American Fantastic Radio Hour, a mix of music, storytelling, poetry and conversations recorded at ARTxFM studio in Louisville, KY.  There are seven episodes to keep you entertained.  And be on the lookout for American Fantastic Theatre, an upcoming project that will include audio versions of John Beechem's stories and poems.  More than just a reading, these will include genuine story-telling by John with character voices, emotions and will be an experience that can be enjoyed wherever you are.  Listen through the website, or get the Soundcloud app for mobile use.  Episodes of the American Fantastic Radio Hour already feature John's story-telling in case you'd like to hear what these will be like. 

Blue moon, I see you standing alone.

Caleb Beechem returns with a set of new photos including this haunting image of the moon, altered with a blue hue, giving an impression of cold solitude.  You can also find a picture of a frozen leaf with the strangest crystalline ice surrounding it and an image of a storm cloud bending the sun's rays.  We are glad Caleb has survived Portland's severe winter and taken advantage of the frozen oddities it's presented.

The Downward Spiral.

Mike Maes reveals the depth of a downward spiral, one more functional than most we encounter.  Be sure to go to Mike's gallery to see two excellent samples of wild-life photography including a mallard flying down into water and a gorilla peeling a label off of a cardboard box.  It's good to see the world through eyes so clear and in search of beauty in all places.

PARAGON, a super-hero gaming character illustrated by Dordji

Dordji has painted two new illustrations, both inspired by his love of table-top role-playing games.  The first is PARAGON, a character created by one of his gaming family members.  Representing all that is right and true, PARAGON is an inspiration to us all.  If your tastes fall closer to the monstrous side of things, Dordji has also illustrated a cloud giant, devouring the first of a very unfortunate group of adventurers.

This Cloud Giant knows what he wants and he knows how to get it.

And finally, John Beechem has posted the first part of a short novella (or a long short story--it's the internet, so who cares?).  It's titled That Stone Could Begin to Crack and part one is The Reunion.  Alan and Julie are fraternal twins, but as different from each other as many brothers and sisters.  In a moment of mundane desperation, Julie reaches out to Alan, and they begin to mend a relationship that was torn apart by a war that has followed him home.  As their friendship rekindles and their connection deepens, Alan suggests a surprising but hopeful treatment for his PTSD and some of its baggage--a psychedelic trip using psilocybin mushrooms.  This story is based in part on actual scientific research and exploration conducted by veterans.  The conclusion, Part 2: Beneath the Shade of the Mushroom's Cap, will be published this Spring. 

Thank you for visiting American Fantastic!  If you'd like to support us, become a member on Patreon or visit our Merch Store (tee-shirts and books now available).  Tell a friend who you think would get a kick out of our website.  Artists may submit original content (of any kind) to americanfantastic@gmail.com (poke John at jbeechem2000@gmail.com if you do not get a timely response).  

And remember, when reality becomes a burden, enjoy a sojourn into the fantastic... 

Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die

Greetings, creatures of the night!  Welcome to our 2016 Halloween update.  The veil is thin, and all manner of wicked mischief creeps among the cornfields and orchards.  Come take a sip, and relax with a haunting assemblage of fantastic tales.

Your front-side is just as ugly as your back-side!

Dordji has returned with a new pair of offerings.  The first is illustrated by Ryan Rich and colored by Dordji.  It depicts a deadly confrontation between a monster and a knight, but for the life of me, I can't decide who to root for.  Dordji's second image is a portrait of the elusive werewolf or lycanthrope.  Rarely seen except on nights of the full moon, this creature can be repelled by wolfsbane or by simply locking one's door at night and not venturing outside it once a month.  View the rest of Dordji's gallery to see what other kind of monstrosities he's crafted from the aether.  

 He's having one hell of a night.

Fall into the abyss with Caleb Beechem.  He's turning up a new leaf.  You can see more of his colors on his website and follow him on  Instagram.  To see more beauty from the natural world, look at the rest of Caleb's photos including more from many Autumn's past.

FALL IS A FEATHERED FOREST OF FIRE.

Mike Maes has a pair of photos that reveal the beauty of decay.  Here's an open invitation to view the rest of his gallery.  He's taken many photos of abandoned houses, most of them a marvelous kind of unsettling.  

Whatever you do, don't go in there.

John Beechem has penned his newest Halloween horror story, "Reap a Bloody Harvest".  It's about Elijah, an old-fashioned, blood-thirsty assassin hired to murder a corrupt pharmaceutical executive at an industry conference in Las Vegas.  With his partner, Jacob, and boss, Malichi, he drives a stake into the corrupt heart of Sin City to seek revenge on a different kind of blood-sucker.  In case I am being too subtle, this is a story about vampires.  I hope you enjoy, but perhaps you should wear a turtle-neck tonight.  

Thank you for returning to American Fantastic.  I invite you to peruse our horror section in case you would like to read even more disturbing stories.  Carve pumpkins, drink plenty of cider, sprinkle some holy water and relish this season of the Dead.

And remember, when reality becomes a burden, enjoy a sojourn into the fantastic...

Welcome to American Fantastic New Point Oh

Welcome back to American Fantastic!  It's been a while, hasn't it?  Since you and I hung out.  That's my fault.  You know it is with work. Family.  Or maybe you don't.  But that's okay, I'm here to explain what happened.  

It's been six months since we last updated.  That's way too long, isn't it?  What kind of ramshackle website is this anyway? Look, there's dishes in the sink.  Junk all over the floor.  I won't even mention the coffee table.  I think you know why. Okay, let's roll up our sleeves and get to work.

Our very first book!  Ain't she cute?

Founder and Editor-in-Chief John Beechem has written and published American Fantastic's first print publication, Delusions of Grandeur: Stories and Poems.  Jack Scally generously gave permission for us to use one of our favorite images for the front cover. Yoko Molotov created the back cover, a black and white illustration for John's zombie short-story, "The Good, the Bad and the Dead". This book provides an essential selection of John's most recent work, representing pulp genres including sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, plus John's poetry and literary fiction.  You can pick up a copy at Carmichael's Bookstore, Amazon or purchase a copy from John personally if you'd like to have it signed.  He is currently writing new, unpublished stories which will be released on American Fantastic soon.  

View fullsize

 Back Cover Art by Yoko Molotov.  She will eat you alive.

We won't bore you with too many details, but the book's publication significantly delayed our most recent on-line update.  To keep up with American Fantastic between updates, please like us on Facebook!

El Patron Phlogisto by Dordji.  "And ye shall fear Phlogisto the Armless!"

Dordji has reached into his twisted mind and brought forth clawing and biting a few new creations.  Phlogistro communes with his worshippers.  He is a powerful and (usually) benevolent deity.  Also be sure to check out The Tyrant Lizard of Doomgore National Park, what you would get if you crossed a Tyrannosaurus Rex with a nightmare.  

Cloudy with a chance of enlightenment.

Caleb Beechem continues to shoot and publish new photographs.  His landscapes seem pulled from the imagination.  All kinds of earthly creatures fall pray to his lens as you can tell from his gallery.  Visit Beechem Photography to see even more of his work or to hire him.

John has also been on the FM airwaves.  Listen to American Fantastic Radio Hour Episode 7, recorded and broadcast live on ARTxFM 97.1 WXOX in Louisville, KY. Host John Beechem and guest Kelly Shiflet (artist and John's wife) talk about the indie video game Hyperlight Drifter, dissect and spoil Game of Thrones episodes and novels (48:30), and chat merrily.  John also reads a poem about Kelly's truck being destroyed by a drunk driver [DON'T WORRY NO ONE WAS HURT] and reads from his sci-fi, noir short story To Yellow Fever.

Travel even further back in time to listen to American Fantastic Radio Hour Episode 6,  also recorded and broadcast live on ARTxFM. John Beechem reads his zombie pulp fiction, The Good, the Bad and the Dead, talks about local artist and expert in the undead, Yoko Molotov, and speaks to Maplex Monk about Haptic Ultra.  Music for the faithfully departed by White Zombie, the Misfits, Sek and video game composer Koichi Sugiyama. Illustration by Yoko Molotov.

That's about all we have for you this time.  Thank you for returning to our mad den of the macabre, for exploring our weird wonderlands and alliterative alleyways.  Please tell a friend or enemy about American Fantastic.  If you are an artist or know one, please submit original work to americanfantastic@gmail.com.  

And remember, when reality becomes a burden, enjoy a sojourn into the fantastic...

Hear the Song of Winter

Shadows flicker by the fire.  Come closer and keep warm.  The story-teller weaves tales from stars and moonlight, flame and feather.  Snow falls like ashes, but the heart keeps time with the drum.  Listen for the song of winter.  

                                 Frost Fur by Caleb Beechem

Caleb Beechem returns with new photos to add to his growing collection.  Not all of them are as cold as these frost-bitten leaves.  It is summer in South Africa, and Caleb is working with African Impact, a conservation program that includes teaching young people about wildlife photography.  Make sure you check out his gallery for some of his most recent photos, and visit his website or find him on Facebook at Beechem Photography. 

                                  Congregation of the Night by Jack Scally

Jack Scally has returned with some new paintings and pen and ink drawings.  He's decorated a Storm Trooper helmet with his distinctive black and white coil line pattern, along with new original work.  Jack's line and ink drawings are echoes from a time long ago, but his use of psychedelic patterns and imagery reflect a more modern madness.  You can see more of his work on his artist's Facebook page, Jack Scally Art.

Patti Alvey has painted a portrait of musician Randy Newman.  Hear Patti speak about creating this piece, along with more of her wacky ideas on episode four of the American Fantastic Radio Hour.  In this episode, host John Beechem talks to Patti about their favorite things from 2015, Randy Newman, art and a lot more, including an excerpt from some new short fiction by John.  Recorded and broadcast live at ARTxFM Studio, just like every show in the AFRH archives.

And check out episode five, a show John did on his own that includes his thoughts on all things Star Wars besides the films and an excerpt from The Adventures of Baxter and ROEBUCK:  Part 3.

Speaking of The Adventures of Baxter and ROEBUCK, John has published his third installment in the series, "Ramona's Revenge". In this episode, Baxter, ROEBUCK and Doc D'Angelo meet a new ally, Ramona.  Another subject of Major Monk's scientific experiments beneath the sands of Los Alamos, Ramona is a strong psychic with undisciplined and unbridled abilities.  Can she help them escape?  Read to find out!  

Remember, when reality becomes a burden, enjoy a sojourn into the fantastic...

The Devil's Due

The harvest has come.  Time to reap what we have sown. To satisfy the restless spirits of the dead, we present these humble offerings.

                          Time ain't the only thing that's a flat circle.

Jack Scally returns with a few new additions to his gallery.  He usually creates his pieces with watercolor, acrylic, and pen on cotton canvas in a simple notebook. But with these humble tools, Jack creates incredible images that are gorgeous and haunting.  See more of Jack's work on Instagram @eradelphic and like him on Facebook.

                                           Quit buggin' me.

Jodie Beechem has returned with a pair of new black and white illustrations. Her keen eye and sense of geometry and symmetry are in full effect with this winged, six-legged insect of unknown genus and species.  She has also created a new collage that includes liquor, a switch blade, a straight razor, some playing cards, and all manner of body parts.  All the ingredients for a good night out.

                                         This tree was framed.

We are proud to welcome back Mike Maes who has crafted a series of photos taken in abandoned places.  Mike finds the beauty in what others have left behind.  Beneath the peeling paint and broken boards, he has found images that blend the sad and the sublime, the humorous with the exhumed.  Come see what he's dug up.

                                 Fall is a feathered forest of fire.

Caleb Beechem continues to find and photograph some of the most gorgeous vistas planet Earth has to offer. He recently made a trek to Proxy Falls in Oregon to see the leaves turning all the colors of flame. Let his photos light a wildfire inside of you. See more of his work at Caleb Beechem Photography on Facebook.

                                    You are cordially invited...

Last but not least, John Beechem invites you to American Fantastic Presents:  The Cottonwood Curse (and other Spooky Tales) on Saturday, October 17th.  Come hear some frighteningly good stories, just in time to get you in the mood for Halloween.  

John has also crafted a new horror story "Shattered", inspired by shows like The Twilight Zone and Black Mirror.  Pleased to present for your consideration Mr. Joe Damici, a young man who's struck it rich, with an internet post that reaches millions. On a whim, he buys an antique mirror, curious of the artifact's cursed legacy. Come see his reflection. Peer through the looking glass.

Remember, when reality becomes a burden, enjoy a sojourn into the fantastic...

Feed the Flames

Summer burns hot, cleansing the land with her hungry fires.  Where only blackened cinders remain, new life has room to grow.   Dragons roam the night, and blacken the stars.  Best run for cover...

This fairy was made for someone's birthday.  
She comes but once a year to remind you of your mortality.

Dordji has discovered a few new species, horrifying and wondrous.  Not all are as gentle as the fae.  Come and view them, but don't stick your fingers through the cage.  They still need to be fed.  See more beasts of the abyss on the Magar-Art tumblr.  

           Cool off in the creek.  Don't you wish your mind was this clear?

Caleb Beechem has been busy this summer, visiting Crater Lake in Oregon and exploring a few other places.  His photos immerse the viewer in the wide world outside, and will help inspire your own adventures.  Caleb has also found a willing in subject with what looks to be a Fox Squirrel.  Down, boy...

                                        Say hello to Hello Mona

American Fantastic welcomes Lexington street-artist Hello Mona.  Hello Mona combines images from classic art and modern pop culture to create their own form of mash-up.  From Ancient Greece to the Mushroom Kingdom, their influences include cartoons, video games, and Renaissance Art.  Read our interview with Hello Mona, and check out their own space on the interwebz at Hello Mona's website and webstore.  You can see Hello Mona on August 27th in Lexington at the Bread Box studio for 1UP, an art show focused on video games.  Admission is 100 gold coins or rings, good for one special mushroom.

John Beechem has been on the airwaves with episode two of the American Fantastic Radio Hour on ARTxFM, featuring friend and poet Selena McCracken.  

Listen to John read "Delusions of Grandeur", Selena read "Voltairine", and hear them discuss the French Revolution, Manic Depression, Nature goddesses, and other fine subjects.  Featuring music by Daft Punk, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Jamie XX, and Jim James, this show will open your mind and funk it up.  

You can also read about the fascinating world of Wendy's employee training videos, an indie video game inspired by The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers called Chroma Squad and other cultural ephemera at A Fantastic Pop! (mirrored on blogger).  Learn about things that don't matter, and have fun doing it.  

John will return to fiction this Fall with his Halloween short story "Shattered".  You can hear the introduction on the American Fantastic Radio Hour, and read the complete story in October.  In the tradition of shows like The Twilight Zone and Black Mirror "Shattered" will warp your perceptions of the seemingly familiar.  

Welcome back to American Fantastic.  Submit original content to americanfantastic@gmail.com.  Remember, when reality becomes a burden, enjoy a sojourn into the fantastic...

Heart Beats Through the Gloom

Violet bloom by the
Silent tomb

Gentle kicks
In a widow's womb

Raindrop tears
Are all she hears

Her heart beats
Through the gloom

"Searchers after horror haunt strange, far places." -H.P. Lovecraft
Art by Jack Scally

American Fantastic welcomes Louisville artist Jack Scally. Jack draws and paints surreal landscapes, portraits and random ephemera grown from his fertile imagination.  His work is strange, sometimes dark,  always beautiful.  Take a look at his expanded gallery  on Instagram @eradelphic.  You can can also find him on Facebook. 

Everyone enjoys a tasty morsel.  Art by Dordji

Dordji can't stop, won't stop. He has created a series of sci-fi military paintings inspired by Warhammer 40k titled Warhammer Faux-rty K.  These pieces imagine warriors in mythic battles against beasts greater than themselves, at least in body if not in spirit.  He's also crafted an incredible depiction of the dreaded Shpongle Bongle.  Beware, lest you find him lurking in the depths; she sometimes inflicts her wrath upon the shore. 

Snow-capped mountains 'neath the wild blue yonder. 
Photo by Caleb Beechem

Caleb Beechem returns with more photos of our wondrous world.  Caleb's eye captures the sensational and the sublime in his landscapes and the people that surround him.  You can find even more of his work on Facebook and Instagram. 

American Fantastic welcomes Louisville writer and poet John James.  John is an assistant poetry editor for Phantom Books, and his most recent work, "Chthonic" won the 2014 CutBank Chapbook contest.  John speaks for himself in an interview with Keep Louisville Literary on ARTxFM, and also in his interview with CutBank Books.  In John's words, "Now we seek to investigate and to know / And wonder at the things beyond our vision."

Poet and artist Sammi Hatcher returns with a series of four new poems.  Sammi's work is dark, raw and brutal.  She writes about love, loss and everything in between.  Sammi has gazed long into the abyss, and the abyss has also gazed into her. 

John Beechem continues his post-apocalyptic, sci-fi western The Adventures of Baxter and ROEBUCK with Part 2, "The Flood".  John has included a synopsis at the beginning of his story to remind you of their past trials and tribulations, but you can also scroll down to the first installment to read from the beginning.  Baxter, ROEBUCK and Doc D'Angelo go underground in a search for the truth beneath the sands of Los Alamos. 

John will also be hosting American Fantastic radio on ARTxFM tonight, May 17th, between 11:00 P.M. and midnight.  Hear a mix of music, storytelling and all kinds of delightful tomfoolery.  Stream the show live on the internet, or listened to the archived version here:

Thank you for visiting American Fantastic!  If you haven't already, please like us on Facebook and tell your friends (even your enemies).  We are always accepting submissions of original writing, art, music and video at americanfantastic@gmail.com.

When reality becomes a burden, enjoy a sojourn into the fantastic...