Short stories in a corner of the web

 I've been trying to query for a novel that I finally finished during the pandemic but was incepted during my last year of college (2009).  There have been a lot of ups and downs. Mostly the latter, but that's how it goes.  But, I did make a decision regarding that one particular book. I think that self publishing it will be the way to go. I can toss as many query letters to the wind and hope someone believes in my work as much as I believe in it...but with that time there, I could have done more. And I will. It's not that I'm giving up the concept of querying because I have other stories that might strike the fancy of different agents. But for now, it's probably for the best that I don't inadvertently hold myself back from getting my work out in the world short of a few blog posts here and there.  

  A fun prompt. "Hey. Wake up, kid. Come on...wake up." Juni groaned and yawned mightily, perturbed about being disturbed. He looked around with sleep clouded eyes, unable to see who spoke to him.  Using the sleeves of his hoodie, he wiped his eyes and grousing all the while.  "Who's there?" A statuesque woman stepped out from the shadows of Juni’s bedroom. He was obviously startled. Why would there be a woman in his room in the dead of night? Leaving that aside, why was she just chilling there like she owned the joint? Her hair cascaded in fiery red tresses, a gauzy red shawl draped about her shoulder and set off with a black off the shoulder dress. Juni was torn between complimenting her outfit and screaming in abject horror about a stranger in his room. He opted to take the middle road; asking his way out of it.   “Are you real?”   She seemed stunned at the simple question, but didn’t want to show it.   “I don’t know; are you real?”   Juni immediate...