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Posts by Michael Allen Rose

I Work Very Hard, And I Would Like To Try Cake

By A Horse

Hello. I am a horse. I work very hard at my job of being a horse. When humans say move the heavy thing, I move the heavy thing. When humans sit on top of me and pull on my head, I carry them where they want to go. The main food the humans give me is hay and oats. But I am thinking it would be nice to have a different food.

I am thinking I would like to try cake.

Yes, yes. Cake. I know all about it. When humans eat cake, it is in glad times. It is the food for a celebration, such as when a woman becomes 47. I have seen cake on the Fourth of July. When humans have a cake, they stand around it and clap hands and smile and say happy birthday at each other. Sometimes there are beautiful markings on a cake, such as balloons or a pink shape.

Sometimes the top of a cake is on fire and a boy must blow on the fire with mouth wind. This is the scariest cake. I do not want this kind. But I will eat any other cake. Any cake that is not the fire cake that tries to kill the boy.

Please understand: I do not get money for doing work. I do not get to go inside the house. All I am either doing my horse job or standing in my pen or eating food off the floor. I always do these things. But I have never once gotten cake and I would like it very much.

I have noticed that human children get to eat cake. But I am bigger than the children. I am more helpful to the farm. Children do not move the heavy things like me or let anyone ride on them. And yet they get cake. Maybe the humans will realize this. Maybe they will say, "You  know who deserves cake? That horse. That horse whose back we are always on."

Every day I dream about what it will be like if I get to eat cake. Here is what will happen. First, I will walk to the cake and putt my nose at it like hrrfff to make and stomping my hooves to make sure it is not a snake. Then I will trot in a circle to show that I am a horse and I am large. After that, I will nuzzle the cake to …

I Work Very Hard, And I Would Like To Try Cake By A Horse Hello. I am a horse. I work very hard at my job of being a horse. When humans say move the heavy thing, I move the heavy thing. When humans sit on top of me and pull on my head, I carry them where they want to go. The main food the humans give me is hay and oats. But I am thinking it would be nice to have a different food. I am thinking I would like to try cake. Yes, yes. Cake. I know all about it. When humans eat cake, it is in glad times. It is the food for a celebration, such as when a woman becomes 47. I have seen cake on the Fourth of July. When humans have a cake, they stand around it and clap hands and smile and say happy birthday at each other. Sometimes there are beautiful markings on a cake, such as balloons or a pink shape. Sometimes the top of a cake is on fire and a boy must blow on the fire with mouth wind. This is the scariest cake. I do not want this kind. But I will eat any other cake. Any cake that is not the fire cake that tries to kill the boy. Please understand: I do not get money for doing work. I do not get to go inside the house. All I am either doing my horse job or standing in my pen or eating food off the floor. I always do these things. But I have never once gotten cake and I would like it very much. I have noticed that human children get to eat cake. But I am bigger than the children. I am more helpful to the farm. Children do not move the heavy things like me or let anyone ride on them. And yet they get cake. Maybe the humans will realize this. Maybe they will say, "You know who deserves cake? That horse. That horse whose back we are always on." Every day I dream about what it will be like if I get to eat cake. Here is what will happen. First, I will walk to the cake and putt my nose at it like hrrfff to make and stomping my hooves to make sure it is not a snake. Then I will trot in a circle to show that I am a horse and I am large. After that, I will nuzzle the cake to …

The horse op-ed is an instant classic. I can't tell you how much joy this piece gives me.

It should be taught in every introductory writing class in no small part because the horse arguments are so compelling. "I have noticed that human children get to eat cake. But I am bigger than the children."

2 weeks ago 16924 5834 259 695
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Registration BizarroCon is an annual gathering of Bizarro Fiction writers, artists, performers, filmmakers, publishing professionals and fans.

Bizarro Con is coming in May! This convention changed my life. If you make weird art, write things that live outside the walls of genre, love to create things that march to the beat of their own drummer, trust me: you won't regret it.
Register today; see you in Portland!
bizarrocon.com/registration/

3 weeks ago 0 0 0 0

Tonight, babyyyyyy!

3 months ago 1 0 0 0

I haven't listened to this album in years and years... I'd practically forgotten about it until now! Thanks for the reminder!

3 months ago 1 0 1 0
Maze Heart
Maze Heart YouTube video by Michael Rose

I made a video earlier this year that was originally meant as a print zine for my patreon, but I created a digital multimedia version as well. I've wanted to share it for a minute so I decided that would be a good time. I hope you enjoy it. Existentialist romantic that I am. youtu.be/giQhDmyrITs?...

3 months ago 2 0 1 0
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Book Review: Stories From The Motel Sick edited by Michael Allen Rose Stories From The Motel Sick edited by Michael Allen Rose  ( Full review on the way) 388 pages, Paperback Published November 26, 2025, by Ro...

Yes, I have a story in this collection. That being said it rules. @michaelallenrose.bsky.social did amazing work here.

3 months ago 2 1 0 0
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🥧 To make a pie by Michael Allen Rose

I have a new story up called "To Make A Pie" which won 2nd prize in "An Ordinary Contest" over at @foofarawpress.bsky.social . Enjoy the madness! foofaraw.press/to-make-a-pie/

5 months ago 2 3 0 0
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Rashomonster - Trollbreath Magazine Rashomonster

Happy Halloween, Blessed Samhain, or TGIF. Whatever this day means to you, you deserve to laugh at life and unlife. Free Fiction Friday: Rashomonster by Michael Allen Rose
magazine.trollbreath.com/rashomonster...
@michaelallenrose.bsky.social

5 months ago 7 4 0 0
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Guest: Michael Allen Rose by @Wednesday Lee Friday Michael Allen Rose [http://linktr.ee/michaelallenrose] talk horror and comedy, writing and art, and the remarkable resilience of the weird kid. We examine the changeable nature of success, wonder what...

I was interviewed by the Mentally Oddcast. Learn more about how my creativity and mental illness entwine (or don't) and listen to us talk about horror and comedy, art and writing, and the remarkable resistance of the weird kid.

zencastr.com/z/ge6iOhXc

6 months ago 2 0 0 0
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Check Into The Motel Sick: A New Anthology Arrives - The Ginger Nuts Of Horror Review Website Ginger Nuts of Horror welcomes editor Michael Allen Rose to the site to talk about his brand-new anthology, Stories From The Motel Sick, featuring some

We bring you news of a great new anthology from @michaelallenrose.bsky.social

Stories From The Motel Sick

With stories from @elizabethbroadbent.bsky.social @shanemchorror.bsky.social @dungeoncrawlercarl.bsky.social @cynthiapelayo.bsky.social and many more

gnofhorror.com/check-into-t...

💙📚

7 months ago 21 14 0 1
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Can I go 9 for 9?

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: KEEP SUBMITTING. This is working because I'm making myself SEND OUT STORIES. As hard as that is, as much as it feels like spinning wheels sometimes, DO IT. It's the only way. You have my sword. <3

Cat pic for tax. (Dr. Light edits all my work)

7 months ago 1 0 0 0
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Antarctica - Dark 'n' Light What comes after the end? In this short story by Michael Allen Rose, it is a frozen, lifeless, Sisyphean eternity, where two survivors are trapped in a vicious cycle of too little and just enough.

And of course there was the 1st place win in the Dark N' Light contest of my much beloved story Antarctica, published here: darknlight.com/projects/sho...

7 months ago 0 0 1 0
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REVIEW: Skin by Kathe Koja Michael Allen Rose on the new edition of Skin by Kathe Koja, published by Meerkat Press this past April

In addition to those sales above, I have written a review of Kathe Koja's rereleased book "Skin" for a blog called Zona Motel zonamotel.substack.com/p/review-ski...

7 months ago 0 0 1 0

Last month, I received word that the podcast Tales to Terrify wanted Had He Tongue To Speak (8,412 words) which is a horror story I've been trying to find the right place for. It's going to be an audio production version, not a written/printed one! More on that when the production is ready to go!

7 months ago 0 0 1 0
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Issue 5, Fall 2025 - Trollbreath Magazine Issue 5, Fall 2025 Fiction La Forêt de Fontainebleu, Les Chasseurs, Le Renard by Aimee Ogden   The Water Dragons of Harney County by B. Morris Allen   The Machines are Hungry by Maressa Voss   Gracie ...

I was incredibly excited to place my horror comedy Rashomonster (4,650 words) in an upcoming issue of Trollbreath Magazine. Cool people doing a very cool magazine. Keep an eye out, as when spooky season comes there's a rumor I might be the free story past the paywall... magazine.trollbreath.com

7 months ago 2 2 1 0
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Whisper House Press Mundane horror for the people.

Then, a short horror story of mine based around the spreading water damage in my apartment ceiling The Stain (2,950 words) was published in an anthology called Costs of Living (put out by Whisper House Press) which is now available. whisperhousepress.com

7 months ago 0 0 1 0
foofaraw a zine of surreal storytelling and worldly observations

One of my stories, Gumball (2,560 words) a literary comedy based on a real life incident from when I was a kid was bought for the Fooferaw Anthology. foofaraw.press

7 months ago 0 0 1 0
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WonderBird Press | Mike Jack Stoumbos WonderBird Press publishes scifi, fantasy, and humor anthologies and is invested in the continuing growth and education of emerging authors.

Then, Gil Malone (2,428 words) my aquatic crime comedy was accepted for the Murderfish anthology (from WonderBird Press) which is coming out later this year (they just finished up a kickstarter campaign themselves and their anthologies are gorgeous). www.mikejackstoumbos.com/wonderbird-p...

7 months ago 0 0 1 0
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I sold my short story Sir Percieval and the Dragon (2,232 words) A cozy fantasy to Dragon Mythicana (an anthology from Inkd Publishing which was published earlier this year. Maybe the cutest thing I've ever written.

7 months ago 0 0 1 0

I haven't updated ya'll on things in a minute, so I thought I'd take a quick second to spread some happy news. In the first 8 months of 2025, I have been paid for 8 STORIES. 8 for 8!!! The momentum is wild and I'm feeling pretty good (take THAT, imposter syndrome!)

7 months ago 1 0 1 0
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Stories From The Motel Sick A genre-bending anthology about a metaphysical motel featuring rooms with every possible theme in the universe

With over 200 backers and growing, we're entering the final few days to back "Stories From The Motel Sick," the next anthology from RoShamBo Publishing! If you want to support us on the ground floor, you have until midnight on the 31st to do it!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/mic...

8 months ago 1 0 0 0
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Stories From The Motel Sick A genre-bending anthology about a metaphysical motel featuring rooms with every possible theme in the universe

We have so much momentum already! Join us and get some really cool stuff from the next universe over, and to the left. Check out Stories From The Motel Sick by Michael Allen Rose on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/mic...

9 months ago 1 0 0 0
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One of the best at reading ! You should watch @michaelallenrose.bsky.social if you get a chance. #stokercon2025

10 months ago 6 1 0 0
How to Be Boring – Bizarro Central

New Flash Fiction Friday drop on Bizarro Central: How To Be Boring.
tinyurl.com/yn6f2fwd

11 months ago 1 0 0 0
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Every night my children demand I read them speeches from @michaelallenrose.bsky.social’s Inappropriate Toasts for All Occasions. I loudly declaim them while they crack up and then riot for more. It’s actually kind of amazing. Thanks to Michael and @madnessheartpress.bsky.social for this gem ♥️

1 year ago 4 2 0 0
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promo flyer advertising the band playing

Ghouls! Make sure you don't miss our mass author signing this Saturday during the Ghoulish Book Festival in San Antonio. Ak'chamel will be performing live, spooktastic music during shopping hours 8:30pm-10pm! This signing/performance is FREE TO THE PUBLIC!

1 year ago 15 3 2 0
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@ghoulish.bsky.social It's time for the Ghoulish Book Festival. I'm ready to get spooky in San Antonio! How about y'all? #ghoulish

1 year ago 10 1 0 0

Yeah!!!

1 year ago 1 0 0 0

Mine is the only "mu$k" worth smelling.

1 year ago 0 0 0 0