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STORIES. ART. WIT. LEISURE.

ISSUE 79 | AUGUST 7, 2026

WHAT THIS IS

SPONSORED BY

STORIES (MEMBERS ONLY)

SERIALIZED STORIES (PART 1'S)

ARTIST INTERVIEWS

POEMS (MEMBERS ONLY)

ONE HUNDRED WORDS | 68

COOL HAND FRANK
Artwork: “SEASPRAY” by Ray Brilli Fine Art, all rights reserved.
This accompanying artwork is the original, protected, and sole property of artist Ray Brilli Fine Art and held under copyright. Ray Brilli Fine Art’s images, artwork, and content on this website and his website may not be copied, collected, or used for personal or professional gain without written authorization from him.
A serialized thriller told in precise 100-word installments, this tale follows a successful attorney accustomed to control navigating increasingly dangerous threats to his professional and personal worlds.
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PEOPLE WHO DIED: JAMES BURROWS

COOL HAND FRANK
DEC. 30, 1940–JUN. 19, 2026
James Burrows, co-creator and director of "Cheers," died June 19, 2026, at 85. The legendary sitcom director helmed more than a thousand TV episodes across "Friends," "Frasier," "Will & Grace," and beyond.
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THE POWER OF WORD OF MOUTH

MARIANNA GAVURMADZHYAN · BOSTON, MASS.
Artwork: "social club (2019)" by Kirk Stansbury.
One writer's journey from a $15 bowl of disappointing festival noodles to a fantasy dinner in Spain reveals the surprising — and very human — psychology behind why we keep following the crowd when it comes to food.
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TREK PROPHECY

EMANUEL (MANI) ISLER · DENVER, COLO.
A witty personal essay on how a 1967 "Star Trek" episode uncannily foretold today's AI writing takeover — and one writer's wry, reluctant surrender to it.
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TERMINAL

HEATHER CLIMER · SNOQUALMIE, WA.
Photo: “perspective” by Obscure Nonspecifics, all rights reserved.
A reflective confessional poem set in an airport terminal, where a blank page becomes a witness to the transient beauty of human lives passing through — sleeping, laughing, crying, and loving — all while the poet sits in the quiet space between destinations.
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WHY SO SERIOUS?

JASON ROGERS · KENNESAW, GA.
Photo: “Safety Last!”, U.S. public domain January 1, 2019.
From silent-era antics to modern misadventures, a self-professed scary-movie addict reveals the comedies that never fail to crack him up.
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FEATURED WRITER SELECTIONS

EMANUEL (MANI) ISLER · DENVER, COLO. 1/23/26 EMANUEL (MANI) ISLER · DENVER, COLO. 1/23/26

WANNA BET?

EMANUEL (MANI) ISLER · DENVER, COLO.

This accompanying artwork is the original, protected, and sole property of artist Marilyn Binder Silverman and held under copyright. Marilyn Binder Silverman’s images, artwork, and content on this website and her website may not be copied, collected, or used for personal or professional gain without written authorization from her.

Sports used to sell beer and razors. Now they sell the promise of easy money. A witty personal essay on gambling’s grip on modern culture.

ALYSE ANDREE · NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. 10/17/25 ALYSE ANDREE · NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. 10/17/25

“WE WERE TOGETHER”

ALYSE ANDREE · NEW YORK CITY, N.Y.

Artwork: “four flowers” by Kirk Stansbury.

In a drought-ravaged California village, four teenage girls cling to memory, survival, and each other. "We Were Together" is a haunting story of friendship, loss, and fragile hope at the end of the world.

EMILY SLEPSKY · ATLANTA, GA. 9/26/25 EMILY SLEPSKY · ATLANTA, GA. 9/26/25

WHEN LOVING THE SEASON BECOMES A LITTLE UNHINGED

EMILY SLEPSKY · ATLANTA, GA.

A witty take on fall obsession, from Pinterest craft fails and pumpkin spice chardonnay runs to sweater martyrdom in 85-degree heat.

JASON ROGERS · KENNESAW, GA. 1/17/25 JASON ROGERS · KENNESAW, GA. 1/17/25

IT’S A VINYL WORLD, AND I LIVE IN IT

JASON ROGERS · KENNESAW, GA.

Artwork: "GOSPEL LIGHT" by Kirk Stansbury.

A personal journey from compact discs to vinyl obsession—finding Holy Grails, making friends in record stores, and discovering the joy of truly listening to music.

FEATURED WRITERS

COOL HAND FRANK

What are your top three favorite fruits?

ABOUT
ALYSE ANDREE

“Tomatoes, dates and, in the summer, durians.”

ABOUT
MARIANNA GAVURMADZHYAN

“Golden kiwi, pomegranate, green grapes.”

ABOUT
MANI ISLER

“Watermelon, cherries, grapes.”

ABOUT
JASON ROGERS

“1. Bananarama, 2. The Lemonheads, 3. The Cranberries.” (I do not condone Mister Rogers’ response. — COOL HAND FRANK)

ABOUT
EMILY SLEPSKY

“Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries!”

ABOUT

ALL COOL HAND WRITERS

ARTIST GALLERY PREVIEW

MARILYN BINDER SILVERMAN

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RAY BRILLI FINE ART

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ELIKYA ART

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MR. HOOPER ART

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JILLERY.

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J. KING ARTWORKS

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RICH LO

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LYNNE MCDONALD

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CHRISTINA MOSER

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OBSCURE NONSPECIFICS

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SCOTT PADGETT FINE ART

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KELLY SAUNDERS ART

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KIRK STANSBURY

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VISIT COOL HAND ARTIST GALLERY

THIS MONTH'S GOOD CAUSE

REVEAL

ASK ME ANYTHING (I MIGHT LIE)

Tell me about seeing Bob Dylan in concert. I am a Dylan fanatic, and my husband was able to get me to meet him backstage a few years ago.

— LORI, DENVER, COLO.

Is it that obvious I am a Dylan fan? Believe it or not, I saw him perform in concert for the fifth time, at Chastain Park in Atlanta, one week ago as of the publishing of this reply.

No smartphone photos or videos were permitted. I respect that request. It kept me focused on the present moment and attuned to the full journey within the 85-year-old Dylan and his band's performance: his vocals, his lyrics, the singularly American noir ebb and flow of their music itself.

A few highlights from the night: two of my all-time favorites, "Man in the Long Black Coat" and "Tryin' to Get to Heaven"; the bluesy snarl of "False Prophet"; and, reimagined as a tango, a noticeably audience-rousing "When I Paint My Masterpiece."

Willi e Nelson, the Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, and Dylan himself … none of us have many more opportunities to see these masters at work for much longer. See them any chance you get.

Also, complete envy that you got to meet the man I endearingly call "Uncle Bob."