jpruth's profile

jpruth avatar
AGE: 36
LOC: Piscataway, NJ
GEN: Male
LAST LOGIN: November 24

I have been a journalist since 1997 and have dabbled with words since childhood.

The short story version of “Riding Ten Thunders” was published online in Dec. 2006 at ezine Reflections Edge.

I finished the manuscript for the novel September 2008.

My favorite reads in my younger days were the Hardy Boys mysteries or the encyclopedia. I believe storytelling is the greatest form of human expression and comes through in so many ways.

I have a preference for fantasy and science fiction in my own prose, though I do love a great character driven drama.

B.A. English from Rutgers University, 2000.

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Sci Fi & Fantasy / Riding Ten Thunders Chapt. 5
Version 2
0 Reviews   0 Comments
Nobuyan sneered me and my skinny arms away as he carried grain sacks at dusk to the stores stacking the fat piles toward the roof.‏ “Go make me some injera with Migwao,” he said.‏ Nobuyan never looked after the smaller boys of the village. He forgot how quickly mischief got into our feet. I was in the trees down in the valley before he looked back.‏ Go, commanded the whisper in my ear. To your spear. ‏ “Not another day will I grind flour,” I replied.‏ Round General awaited beyond the stretch ...
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Sci Fi & Fantasy / Riding Ten Thunders Chapt. 4
Version 2
0 Reviews   0 Comments
Plodding bumps of thunder nudged me from sleep while Kemsi’s hut was still dark. The roof cowered under the growling wave curling through the cool air. The day felt dew-touched and just new enough for me to take flight before any waking dogs bayed at me.‏ Hearing the drifting wheezes of the slumbering women, I rolled off my crinkly straw mat, crawling low on my palms and the balls of my feet to reach the grey dullness of the doorway. I pulled on my old robes, the silk falling against me in co...
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Sci Fi & Fantasy / Riding Ten Thunders Chapt. 3
Version 2
0 Reviews   0 Comments
Through the deep purple of night, Mother’s knuckles smashed into the softness of my pleading mouth tossing my head left and right.‏ “Mama, I am sorry.” My lips pulsed as I spoke, wanting my words to catch her next blow. “The Bone Jackal—”‏ Her arm swooped down as if I were a tall-eared hare on the plains with my whiskers twitching in alarm too late. But her hawk talons were replaced with boulders, an avalanche of fists crushing into my left eye. I coughed tears into the dirt abandoning my pro...
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Sci Fi & Fantasy / Riding Ten Thunders Chapt. 2
Version 2
4 Reviews   4 Comments
Mother silently knotted Mujahl’s red robes at his shoulders as he sputtered a rhyme of lyrics only he understood. She walked him outside pressing his right hand into my left and held both our hands for one slow breath. I knew the robes she so carefully wrapped around him would quickly fall down to his waist the first time he turned head over heels in the dirt. Mujahl mastered his somersaults long before he ran on steady legs. ‏ Erasto kept his word and let me, Mujahl and Kagari spend the day ...
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Sci Fi & Fantasy / Riding Ten Thunders Chapt. 1
Version 3
3 Reviews   0 Comments
‏ “Am I big enough for a spear today?” I asked looking up to my mother as we walked along the damp shaded path beneath the interlaced branches of the Jwalwala Forest, where ferns choked between the big kapoks and khaya mahoganies.‏ Mother gave no answer, but I knew she watched me as sure as a goshawk on its perch waiting for a squirrel to creep into open grass. Our steps shook the trees spraying my face in warm beads of water budding from the edges of the leaves. Wide-eyed voles scurried away...
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Reviews
Sci Fi & Fantasy / Into The Master's Lair - Revised
by SwordMistress
The details need some sharpening to make the story convincing. For example, the Master's throne could be described more. Does it have specific ancient markings on it? That would help relate to the reader how long he has been waiting. Also his amulet, what is it shaped like? Is it a sapphire? Does it have a unique design? Those kinds of details help make the story tangible. Lauriana's age needs to come up sooner. It makes it hard to grasp her character by holding back that detail. Her reaction...
Short Story / Mr. Delmar pays a visit
by BigMamaMags
I would take some time to bring out more details that can shape who Jacob Delmar was and maybe give some clue behind why his spirit is appearing. Did he die suddenly? Old age? Also what was he and the Delmar family known for? Did he wear the brown suit around town a lot? How old is the speaker at the time of the summer visit? The smaller Delmar house, can you bring out some details on how old it might be? Was it there since the founding of the town? That can add to the level of mystery. More ...
Crime, Thrillers & Mystery / 212: The Drunk. An Encounter with The Misfit. A Ghost from the Past.
by Curtastrophe
Early on, I wanted a physical sense of the bar. Just a quick line on its size and the lighting as you describe the patrons. Nothing that would repeat the details that come later. just let me know right away if Lucky's Pub is a cramped, tiny place or big and cavernous. Larry might be very curt with guys trying to come into the bar at closing time, try to get them out fast. Some of his dialogue could be trimmed during that interaction. The dialogue with Nadine flows very naturally. Can't figure...
0.0% Review Quality (3 Votes)
Flash Fiction / The Hangover
by c2darad
When the speaker gets into bed, why is he still wearing pants? Boxers, sure, but he should be out of his own clothes when he gets in bed. Add a line about how much of a tease the wife always seems to be with other men. Just a quick note that she plays games often without thinking of the consequences may help set things up more. Maybe the speaker is angry about how much wine he is pouring out. It is supposed to be sipped and enjoyed. Downing it like soda is a true waste. A little comment on th...
Short Story / Nice Things
by metaphoricalsimile
The Father character begs for a bit of elaboration. Perhaps demonstrate how he got into such a position of power over Martha. Did he trick her with a pleasant personality only to seize control after they married? I was looking for instances of him being more openly nasty toward her. Let his worts show a little more openly. That way his example would connect to the son's behavior. Give us more of the Father's bad traits so we clearly see them reflected by the son. It may also help to tease out...
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