The following is an excerpt from Smith’s forthcoming acid western novel.

Clem is a worldly fella, but he’s not much for talking so I get fragments here and there. Got to the West from Russia the

J’s task was to ensure each of 3 men that they had a connection with a girl.

J’s task was to ensure each of 3 men that they had a connection with a girl.

She wanted to go under beautifully, before decomposition

She wanted to go under beautifully, before decomposition

Forgive yourself, as there is no other option but to forgive yourself.

Forgive yourself, as there is no other option but to forgive yourself.

I’d love to keep her locked away in legends, but she walks and grows among us.

I’d love to keep her locked away in legends, but she walks and grows among us.

I dreamt of the mystery woman, still faceless, and I woke up haunted.

I dreamt of the mystery woman, still faceless, and I woke up haunted.

She bites at a knuckle hoping to draw her private, savage joy. What’s it taste like? You don’t want to know. You can’t imagine how hard it is to stop after.

She bites at a knuckle hoping to draw her private, savage joy. What’s it taste like? You don’t want to know. You can’t imagine how hard it is to stop after.

His unbuttoned shirt, his summer breakfast. The gesture of his mouth was the opening of unsaid words.

His unbuttoned shirt, his summer breakfast. The gesture of his mouth was the opening of unsaid words.

I was on my morning jog when I saw what I believed to be a young man asleep or dead in the sand.

I was on my morning jog when I saw what I believed to be a young man asleep or dead in the sand.

Avery was the worst kind of people pleaser. A failed one who didn’t know how to make other people happy but attempted only to her own demise. When Sienna asked Avery if she wanted to steal, the yes

Avery was the worst kind of people pleaser. A failed one who didn’t know how to make other people happy but attempted only to her own demise. When Sienna asked Avery if she wanted to steal, the yes

It is warm in the theatre. The chair is comfortable. The trailers ended and most of the films looked good. A Coca Cola ad begins playing, which is the second to last thing they show before the movie.

It is warm in the theatre. The chair is comfortable. The trailers ended and most of the films looked good. A Coca Cola ad begins playing, which is the second to last thing they show before the movie.

I wanted him to understand my fascination with small creatures.

I wanted him to understand my fascination with small creatures.

She wrapped her arm around his back in a quick half-hug that made it easy for him to tuck the envelope in her purse. She excused herself to the bathroom so she could count it.

She wrapped her arm around his back in a quick half-hug that made it easy for him to tuck the envelope in her purse. She excused herself to the bathroom so she could count it.