Old Mitchell Street
Easy Money was a short story that I wrote almost twenty years ago. I submitted it to a few magazines for publication, but it was never accepted. At the time, I was pretty angry about it – I had poured my heart and soul into the story after all.
Hindsight is 20/20, as they say, and now, reading it again after all these years, it’s clear why it wasn’t accepted.
I had some plans of re-writing it and re-submitting for publication, but they never happened. Recently, I was approached by an artist who liked the story and thought that it would do well converted into a comic book format. I agreed and we began work on the first issue. I wrote a script for issue #1, and began exploring and expanding the Easy Money world.
Script for Issue #1, “Memories”
Not quite the Zephyr, but you get the idea.
Unfortunately, the artist didn’t have as much time as he thought he had to work on the project and it has been abandoned. He had done some preliminary work including a few character sketches, a brand logo, a cover, and a few inside pages – all of which look great!
So now, here I am, with a hugely expanded futuristic world sitting before me in the form of notes, story ideas and half written scenes. I love these characters and the stories they have to tell, so I’m going to tell them. I’ve taken the original short story off the blog and am keeping it to myself since it has become nothing more than a vague sort of story foundation – nothing more than a curiosity. Going forward, you’ll see the stories of Gris, Reggie, Jefferies, Stahler and many others, told in greater detail.
In 2073, corporations rule nations whose boundaries have changed. The third world war is coming to a close with the forces of China having united most of Asia and Europe under their new flag – that of Eurasia.
As soldiers are returning home, they find it difficult to adjust to life in the North American Alliance – a life that will be cut short when their military-grade cybernetic implants fail. One soldier, Reginald Harrison, has been offered a job by one of the most powerful men in Yndi City Provence. It’s an easy job that will pay Reggie enough to have his implants removed and allow him to relocate to Mainland Cuba.
Reggie soon learns that there’s no such thing as easy money.
Shall we get started?
A Sinking Feeling – Reggie is given a job that he can’t refuse.
Bacon and Eggs – Reggie finds out what Gris wants to show him.
The Last One - Gris and Reggie talk out some issues.
Old Mitchell Street – Reggie is on his way to the mark when the unexpected happens.
The Zephyr – Reggie visits his favorite watering hole.
The Price of Failure – Reggie learns he must face the music.
Breeze – Gris takes a walk to collect her thoughts.
A Game of Chess – Meet Kaleb and Mauel.
