A snowman... in an electric storm

Blazing Reader,

Since Sunday, I’ve been in and out of a burning fever, while the weather outside rotated snow and sleet.

Yesterday, a thunderstorm joined the bitter party. As I lay on the couch, coming out of another fever-induced delirium, I stared out at the lightning-filled skies and snow-covered grass… and had a brilliant idea.

Jumping out of bed as if struck by lightning, I threw on my coat, mitts and hat, and ran out to a clearing in the graveyard on the top of the hill overlooking our town.

And I began rolling three, big snowballs.

Yes, a snowman… in an electric storm.

Once he was done, I stabbed a carrot in for his nose and two branches for his arms. I knew I neededn’t bother with no magic hat. Instantly lightning struck both his twiggy arms and my Frankenstein snowman was… alive!

And we began to dance around, laugh and play and everything else that the Christmas carol claimed.

But I was still burning with fever and soon fell to the ground. When I awoke I found myself lying on the frosty grass, bereft of my frosty friend.

With today having already brought twenty-degree warmer weather, I assume my electrified snowman had hightailed it up north, seeking refuge in the Canadian Arctic, to become as legendary as the yeti.

Since you likely don’t have the guts, resources or gullibility to seek out my dancing snowman in the Canadian north, you can placate yourself with a far more profound story of what makes us human in my latest novel, All the Humans are Sleeping. Part of this near-future sci-fi takes place on Baffin Island, where I hope my frosty friend lives a long and happy life.

Available in print, ebook and audiobook format, see what readers are saying about All the Humans are Sleeping here.

As for this human, I probably need some more sleep.

—John C.A. Manley

John C. A. Manley is the author of Much Ado About Corona, All The Humans Are Sleeping and other works of philosophical fiction that are "so completely engaging that you find yourself alternately laughing, gasping, hanging on for dear life." Get free samples of his stories by becoming a Blazing Pine Cone email subscriber.