Trigger Warning PEOPLE OF A SENSITIVE NATURE ARE ADVISED THAT THE FOLLOWING EXTRACTS EXPLORE FAMILY DYSFUNCTION AND ABUSE ISSUES Zero Gravity Excerpt for 22 November, 2021 <chapter> Two continued “Why now? Feeling a sudden urge for repentance? Or perhaps you’ve come to pay back the money you owe me?” Ryan had the grace to cringe at that. “You know how it is, the music industry.” He shrugged as if everyone understood how untenable the career of a musician was – at least from an economic perspective. “Thought you were a computer wizard now, graphic designer or some such.” Owen reached into the freezer and withdrew a handful of ice. “Yeah, well, freelancing’s not that different from gigging. It’s still the music industry. The clients are slow in coming.” “That’s because you have to go out and get them, Ryan. Or haven’t you mastered getting out of bed before noon, yet?” Owen took the few steps necessary to cross the room and dropped the ice into the two glasses. -Gayle J. Greenlea. YOU’RE THE DEAD TO ME Fourth week -A Waning – Day One Slept in Joe Edwards cup and saucer. Fought brigands atop our black rock. -Paul Brookes Bios And Links -Gayle J. Greenlea is an American-Australian poet and counselor for survivors of sexual and gender-related violence. Her poem, Wonderland”, received the Australian Poetry Prod Award in 2011. She shortlisted and longlisted for the Fish Poetry Prize in 2013, and debuted her first novel, Zero Gravity, at the KGB Literary Bar in Manhattan in 2016. Her work has been published in St. Julian Press, Rebelle Society, A Time to Speak, Headline Poetry and Press, The Wombwell Rainbow, Fevers of the Mind, Kalonopia and The Australian Health Review.