Mark Gagnon
Bio
My life has been spent traveling here and abroad. Now it's time to write.
I have three published books: Mitigating Circumstances, Short Stories for Open Minds, and Short Stories from an Untethered Mind. Unmitigated Greed is do out soon.
Achievements (1)
Stories (451)
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The Artist
Art world traditionalists never see my work. Oh, they may look at it while driving by in a car or bus, but they never take the time to appreciate my creations. The city fathers consider my art graffiti, a blight on every neighborhood I choose for my paintings. They don’t have a clue as to the time I spend sketching out rough drafts, and measuring the wall so that my creation fits with the exact proportions of the surroundings. I’m not some gang tagger marking my turf with scrawled initials. I’m a genuine artist. Banksy may be more famous than me, but that’s temporary.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
A.I. and I (me)
The world is so different now that everyone has agreed to allow implants to control our lives. The title of this story is the perfect example. Before my implant, I would have written A.I. and Me, which we all know is grammatically incorrect even though it sounds better. My implant no longer allows me the luxury of making frivolous phrasing errors. The same is true for spelling. How often have we used the incorrect there, their, or they’re in a sentence? Those days are behind us, my friends.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in 01
Watson’s General Store. Top Story - July 2024.
“Oh, Ricky, I don’t know how you found this place, but it’s perfect. This is going to be the best vacation ever!” “It looks like one of those places you see on a postcard or TV travel ad. I only found out about it while sorting through my grandparents’ attic. They kept so much old junk; I’m surprised the ceiling didn’t cave in from the weight. Promise me we’ll never become hoarders like they were, Deb.”
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Alter Ego
He knew the man staring back at him in the mirror better than anyone else could ever know him. He was Barnabas, a leader of men, a purveyor of knowledge, a pillar of strength. If he could see these attributes, which the man in the mirror so abundantly projected, why was it no one else could? Things must change. The man in the mirror insisted on it, and that change would happen today. Infused with a newfound self-assurance, Barnabas strode confidently from his one-room hovel, ready to take on the world.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Fish Face. Top Story - June 2024.
Is it safe? Is it safe? It must be safe. I don’t hear any fishing lures plunking into the water or boats with trolling motors plying the surface of my lake. Yes, I said my lake, even though these air-breathing humans treat it and those of us living in its water as theirs. I have been battling with one of them for almost ten years. He started this war, but he’ll never win.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
What Guys?
When I was very young, I would listen to my parents tell my older brothers to study hard, find something that interest them, and go for it. “The sky’s the limit!” was a favorite phrase of theirs. You can become anything you set your mind to. Our parent's enthusiastic support made them want to excel in school and life, at least until they reached high school. Unfortunately for them, higher education was wrought with distractions. Playing sports, cars, and, of course, girls lured them away from achieving academic greatness. Watching them falter frustrated my parents, but they never gave up hope. Boys will be boys, but eventually, they will become prominent men.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Motivation
Who’s Really To Blame?
I must start this by stating that I am either pro-nor-anti Israel or Palestine. The few people I have met from both groups have always treated me respectfully and I hope they feel I have done the same. What I am attempting to do with this essay is to expose an underlying cause for everything that has gone wrong with Israel and its neighbors.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Journal
Jolly Old England
Some would say I’ve been very fortunate as far as travel goes, and I would have to agree. Mostly because of my jobs, I’ve visited forty-nine of the fifty states and all but two Canadian Provinces. My non-work wanderings have taken me to nine European countries and the continent of Australia. As you may have guessed by the title, one of my favorite places to visit is England.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Wander
Bird Envy
Well, birdbrain, how are you going to get out of this one? You are a thousand feet in the air, dangling from a piece of cloth and a few cables, with a motor that is about to run out of gas. My landing options are ditching in the roiling surf directly below me, or attempting to glide into the nearby tree-covered mountains. Either option will cause me a great deal of pain, if I’m lucky, or death if I’m not.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
The Ugliest Building. Top Story - May 2024.
Mark Twain called the building I work in, “The ugliest building in America.” I agree. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building isn’t the largest in Washington, D.C., but its imposing façade makes it feel like it is. I work for the Office of E-Government and Information Technology. I have a satellite office in the bowels of this monstrosity. Working in this building gives us quick access to both the President and Vice-President because they also have offices here. This access may be why I’m in this situation, or maybe it’s the project I’m assigned to, or both.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
GPS No Thanks
GPS, thanks, but no thank you. I don’t know why anyone would want to own one of those things. I mean, come on, can’t anyone read a map anymore? Probably the better question is, doesn’t anyone own a map anymore? I certainly would never leave home without one. Of course, I seldom leave the town I grew up in, so after fifty-plus years, I know my way around pretty darn well. If I happen to get turned around, I can always stop at a gas station or convenience store and ask for directions. Most of the clerks will lend a hand. They’ll pull out their phones and get directions for me. It’s better for them to do it than me. Besides, I don’t own a cell phone.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
