My creepy short story, “A Night in the Tower-Soudan Mine,” was published on the Twin Ports Terror website. You can access it for free by clicking on the linked text above. Eventually, it will be published in their printed book, which is distributed for free around the Twin Ports of Duluth and Superior.
The storyline was inspired by several trips I’ve taken into the mine, a half-mile underground on Minnesota’s Iron Range, since I was a youngster. My latest trip was just a few weeks ago, taken to refresh my memory. The sections about the mine tour are factual (other than the character getting knocked out thing), but the latter parts about the safety tunnel are figments of my imagination, informed by research.
I began writing the story as part of a fiction workshop by the indomitable and inspirational Felicia Schneiderhan, where she challenged us to write two short stories that follow the same “rules” and feature the same random object in them. If you read the story, I’d be interested in hearing what you think is the random object.
The second story I wrote for the workshop is part of a collection for which I’m currently trying to find an agent. So far, I’m striking out, but I just received some good tips, so we’ll see if they are helpful.
Enjoy and Happy Early Halloween!
Marie's Meanderings 
Hello, Marie. Congrats on having your story published. Is there still a mining industry in Minnesota?
Yes – there are still open pit mines on the iron range. Plus there’s a big controversy over copper-nickel mining in northern MN. https://mariezhuikov.wordpress.com/2014/01/19/to-mine-or-not-to-mine/
Great Halloween story! You had me panicking in the darkness too. Well done and congratulations of having it published. Not sure what was meant by “random object” but her cell phone was with her all the time. Surprise ending. I thought she would find a way out with the bats maybe .Spooky photo of you in the mine!
Thanks, Jo Nell. The random object was the can of sardines. Russ helped me figure out the ending!
Way to go, Marie! I’m so happy for you!
Thank you, Vickie!
Congrats, Marie!
Thank you, Jennifer! Yesterday, I found out that another publication wants to share the story in time for Halloween — a local newspaper near the mine. That was a fun bonus.
Really good! And spooky!!
Thank you, Diana. I appreciate you taking the time to read my story.