Andrew drops a blunt in the dark. Can’t find it. I walk up. See something in the dark. Pick it up. Hand it to Andrew. He goes to light it. Turns out it is a big grasshopper. Marty Johnson is a writer from Independence, Kentucky, whose stories explore grief, absurdity, faith, and the strange beauty of everyday life. His work ranges from speculative fiction to reflective essays, often anchored by cats who believe they are firmly in charge. He is currently working on two novels: Commander Needles and the Blender of Fate and The Adventures of Smokey the Cat, Werewolf Hunter. When he’s not writing, he can usually be found reading, listening to music, drinking coffee and sometimes bourbon, or negotiating with the cats who run his household. He has been a member of the Kenton County Writer’s Group since September 2025.