Fiction writer, short stories, novels, blogs, and other writing.
Blogs about specific short stories.
I am pleased to say that not one but two of my stories were published today. Horror story “The Annie Scam” is available to read for free at Electric Spec, and comedy ghost story “Life of the Party” is in Strangely Funny VIII and is available for purchase at Amazon. They’re very different stories, but I’m quite proud of both of them.
You can find links to them and all my published fiction on my Fiction page.
“The Annie Scam,” a short horror story of mine centered around online dating, will appear in a forthcoming issue of Electric Spec. This was one of my favorite pieces of 2020, and I’m thrilled it found a home.
I’m proud to announce that “Life of the Party,” a comedic ghost story I wrote, will appear in the comedy/horror anthology Strangely Funny VIII, from Mystery and Horror, LLC.
About two years ago I noticed that there seemed to be few outlets for writers to publish Western stories, even though there seemed to be a demand for them. So, I got the idea to publish my own. I reached out to several people I knew would be interested in writing something, and they in turn recommended a few other writers. I also reached out to a number of artists I knew could provide excellent illustrations for each one of these tales. Two years and a number of hard lessons learned about self-publishing later, I am proud to say that Eight Gunshots: Stories of the Wild West is now available at Amazon.com in both print and kindle versions. You’ll find some excellent stories covering a wide range of viewpoints and story types in this magazine. You’ll even have the chance to read “The Sins of Peste Negra Rodriguez,” the story I wrote that started this whole journey.
Please pick up a copy if you have a chance. You’ll get some fantastic stories and you may even discover your new favorite writer.
Wolfgang the robot died one day. Years later, an old woman tells her granddaughter about the last week of his life.
“Day of Rest.” A science fiction story available now in Andromeda Spaceways Magazine #79.
In early June I wrote about my decision to pull two stories from publication shortly before their respective anthologies were published. I’m pleased to announce that “Krarg the Barbarian vs. the Fair” has found a new home, and is scheduled for publication in KZine Magazine #31, due out in September 2021. KZine, you may remember, published my horror story “Code Gray.” I’m delighted to see my work return to this great magazine.
“Day of Rest,” a science fiction story of mine about the last week in a robot’s life, has been selected for publication by Andromeda Spaceways Magazine.
I had two stories scheduled to be published this month from the same publisher. I really liked them both and was excited for the rest of the world to read them. Two days ago, the publisher said shockingly racist things on the Internet. The books were initially going to be pulled from publication, then yesterday it was announced they would be held for six months. Last night I requested the stories be pulled from publication.
It would have been easy to say that what the publisher said wasn’t my fault, and neither I nor the other writers should be punished for something we had no control over. I could have left my stories there for quiet publication, accepting the credits but not promoting them. But I couldn’t be someone who says Black Lives Matter in one breath and then give my approval of racism through my silence in the next. Losing two story credits pales in comparison to the implicit and explicit pain that racism has caused and will continue to cause people of color across America.
Some say that people should be forgiven and allowed to learn from their mistakes. I completely agree. At the same time, I’m not the one whose race was denigrated. It’s not up to me to decide in this case if penitence is sincere and forgiveness has been earned. I genuinely hope this person does regret their actions and continues to better themselves and relationships between themselves and non-white people, but it’s not my place to decide if they have.
I don’t intend for this to be a moment of self-righteousness or to put a spotlight on my wokeness. All it is, is an explanation about a decision I made this week and why stories I have championed no longer have homes. I hope they do soon. But if they do not, I still know this was the only decision I could make.
Be well.
Imagine you’re a crime reporter hunting a serial killer. Imagine you’re in the window seat on a plane. Imagine the serial killer is in the middle seat. Imagine the killer has figured out you know who he is.
“Seat 9B.” Available today in the latest issue of Mystery Weekly Magazine.
Planet Scumm, the magazine that published my story “Good Boy,” is offering free ebooks of some of their back issues. If you want you can pay for them, but if money is tight they are available at no cost. Check one of them out today and enjoy some great science fiction from some fantastic up-and-coming authors.