How She Was Found
originally published in The Useless Degree & later included in the story collection, By The Wayside, published by Unsolicited Press Fiona was a mouse. Everyone said so. As a child she’d been bookish, lonely, with little to contribute conversation-wise. Her brother, Finn, was outgoing, popular, now the owner of a Mercedes dealership in Pasadena. Why […]
The Amendment – Chapter One
Coming June 2018, from Unsolicited Press chapter one At first, Lavinia thought Mel was joking. Mel was never not joking. That rubber snake in the freezer last Christmas, during their annual open house. Her husband, Chip, knew he’d put it there. He also knew how Lavinia felt about snakes. She […]
The First Time
originally published in New Pop Lit Do you remember the first time? How the light from that candle seemed to brighten even as the rain fell harder against the pane? It was our first night away together, and the thrill of the cheat was offset by our guilt. Your wife. My husband. The lies. But love cannot be […]
Good Boy
originally published in Sand Hill Review Of course, he hadn’t meant to. No man in his right mind would utter the name of a former lover while having sex with his wife. Diane paused for the briefest moment after he whispered, “Nina.” She must have heard. Why else hadn’t she just kept going? As […]
Shelter
Originally published in New Pop Lit SHELTER The party was at Jackson’s place, at the end of an unpaved road, on the eastern tip of the island. In good weather, it was a forty-five-minute drive from town. The weather wasn’t good. The rain had fallen for three days, sometimes turning lighter, even to a drizzle, but never once letting […]
“What Nell Dreams”
originally published in Squawk Back On Monday it’s about a horse. The eyes are remarkably kind, shy, even flirty under their thick veil of lashes. She looks at Nell from the side, sticking her large soft muzzle over the fence to nudge at her outstretched hand. That hand is empty—no sugar cube, apple, carrot, only […]
“Trial by Luck” – from BY THE WAYSIDE, published February 2017 by Unsolicited Press
Buy here TRIAL BY LUCK The genie didn’t look like a genie at all. More like one of those super nerdy guys in high school with glasses and bad skin, Laurie thought. To Jonathon, the genie was a bronzed surfer with flip-flops and a leather band around his neck. The genie escaped from the spare […]
Bree’s Miracle – from BY THE WAYSIDE
Purchase here BREE’S MIRACLE Bree had a female complaint. Bad periods, I mean this girl could really bleed. Started at age eleven, would probably be pushing sixty when she quit, lots and lots of Advil on board, not to mention all the Kotex she could run through in that wretched week a month. And the pain, […]
LETTERS OF LOVE AND HATE
originally published in the Fall 2015 issue of Crossborder, the literary journal of Leapfrog Press. LETTERS OF LOVE AND HATE She envied the female diarists, scribbling at elegantly carved desks in great houses. Feather pens, dripping ink, and the thin glow of candlelight. By day they oversaw their families and servants, at night […]
What Is Found, What Is Lost – Chapter Three
Just released from She Writes Press Buy here (Go back to Chapter One and Chapter Two) Chapter Three 1980 Ken had promised to be on his best behavior. Holly and her husband, Jack, were coming over for drinks. They were visiting from Minnesota, where they’d lived for three years. Freddie had offered to […]