Category / Publications

by Warren Benedetto

“It’s What’s Inside That Counts” published in Fantasy Magazine

My dark fantasy story It’s What’s Inside That Counts has been published in Issue #91 of Fantasy Magazine. It’s about a young girl who dissects a pig in science class, only to discover something unexpected inside.

Content warning: terminal illness of a child

I didn’t know how I’d react to the dissection. I couldn’t imagine poking around in a dead pig’s guts. I wondered how they would feel. Would they be squishy and warm, like spaghetti? Or cold and jiggly, like Jello? My stomach turned at the thought.

I was definitely gonna barf.

by Warren Benedetto

Listen to “Undone” on Chilling Tales For Dark Nights

The audio production of my cosmic horror story Undone is now available on Fear From the Heartland by the Chilling Tales For Dark Nights podcast. It’s the story of a man whose world is literally falling apart around him.

The story starts at around the 03:18 mark.

by Warren Benedetto

Listen to “Me, a Hero” and “Things Are Looking Up” on Chilling Tales For Dark Nights

Two of my stories have been released by the Chilling Tales For Dark Nights podcast: Me, a Hero and Things Are Looking Up.

Me, a Hero is a psychological horror story about a man who joins the search for a missing girl. This story is only available on YouTube as part of the 5 Scary Stories ― Villain’s Mix, starting at 03:13:18.

Content warning (spoilers): woman murdered by stranger (not shown)

Things Are Looking Up is a horror story about grief and loss. After a man and his wife are in a fatal car accident, the man decides he will do anything to see his wife one more time. Even if he has to dig.

The story starts around the 04:15 mark.

by Warren Benedetto

“Influenced” published in The Stygian Lepus

My psychological horror story Influenced has been published in the inaugural issue of The Stygian Lepus, a new publication by Black Hare Press. It’s a story about blurring the lines between reality and fantasy, and what happens when your dreams finally come true.

The stranger passes his purchases over the Home Depot self-checkout scanner. Sweat glistens on his round face.

Trash bags. Duct tape. Hammer. Bleach. Scrub brush. Hacksaw. Plastic tarp.

He pays with cash.

by Warren Benedetto

Three drabbles published in the Dark Stars anthology

Three of my sci-fi horror drabbles have been published in the Dark Stars anthology from Shacklebound Books.

  • A young woman asks her AI assistant to help her pick out a wedding dress in The Fitting Room.
  • A pair of astronauts wonder what to do when there’s An Angel in the Airlock.
  • When a traveler to Jupiter awakes from cryosleep too early, he realizes he should have read The Fine Print.
by Warren Benedetto

Listen to “Make It a Double” on the Horror Hill podcast

The audio production of my psychological horror novelette Make It a Double is now available on the Horror Hill podcast. It’s about a consolatory toast that turns into a blessing … and then a curse. “May whatever luck comes to him, come to you, times two.” The story starts at around the 5:00 mark.

Content warning: misogyny

by Warren Benedetto

Listen to “A Free Man” on the Simultaneous Times podcast

The audio production of my cyberpunk story A Free Man is now available on the Simultaneous Times podcast by Space Cowboy Books. This episode was done in collaboration with Shacklebound Books, which published A Free Man in their anthology, The Mods: Cyberpunk Stories. The story starts around the 8:00 mark.

by Warren Benedetto

“Firefly” published in Fresh Words Literary Magazine

My short non-horror story Firefly has been published in the March 2023 issue of Fresh Words: An International Literary Magazine. You can read it online for free or purchase a print copy.

Firefly is a simple story about a young girl who captures a firefly in the back yard to help cheer up her ailing sister.

Content warning: terminal illness of a child

Missy caught the firefly in mid-air, cupping her hands around it to form a tiny, dark cave. She could feel the insect’s delicate footsteps tickling her skin as it wandered across her palm, searching for a way out.

“Got you!” she whispered, victorious.