Category / Publications

by Warren Benedetto

“Dawn Patrol” published by Written Tales Magazine

My short (non-horror) story Dawn Patrol has been published by Written Tales Magazine. It’s about the sun setting on an old relationship that has run its course.

Scott steered his bike one-handed into the empty parking lot at Salt Creek Beach and coasted toward a row of palm trees inked black against the soft pink sky. He lowered his bike to the ground, then gazed at the water. The ocean was polished glass. Scott sighed. The surf report had promised chest-high swells. Normally, he would have been disappointed at having woken up extra early for nothing. Today, he didn’t care. He was awake anyway. He had never gone to sleep.

by Warren Benedetto

“A Perfect Fit” published in The Literary Hatchet #38

My psychological horror story A Perfect Fit has been published in Issue #38 of The Literary Hatchet. This special double issue is available to download for free, or you can pick up a print copy from Amazon.

The story is about a middle-aged woman who will do anything to maintain her youthful appearance. If the movie The Substance resonated with you, you should appreciate this one. It’s not a body horror, but it comes from the same place.

I stepped back to admire Poppy’s frame, noting the slight dimpling of cellulite visible on her hips and the fine vertical lines along the top edge of her upper lip. The ghost of a gray hair peeked out from behind the bangs she had added to hide her creased forehead.

“Poppy! Look at you!” I gushed. “How are you so perfect?”

by Warren Benedetto

“Final Notice” published by 100-Foot Crow

My dark sci-fi drabble Final Notice has been published by 100-Foot-Crow. It’s about what happens when you forget to make the payments on your self-driving car.

The first time I tried Chauffeur, it felt like magic. I watched in awe as it effortlessly piloted my car through traffic, the driver’s seat empty. Naturally, I signed up. $199 per month. I thought I could afford it.

I was wrong.

by Warren Benedetto

Listen to “Leftovers” on the Lunatics Radio Hour podcast

The audio production of my horror story Leftovers is now available for free from the Lunatics Radio Hour podcast. It’s about an elderly woman living in a rapidly-declining urban neighborhood who subsists on an unconventional recipe from the old world.

Content warning: gore

The story starts around 6:50.

by Warren Benedetto

“Baby Food” published in Anthology of the Damned: Necromoirrium

My creature horror story Baby Food has been published in Anthology of the Damned: Necromoirrium by Treeshaker Books. It’s about a man who convinces his wife to overcome her fear of bears to go camping with him, only to discover that what awaits them in the woods is much, much worse.

Content warning: gore, suicide (implied)

It was my idea, the camping trip. I had so many great memories of camping over the years: with my family, with the Boy Scouts, with my college buddies. We’d find some remote spot in the woods, then spend a week just doing … nothing. I wanted Liz to experience that, to get her to unplug from everything for once. Her phone. Her email. Her social media accounts. To just stop and live.

by Warren Benedetto

Listen to “Me, a Hero” on the Lunatics Radio Hour podcast

The audio production of my psychological horror story Me, a Hero is now available to listen to for free on the Lunatics Radio Hour podcast. It’s about a man who joins the search for a missing girl in hopes of making an appearance on the local evening news.

Content warning: stalking (implied)

My story starts around the 17:30 mark.

by Warren Benedetto

“Blame” published in the Soul anthology

My technohorror story Blame has been published in Soul: A Paranormal Anthology by Graveside Press.

Blame is about an audio engineer at a software company investigating strange sounds heard during customer voice chats. It’s a “found footage” story told through emails, Slack conversations, Reddit threads, phone transcripts, and more unusual artifacts like git commits, JIRA tickets, door entry logs … even a Walmart receipt.

Content warning: misogyny, sexual assault (mentioned), suicide (mentioned)
by Warren Benedetto

Listen to “Everything You Know About Witches” on the Tiny Frights podcast

The audio production of my horror drabble Everything You Know About Witches is now available for free from the Tiny Frights podcast. It’s about a woman about to be burned at the stake, and the (mostly) mistaken assumptions that sent her there.