“Silly Jilly” published in the Strange Libations anthology

My story Silly Jilly has been published in Apex Magazine’s Strange Libations: An Anthology of Dark Cocktails, featuring a collection of stories told via drink recipes. Silly Jilly is a bitter cocktail with a sweet finish, made in memory of a little girl lost.

The anthology was created as a reward for Kickstarter backers, so it’s not available for purchase directly. However, you can purchase a copy as an add-on to the Robotic Ambitions Kickstarter, which I highly recommend backing.

“Breathtaking” published in the Monstorm anthology

My historical horror story Breathtaking has been published in the Monstorm anthology by Madness Heart Press. Proceeds from sales of the book will go to people affected by Hurricane Ian.

Set in 1930s Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl, Breathtaking tells the story of a young girl and her brother who see a mysterious woman in white screaming outside their house during a dust storm.

“Banshee,” I whispered, mouthing the words as I read. “A spirit in the form of a wailing woman who appears to members of a family as a sign that …” I trailed off. I felt my stomach tighten. Icicles formed down the center of my spine. “That one of them is about to die.”

“No Bones, Just Skin” published in Night Terrors Vol. 25

My obscure cryptid horror story No Bones, Just Skin leads off the new Night Terrors Vol. 25 anthology by Scare Street. It’s about a brother and sister who have a terrifying encounter with an abúhukü, a rainforest demon known for dissolving the bones of its prey and leaving the empty skin behind.

Content warning: mild gore

Manuel’s older sister, Liliana, stood next to him, looking up at the body hanging high in the tree overhead. The carcass was little more than a shriveled husk of a man, a wrinkled bag of skin draped boneless and formless across the jungle’s dense lattice of vines and branches. It was almost as if the man had been turned into a garment, as if someone had slit him down the back, extracted his skeleton, then tossed him carelessly into the tree like an old bathrobe.

“Blame” published in Brave New Weird, Vol. 1

My techno-horror story Blame has been published in Brave New Weird: The Best New Weird Horror, Vol 1 (in print and ebook) by Tenebrous Press.

Blame is a “found footage” story consisting of emails, Slack conversations, Reddit threads, phone transcripts, and more unusual artifacts like git commits, JIRA tickets, door entry logs … even a Walmart receipt.

Like many found footage tales, the story is ultimately pieced together based on incomplete information. Multiple reads of the story should reveal new hidden details that may change your interpretation of the ending.

Content warning: misogyny, sexual assault (mentioned), suicide (mentioned)

Blame also made the preliminary ballot for the Stoker Awards, for Superior Achievement in Short Fiction. Voting closes next week, so if you’re an HWA member, please check it out and (hopefully) give it your vote!

Four drabbles published in the Love Me, Love Me Not anthology

Four of my horror drabbles have been published in Love Me, Love Me Not: Dark Tales of Love, Lust, and Lunacy by Black Hare Press.

Content warnings: Stalking, terminal illness, suicide

  • First Kiss. Their first kiss is their last.
  • Holding Hands. In sickness and in health, until death do them part.
  • Only We. How close can a couple get before they’re no longer a couple at all?
  • A Hallmark Ending. It’s the perfect fairy tale: a city girl returns to her small home town to reunite with her hunky high school crush … whether he likes it or not.