Short Stories

Photo by David Lezcano

All short stories published on The Quick and the Dead are linked below. Happy reading!


  • My development as a horror writer continued in 2021, when I had the opportunity to write two pieces of fiction for the second edition of Into the Wyrd and Wild, published by Wet Ink Games in collaboration with Feral Indie Studio. The stories I wrote for the game line presented a new kind of challenge Continue reading


  • It’s Too Dark

    Writing short fiction for an RPG always takes a thorough perusal of the game materials. You have to understand not only the setting and the mood that the game is trying to impart, but also the potential threats and experiences the players of the game might have. Whenever I’ve asked to write game fiction, I Continue reading


  • The Comfort Siren

    When I began writing short fiction for hire, I did not expect that I would be writing horror stories. Horror is not a genre I typically like to read, yet I found that if given a topic, I could write a pretty good horror story. My work with Wet Ink Games has led me to Continue reading


  • Overcome: Afterword

    (Find the chapters and a description of the project here.) There are several ways I could have retold this story. I could have stayed true to the original narrative, and written about two people continuing their lives after facing condemnation and shame. I could have written both Jesse and Rebecca as unapologetic and shameless. I Continue reading


  • Overcome: Chapter 13

    (Find previous chapters and a description of the project here.) It is Friday. She sits at her computer, staring at the screen. There is an email from Laura Miller in her inbox. Laura teaches children’s Sunday school. Brett and Finn haven’t attended regularly in two years, but Laura has kept up with them regardless. The Continue reading


  • Overcome: Chapter 12

    (Find previous chapters and a description of the project here.) It is 5:59. She is standing outside the door of the conference room at the church, leaning against the wall. Inside, she can hear low talking. She counts four distinct voices among the chatter. She wonders how many of them there are. Her internal monologue Continue reading


  • Overcome: Chapter 11

    (Find previous chapters and a description of the project here.) It is Thursday. She stares at the sonogram the ultrasound tech printed for her. The baby looks like a bean. She smiles at it, then takes a magnet from the fridge, uses it to stick the sonogram to the surface. It is 4:12. The boys Continue reading


  • Overcome: Chapter 10

    (Find previous chapters and a description of the project here.) It is Monday. She is at her grief support group. She stopped coming to these group sessions three months ago. Today though, she needs to be here. It is preparatory.                She sits with her back straight, both feet flat on the floor, hands on Continue reading


  • Overcome: Chapter 9

    (Find previous chapters and a description of the project here.) It is Sunday morning. She is still in bed. It is past dawn, but she has been awake since Jesse rose, dressed in the dark, and went for a run. He’s in the shower now. She listens to the sound of the water running. She Continue reading


  • Overcome: Chapter 8

    (Find previous chapters and a description of the project here.) It is Saturday. She stands in the living room, staring out the window at the trellis sitting in the yard. Jesse and Mark—another minister, one of Jesse’s friends from seminary—are standing next to it talking. They both have their arms crossed. They are both wearing Continue reading