Latest publications
Genres
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Do You Hear What I Hear?
Rat Bag: Marty shifted on the sidewalk, intentionally bumping the woman wearing a ridiculous tartan cloak and lace bonnet. His jaw clenched at the carolers’ off-key rendition of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.” He’d only ventured out on Christmas Eve for… Continue reading
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Ben Dover Has Died Of Dysentery
Defenestration: Dude, how many brownies did we eat?” Snake’s languid voice drawled from behind him. Matt pulled himself to his feet and took in the surroundings. He was behind the long glass counter filled with knives, axes, and other metal… Continue reading
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The Day The World Imploded
Moonflake Review: The morning the world imploded, Jolie Lunn’s mom made cinnamon buns. She was sliding them from the oven when Jolie and her best friend Amber emerged from her bedroom giggling. Continue reading
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Eucalyptus-Scented Red Flags
Twist In The Tale: Continue reading
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Blessed Be the Bolognese
Foofaraw: My roommate Chad—wearing nothing but soggy lasagna sheets and red sauce—thrust a ladle at two dozen glassy-eyed strangers sprawled on the floor of our two-bedroom apartment. Continue reading
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The Last Time I Saw Carl Naked
Neon & Smoke: The first time I saw Carl naked, he was watering his wife’s heirloom tomatoes. I was next door, sprawled on my patio lounger, laptop open, prepared for my first work-from-home day after years in an office. Continue reading
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The Ghost I Inherited
Rat Bag: I inherited a ghost with my fourth-floor walk-up studio. She peruses softcore porn in the mornings–the moaning interrupts my new meditation practice. Continue reading
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Season’s Bleedings
Pink Hydra: Nicholas unfolded the kitchen towel wrapped around what he assumed were some pedestrian white buns from a Paula Deen recipe. The pungent smell attacked his nostrils as his fingertips sizzled and smoked. “Garlic knots! That devious wench is… Continue reading
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Always the Bridesmaid
Dusty Attic Publishing: “David! Come my love, everyone is waiting.” Ashley’s voice rang out. Suddenly, hundreds of flickering candles illuminated, casting shadows onto the rows of wedding guests and spotlighting Ashley, her white dress reflecting waves of yellow, orange and… Continue reading
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The Lies We Tell Ourselves
Writer’s Workout: Tammy’s breath hung in the chill of the visitor’s area. A fifteen-year veteran of bitter coffee and plastic chairs, she’d arrived early, positioning herself at a coveted table on the far wall, away from the drafty door. She… Continue reading
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A House Divided
Flash Fiction Magazine: The flickering television casts midnight shadows across my wainscoting. I squeeze disintegrating insulation, desperate to make my walls thin enough for Paul to hear Cheryl’s sobs. He sighs, turns off the TV, and stares at my popcorn… Continue reading
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The Other Side of Town
Dishsoap Quarterly: My blue-collar husband hates this side of town because he thinks hipsters are contagious and he’s afraid he’ll spontaneously grow a moustache proselytizing to strangers about mung-bean milk and old-growth forests—but I lived here once, in a basement… Continue reading
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Wisteria
Sunlight Press: “The first vine appeared in her avocado-green fridge, grazing Muriel’s palm as she reached for the eggs. It snaked through cooling coils and electric fans, past a limp, forgotten carrot, and a plate of leftover meatloaf.” Continue reading
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The Great Grandora Galloping Gazelle’s Mall-Walker Turf War
Little Old Lady Press: The Great Grandora Galloping Gazelle’s Mall-Walker Turf War: The Grandora Gazelles Mall Walking Club has no affiliation with the unsanctioned rogue group, The Grandora Grass Belles Mall Walkers. Gazelle’s co-president Dorothy Tillburger was stripped of her… Continue reading
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Consequences of Being My Husband’s Wingman
Micromance: I hover above their candle-lit dinner: his medium-rare filet, her wedge salad. Hope drains from my husband as his date says she’s ready to leave. Austin holds her Uber door open, always a gentleman. The two part ways with… Continue reading
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Perishable (CNF)
Wildscape: Metaphors are failing me. The ups and downs of a rollercoaster, the chaos and resettling of a snow globe, the horror of a worm burrowing through your apple. Continue reading
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And The Oscar Goes To…
The hairs flash like a beacon on the bathroom’s white marble tiles. I wrap them in a square of toilet paper and slide them into my uniform pocket. Continue reading
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Flight AA2350 New York to London
Sufferer’s Digest Flash: I cling to Jim, our fingers curled together like kelp ribbons. Holding a stranger’s hand is uncomfortably intimate. Continue reading
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Martin’s New Employee Understood the Assignment
Flash Flood 2025: The flannel-clad twenty-something, perched on Turntable Tavern’s front counter, didn’t look up. “You talking to me?” Continue reading
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Reflections on Luminous Days
Steam Ticket – Third Coast Journal Vol 28 Mom painted my bedroom Benjamin Moore 0300 Luminous Days, on my twelfth birthday. I hadn’t thought about changing my soft pink walls until Shannon Marie Falcone slept over. Continue reading
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Musings of a Polka-Dot Bikini:
The saleswoman convinced me that women my age could wear a two-piece. Retro-style, black with white polka dots. “You’ve earned those curves, wear them with pride.” Continue reading
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Mustard Pickles and Potato Pies
Trashlight Press: Genevieve slid her skis, one after the other, over the untouched snow, staring at the limp bundle of hair protruding from Marcel’s beanie like the damp tail of an elderly marmot. Only a sliver of orange on the… Continue reading
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The Thawing
Moonlit Getaway May 2025: “Neither Andy nor I like berries.” Isabelle eyed the pink and white confection on the plate. She laid a small forkful on her tongue, grimacing as the vanilla sponge slid down her throat. Frost climbed up… Continue reading
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The End of an Era
Third Wednesday: Apparently, you were humiliated by my vintage Chanel dress. I’d missed the memo that your company Christmas party dress code was uninspired fast-fashion bodycon minis and two-thousand-dollar hair extensions. Continue reading
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Lavender Haze
Wild Greens: Her frustrated growl breaks my heart. She slams me onto the oak writing desk; the bounce reverberates through my 0.7mm tip. A drop of indigo gel blooms across her unfinished sentence like a fresh bruise. Continue reading
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Mist of Cinnamon and Cloves
The Hoolet’s Nook: I grate a teaspoon of nutmeg into the bowl; preparing Finn’s favourite cake is a rare reprieve from my burden. Winter-fever picks off more villagers daily, snuffing them like Mass candles after the Saints are beseeched. Continue reading
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Hey Girl…
Witcraft Feb 2025 Continue reading
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Silent Valley
101 Words: Your angry boots close in like thunder. This hike was for my birthday. The obligation enraged you. Continue reading
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Mother of the Bride
Vine Leaves Press – The 50 Word Stories of 2024: Mother of the Bride My eldest daughter says, ‘I do’. I’m transported to my own wedding day– through thirty years of passion, angry words, cross-country moves, complacency, babies, temptation, hurt… Continue reading
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Try Again, Again
2024 Bath Flash Fiction Anthology: Try Again, Again Yesterday my sister stopped by under the guise of cheering me up. Without pausing for breath, she dug her nails into my pain, borrowing crumbs of my grief to fuel her stagnant… Continue reading
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Let’s Misbehave
Micromance Magazine: Ruth’s tush had barely touched the seat when a tall, mustachioed man slid into the open chair. “Do you believe in love at first sight? Or should I walk by again?” Continue reading
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From The Darkest Storms
The Lit Nerds: I blow a chilly draft through my sister’s fingers, prompting her to drop her crochet hook and stoke the fire. A storm like this could knock the power out for days. I float into the kitchen and… Continue reading
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6:59
Neither Fish Nor Foul: The nightmares started after Jenn drowned. A waterlogged hand stretched through the dark, one familiar chipped-polish fingertip caressed my lips. Her valley-girl vocal fry, that I once thought sexy, filled the room. Continue reading
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Roller Coaster Ride
Nunum’s Done in a Hundred Anthology: My white knuckles grip the safety bar. Heights, speed, lack of control– things I avoid at all costs. I connect the video call, phone shaking. His gaunt, beautiful face calms my nerves. “I knew… Continue reading
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The Perfect Sourdough Loaf
NYCM 100 Micro Winner 2024: My starter bubbles—strong, alive. I knead the dough, loose and sticky, clinging to my hands. I almost give up before the gluten finally activates, pulling the mess together. Continue reading
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Every Fibre
Frazzled Literature: Wisps of soft yellow cotton tickle my nose, my eyes, my ears. I sit behind your chestnut hair in homeroom. The desire to crawl into those lavender and mint scented curls is overwhelming. You hold court over our… Continue reading
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Buon Appetito
Frazzled Lit: I’m sure you hear my heart pounding as we settle onto the benches. For thirty years, a five-course meal at Antonio’s has been the backdrop for all our big news. Always this back corner booth, away from the… Continue reading
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A Caged Bird Is Never Free
Sci-Fi Shorts: Addam tells me this circle of palm trees is my favourite place. I lay under them for hours, willing myself to love the leather-skinned trunks and spiky fronds. This section of our bio-dome, far from the tiny house,… Continue reading
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Late Night Scrolling
Scribes Prize Honourable Mention: https://www.fairfieldscribes.com/issue-46.html Ben’s yellow emoji sticks out among the red hearts and love eyes—a sore-loser’s thumb. We were a Molotov cocktail. Forever holding matches to already scorched skin, craving the relief of explosion. Intoxicated by the ride.… Continue reading
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Coke On A Wednesday
101 Words: Mom and Dad giggled and gave me a whipped cream moustache while making pancakes this morning. They were not arguing and my stomach didn’t ache. I ate three. Now we’re at Gino’s Pizza. My favourite. They get me… Continue reading
Christy Hartman 