Category Archives: Short Stories – All

My story “Gateway” is up at Dirty Noir

My story “Gateway” is up now at Dirty Noir, a new crime, neo-noir, dark fiction, sexy pants webzine. “Gateway” is a bit of hot St. Louis, something I thought of while I was just down there, memories of heading across the Mississippi river to the “East Side” to buy beer in high school (and other things too).

They’re looking for dirty realism + noir of all kinds, under 1000 words. Happy to be up here for the launch issue with Eddy Rathke, McKay Williams, David James Keaton, and Andrez Bergen. Hop on over and give it a peek. If you DARE.

“Ten Steps” is now live at ChiZine (The Chiaroscuro)

"Ten Steps"

My story “Ten Steps” is now up at ChiZine (Chiaroscuro) as part of their major new relaunch. I wrote this at the Jack Ketchum intensive at The Cult. So many other great voices here, in the previous, and coming weeks, I can’t possibly list them all but let me shout out at least a few names that I’ve seen up already, or have novels published at ChiZine, or may be part of this launch in the upcoming weeks.

First, I won a contest here at ChiZine back in 2009, the “Enter the World of Filaria” contest with my story “Maker of Flight”. It was quite an honor. My story was selected by the author of Filaria, Brent Hayward, and the Stoker winning man that runs ChiZine, Brett Alexander Savory.

I’ve been a long time fan of Paul Tremblay who has In the Mean Time at ChiZine, as well as Craig Davidson, who has Sarah Court there as well (I reviewed both of these at The Nervous Breakdown, too). These guys are two of my favorite authors there. I’d expect them to have a story up here as a part of this. Also, in the past couple of weeks, we’ve had stories by Stewart O’Nan, Tom Piccirilli, and Neil Gaiman.

So head over and check out my story, but also stay awhile, peep the other stories, and pick up a book or two. Exceptional artwork by Erik Mohr as well. I’ve never read a bad book from ChiZine. Donate some $$$ if you have it, every dollar helps. These are some of the good guys, putting out excellent work, supporting unknown authors like myself, and really on the cutting edge of literary dark fiction.

“Victimized” released as an esingle

“‘Victimized’ is one of the best pieces of bad-ass, hard-core apocalyptic noir I’ve read in a while.” –Scott Phillips, author of THE ICE HARVEST

“Put your dukes up, readers, because Thomas is gunning for the KO with this brutal little ass-kick of a story.” –Craig Davidson, author of SARAH COURT

“As tough, ass-kicking and twisted as fiction gets. Imagine a Dear John letter that Hitler might have written to Lucifer right before he blew his brains out. Then crank things up ten notches.” –Donald Ray Pollock, author of KNOCKEMSTIFF

Hey guys,

I’ve finally decided to self-publish something. I’ve put the extended version of my story “Victimized” up at the Amazon Kindle store for 99 cents.

The original 5,000 word story was published in Murky Depths #15. They do beautiful work, and won the British Fantasy Award last year for best magazine.

To purchase the 6,800 word version, just head over to Amazon and drop your $1 on the counter.

What’s it about? Well, here’s a quick synopsis. It’s one of my favorite stories:

In the near future, Annabelle lives a fractured life, haunted by the shadows of her past, dark moments of abuse and freedom at the hands of her own kin. She has the opportunity to get into a boxing ring and fight her oppressor, to face the man that altered her, to beat him down with all of her rage. This is the way things are now, society given the chance to take on the murderers, the rapists, those that have tainted their lives, hurt their family, destroyed what was innocent and pure. Preparing to go to battle, Belle taps into her true identity, and changes, a warrior entering battle, unwilling to hesitate, ready to kill.

Thank you for your support.

“Splintered” is live at PANK

My story “Splintered” is now up in the March issue of PANK. Thrilled to be here, alongside a ton of talented people, they do such awesome work at PANK, I can’t even begin to list the authors that came before me here that I just love. Thank you Roxane for the support.

This is my attempt at a pick your own ending, or choose your own path adventure story. I’ve been meaning to write one of these for awhile. Of course, it has my usual neo-noir, demented, sexual stamp on it. That’s what makes it an “adult” story and not one for the kiddies. Hope you dig it.

“Terrapin Station” is in Pear Noir! #5. Richard does lit. Out now.

A story that I wrote for my MFA program with the Pulitzer nominated author Dale Ray Phillips entitled “Terrapin Station” is now out in print in Pear Noir! #5. This is a really cool, eclectic journal. I recognize several other authors in here as well: Kim Chinquee, Kevin Moffett, Gabe Durham and Michael Kimball, so I’m in good company. These do tend to sell out. All past issues (1-4)  are sold out, if memory serves me correctly.

“Terrapin Station” is set in Chicago, off of Michigan Avenue, about a man who leaves the corporate world behind to carve turtles while sitting on a park bench, living in a tree in Grant Park. He pines for the woman at the office that he leaves behind each year to head down to New Orleans, and hopes that this is the year that she joins him.

This is not my usual dark fiction, so if you’ve ever wanted to read something more literary or more upbeat, here you go.

“Victimized” is now out in Murky Depths #15

I can’t begin to say how excited I am about my 5,000 word short story “Victimized” being in Issue #15 of Murky Depths. They are such a cool publication, I mean, look at that cover? And this is one of my favorite stories. When I get the spread artwork from my story I’ll add those up. Murky Depths is really coming into its own, having won the British Fantasy Award for BEST MAGAZINE. Pick up your copy today, while they last.

In case you wanted to know more, “Victimized” is about a young woman in the near future who has decided to go into the boxing ring that is now used to punish criminals, an option offered up by the government and police as an way to find closure for those that want to have a more “hand on” experience in dealing with somebody that raped or murdered a family member or friend. It’s a wild ride, one I think you’ll enjoy. It’s a mix of horror and neo-noir, mystery and crime, with a bit of SF and fantasy and sex tossed in. My usual.

ENJOY!

“Maker of Flight” wins another contest – Jotspeak

"Maker of Flight" Wins at Jotspeak

Check this out!

WINNERS!

I WON! For my story “Maker of Flight” that also won at ChiZine.com last year. It is based on the novel Filaria by Brent Hayward. I beat out 200 other stories, WOW! I figured, since you could enter previously published work, that MOF was a good story to send in. Good call, I guess!

I found Jotspeak via Facebook, they approached me about joining a couple of months ago. Seems like a real good community, and I hope to get more involved. Looks like I’ll be a featured artist/author for a month too! Always good to get new eyes on my work.

Shivers VI Announced – Stephen King, Peter Straub and ME!

Shivers VI - Cemetery Dance

Wow, got the announcement tonight, and Shivers VI, which I knew was coming (produced by Cemetery Dance) will have a novella by Stephen King and Peter Straub in it. WOW. My story “Stillness” will be in such great company, I mean, these are the guys I grew up reading, my idols. I’m floored. It’s a huge book, 400 pages, and they’re issuing it as a limited lettered, limited edition, and paperback. While they last.

This could really win a Bram Stoker award.

SHIVERS VI

Table of Contents:
“Serial” by Blake Crouch & Jack Kilborn
“The Crate” a novella by Stephen King
“The Last Beautiful Day” by Brian James Freeman
“Cobwebs” by Kealan Patrick Burke
“The Old Ways” by Norman Prentiss
“Waiting for Darkness” by Brian Keene
“Like Lick ‘Em Sticks, Like Tina Fey” by Glen Hirshberg
“Ghost Writer in My Eye” by Wayne Allen Sallee
“Palisado” by Alan Peter Ryan
“Stillness” by Richard Thomas
“In the Raw” by Brian Hodge
“I Found A Little Hole” by Nate Southard
“Fallow” by Scott Nicholson
“Last” by Al Sarrantonio
“Mole” by Jay Bonansinga
“The Shoes” by Melanie Tem
“Bits and Pieces” by Lisa Tuttle
“Trouble Follows” by David B. Silva
“Keeping It in the Family” by Robert Morrish
“It Is the Tale” by Bev Vincent
“A Special Place: The Heart of A Dark Matter” a novella by Peter Straub