Short Story (Flash Fiction) published in Gravel. Excerpt: “They’ve changed their attorney?” Judge Tripp scowled at The Hague Tribunal’s docket, heavily booked today with no margin for overflow. “Bring him in.” The bailiff swung open the double doors in the back of the courtroom. Two officers wheeled in the large aquarium containing the new lawyer. The tank was …

Short Story published in The Literary Review’s Vol. 60, #01, UNCLE | Excerpt: The kid listens to comedy albums religiously. He’s considerate enough to wear a pair of my Koss headphones when he does this. The headphones are black and chrome with a long spiraling cable and a heavyset jack at the end. While he …

Short Story published in Minnesota Review’s issue #88 | Excerpt: Your twelfth birthday, was what I said. Sunglasses off, the mall’s arctic ether splashing our faces. I want you to go into a store and pick out anything you want. My boy just turned twelve, an important number, despite being unprime. All numbers are sacred, …

Short Story published in Hunger Mountain’s issue #20 Edges. | Excerpt: For the second time I told Willy not to roll the toy truck across the pizzeria’s table because the parmesan crumbs got in the wheels and who would have to clean those out? Liz, who usually acted more governessy in these situations, was so taken …

Short story published in decomP. |  Tie shoes. Adjust belted jeans on hips. Smooth hair back in mirror. Realize smoothing hair is impossible, give up task. Grab preprepared Bloomingdale’s Big Brown Bag. Open HQ door. Exit HQ. Lock HQ door. Check lock exactly three times, not more. Proceed down stairway. Remember: do not run. Five …

Short published in Hobart. | You write a book with three parts. Sure, a few critics come down hard, but mostly the book is appreciated. It becomes a trendsetter. The fans are respectful. Interviews are great. You write a sequel to the first book. It’s a departure. Less violent. This book has a great main …

Short story published in Drunken Boat. | My first husband was a man of curses. People don’t believe me when I tell them this, but it’s true. If you refuse to take my word for it, I invite you to pay Nathan a visit. He lives on an island in the middle of the South …

Short story published in the Terrible Twosdays series of Akashic Books. | Dear Son, Honestly, I should’ve started this campaign long ago, back when you were a fetus and your behavior was under control. Today the case is nearly hopeless. You are a strong person—a solitary ego trapped within a tiny body. Some might even interpret …

Short published by Wigleaf. | When I was eight years old, my father used to pal around with a guy we called Uncle Oz. He might have been somebody’s uncle but he wasn’t mine. My uncle wouldn’t have sneered behind a smoky mustache. He wouldn’t have kept a grizzled beard. Nor would he have worn a …

Short published by Wigleaf. | Dear Wigleaf, This postcard comes to you from a French movie set. I know it sounds glamorous but really it’s no big deal, me being a screenwriter and all. I’m the token American they keep around for reasons I don’t comprehend. It beats working a real job and for the …

Short story published in Thrice Fiction. | Nina is more tipsy now that the second bottle of wine has been opened. She and Luke have gotten past the pro forma deliberation whether extra booze was to be committed to and then consumed. Once the end of dinner shuts the day down, this leaves Nina and Luke …

Short published in Queen Mob’s Teahouse. | On September 17th, 2016, Frank Bausch, Esq. and Melinda Carmichael, Esq. intend to implement a holding company reorganization (F&M Merger), which will result in F&M Merger owning all of the capital stock of Frank and Melinda combined. Each share of Frank’s and Melinda’s stock issued and outstanding immediately …