Forthcoming Stories
TBD
Published Stories
"Key to the Pyramid" reprinted in Amazing Stories Best of 2024 , May, 2025
Originally published as:
"Key to the Pyramid" in Amazing Stories , December 16, 2024.
A rich orbital inhabitant uses her wealth to find the ultimate power in the heart of a pyramid.
#science fiction
"The Adoption" in Penumbric , April, 2025.
“There's talk of a sea nymph out by the reef.”
#fantasy
"Murder on the Transylvania Express" in Every Day Fiction , January 26, 2025.
Never invite a vampire in.
#fantasy, #humor
"Journey to the Edge of the World" on Amazon Kindle, January 2025.
Originally published on Kindle Vella, July 2021.
The world is a disc, and approaching the edge is deadly.
#science fiction, #fantasy, #alternate history, #steampunk
"Flawed Familiar" in Every Day Fiction , September 23, 2024.
I received my order, 1 cat.
#fantasy, #humor
"The Dragon Shepherd" in Electric Spec August 31, 2024.
Blog entry about the story.
She was foolishly brave for a girl alone in the forest.
#fantasy
"Reconnaissance Crow" in Brilliant Flash Fiction, March 2024.
"There’s no way I’ll launch the entire murder for one measly roadkill squirrel."
#humor
"Sleep the World Away" in issue 126 of On Spec Magazine, Vol. 33, no 4, December 2023.
“Don’t touch the bandage on her back. And don’t let her bite you.”
#science fiction
"A Scar on the Map" in volume 44 of Allegory Magazine VOLUME 44/71 — FALL/WINTER 2023/24
When Garcia's heart finally stopped pounding, it was because he already knew how he was supposed to die.
#fantasy
"Brexit 409 AD" in issue 141 of Swords and Sorcery Magazine in October 2023.
She shook her head. No one in Britain was counting on the Romans anymore.
#fantasy
"Kites and Orchids" in ‘Ike Pāpālua: Science Fiction & Fantasy from the Hawaiian Islands, May 2023.
Originally published as "Kites and Orchids" in Electric Spec, August 2014
"So safe a girl can fly it to school without the governess." - Nikola Tesla, before his tragic jetpack accident.
#science fiction, #alternate history
"The Castaway" in The Colored Lens, Spring 2023.
(The entire story is available in Amazon's "Look Inside" preview of the Kindle edition.)
The naked man, washed up from the sea, watched Misaki from a crouch on the snow-covered shore.
#science fiction
"Blood Witch on the Khartoum Train" in Tales of Fear, Superstition, and Doom from Redwood Press, March 2023.
He'd blasted the tops off the pyramids, trying to find the treasure in the tombs.
#fantasy, #steampunk
"Leaping Dragon, Sleeping, Eagle" reprinted in The Best of Abyss & Apex Volume 3, 2019
Originally published as "Leaping Dragon, Sleeping Eagle" in Abyss & Apex, January 2016.
“Braking thruster. Major malfunction. Explosion. Lost two solar spines. Have attitude control now. Overshot Mars."
#science fiction
"Tied to the Tracks" in Andromeda Spaceways issue 67, June 2017.
Her dark eyes studied him calmly, as if being tied to railroad tracks in the African desert was an everyday occurrence.
#science fiction, #fantasy
"I Will Bring You Home" in The Colored Lens, Winter, 2016.
(The entire story is available in Amazon's "Look Inside" preview of the Kindle edition.)
Sykeet darted from her hut like a harpoon, flying blind toward the crèche net.
#science fiction
"Polyglot" in Ares Magazine, Issue 4, September 2016.
“Can you speak our language?” said Russo.
After a long pause, the girl said, “I can speak any language.”
#science fiction
"The Secret of the Lost Eagle" in 365 Tomorrows, March 2016.
The Director was old enough to be her father. In his youth, a theft of this magnitude would have been inconceivable.
#science fiction
"Sacrificial Virgins for Hire" in Plasma Frequency Magazine, January 2016.
(Formerly available in paperback here: Amazon)
“Frightfully hot near a dragon. Like in a skillet. How many virgins have you rescued?”
#fantasy
"Dreadnought Under Ice" reprinted in The Best of Abyss & Apex Volume 2, 2016
Originally published as "Dreadnought Under Ice" in Abyss & Apex, January 2015.
He wasn't the only thing moving beneath the ice on Europa.
#science fiction
"Princess Zenla and the Encyclopedia on Mars" in Perihelion SF, November 2015.
Behind free-fall restraint grills lay stacks of magazines with names like “Amazing” and “Astounding.” And a complete Encyclopedia Britannica.
#science fiction, #humor
"Empty Nesting Velocity" in Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine issue #61, September 2015.
Illustrated by Lewis Morley.
Spread-eagled, she slammed against the hatch.
#science fiction
"Puppy Love" reprinted in Roar 6, July 2015
Originally published as Puppy Love in Defenestration Magazine, August 2010
Love in the ruins of New Orleans. With dog-people.
#science fiction, #humor
"Museum Man" in Electric Spec, February 2015.
"What year do you think this is?"
#science fiction
"The Maltese Pterodactyl" in Bastion Science Fiction Magazine, July 2014.
Available from weightlessbooks or amazon
As she tugged gently, she realized the limb wasn't a leg. It was like the wing of a bat. The truth dawned...
#science fiction
"Dead Fairy Doormat", in the anthology, A Chimerical World: Tales of the Seelie Court, February 2014.
The cat had something against fairies.
#fantasy, #humor
"Letters", in Plasma Frequency Magazine, February 2014
Formerly available in paperback here: Amazon
A young woman, love letters, and a disapproving dragon.
#fantasy, #humor
"The Case of the Night-walking Automaton" reprinted in Comets and Criminals, 2014 (including podcast recording by Samuel Mae).
Originally published as "The Case of the Night-walking Automaton" in eSteampunk Vol. 1, No. 2, 2013
The second steampunk adventure of Sherlock Holmes' illegitimate daughter, involving a conspiracy by the Sons of Napoleon.
#steampunk
"If You Give a Girl a Blaster" in The Colored Lens, January 2014.
Also on Kindle
Be careful what you ask for...
#science fiction
"The Redmond Tomb Raiders" in Ruined Cities from Deepwood Publishing, November 2013
Taking on Microsoft World HQ with a trebuchet.
#science fiction
Local Woman Is 69 But Looks 21 in Every Day Fiction, October 2013
“I have many skills. Some the world has forgotten.”
#fantasy
"Fées des Dents" in Mothership: Tales from Afrofuturism and Beyond anthology, 2013
- ed. Bill Campbell and Edward Austin Hall.
An earlier version of this story appeared in Electric Spec, August 2010
AIDS had killed off the last of the true giants a decade ago. All that remained in Sudan were skeletons in crypts.
#fantasy
"Cathedral Rising" in Bibliotheca Fantastica anthology, 2013
- ed. Don Pizarro
As it is written in the Book of Beginnings: ‘The relic came to rest upon a hill. And they opened the doors–’
“The doors ain’t open, is they?” she asked anxiously.
#fantasy
Becoming Einstein in Perihelion SF, April 2013
“Looking for your legendary anti-gravity Grail?” she whispered.
#science fiction, #humor
"One Million Monkeys, Ltd" reprinted in Gears and Levers 3: A Steampunk Anthology, 2013
Originally published in Steampunk Tales #3, Sept. 2009
The queens of Egypt have kidnapped Ada, Countess of Lovelace.
#steampunk, #alternate history
"We Bring Them Back. For You!" in Strangely Funny from Mystery and Horror, LLC, 2013
“Ye know about me treasure,” said the captain.
#fantasy, #humor
"The Dark Angel and the Witch's Hat" in Bards and Sages Quarterly , July 2012.
Reprinted in Bardic Tales and Sage Advice, Vol. 5
16th century England. A boy meets an angel on a mission.
#fantasy
"The Einstein-Rosen Hunter-Gatherer Society", reprinted in The Third Science Fiction MEGAPACK from Wildside Press. Feb. 2012
Originally published as The Einstein-Rosen Hunter-Gatherer Society, in Helix Speculative Fiction, 2008
What if you only had three days to find a way to save the world?
#science fiction
"The Third Dragon" in Gears and Levers 1, A Steampunk Anthology, 2012
A Chinese steampunk fairy tale.
#fantasy, #steampunk
"The Case of the River Monkey Taxidermist" in Comets and Criminals #2, 2012
Illustrated by L.E. Badillo.
The first steampunk adventure of Sherlock Holmes' illegitimate daughter, with something strange in the tunnels under Paris.
#steampunk
Googling Tinkerbell in 365 Tomorrows, January 2012
Click if you believe.
#fantasy, #humor
"To Titan on the Daily" in Heir Apparent - Digital Science Fiction Anthology 4, 2011
“I told him I could make him the smartest man in the world.”
#science fiction
"The Watcher" in Mirror Shards: Exploring the Edges of Augmented Reality, 2011
Deep beneath the Indian Ocean, Shabana was scouting for whales. She found something far more dangerous.
#science fiction
Tilting at Windmills in Spectra Magazine, Issue 2, 2010
Far from the prison, the Amazon River began to flow backwards.
#science fiction
The Pareto Principle in Flash Me, Issue 30, 2010
Be careful what you reach for.
#fantasy
Pandora's Blog in Reflection's Edge, September 2009
Somebody has to save the bees.
#fantasy, #humor
No Remorse in Ray Gun Revival #50, January 2009
Two huge moons, an eclipse, and a ride down a tidal waterfall.
#science fiction
"Zorroid" in Ideomancer, December 2008
Illegal aliens at the border. Some more illegal than others.
#science fiction
The Sunhouse Trap in Science Fiction Age, Vol. 5, No. 4, May 1997
Illustrated by William Stoneham
Saving the galaxy in spite of Mom.
#science fiction, #humor
Last of the Suncatcher Houses in Tomorrow Speculative Fiction, Vol. 4, No. 5, Nov. 1996
Illustrated by Kelly Faltermäyer
The house had been waiting for a long time.
#science fiction
Fort Apache, the Moon in Centaurus, Vol. 1, No. 2, 1996
It's not paranoia if they really are out to get you.
#alternate history, #humor
Pittsburgh to Mars in Story Rules, Vol. 1, No. 2, 1996
The babysitter takes the kids from Pittsburgh to John Carter Land. On Mars.
#science fiction, #humor
Granny in the Flight Path in Tomorrow Speculative Fiction, Vol. 2, Issue 6, Dec. 1994
Illustrated by Gary Davis
Grandmother, a little girl, and nuclear-powered aircraft over the North Pole.
#science fiction, #alternate history
Floating off the Edge in Midnight Zoo, Vol. 4, No. 1, Jan. 1994
Winning World War II with time travel. Maybe.
#alternate history, #science fiction