Category: Novels

It was fall in the District of Columbia, the late fall afternoon one of those bright, perfect times with the brassy light, and autumnal sharp smell in the air. The Kalorama area of Adams Morgan was picturesque as usual, comparatively quiet, and traffic was at a surprising minimum. Molly Laughlin pulled into her driveway and studied at her face in […]

DANIEL DAVIES STRUGGLED to pull the fallen tree free from the underbrush, where smaller saplings and undergrowth had twisted around the trunk. He wrapped his arms around the two-foot-wide girth and gave a mighty pull, straining against the resistance, his arms taut and threatening to split his undersized tunic. His face turned deep red with the effort and sweat poured […]

“Name?!” The dour faced nurse barked; not even looking up. She exuded a sourness that immediately put him off. A cold, uncaring woman with short cut salt and pepper hair and what appeared to be a permanent sneer on her otherwise sour face. Her paintbrush applied make-up gave her the appearance of an evil clown. That was no way for […]

“Hi Kelly,” said Martin Felt from behind the camera. He had a low, soothing voice. “Welcome to Distressed Dilettantes.” Martin was older, in his late fifties, but he still kept fit. He had reason to think he was reasonably attractive.

The Tilsons settled in the expansive sunroom that overlooked the infinity pool in their backyard, and the twinkling lights of the San Fernando Valley in the distance. It was a festive atmosphere with party lights and decorations courtesy of his kids exclaiming “congratulations, bravo, hurrah, and even a Mazel Tov!” They were celebrating and had debated over the sunroom, the […]

“I don’t think Sean is coming. He’s at a birthday party in Wisconsin.” I frown, put my phone back in my jeans, and continue up the steps. We’d been invited to a housewarming party, and I was trying to push my social anxiety far down hoping I could drown it in alcohol. Nick trudges up the stairs with me, as […]

When I pictured losing my virginity, I always thought it would be with a boyfriend that I cared for. There would be rose petals sprinkled on the bed; candles lit around the room; and romantic music playing in the background. The sexual tension would be so palpable that my stuffed elephant, Mr. Fluffypants, would’ve ran for the closet as soon […]

“Happy Birthday, honey!” I shouted out to my wife, walking out with the cake I had bought for her with 26 candles on it, unlit, joining her parents and sisters, and their husbands, in this joyous occasion. I was an orphan, my parents died in a car wreck when I was 10, I was in the backseat, the only survivor […]

Lisa Nelson placed a fourth large cola with light ice on the counter in front of the man who was finishing his fries while reading some forms that he had brought in with him. She had taken a measure of him when he first came through the door of the diner. With his hat in place, a western style with […]

We stormed off in separate directions. I was fuming, raging really. There was just something about the way I couldn’t get through to him that just infuriated me. I heard his footsteps pounding the pavement getting imperceptibly quieter as the distance between us increased. Meanwhile, try though I may, I couldn’t really emulate him. I mean,