SHORT FICTION AND CREATIVE NONFICTION

Prior to The Ghost Case Posse, my writing concentrated on short fiction and creative nonfiction. When I often worked sixty-plus-hour weeks as an attorney, reading—and eventually writing—short stories was much easier to accomplish in brief respites from work than was reading or writing novels.

Below I provide links to some of my short work that has been published in literary magazines within the last few years. (All stories available free through the links.)

If you’re here because of interest in The Ghost Case Posse and you like fiction involving crime, you might like:

“Fortuna on Holiday,” in which drug thieves learn about luck, fate, and fortune—the hard way.

Or if you’ve only got a minute (literally) and appreciate a touch of dark humor with your murder, check out this microfiction:

“Cornbread,” in which a bad boy’s failure to heed his grandmother’s dietary advice doesn’t end well.

My fiction doesn’t always involve crime.

“The Skipper” is a baseball story (sort of).

And another very short one,

“Triptych—A Life in Three Panels,” attempts to capture a man’s lifelong spiritual journey in few words.

I also write creative nonfiction, based on real events in my life:

My Italian immigrant grandfather tries to cross a cultural divide with his American grandson (me) in “The Father’s Day Goat.”

I realize during a summer job in high school that racism may have been overcome by another form of bigotry in “Bait and Prejudice.” [Scroll to page 108]

American, Canadian, and Australian tourists in Scotland react differently when their trip is stalled by silly government regulations in “The Nanny Bus.”

I’ve written many other short stories that have been published in print and online literary magazines since 2010, and I continue to write new ones. Links to most of the older stories no longer are active. I’m contemplating publishing a book or two of stories but first making selected ones available so you can read them (free). Stay tuned.

I hope you enjoy my writing!

Joe