- “The Train” ★
- Written Summer 2023.
- Science Fiction/Literary Fiction.
- My personal favorite. I wrote this after interviewing my grandfather about his experiences surviving the Korean War as a child. Some of the most dramatic and seemingly unrealistic parts of this story are actually true experiences he had to endure. Listening to him relive such horrific times then translating those memories into fiction helped tattoo a permanent hatred of war upon my heart.
- First published here, on my website, Fall 2024.
- "Half Open"
- Written Spring 2023.
- Literary Fiction.
- One of my biggest fears in my early 20s was that my dad, with whom I was largely estranged at the time, would die before I ever tried to really cultivate a relationship with him. This story is partially inspired by thinking of what it might have been like had that fear come true.
- First published here, on my website, Fall 2024.
- "The Lilies"
- Written Spring 2023.
- Science Fiction/Dark Fantasy.
- This piece was accepted by two different magazines that I had to turn down for various reasons. Still, even though it didn't make it into a professional magazine, I'm happy knowing that it was good enough to be accepted twice.
- Edit: So, this is annoying. A literary magazine published this story without my permission. They had put an incorrect name in the contract, and I made clear to them that I would only sign the contract if they made the edits I outlined. They did not but went ahead and published my work anyway. So far, they haven't paid me the $25 and contributor's copy they promised, either. The magazine is under Hiraeth Publishing, and I'm linking them here so that other writers who see this know not to submit to them.
- Update (10/25/2024): A huge "thank you" to Writer Beware, to whom I reported Hiraeth. You can see WB's FB post about Hiraeth as well as my comments about the situation here. You can also see WB's Bluesky post here. Hiraeth ultimately sent me a contributor's copy and took down my story but sent my promised payment to the wrong account. I told the owner/chief editor/thief to keep his dirty money and that I'd be keeping an eye on Hiraeth to make sure my work is never associated with him again. I also told him I will take legal action next time.
- Published without my consent in the September issue of Cosmic Crime Stories under Hiraeth Publishing (September 2024).
- Edit: So, this is annoying. A literary magazine published this story without my permission. They had put an incorrect name in the contract, and I made clear to them that I would only sign the contract if they made the edits I outlined. They did not but went ahead and published my work anyway. So far, they haven't paid me the $25 and contributor's copy they promised, either. The magazine is under Hiraeth Publishing, and I'm linking them here so that other writers who see this know not to submit to them.
- "Two Lines"
- Written Spring 2023.
- Literary Fiction.
- If you've followed my blog for a while (see this post), you'll know that Albert and I are unable to have children. I wrote this piece while we still in the first stages of figuring out our infertility.
- Finalist in WOW! Women On Writing - 2023 Spring Contest. Placed within top 35 out of 295 submissions.
- First published in the August issue of Bright Flash Literary Review (August 2024).
- “Harvest” ★
- Written Spring 2023.
- Science Fiction/Dark Fantasy.
- This story is a tiny taste of the types of imagery and world building that you'll find in my upcoming book, Eye in the Blue Box: Book One of Eyes of Awakening. Do you like strange and surreal landscapes that tantalize your mind's eye or relational conflicts that make you question who's really in the wrong? Then you'll like this story as well as my book!
- First published in Vol. 2, Issue 3 – The End, Part Two of The Quiet Ones (December 2023).
- “Memory”
- Written Fall 2019.
- Literary Fiction.
- I've struggled with suicidal ideations for decades now, and I've never, ever regretted each time I've fought the urge and chosen to live. This story is dedicated to anyone who struggles with those ideations or feels isolated because others simply do not understand.
- Winner in the genre of fiction for the 2019-2020 San Diego Community College District Student Literary Competition.
- Associated article (June 2020).
- “Whistle”
- First version written Spring 2010 then finalized in Fall 2019.
- Literary Fiction.
- Not my favorite piece but my husband loves it, so here it is! This was first written to fulfill a flash fiction assignment in the creative writing course I took during college, which sparked a lifelong love for writing, then finalized in the community college course that further stoked my love.
- First published here, on my website, Summer 2024.