Tino’s Boys

TINO’S BOYS This story is gritty, and horrible, but it’s how it really happened. “Don’t you wish this night would last forever?” Tommy said, and I didn’t argue that it’s actually early morning, and not exactly the best time I’ve ever had, considering every moment’s been spent with him. Still, I grunted something that sounded…

Read More

Fatherhood

FATHERHOOD I am not ready for this. A fragile life hangs in the balance. It’s my own flesh and blood, my responsibility. It feels as if his life is in my hands. I look at them and will them not to tremble.   My God. I’m not ready. But that doesn’t matter. The fact is,…

Read More

Saturday Night Forever

SATURDAY NIGHT FOREVER Tonight’s the night. If all goes well, I — I should stop right there.    Tonight has the potential to be big. I’m at an invitation-only wedding at Hotel Bel-Air. My “plus one” is Haley Sinclair, the incredible girl that I’m going to marry. If I work up the nerve to ask her,…

Read More

It’s Not Me, It’s Shoes

IT’S NOT ME, IT’S SHOES “You know…” She said, in the way she would often begin a conversation. My eyes never left my phone’s screen, but I did grunt an acknowledgement. “I’ve given it a good try, a fair one. But – It’s not working for me and it’s not going to.” I looked up…

Read More

Walls

WALLS “Raisins,” he said. Her nametag read “Cassie.” He didn’t remember seeing her here before, until just now as her cheery voice asked him what he was looking for.    “You’re new here,” he said, surprised at how quickly she had answered, “Aisle J6.” Before she could answer, another man rudely interrupted, pulling Cassie’s arm.…

Read More

Billy

If you know Billy, then you have a “Billy story.” Just one?! Right. More likely it’s “Where do I even start?” One of my earliest recollections of Billy was back when my age was still in single digits. He was the kid in our backyard that my brothers and I were staring at like Who…

Read More

Grit Fiction – Signed Copies!!

One of my favorite writing-related activities is meeting my readers and signing copies of books for them. I know not everyone can make it to signing events, so, I’ll bring the experience to you! Contact me through this post, and I’ll personally sign a copy (or as many as you’d like) of Grit Fiction and…

Read More

Keep On Knocking

KEEP ON KNOCKING  Miguel was already sweating, and they hadn’t even knocked on their first door yet.  “It must be ninety degrees already,” he commented to Lucas, who looked surprisingly fresh. Lucas was glad he’d opted to wear short sleeves. “It could be worse,” he said, smoothing his necktie.   “Think of our brothers and sisters…

Read More

The Gritty Committee

Howdy! It’s high time to salute all the folks that assisted in the recent launch of Grit Fiction! Whether you opened up doors, welcomed me on the other side of them, pulled me through, or gave me a gentle nudge in the right direction, I appreciate you! You are and will aways be a part…

Read More

Deliverance

Spoiler alert: Hurricane Pandara is wreaking havoc on the west coast. Exactly like the National Weather Service predicted last week. I’m fighting to see through the horizontal rain that’s making mockery of my windshield wipers. Flood Zone A was ordered to evacuate fifty plus hours ago, so of course, the flooded streets are completely deserted.…

Read More

Bananavirus

BANANAVIRUS Twelve pairs of worried eyes stared at Laboratory One Supervisor Bruce. His charges wanted answers, and reassurance. He had precious little of one, and none of the other. My word, they look like clones, he thought to himself, clone drones. Personal Protective Equipment covered them from the toes of their safety shoes to their…

Read More