I have a new story, “Locks and Keys and the Truth at the Heart of It,” in Pulphouse #17. I’m super-excited about this one because when the story came to me, it was in a different style than I’ve tried before. I trusted my subconscious and went for it. So happy to see this one get a home.
It falls on the literary side of things, perhaps magic realism? but I’m calling it fantasy for ease of filing.
Available Now
Women Who Love Dogs: A Page-Turning Crime Short Story
A rapist haunts the beaches of Southern California, but nobody can clearly identify him.
He always looks different, and he always has a different dog.
Then Vanessa’s dog, Merlin, provides a crucial clue….
A page-turning crime story from an award-nominated mystery author!
“Women Who Love Dogs” originally appeared in Me Too Short Stories(Level Best Books, 2019).
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Brittani Menchin, decidedly not popular high school student, gained a reputation when she rescued some popular kids from their own stupidity.
A reputation as the Fixer.
When a fellow band geek gets harassed for being gay, she intervenes, even though she’s not the type to wade into fights, despite being almost six feet of boobs and sarcasm.
Unfortunately for Brittani, her school has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to violence.
Unfortunately for her school, Brittani finds a way to fight back.
Fans of Veronica Mars will love this first story featuring justice-seeking Brittani Menchin, not-quite-six-feet-tall math nerd and high school Fixer.
“Zero Tolerance” originally appeared in Fiction River: Dark and Deadly Passions, 2021.
Available Now
An Ocean of Secrets in Her Eyes
The 1940s. A time when Hollywood studios owned their talent.
Which included making sure the talent avoided scandal.
Shining star Tabitha St. Claire has a secret. PI Sam Belmont accepts the job to learn what that secret is.
To devastating results…
A standalone story in the popular Nikki Ashburne series, “An Ocean of Secrets in Her Eyes” originally appeared in Fiction River: Chances, 2021.
Available Now
Jennet, scarred from a fire and with few prospects, accepts the position of companion to the veiled, enigmatic Lady Vesta.
But Lady Vesta’s secrets extend beyond what she hides behind her veil. From enquiring as to Jennet’s marriage plans (none) to allowing Jennet to dress without a corset or petticoats due to the house’s heat, she leaves Jennet intrigued.
Their time together rattles Jennet’s emotions.
The truth terrifies her—but it also might be her salvation.
Captivating short story “Beautiful Soul” originally appeared in Cutter’s Final Cut: Dragons, 2021.
Whether you’re in cold and rain (here in OR), or under snow (I hear you, friends in MN!), or dealing with heat (CA, Australia…), maybe you crave holiday stories. Not just Christmas stories, but Thanksgiving and Hannukah and Solstice and more; not just plain holiday stories, but ones that intertwine with crime or romance or fantasy and magic.
I certainly do.
Plus, short stories don’t take a lot of time to read. On your phone while you’re standing in line at the Post Office or the grocery story. While you’re waiting for the oven to preheat. A few stolen minutes before you fall asleep.
Hopefully dreaming of dancing sugarplums (whatever they are).
If you’re like me, then let me tell you about a wonderful Storybundle of eleven holiday collections—which comes out to a whopping seventy-two stories.
For $5, you get four ebooks; for $15 or more, you get all eleven.
You can also donate to a special charity, AbleGamers: “Creating opportunities that enable play in order to combat social isolation, foster inclusive communities, and improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.” This is so important during the pandemic shutdown, and especially during the holidays.
My collection, Winter Wonderlands: Ten Tales of Holiday Magic is only available through this project. I’ll probably put it up for sale next holiday season, but that’s eons away.
But hurry: this Storybundle vanishes like Santa at the end of December!
For more information and to purchase this amazing deal, check out Storybundle.
If that’s not enough holiday cheer for you (is there ever enough?!), then check out the WMG Holiday Spectacular. It’s an advent calendar of stories, one appearing in your In Box every day from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day.
Yes, I know it’s the middle of December already! It doesn’t matter. If you subscribe between now and December 27, you’ll get an email of every story you missed. If you wait until after December 27, you’ll get the email on January 3 (but what’s the point of reading all the stories after the holidays?).
Either way, you’ll also receive The Holiday Spectacular #3 ebook compilation, which includes all thirty-eight stories and introductions, in July 2022.
In this advent calendar of stories, I have a sweet Solstice romance set in Wales. I have no idea on which day it’ll appear…but that’s part of the fun!
(Hint: Both of these make great last-minute holiday gifts for the readers on your list.)
Left Behind, She Waited
When petty criminals Angela and Mike stumble across an abandoned coal mining facility in a Tennessee forest, they plan to stay for the night.
The next morning, Angela finds Mike and all their possessions gone.
And she learns why the mining company closed its doors, and what haunts its halls….
Eerie and unique, “Left Behind, She Waited” will give you chills and make you think twice about redemption.
“Left Behind, She Waited” originally appeared in Unexpected Heroines (Kydala Publishing, 2020).
Girl With a Mission
Brittani Menchin, decidedly not popular high school student, gained a reputation when she rescued some popular kids from their own stupidity.
A reputation as the Fixer.
And now head cheerleader Tara Kildare wants her help.
The parents of Tara’s girlfriend, Chaya, want Tara arrested for the statutory rape of their daughter, because they don’t condone the lesbian relationship.
That makes Brittani’s blood boil….
Fans of Veronica Mars will love this first story featuring justice-seeking Brittani Menchin, not-quite-six-feet-tall math nerd and high school Fixer.
“Girl With a Mission” originally appeared in Fiction River: Hard Choices, 2018, and was republished in Powerful Girls: A YA Short Story Collection, 2020.
Custard: A Romeo and Juliet Story (Sort Of)
Brownies—not the little girls or the fudgy treat kind, but the Scottish pixie kind—help take care of households by being superior with household chores.
Agnes and Neil, from different brownie clans and working at different manor houses, both pride themselves in their custard. Custard, which requires the best, freshest eggs.
A chance meeting over a favorite clutch of eggs starts Agnes and Neil on an adventure, and the chance to create something new.
Their story will never be forgotten.
Editor Dean Wesley Smith says of “Custard,” “Dayle Dermatis…is a storyteller whose compelling and playful prose I will follow down virtually any path.”
“Custard: A Romeo and Juliet Story (Sort Of)” originally appeared in Pulphouse Fiction Magazine, 2021.
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The box set Rainbow Romance, Volume 1, containing my nine-story lesbian erotica collection Kiss Me Again, is on sale this month to celebrate Pride! Grab in at this special price while you can!
The bundle also contains 11 more novels and novellas!
From fairy tale retellings, lesbian sword and sorcery,
to gay vampires and lonely witches,
enjoy these fantasy tales of same-sex adventure and devotion.
Holiday romance and sexy roommates,
crime drama and short tales of female fun
bring romance and raunchiness.
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