My newest flash fiction piece, “Swollen,” is now available free to read online over at Mother Horror/Sadie Hartmann’s Patreon! It’s published as part of Sadie’s Flash Fiction Friday series. If you like my story, please consider signing up for Sadie’s Patreon to read more flash stories from different horror authors!
Cover image for Swollen!
BEHIND THE STORY
Anyone active in the horror book community knows Sadie Hartmann is a force of nature! She’s been instrumental in my horror career, as I’m sure she has been with many authors.
It all started with an anthology. Sadie and Ashley (Saywers) co-edited Human Monsters, published via Dark Matter Ink and included in Night Worms (Sadie and Ashley’s horror subscription box). They opened a submission call for it. At the time, I had just given birth and probably should have been resting, but I was determined to submit a story for this incredible anthology. It took me a while to come up with a concept, but eventually I wrote “I Swear I Didn’t Kill the Others.” And, miraculously, they selected it for inclusion in the anthology!
Right around then, Sadie announced a horror novella call where she and Joe of Cemetery Gates Media would select six books to publish in a series called My Dark Library. I had just written my first novella ever, and I sent it in. Sadie and Joe picked Bound Feet and published it in their line-up!
Since then, I’ve met Sadie in person, and she and Ashley included my second novella, Demon Song, in the November 2025 Night Worms Box!
So, when Sadie reached out to see if I’d be interested in sending her a piece to include in her Flash Fiction Fridays series, I said yes immediately.
In horror, gothic and hauntings are my bread and butter. But I’ve been considering leaning more into body horror, so I thought with this piece, I’d do some experimenting! It’s a little different from what I usually write, but I’m thrilled with how it turned out. Suffice to say, you can expect more body horror from me in the future!
Thank you to Sadie for thinking of me and for always being so supportive of horror authors!
About the Story
An overworked mother feels something growing on her body.
Content Warnings
body horror