The Vulture
Tragedy and obsession is a vicious combination. Unable to move past the violent loss of his family, one man finds himself caught in a destructive cycle of drinking sustained by the hope of revenge.
A Death for Lilah
What if the natural progression of combat sports led to the resurrection of gladiator bouts? By melding the past with a fictional near-future, I’ve retained what is iconic about both worlds while creating a unique vision for the reader to explore.
Perfection
Skateboarding is a culture of art, music, film––an embodiment of creativity. Even if you haven’t stepped on a board in years, it never leaves your blood. The joy of landing a trick remains a transcendent experience without equal. Inspired by my brother’s fortieth birthday, Perfection is a celebration of the dedication, skill, and perseverance that all skaters embody.
Born Evil
Nature vs. nurture. Is evil innate or learned? This story originated from the constant, debilitating stress and negativity that 2020 spewed forth through COVID-19 and politics. I wanted to channel our country’s collective trauma into something healthy and creative—an escapist release through horror. I rarely write in the first person, and occupying the headspace of a killer proved difficult, but going outside my comfort zone was very therapeutic.
Casualties
This story is about the toll of war and the narratives woven by survivors in order to live with those experiences. Beth, an ex-soldier dishonorably discharged, is drawn to an extraordinary, intense veteran known only as Gabe. What begins as a meal to bond over shared experiences takes a tragic turn that shatters everything Beth knows about herself and her faith. Existential truths are uncovered at the intersection of fantasy and reality.
Iron and Stone: an Excalibur Tale
When a celestial blade crashes to Buckthorne Village, it brings the destiny of a young thief. Whether he wants it or not, cosmic forces have tapped Arthur for greatness. But greatness and goodness aren’t always entwined. Can any mortal be worthy of such power?
The sword in the stone. Arthur. Merlin. These classic myths are reinterpreted and reinvented for every generation. My modest take on the legend finds Arthur at a moral crossroads, his potential budding but future still uncertain.
The Green
Climate change is the defining issue of our time, and I believe that we all share the responsibility to address it with whatever tools and skills we possess. Bridging reality and fantasy, “The Green” is my humble attempt at spreading awareness through a fictional account of Mother Nature’s desperate reclamation of Los Angeles.
Eco-fiction has emerged as a powerful subgenre that can both entertain and inform. With “The Green,” I have steered away from the mankind-as-a-pestilence, apocalyptic stories rooted in fear and condemnation in favor of a more powerful sentiment: hope.