“My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys” in Red Headed Writing, from Cowboy Jamboree Press
In this story, published in an anthology that pays tribute to Willie Nelson, my recurring hero Ray — seen here in his misspent youth as a ramblin’ vagabond — is working on a dude ranch, catching feelings for a complicated woman, and investigating a criminal ring that leads him to a dangerous confrontation and an unexpected encounter.
“Once I Was Stoned” in Hank Mighta Done It This Way, from Cowboy Jamboree Press
In this small-town stoner noir, pothead reporter Raymond Reynolds follows a paper trail that leads him into conflict with a corrupt county judge — a story that ends up reflecting something deeper, not only about Ray, but about the very soul of small-town America itself.
“Born a Ramblin’ Man” in Trouble No More, from Down & Out Books
In “Born a Ramblin’ Man,” my recurring protagonist Raymond Reynolds — seen here during his youth as an alcoholic, country-singing vagabond — stows away aboard a southbound tractor trailer, but he discovers that the truck is carrying some decidedly less-than-legal cargo: two young women, victims of human trafficking. He doesn’t want to get involved, but it doesn’t seem like he has much of a choice…
“Luckily, they have a rescuer on board. Unluckily, the hero is Ray, and Ray, well... The fun part of the story is the conversation between Ray and the two prisoners. And the fireworks, both literal and figurative.”
—Named Best Mystery Story of the Week by Little Big Crimes
“Real Magic” in Born Under a Bad Sign,
from Screaming Eye Press
In this short story, a con artist stage magician, his cynical pickpocket assistant, and a made man in the Mafia walk into a theatre. When the magician steals the Mafioso’s Rolex during their act, it sets off a chain of events that will leave only one of them a winner — but which of the three walks out on top?
“Wolf in Wolf’s Clothing” in Nightside,
from Close to the Bone Publishing
My recurring protagonist Raymond Reynolds — seen here during his adulthood, as a pot-smoking small-town newspaper reporter — finds himself in a most unexpected misadventure in this collection of unconventional noir stories. Dragged to a furry convention by his best friend Johnny, where he’s enlisted as a pseudo-detective against his will, Ray must navigate a tangled web of attempted murder, fursuits, and Nazis, all while trying to smoke enough weed to stay sane throughout this strange journey. Out of print and limited copies remain!
“Transcendent Ramblin’ Railroad Blues”
on Shotgun Honey
This flash fiction story stars recurring protagonist Raymond Reynolds — seen here in his younger days as a rambler, hitchhiker, and train-hopper — as he solves a murder aboard a speeding train, all while riding the rails ever deeper into his own misery.
“Warm Your Bones,”
on Mystery Tribune
In this story combining the cozy mystery with elements of revenge noir, the elderly Madeline McDaniel investigates the murder of a local young woman she loved like a daughter. Using her harmless appearance to her advantage, she confronts her suspect over a cup of tea, where the killer learns that appearances can be deceiving…
“…And Satan Came With Them”
in Blood & Blasphemy from HellBound Books
In this hybrid crime/horror story, a serial killer priest brutally tortures his victims in a violent recreation of the Book of Job, testing their faith once all their blessings are taken by the adversary. But when the wife of one of his former victims tracks him down, it is the murderous Father Carson McCullers who will learn to anoint himself in ash.
“The Brothers Grimace”
in Ink Stains Vol. 12 from Dark Alley Press
Blending horror and character study, this modern day werewolf tale examines the relationship between two brothers — and the strain put on them by the younger brother’s lycanthropy — as they make their way into woods of Central Pennsylvania to hole up in a hunting cabin and attempt to ride out yet another lunar transformation.
“Twenty Column Inches”
in Cosy Crime Short Stories from Flame Tree Press
The first published appearance of my recurring protagonist Raymond Reynolds, this small-town stoner noir story features Ray investigating local government corruption while chain smoking joints in classic fashion. And much like every great noir hero, and every great reporter, Ray discovers there’s more to the story than initially meets the eye.