Author's Note: This story explores an alternate history where the Black Death of 1347-1351 killed approximately 90% of Europe's population, rather than the roughly one-third estimated in our actual historical timeline. This devastating divergence from our history creates a world where European civilization nearly collapses completely, forever altering the course of global development and preventing … Continue reading The Hollow Lands
Fiction
Beneath the Surface
The screaming had stopped hours ago. Eliza stared at the wreckage scattered across the beach, her designer blouse now torn and stained with blood that wasn't hers. The setting sun cast long shadows across the white sand, transforming the debris into monstrous silhouettes. Seventeen survivors had dragged themselves from the ocean after Flight 2783 went … Continue reading Beneath the Surface
Harvest Cycles
1924 The first time Ellis Hargrove laid eyes on Millfield's fertile valley, he knew he'd finally found home. Standing at the edge of his newly purchased forty acres, the morning sun warming his back, he watched his young wife Mary cradling their infant daughter as she twirled slowly among the wild grasses. "Just think, Ellis," … Continue reading Harvest Cycles
The Character Couch – Jack Torrance
Welcome to another exciting edition of The Character Couch! This is that section of The Confusing Middle where we take a look at well-known movie and TV characters and examine them from a psychological point of view. What makes them tick? Grab some popcorn because today we're diving into the fractured psyche of one of … Continue reading The Character Couch – Jack Torrance
Shimmer and Shadow
The fairy perched on the edge of a neon sign in downtown Tokyo, her translucent wings catching fragments of pink and blue light. Below her, humans hurried past with their anti-fairy nets and protective goggles, standard equipment now in most major cities. Thistle – the name she'd chosen for herself – watched them with a … Continue reading Shimmer and Shadow
A to Z Challenge Reflections 2025
Whew! What a month it's been! As April comes to a close, I'm sitting here with a mixture of exhaustion, pride, and genuine disbelief that I've actually done it—I've written an entire novel in just 26 days as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. For those who haven't been following along, the A … Continue reading A to Z Challenge Reflections 2025
The Black Market Below Bleecker
Dave Winters considered himself a rational man. He recycled when convenient, tipped exactly 18%, and had strong opinions about people who took the elevator to the second floor. He worked in data analytics, lived alone in a reasonably-priced Greenwich Village apartment (inherited from his grandmother, thank you very much), and had never once entertained the … Continue reading The Black Market Below Bleecker
Death in the Long Dark
Maya sat in her tiny apartment, staring at the holo-display floating above her desk. The news was everywhere on the ship's feeds: "DEATH ON DECK 7 - MANUAL VIOLENCE SUSPECTED." The headline scrolled past again, its red text harsh against the soft blue background that most shipboard interfaces used. She'd already watched the official announcement … Continue reading Death in the Long Dark
The Great Raccoon Chase
Ember clutched his clipboard of hand-processed paper, carefully noting the properties of yet another surviving wooden structure. "Pine," he muttered, "approximately ninety-seven years old, minimal degradation despite exposure to—" His scientific observations were interrupted by screaming. "THE NIGHT BANDIT APPROACHES! SHIELD YOUR VESSELS OF SUSTENANCE FROM ITS SACRED GRASP!" Ember ducked behind the ancient pine … Continue reading The Great Raccoon Chase
A Night Among the Living Books
Sarah's head jerked up from her textbook, a thin line of drool connecting her bottom lip to page 394 of An Introduction to Victorian Literature. Her neck ached from the awkward position she'd fallen asleep in, and the library was eerily quiet. Too quiet. The fluorescent lights were off, replaced by the dim glow of … Continue reading A Night Among the Living Books
The Confusing Middle 