A simple jog ends in a night of terror for suburban mom,
Rebecca. Her tormenter is the last person she'd expect, or so she thinks.
Another surprise awaits her, this one more horrifying than the first. Do you
know thy neighbor?
I thought up this story while out on a late night walk. As I peered around at the darkened houses, avoiding the deeper shadows, I wondered who lived behind each of those doorways. Who might be staring at me from the night-blackened windows? We all now have the capability to look up registered sex offenders in the area, but what of those who haven't been caught? Times have changed, and we no longer know our neighbors the way we once did. Then again, did we ever really know them?
Needless, to say, the rest of my walk was spoiled by these thoughts, putting me on edge. When I got home, I sat down and immediately wrote this story while the trepidation was fresh in my mind. John Wayne Gacy was well liked, and I'm sure he wasn't the only one.
I'll never look at my neighbors the same way again.
Under the Bed Magazine
Published by Fiction Magazines
Volume 3, Number 7
Genre: Horror
Warning: Mature, graphic content
My Story: Know Thy Neighbor
Available in e-magazine at:
(in multiple formats)
Various and sundry retailers of e-periodicals
Price: $3.99
A cool thing about this magazine is that it's peer chosen. The stories with the most votes from the team of curators are accepted by the magazine. It kind of makes me feel warm and fuzzy to know how this was chosen. Or would that be cold and scaly?
What do you think of the cover? Creepy enough? Do you sleep with your feet securely snuggled under the blankets, or do you hang them off the side?
May you find your Muse.
Shannon, congratulations!! That is awesome. Yes, the cover is wicked creepy.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteAs someone who loves to jog at night, I'm both thrilled and terrified to read this story. :) Congrats! Really though, can't wait to give it a read.
ReplyDeleteYes, I really like walking at night. Kids are in bed. I don't have to talk to anyone. It's nice and cool. And it's good for the occasional jumpy moment or story idea.
DeleteVery creepy cover and I'm a feet beneath the blankets person. Congrats on the story.
ReplyDeleteI have to have a foot out to moderate my temperature unless it's super cold in my room.
DeleteCongratulations, Shannon! Love the cover - so creepy! And I've had many a nice moment ruined by my wild imagination. Oh well. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of a love/hate relationship with my imagination.
DeleteAwesome job!
ReplyDeleteWas it a paying gig?
It was! And thanks!
DeleteCongrats! The cover is delightfully creepy, and the story sounds it too.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteAwesome news, Shannon!
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that story submission operates on a peer-chosen system. Really cool!
Congratulations!
I've only seen a couple magazines doing this, but it's an interesting way to do it.
DeleteCongrats, Shannon! So cool to see your words out in the wild. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteThe cover looks horrifying, so I HAVE to read it.
ReplyDeleteThey have some great covers!
DeleteCongratulations! The cover is creepy, and I do like how the stories are peer chosen too.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteYay!! That's so exciting. Congratulations!!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteCongratulations! That cover is absolutely terrifying.
ReplyDelete