@katemaxlow
Recovering school administrator. I like my stories lyrical, sometimes absurd, with usually with a dash of humor and hope. My existential dread wears sparkly shoes to arm-wrestle institutions that forget they're made of people.
Yes, this Emily Dickinson-esque poem was written & read by the 9yo who lives in my house and sometimes let me claim her as "Daughter." And yes--it's deliciously creepy.
It would mean the world to her little ghostly heart if you donated 2 minutes of your time to a listen...
youtu.be/kK_wPTTJmHo
It’s my best dinner party story, really. I mean—the character’s dinner party story. Um. Yeah.
Pleased as punch to announce that my short story "The Crimson Path" (a Little Red Riding Hood feminist reimagining) has been selected to be in the Curse of the Sword Anthology from Dragonsoulpress.
Releases March 30, 2026!
Pre-order available at: dragonsoulpress.com/dsp-books/
New year, new fiction! This is one of my all time favorite pieces of flash fiction (3 min read) because I just let my id have the keyboard and here’s what she wrote. Enjoy the ride and check out all the other awesomeness at @doesithavepockets.bsky.social
www.doesithavepockets.com/fiction/kate...
NEW FICTION ALERT! #Solsitia Lit Mag from @fictionfanspod.bsky.social all about DRAGON HOARDS! Check out my feminist flash fiction piece at the end while you're at it.
fiction-fans-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/...
When you're writing a book that features Victorian magicians:
Me: Do we have any bungee cords we don't need?
Husband: Uh, why?
Me: I need to do a magic trick. For research.
H: ...
Me: But I need to cut the ends off for the trick.
H: I don't... I mean... [sighs] In the garage.
NEW FICTION! This 5-minute is dedicated to all my female friends of a certain age who find themselves at a doctor, one body part disappearing at a time. www.jerseydevilpress.com?page_id=9122
@jerseydevilpress.bsky.social
Ok, but what would your mom post on Next Door as the world is ending? Is she a Doris? An Edie? A Shirley? Find out now with new fiction from @defenestrationmag.bsky.social : www.defenestrationmag.net/2025/12/what...
I am not going to say that the story *healed* a certain memory, as that’s too much to ask of any work of fiction, but just being able to put the feeling into words, and feeling SEEN by it…damn. That’s the first, important step. Your writing is beautiful. Never stop.
Of course!
When you feel a story with your whole dang heart, and realize now's as good a time as any for a cathartic cry and fist shake at the universe ...
inner-worlds.ghost.io/they-promise...
@esichr.bsky.social
@innerworlds.bsky.social
When miniature golf is so much more than a game…
New writing published!
Taylor Swift really wants everyone to go read this story I wrote at Water Your Cellphone: www.wateryourcellphone.com/post/call-me...
TW: Women's issues (Miscarriage, domestic violence)
Check out the latest issue featuring my creative nonfiction piece: The Universe on a Gluten-Free Bun.
Dedicated to anyone who wonders where the hours go and why you can't just be an adult already.
Midnight Confessions: Issue 03
open.substack.com/pub/thekhaot...
I feel the need to smash something. Does anyone have any spare bits of patriarchy you’re not using? Can trade for half-used cellulite snake oil and/or expired Tylenol.
Can we talk about this story? Look, I love the literary stories that mean things that stir your soul, but my heart holds a special place for the humorous stories about bonding over your love of a dentist. @theoffingmag.bsky.social
theoffingmag.com/wit-tea/how-...
Cover for THE BEST WEIRD FICTION OF THE YEAR, VOL. 1. Odilon Redon art of a face in the middle of an areola/sun/aura thing.
Final proofing is being done on this. Pre-orders include the print AND e-book. Said eBook will be delivered early, thus making you the envy of all your friends and enemies.
undertowpublications.com/shop/best-we...
Pretty much perfect breakup advice from Christine H. Chen on @doesithavepockets.bsky.social , if you're into lyrical micro-fiction with a generous dollop of wit.
www.doesithavepockets.com/fiction/chri...
Just read this and dang: that last line took my breath away. Congratulations!
THIS. I get so tired of hearing, "But if the genders were reversed..." NO. That's not how it works when there are clear societal power differences.
Breathtaking!
What I love about this story "Snow Queen Serotonin" in @tinymolecules.bsky.social by @marybuchanan.bsky.social : The descriptions are both rich AND restrained, every word doing a heavy lift in the perfect place. www.tinymolecules.com/issues/twent...
This is the story that made me fall in ❤️ with @maudlinhouse.bsky.social : maudlinhouse.net/the-sword-sw...
As a mother and an educator (especially in these times), the show must always go on, even as your body fails around you. Why? Because that's what we do.
And it's up! maudlinhouse.net/lucy-archivi...
Thank you to @maudlinhouse.bsky.social for taking a chance on a new (to fiction) author who spent way too much time looking at mushroom pics for this story.
Today in "weird little stories that somehow give meaning to the world."
splitlipthemag.com/flash/0525/j...
@splitlipthemag.bsky.social
“If the victor writes history, it is particularly telling how few words from ancient women have endured.”
Truth. I tried to write an almost completely serious story and nearly died. Write what you'd want to read, not what you think others want to read.
Ok, but this story by @megiddings.bsky.social in @theoffingmag.bsky.social
A story in a story in a story wrapped in despair and tied in a ribbon of hope. Absolutely gorgeous.
theoffingmag.com/fiction/arch...
