Not all monsters are supernatural creatures lurking in the dark, but that doesn't mean they can't cause misery and mayhem, whether by intention or by their mere existence.

Monsters and Mayhem contains five complete stories:

Options (approximately 2,700 words) deals with the options available to those who have escaped the apocalypse and must face a post-apocalyptic world that isn't getting any better over time. This story originally appeared in Bumps in the Road, Edited by Chad Lutzke (Black Bed Sheet 2016).

Cruise Control (approximately 3,100 words) shows why the future you always thought you wanted might not be what you expected. Dreams can become night terrors and even a well-intentioned wake-up call can be a frightening shock, especially when you didn't ask for it -- when no one in their right mind would ask for it. This story originally appeared in Robots!, Edited by Kelly Swails (Origins Game Fair Anthology 2016).

The Waking Dread (approximately 5,900 words) proves that being the new kid at school is a nightmare, but staying home alone can be even worse when you are visited by sights and sounds from places and forces unknown. If only you could get some sound advice on how to deal with the horrors that beset you. This story originally appeared in Mystery!, edited by Chantelle Aimée Osman (Origins Game Fair Anthology/Down and Out Books 2018).

Buried (approximately 4,600 words) deals with a lifelong quest to escape poverty and loneliness. Ambition can be useful, but real growth never quite takes the form you expect. This story originally appeared in Issue #79 of famed horror and suspense magazine Cemetery Dance (Cemetery Dance Publications 2024) alongside tales by Stephen King and Chuck Palahniuk.

Blind Spot (approximately 4,700 words) proves that even if you live the perfect life in the perfect house, there may be some unfathomable darkness hiding in the blind spot of your perfect vision. This story originally appeared in LocalLit (Shaw Media 2019)).