Short Story Out Today: “Matters of the Heart”

With spooky season in full swing, it’s time for a sweet little tale of obsession and death!

My story Matters of the Heart appears in today’s issue of the Doubleback Review. Doubleback Review is an online magazine that promotes creative writing originally published at places that went defunct (like Short Story Town, which originally published this story in November 2021).

I like to think this story has a “tragic ballad” feel to it. If I had musical skills, I’d strum a banjo and pen a mournful mountain tune of Henry Cadogan and his ill-fated love for a beautiful stranger. (RIP Dolly Parton, who excelled at writing this type of song.)

In my opinion, Doubleback Review’s mission is pretty cool. Why should a story be published only once, when stories are forever? From their website:

In a churn and burn culture, to revisit and reflect is a luxury. Doubleback Review wants to hit the pause button on art that may slip from the public’s eye (and therefore lose its potential for connection). It wants to resurrect your retired darlings, your dead art, your beautiful zombies — pieces that, like rare and precious artifacts, are worth dusting off, airing out, and putting out on display.

Thanks, Doubleback Review, for breathing new life into this beautiful zombie of mine.