Sean Thomas McDonnell is a Bay Area horror writer who specializes in uncovering the monstrous in the mundane, blending visceral imagery with moments of quiet dread. His stories delve into themes of powerlessness vs. agency, moral ambiguity, and human fragility. In 2024, he released Beneath the Valley Oak through Spareorgan, an anthology that sold out in just under 48 hours.
What you get:
Free Tier:
Most stories are published through the free tier. If you’re not able to contribute financially, that’s perfectly fine.
Flash fiction, micro, short stories. Typically, 1-4 tales a month. No formal schedule.
Occasional non-fiction posts. Rare.
Not ready to commit? Explore!
Mother Lake
A manic whisper urges me on, and I oblige, but what it is I’m giving in to, I cannot say.
Dead Girl
When Kendra closed her eyes, she saw the dead girl’s face on the back of her eyelids. She saw that dainty nose, no longer pulling in air, and those youthful lips, now purple, and she saw the flies on the girl’s forehead, eyelids, and smooth, perfect little cheeks. Kendra wanted to scream. But then she thought,
Introducing: Beneath the Valley Oak
I was twelve when I learned my dad rode a horse better than John Wayne. It was a beautiful summer’s day out on the Colorado trails, and I’d dressed accordingly, without giving more than a passing thought to the elements: Chucks, pegged jeans, a short-sleeved T-shirt with Julie Newmar as Catwoman on it—you know, trail wear.
