“A story told is a life lived.”
James Fraser, Outlander season 3, episode 9
Anthologies that published my stories
“Hogging the Hooch” (under Laurie Hall), in A Restricted View from Under the Hedge, Hedgehog Poetry Press, U.K., July 2018
“No Substitutes Allowed,” in Difursity, Thurston Howl Publications, April 2020: https://www.amazon.com/Difursity-Stories-Furries-Color-Weasel-ebook/dp/B08FMWCTPH/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Difursity&qid=1601819963&s=digital-text&sr=1-1
“Submission,” in Beyond the Levee and Other Ghostly Tales, Peter R. Talley, Sept. 2020: https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Levee-Other-Ghostly-Tales/dp/B08HGNS5KP
The podcast can be found at NoSleep Podcast, Season 15, Episode 16: https://www.thenosleeppodcast.com/episodes/s15/15×16 (story starts around 00:05:10)
“Daddy and the Bear” (under Laurie Hall), The Woods Reader, https://woodsreader.com/ – search for Summer 2020 issue
“Red-Handed,” in Nothing Ever Happens in Fox Hollow, Volume 1; Richard Kodai, editor; Dec. 2020: https://www.amazon.com/Nothing-Ever-Happens-Fox-Hollow-ebook/dp/B08R44751J/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=nothing+ever+happens+in+fox+hollow&qid=1620851242&sr=8-1
“The Glass of Absinthe” (under Laurie Hall), Long Con Magazine, Issue 8, August 31, 2021: longconmag.com/issue-8. Click on the 3rd box on the bottom row to read my story. Based on Degas’ painting of the same title.
The fitting finish to a Deathy year … 2021
As the cover to Alternative Deathiness suggests, life is but a dance with death—a topic all of us are familiar with and too often want to avoid. This is not a volume to avoid.
Alternative Deathiness is a fantastic selection of short stories and poetry that includes works by veteran writers such as best-selling author Alicia Hilton, James Van Pelt, Larry Hodges and more, as well as up-and-coming voices such as Jim Wright and K.G. Anderson (and also yours truly, moi). Look for my story, “Written in Stone.” Read long and prosper (or we’ll come for you!)
Just released January 25, 2022! Chicken Soup for the Soul’s new book, Believe in Angels, contains my true story, “A Miraculous Save,” written under Laurie Hall.
And here’s a link to the podcast, recapping my story: https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=ADL9940329770
A new, speculative fiction anthology has been released! Dragon Gems (Summer 2023 Edition) was released, in print and digitally, on July 28, 2023. And it includes one my my stories, “Lonesome Leviathan.” It’s an amusing tale about the real monster in the loch. (Those of Scottish persuasion should especially enjoy it.) You can pre-order the digital book now. So check it out!
https://waterdragonpublishing.com/product/dragon-gems-summer-2023/
Critical Blast’s fun, new anthology of modern (and surprising) fairy tales, The Fables Next Door, was released May 28, 2024. Read about what these characters we all know and love (or thought we did) are up to now. They could be closer than you think! The anthology includes my Grimm-humored spoof, “Serving the Public,” a speculation on how a witch with a gingerbread house and her fellow fairy tale celebs reinvent themselves when they’re forced into retirement.
https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?uzHmYMoxxYlB9sg8zxa5irzwQyKcOwZe3wul9aQ1HeF
Another blast for your reading pleasure! A new story of mine, “The Universal Thread,” appeared April 1st, 2025 in Critical Blast’s Gods and Services: New Location.
No April Fools were harmed in this edition. But the gods did a whole lot of fooling around. Check it out to see what they’ve been up to.
Also check out the fabulous trailer the editor put together: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB-KcNPB-E0
Critical Blast, which has published two others of my stories, has a new anthology, More Monsters Next Door, released Dec. 5, 2025, just in time for a perfect Grinch Christmas!
My story is called “Buryin’ Mama.”
The publisher also does really fun trailers for his books. Take a look and turn up the sound: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=763073140040982&t=0
Other publications
(Psssssst! By clicking on any of the links highlighted below, you’ll actually be able to read my stories, and more.)
“Snack Service,” in the Monster Flash anthology (a contest winner), The Arcanist, Oct. 2019: https://mailchi.mp/thearcanist.io/snack-service?e=da09a748a1
“The Lady Has it All,” 50-Word Stories, Dec. 2019: http://fiftywordstories.com/2019/12/04/laurie-hall-the-lady-has-it-all/
“Pledging Allegiance,” “Parable,” and “Spring Cleaning,” Page & Spine, 2019: https://www.pagespineficshowcase.com/lauren-stoker.html
“COVID-19 Test — It Snot What You Think [sic] (A Probe Too Far?)” (under Laurie Hall), Page & Spine, May 21, 2021: https://www.pagespineficshowcase.com/end-notes.html
“Dropping By,” Page & Spine, Oct. 22, 2021 (a little Halloween tale): https://pagespineficshowcase.com/outta-this-world/dropping-by-lauren-stoker
“Samhain Summoned?” Page & Spine, Oct. 29, 2021 (a treat for All Hallows’ Eve . . . or similar): https://pagespineficshowcase.com/outta-this-world/samhain-summoned-lauren-stoker
“To Womb It May ConCERN” Page & Spine, Dec. 10, 2021 (a little, twisted science piece for Christmas and probably one of the funniest things I’ve written). https://pagespineficshowcase.com/outta-this-world/to-womb-it-may-concern-lauren-stoker
“Staying on Tiptoes,” Twenty-two Twenty-eight, March 11, 2024. A timely essay, it’s nonetheless a story about a day last summer that was ruined by the loud-mouthed, political bullies that keep the rest of us on tiptoes. https://www.twentytwotwentyeight.com/single-post/essay-standing-on-tiptoes-by-laurie-hall Unfortunately, the essay was only available for free reading for one week. So I’m including the essay as published below.
My essay, “Ticking Clocks,” was published January 18, 2025 by the MetroWest Daily News (see below). The subtitle was not mine and would not have been my choice; it was added by the editor.
July 23, 2025: My true story, “Abandoned,” went live today on Twenty-two Twenty-eight! Here’s the link: https://www.twentytwotwentyeight.com/single-post/abandoned-by-lauren-stoker
PLEASE NOTE, their stories don’t stay live long without a subscription, so in case you miss the free viewing window, here’s the piece below.
You can also find the links to my stories at: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenHStoker
Lauren Stoker 