Annie Neugebauer

It’s that time of year when I feel alternatingly like a greasy self-promo slime bucket and a proud justified author sharing her work. Yes, it’s awards eligibility season, and the only way to be considered  for Most of the Things™ is to share Your Things™ and hope people bother to read them. SO! 2021 has been simple and sweet for me with two original short stories, both horror/dark fantasy.

“If Those Ragged Feet Won’t Run”

Stranded between the safety of two villages, a mother must protect her newborn from the nightbirds—terrifying creatures who hunt using sound.

“I don’t think I’ve ever read a story that takes these very real postpartum details and weaves them into the tale. The result is a tense, taut, and breathtaking chase story that had me on the edge of my seat. And the added twist of the tale, when we realize we’re dealing with not one but two mothers… adds to the story’s harrowing brilliance.” –Maria Haskins

“If Those Ragged Feet Won’t Run” appeared in Apex Magazine Issue 122. You can read it in its entirety for free on Apex-magazine.com, or you can listen to it for free on their podcast, Episode #76, read beautifully by Philippa Ballantine.

“You Ought Not Smile As You Walk These Woods”

A dark fairy tale about a young man who doesn’t heed his grandmother’s warnings about the teeth fairies who live in the woods.

“You Ought Not Smile As You Walk These Woods by Annie Neugebauer caused me to wonder whether a story can be simultaneously cute and horrifying. This one certainly feels like it strikes that balance with its dark sense of humor and a classic (in the violent and bloody sense) fairy tale feel. Like all good fairy tales, this one comes with a moral: Always listen to your elders, respect nature, and never think you’re cleverer than a fairy – especially one with a fondness for teeth.” –A.C. Wise 

“You Ought Not Smile As You Walk These Woods” is in Shadow Atlas: Dark Landscapes of the Americas by Hex Publishers. You can order it now on Amazon. You can get the ebook for just $4.99, but if you’re a physical book lover in any measure you should really consider splurging for the hardback. I’ve gotten a sneak peek and this book is absolutely stunning!

That’s it! All I want for Christmas this year is for you to read my stories, and if you love them, share them with friends. Happy holidays!

Life. <–This was my placeholder intro paragraph when I was pulling together the content for this post, but I think it pretty well sums it up, doesn’t it? Life. 2020. Whew.

It’s time for my end-of-year wrap up. I’ve been stalling a while now because I have two publications that might be out before the end of the year, or might get bumped into 2021. (For anyone reading for awards considerations, that effects eligibility.) But I can only delay so long. If one or both of those come out between now and the 31^st, I’ll update here ASAP. [Note 12/21: “A Newborn Thing” has been added below!] If not, they’ll stay under the ‘forthcoming’ section. So that makes this year’s Annie Neugebauer reading short and sweet. 

Below you’ll find one original short story and two three original poems, plus one reprinted short. At the bottom are links to my blog posts, plus what’s coming out next year.

The Problem with Being a Monster– short fiction

Glug is a monster longing for human connection. When stealing a human doesn’t make him feel better, he befriends a woman who’s drawn by his monstrosity.

Stealing the baby had been a mistake. Glug knew that now. At the time he’d thought no one would notice. It was just a little one, after all.

“The Problem with Being a Monster” was published in the all-women anthology Not All Monsters by Strangehouse Books. It’s a quirky story that took its own path once it got going (as any good story is wont to do), but I started out aiming for that sweet spot between funny and scary that “Subsoil” by Nicholson Baker lands so beautifully. I think mine ended up more between funny and sad with a dash of macabre, but I’m not mad about that. You can order a copy at Amazon. 

Red, Red, Red– poem

“Red, Red, Red” is an eerie poem about, well, strange and scary things that happen when the rain turns red. It was published in the Horror Writers Association Poetry Showcase Volume 7.

Remember when lightning tore the sky open
and blood poured down
beneath the agonized screams
of thunder?

You can get a copy of the Showcase on Amazon in print or ebook, chock full of beautiful and distrubing poems by wonderful poets.

A Newborn Thing– poem

“A Newborn Thing” is a poem about poems, which is one of my favorite indulgences. I happen to really love this one, and I love where it landed, too.

I suspect a poem is a newborn
mewling thing,
standing on legs still wet with wobble.
I suspect there are three
ways to grow it.

You can read my poem for free on Liminality’s website, in their winter 20-21 issue.

Things That Are Always Here– poem

A free verse piece I published on my site. 

My breath,
as close as always can be.
More right than wrong;
I am breathing.
I am here.

You can read it in its entirety here on my blog.

Redless– reprinted short fiction

The color red goes missing from the world.

It’s the stop sign that finally does it.

I love this crazy little flash piece. You can buy Year’s Best Hardcore Horror Volume 5 on Amazon in print, ebook, or audiobook. Listening is a blast; the narrator gives my story a Poe sort of flavor that I love.

Nonfiction (Blog Posts)

• “Women in Horror Month 2020”
• “Hello, Goodbye,” Writer Unboxed
• “9 Sexy Poems to Read with Your Valentine,” LitReactor
• “An Interview with the Women Who Wrote ‘Monster, She Wrote,’” LitReactor
• “Listen Up: 9 Audiobook Hacks,” LitReactor
• “Trying to Juggle Writing AND Parenting? Authors Share Advice,” LitReactor 
• “Don’t Miss Out: A Tana French Primer,” LitReactor
• “7 Reasons You Should Actually Read Moby-Dick,” LitReactor

Forthcoming in 2021

• “White Paint,” Cemetery Dance Magazine #78
• “If Those Ragged Feet Won’t Run,” Apex Magazine Issue 122
• “Vestige,” reprint to be announced

To everyone who has found time to read any of my work during this crazy year, thank you. Thank you, especially, to those who have shared it, reviewed it, or sent me messages. As always, your positive feedback means the world.

I hope the end of 2020 is kind to you.