Recently Published Stories
2024
“The Replacement Wife”
Worlds Within, February, 2024
On the Worlds Within homepage, click on Fantasy and enter my name in the search bar
“A Night by the River”
Ginosko Literary Journal #33, Winter 2024
https://ginoskoliteraryjournal.com/
My story is on page 105
Note: The story is a retelling of the Old Testament fable of Jacob and Esau, framed by the night Jacob wrestled with an angel. It faithfully translates the details of the family drama into a contemporary framework, adding psychological depth.
“Neige”
Daikaijuzine
Click the link to Past Releases
The story is in issue 020. Click on that and you will see my story. You can read it on the Stories page of this website.
Writing this tale of healing helped me deal with the death of Amber, our golden retriever.
“Induction Day”
Sundial: A Literary Magazine for Historical Fiction, 2024
sites.google.com/view/sundial-magazine/
On the home page, enter Induction Day in the search bar
This story is set in Oakland, CA in 1968, beginning with a protest against the draft.
“Prankster”
New English Review, 2024
Click on Past Issues, click on Archives by Author, scroll down to my name
“The Counterclockwise Jenny Traverse”
Accepted by Sunhous, November 2024, published online February 2025
Publication is defunct, website no longer exists
“A Virtuous Woman”
Published online by Unlikely Stories, September, 2024
https://www.unlikelystories.org/u5/content/a-virtuous-woman?page=0%2C3
Susanna’s story is included in some Old Testament versions. As in “A Night by the River,” I gave it a contemporary setting. However, a modern woman would not put up with the Biblical ending of the story, so I changed it. My version is more fun.
“Elpinor and the Nymph”
Accepted and published by Pennsylvania Literary Journal, December, 2024
Print only. You can purchase it on Amazon.
“Brenner’s Vampire”
Vampire Visions anthology, published by Storm Dragon Press
Accepted January, 2024
Print edition only, published 2025. It can be purchased on the publisher’s website and Amazon.
“A Matter of Justice” (abridged)
Published by 34th Parallel, Issue 119, 2024
By subscription only. The editor decimated this story with his editing. I would not have agreed to it if it had not been the first of my recent stories to be published.
2025
“Caretaking,”
Appears in the summer 2025 issue (#42) of The Opiate print issue. You can purchase a download on the website or buy it at Barnes and Noble.
"Eric and Lyra: A Relationship in Five Acts"
This appeared in The Rumen online in April.
https://www.therumen.com/publications/DtmDTwEq0VZKppPfRHmo
While most of my stories have traditional narrative structure, the “acts” in this story are out of sequence.
“The Money”
After Dinner Conversation published this in June. It requires a subscription to access it.
The magazine specializes in stories that raise philosophical and ethical issues.
https://www.afterdinnerconversation.com/
“Swimmer”
This tale received an honorable mention in the Tulip Tree Review “Wild Women” contest and was published in the 2025 Wild Women issue. It is in print only and can be purchased on Amazon.
https://www.tuliptreepub.com/wild-women-contest.html
“Gretel’s Apples”
Tales from the Crosstimbers included this in their Fall 2025 edition. You can read it on the website for no charge, or buy a Kindle or print edition on Amazon.
I never believed that after their father and mother tried to kill them, then after narrowly escaping death at the hands of an evil witch, Hanel and Gretel would live happily ever after.
“The Testament of Tiresias”
Black Sheep: Unique Tales of Terror and Wonder will carry this story in a print publication due April 1, 2026. It will be available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
This story expands and brings to life the brief accounts of Tiresias in ancient Greek myths.
“One Hand Clapping”
Accepted in October by Dark Winter Literary Magazine, it will be published online April 2, 2026
I would describe the writing as experimental-absurdist-spiritual.
https://www.darkwinterlit.com/
“Olfaction.” Accepted in November by Penstricken, this was published online in early 2026.
Like a number of other stories of mine, it is best described as magic realism.
“Avalanche”
This was published by Killer Nashville Magazine in November, 2025.
It is my only adventure story—people attempting to survive deep in the mountains in mid-winter.
https://www.killernashville.com/issues/november-2025
“The Miracle Earth of Chimayó” was the runner-up for the James Hurst Short Fiction Prize sponsored by the MFA program at North Carolina State University. November
No associated publication
Stories
Barry’s stories resonate deeply, blending psychology and life with warmth.
J.S.
His short stories offer fresh perspectives on relationships and healing.
M.L.
