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24 vignettes that blend into each other, all taking place in a forgotten corner of the rural South, "full of cemeteries, soybean fields, fishing holes, and Duck Thru gas stations... runaway teens, a mattress salesmen, and feral kittens". Fun fact, I got a tattoo similar to Ashleigh's after seeing it in her author photo on the final page of the book.
Aug 2, 2024

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A friend told me about the short story book “Sleepovers” by Ashleigh Bryant Phillips and I’m probably 3 or 4 stories into it. This one is really good. Its a story about a girl coming home from college where she had a philosophy major boyfriend from the city and she is a girl on scholarship from rural NC.
Jun 30, 2024
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(I know this is probably not the kind of art you were looking for, but I'm going to post it here anyway because I'm proud of it. Grammatical errors and all)
7.
She liked her coffee black, and always wore rather unfashionable sunglasses as a precaution against her migraines. She smoked enough to change her voice to a sandpaper-esc scratching tone and only cared for her four cats Needless to say, she was the epitome of trailer park trash. She embraced it even; it was a certain standard she set for herself, at least that's what let her sleep at night. In case you were wondering; she did in fact own a plastic flamingo. Grover; her neighbor’s dog two doors down had gnawed its head into a crippled clump a year or so back. It still stood proud in front of her trailer home; head dangling off its plastic neck somberly. It was around 10 in the morning when she plopped down on her rickety wooden chair to read the daily paper; she didn't know why she even bothered with the things anymore. All bad news- Her breath caught; another death. A young man was found floating in a neighborhood pool. Her heart sunk a little at the news; such a young life; so much potential… Crinkle crinkle, She gripped the paper tight in her hand; balling it up and dropping it to the floor. She’d been young once. She had once had life; love, and a future. She remembered romantic evenings under the stars watching James Dean on the big screen with a high-school crush holding her waist. She remembered times less complicated; before technology had plagued the world, when she had been free. SLAM The door to her neighbor’s trailer swung shut; some kind of argument had been going on over there for a week or so now. Everyone knew they were fighting. Her heart ached. Bitten by a phantom of wars waged with words against people she’d loved. They were gone now; all of them. The paper boy knew more about her than her family did. She hadn’t thought about that very much. She didn’t like to think about it. Sob- She could hear a woman crying next door, why did they have to leave the window open during these things… “Hey, are you coming?” She looked up; startled by the smooth, kind voice; she wasn’t in her trailer anymore; instead in a house with worn white walls and a bright red carpet. She was home… “C’mon, we’re gonna miss the show!” It was her father and her younger sister; both dressed in their best, beckoning her to follow them out. Jumping out of her seat, she rushed to join them. Sqweeeek The door made an awfully loud sound when her father opened it; nothing like she remembered. She followed them out eagerly; then she tripped. Thud, thump Down the stairs she went. Her sister laughed, and so did she. “Oh I’m just so clumsy,” she giggled, getting to her feet. Never mind the blood, mom will clean that up nice and new. “Stop goofing around girls, we don’t want to miss the movie!” Their father called from down the driveway. The sisters raced down the cement to the car an- Headlights. She was in the middle of the street; nightgown soaked in blood, and all she could see were headlights. HONK Oh to be young again. Relive the past like a sitcom rerun or a book dusted off and re-read. To pull the best memories out and see them all again like they had happened yesterday. “Oh go-” THUMP Perhaps God had her memories, waiting in the clouds wrapped in a bow Perhaps she’d find out
(My currently shelved horror novel, "Rockfield" has a premise that I'm particularly proud of. A new perspective each chapter, a different death each chapter. An entire town plagued by some mysterious force pushing townsfolk to death. I want the finished product to really be a mature discussion of topics like suicide, age, death, and loss, giving readers a unique perspective through the eyes of the dying. I chose chapter 7 for this excerpt specifically because of how removed it is from the others. It can very much be read and enjoyed on its own. I hope you enjoyed it :) )
Jul 15, 2025
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short horror novella about a group of friends who decide to spend the night in an old Japanese mansion. Pretty creepy atmosphere and imagery. Overall a very enjoyable little novel that got me out of a slump after Christmas.
Apr 17, 2024

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