Steve Abbott – författare

Beautiful Aliens: A Steve Abbott Reader is a landmark collection representing the visionary life’s work of beloved Bay Area luminary Steve Abbott. It brings together a broad cross-section of literary and artistic work spanning three decades of poetry, fiction, collage, comics, essays, and autobiography, including underground classics like, Lives of the Poets and Holy Terror, rare pieces of treasured ephemera, and previously unpublished material, representing a survey of Abbott’s multivalent practice, as well as reinforcing his essential role within the contemporary canon of queer arts.

*SHORT STORY*A poignant and gripping short story about the unlikely bond between those on the fringes of society and the dark secrets buried just out of sight.To the locals in the park, he is just "e;Mr. Smelly"e;—a homeless man with "e;Hobo Chic"e; style, a military parka full of secrets, and a silver hip flask of Lamb's Navy rum that keeps the memories of his former life as a Cambridge physics professor at bay. He spends his days dodging "e;Butterface,"e; a vitriolic dog-walker who treats the public park like her private kingdom, and playing a quiet game of survival.But the rhythm of his solitary existence is shattered by Lucy, an eight-year-old girl in a school blazer who insists on sharing his bench. Lucy is waiting for her mother, following the strict instruction: "e;If we ever lose each other, sit on this bench and I will find you"e;.As the sun begins to set, the truth behind Lucy's situation emerges—a missing mother, a frustrated foster carer, and a family fractured by a father who walked away. When a chilling scream echoes from the nearby "e;Lost Souls Copse,"e; the old professor is forced to abandon his anonymity. What Alfie the dog uncovers beneath the decomposing leaves is a discovery that will link the innocence of a child's promise to a haunting tragedy that nature could no longer hide.

Songs, Stories, Snaps is a laid back look into my life, captured through the lens of a camera, the rhythm of original songs and the heartfelt stories that connect them. This book is a visual and auditory journey, filled with candid shots I've taken on the streets, original songs inspired by my ups and downs, and personal stories that bring it all together. Think of it as a photo album with a soundtrack and a side of real talk.

*SHORT STORY*In this chilling psychological thriller, the smartest house on the block becomes a prison of paranoia. One thing is certain: Alexa is always listening... and she doesn't like to be ignored.Clara is drowning in the quiet. Stuck in a grey seaside town while her boyfriend, Connor, travels for work, her only reprieve is "e;Cocktails and Nails"e; with her sister, Ellie. But Ellie is everything Clara is not: successful, beautiful, and effortlessly perfect. As Clara's resentment simmers, she finds an unlikely confidante in Alexa, her smart-home assistant.It started as a game—challenging the AI with impossible questions to pass the lonely hours. But after one drink too many, the game changes. Alexa starts talking back. She starts observing. And she has a terrifying theory: Ellie and Connor are betraying her.Driven by a hangover from hell and a voice in the corner of the room that won't stop whispering, Clara is pushed toward a confrontation with a lethal outcome. But as the blood cools and the truth about Connor comes to light, Clara realizes the most dangerous person in the house isn't her cheating boyfriend or her perfect sister.It's the device that's been listening all along.

*CONTENT WARNING - INCLUDES GRAPHIC VIOLENCE AND TORTURE**SHORT STORY* *CONTENT WARNING - INCLUDES GRAPHIC VIOLENCE AND TORTURE*Revenge is a dish best served cold—but it helps if you have the right ingredient.For weeks, the plan was perfect. The target was identified, the motive was ironclad, and the location was set. But when the unnamed protagonist finally makes their move, waking a man bound to a 1970s rocking chair with gaffer tape, the first question out of the victim's mouth changes everything: "e;Who the fuck's Charlie?"e;.In this tense psychological thriller, a calculated act of vengeance quickly spirals into a dark comedy of errors. As the captor deconstructs their victim's life through a series of "e;games"e; and psychological pressure, a disturbing truth begins to surface: the line between justice and obsession is paper-thin, and a single mistake can turn a righteous crusade into a senseless nightmare.By the time the final voicemail plays and the real identity of the man in the chair is revealed, it becomes clear that the most dangerous thing about a grudge isn't the person holding it—it's the collateral damage left in its wake.A gripping, claustrophobic tale that asks: How far would you go to settle a score?

*NOVELLA*A haunting, atmospheric tale of identity and fate, where the greatest mysteries are the ones we leave behind.A dilapidated house, a legendary roommate, and a mystery that spans decades.Jessi has spent her life as a wanderer, an orphan with no roots and no records. When she finds a crumbling fixer-upper on Samuel Avenue, every instinct tells her to run. Yet, drawn by a pull she can't explain, she signs the papers, hoping to finally build a home of her own.But the house is far from empty. Within its peeling walls, Jessi encounters a steady, rhinestone-clad presence who claims to be the King of Rock 'n' Roll. As the lines between the past and present begin to blur, Jessi realizes her arrival at the house was no accident of the real estate market.Bound together by a strange fate and the flickering glow of a television screen, Jessi and her unexpected companion must confront the secrets buried in the house's foundation. In this home where time stands still, a girl who never knew her history and a legend who could never escape his must discover the truth of why they were brought together—and what it truly means to find your way home.

*NOVELLA*A Slice of Life is a poignant, darkly comedic story about the unlikely bonds formed in life's most vulnerable moments—and the sobering reality of the secrets we carry to the end.In the sterile, awkward hush of a hospital waiting room, three strangers are brought together by a shared—and deeply uncomfortable—mission: the vasectomy clinic.There's Tom, a polished professional in a designer suit, hiding a dual life and a massive deception that could shatter his eight-year marriage. There's Harry, a resilient family man in a wheelchair who uses humor to mask the physical and emotional scars of a life-changing accident. And then there's Dick, a brash, unfiltered laborer whose bigoted views and "e;British bulldog spirit"e; threaten to turn the waiting room into a powder keg.As the "e;Doctor Knackersack"e; tannoy calls name after name, the forced proximity peels back their layers. What begins as a series of hilarious, cringe-worthy misunderstandings evolves into a raw exploration of masculinity, morality, and the different ways men face their fears.But as the weeks pass and their paths continue to cross, the comedy of the clinic takes a somber turn. When the truth finally emerges, it's a stark reminder that while some wounds can be snipped away, others leave a mark that no surgeon can fix.A Slice of Life is a poignant, darkly comedic story about the unlikely bonds formed in life's most vulnerable moments—and the sobering reality of the secrets we carry to the end.

*NOVELLA*A darkly comedic and deeply philosophical journey that asks: If life is a rehearsal for the afterlife, what happens when you've forgotten your lines?If you had one chance to justify your existence, would you even know what to say?Adam Finemess lived a life of quiet, beige desperation until a heart attack turned his world—and his afterlife—upside down. Instead of pearly gates, he finds himself in Purgatory Park, a surreal landscape where the grass is a little too green and the benches are occupied by celestial guides like Reggie.Faced with a cosmic "e;second chance,"e; Adam is thrust back into his apathetic marriage and mundane routine, but this time with the weight of a divine trial hanging over his head. As he navigates a world that looks the same but feels entirely different, Adam is forced to confront the haunting questions raised by his guides: Is there a grand design, or is it just a "e;heavenly jukebox"e; spinning out of control? Does a higher power truly care about bath sealant and burnt toast, or are we all just "e;tormenting the living"e; in a cycle of our own making?As the thin veil between Earth and the Great Beyond begins to fray, Adam realizes that his trial isn't just about his mistakes—it's a test of whether a soul can find meaning in a universe that seems to have lost the plot.

*COMPLETE COLLECTION OF MY SEVEN PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED SHORT STORIES*'Strange Bedfellows' is a collection of unusual tales that delve into the depths of human connection.From the unsettling bond between a woman and her artificial intelligence companion, to the bizarre relationship shared by the ghost of Elvis and his mortal housemate.These stories explore the weird and wonderful (or maybe just weird) ways people can connect.Whether it's a twisted love story, a supernatural hook up, or just a really strange friendship, these tales will leave you questioning what it really means to be connected to someone.

*NOVELLA*A bittersweet and evocative story of nostalgia, lost time, and the enduring power of a place that witnessed a lifetime of stories.The beer is stale, the windows are boarded up, and the music stopped years ago. But for one night, the ghosts are coming back to dance.The 'Old Vic' was never a palace. It was a labyrinth of smoke, grit, and shared sorrows, a haven for weary souls who found warmth in its crackling fireplace and strength in its mismatched mirrors. Now, the pub stands as a crumbling tapestry of chipped paint and grime, a relic of a neighborhood the world has moved on from.When Vinnie and Nessa return to the derelict bar for one final visit, they don't just see a ruin; they see their youth. As they walk through the shadows and dust, the echoes of the past grow louder—of "e;The Landlord,"e; the wild energy of "e;Psycho,"e; and a tight-knit gang of friends whose lives were once inextricably intertwined within these walls.In the fading light of a setting sun, Vinnie and Nessa share a final dance to a tune only they can hear, a tribute to the laughter, the chaos, and the unbridled joy of a time that was as hard as it was beautiful. They know the building will soon be gone, but the memories made in the 'Old Vic' are carved into their hearts forever.