Read the storyThere are plenty of short stories that center on miracles, but few stories feel like actual miracles themselves. And that’s true of Chelsea Sutton’s “(Skin),” published in Diabolical Plots in October 2025. In “(Skin),” Sutton, a self-described writer of “gothic whimsy,” does something remarkable: not...

Read Morris' story, Escape Algorithm, now!The first thing people tend to think of these days when they see the word “algorithm” is typically tech related—that’s not the case with this story. Was that dissonance intentional?I recognized the dissonance, but I can’t say it was really intentional. I stole the phrase...

Once upon a time, in a cold dark cottage, in a cold dark glade, in a cold dark forest, a sage sat by a cold dark hearth, planning her escape. It wasn’t the first time.As a matter of record—and she meticulously recorded all such efforts—this would be attempt #3,553. She had learned a great deal from the previous...

Read AJ's story, Silent Disco, now!Are you a pub or a club kind of person?100% club! Or a small live punk concert. The older I am, the more I get the appeal of a pub with a cozy fireplace, though.What’s your experience/opinion of EDM?If it gets people dancing in a good way, I’m all for it. I loved minimal techno and...

Catch up!Matthew BurbridgeThe story so far:Last issueStart from the beginning

“Oi, Paul. You coming to the demo?”I press the phone against my face. It’s Sabeena. My best friend a.k.a. boundary pusher. I slink over to my bedroom window and hush my voice. “What demo,” I whisper. “I’ve got college all day today.”She’s always getting me into trouble.“Sack college. This is more important. Roko...

Read Rachel's story, My Personal Thief, on Foofaraw now!Have you ever been robbed?Yes, I have. This story was actually based on last summer when my phone was stolen from me, my glasses broke, my laptop was spilled on (and broke) and then a ton of my clothes were stolen out of my moving van. All of this happened in...

Waste neither Time nor Money, but make the best Use of both.” —that guy on the bills you roll up for coke, you know, Jack Black from the OG Drunk History videos on Funny or DieI’m in. Yes, seriously! You’ve been banging on about the One True Faith for twenty-eight minutes and I’m tapping out. Maybe you’ve never...

It wasn’t long before I realized I had my own personal thief. He’d come in every night around three and I’d pretend to be asleep. I didn’t dare move a muscle. Not out of fear, but because I pitied him. He was terribly obvious; he left the window open behind him each time, and he was clumsy, too. Once, he’d spilled a...

Read H.'s story, Basement Girls and Attic Gods, on Foofaraw now!There’s a wonderful contrast between beautiful prose and a quite dark and ugly situation… was that deliberate or just natural from your writing style and interests?I find this question to be incredibly satisfying because it’s a question I’ve gotten...

Val eased her banged-up, sputtering Hyundai Accent through the wrought iron gates of Lion’s Head Estate and up the winding hill. She could already feel the velvety, perfumed whisper of borrowed luxury on her skin. The thought made her thirsty for something cold, acerbic. Just a shot to relax—to really enjoy the...

—Ellie Black