NEW CHAPBOOK
In Rare Cases and Other Unfortunate Circumstances
Published by Alien Budha Press, 2023
$11.24 US
ISBN: 979-8393106218
“In Rare Cases is that rare case of a collection where every story is both interesting and emotionally resonant. Some stories startle with realistic immediacy, others dabble in clever allegory, unexpected horror, or devastating surrealism…This is a fine collection to be enjoyed not only by readers, but also those writers who wish to learn how to write flash fiction with publication in mind.”
—Ledia Xhoga, author of Misinterpretation
“In Rare Cases is an imaginative collection of flash stories that leads the reader through unexpected twists to unconventional places. Each of the stories circle around the various relationships we all have - siblings, lovers, spouses and ghosts - but they sparkle with Bigelow’s signature wit and intelligence. I inhaled the chapbook in a single sitting but the stories lingered with me for days. Come for the comedy, but stay for the heartbreak.” —Dawn Steffler, winner Bath Flash Fiction Award
“This enticing collection of Flash acts like a kind of fast acting stimulant. Each story carries a world within—like all great short stories. There is pain and love and wonder and beauty throughout the collection. Bigelow traces human frailty like a lifeline, and lets us glimpse, as through a partly opened window, the complicated and fraught lives of others. Beautiful.”
—R. C. Barajas, photographer, journalist, author
Recently Published Stories:
“Us Minus You”, National Flash Flood, March 2025 (Highly Commended)
“Cricket Cake”, Raw Lit Magazine, January 2025
“Richard Pays His Respects”, The Odd Magazine, January 2025
“The Heat of Fusion”, Welkin Mini, January 2025 (Shortlisted)
“And You Won’t Have to Worry…” Gooseberry Pie Lit, January 2025
“Gotta Run”, Ghost Parachute, January 2025
“A Short-Lived Celebration”, Prompts of Resilience, Jan. 2025 (Winner)
“Because at least we drink fresh roast”, Cleaver Magazine, December 2024
“Thunder Loop”, 10 X 10 Flash, September 2024
“Underglow”, A-minor Magazine, September 2024
“Milestone Memorial”, Paragraph Planet, September 2024
“A House of Noise,” BULL, September 2024
“California,” Five On the Fifth, July 2024
“Holding it In,” Flash Boulevard, June 2024
“Fruit of Our Labor,” Flash Boulevard, June 2024
“Outside Shot,” in Flash Boulevard, June, 2024
“Two For None,” 3Elements Review, May 2024
“A Juicy Soul,” Heavy Feather Review, May 2024
“Dad says it’s not a handout…,” Dribble Drabble Review, May 2024
“Please proceed to your…,” Dribble Drabble Review, May 2024
“The Privilege of Getting Swole,” Friday Flash Fiction, May 2024
“Something strange I saw…,” Dribble Drabble Review, May 2024
“Exposing the tattoo artist…,” Dribble Drabble Review, May 2024
“Found Missing,” Reckon Review, April 2024
“Our Family Fire,” Ekphrastic Magazine, March 2024
“Tall Barn,” Ink in Thirds, March 2024
“The Golden Hairball,” Cease, Cows, February 2024
“A False Prick” Cosmic Daffodil, February 2024
“Eve, The Vegetarian” Bullshit Lit, January 2024
“Two Towns Over” Bullshit Lit, January 2024
“Jackman Redux” Jake, January 2024
“Why my daughter, Ellie, is not living up to her reading potential,” Your Impossible Voice, January 2024
Select Publications 2023 & Earlier
“Lunch at the Club” Fifty Word Stories, December 2023
“You Drunk” Dribble Drabble Review, November 2023
“Candy Swap” Cream Scene Carnival, October 2023
“Clearing House” Hyacinth Review, September 2023
“In Rare Cases” Abandon Journal, June 2023
“Polar Plunge” Emerge Journal, May 2023
“Mistress #19” Bending Genres, August 2022
“Dancers” Bright Flash Literary Review, February 2022
“Estranged” Free Flash Fiction, December 2021
“Summer Catch” Flash Fiction Magazine, September 2021