My Little Library of Lost Short Stories by Kathrin Classen

Did I overact a little in this last installment of Where Illusions Lie? Why, yes. Yes, I did. But it was fun, and I hope all my self-taught voice acting brings out the suspense and drama of this thrilling conclusion!

Who is the mysterious kidnapper? Will Mark survive? Will Rachel ever see her sister or kids again? You will have to listen to find out!

As always, trigger warnings include gun violence, mention of domestic abuse, and adult language. Please consider this before listening. Thank you!

Hello everyone! Thank you so much for your patience. I was getting ready to record Part 2 of Where Illusions Lie when I caught the flu. My voice took quite a while to recover, but I’m on the mend. (Thank goodness for editing software or there would be a whole track of coughs and sneezes!)

A quick reminder about this novella:

Rachel Landon’s world is shattered when her sister’s kidnapper calls her to make a trade: her life for her sister’s. With the clock ticking, will Rachel risk everything to keep her family safe?

Trigger warnings include gun violence, mentions of domestic abuse, canine violence, and adult language. Please consider this before listening.

Thank you so much for your time. I appreciate it. I hope everyone is staying healthy out there!

Song: Pistachios

Artist: Kia

Music by: CreatorMix.com

Welcome to My Little Library of Lost Short Stories! I’m so glad you are here. It’s been a while since I’ve posted an episode, and that’s because some really exciting things are happening in my local writing community. I’ve been so honored to be a part of Lower Columbia County Hidden Worlds Anthology and working along side the Columbia County Authors Alliance (CCAA) to bring this anthology to readers everywhere. If you are interested in learning more about the Hidden Worlds Anthology or CCAA, you can visit

https://www.columbiacountyauthors.com/

This also means that instead of weekly, I will be posting a new episode every other week. So, without further ado, here is a domestic suspense novella that I wrote in 2023.

Rachel Landon’s world is shattered when her sister’s kidnapper calls her to make a trade: her life for her sister’s. With the clock ticking, will Rachel risk everything to keep her family safe?

Trigger warnings include gun violence, mentions of domestic abuse, and adult language. Please consider this when listening.

If you like these short stories, please consider sharing this podcast, giving it a like, and subscribing. Thanks!

Welcome to My Little Library of Lost Short Stories. This week is a little different. This is the only nonfiction piece I have ever written, and it was in response to a call for submission from Chicken Soup for the Soul.

The submission called for funny travel stories. The funniest part about this travel story, apart from it being in the days before Google Translate and reliable cellphone reception, is our complete naivety traveling through the hills of Tuscany. Siesta? What’s a siesta?

So without further ado, go grab that cozy blanket, something soothing to drink, and let’s step into another short story.

Song: Pistachios

Artist: Kia

Music by: CreatorMix.com

This week’s short story is one I wrote for an anthology calling for Sci-fi horror. It’s not what I typically write, but it sounded fun so I gave it a go, adding a pinch of dark humor.

Go grab that cozy blanket, something soothing to drink, and let’s step into another story.

Earth, consumed by a deadly virus, has sent four survivors to a new planet to cultivate an environment suitable for further human habitation. After nine months trapped together on the new world, the maiden crew think they are safe from Earth’s plight. But what if they are wrong?

Trigger warnings include the mention of lost body parts (but not the act of losing) and mild adult language. Please consider this before listening.

If you like these short stories, I would be honored if you like, subscribe, and share this podcast. Thanks!

Welcome to My Little Library of Lost Short Stories! Here is the conclusion of In The Dark. Enjoy!

If this is your vibe and you enjoy my stories, I would be honored if you like, subscribe, and share this podcast! Thanks so much!

Feel free to find me on Substack (@kathrinclassen) and drop me a note.

Welcome to My Little Library of Lost Short Stories!

This short story was originally written in 2020. It was my first attempt at writing a domestic thriller. Needless to say, when I resurrected it, I had to delete about 85%. There were some good seeds, but I am happy to report that I’ve learned some things over the last 5 years. It’s been fun to see that growth.

Charlie Shepherd is a devoted mom and wife, but when her three-year-old son finds the corpse of a missing pet, her life is thrown into chaos. Someone from her past has come to destroy her family, and if she can’t stop them, she will lose everyone she loves.

Trigger warnings include: Discussion of a dead dog, references to suicide (in Part Two), and adult language. Please take this into consideration before listening. Thank you!

Song: Pistachios

Artist: Kia

Music by: CreatorMix.com

From the perspective of the plates on a very different Thanksgiving Day. This piece is more flash fiction than short story, but I hope you enjoy it!

Hello everyone! I’m Kathrin Classen, and welcome to My Little Library of Lost Short Stories. This little library has been in the making for many years, but too often, I’ve let fear get the better of me. I have a backlog of short stories sitting in my computer. Short stories that I thought no one wanted after they were rejected from one publication or another. Short stories that I thought had lived out their lives, so they sat ignored, unloved, and worst of all, rejected by me… Until now. I’ve always taken the safe, practical path. But today, I choose to give myself permission to let go of the fear that’s been holding me back. I choose to share my stories with the world in a way that I find really fun and interesting. I am giving myself permission to silence that voice in the back of my head that keeps telling me I’m making a fool out of myself. So, without further ado, grab something soothing to drink, a warm blanket or two, and let’s journey together into the pages of my short stories. Thanks for being here with me.

Song: Pistachios

Artist: Kia

Music by: CreatorMix.com