Michael Downing
@kmwriter01.bsky.social
Writer. Literacy advocate. Playwright ("Still Black Remains"). Surfer. Activist. Everything New Jersey- attitude, edginess & Springsteen songs. 2x Pushcart Nominee.
SAINTS of the ASPHALT available now.
downingfiction.com
#CrimeFiction
SAINTS of the ASPHALT available now.
downingfiction.com
#CrimeFiction
Pinned
SAINTS of the ASPHALT.
A story about hard choices, broken heroes, and second chances on the streets of Atlantic City summer of 1997.
Out June 24th.
More to follow....
A story about hard choices, broken heroes, and second chances on the streets of Atlantic City summer of 1997.
Out June 24th.
More to follow....
Reposted by Michael Downing
For the Friday night crowd-
Roll into the weekend with this great story from
@meproctor.bsky.social - retro noir in an stylish voice that blends Chandler, John D. MacDonald, & Ross Macdonald.
The pacing in this one is superb with sharp dialogue, sensory richness, and emotional subtlety
Roll into the weekend with this great story from
@meproctor.bsky.social - retro noir in an stylish voice that blends Chandler, John D. MacDonald, & Ross Macdonald.
The pacing in this one is superb with sharp dialogue, sensory richness, and emotional subtlety
New at Literary Garage: Tom Keegan is back.
Fresh off the pages of BOP CITY SWING, sharp, elegant noir from @meproctor.bsky.social that blends romance, grit, & classic detective work
Sun, sea breeze, champagne & mystery.
“Ramona” is live now at Lit Garage.
literarygarage.com/ramona
🎸📚
Fresh off the pages of BOP CITY SWING, sharp, elegant noir from @meproctor.bsky.social that blends romance, grit, & classic detective work
Sun, sea breeze, champagne & mystery.
“Ramona” is live now at Lit Garage.
literarygarage.com/ramona
🎸📚
Ramona | Literary Garage
literarygarage.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:32 AM
For the Friday night crowd-
Roll into the weekend with this great story from
@meproctor.bsky.social - retro noir in an stylish voice that blends Chandler, John D. MacDonald, & Ross Macdonald.
The pacing in this one is superb with sharp dialogue, sensory richness, and emotional subtlety
Roll into the weekend with this great story from
@meproctor.bsky.social - retro noir in an stylish voice that blends Chandler, John D. MacDonald, & Ross Macdonald.
The pacing in this one is superb with sharp dialogue, sensory richness, and emotional subtlety
I’m over at @literarygarage.bsky.social this morning with a short story about revenge.
If you have time please give it a read.
literarygarage.com/no-tears-for...
If you have time please give it a read.
literarygarage.com/no-tears-for...
November 20, 2025 at 2:08 PM
I’m over at @literarygarage.bsky.social this morning with a short story about revenge.
If you have time please give it a read.
literarygarage.com/no-tears-for...
If you have time please give it a read.
literarygarage.com/no-tears-for...
ICYMI: I have a website.
No, I didn’t code it—some days turning on the coffee machine is peak tech for me.
It’s live, it’s gritty, & it has my short stories + SAINTS info.
Fair warning: no snacks, treats, or pet pics. Just stories.
downingfiction.com
No, I didn’t code it—some days turning on the coffee machine is peak tech for me.
It’s live, it’s gritty, & it has my short stories + SAINTS info.
Fair warning: no snacks, treats, or pet pics. Just stories.
downingfiction.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:56 PM
ICYMI: I have a website.
No, I didn’t code it—some days turning on the coffee machine is peak tech for me.
It’s live, it’s gritty, & it has my short stories + SAINTS info.
Fair warning: no snacks, treats, or pet pics. Just stories.
downingfiction.com
No, I didn’t code it—some days turning on the coffee machine is peak tech for me.
It’s live, it’s gritty, & it has my short stories + SAINTS info.
Fair warning: no snacks, treats, or pet pics. Just stories.
downingfiction.com
Reposted by Michael Downing
A topless bar. A day drinking Stroh’s. A tarot-reading girlfriend who may or may not be psychic.
Dan Delehant looks back on a Detroit afternoon in the 80s and the woman he loved, lost, and maybe never deserved in the first place.
New today at Lit Garage.
literarygarage.com/inkster
Dan Delehant looks back on a Detroit afternoon in the 80s and the woman he loved, lost, and maybe never deserved in the first place.
New today at Lit Garage.
literarygarage.com/inkster
Inkster | Literary Garage
literarygarage.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:17 PM
A topless bar. A day drinking Stroh’s. A tarot-reading girlfriend who may or may not be psychic.
Dan Delehant looks back on a Detroit afternoon in the 80s and the woman he loved, lost, and maybe never deserved in the first place.
New today at Lit Garage.
literarygarage.com/inkster
Dan Delehant looks back on a Detroit afternoon in the 80s and the woman he loved, lost, and maybe never deserved in the first place.
New today at Lit Garage.
literarygarage.com/inkster
Big thanks to Pistol Jim for publishing my story "Night Move" as part of the NAILS IN THE COFFIN series. I really had a lot of fun going back to my noir roots with this one and weaving it into an Atlantic City setting.
Kind of like going home again…
open.substack.com/pub/pistolji...
Kind of like going home again…
open.substack.com/pub/pistolji...
Night Move by Michael K. Downing
from Nails in the Coffin: a Pistol Jim Press series
open.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Big thanks to Pistol Jim for publishing my story "Night Move" as part of the NAILS IN THE COFFIN series. I really had a lot of fun going back to my noir roots with this one and weaving it into an Atlantic City setting.
Kind of like going home again…
open.substack.com/pub/pistolji...
Kind of like going home again…
open.substack.com/pub/pistolji...
Reposted by Michael Downing
We're back with a story that hits the high end of gritty American realism from @mikemchone.bsky.social
Love the fatalism, the stripped down moral compass & cinematic flow in a distinct, hardboiled neo-noir voice
Check it out for yourself:
literarygarage.com/i-stand-at-t...
🎸📚
#flash #fiction #noir
Love the fatalism, the stripped down moral compass & cinematic flow in a distinct, hardboiled neo-noir voice
Check it out for yourself:
literarygarage.com/i-stand-at-t...
🎸📚
#flash #fiction #noir
I Stand At The Door | Literary Garage
literarygarage.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:30 PM
We're back with a story that hits the high end of gritty American realism from @mikemchone.bsky.social
Love the fatalism, the stripped down moral compass & cinematic flow in a distinct, hardboiled neo-noir voice
Check it out for yourself:
literarygarage.com/i-stand-at-t...
🎸📚
#flash #fiction #noir
Love the fatalism, the stripped down moral compass & cinematic flow in a distinct, hardboiled neo-noir voice
Check it out for yourself:
literarygarage.com/i-stand-at-t...
🎸📚
#flash #fiction #noir
Reposted by Michael Downing
The Walton family (owners of Wal-Mart) & Jeff Bezos (Amazon) are worth around 400 billion each. They'd be worth less if they paid their employees good wages or, at the very least, a living wage plus benefits; but they'd still have billions.
There would be far fewer people on SNAP & Medicaid.
There would be far fewer people on SNAP & Medicaid.
October 28, 2025 at 3:33 AM
The Walton family (owners of Wal-Mart) & Jeff Bezos (Amazon) are worth around 400 billion each. They'd be worth less if they paid their employees good wages or, at the very least, a living wage plus benefits; but they'd still have billions.
There would be far fewer people on SNAP & Medicaid.
There would be far fewer people on SNAP & Medicaid.
Every word of this is point on…filet mignon? Shit, lucky to get spaghetti-o’s. Oreos? Generic store brands. Cans of Carnation evaporated milk. Yeah, Coke and Pepsi cause carbs were cheap. I’m old enough that we didn’t have an EBT card-had actual food stamps…remember my mom at the checkout doing math
I grew in poverty. My father had to drop out of school when he wad 12 to go to work after his father was killed in a car accident. He worked oj fishing boats while functionally illiterate My mother was not able to go to college so she worked low paying jobs until she was diagnosed
October 28, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Every word of this is point on…filet mignon? Shit, lucky to get spaghetti-o’s. Oreos? Generic store brands. Cans of Carnation evaporated milk. Yeah, Coke and Pepsi cause carbs were cheap. I’m old enough that we didn’t have an EBT card-had actual food stamps…remember my mom at the checkout doing math
Reposted by Michael Downing
Need to catch up? Do so! Great essays by @kendallbrunson.bsky.social and @kmwriter01.bsky.social about how they approached their stories for On Fire and Under Water.
arttaylorwriter.com/the-first-tw...
arttaylorwriter.com/the-first-tw...
October 23, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Need to catch up? Do so! Great essays by @kendallbrunson.bsky.social and @kmwriter01.bsky.social about how they approached their stories for On Fire and Under Water.
arttaylorwriter.com/the-first-tw...
arttaylorwriter.com/the-first-tw...
Y’all!
October 23, 2025 at 11:11 PM
In my quest to dominate social media this week (kidding…kind of…maybe), I’m over at @literarygarage.bsky.social today with my story “The God of War” - part of their Gods and Heroes feature.
If you have a moment, please check it out.
literarygarage.com/the-god-of-war
If you have a moment, please check it out.
literarygarage.com/the-god-of-war
October 22, 2025 at 4:44 PM
In my quest to dominate social media this week (kidding…kind of…maybe), I’m over at @literarygarage.bsky.social today with my story “The God of War” - part of their Gods and Heroes feature.
If you have a moment, please check it out.
literarygarage.com/the-god-of-war
If you have a moment, please check it out.
literarygarage.com/the-god-of-war
Reposted by Michael Downing
Man. This story by @kmwriter01.bsky.social grabs you by the throat from the start and doesn’t let go. An emotional, excellent read.
AVAILABLE NOW: Some say the world will end in fire or flood. 15 short stories from some of the best crime fiction writers today, including @kmwriter01.bsky.social. Guest-edited by Anthony winning author @curtisippolito.bsky.social. Order your copy today: bit.ly/4nOVXoK
October 20, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Man. This story by @kmwriter01.bsky.social grabs you by the throat from the start and doesn’t let go. An emotional, excellent read.
Reposted by Michael Downing
Always take sentences using “the Cloud” or “the Internet” and try replacing those phrases with “A shed in Virginia” to see how they hold up. “Our service is fully based in a shed in Virginia”; “All my files are in a shed in Virginia”; “A shed in Virginia was designed to survive a nuclear war”, etc.
October 20, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Always take sentences using “the Cloud” or “the Internet” and try replacing those phrases with “A shed in Virginia” to see how they hold up. “Our service is fully based in a shed in Virginia”; “All my files are in a shed in Virginia”; “A shed in Virginia was designed to survive a nuclear war”, etc.
Reposted by Michael Downing
AVAILABLE NOW: Some say the world will end in fire or flood. 15 short stories from some of the best crime fiction writers today, including @kmwriter01.bsky.social. Guest-edited by Anthony winning author @curtisippolito.bsky.social. Order your copy today: bit.ly/4nOVXoK
October 20, 2025 at 12:22 PM
AVAILABLE NOW: Some say the world will end in fire or flood. 15 short stories from some of the best crime fiction writers today, including @kmwriter01.bsky.social. Guest-edited by Anthony winning author @curtisippolito.bsky.social. Order your copy today: bit.ly/4nOVXoK
Reposted by Michael Downing
AVAILABLE NOW: Some say the world will end in fire or flood. 15 short stories from some of the best crime fiction writers today, including @kmwriter01.bsky.social.
Guest-edited by Anthony winning author
@curtisippolito.bsky.social
. Order your copy today: bit.ly/4nOVXoK
Guest-edited by Anthony winning author
@curtisippolito.bsky.social
. Order your copy today: bit.ly/4nOVXoK
October 20, 2025 at 10:05 AM
AVAILABLE NOW: Some say the world will end in fire or flood. 15 short stories from some of the best crime fiction writers today, including @kmwriter01.bsky.social.
Guest-edited by Anthony winning author
@curtisippolito.bsky.social
. Order your copy today: bit.ly/4nOVXoK
Guest-edited by Anthony winning author
@curtisippolito.bsky.social
. Order your copy today: bit.ly/4nOVXoK
Reposted by Michael Downing
A fantastic review of On Fire and Under Water in King River Life Magazine by Sharon Marchisello. Check it out! There’s also a giveaway for a free copy.
www.krlnews.com/2025/10/on-f...
www.krlnews.com/2025/10/on-f...
"On Fire and Under Water" A Climate Change Crime Fiction Anthology: Review/Giveaway
On Fire and Under Water: A Climate Change Crime Fiction Anthology, edited by Curtis Ippolito, features a collection of excellent short stories...
www.krlnews.com
October 18, 2025 at 11:07 PM
A fantastic review of On Fire and Under Water in King River Life Magazine by Sharon Marchisello. Check it out! There’s also a giveaway for a free copy.
www.krlnews.com/2025/10/on-f...
www.krlnews.com/2025/10/on-f...
Some say the world will end in fire. Some say flood. 15 excellent short stories about climate change (including one by me), guest-edited by Curtis Ippolito.
Crime fiction that matters.
Don't take my word for it- listen to Jordan harper and order your copy
Crime fiction that matters.
Don't take my word for it- listen to Jordan harper and order your copy
October 12, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Some say the world will end in fire. Some say flood. 15 excellent short stories about climate change (including one by me), guest-edited by Curtis Ippolito.
Crime fiction that matters.
Don't take my word for it- listen to Jordan harper and order your copy
Crime fiction that matters.
Don't take my word for it- listen to Jordan harper and order your copy
Reposted by Michael Downing
Today we're featuring @raymondbrunell.bsky.social's story "The Black Lung Gospel" in our Short Fiction section.
The story has a strong, distinctive voice that combines Appalachian Gothic, Southern noir, & gritty American realism.
Check it out below:
literarygarage.com/the-black-lu...
The story has a strong, distinctive voice that combines Appalachian Gothic, Southern noir, & gritty American realism.
Check it out below:
literarygarage.com/the-black-lu...
The Black Lung Gospel | Literary Garage
literarygarage.com
September 11, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Today we're featuring @raymondbrunell.bsky.social's story "The Black Lung Gospel" in our Short Fiction section.
The story has a strong, distinctive voice that combines Appalachian Gothic, Southern noir, & gritty American realism.
Check it out below:
literarygarage.com/the-black-lu...
The story has a strong, distinctive voice that combines Appalachian Gothic, Southern noir, & gritty American realism.
Check it out below:
literarygarage.com/the-black-lu...
Reposted by Michael Downing
AVAILABLE NOW: When the dog makes the heist.
When life gives you a chance to make a connection after all these years.
One swing of the machete solves all your problems . . .
Best eaten cold? Small-town revenge stays hot for years. Order your copy of RHP #15 today: amzn.to/4peTqW6
When life gives you a chance to make a connection after all these years.
One swing of the machete solves all your problems . . .
Best eaten cold? Small-town revenge stays hot for years. Order your copy of RHP #15 today: amzn.to/4peTqW6
September 10, 2025 at 1:50 PM
AVAILABLE NOW: When the dog makes the heist.
When life gives you a chance to make a connection after all these years.
One swing of the machete solves all your problems . . .
Best eaten cold? Small-town revenge stays hot for years. Order your copy of RHP #15 today: amzn.to/4peTqW6
When life gives you a chance to make a connection after all these years.
One swing of the machete solves all your problems . . .
Best eaten cold? Small-town revenge stays hot for years. Order your copy of RHP #15 today: amzn.to/4peTqW6
Reposted by Michael Downing
What starts as a simple convenience-store robbery morphs into so much more in @kmwriter01.bsky.social’s “The Way It Works.” If you’re not reading Michael’s work, you’re truly missing out. His broken characters and gritty settings make for some of my favorite noir stories in recent memory.
September 5, 2025 at 7:25 PM
What starts as a simple convenience-store robbery morphs into so much more in @kmwriter01.bsky.social’s “The Way It Works.” If you’re not reading Michael’s work, you’re truly missing out. His broken characters and gritty settings make for some of my favorite noir stories in recent memory.
This week in #NOLA. If you're going to #Bouchercon, stick around until Sunday AM & check out our panel on "Short Stories- Creating Memorable Characters".
Grab your coffee & a few beignets, then settle in for a fun panel
#Bouchercon #crescentcity
Grab your coffee & a few beignets, then settle in for a fun panel
#Bouchercon #crescentcity
September 1, 2025 at 1:53 PM
This week in #NOLA. If you're going to #Bouchercon, stick around until Sunday AM & check out our panel on "Short Stories- Creating Memorable Characters".
Grab your coffee & a few beignets, then settle in for a fun panel
#Bouchercon #crescentcity
Grab your coffee & a few beignets, then settle in for a fun panel
#Bouchercon #crescentcity
Reposted by Michael Downing
What a lineup of great authors including friends @libbycudmore.bsky.social @magonzales.bsky.social @kmwriter01.bsky.social @mikemchone.bsky.social and more greats in the new @rhppress.bsky.social
August 19, 2025 at 1:37 AM
What a lineup of great authors including friends @libbycudmore.bsky.social @magonzales.bsky.social @kmwriter01.bsky.social @mikemchone.bsky.social and more greats in the new @rhppress.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Downing
This week’s new short story has a Jim Thompson meets Jordan Harper feel. Gritty, sparse noir with the cold logic of violence from @mikemchone.bsky.social
Check it out - we think you'll love it:
literarygarage.com/an-american-...
#Fiction #IndieLit #NoSafeStories #shortstory
Check it out - we think you'll love it:
literarygarage.com/an-american-...
#Fiction #IndieLit #NoSafeStories #shortstory
An American Romance | Literary Garage
literarygarage.com
August 7, 2025 at 1:36 PM
This week’s new short story has a Jim Thompson meets Jordan Harper feel. Gritty, sparse noir with the cold logic of violence from @mikemchone.bsky.social
Check it out - we think you'll love it:
literarygarage.com/an-american-...
#Fiction #IndieLit #NoSafeStories #shortstory
Check it out - we think you'll love it:
literarygarage.com/an-american-...
#Fiction #IndieLit #NoSafeStories #shortstory
Reposted by Michael Downing
Today’s the day!!
It’s release day for WHATEVER KILLS THE PAIN, 12 crime stories of heartbreak, violence, and revenge. Now available in ebook and paperback! #releaseday #crimefiction
It’s release day for WHATEVER KILLS THE PAIN, 12 crime stories of heartbreak, violence, and revenge. Now available in ebook and paperback! #releaseday #crimefiction
July 18, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Today’s the day!!
It’s release day for WHATEVER KILLS THE PAIN, 12 crime stories of heartbreak, violence, and revenge. Now available in ebook and paperback! #releaseday #crimefiction
It’s release day for WHATEVER KILLS THE PAIN, 12 crime stories of heartbreak, violence, and revenge. Now available in ebook and paperback! #releaseday #crimefiction
"The times are tough now, just getting tougher."
Springsteen
24 hours left to grab a free copy of SAINTS of the ASPHALT - for readers who like fiction raw, real, & gritty.
Basketball too...
We’re giving away 50 copies.
Enter Here:
www.goodreads.com/giveaway/ent...
#bookgiveaway #Springsteen
Springsteen
24 hours left to grab a free copy of SAINTS of the ASPHALT - for readers who like fiction raw, real, & gritty.
Basketball too...
We’re giving away 50 copies.
Enter Here:
www.goodreads.com/giveaway/ent...
#bookgiveaway #Springsteen
July 18, 2025 at 2:50 PM
"The times are tough now, just getting tougher."
Springsteen
24 hours left to grab a free copy of SAINTS of the ASPHALT - for readers who like fiction raw, real, & gritty.
Basketball too...
We’re giving away 50 copies.
Enter Here:
www.goodreads.com/giveaway/ent...
#bookgiveaway #Springsteen
Springsteen
24 hours left to grab a free copy of SAINTS of the ASPHALT - for readers who like fiction raw, real, & gritty.
Basketball too...
We’re giving away 50 copies.
Enter Here:
www.goodreads.com/giveaway/ent...
#bookgiveaway #Springsteen