Sam W. Pisciotta
@swpisciotta.bsky.social
Odyssey ‘23🔅Stories in Nightmare, Lightspeed, Asimov’s, Analog, F&SF, Utopia SF, PodCastle, others.
Codex/SFWA/HWA.
www.silo34.com
Codex/SFWA/HWA.
www.silo34.com
Pinned
The Cold Burning Light of Her - Lightspeed Magazine
Tilda stands at a crossroads just outside of town. It’s a place where worlds meet, and the perfect place to create a new person. The crescent moon glimmers through the oaks bent thick along the roadsi...
www.lightspeedmagazine.com
New story day! I’m SO proud of this one. “The Cold Burning Light of Her” is a flash fantasy released in this month’s issue of Lightspeed! Click below! 👇 🌙
www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-...
www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-...
New story day! I’m SO proud of this one. “The Cold Burning Light of Her” is a flash fantasy released in this month’s issue of Lightspeed! Click below! 👇 🌙
www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-...
www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-...
The Cold Burning Light of Her - Lightspeed Magazine
Tilda stands at a crossroads just outside of town. It’s a place where worlds meet, and the perfect place to create a new person. The crescent moon glimmers through the oaks bent thick along the roadsi...
www.lightspeedmagazine.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:39 AM
New story day! I’m SO proud of this one. “The Cold Burning Light of Her” is a flash fantasy released in this month’s issue of Lightspeed! Click below! 👇 🌙
www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-...
www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-...
Reposted by Sam W. Pisciotta
This story caught my eye this morning. It's quiet and powerful and it makes me angry in all the ways a good, hard story should.
My new literary flash story is out in Blue Lake Review. For decades, I worked in public schools teaching my students literature and art and how to hide in dark and quiet classrooms. My story takes a fantastic view of this horror our society lives with. bluelakereview.weebly.com/a-runaway-bu...
A Runaway Bullet Runs Through Our Town
A Runaway Bullet Runs Through Our Town Sam Pisciotta S ometimes it ricochets off the side of a building or pings the hood of a car. I fucking freeze. Like Pavlov’s dog, I can’t help myself....
bluelakereview.weebly.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:03 PM
This story caught my eye this morning. It's quiet and powerful and it makes me angry in all the ways a good, hard story should.
Reposted by Sam W. Pisciotta
URGENT! Baron Quits the Payloaders!
My new short story is out at @escapepod.org! 🎸👨🚀⚡
It's my tribute to heavy music and how inspiring it is for me. It's a found family piece about overcoming grief, finding new meanings in life, and dealing with predatory companies.
escapepod.org/2025/11/13/e...
My new short story is out at @escapepod.org! 🎸👨🚀⚡
It's my tribute to heavy music and how inspiring it is for me. It's a found family piece about overcoming grief, finding new meanings in life, and dealing with predatory companies.
escapepod.org/2025/11/13/e...
Escape Pod 1019: Baron Quits The Payloaders
This story starts with a gig. Half a million people from all corners of the galaxy, hands in the air, heads banging to our vibrant noise. You probably saw the venue on some feed already.
escapepod.org
November 13, 2025 at 10:19 PM
URGENT! Baron Quits the Payloaders!
My new short story is out at @escapepod.org! 🎸👨🚀⚡
It's my tribute to heavy music and how inspiring it is for me. It's a found family piece about overcoming grief, finding new meanings in life, and dealing with predatory companies.
escapepod.org/2025/11/13/e...
My new short story is out at @escapepod.org! 🎸👨🚀⚡
It's my tribute to heavy music and how inspiring it is for me. It's a found family piece about overcoming grief, finding new meanings in life, and dealing with predatory companies.
escapepod.org/2025/11/13/e...
My new literary flash story is out in Blue Lake Review. For decades, I worked in public schools teaching my students literature and art and how to hide in dark and quiet classrooms. My story takes a fantastic view of this horror our society lives with. bluelakereview.weebly.com/a-runaway-bu...
A Runaway Bullet Runs Through Our Town
A Runaway Bullet Runs Through Our Town Sam Pisciotta S ometimes it ricochets off the side of a building or pings the hood of a car. I fucking freeze. Like Pavlov’s dog, I can’t help myself....
bluelakereview.weebly.com
November 1, 2025 at 2:28 PM
My new literary flash story is out in Blue Lake Review. For decades, I worked in public schools teaching my students literature and art and how to hide in dark and quiet classrooms. My story takes a fantastic view of this horror our society lives with. bluelakereview.weebly.com/a-runaway-bu...
Reposted by Sam W. Pisciotta
Friends in the art, poetry, and author community, come support others in your field by buying the Best of Penumbric Speculative Fiction Mag, vol viii
www.amazon.com/Best-Penumbr...
A lot of hard work has been put into print by Jeff at Penumbric and all the amazing creatives who have contributed
www.amazon.com/Best-Penumbr...
A lot of hard work has been put into print by Jeff at Penumbric and all the amazing creatives who have contributed
Best of Penumbric Speculative Fiction Mag, vol viii: June 2k24 to April 2k25
Best of Penumbric Speculative Fiction Mag, vol viii: June 2k24 to April 2k25 [Neomythos Press] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Best of Penumbric Speculative Fiction Mag, vol viii: June 2k24 to April 2k25
www.amazon.com
October 23, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Friends in the art, poetry, and author community, come support others in your field by buying the Best of Penumbric Speculative Fiction Mag, vol viii
www.amazon.com/Best-Penumbr...
A lot of hard work has been put into print by Jeff at Penumbric and all the amazing creatives who have contributed
www.amazon.com/Best-Penumbr...
A lot of hard work has been put into print by Jeff at Penumbric and all the amazing creatives who have contributed
Reposted by Sam W. Pisciotta
I've been all kinds of scattered this week, but I got a newsletter out!
We have things from both @nicowritesbooks.bsky.social and @swpisciotta.bsky.social who are both very talented folks!
howsweetthewords.com/two-fic-tues...
We have things from both @nicowritesbooks.bsky.social and @swpisciotta.bsky.social who are both very talented folks!
howsweetthewords.com/two-fic-tues...
Two-Fic Tuesday
Welcome!
This week we have two stories that made me happy. Sometimes that's what you need, and it's where I'm at right now. Both of these are things that left me feeling a little better after I read ...
howsweetthewords.com
August 16, 2025 at 2:45 PM
I've been all kinds of scattered this week, but I got a newsletter out!
We have things from both @nicowritesbooks.bsky.social and @swpisciotta.bsky.social who are both very talented folks!
howsweetthewords.com/two-fic-tues...
We have things from both @nicowritesbooks.bsky.social and @swpisciotta.bsky.social who are both very talented folks!
howsweetthewords.com/two-fic-tues...
My friend just had a cover reveal of all three fantasy books coming out. So cool!
🎺🚨Time for a cover reveal!🚨🎺
Our friends at The Nerd Daily have a special reveal for ALL THREE books in
@ldcolter.com 's PERILOUS GODS trilogy, where ordinary people find themselves caught in the gods games...
Full reveal thenerddaily.com/exclusive-co...
Preorder geni.us/whilegodssl
Our friends at The Nerd Daily have a special reveal for ALL THREE books in
@ldcolter.com 's PERILOUS GODS trilogy, where ordinary people find themselves caught in the gods games...
Full reveal thenerddaily.com/exclusive-co...
Preorder geni.us/whilegodssl
August 7, 2025 at 11:54 PM
My friend just had a cover reveal of all three fantasy books coming out. So cool!
Reposted by Sam W. Pisciotta
June reader spotlight: @swpisciotta.bsky.social came all the way from Colorado to dazzle us with two short stories, “Transubstantiation” (Flash Fiction Online, May 2025) and “Rocket Boy” (Utopia Science Fiction, December 2024). Both were big hits!
August 2, 2025 at 8:24 PM
June reader spotlight: @swpisciotta.bsky.social came all the way from Colorado to dazzle us with two short stories, “Transubstantiation” (Flash Fiction Online, May 2025) and “Rocket Boy” (Utopia Science Fiction, December 2024). Both were big hits!
Reposted by Sam W. Pisciotta
"Unboxing" (more like unpackaging) the postcards for my forthcoming novella Ellipses to be published by @infinivoxsf.bsky.social with a beautiful cover by @manzieriart.bsky.social Maurizio Manzieri
Yayyyyy!
Yayyyyy!
July 30, 2025 at 2:08 AM
"Unboxing" (more like unpackaging) the postcards for my forthcoming novella Ellipses to be published by @infinivoxsf.bsky.social with a beautiful cover by @manzieriart.bsky.social Maurizio Manzieri
Yayyyyy!
Yayyyyy!
Reposted by Sam W. Pisciotta
I'm so excited to have a new story out in The Deadlands!! "For Those Who Stay Buried" is a dark fantasy about broken love, feral hope, and taking back your power, however imperfectly.
Also, there's a three-legged fox. 🦊
psychopomp.com/deadlands/is...
Also, there's a three-legged fox. 🦊
psychopomp.com/deadlands/is...
For Those Who Stay Buried - PSYCHOPOMP.COM
The sixth or seventh time my husband buries me, I can tell by his jackknife grin that he thinks I’ll finally stay down.
psychopomp.com
July 27, 2025 at 3:32 PM
I'm so excited to have a new story out in The Deadlands!! "For Those Who Stay Buried" is a dark fantasy about broken love, feral hope, and taking back your power, however imperfectly.
Also, there's a three-legged fox. 🦊
psychopomp.com/deadlands/is...
Also, there's a three-legged fox. 🦊
psychopomp.com/deadlands/is...
Reposted by Sam W. Pisciotta
If there's an acid-spilling xenomorph, in your neighbourhood...
Who you gonna call?
Bug-Busters!
(I ain't 'fraid of no tribbles!)
Features "Tribbulations", my award winning riff on tribbles, aliens, psychotic AIs, and all things Sci-Fi... @amazingstories.bsky.social
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FJBVQ7JQ
Who you gonna call?
Bug-Busters!
(I ain't 'fraid of no tribbles!)
Features "Tribbulations", my award winning riff on tribbles, aliens, psychotic AIs, and all things Sci-Fi... @amazingstories.bsky.social
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FJBVQ7JQ
July 22, 2025 at 10:38 AM
If there's an acid-spilling xenomorph, in your neighbourhood...
Who you gonna call?
Bug-Busters!
(I ain't 'fraid of no tribbles!)
Features "Tribbulations", my award winning riff on tribbles, aliens, psychotic AIs, and all things Sci-Fi... @amazingstories.bsky.social
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FJBVQ7JQ
Who you gonna call?
Bug-Busters!
(I ain't 'fraid of no tribbles!)
Features "Tribbulations", my award winning riff on tribbles, aliens, psychotic AIs, and all things Sci-Fi... @amazingstories.bsky.social
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FJBVQ7JQ
A beautifully written story with so much depth. @awprihandita.bsky.social latest story, "The Best Way to Survive a Tiger Attack," is worth your time spent reading it. Congratulations, Anselma!
New story! "The Best Way to Survive a Tiger Attack" by A. W. Prihandita! buff.ly/7211uCO
July 7, 2025 at 2:32 AM
A beautifully written story with so much depth. @awprihandita.bsky.social latest story, "The Best Way to Survive a Tiger Attack," is worth your time spent reading it. Congratulations, Anselma!
A perfect afternoon sampling cider made by @willmcmahon36.bsky.social in his Finger Lakes farm.
It’s a beautiful day in the Finger Lakes and @swpisciotta.bsky.social came by to try last year’s cider vintage. Still early, but it’s drinking fairly well!
July 6, 2025 at 10:58 AM
A perfect afternoon sampling cider made by @willmcmahon36.bsky.social in his Finger Lakes farm.
Reposted by Sam W. Pisciotta
Thank you to our three Ithaca Irrealist Readers for June 2025—fists up for the IILF! @swpisciotta.bsky.social @risawolf.bsky.social & @mstevensonbooks.bsky.social dazzled the crowd with their imaginative fiction. Look out for coming reader spotlights, so you too can enjoy their great work!
June 26, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Thank you to our three Ithaca Irrealist Readers for June 2025—fists up for the IILF! @swpisciotta.bsky.social @risawolf.bsky.social & @mstevensonbooks.bsky.social dazzled the crowd with their imaginative fiction. Look out for coming reader spotlights, so you too can enjoy their great work!
Reposted by Sam W. Pisciotta
TONIGHT! @irrealist.bsky.social reading at Liquid State in Ithaca, NY - see me, @swpisciotta.bsky.social & @mstevensonbooks.bsky.social read from our work.
I'm really looking forward to this reading, at Liquid State, 620 W Green in Ithaca NY!
IILF partisans, to arms! Our next Ithaca Irrealist Reading will be Tuesday, June 24th from 7-9pm at Liquid State Brewing! Join @swpisciotta.bsky.social, @risawolf.bsky.social, and @mstevensonbooks.bsky.social for good fiction, good beer, and good company!
June 24, 2025 at 5:30 PM
TONIGHT! @irrealist.bsky.social reading at Liquid State in Ithaca, NY - see me, @swpisciotta.bsky.social & @mstevensonbooks.bsky.social read from our work.
This poignant and touching story by @chrisblake.bsky.social is worth the read. Enjoy! www.tractorbeam.earth/story/in-eve...
In Every Seed, A Hope | Tractor Beam
Would you be the seed of your child's future?
www.tractorbeam.earth
June 24, 2025 at 12:06 PM
This poignant and touching story by @chrisblake.bsky.social is worth the read. Enjoy! www.tractorbeam.earth/story/in-eve...
Reposted by Sam W. Pisciotta
IILF partisans, to arms! Our next Ithaca Irrealist Reading will be Tuesday, June 24th from 7-9pm at Liquid State Brewing! Join @swpisciotta.bsky.social, @risawolf.bsky.social, and @mstevensonbooks.bsky.social for good fiction, good beer, and good company!
June 13, 2025 at 4:31 PM
IILF partisans, to arms! Our next Ithaca Irrealist Reading will be Tuesday, June 24th from 7-9pm at Liquid State Brewing! Join @swpisciotta.bsky.social, @risawolf.bsky.social, and @mstevensonbooks.bsky.social for good fiction, good beer, and good company!
New story out! Find “Gratitude of the Dispossessed” in issue 6 of Phano 🪷
“After three centuries, the Tea Masters once again stand face to face with their creator.”
“After three centuries, the Tea Masters once again stand face to face with their creator.”
🔥 Phano 6 is live!
www.phano.co/issues/issue-6
- "Gratitude of the Dispossessed" by Sam Pisciotta (@swpisciotta).
- "39 Chavchavadze Ave" by Nestan Nikouradze.
- "Making a Sound" by Elizabeth Rankin.
🔥 Phano 5, if you slept on it...
www.phano.co/issues/issue-5
www.phano.co/issues/issue-6
- "Gratitude of the Dispossessed" by Sam Pisciotta (@swpisciotta).
- "39 Chavchavadze Ave" by Nestan Nikouradze.
- "Making a Sound" by Elizabeth Rankin.
🔥 Phano 5, if you slept on it...
www.phano.co/issues/issue-5
a purple and blue neon tunnel with a light at the end of it .
ALT: a purple and blue neon tunnel with a light at the end of it .
media.tenor.com
June 4, 2025 at 11:51 PM
New story out! Find “Gratitude of the Dispossessed” in issue 6 of Phano 🪷
“After three centuries, the Tea Masters once again stand face to face with their creator.”
“After three centuries, the Tea Masters once again stand face to face with their creator.”
My friend Allan’s book is out! Looking forward to reading it.
IT'S OUT!!! Digitally, on Amazon, at least. More platforms and the paperback coming this month.
Blamed for a toxin poisoning the air, Joe is leaving the Bay Area with his 18-month-old daughter. He's trapped in Oakland. Most of the city wants him dead.
www.amazon.com/dp/B0D95QGYS...
Blamed for a toxin poisoning the air, Joe is leaving the Bay Area with his 18-month-old daughter. He's trapped in Oakland. Most of the city wants him dead.
www.amazon.com/dp/B0D95QGYS...
The Day We Said Goodbye to the Birds
The Day We Said Goodbye to the Birds - Kindle edition by Dyen-Shapiro, Allan. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading The Day We Said Goodbye to the Birds.
www.amazon.com
June 4, 2025 at 8:48 PM
My friend Allan’s book is out! Looking forward to reading it.
Reposted by Sam W. Pisciotta
This one by @swpisciotta.bsky.social punched me in the GUT. It's incredible.
The Visible Death of Stars
Analena stepped around the tangle of vines and leaves. For nearly thirty years, she’d tended this garden’s dark and fertile soil. She bent and selected a summer squash, yellow and plump, lying heav…
vastliterarypress.org
May 27, 2025 at 6:28 PM
This one by @swpisciotta.bsky.social punched me in the GUT. It's incredible.
Reposted by Sam W. Pisciotta
“Transubstantiation” by Sam W. Pisciotta has poetic prose, dedicated parents, and a surprising end to a seance. Check it out now on FFO!
@swpisciotta.bsky.social
#writingcommunity #flashfiction #specfic #family #fantasy
www.flashfictiononline.com/article/tran...
@swpisciotta.bsky.social
#writingcommunity #flashfiction #specfic #family #fantasy
www.flashfictiononline.com/article/tran...
Transubstantiation
I wake to you quietly singing to our daughter, an invocation from mother to child. You fold her to your breast and urge her to drink. Like the moon reflecting sunlight, she is given form by your lo…
www.flashfictiononline.com
May 23, 2025 at 8:49 PM
“Transubstantiation” by Sam W. Pisciotta has poetic prose, dedicated parents, and a surprising end to a seance. Check it out now on FFO!
@swpisciotta.bsky.social
#writingcommunity #flashfiction #specfic #family #fantasy
www.flashfictiononline.com/article/tran...
@swpisciotta.bsky.social
#writingcommunity #flashfiction #specfic #family #fantasy
www.flashfictiononline.com/article/tran...
New Story Day at Flash Fiction Online! You can read "Transubstantiation" here:
www.flashfictiononline.com/article/tran...
www.flashfictiononline.com/article/tran...
Transubstantiation
I wake to you quietly singing to our daughter, an invocation from mother to child. You fold her to your breast and urge her to drink. Like the moon reflecting sunlight, she is given form by your lo…
www.flashfictiononline.com
May 23, 2025 at 8:46 PM
New Story Day at Flash Fiction Online! You can read "Transubstantiation" here:
www.flashfictiononline.com/article/tran...
www.flashfictiononline.com/article/tran...
Reposted by Sam W. Pisciotta
Saw Sinners last night, and it’s great! When the first credits started to roll, half the theater emptied and all those people missed the ending of the movie 🤯
May 2, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Saw Sinners last night, and it’s great! When the first credits started to roll, half the theater emptied and all those people missed the ending of the movie 🤯
Reposted by Sam W. Pisciotta
🌌🚀 BOOK BIRTHDAY!
Disgraced Return of the Kap's Needle is finally out by Dark Matter Ink! It's available at the publishers website, Bookshop, Amazon, B&N, and more.
It's a short novella set in a doomed spaceship returning to Earth. For fans of dark SF and fast-paced thrillers in space.
Disgraced Return of the Kap's Needle is finally out by Dark Matter Ink! It's available at the publishers website, Bookshop, Amazon, B&N, and more.
It's a short novella set in a doomed spaceship returning to Earth. For fans of dark SF and fast-paced thrillers in space.
April 29, 2025 at 12:18 PM
🌌🚀 BOOK BIRTHDAY!
Disgraced Return of the Kap's Needle is finally out by Dark Matter Ink! It's available at the publishers website, Bookshop, Amazon, B&N, and more.
It's a short novella set in a doomed spaceship returning to Earth. For fans of dark SF and fast-paced thrillers in space.
Disgraced Return of the Kap's Needle is finally out by Dark Matter Ink! It's available at the publishers website, Bookshop, Amazon, B&N, and more.
It's a short novella set in a doomed spaceship returning to Earth. For fans of dark SF and fast-paced thrillers in space.