The Wounded Colossus Goodbye, you tired, you poor, huddled masses yearning to be free. My lamp is out, my golden door slammed shut, guarded by masked thugs ashamed to show their faces but eager to attack and imprison...

www.fridayflashfiction.com/100-word-sto... Here's my final entry in the Edinburgh Book Festival Friday Flash Fiction Contest. Wish me and our poor suffering country good luck. #immigration #diversity #equality #inclusion #oneworld #acceptance #allforeachother #libertyiscolorblind

Fess Up “Fess up.” A dark voice: “You’re a worthless piece of crap.” Black dreams pour into Roscoe’s cranium. Everything that can go wrong cloaked in fear. All that ever did boiling in stews of...

www.fridayflashfiction.com/100-word-sto...

My story published in Friday Flash Fiction 8/3 for the Edinburgh Book Festival Competition. #memory #acceptance #selfactualization #movingforward #lifeafestival
#festiveviewoflife #loving

The Rules of Law, by Tony Covatta Clarence preps his witness, Shady, for trial testimony: “You weren’t there. That’s your story. It has the added virtue of also being true.” Shady knows better--and worse: (“I’ll do what I...

www.fridayflashfiction.com/100-word-sto... #trials #testimony #wholetruth #nothingbutthetruth #shadylady #ruleoflaw

My story published 8/1/25.

Hi all—My full length short story “Showdowns in Wiscasset, Maine” has been accepted for the 11/1 issue of cc&d magazine. Nope, it’s not a beach read tale or otherwise vacation related.

Here’s my story “Working Things Out” from Friday Flash Fiction
, 7/25/2025. Hope you like it

Working Things Out, by Tony Covatta Molly: “Why so glum, Mort?” “My shrink, Sigmund. Charges $185/hour. Know what he said today?” “Can’t guess. Tell me.” “ ‘Mort, things have a way of working out.’ I can’t believe...

www.fridayflashfiction.com/100-word-sto.... #selfreliance #selfhelp #psychiatrists #fearoffuture

Eggs Well Peppered, by Tony Covatta Gino (10) peppered his fried eggs as his dad remarked: “My father took his eggs like you. Almost black.” Gino stored this and many other facts about his hardworking grandfather, dead 20 years...

www.fridayflashfiction.com/100-word-sto...

Here's my story, "Egg Well Peppered" published in Friday Flash Fiction on 7/18/25. #immigrants #ambition #rant #xenophopia #racehatred #americandream #tradition #parentalcare #parentalrespect

scars.tv/ccdissues/35...

Here's my story "Let the Dead Bury Their Dead" published 7/1 in cc&d, the non-churchy, non-religious mag. Please read it and ask yourself if this stuff is still going on. #seminary #celibacy #donttell #stillgettingawaywithit

Into the Wild, by Tony Covatta At son Nat’s urging, Nick finally gave in, planned a week with him on the Appalachian Trail. Nick was sleeping soundly the first night out when co-eds from a nearby college overran the campground,...

www.fridayflashfiction.com/100-word-sto... Into the Wild, by Tony Covatta - Friday Flash Fiction

Here’s my story, 6/26. #hiking #outdoors #trails #fathersandsons #AT

It Wasn't the Money, by Tony Covatta Nick at Mike’s retirement party: “Mike, old friend, congrats on your forty years. I always hoped you’d come to work for me.” “Nick, I enjoyed my summer clerkship for you but things just...

Here's a story of mine published in Friday Flash Fiction on 6/20/25. Perhaps you will find it interesting. Hope so.
www.fridayflashfiction.com/100-word-sto... #retirement #workingconditions #bestplacestowork

A Day Late and a Dollar Short, by Tony Covatta Three nephews attended seldom visited Aunt Phyllis’s funeral. Ike: “Why did you come, Mike?” “Phyllis talked me into going back to school, paid my first year’s tuition. She never mentioned...

www.fridayflashfiction.com/100-word-sto...

Here's my latest story, published in Friday Flash Fiction on 6/13. #nephewsandaunts #familyvalues #families #gerontology #helpinghands

To Thine Own Self Be True, by Tony Covatta Dad asked Alex (10): “What do you want to be when you grow up?” “A lawyer!” Mom: “Alex, you never speak. You couldn’t do that.” During his twenties, preparing for a teaching career,...

www.fridayflashfiction.com/100-word-sto...

Here's my story "To Thine Own Self Be True," published 5/30.25, in Friday Flash Fiction. #ambition #careers #freeadviceworthwhatyoupayforit #innervoice

Acceptance, by Tony Covatta Editor's Choice

www.fridayflashfiction.com/100-word-sto...

This one, published 5/23/2025, was chosen story of the week, Editor's Choice, by Friday Flash Fiction. Thank you Gordon Lawrie. Most appreciated. #caregiving #immeasureables #givingnottaking #truelove

Fool Me Once, Fool Me Twice, by Tony Covatta Widowed Frances, recovering from the death of husband Dave, dull in bed and in life, found passion with flashy Fred. One night, as their lovemaking burst into flame, he sighed: “Sally!” Fred...

www.fridayflashfiction.com/100-word-sto...

Here's my latest publication in Friday Flash Fiction, 5/16/25 #passion #deceit #retribution #shameonyou #lovers #neverfriends

The Grieving Process, by Tony Covatta Bad news piled up but Nick was coping. The caregiver scheduled for Nick’s terminally ill wife phoned. Sick, she couldn’t work. Scrambling, he found a replacement. He needed to go to his...

Hey everybody-- Here's a story of mine published 5/9 in Friday Flash Fiction.

www.fridayflashfiction.com/100-word-sto...

The Good and the Dead, by Tony Covatta “Why so glum, Jerry? It wasn’t your funeral.” “Amanda, that eulogy! I couldn’t recognize Paul --‘A good shepherd?’--Don’t make me laugh.” “Paul always looked out for Number One,...

www.fridayflashfiction.com/100-word-sto...

My story published this morning, 4/25, in "Friday Flash Fiction," Edinborough. #eulogies #death #nothingbutgood

The Deer Hunter, by Tony Covatta “Amanda, what happened to the car?” “Deer strike.” “Yikes! OK? “Not the deer. I called 911. Police came. The young officer said ‘Ma’am, got to put it down.’” “Not unusual.”...

www.fridayflashfiction.com/100-word-sto...

Here's my latest story in "Friday Flash Fiction'" published 4/18/25. Thanks to Emily Schoeny for providing the raw material.

scars.tv/2025January-...

My story "The Inheritance" has just been republished in the "Out of the Swamp" collection volume by "Down in the Dirt" magazine, available on Amazon in the US and around the world. So far as I know, not subject to ruinous tariffs! If you read it, I hope you like it.

The Revenge Is His, by Tony Covatta REVENGE

Here's my story for the Siderius flash fition contest at Friday Flash Fiction this week.
www.fridayflashfiction.com/100-word-sto...

Hi Friends, Just to let you know my story "Let the Dead Bury Their Dead" will be published in CC&D magaazine on July 1. Be watching for this tale of a young man growing beyond and away from his seminary roots.

scars.tv

Here's my latest story in Down in the Dirt, "Sisyphus," 32025. Hope you like it. Copies available at amazon.

#Booksky20daychallenge 20/20 Tolstoy, "War and Peace"

#Booksky20daychallenge 19/20 EM Forster "A Passage to India"

#booksky💙📚20daychallenge 18/20 Virginia Woolf, "To the Lighthouse"

#Booksky💙📚20daychallenge 17/20 Elizabeth Taylor, "A View of the Harbour"

#Booksky💙📚20daychallenge 16/20 Javier Marias "A Heart So White"

#booksky💙📚20daychallenge 15/20 David Mitchell, "Cloud Atlas"

#Booksky💙📚20daychallenge 14/20 Jeffrey Eugenides, "Middlesex

#booksky📚💙20daychallenge 13/20 Halldor Laxness, "Independent People"

#booksky💙📚20daychallenge Henry James, "The Portrait of a Lady"