RobSmales.com
I write character-driven dark fiction.
What do you do?
Short Stories and Anthologies
If anyone ever asks me where I learned to write, I'll just tell them "By doing it," and direct them to this page. If I go back and read some of my earlier stuff now it makes me cringe, but here it all is, for better or worse: a chronological list of my publication credits―some of which you can't find out there anymore, but I'm including here for posterity, and so I can look back at them sometimes and say "Awww . . ."
They're also a reminder to me that I've come a long way, though I still have a long way to go.
It Calls from Below
What is beneath our feet? Below our skin? What lurks in the darkness in the basement, or deep inside the earth? How far down can you read before you go insane? Step down into the chilling stories in Below.
Featuring my story, "Pops."
Publication date: 5/23/2023
It Came From the Trailer Park: Volume 2
Why do hurricanes and tornadoes always head straight for trailer parks?
’Cause that’s where the fun is!
Have yourself a double-wide helping of horrific humor with this redneck rodeo of low-class laughs. Come listen to “Buford Greene’s Mountain Jug Band” (Philip K. Booker) play at “The Starlight Drive-In” (John M. Floyd), then stick around to have “Road Beers with Norm and Tank at Twitchy’s Hatchet House” (Jonathan Maberry)!
And more! So much more—including my own little contribution, “Cemetery Man.”
Publication date: October 21, 2022.
Generation X-ed
An anthology of 80s horror, Including my contribution, "How I Met Kurt Russell."
Publication date: January 26, 2022.
34 Orchard: Issue 4
Including my tale, "Letter to the Other Side."
Publication date: November 10, 2021.
Wicked Creatures: An Anthology of The New England Horror Writers
Where you can find my story, "Wood You Love?"
Publication date : August 8, 2021
Featuring my not-so-short tale, "Stardust."
Publication date : August 1, 2021
Featuring my story, "Hush, Little Baby."
Publication date : November 27, 2020
VHS Nightmares
A charitable anthology to help out a very sick, very special lady,
featuring my story, "Home of the Skunk Ape."
Publication date: November 4, 2020
Shallow Waters Vol. 3: A Flash Fiction Anthology
Featuring my story, "Second Chances."
Publication date : October 8, 2019
Featuring my story, "Pet Shop of the Gods."
Publication date : August 23, 2019
Including my contribution, "Don't Quit." It ain't literary, but it's a laugh.
Publication Date: May 26, 2019
Featuring a fun little story of mine, titled "The Fate Machine."
Publication Date: May 14, 2019
Where you'll find my ghoulish giggle, "Do I Fat?"
Publication Date: April 21, 2019
Carnival Of Nightmares (Creepiest Show On Earth Book 2)
Including the not-so-short short story, "The Biggest Little Show on Earth," by Rob Smales
Publication Date: October 16, 2018
Wicked Haunted: An Anthology of the New England Horror Writers
Featuring my story, "The Road to Gallway."
Publication Date: October 15, 2017
Insanity Tales III: Seasons of Shadow
From the writers of The Storyside comes the third installment in the Insanity Tales series.
Featuring my stories, "A Bee" and "Tracks in the Snow."
Publication Date: June 6, 2017
The New England Horror Writers proudly present a new anthology which pays tribute to those whose ancestors were accused, hung, pressed, drowned, or burned at the stake. Featuring "Moving House," by Rob Smales.
Publication Date: October 16, 2016
Demonic Visions 50 Horror Tales Book 6
Featuring my short, "Stranger Than Fiction."
Publication Date: February 17, 2016
44 Lies by 22 Liars: A Flourish of Flash from the Fabulous Fibbers at Post Mortem Press
Featuring my tales, "Spreewald Dreams," and "Was it Good For You, Baby?"
Publication Date: January 26, 2016
Twenty-three tales of holiday horror to benefit The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, including my own story, " 'Twas the Night Before Krampus.
Publication Date: December 28, 2015
Reality slides into madness again in these eleven tales from some of New England’s finest storytellers. Features "The Book of Shadows," and "The Perfect Game," from Rob Smales.
Publication Date: October 10, 2015
Welcome back to another journey through the wonders and terrors of New England. Twenty Wicked Tales of fear, madness and horror from the region’s most prolific writers of dark fiction.
Featuring my story, "Keepsakes."
Publication Date: May 30, 2015
Firbolg Publishing’s fifth anthology, Enter at Your Own Risk: Dreamscapes into Darkness, explores the old adage of “Be Careful What You Wish For.”
Featuring "First Horse," by Rob Smales.
Publication Date: April 24, 2015
A wildly adventurous collection of stories and verse that cross the thresholds of genre, including my short story, "Northern Lights."
Publication Date: January 5, 2015
Demonic Visions 50 Horror Tales Book 5
The fifth volume in the Demonic Visions series, featuring my story, "Saying Goodbye."
Publication Date: December 13, 2014
Demonic Visions 50 Horror Tales Book 4
Welcome to the fourth installment of the Demonic Visions series, featuring my "Finders Keepers."
Publication Date: July 6, 2014
Welcome to the third installment of the Demonic Visions series, including my two tales, "Night Game" and "Obsession."
Publication Date: March 13, 2014
The Bloody Book Of Grotesque Love
―Out of print
All the many other faces of love: jealousy, obsession, inter-species and supernatural pairings, and even the fires of passion burning for those no longer among the living―including my short story, "Obsession."
Publication Date: February 6, 2014
―Out of print
Featuring my short, "Only the Lonely."
Publication Date: January 2, 2014
A collection of 52 +1 horror flash fiction stories, including my "The Visit."
Publication Date: September 2, 2013
Demonic Visions 50 Horror Tales Book 2
Welcome to the second installment of the Demonic Visions series, featuring my "A License to Kill."
Publication Date: December 16, 2013
Wicked Seasons: The Journal of New England Horror Writers, Volume II
Featuring "A Night at the Show," by Rob Smales
Publication Date: November 7, 2013
A collection of stories from the ranks of the annual Coffin Hop online horror extravaganza, including my "The Colossal Monster."
Publication Date: October 21, 2013
Demonic Visions 50 Horror Tales
Welcome to volume one of the Demonic Visions 50 Horror Tales series, including my short tale. "The Tank."
Publication Date: September 9, 2013
Rigorous Mortis: A Mortician's Tales
―Out of print
Between the land of the living, and the realm of the dead, the body passes through the hands of many. Includes my tale, "Bedtime Story."
Publication Date: February 18, 2013
An Anthology of Steampunk Inspired Ghost Stories, featuring my "Photo Finish."
Publication Date: November 13, 2013
Take solace in the fact that " 'til death do us part " is no longer relevant.
Featuring "Maxwell's Silver Hammer,' by Rob Smales.
Publication Date: February 23, 2013
Not a vampire, zombie or werewolf to be found.
Featuring "Mutes."Publication Date: September 25, 2012
The June 2012 issue of DarkMedia E-zine
Featuring my short, "Let Them Eat Cake."
Publication Date: June 2012
The August Issue, where I won three weeks in a row with three different stories: Tribe; Good Fences Make Good Neighbors; and All the Little Children.
Read each story in its place in the ezine for FREE simply by clicking on its name above!
Get in the Christmas Spirit with Volume 2 of award-winning stories from LDS Publisher's 2010 and 2011 Christmas Story Contests! Featuring Rob Smales's "Fishing Buddy."
Publication Date: October 26, 2012
For as long as there has been civilization, the horse has been by man's side. Featuring my short, "Justice."
Publication Date: November 13, 2012
Dark Eclipse, Issue #11
―Out of print
Featuring my story, "It's Not What You Think."
Publication Date: April 28, 2012
Frightmares: A Fistfull of Flash Fiction
Featuring "Modern Problem," by Rob Smales.
Publication Date: March 6, 2012
Featuring my first paid published story, "Playmate Wanted."
Publication Date: October 1, 2011
Home of my first for the love publication, "Gotcha!"
Though "Playmate Wanted" (above) was accepted first, "Gotcha" was technically published first, earlier in 2011.
My first work intended for anyone else to see was titled "The Accidental Bass," written for a contest―and I won!
Unfortunately―or fortunately, for me anyway (my earliest stuff tends to make me cringe now)―the site seems to have either been entirely revamped or changed hands, and the old contest page no longer exists. I still have the story around here somewhere, though, and I'm leaving this up here to commemorate the first time I thought I might actually be good at this.
Publication Date: hell, sometime in early 2011?