from the editor: behind the mask
Fall 2026
This month, Still Life Fiction explores the theme of Masks: the faces we present to the world, the secrets we keep hidden, and the truths that sometimes slip through the cracks.
The masks we wear can protect us, transform us, or give us the courage to become someone or something we might not otherwise dare to be. But what happens when the mask comes off?
Our contributors approached the theme from different angles and genres, taking us through stories of loss, longing, unexpected revelations, and a little good old-fashioned flirty fun.
Whether the masks are worn to conceal, pursue a desire, or serve as a symbol of a loving memory, each story reminds us that there’s often more beneath the surface than meets the eye. We’re delighted to share this collection with you. There’s something for everyone.
If you enjoy what you read, subscribe to Still Life Fiction so you won’t miss future stories and issues. You can also follow us on Instagram and help spread the word by sharing our stories with fellow fiction lovers.
If you’d like to support Still Life Fiction, please consider making a voluntary donation through our Ko-Fi page to help cover the costs of keeping the publication running.
Thank you for reading and supporting our contributors. We look forward to bringing you our next issue before the year is out. Until then, happy reading!
The Editor
Read the Stories
Trick or Treat by Shirlee Jellum
One jester’s trick leads to an unexpected treat.
Category: Flash Fiction
The Pumpkin That Wouldn’t Rot by Milanka Sulejic
Every autumn a pumpkin appears, and every year it refuses to rot.
Category: Experimental Prose
The Norgefleet Cruise by Ed Ahern
Two spies. Opposite sides. One mission. One unforgettable cruise. Who’s playing who?
Category: Spy Fiction
The Exhibitionist by Arthur Davis
A ladies’ man falls for a seductress who challenges everything he thought he knew about himself, forcing him to reconsider the life he knows and the future he never expected.
Category: Literary Fiction
Freedom issue
Summer 2026
Welcome to the inaugural themed issue of Still Life Fiction, a literary publication dedicated to showcasing bold, imaginative, genre-blending fiction.
For this issue, we invited writers to submit stories with characters who embody the energy of freedom. The result is a collection of distinct voices and genres, each approaching the theme in its own way.
We are excited to share these stories with you.
Read the Stories
by John T. Biggs
A teenager working in his father’s business tells the story of the mysterious Candyman, whose hidden talent as a piano player reveals more to him than meets the eye in Junkyard Music.
Category: Literary
by Kaitlyn Downing
A castle-bound royal longs to escape the confines of the palace, but it comes with a price in Escaping Shalott.
Category: Fantasy
