Cathi Allen
Bio
When my first-grade teacher said to write a book, I wrote a book. It won a Young Authors award from the AAUW. I thought I'd be writing books for the rest of my life. Until I had to get a real job. I've finally fired myself. Hello, pen!
Stories (8)
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HOME
'home' is where I currently shelter, even my little car
By Cathi Allen10 months ago in Poets
The Mandibles has Bite
"The Mandibles" by Lionel Shriver provides a chilling glimpse into a dystopian economic collapse that feels more like reality every day. It delves into family dynamics amidst chaos while managing to explain complex economic principles in a novel format. Bleak, thought-provoking commentary on economic seediness under a gloss of lies.
By Cathi Allen2 years ago in Critique
What's the Catch?
The mirror showed a reflection that wasn’t my own. The difference was so subtle a glance might not notice it at all. Even if you looked thoroughly many might not notice anything amiss. But I’d been slowly growing aware of the image feeling “off”, not quite true.
By Cathi Allen3 years ago in Horror
Inside My Natural Brain
He asked if I’d ever been evaluated for ADHD. I think I literally laughed at him. It was absurd. I’d been an exceedingly good student. I could focus so tightly on things it was hard to get my attention away. There were never any discipline problems or anything like that. I was in my mid-thirties and overwhelmed with all the usual family, work, and so forth, that’s all.
By Cathi Allen4 years ago in Psyche
Prologue
1886 I sit on the floor in front of Mama, playing with my doll and a top. Since my older siblings have gone away it is very quiet. As quiet as it has become inside, it is now loud outside. Waves of shouting and pop, pop, pop followed by times of silence. Mama cries often now. Papa, when he comes, slips in and out like a ghost, only at night, never staying long. Sweet Franciszka who used to take care of me is gone, as is Cook and the others.
By Cathi Allen4 years ago in Fiction