A chapbook about fleeing to Indiana for grad school after a bad breakup and taking a self-defense class from a local loser.

Self Defense for Gentle People

A short story about being nostalgic for your high school rock band while strolling through a farmers market in your hometown.

Dinosaur III

A short story about trespassing at a roadside attraction because you're a teenager and you have lots of feelings.

Volvo Island

A short story about being the only responsible person working on your group project while your dad helps a local politician stage a comeback. 

Have You Seen Him?

A short story about being on the apps and going on a date at the mall because you have no better ideas.

Tell Them You Love Them in Person

A short story about trying to find your childhood home after seeing a picture of it on a Facebook group for abandoned buildings.

Abandoned

A short story about online dating, investigating suburban arsonists, and proofreading Bibles.

Biblical Errors

A short story about visiting your dad and overhearing him tell your son a story about meeting Fidel Castro and his giant pet owls.

Adlai, Adlai

A short story about going to a concert with your friend while his apartment gets robbed.

Listening Party

A short story about remembering that one summer your dad was dating his grad student but at least she had a cool dog.

Spirit of Peoria

A long short story in King Ludd's Rag no. 6 about saving a pod-shaped house from demolition while having a crush on your best friend who is also the mayor's daughter.

Saving the Futuro House

A short story about being an editor and possibly being stalked by political extremists due to your proximity to a dictator's dentist brother.

Zachary Kocanda

Books

Selected work