My Wife is one of my favorite stories. It is the lead off story in my
book Darktales.
As you may or may not know writing is 100% about what mood a
person is at the time. When I wrote My Wife I was mad at her and
its pretty obvious in the story. Sometimes inspiration comes from
strange places and this one takes the cake. This is a short story
you won't soon forget. It is a shocking and fun story with an
unexpected ending.
Steven R. Zellers
Amazon Review:
Wow what a spine chilling, twisted book. I couldn't put it down. A
must read for all. I can't wait for Steven Zellers next book.
book Darktales.
As you may or may not know writing is 100% about what mood a
person is at the time. When I wrote My Wife I was mad at her and
its pretty obvious in the story. Sometimes inspiration comes from
strange places and this one takes the cake. This is a short story
you won't soon forget. It is a shocking and fun story with an
unexpected ending.
Steven R. Zellers
Amazon Review:
Wow what a spine chilling, twisted book. I couldn't put it down. A
must read for all. I can't wait for Steven Zellers next book.
My Wife
$1.99
Below is a review of Darktales and Darktales Volume Two from Ron Wynn of Nashville City Paper :
DarkTales: A Collection of Sick Twisted Scary Stories and DarkTales: Volume Two
Nashville author Steven R. Zellers originally penned the first volume of DarkTales almost 11 years ago, but he’s now
updated it and penned a second collection.
As the title suggests, these are stories that can shock, stun, frighten or delight, and sometimes manage all those things
within their tightly constructed frameworks. Zellers knows how to manipulate details, but also he varies his approach.
Sometimes things accelerate right from the opening paragraph, and the remaining narrative simply sustains what’s
already been generated. Other times he’ll slowly build the tension, working to a strong conclusion and injecting surprise
elements that nicely wrap the story.
There are 18 entries in the initial volume and 12 more in the sequel. While readers’ choices and preferences will differ
depending on their perspectives and interests, some recommendations from DarkTales include “Tinman,” “Smokey
Mountain Rain,” “Freak,” “Grandma’s Secret” and most interestingly “Writer’s Block.” Anyone who’s ever had a problem
composing a letter or finishing an assignment will find it quite intriguing. His opening story “My Wife” and final entry
“Jewels” are also outstanding.
Prime pieces in DarkTales: Volume Two include “Ice Queen,” “Northern Lights,” “Seven Dates from MySpace” and “Till
Death,” as well as “Halloween” and “Trust.”
Some horror/suspense writers, most notably the late Rod Serling, used the genre as a social message tool. There are
some stories with underlying or implied themes, but overall Zellers is mainly interested in spinning a compelling yarn
rather than examining a particular social ill.
The DarkTales volumes offer fine examples of both striking horror pieces and excellent short story writing. Ron
Wynn Nashville City Paper
DarkTales: A Collection of Sick Twisted Scary Stories and DarkTales: Volume Two
Nashville author Steven R. Zellers originally penned the first volume of DarkTales almost 11 years ago, but he’s now
updated it and penned a second collection.
As the title suggests, these are stories that can shock, stun, frighten or delight, and sometimes manage all those things
within their tightly constructed frameworks. Zellers knows how to manipulate details, but also he varies his approach.
Sometimes things accelerate right from the opening paragraph, and the remaining narrative simply sustains what’s
already been generated. Other times he’ll slowly build the tension, working to a strong conclusion and injecting surprise
elements that nicely wrap the story.
There are 18 entries in the initial volume and 12 more in the sequel. While readers’ choices and preferences will differ
depending on their perspectives and interests, some recommendations from DarkTales include “Tinman,” “Smokey
Mountain Rain,” “Freak,” “Grandma’s Secret” and most interestingly “Writer’s Block.” Anyone who’s ever had a problem
composing a letter or finishing an assignment will find it quite intriguing. His opening story “My Wife” and final entry
“Jewels” are also outstanding.
Prime pieces in DarkTales: Volume Two include “Ice Queen,” “Northern Lights,” “Seven Dates from MySpace” and “Till
Death,” as well as “Halloween” and “Trust.”
Some horror/suspense writers, most notably the late Rod Serling, used the genre as a social message tool. There are
some stories with underlying or implied themes, but overall Zellers is mainly interested in spinning a compelling yarn
rather than examining a particular social ill.
The DarkTales volumes offer fine examples of both striking horror pieces and excellent short story writing. Ron
Wynn Nashville City Paper
My Wife
My wife is a soulless heartless cast iron bitch and I’m out of options. I’m just going to have to kill her.
Financially and emotionally she’s draining all the life out me like the blood sucking leach she is. Tomorrow
is our fifth anniversary and she thinks I bought the Bahamas cruise just for that. I can hardly wait.
“Honey come look at the moon shining on the ocean.”
She’ll come up to the rail, I’ll put my arms around her, give her a big kiss, and then heave ho, splish splash,
hello million dollar insurance settlement.
I finished my work and locked my desk. I was off for the next seven days and we had to be at the airport in
about three hours. I made my way to my car and flipped open my cell.
“Hey Pussycat are you all packed?”
“Yes Dan I’m packed. You need to quit worrying so much I told you I would be ready.
“Did you go to the bank to get the travelers checks?”
“Sure did.” I lied. I meant to get them this morning but I knew I could still grab them on the way home.
“Make sure you get enough. You know how expensive things will be on that cruise ship. I wish you would
have called me before you booked this trip Daniel. I would have picked a much better cruise line”
“Don’t worry Babe. I got this.” I said biting my lip so I wouldn’t tell her what I really thought.
“I see you when you get home. Love you.”
There was the tell tale click of a phone hanging up before I could answer. It was obvious that she wasn’t
interested in talking to me any more. And the cursory ‘Love you’ before she hung up was just about
sickening. It was the first time she said it to me in months and I wondered if
there was any truth in it. Who was I kidding? The love was gone out of our relationship years ago.
My wife was beautiful and once upon a time I
really did love her. And I’m pretty sure she loved me too but that’s one of those things that you think you
know, or you hope you know, but you can never really know for sure. Not really.
We met seven years ago at a party at a mutual friend’s house. I’ll never forget the moment I first saw her.
Time stopped and everything changed in that second. It was magic and wonderful. We just
clicked and being with her was the most natural thing in the world. We like the same music, food, and
movies. We seemed to have the same goals and values. For the first two years everything was perfect.
Then we got married.
On May 29th 2001 Jordan Rain Ballister became my wife Mrs. Daniel Lynch. We had a real church wedding in
front of God and 243 witnesses, had a great honeymoon, and even bought our little piece of the American
dream white picket fence and all. Less than a year later I caught her in bed with our aforementioned ‘mutual
friend.’ So much for ‘faithfully yours as long as we both shall live.’
As you might expect my ego was destroyed. I was humiliated, hurt and pissed off. But we did say ‘for better
or worse’ so we tried to work it out.
We did the marriage counseling thing, she made promises then broke them, again and again, and again. Not
only did she have numerous affairs, but I’m the silly sap that financed many of her extramarital adventures.
She thinks I don’t know, but I do. I’m not half as naive as she thinks I am.
I’ve known for years and just pretended everything was OK. It was just easier that way. I’m not sure why I
never left her. I think I let her destroy my self confidence and somehow I felt like I could never meet anyone
as pretty as she is.
But what dear Jordan doesn’t know, is that.....
My wife is a soulless heartless cast iron bitch and I’m out of options. I’m just going to have to kill her.
Financially and emotionally she’s draining all the life out me like the blood sucking leach she is. Tomorrow
is our fifth anniversary and she thinks I bought the Bahamas cruise just for that. I can hardly wait.
“Honey come look at the moon shining on the ocean.”
She’ll come up to the rail, I’ll put my arms around her, give her a big kiss, and then heave ho, splish splash,
hello million dollar insurance settlement.
I finished my work and locked my desk. I was off for the next seven days and we had to be at the airport in
about three hours. I made my way to my car and flipped open my cell.
“Hey Pussycat are you all packed?”
“Yes Dan I’m packed. You need to quit worrying so much I told you I would be ready.
“Did you go to the bank to get the travelers checks?”
“Sure did.” I lied. I meant to get them this morning but I knew I could still grab them on the way home.
“Make sure you get enough. You know how expensive things will be on that cruise ship. I wish you would
have called me before you booked this trip Daniel. I would have picked a much better cruise line”
“Don’t worry Babe. I got this.” I said biting my lip so I wouldn’t tell her what I really thought.
“I see you when you get home. Love you.”
There was the tell tale click of a phone hanging up before I could answer. It was obvious that she wasn’t
interested in talking to me any more. And the cursory ‘Love you’ before she hung up was just about
sickening. It was the first time she said it to me in months and I wondered if
there was any truth in it. Who was I kidding? The love was gone out of our relationship years ago.
My wife was beautiful and once upon a time I
really did love her. And I’m pretty sure she loved me too but that’s one of those things that you think you
know, or you hope you know, but you can never really know for sure. Not really.
We met seven years ago at a party at a mutual friend’s house. I’ll never forget the moment I first saw her.
Time stopped and everything changed in that second. It was magic and wonderful. We just
clicked and being with her was the most natural thing in the world. We like the same music, food, and
movies. We seemed to have the same goals and values. For the first two years everything was perfect.
Then we got married.
On May 29th 2001 Jordan Rain Ballister became my wife Mrs. Daniel Lynch. We had a real church wedding in
front of God and 243 witnesses, had a great honeymoon, and even bought our little piece of the American
dream white picket fence and all. Less than a year later I caught her in bed with our aforementioned ‘mutual
friend.’ So much for ‘faithfully yours as long as we both shall live.’
As you might expect my ego was destroyed. I was humiliated, hurt and pissed off. But we did say ‘for better
or worse’ so we tried to work it out.
We did the marriage counseling thing, she made promises then broke them, again and again, and again. Not
only did she have numerous affairs, but I’m the silly sap that financed many of her extramarital adventures.
She thinks I don’t know, but I do. I’m not half as naive as she thinks I am.
I’ve known for years and just pretended everything was OK. It was just easier that way. I’m not sure why I
never left her. I think I let her destroy my self confidence and somehow I felt like I could never meet anyone
as pretty as she is.
But what dear Jordan doesn’t know, is that.....