Joe Smalley’s short story “The Axe Man” will be published online under his pen name Rusty Arbo. It is a suburban comedy about repeating intergenerational violence, but also, crucially, about breaking free from it. Featuring a man with an axe and “6/7”, this is an unhinged story with heart. On August 6, it will be available to read at TrashLight Press, https://trashlightpress.com/category/fiction/.

Rusty Arbo lives in Middlesex County, where he works in IT. His writing often blends intimate emotional perspectives with speculative or near-future elements. He spends his free time with his family and observing animals’ facial expressions, wondering what they might be thinking. His Instagram is @rustyarboauthor.