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Published Stories by Monica

Novels and stories by author Monica Goertzen Hertlein

Explore links below to find literary journals which showcase my short fiction or a novel excerpt you can read online for free and to purchase anthologies containing one or more of my short stories.

Get your copy of Impulse to read “Cold, Dark Night” by Monica, a tale of romance and crime in 1920s Moose Jaw.

See Monica read an excerpt from her story on Facebook.

Inkd Publishing LLC presently focuses on anthologies. They publish stories in a wide variety of genres and welcome a diverse group of authors. I’m thrilled to be included in this collection of high heat short stories.

Available in digital or through Barnes & Noble.

Cover of Impulse, an explicit romance anthology
Cover of Swords & Sorceries Tales of Heroic Fantasy 8 speculative fiction anthology

Get your copy of Swords & Sorceries Tales of Heroic Fantasy volume 8 to read “Employment for Magical People” by Monica, a short fantasy story.

Once again, Parallel Universe Publications brings you stirring tales in the great tradition of Robert E. Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, Michael Moorcock, Fritz Leiber and other giants of the fantasy genre.

The Saskatoon Writers’ Group Inc. showcases the prose and poetry of its members in this anthology. Many pieces have been in the top three of the club’s semi-annual contests which are blind judged by published Saskatchewan authors, including “The Robbery” by Monica which won 1st place in the Wordsmith contest June, 2023.

Also included by Monica is “Christmas Presents,” a sequel to romance/drama novella Camelot Confidential.

Cover Bridges of Imagination anthology of short stories and poetry
Cover of Fact, Fiction, & Fantasy anthology of short stories and poetry

The Saskatoon Writers’ Group Inc. showcases the prose and poetry of its members in this anthology. Many pieces have been in the top three of the club’s semi-annual contests which are blind judged by published Saskatchewan authors. Sit back and enjoy the delightful mix of fact, fiction, and fantasy.

Included by Monica is short story “Criminals” and several selections of 6-minute flash fiction (written from a prompt in 6 minutes or less).


Read online an excerpt from forthcoming romantic science fiction novel Hideaway in Embark Literary Journal.

After stealing from corrupt law enforcement, Mary flees the spaceport streets for a remote rural outpost, but when she finds love as well as safe haven, she must decide whether to be honest with her found family before the law catches up to her.

Header for Embark, a literary journal for novelists

Anotherealm header for speculative fiction online magazine

Read online The Witch’s Trial, a short fantasy story in the May, 2024, issue of online speculative fiction magazine ANOTHEREALM.


Read online The Cursed Coin, a short fantasy story in the Oct-Dec ’23 issue of online speculative fiction magazine The Lorelei Signal.

The Lorelei Signal header for online speculative fiction magazine

Header for CafeLit Mag online flash fiction magazine

Read online flash fiction Juniper in CafeLit literary magazine published July 3, 2024.


Read online flash fiction Evils of Sorcery in literary journal Every Day Fiction published April 3, 2024.

Header for Every Day Fiction online flash fiction magazine