Short Stories

Short Story Collection

Two Stories, and More to Come

Currently this short fiction collection contains two pieces I wrote: “Carlos and I,” and “Sex and Voyeurism in the Time of Hurricane Sandy.” They do not exist in print or anywhere else on the internet. The only way to read them is by signing up for my email list and reading the PDF you’ll receive.

Carlos and I

Through a toxic friendship, a boy from San Diego learns painful lessons about his privileges.

Sex and Voyeurism in the Time of Hurricane Sandy

During Hurricane Sandy, a college student witnesses an exhibitionist couple.

Download the stories here

Sign up for my email list to recieve a PDF copy of the “Carlos and I,” and “Sex and Voyeurism in the Time of Hurricane Sandy.”

By subscribing, you have consented to receiving email communications from Joseph Rauch. Subscription can be canceled at any time.

On the Stories

About The Stories

Both stories may not be suitable for readers under 18 years old. “Carlos and I” depicts child abuse. “Sex and Voyeurism in the Time of Hurricane Sandy” — well, the title says it all.
The pieces may seem unrelated, but together they express a frequent theme in my work: the juxtaposition of San Diego and New York City. I grew up in San Diego, and I built my career in NYC.

These stories are precious to me. The time and resources I have invested in them is comparable to one of my novels. I wrote many short stories when I was younger, but these are the only two I believe have the level of quality I’m comfortable presenting right now.

Please let me know if you want me to expand this collection. Because I am focused on my novels, I don’t have any inspiration to write more short stories at the moment. If I get a new idea for a short story, I’ll write the piece and immediately add it to the collection. In the meantime I am considering adding a section for my favorite short fiction pieces other authors have written for The Rauch Review.

My Book Recommendations

As you might already know, The Rauch Review funds itself in part by helping to sell my novels. My hope is these stories will inspire you to purchase at least one of my books. Think of them as samples of my creative writing. “Carlos and I” should take less than 30 minutes to read. “Sex and Voyeurism in the Time of Hurricane Sandy” could take around an hour, depending on your reading speed.

If “Carlos and I” is your favorite piece, I would buy “The Last of the Mentally Ill.” It has similar story elements and characters. If you prefer “Sex and Voyeurism in the Time of Hurricane Sandy,” I think you will most likely still enjoy “The Last of the Mentally Ill,” but I would prioritize buying “Teach Me How To Die.” My in-development third novel could be appealing to you as well. Both are darker than “The Last of the Mentally Ill,” and they contain explicit sexual content.