Fiction Potluck Finalists: July '26

We love Fiction Potluck because the submissions are so much fun! Here are July's Fiction Potluck Finalists for the do it scared challenge.

Look for the Finalist badge across social media to connect with these authors.

July Finalists

Avirupa Basu

Avirupa Basu is an emerging writer drawn to the quiet complexities of identity, relationships, memory, and the many joys of being alive. Her work finds beauty and meaning in ordinary moments, intimate encounters, and the fleeting details of human experience. She is currently working on a collection of short stories.

Mike Daniewicz

My name is Mike Daniewicz. I have a master's degree in history and am currently working on the alternate route to become a full time history teacher. Outside of writing, I enjoy reading, video games, watching film, sipping bourbon, and spending time with my fiance Jordyn.

Michelle Dornish

Michelle Dornish (she/her) is a special education teacher and fantasy & short fiction writer, previously published in The Best of SLO NightWriters (2009-2013), Twisted Laughs Anthology (2024), The Alien Buddha’s House of Horrors #7 (2024), and The Butterfly Effect: An Anthology of Broken Wings (2026). Recently she edited and contributed to a debut Anthology for Pen & Pier: Strange Yarns and Rough Tides (2025). Michelle lives in San Luis Obispo, California with her husband and sons.

James Kirk

James Kirk is a British writer and teacher of English Literature who has lived and worked in many countries. He now divides his time between Istanbul and Crete. His short fiction is interested in ordinary people caught in extraordinary, uncomfortable or unexpected situations, often exploring the dark turns in which relationships, memory and circumstance can distort our understanding of ourselves and others.

Tamsin Liddell

Tamsin Liddell was born in Texas, spent her life around the southern US, and resides near Atlanta with her spouse, teenage child, and six cats.

Brian Lockwood

Brian is an American author and has been pursuing writing for over twenty years. He is a graduate of the State University of New York at Oswego's creative writing program. He was selected as the winner of Magicfest, a previous publication from the Writer's Workout, and has participated in several of their other events. While he prefers to write in the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres, he also enjoys writing theater and poetry.

Klaus Turk

Klaus Turk is a math teacher born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. When he's not teaching math, planning math lessons, or otherwise thinking about math, he also enjoys comedy shows, martial arts, and writing.

Ilona Volinskaya, Kirill Kasheev

MA, PhD. Journalist, teacher, YA writer. Dnipro, Ukraine

Detective, fantasy novels, short stories inspired by Slavic mythology and history. Forty-four novels published in Russian, Ukrainian. Reprints and developed fandom. Awarded at literary competitions. Letters of Commendation from the Kamianets-Podilskyi city for preserving historical memory and contributing to the local culture.

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Join us here on September 18 for Fiction Potluck Friday

to read the winning pieces!

About our guest judge:

Lyss Buchthal (they/them) is a Chicago-based writer whose work centers queer Americana, primarily themes on identity, perception, and power. When not writing, Lyss can be found line-dancing, crocheting, drinking whiskey, or loudly and proudly rooting for the Seahawks.