Published Stories, Poems, and Reviews by Gretchen Bassier
Fiction
- “The Haunted Fleshies,” The Society of Misfit Stories Presents… (Volume I, Issue III, September 2019) : Smashwords, Google Books
-Out alone in the yard at night, eight-year-old Grace hears a strange, creaky voice calling to her from the darkness. She’s certain the voice belongs to a Haunted Fleshie – one of the terrifying, corpse-inhabiting monsters from her older brother’s favorite book series. Grace’s family, however, chalks the incident up to the little girl’s notoriously overactive imagination…until the next morning, when Grace’s dad finds a very real dead body in the backyard. This is a multiple-POV story told from the perspectives of Grace, her mother, and the FBI agent investigating the case.
- “Scars,” Transformed (Triskaidekaphilia Book 3): https://www.amazon.com/Transformed-Triskaidekaphilia-Book-Nancy-Canu-ebook/dp/B07C67DTGV/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
-Eight months ago, while in a werewolf rage, Lily escaped her cage and killed an innocent person. Every moment since then, Lily’s guilt has grown heavier and more suffocating. Just as it threatens to engulf her, she meets a kind stranger who is struggling through his own emotional turmoil after losing his beloved wife.
Sitting in a coffee shop with Jack, Lily smiles for the first time in eight long, dark months. She and Jack love all the same things: Star Wars, banana bread, even cheesy eighties movies. In spite of her lingering guilt, Lily starts to fall for him. Jack makes it easy. He trusts her. He worries about her. He never compares her to his lost love. Jack makes Lily want to live again – and she does the same for him.
There’s just one problem: the innocent person Lily killed was Jack’s wife.
- “Seeing is Believing,” Alternate Hilarities 3: Hysterical Realms: http://www.amazon.com/Hysterical-Realms-Alternate-Hilarities-3/dp/0996049290/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1432051154&sr=1-1&keywords=hysterical+realms
-In Robin’s village, only girls can see unicorns – and the girls enjoy never letting him forget that fact. After all, nothing could equal the awe, privilege, and sheer wonder of viewing such a majestic and ethereal creature…right? During a fateful trip to the forest, Robin finally gets to find out the truth about unicorns for himself – for better or worse.
- “Nude Kilometer a Modest Success,” Untied Shoelaces of the Mind, Issue #10
-You know how some students at the University of Michigan used to run the Naked Mile? Well, this is what happens when U of M-Dearborn tries the same thing…
- “Burn,” Trysts of Fate, August 2014 Issue: http://store.albanlake.com/product/trysts-of-fate-issue-2/
-A female werewolf falls for the wrong guy. Like, really wrong.
- “The Pumpkin Master,” Every Day Fiction: http://www.everydayfiction.com/the-pumpkin-master-by-gretchen-bassier/
-Halloween story about a dude with some really freakin’ great carving skills
- “The Enemy,” Every Day Fiction: http://www.everydayfiction.com/the-enemy-by-gretchen-bassier/
-It’s hard to fight something you can’t even see…
- “Lady Gaga’s Revenge,” Every Day Fiction: http://www.everydayfiction.com/lady-gagas-revenge-by-gretchen-bassier/
-Halloween story about a really pissed off gargoyle
- “Grisly,” Every Day Fiction: http://www.everydayfiction.com/grisly-by-gretchen-bassier/
-Horror story about a terrified girl who doesn’t want to go outside and do her chores, lest she meet a man-eating grizzly…
Nonfiction
- “The Mean Girl,” Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Forgiveness Fix: https://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Soup-Soul-Forgiveness-Stories/dp/1611599946
-Judging other people is easy. Trying to understand them is much harder…and infinitely more worthwhile.
- “Out of the Mouths of Strangers,” Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Kind (of) America: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chicken-soup-for-the-soul-amy-newmark/1126142145
-It only takes a few kind words to change a life forever.
- “One Step at a Time,” Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Cat Really Did That?: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chicken-soup-for-the-soul-amy-newmark/1125060449?ean=9781611599701
-Even when the odds seem impossible, cats will find a way.
- “Honest Love,” Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks to My Mom: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chicken-soup-for-the-soul-amy-newmark/1119883887?ean=9781611599459
-A humorous tribute to my first – and greatest – editor: my mom.
- “The Greatest Gift,” Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Cat Did What?: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chicken-soup-for-the-soul-amy-newmark/1119440628?ean=9781611592375
-Some cats bring you dead mice. Some cats bring you…other things.
- “Legacy,” Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Dog Did What?: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chicken-soup-for-the-soul-amy-newmark/1119440627?ean=9781611592382
-Sometimes you teach the dog a new trick – and sometimes the dog teaches you.
Reviews
- “Werewolf Fans, Rejoice! A Review of Joshua Werner’s Rampant,” Bloodbond, May 2017 Issue: http://store.albanlake.com/product/bloodbond-may-2017/
-I go all fangirly about Joshua Werner’s awesome werewolf novella, Rampant.
Poetry
- “Giving Tree,” The Detroit Free Press, December 2014: http://www.freep.com/story/life/shopping/georgea-kovanis/2014/12/14/holiday-shopping-haiku-contest-poems/19925181/
-A little haiku about the warmer side of holiday shopping.
as the HERO flies... 
Hello dear Gretchen,
Hope all is well with you and your family. Are you the same Gretchen Bassier who wrote the wonderful story “Legacy,” from an old book for the Chicken Soup for the soul and about 4 lovely dogs? Please let me know if possible.
Best wishes,
Hamza Hassan
Saudi Arabia
Dear Hamza Hassan,
Thank you for the kind wishes! I hope everything is well with you and your family, too! I did indeed write “Legacy” about our four dogs. Annie, Pepper, Will and Cleo were such great dogs, I cried when I wrote the story. I miss them so very much!
Warmest wishes to you, and thanks so much for reading the story!
-Gretchen
What a beautiful story you have written, dearest Gretchen. I was impressed with your unconditional love for your dogs, specially Annie when you patiently helped her get herself rid of the phobia of water. It seems that the 4 dogs filled your life with joy and delight. I was also taken aback when Annie, just the day before she died, forced Cloe to follow her into the pond for the first time in Cloe’s life – the privilege you never got the chance to have. Dogs are miracles with paws and they are examples of love, respect, sincerity, loyalty, and honesty.
Dear Hamza Hassan,
Thank you so much for your kind comments about the story! It truly was an honor to have all four of those dogs in my life. I was lucky to know them, and to be able to enjoy their presence for as long as they were here. Witnessing that moment between Annie and Cleo was something I will never forget as long as I live – just pure magic. Dogs are amazing creatures, indeed.
Best wishes to you and any four-legged miracles you happen to share your life with!
-Gretchen
Same to you, dearest Gretchen.