Melissa Flores Anderson is a writer of flash and long-form fiction, creative nonfiction and occasional poetry. She has been featured in more than two dozen literary magazines, anthologies and reading series. She has a chapbook forthcoming with JAKE the Anti Literary Magazine and a co-authored novelette forthcoming with ELJ Editions in spring 2024, with plans to query a novel and a collection of short stories inspired by songs this year. She tries to publish or participate in at least one reading a month and has kept her streak up since October 2021.

Featured Pieces

“Our French isn’t good enough to understand the descriptions on the back of the “Queen Margot” VHS box and foreign films are Not Rated so how were we supposed to know this film was going to have some graphic sex scenes?”

Before, During and After My Netflix and Chill Era in HAD (flash) March 2024

“Matthew put his arm around me in a way he never did, like the urgent care dissolved some boundary between us, and I leaned into the unexpected comfort. This doting version of Matthew sat unusually quiet next to me, our normal joking and teasing demeanor on pause for the moment.” 

Ants in BULL (fiction) April 2024

“I do not call him my lover or boyfriend or bae or my man. I let him call me a friend. With benefits. But he has written the terms of the arrangement. I am not allowed to ask for his time or his attention.”  

Nesting Doll in swamp pink (flash) Feburary 2024

“When she tries to climb into the double bed with Thara and me, I say, “I don’t think
there’s room. You can get the sleeping bag down from my closet, though.”

Roll Over and Over and Over: Two Writers Share Their Beds co-authored by Nina Miller in Icebreakers Lit (CNF) April 2024

Award-nominated Stories

“Another Scandinavian” nominated by Latin@ Literatures for a 2023 Pushcart Prize (CNF)

“By the Numbers” nominated by Raw Lit for a 2024 Best of the Net (CNF)

“Curbing the Appetite” nominated by Icebreakers Lit for a 2024 Best of the Net (fiction) (co-written with Gavin Turner and Tiffany Storrs)

“Six Gun Fights” nominated by Variant Lit for a 2023 Best of the Net

Forthcoming Creative Work

“Roadkill” was accepted by Emerge Literary Editions‘ Afternoon Stories Series (Novelette co-authored with François Bereaud) March 2024

“When I Wished for Steel Toe Boots” was accepted by 101 Words (Micro) April 2024

“My Son is a Sieve” was accepted by National Flash Fiction Day Anthology 2024 (Flash) TBD

“Guilt Trip” was accepted by Persephone’s Fruit (poetry) TBD

“CK1” was accepted by Persephone’s Fruit (poetry) TBD

“Tall Tales” was accepted by King Ludd’s Rag (Malarkey Books) 2024

“By the Numbers” was accepted by Fulcrum Press Anthology (CNF) Spring 2025

“Redemption Songs” was accepted by The Ice Colony/Lo-Fed Media