Sometimes Unserious: A Short Story Collection

by Kane Jesse Howard

From paranormal psychologists to disgruntled starlets and more, this short anthology covers multiple genres of fiction. Tied together by witty storylines which often feature queer characters, these fictional tales aim to give a bit of levity to an otherwise gloomy world.

But if you don’t like lesbians navigating a post-apocalyptic world or asexual hijinks in front of the local gas station, this book might not be for you.

For everyone else, here’s a little dose of the unserious.

90 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 17, 2025

About the author

Kane Howard is an author and college student from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He has won collegiate awards for his flash fiction, poetry, and screenwriting. Kane holds an associates degree in journalism. He has been published in Study Breaks, The Copper Quill (HACC), The York Review, and the 2025 collection Defiant Moments. His focus is on witty, queer stories.

Reviews

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing collection of short stories, ones that will make you smile, ones that will touch your heart, and all of them unforgettable. Each story has unique characters, and worlds. There were some twists I didn’t see coming, and I enjoyed every moment. My favorite story involved a ghost therapist, and it’s one that will stick with me for a while. I don’t want to give spoilers, and I’m worried that if I tell you why I love it so much, it’ll ruin the story before you’re able to enjoy it. I have to applaud Howard for creating characters that feel so real in such a small amount of pages. The LGBTQIA+ rep was solid, and didn’t feel forced. I’ll definitely be checking out more of Howard’s book in the future!

[Stacy Hinojos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good? No, this was exceptional! Each short story was its own world, and each world made me wish I could spend more time there. If you're new to short stories, this book is a great place to start. The characters are relatable. The twists are unexpected. If you've always enjoyed short stories, this will be an excellent edition to your collection.