To make, to break, to transform. These three lessons are at the heart of each of the stories in Nikki R. Leigh’s Lessons in Demoralization. Framed loosely by the notion that we learn what to do and especially what not to do by the stories told around us, this collection presents 22 horror stories that run the gamut of dark, emotional horror and lighthearted--sometimes comedic--horror.

A woman’s strength is put to the test to save her wife when an evil stranger uses her in a diabolical plot. A woman processes the grief of her long-dead brother through a monstrous encounter with her childhood stuffed animal. Learn the difficulties of cultivating a long-term relationship explored through caring for a carnivorous plant. See how Dr. Jekyll runs a syndicated children’s science show by day while concocting terrible experiments at night. Watch as weredogs living together in an apartment complex find their match in the neighborhood busybody. Witness twins testing their bravery when faced with a void to another dimension that festers in their room.

These are just some of the lessons that will be taught in this collection. Follow the narratives of diverse characters experiencing the worst days of their lives in Lessons in Demoralization.