Mark Massaro

Ohio

Co-Host at Storm Front Freaks Podcast

Former 20-year TV Meteorologist. Co-Host https://t.co/nOEHj2GA4i #Podcast(iTunes, Google play); Rep.@stormfrontfreak

Articles

The Jump - Litro Magazine

2 months ago | litromagazine.com | Mark Massaro

Benny Whitaker could only hear the rushing water underneath from where he stood; his teary eyes would not adjust to the dark abyss below him. There were no cars on the bridge at that hour, and it wouldn’t even matter if there were anyway because only drunks and addicts were running around in the crack of night – the shadows forgotten by conventional eyes. It was just one step forward.
“The Jump”

2 months ago | medium.com | Mark Massaro

Mark Massaro·Follow19 min read·--This story was originally published in Litro Magazine as the Editors Pick in Fiction, January 2025Benny Whitaker could only hear the rushing water underneath from where he stood; his teary eyes would not adjust to the dark abyss below him. There were no cars on the bridge at that hour, and it wouldn’t even matter if there were anyway because only drunks and addicts were running around in the crack of night — the shadows forgotten by conventional eyes.
“Downtown Waldos”

2 months ago | medium.com | Mark Massaro

Mark Massaro·Follow19 min read·--This story was originally published in Adelaide Literary Magazine, Vol. 29, 2019Daisy, my pot-dealers girlfriend, arched her body over the enormous yoga ball in front of my while I sat on their couch as he weighed out quarter bags on a digital scale. A small tattoo of a Gemini symbol peaked out from her hip and a live Rusted Root album shook the walls while Daisy’s yoga DVD played on mute. She breathed in slowly, and out slowly.
“The Broken Concert”

2 months ago | medium.com | Mark Massaro

Mark Massaro·Follow20 min read·--This story was originally published in Adelaide Literary Magazine, Vol. 35, 2020Felix digs through his cramped, dank storage unit, pushing aside shoeboxes of photographs and rolled up concert posters, trying to find his cooler and camping chairs. Florida humidity soaks the air, changing the simplest task into a sweaty quest.
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

Sep 1, 2024 | thesunlightpress.com | Mark Massaro

by Mark MassaroIn 1970s Missouri, young Joseph “Patch” Macauley cut through the woods on his way to school and heroically stopped an attempted abduction of his female schoolmate, inadvertently taking her place. This single moment begins the 600-page odyssey that spans the periods of naïve adolescent rebellion to hardened adulthood, grizzled and shaped by circumstance and choices.
Ethan Harke's A Bright Ray of Darkness

Jul 13, 2024 | medium.com | Mark Massaro

This review was published in Rain Taxi Review, Summer 2021 - https://raintaxi.com/volume-26-number-2-summer-2021-102/A Bright Ray of Darkness confesses the confusion and egocentricity a thirty-something man feels as his choices begin to cement the path of his life. Ethan Hawke's protagonist, famous actor William Harding, suffers personal guilt and public scrutiny after a much-publicized cheating scandal erupts, seemingly defining him for the rest of the novel.
“Relational Surrender”

Mar 25, 2024 | medium.com | Mark Massaro

This story was originally published in Mangrove Review, Vol. 15, 2017Tom and Liz drive along a quiet stretch of road in the center of Florida, avoiding the highway traffic, to reach Orlando by midnight as tourists herd their ways to major airports to get home for the holidays. Liz’s birthday is December 26, and her father tempted her to visit him with promises of cruise tickets and money, aside from standard Christmas gifts.
I'm a Dad—My Child's Preschool Is a Passive-Aggressive Minefield - NewsBreak

Mar 10, 2024 | newsbreak.com | Mark Massaro

Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Our contributor network of tens of thousands of creators appears alongside stories from established publications and journalists. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies.
I'm a Dad-My Child's Preschool Is a Passive-Aggressive Minefield

Mar 9, 2024 | newsweek.com | Mark Massaro

When I first became a dad, I was given a lot of great advice, like "sleep when they sleep," "Doona's are the best stroller," and "do everything you can for your wife."But no one ever warned me about the theatrical culture that parents are dropped into once our children enter preschool. It is a world comprised of passive-aggressive do-gooders, winking resentments, judgmental smiles, and exhausted nurtures.
“Applewood”

Mar 7, 2024 | medium.com | Mark Massaro

This story was originally published in Mangrove Review, Vol. 15, 2017Winter — 1989 — MassachusettsI had awoken naturally, which slowly surprised me. In my weary morning daze, I realized that I had not been woken up to get ready for school. I felt well rested, confused, and warm. A quilt was placed over me in the night. Shhhkkk. Dung. Shhhkkk. Dung. The repetitive action of my dad shoveling the front steps always ends in a bang against the iron railings.