Fiction
Beyond music and acting, La Botz is also a fiction writer. His stories have appeared in a variety of lit mags and have been shortlisted for the J.F. Powers Prize as well as nominated for the Pushcart Prize. He is the author of the novella and story collection, Your Place in This World (Cornerstone Press, 2026).
Jake La Botz writes like the bastard spawn of Denis Johnson, Hubert Selby, and Flannery O’Connor…haunting and deep.” —JERRY STAHL, author of Permanent Midnight
“La Botz wields his novella like a well-tuned guitar….He illuminates the human heart in all its flawed and luminous complexity.” —COMPULSIVE READER MAGAZINE
“Fierce and kinetic, La Botz ferries us through his collection with the precision of someone who’s lived every note, every scar, every song.”
—MEG TUITE, author of Planked by the Abyss
“Your Place in This World has an emotional depth and street-smart verisimilitude reminiscent of works from writers like Saul Bellow. . . . An absolute feat of a debut.”
—DANIEL PEÑA, author of Bang: A Novel
“…a vibrant and delightful ride through a ramshackle realm…” —LOUIS GREENSTEIN author of The Song of Life
"Emotionally stunning . . . stories that shimmer against the dark world they illuminate." —ELIZABETH ONESS, author of The Hopefuls
Published stories:
“Fourth for Cards” - Wrong Turn Lit - July 31st, 2023
”Pick a Part” - The Museum of Americana (Issue 31) - Oct., 2023
”Almost Free” - In Parentheses Magazine (Vol.8 Issue 1) Oct., 2023
”Triple Feature” - Bear Paw Arts Journal (Issue 1) - Nov., 2023
"Mashed Potato Time" - The Inquisitive Eater - Dec., 2023 “The Microphone” - Revolution John Journal - Jan. 25, 2024 “Self-Help” - Berlin Literary Review (Issue 3) - Feb, 2024 “Your Place in this World” - Third Wednesday Magazine (Vol. XVII, No. 2) - March, 2024
"Good Sturdy Furniture” - Metonym Literary Journal (Vol. 12 - print edition) - April, 2024 “Closer” - The Hooghly Review (Issue 3) - April, 2024 (Nominated for the 2025 Pushcart Prize!) “Tonight’s Sermon” - Progenitor Literary Journal (Vol. 59 print and online) - May, 2024 “Pierce” - Fiction on the Web - June 28, 2024 “Sponsors” - Exacting Clam (Issue 14) - September, 2024 “March 15th” - The MacGuffin (Volume 40.1 print edition) - Fall, 2024 “The Old Lady” - Exacting Clam (No 16) — Feb., 2025 “Liberty Bell” - The Razor - April, 2025 “The Devil’s Pump” - Mojo Journal (Issue 21) - June, 2025 “Mall Doors” - NUNUM - Fall, 2025 (Nominated for the 2026 Pushcart Prize!) “Chicago Skyline” - Cowboy Jamboree Magazine - (Issue 10.3) Nov., 2025 “Describe Yourself in Three Words - Explanation with Examples” - The Argyle - (Issue 6) coming Dec, 2025 “V-necks” - Eleventh Hour Literary - Winter, 2026 “Through the Cracks” - Cardinal Sins - coming Spring, 2026
Read more on my Substack page: https://substack.com/@jakelabotz