EPISODE · Sep 2, 2025 · 9 MIN
A One-Woman Walmart Battle (Urban Fantasy Short Story)
from Acutely Amanda: Fiction, Folklore, and Fiber Arts · host amandamcneil
Craft aisles, paranoia, and one determined mom. 🛒🙏🔥In this urban fantasy short story, we step into the life of Tova Gallagher’s mother—a woman who once sowed wild oats but now sees demons in the everyday. When a trip to Walmart turns into a crusade, the battle isn’t fought with fists, but with fear, faith, and words. What happens when fundamentalism collides with fluorescent lights and craft supplies?Welcome to Episode 4 of Season 3—our fiction season, where I’m sharing original short stories from my Tova Gallagher urban fantasy universe. This week’s tale, A One-Woman Walmart Battle, explores a parent’s complicated love, the blurred line between devotion and fear, and how even Walmart can become a battleground when demons are involved.After the story, I’ll share how my own journey—growing up in an Independent Fundamentalist Baptist environment and later becoming a progressive, queer Christian focused on social justice—inspired this character. I’ll also talk about why humor can soften even the most divisive topics, and how writing from the perspective of someone you dislike can add depth and nuance to your fiction.Want more fiction, folklore, and fun in your life? ➡ Read my fiction: https://opinionsofawolf.com/publications ➡ Follow me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes content: @opinionsofawolf ➡ Sign up for my newsletter to get exclusive updates straight to your inbox: https://opinionsofawolf.com/newsletter/ ➡ Support the show on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/8d2240b19703eab
What this episode covers
Craft aisles, paranoia, and one determined mom. 🛒🙏🔥In this urban fantasy short story, we step into the life of Tova Gallagher’s mother—a woman who once sowed wild oats but now sees demons in the everyday. When a trip to Walmart turns into a crusade, the battle isn’t fought with fists, but with fear, faith, and words. What happens when fundamentalism collides with fluorescent lights and craft supplies?Welcome to Episode 4 of Season 3—our fiction season, where I’m sharing original short stories from my Tova Gallagher urban fantasy universe. This week’s tale, A One-Woman Walmart Battle, explores a parent’s complicated love, the blurred line between devotion and fear, and how even Walmart can become a battleground when demons are involved.After the story, I’ll share how my own journey—growing up in an Independent Fundamentalist Baptist environment and later becoming a progressive, queer Christian focused on social justice—inspired this character. I’ll also talk about why humor can soften even the most divisive topics, and how writing from the perspective of someone you dislike can add depth and nuance to your fiction.Want more fiction, folklore, and fun in your life? ➡ Read my fiction: https://opinionsofawolf.com/publications ➡ Follow me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes content: @opinionsofawolf ➡ Sign up for my newsletter to get exclusive updates straight to your inbox: https://opinionsofawolf.com/newsletter/ ➡ Support the show on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/8d2240b19703eab
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A One-Woman Walmart Battle (Urban Fantasy Short Story)
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