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The Duplex

A Short Story, Light Horror

Sprawled out across cornfields and a man-made lake the kids say plummets forever, the small town of Cresentstance feels isolated, a little ominous, and anything but small. But with tragedy just behind them and nothing to look forward to, Sonya decides this move to the town will be a good thing. Sonya and her daughter, Maddie, move into an old farmhouse renovated into a duplex, and when she discovers the other half of the house is occupied by another single mother and her son, who is the same age as Maddie, the situation feels like fate. But when Maddie starts to physically change and her new friend exhibits some dark behaviors, Sonya decides staying as far away from their new housemates as possible would be best. That’s until Maddie goes missing in the middle of the night, leading Sonya down dark hallways on the other side of the house where there’s laughing and screaming in the walls, and secrets the rest of the town would rather stay far, far away from.

A perfect short story to read by the light of your creepy Black Flame Candle this fall season—and to get ready for the full collection, What We Find in the Dark, which drops right in time for spooky season.

The Duplex by McKenzie Lynn Tozan

poet. writer. editor. reviewer. brand storyteller. budding traveler. photographer.

McKenzie Lynn Tozan

For years, I’ve tried to keep “me” out of bios like this and just focus on my work experience and “what makes me a writer”—but this isn’t Severance. In 2025, I’ve started leaning into all of the things that make me, me, and it’s infiltrated my work in surprising and satisfying ways and made it better. So who am I? I’m a woman who scored highest for engineering on all aptitude tests even though I wanted to be an artist and writer, and I met in the middle by teaching for 9 years, while also finding my way into the publishing industry, first by editing and formatting fascinating and complex dissertations, tutoring in libraries and writing resource centers, and reading from the slush pile for the community’s literary magazine. That started me on the path to where I am 15 years later: now a mom of three, wife of almost 15 years, still very Midwestern at heart, living in coastal Croatia, and learning to embrace my inner Julia Child, Stanley Tucci, and maybe even Gertrude Stein. I love being by the sea, I love spooky things, I miss pumpkin patches, and despite being introverted, I’m a very bubbly person and will inevitably be one of your story’s greatest cheerleaders. And beyond wanting to write a few memorable books of my own in my lifetime and raising three good and kind people, I dream of raising a few chickens, growing a pumpkin patch on the coast, getting scuba certified, swimming with sharks, and serving the community through coastal clean-up, coral reef restoration, and animal rescue, all while inevitably writing poems and stories about it.

McKenzie Lynn Tozan
Peek of one steeple in Dubrovnik

By McKenzie Lynn Tozan

Welcome & Dobro Došli

“Mediterranean & Me” and “McKenzie Lynn Tozan” on Substack

I remember the very first time I watched Julie & Julia starring Meryl Streep & Amy Adams, I was so taken by Meryl’s portrayal of Julia Child’s excitement upon entering her Parisian home for the first time. She elegantly twirls her way through the space, ending up in a beautiful, classy, & just so Parisian bedroom with fluffy floral prints.

And then Julia happily flops down on her bed, only to discover that she’s much too tall for her, her feet dangling off the end of the bed.

After living in coastal Croatia for 3 years, I realize that living as an expat, mom of 3 bilingual kids, & freelance writer is a lot like sleeping with feet hanging off of the bed.

The situation is imperfect… but that bedroom is still stunning.

I’ve dealt with culture shock, bureaucracy, language learning troubles, food sensitivities, undiagnosed conditions, family estrangement, & staggering social anxiety… but I’ve lived on a beautiful coast, experienced healing springs & mudbaths, taken up hiking & bike trailing, & started a literary magazine, too. To use a cliché, there can’t be dark without light; there can’t be immersion without some cultural adjustment, & there can’t be beautiful beds without feet dangling off of them (well, maybe you’ve got me there).

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I have loved my experience with McKenzie Lynn Tozan at Lit Shark Magazine! She read and reviewed my book, ‘A Shared & Sacred Space’ with such passion, insight, and enthusiasm, it was truly remarkable.

If you have the opportunity to work with her on ANY literary project, you won’t be disappointed. Her creativity, thoroughness, and attention to detail are extraordinary and extend far beyond the bounds of the literary magazine landscape.

—Carol Lynn Stevenson Grellas, author of ‘A SHARED & SACRED SPACE’

Editor, Reviewer, Brand Storyteller, & Photographer

Perfect for Indie Authors, Poets, Small Presses, Lit Mags, Doctoral Candidates, Hotels, Restaurants, & Dream Destinations

indie authors, small presses, & lit mags

10-15 Years of Editing, Curation, Design, & Marketing Experience

Since 2010, I’ve served literary magazines, small presses, online publications, and indie authors with submission curation, editing and design, and ultimately, publishing and marketing of works. I love being able to work through such a wide range of tasks and to offer a variety of skills that make books better and allow me to work with them as long as possible.

doctoral candidates

15 Years of Line-Editing & Formatting Experience

Fun fact! I actually got my start in editing through editing dissertations and preparing them for committee submission and publication. Before I ever set foot in a writing center as a tutor or in a small press office as a slush reader, I was editing dissertations. I love reading others’ research, getting inside intellectual minds, and giving an important project a final polish.

hotels, restaurants, & dream destinations

Reviews, Social Media Content, Photography, & UGC Available

From writing in-depth reviews and taking original, thoughtful photos, to creating ongoing content that celebrates your vision, clients will discover this is an experience of a lifetime, one they will not forget, and one they will not want to miss.

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My Writing Blog

Follow Along

New (Dinosaur) Poem: Parking Lot

Happy Friday, friends! I hope you all have some marvelous plans for the weekend. I've been doing client work and going through submissions for Lit Shark Magazine all week, and this weekend, I'm attending the livestream of Mississippi's first-ever banned book festival...

New Poem: Midwestern Breakfast

If a cornfield were a Midwestern ocean—here’s a new little poem by me. Enjoy!

#amwriting #writingpoems #newpoem #poetry #TikTok #ElyseMyers

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