B. H. Schafer

Intro

Hey there. I’m B. H. Schafer, a writer of speculative fiction. I write about haunted minds, strange worlds, and unravelings, but also hope, heroism, and standing against the odds. In my work you'll find mythology, horror, and classic fantasy woven through out, often with a literary tilt.

I publish original short stories every Monday in my newsletter, Schafer’s Quill. You can expect everything from soul-bound contracts to doors opening to nowhere, elixirs of immortality, and bittersweet betrayals. If you enjoy fiction that balances literary depth with genre thrills, you’ll feel right at home.

My ongoing web novel, Gods, Monsters, and a Fuzzytail, follows Eli Wisp—a boy with barely any magic in a world where magic is life. When everything falls apart, he’ll have to navigate illusion, labyrinths, and ancient power to find his place in a world on the brink of collapse.

I’m also querying my latest novel, Parasite—a psychological horror about obsession and identity told through the eyes of a young man possessed by something darker than himself.

Join the Quillfolk. Read the stories. Find the wonder in the weird.
Subscribe to Schafer’s Quill →

Works

Short Stories

Elixir — A Captivating Fantasy Short Story about Immortality, Creativity, and Life's Meaning

Read

The Door in Shallow Waters — A mysterious gold-engraved door vanishes a boy in shallow waters, triggering a devastating supernatural mystery that consumes his entire family.

Read

Sweet Enough to Hurt — A touching short story about memory, war, and the small acts of love (like a red apple) that linger long after goodbyes.

Read

Web Novel

Gods, Monsters, and a Fuzzytail: Ashfall

Gods, Monsters, and a Fuzzytail is about a boy named Eli Wisp, born with barely enough magic to survive in a world where magic is life and power. While everyone else has magic to spare, Eli has none to waste. Still, he dares to dream of becoming the greatest Maestro the world has ever known. This is his story.

Volume 1 — new chapters weekly.

Volume 2 — drafting ver. 0.0

Start Reading

Featured Work in Progress

Parasite

What if the price of freedom, is your humanity?

Currently querying agents.

Read More

Parasite

What if the only way to escape your demons was to let them win?
What if letting them win means destroying everything that keeps you human?

These are the choices that Michael Bloods must make. He is an insecure young man infected by a creature that turns him into a being with a taste for human flesh and an impulse to kill the people he loves most.

As his sanity begins to slip, the creature offers a future free of responsibility, guilt, and regret — in return for one thing: the destruction of those who tether him to his humanity.

• 🧬 Genre: Science Fiction Horror
• 📖 Length: 91,200 words (novel)
• 🩸 Themes: Psychological transformation, guilt, monstrous coming of age
• 📜 Status: Currently querying agents

Parasite is a descent into the psyche of a boy caught between growth and destruction — a hellish crucible that will either mature him… or hollow him out.

Back to Works

Schafer's Quill

Schafer’s Quill is a Substack newsletter by B. H. Schafer, delivering original speculative fiction and deep-dive essays on storytelling craft.

• 🖋 Weekly Short Stories — Atmospheric tales of fantasy, horror, and science fiction.
• 📚 Biweekly Essays — Insightful explorations of story structure, symbolism, and writing techniques.
• 🐾 Web Novel — weekly installments of an action-adventure fantasy web novel

Whether you're a reader, writer, or lover of stories, there's something waiting for you in every issue. Join the growing community of Quillfolk and never miss a new piece.

Subscribe on Substack

About

B. H. Schafer is a speculative fiction writer exploring the strange, the sublime, and the shadowed edges of the human psyche. Blending horror, fantasy, science fiction, and literary, his work delves into themes of transformation, isolation, and the fragile nature of truth

He publishes weekly short stories and biweekly essays through his newsletter, Schafer’s Quill, where readers can find immersive tales and thought-provoking insights on the art and craft of storytelling.

With a background in computer science and psychology, Schafer brings a structural precision and introspective depth to his narratives. His stories often feature flawed heroes, esoteric symbols, and high-stakes journeys through magical and metaphysical landscapes.

Whether you're here to read eerie fables, decode layered prose, or follow the rise of a new voice in speculative fiction, welcome to the world of B. H. Schafer.

Contact

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