How to Read Cathy Ulrich’s Works: The Recommended Reading Path
Cathy Ulrich is a master of contemporary flash fiction, known for her ability to compress massive, raw emotions into stories that run only a page or two. Because she writes short fiction collections rather than serialized novels, there is no strict chronological plotline to follow. Instead, her work is connected by deep thematic tissue, structural motifs, and stylistic brilliance.
For the best experience, we recommend reading her collections in publication order. This path allows you to experience her development of the groundbreaking “Murdered Ladies” narrative formula before moving on to the broader, more surreal themes of her second collection.
1. Start Here: Ghosts of You (2019)
Your journey should begin with Ulrich's debut collection, Ghosts of You, published by Okay Donkey Press in 2019. This book collects pieces from her famous “Murdered Ladies” series. Each story focuses on a different archetypal female victim who is traditionally used as a mere plot device in television, movies, and crime fiction. By shifting the focus away from the killer and the detective, Ulrich centers the narrative entirely on the girls and women who were lost, restoring their agency and humanity.
2. Next Up: Small, Burning Things (2023)
Once you have read her debut, move on to her second collection, Small, Burning Things (2023, Okay Donkey Press). This book expands Ulrich's structural style. While still utilizing compression and poetic repetition, this collection of approximately 50 stories branches out into themes of girlhood, marriage, motherhood, desire, and aging. It also incorporates elements of magical realism and speculative fiction, featuring stories about girls spontaneously combusting, mechanical limbs, and unusual animal-human dynamics to explore how society perceives and constrains women.
Cathy Ulrich Books in Publication Order
If you want to track Cathy Ulrich’s publications as they appeared in print, here is the direct order of her major books:
- Ghosts of You (2019) – Debut flash fiction collection focused on the “Murdered Ladies” series.
- Small, Burning Things (2023) – Second flash fiction collection exploring womanhood, desire, and surrealism.
In addition to these standalone collections, Ulrich’s flash fiction has been heavily anthologized. Avid readers looking for more of her work can find her pieces featured in annual anthologies such as Best Microfiction (2019–2022) and Best Small Fictions (2019).
Understanding the “Murdered Ladies” Structure
To fully appreciate Ghosts of You, it helps to understand the unique structure Cathy Ulrich uses. The stories are all written in the second-person future tense (“you will...”), which creates an intimate, haunting atmosphere. They also follow a very specific opening formula:
“The thing about being the murdered [role] is you set the plot in motion.”
From there, Ulrich explores the lives of various stock victims, including:
- “Being the Murdered Cheerleader”
- “Being the Murdered Babysitter”
- “Being the Murdered Coed”
- “Being the Murdered Homecoming Queen”
- “Being the Murdered Extra”
- “Being the Murdered Taxidermist”
By reading these pieces, you are not trying to solve a crime. Instead, you are looking at the aftermath of loss—how the community moves on, how the family grieves, and who the woman was before she became a headline.
Practical Reader Advice: Standalones and Pacing
Here are a few tips to keep in mind before you start reading Cathy Ulrich’s work:
No Interconnected Plots
Every single story in both collections is a standalone piece. You do not need to worry about remembering recurring characters, cliffhangers, or overarching mystery plots. Each flash piece stands completely on its own feet.
Avoid Binge-Reading
Because flash fiction is so condensed, each word carries significant weight. Ulrich's prose is highly poetic and emotionally intense, dealing with themes of violence, grief, and societal erasure. Reading these books cover-to-cover in one sitting can feel overwhelming. Instead, treat these collections like poetry books: read two or three stories at a time, let them settle, and return to them later.
Check Out Her Editorial Work
If you fall in love with Ulrich's style, you will likely enjoy the writers she champions. She is the founding editor of Milk Candy Review, a prominent online literary journal dedicated to publishing beautiful, bittersweet flash fiction. Reading the journal is a wonderful way to find companion writers who share her affinity for brief, emotional prose.