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Clay Stoner crafts fiction where the surreal meets the raw–West, horror, and the unknown. Stories that linger. Worlds that unsettle.His stories haunt, provoke, and stay with you long after the last page.

Tales Without Boundaries

West of Oblivion

Where Time Betrays the Living

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PREVIEW Stoner’s Novel:

“We’re all just //// on the road to a better place.”

"But goodness alone is never enough. A hard, cold wisdom is required for goodness to accomplish good. Goodness without wisdom always accomplishes evil."

--Robert A. Heinlein,

Stranger in a
Strange Land

Clay Stoner is a storyteller who thrives on the unusual, the surreal, and the deeply imaginative. Known for an enigmatic presence in the literary world, Stoner has captivated audiences with bold, adult fiction and unconventional storytelling that weaves compelling tales across dark, speculative genres. His writing style—marked by bleak, atmospheric tension and visceral emotional depth—strikes a powerful chord for fans of literary suspense, often evoking the brooding, sharp-edged prose of Cormac McCarthy, Donald Ray Pollock, and William Gay.

Stoner’s primary mastery lies in the tight, high-impact craft of the novella, where he dives straight into the shadowed side of human nature, ecological reckoning, and speculative mystery:

• Deliver Unto Me That Which Is Mine: A haunting, atmospheric exploration of guilt, lingering debts, and relentless reckoning.

• The Bovine Effect: A thought-provoking dive into mortality and second chances, examining what happens when the elusive promise of renewed youth collides with present reality.

• The Meadow Beyond The Rise: A sharp, speculative tale where nature revolts against relentless development, blending ecological warning with dark literary flair.

Looking ahead, Stoner continues to expand his creative footprint across both short and expansive forms. He is currently halfway through West of Oblivion, a full-length novel blending dark western grit with immersive fantasy. In addition, he is developing upcoming novellas such as The God Cell and Echoes of Violins, as well as The Weeping Past: A Forbidden Legacy—the opening installment of an ambitious, thought-provoking trilogy.

Beyond the written word, Stoner is a visual artist who paints and sketches, exhibiting work in Florida galleries under the moniker Jacabo. His surrealist taste for the mysterious and bizarre carries into his public persona, where deliberate mystique fuels ongoing intrigue.

To explore his complete catalog, discover new titles, and access exclusive reader resources, visit NocturnalGate.com. Whether through haunting novellas, expansive fantasy novels, or striking visual art, Clay Stoner continues to push creative boundaries for readers who dare to step into his world.

Unraveling the Mind of Mystery

“I count the days, but still the years go by. I cherish longevity, yet feel the anguish of what seems like an eternity.”

"Blending the brooding emotional depth of Larry McMurtry with Joe R. Lansdale’s razor-sharp grit, Clay Stoner writes dark, visceral fiction that defies expectation. Unpredictable and unapologetically raw, his novellas pull readers into worlds where consequences are real and the tension never
lets up."