Nicole Jeffords is an Austin-based fiction writer who explores the hidden motives and unvarnished truths of human behavior.
I write stories that aim to come as close to the truth as possible.
Much of my fiction is inspired by people I’ve known or observed — relatives, public figures, strangers whose behavior lingers in the mind. I disguise them carefully, but I do not soften what I see.
This website is the first home for my short stories and serialized work, their first stop before making their way further out into the world.
Subscribers to Ruthless Fiction receive each new story before anyone else.
Browse the collection and see what unfolds.
Most Recent Short Fiction
Old Man Abe Gets a Girl
Ronnie Weiss has a special talent for spotting rich men, and lonely widower Abraham Kurtz looks like he might be the jackpot she’s been waiting for. What begins as a chance encounter at the 92nd Street Y quickly turns into a courtship fueled by shared complaints, hidden motives, and one very memorable night at Abe’s apartment in the Dakota. But somewhere between calculation and companionship, Ronnie may discover that getting close to Old Man Abe comes with more than she bargained for.
Most Recent Nonfiction
103 Speaks: The Legacy of Babette Hughes
She lived 103 years… and never stopped speaking the truth. In this tribute, Nicole reflects on a friendship that shaped her life, and the extraordinary woman behind 103 Speaks. This is a legacy of resilience, wisdom, and a voice that refuses to fade.
Most Recent Political Story
Getting the Dirt
(A Tommy Duncan story)