First published 2010
This collection brings together established and emerging voices in contemporary fiction. Karen Outen writes about a son struggling to understand his parents' relationship, believing this knowledge holds the key to making sense of the world around him. Michael Schiavone pairs two men for a bluefish tournament, where one's insomnia becomes an advantage for night fishing when the largest fish appear. Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig follows Connor, who abandoned meat eating at fourteen after years of 4-H projects left him heartbroken, starting with his attachment to Tina, an American Yorkshire sow. Eric Scot Tryon captures a father reflecting on his completed life with his wife. Maggie Shipstead presents a young woman who transitions from childhood without the typical dramatic changes of adolescence. The stories span from desert borderlands where migrants face deadly crossings to urban settings where herons hunt in city waters. Each piece examines moments when characters confront fundamental questions about connection, survival, and belonging.
Genres: fiction, short-stories, literary-fiction, contemporary, 21st-century, contemporary-romance
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, slice-of-life
Setting: Desert Borderlands, Urban Settings
Period: 21st Century
234 pages · Paperback · Glimmer Train Press, Inc.