An assortment of twelve compelling stories that begin in the
gritty depths of rural noir and slide down the literary spectrum into the tragedy
and triumph that is contemporary realism; then shuffle through small-town America
where carnivals and psychedelic awakenings are experienced, and finally, the
last three stories take a detour into the strange and surreal.
In DOWN ON THE FARM, Army veteran Lyle Mullins loses his
farm to the bank and is now being forced to leave. But for Lyle, cowering to
the bank’s orders will not be an option.
In the darkly humorous MIRACLE WOMAN, Issy Bridgewater is
known for her ability to resolve bad situations. Her skills are put to the test
when she tries to convince an angry, heartbroken teenager not to kill himself.
In MY BROTHER’S FLAG, Jake McGee carries an abundance of
grief for the loss of his little brother, which also hinders his ability to
coexist with his grandfather who has come to visit for the summer.
In ARCADE MONEY, two boys go door-to-door swindling people
in the neighborhood for a quick dollar to spend down at the arcade, but their
cheating ways are met with unforeseen consequences.
In the Americana flavored CARNIVAL FUN, Preston Monroe sets
out to see his favorite wrestler at the town carnival, but his course is
rerouted by fistfights, barking carnies, freak show mermaids and lizard people.
In PAINTED SMILES, a young boy gets to know his grandmother
and finds comfort in an unorthodox family tradition.
In WHERE THE GRAVEL LANE ENDS, a brother and sister go on a strange
school bus journey that takes them to see their deceased father.
These are only some of the stories to be found in this
entertaining collection. Discover pain and sorrow, love and joy, and the
strange and off-kilter throughout this entire mixture of tantalizing tales.
