“Clean Slate” – A story from Inroads and NetGalley

Inside the SUV, Gerald uncovers his phone from beneath a stained and wrinkled copy of the festival’s schedule highlighting the Tasting Grand Prize and its amount; in the margins—Mark’s calculations for new equipment, additions to the brewery, more marketing; on the reverse side—Gerald’s scribbles and ideas for labels and brands. But the screen flashing NEWContinue reading ““Clean Slate” – A story from Inroads and NetGalley”

Inroads Now Available on NetGalley

Inroads, my latest short-story collection, is now available on NetGalley, and you can help promote it before and after it’s published on 23 March 2023. If you are a NetGalley member, you can read, review, and recommend it. If not, sign up and be part of a community helping authors and publishers promote digital-review copiesContinue reading “Inroads Now Available on NetGalley”

Inroads release date and cover and October – Quarterfinalist for Coverfly’s ScreenCraft 2023 Cinematic Book Competition

Inroads I’m pleased to announce Inroads, my second short-story collection, will be published on 23 March. Below you’ll find the cover and synopsis. Extraordinary stories about ordinary Americans. A stock-car driver gets money any way he can for his son’s birthday present. A girl meets a horse for the first time. Two firefighters help each otherContinue reading “Inroads release date and cover and October – Quarterfinalist for Coverfly’s ScreenCraft 2023 Cinematic Book Competition”

“Out There in the Sunlight” – Substack

Junior rummages through tools, supplies, and packing materials alongside the Porta Jon and, and when he snatches a sickle-shaped fruit knife, wielding it like a talon, men in the fields rush over, waving their arms and shouting, “¡Cuchillo, cuchillo!” Screams scare off birds. Workers huddle behind the water truck, shake their heads, or run forContinue reading ““Out There in the Sunlight” – Substack”

“Ghost Dog” – Substack Plus: A Fine Day Will Burn Through in the Beaver Creek Library, Arizona

MISSING GHOST DOG “STU” BEEN DEAD A WHILE NOW BUT OUR LIVES DON’T HAVE PEACE W/O HIM LOVES THE MARSH VERY MUCH A PEOPLE PERSON & SNUGGLE BUG PLEASE HELP FIND & RETURN WE ARE AUBURN FANS, BUT HE LOOKS LIKE THE UGA BULLDOG William Auten – “Ghost Dog” “Ghost Dog” is now available onContinue reading ““Ghost Dog” – Substack Plus: A Fine Day Will Burn Through in the Beaver Creek Library, Arizona”

“Touch and Go” – Substack

During the descent, her father stretches supine in the clouds—the wings carving out his wrist, elbow, and arm and the bed sheets wrapped around him before breaking down into seams when the plane touches down with summer baking the tarmac. Margo fidgets in the doorway, the sun noon-high, but smiles her best and clears herContinue reading ““Touch and Go” – Substack”