Tobias Wolff also says, "Most of us don't live lives that lend themselves to novelistic expression, because our lives are so fragmented." Before his death, Norman Mailer theorized that television is robbing newer generations of the ability to invest the three to fours hours required to both enjoy and absorb a complex novel. Finally, a novelist friend of mine believes short fiction is much harder to get right.

Three good reasons to aspire to getting the right word in the right place, sooner than later. I would add that, for me, the best entertainment enlightens. Other than from living, I've learned what I know about the human condition from fiction, and most of that from short stories. Sholem Aleichem; Bashevis Singer; Twain; Bellow; Welty; Munro - life as they knew it.

Twelve tales from inside complex contemporary relationships. For one, two retired cowgirls resort to drugs, kidnapping, and interstate flight to escape the nursing home and reclaim their lives. For another, a dutiful mob soldier, worried about his sickly nephew's future, finds inspiration an ocean and ages away. Ten more about adults, kids, convicts, lawyers, politicians and other undesirables.

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Below are links to each of the individual stories in the collection. Click on each title to sample free here. (Each can also be sampled and purchased as an individual eBook at iTunes & iBooks and Smashwords.)

A small girl, suffocating in the growing culture of fear around her, struggles to take the high ground.

A recently-divorced father sharing custody of his young son learns about parenting in an unlikely place--Death Row.

Adrift in his own life and desperate for a belief system, a young man finds direction and purpose from a surprising source.

Two brothers try to make sense of their lives after their domineering mother's death.

A girls' softball team rebels and instructs parents and coaches in the value of competition.

A retired cowgirl and her best friend resort to drugs, kidnapping, and interstate flight to escape the nursing home and reclaim their lives.

A vignette, after infidelity was declared an Olympic sport.

An amnesiac accident victim recovers more than his health among strangers in a small Southern town.

Two boys, one mother; two lives, separated from birth.

A top-dollar attorney complains about the bill and unwittingly becomes his plumber’s Zen pupil.

Worried about his sickly nephew’s future, a dutiful mob soldier finds inspiration an ocean and an age away.

A scandal-plagued politician contemplates suicide, but checks in with his cousin first to sort things out.

After cutting school, two bored teenagers cook up some Spam-inspired mischief between the housekeeper and Grandpa.

Could next year's election be the last authentic one our Republic has? I finished this story in late September 2008, six weeks before the last Presidential election. (I've updated it to include the rise of the Tea Party, the midterm election results, and the GOP nomination follies, to date.) Otherwise...

Our writing group decided to do and review stories based on the Round Four rules for National Public Radio's "Three Minute Fiction"--600 words or less; containing each of these words: "plant," "button," "trick," and "fly;" and not "inappropriate." Two out of three ain't bad. It's about two veterans and a...new friend. Hope you enjoy it.

Here's my entry in Round Five of National Public Radio's "Three Minute Fiction," concluded Nov.14. Had to be 600 words or less; had to begin with "Some people swore that the house was haunted;" and had to end with the line, "Nothing was ever the same again after that." Guess Michael Cunningham and the IWW minions don't like spooks with some basis in historical fact...

Here's my entry in Round Six of National Public Radio's "Three Minute Fiction," concluded April 3. As usual, had to be 600 words or less; this round one character had to tell a joke and one character had to cry. From the selections, seems the screeners are most fond of self-conscious, first-person exposition--tell, don't show. You, the reader, should decide, says I!

Here's my entry for Round Seven of National Public Radio's "Three Minute Fiction," concluded November 12. As usual, had to be 600 words or less; this round, one character had to come to town and one character had to leave town. Still not buying my theory that the reader should be able to watch and eavesdrop, rather than be read to; I blame Elmore Leonard.