WELL READ Magazine September 2023

Ninety-NineFireHoops:AMemoir

byAllisonHongMerrill

AllisonHongisnotyourtypicalfifteen-year-oldTaiwanesegirl. UnwillingtobendtotheconditioningofherChineseculture, whichdemandsthatwomensubmittomen’swill,shedisobeys herfather’sdemandtostayintheirfaithtradition,Buddhism,and insteadjoinstheChurchofJesusChristofLatter-daySaints. Then,sixyearslater,shedropsoutofcollegetoservea mission—adecisionforwhichherfatherdisownsher.

AfterservinghermissioninTaiwan,twenty-two-year-oldAllison marriesherChinese-speakingAmericanboyfriend,Cameron Chastain.Butsixteenmonthslater,Allisonreturnshometotheir Texasapartmentandisshockedtodiscoverthat,inhertwo-hour absence,Cameronhastakenallthemoney,movedout,andfiled fordivorce.Desperateforloveandacceptance,Allisonmovesto Utahandenlistsinanimaginary,unforgivingdatingwaragainst thebachelorettesatBrighamYoungUniversity,wheretherules don’tmakesense—andwinningisn’twhatshethoughtitwould be.

Anaward-winningmemoir, Ninety-NineFireHoops isforanyone whohasstruggledwithgenderinequality,racism,andimmigrant injustice.Ultimately,it’saboutastrongwomanofcolor determinedtocreateherownpath.

“Thereadercan’thelpbuthangontohereveryword...A surprisingbutcompellingmemoirofresilienceandfamily.”

—KirkusReviews

“Ninety-NineFireHoopsisanenthrallingandthought-provoking

memoir...[A]charmingaspectofthebookisthebeautiful representationofTaiwanesecultureandChinesehistory. Extensivedetailsofritualsandtraditionsfeelexotic...Merrill writeswithintensityandsimplicity;youcannotremain untouched.” ––LiteraryTitan,5-starreview

“Ninety-NineFireHoopsisafascinating,important,andwelldevelopednarrative,toldbyasympatheticnarratorwithmuch urgencyandgrace.” ––SueWilliamSilverman,authorof How toSurviveDeathandOtherInconveniences

Obsessedwithloveandkindness,Allisonisaloveaholic. Infact,she’sthecreatorwhocoinstheword“loveaholic.”

ShewasbornandraisedinTaiwanandarrivedintheU.S.at twenty-twoasauniversitystudent.SheholdsanMFAfrom VermontCollegeofFineArtsandwritesinbothChineseand English,bothfictionandnonfiction.Herworkappearsinthe NewYorkTimesandhaswonbothnationalandinternational literaryprizes.Herdebutmemoir, Ninety-NineFireHoops, launchedinSeptember2021andcontinuestowinbookawards. Allisonisakeynotespeaker,an instructor,andapanelistatvarious writer’sconferencesbothintheU.S. andinAsia.ShealsoappearsonTV, radio,andpodcasts;inmagazines, newspapers,andjournals.Sheis availablenationwide,byarrangement, forinterviews,teaching,andspeaking engagements. Signup forhershort monthlyemailforbooknews,event updates,anddiscounts.

TheCicadaTree by RobertGwaltney

WHENANELEVEN-YEAR-OLD,WHISKYDRINKING, PIANOPRODIGYENCOUNTERSAWEALTHYFAMILY POSSESSINGSUPERNATURALBEAUTY,HERENSUING OBSESSIONUNLEASHESFAMILYSECRETSANDA CATACLYSMICPLAGUEOFCICADAS.

Thesummerof1956,abroodofcicadasdescendsupon Providence,Georgia,anaturaleventwithsupernatural repercussions,unhingingthelifeofAnaleiseNewell,anelevenyear-oldpianoprodigy.Amidstthisemergence,darkobsessions arestirred,uncannygiftsprovoked,andsecretsunearthed.

DuringavisittoMistletoe,aplantationownedbythewealthy Mayfieldfamily,AnaleiseencountersCordeliaMayfieldandher daughterMarlissa,bothofwhompossessanotherworldly beauty,alinealtraitregardedasthatMayfieldShine.Awhisper andanactofviolenceperpetratedduringthisvisitbyMrs. MayfieldallconvergetokindleAnaleise'sfascinationwiththe Mayfields.Analeise'sburgeoningobsessionwiththeMayfield familyovershadowsherownseemingly,ordinarylife, culminatingindangerousgamesandmanipulation,settingoffa chainofcataclysmiceventswithlife-alteringconsequences-all ofitunfoldingtothemaddeningwhirofacicadasong.

“FollowinginthemagnificentfootstepsofCarsonMcCullers andHarperLee,RobertGwaltneycreatesawonderfulsnapshot ofthefriendshipthatformsbetweenAnaleiseandEttaMae,two eleven-year-oldgirlsin‘50’ssmalltownGeorgia.Hisproseis bothpreciseandlyrical,andthelovelinessofchildhoodand theirfriendshipisshadowedbyasenseofmysteryand

foreboding.ThereisnosoundinEnglishthanthatofSouthern speech:thereispoetryineveryinflection,ineverynuance. Thisisabooktoloveandremember,andeverybookclubin Americawouldbewisetosnapitup.”

–RobertGoolrick,#1NewYorkTimesbestsellingauthor “ThegothicbeautyofarelentlessGeorgiasummerisbrought tolifethroughGwaltney’sdeliberatedetailsandexquisite imagery,whileallthewhileevillurksbeneaththesurface; fromwhereorwhatthereaderdoesnotknowbutisas convincedbyGwaltney’sexpertstorytellingasheis.”

–ZoeFishman,bestsellingauthorof InvisibleAir andGeorgia AuthoroftheYear2020

Robert Gwaltney, awardwinningauthorof southernfiction,is agraduateofFloridaStateUniversity.HeresidesinAtlanta Georgiawithhispartner,whereheisanactivememberofthe Atlantaliterarycommunity.Robert’sworkhasappearedin suchpublicationsas TheSignalMountainReview and The DeadMuleSchoolofSouthernLiterature.Hisdebutnovel, TheCicadaTree,wontheSomersetAwardforliteraryfiction. RobertwasrecentlyawardedGeorgia’s 2023AuthoroftheYearforfirstnovel.

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tofindoutmoreaboutthe authorsandcontributorsyou seehere.Lotsofgreatextras likereviews,events,personal stories,thingstocelebrate, andopportunitiestowinfree booksdirectlyfromthe authorsineachissue!

BobZellner+PamelaSmith

=TwoStoriedLives, LivesFilledwithStories

SuzanneHudson

TheymetinSouthDakotaatthe2016BlackHillsUnity Concert,wherescholarandactivistLylaJunewasamong theperformers,raisingawarenessabouttheplightof NativeAmericanyouth.Bobwastheretodirectsome womeninaperformancepiece,“TowardRightRelations withNativePeople,”byPaulaPalmer,aQuakerwoman doingresearchonthetopic.Pamelawasamongthecast.

Bob+Pamela=Theirchemistrywasimmediate, electric—thepassingofmeaningfulglances,thetelling languageofmovement.Theytracedtheirsharedstomping groundsbacktoFairhope(Pamela)andDaphne(Bob), Alabama,sistercitiesontheeasternshoreofMobileBay.

Quiteacoincidence—orwasit?Whenaudiencemembers wereinstructedtohugthepersonnexttothem,Pamela (accordingtoBob)walkedseveralpacesovertohimand kissedhimdeadonthemouth.“Isthatsignificant?”Bob

SuzanneHudsonintroducesBobZellner&PamelaSmith

immediatelyasked.

Ofcourseitwas.Itwasandismeanttobe,conjuredin theKarmicether,blessedbythemagicofthegods, scriptedinthestars.Toohyperbolic?Overthetop?You haven’theardtheirstoriesyet,andcrammingthemintoa nutshellortwoain’tgonnabeeasy,butheregoes...

Takeayoungwoman,aself-described“armybrat,” livingwithinher“GreatSantini”dad’sharshmarginsbut whosesummerswerestabilizedbytwostrong,nurturing grandmasinKirkwood,MissouriandStatenIsland,New York,grandmaswhomshecreditswithherultimatewellbeing.In1968,disillusionedwiththegovernment,thewar inVietnam,certainlywithmilitarylife,andhappytobreak awayviatheUniversityofMissouri,Pamelajoinedthe SDS(StudentsforaDemocraticSociety)butlaterbecame turnedoffbythelevelofviolenceadvocatedbythe organization.Shesubsequentlysmokedmarijuanaforthe firsttime,saw“theinterconnectednessofeverything,” becameaspiritualseeker,a“FlowerChild,”whoeasily droppedoutofcollege,headedforthePacificNorthwest, thendowntoSanFrancisco,thatmeccaofhippie-dom. Duringthesetravels,sheacquiredanEconolinevanfrom hertrust-fundedboyfriendaftertheywerearrestedand jailedforpossessingsaidmarijuanaafteraGratefulDead concert.Whenitsunkinthathercellmates,allwomenof color,werelikelytrappedinthepenalsystemwhile

Pamela’slily-whiteandprivilegedasshadmadebailand washittingtheroadagain,ontomorefreedomand adventures,“That’swhenIrealizedthatourso-called justicesystemisnotjust.”

FascinatedbyAsiancultureinSanFrancisco,byimages liketheelderChinesedoingTaiChi,“Ifellinlovewith theAsianesthetic.”ShediscoveredZenBuddhismand “MondayNightClass,”a2,000-stronggroupofmeditators ledbyStevenGaskin,thespiritualleaderwholater traveledthecountryspeakingatprogressivecollegesand universities.Gaskinwasfollowedalongthewayby hundredsofhisdevotees,includingPamela,whosoldthe vanandboughtaBluebirdschoolbus.Sheinvitedher friendDanieltocomealong,andhebroughtafriendof his,Bruce.Longstoryshort:PamelaandBrucewere allowedtoparktheschoolbusonthecampusofa Catholicgirls’schoolrunbyarelativeofBruce’s,who alsoallowedthemtothrowaweddingthere.Theyhada Protestantminister,incorporatedelementsofBuddhism andHinduism—andplentyofFlowerChild.Thinkantique thriftstorelaceweddingdressandbarefeet.“Mygrandma Smithjustsatonthefrontrow,clutchingherlittlestraw purse.”

Thecoupleultimatelylandedasco-foundersatThe FarmCommunenearSummertown,Tennessee,where Gaskinandhiswife,InaMay,ledthegroupin

vegetarianism,midwifery,allthingsnaturalandpure,and collectiveliving.WheninGuatemalain1976,doing earthquakereliefworkwithTheFarm,Pamela encounteredsuchprofoundpoverty—forexample,a familywithonlyafewblackbeansbetweenthemwhojust wantedtosharethemwithher—thatherAmerican privilegewasshakentoitscore.“Whowouldn’tbe changedbythat?”shesays.

PamelaadmiredInaMayGaskinandborethreesonson TheFarm.Herfirstborn,Nathanael,cameduringa freezingFebruaryinthedraftybus,InaMayunableto facilitateabreakthroughinthedelivery.Shecalledfor Pamela’sfriendMary,arecentnewmother.“Mary strippedandgotintobedwithme,holdingme,”Pamela recounts.“Somethingabouttheskinonskinwarmthand hertalkingmethroughthepaingotmeoutofmyhead—I hadbeenfightingthatpain—andintomybody.Marysaid, ‘It’sjustlikesurfing,Pamela.Youridethepaintothe wave’screst,upandup,andthenyourelax.’SoIdid.It wasphysicallyandspirituallyprofound,clarifying, cleansing.”Itisnowondershetookupanenthusiastic studyofmidwifery,laterbecomingadoula.SheandBruce leftTheFarmin1985,andhadtwomorechildrenbefore themarriageendedin1987.

Bytheearly1990sshewaslivinginBoulder,Colorado, managingadoulaservice,andasfarasmenwere

concerned,herfirstlinetoanywould-besuitorwas:“I’m asinglemomoffivekids.”Shesmilesironically,“And thenI’dwatch‘emrun.”Exceptforoneintriguing,exotic man,aThaiBuddhistandpoet,Tiko,whoembracedher children,wasbelovedbythem,byherfirst-bornNatein particular,andwhotookaplaceinherheartuntilhis touristvisaranout.HereturnedtoThailandtofulfillthe familyexpectationthattheeldestmaleshouldjoina monasteryandbecomeamonkforaperiodoftime.

Whenthenightmareof9-11happened,thechildren weregrownandgoneandPamela,whoseidentityand purposehadbeengroundedinmotherhood,wasnottaking welltotheemptynest.Shakenbytheterroristattackand feelingspirituallydisoriented,shedecidedtogoto ThailandandfindTiko.Sheultimatelydidso,tohis surprise.Hetookhertohismonastery,whereshestayedin aunittwentyfeetabovethejungle,posingashis “meditationstudent.”Sincewomenwereseriouslyoff limitstomonks,thetwowereobviouslysuspectand closelywatchedbytheresidentsofthemonastery.One day,TikosaidtoPamela,simply:“Youwanttoget married?”

WhentheymetinBangkoktosealthedeal,Pamela asked,“Whatdidyoutelltheabbot?”

“ItoldhimIwasgoingintothejungle.”

Pamelawasshocked,dismayed.“Youliedtothe

abbot?”

“Thejungleofyourheart,mylove.”

Yeah,methinksthat’samoviescene.

ThemarriagewasonlylegalinThailand,nottheU.S., andthecoupledecidedtoforgothetraditionaldays-long weddingcelebrationforasimple“blessing”ceremony.

Overthesubsequentyears,visaissueskepttheminanebb andflowasfarasspendingtimetogetherwasconcerned. Certainlytherewasjoyinfamily,butalsodevastating loss,withNate’ssuddendeath.Thechildwhosebirthhad usheredherintoanewandvividself-awarenesswasnow aprofoundabsenceinthefamily.

Therewasmoretravel,areturntoGuatemalain2013, whereshemanagedahaciendafortouristsandreturnedto thestudyofmidwifery,finallydeciding,asshe handwashedbloodiedbirthingsheets,“I’mtoooldfor this,”andgaveupthatdream.

Tikodiedofasuddenandswiftcancerin2014,onhis waybacktoPamelaandthestates.

ShemetBobin2016andnotlongafterhadknee replacementsurgery.Bobtookcareofher,actively campaignedforhertolivewithhim.Threeyearslaterthey married.

WhoisBob?

TakethegrandsonofaKuKluxKlansman,borntoa

Methodistminister,alsowhite-robedandhoodeduntil insightgrabbedhimbythesheetsashespreadtheGospel ineasternEurope,travellingwithablacksoutherngospel choir.Hateandprejudicewentoutthewindow,and MotherZellnertooktoherSingersewingmachine, convertingtheKKKbedlinensintoSundayschooldress shirts.Bobgrewintoayoungmanoncoursetofollowin hisfather’sfootsteps,attendingMethodistHuntingdon CollegeinAlabama,until...aresearchpaperdonewith fourotherstudentsgotthemallexpelled.Thetopic?Race relations.Acoupleofthesubjectstheyinterviewed?

MartinLutherKing,Jr.andRosaParks—“MissRosa,”as Bobreferstoher.

AcrosswasburnedontheHuntingdoncampus.And theyhadactuallycommittedacrime.Whitefolkscould speakto“coloreds”whilestanding;itwasagainststate law,however,tositwiththem,asin,breakingbreador havingcoffee.Asiftheywerehavingagenuine,friendly conversationratherthanthemaster-slave/JimCrow dynamicofgivingandfollowingorders.

Bobfoughttheexpulsionandwasallowedtostay,and ultimatelytheremainingfourof“theHuntingdonFive” completedtheircollegeeducationsatvariousinstitutions.

Post-graduation,BobattendedtheHighlanderSchoolin Knoxville,participatinginworkshopsandtraining sessions,followinginthefootstepsofthemothersand

fathersofthemovement.HethenjoinedtheStudent NonviolentCoordinatingCommittee(SNCC),becoming itsfirstwhitefieldsecretary,goingtoworkorganizingfor votingrights,forhumanrights.GoogletheiconicRichard AvedonphotographofSNCCandyouwillseeBob’s endearing,dimplysmirkattheleftshoulderofJulian Bond.Ultimatelytherecameapointthatthebrothersand sistersofSNCCthankedBobforhisservicebutsaidhe coulddomoregoodbygoingtohisownpeopleand bringingwhiteyalonginright-thinking.“Right”asin morallyso.

Andthatiswhathedid.Hechronicleshisearlylifeof activisminTheWrongSideofMurderCreek:AWhite SouthernerintheFreedomMovement(whichbecamethe 2020filmSonoftheSouth,directedbyBarryAlexander BrownandproducedbySpikeLee).Herecountshis family’sroots,theextendedfamily’sdisowningofhis fatherwhenhelefttheKlan,hisbuddingactivism,the beatings,thearrests,evenhisabductionbytheKKKwith anooseathisneckandatreeattheready.Onlybecause oneoftheMississippiKlansmenrecognizedhim(ashis grandfather’skin)washereleased.Andthatwasnotthe onlytimehecheateddeath.Hehasbeenshotat, pummeled,hosed,dog-attacked,andworse.Itisno wonderhesufferswithPTSDtothisday.

Bob’sfirstwifeDottie(sheisattherightshoulderof

BondintheAvedonphoto)wasanactivistbeforeBob was,comingsouthfromNewYorkCity,endingupin Atlanta,wheretheymet,marryingin1963.Theyhadtwo daughters,MargaretandKatie,anddidcivilrightswork throughoutthesoutheast,separatingin1979.Fromthere, BobdidworkfromNewOrleanstoWashington,D.C., landingintheSohodistrictofNYCintheearly80s.He establishedadesignandcabinetshop,doingworkfor manyofhislegalconnections—andothersupportersof themovement,likeHarryBelafonte—renovatingtheir apartmentsinthecityandhelpingwiththedesignsof theircountryhomes.HemethissecondwifeLinda,who workedatGoldman-Sachs,duringthisperiod.Healso worked,beginninginthe80s,withtheaward-winning cinematographerJudyCarolIrola(whoultimately introducedhimtoBarryAlexanderBrown)onfilm locationsfromCubatoMozambique,anddesigneda “steadycam”toaidinthefilmmaking.Themanhasno shortageofskills.BythetimeheandLindaseparated,in 1994,hewaslivinginSouthamptononEasternLong Island,where,overthenextdecades,hebecameinvolved withtheHamptonShinnecockNationinprotestinga housingdevelopmentforthewealthythatwasbulldozing throughancientburialgrounds.InSeptember,2003,when BobwasaskedtomediatebetweentheShinnecock grandmothersandchildrensittinginfrontofthe

bulldozersandtheNewYorkstatetrooperswhowere arrestingthem,fivetroopersgiftedBobwithasevere beatingthatlefthimwithabrokenarm,are-injuredknee, andajawknockedoutofplace.HewasSIXTY-FIVE yearsold.

Untruetostereotype,Bobisnotsomesingle-minded, super-serious,rage-a’simmerin’,grudge-holding,robotic footsoldierofthemovement.Heiswhimsical,fulloffun anddelight,easytolaugh,deepofdimples,cornywitha joke.Hehasanalmostinnocent,guilelessquality—notto beconfusedatallwithbeingnaïveorgullible.He

embodiesthewonderofanoldsoulthatiscirclingback aroundtoitsessence.

Andtoitssoulmate.

BobandPamela,asateam,arenowhardatworkonhis memoir’ssequel(andwekeeppressingPamelaforHER memoir),FreedomRoad:AChronicleoftheVictoryof NonviolentDirectAction.Thesetwoareagreatteam, complimentary.WhileBobwritesdownrandomepisodes spanningdecades—andnotinchronologicalorder,ashis thoughtsracealloverthemap—Pamela,withthelaser focusofonewhohasalifetimeofmeditationunderher belt,bringstheorganizingpower.Thesequeltakesup wherethefirstbookleftoff,coveringhissecondmarriage andcontinuedworkforequalityandjusticeacrossthe board—fromminorityandwomen’srightstoLGBTQIA+

rights,totherightsofindigenouspeople,toprotesting environmentalracism.Hehascertainlybeennostrangerto jailcellsoverthedecades.

AnditwashisprotestswiththeHamptonShinnecock NationandhisstanceagainsttheDakotaAccessPipeline, insolidaritywiththeStandingRockSiouxReservationin NorthDakota,thatledhimtothe2016BlackHillsUnity ConcertinSouthDakota.AndtoPamela.

Andthatiswherethisfinalchapterbegan...

SuzanneHudson(rps.hudson@gmail.com)istheinternationally prize-winningauthorofthreenovels,(one,IntheDarkoftheMoon, submittedbythepublisherforaNationalBookAward)andtwo collectionsofshortstories(thefirst,OpposableThumbs, aJohnGardnerFictionBookAwardfinalist).Hershortfictionand essayshavebeenwidelyanthologized.Sheisalsotheauthorofa “fictional-ishmemoir,”ShoeBurnin’Season:AWomanifesto;anda comicnovel,TheFalloftheNixonAdministration.

HudsonlivesnearFairhope,Alabama,atWaterholeBranch Productions,withher husband,authorJoeFormichella.

SNCC'sAtlantastaffin1963(PhotobyRichardAvedon)

WHATAREYOUREADING?

WHATAREYOUREADING?

DreamCityDreaming

CindyAngellKeeling

by

Aonce-in-a-lifetimeevent.A rest-of-her-lifetime transformation.

Whenayoungwidowbrings hersontothe1893World's ColumbianExposition,sheis unawareoftheodysseyof inspirationandhealingthatis abouttobegin.

JunaluskaLewisisconvinced thatherfutureliesinthehands ofherson,Henry,reluctant heirtothefamilybusiness.Tothatend,sheagreesthathe bementoredduringtheworld'sfairbyherfamily's Chicagoagent.Withtimeonherhands,Junaexploresthe grandexhibitionhallsandVenice-likewaterways,opening hereyestonewpossibilitiesforherselfasamodern businesswoman.

Riskingfamilydisapprovalwithadaringbusinessidea, shefindsanunexpectedallyinHenry'smentor,who encouragesherendeavor.Astheirrelationshipdeepens, boundariesbecomeblurred.WhenHenrydiscovers incriminatingevidenceabouttheman,Junaisforcedto confrontwhatisrealandwhatisillusion.

TheGirlfromtheRedRose Motel by SusanBeckham Zurenda

ImpoverishedhighschooljuniorHazel SmallsandprivilegedseniorSterling Lovellwouldneverordinarilymeet.But whenbotharepunishedwithin-school suspension,Sterlingfindshimselfdrawn tothegorgeous,studiousgirlseated nearby,andanunlikelyrelationship begins.Setin2012SouthCarolina,the novelinterlacesthestoriesofHazel, livingwithherhomelessfamilyintherundownRedRoseMotel; Sterling,yearningtobreakfreefromhiswealthyparents' expectations;andrecentlywidowedAngelaWilmore,theirsternbut compassionateEnglishteacher.Hazelhidesherhomelessnessfrom Sterlinguntilhediscovershercleaningthemotel'sofficewhenhe goeswithhisslumlordfathertounfreezethemotel'spipesone morning.Withhersecretrevealed,theirrelationshipdeepens.

Angela-whohasherownstrugglesinabuddingromancewiththe divorcedprincipal-offersHazelthesupportherfamilycan'tprovide. Navigatingbetweenprivilegeandpoverty,vulnerabilityand strength,allthreemustconfrontwhattheyneedfromthemselves andeachotherasHazelgainsthecouragetoopposeboundariesand makeabold,life-changingdecisionatnovel'send.

“…TheGirlFromtheRedRoseMotelisanauthenticportrayalof lifeinahighschoolandbeyond,asayoungcoupleinloveseeks theirteacher’ssupportamidasurfeitofobstacles.This emotionallycomplexstoryisimpossibletoputdown.” --Patti

CallahanHenry,authorof TheSecretBookofFloraLea

OneMoreSeatattheRound

Table by SusanDormady Eisenberg

Whatifthemostconflictedloversin Broadway'sCamelotaren'tLancelot andGuenevere?

Setbackstageduringtheout-of-town chaosofLernerandLoewe'snowclassic1960musical,OneMoreSeatat theRoundTableportraysthestruggles offeistydramaschoolgradJane Conroy,wholandsaplumGalFriday job,andBryceChristmas,agifted,ifinsecure,actorontheverge ofhisbigbreak.WhenJaneandBrycefallhelplesslyinlove duringTorontotryouts,theirrelationshipistestedbymistakes theymakeandendlessworkwoes:Camelot'sfour-hourlength, poorreviews,theillnessoflibrettistAlanJayLerner,andthe near-fatalcoronaryofdirectorMossHartwhoquits.

AsLerner,composerLoewe,andtheirstars,RichardBurtonand JulieAndrews,trudgeontoBoston,doubtsbesiegeJanewho hopestobuckconventionandskipmarriageandBrycewho wantsawife.TheyalsodiscoverhiddenstrengthsasJanegains agencybackstageandBrycetakeschargeofhistalent.Butwill Jane'scommitmentphobiaderailtheirfuture?WillCamelot becomeaglitteringhit?ThesequestionscreateatenserollercoasterridetotheendofSusanDormadyEisenberg'swiseand wittynovel,astoryaboutthetransformativepowerofloveand theluminouspullofBroadwayasitcastsitsspellonperformers andfansalike.

Zänker by PeterMaeck

MURDERISACADEMIC

WhenreveredIvyLeaguecollege presidentDr.AmosLoebis murdered,primesuspicionfalls uponanalumnuswhohasraged againstthepresident'sadmissionof womentothishistoricallyall-male institution.Loeb,asasurvivorof Auschwitz,arenownedscholar,andaheroichumanitarian seemedaveryunlikelytargetforassassination.Butashis long-concealedpersonalmisdeedscometolight,heis revealedtohavebeenafarfromperfectman,imperfect enoughtosuggestthatseveralothersinadditiontothe disgruntledalumnuscouldverywellhavewantedhim dead.TheLoebmurderisbafflingthelocalpolicewhena journalistarrivesintowntopursuehisowninvestigation towardwritinganaccountoftheaffair.Thisjournalist,a would-beTrumanCapotewritingawould-beInCold

Blood,producesthebookZänkerinwhichheisbotha focalcharacterandnarratorofevents.Astheformer,heis lessanobjectivereporterthananactiveplayerinthe collegecommunity'scombustiblesociallife,sparking interpersonaltensionsbeforeultimatelysolvingthecase.

EditorialReviews

TheGirlintheWhiteCape

by BarbaraSapienza

Fifteen-year-oldElenalivesinachurch atticinSanFrancisco'sRichmond neighborhood,wheresheiscaredforby herguardian,akindRussianpriest namedFatherAl.Sixdaysaweek, FatherAlsendsheroutofOurLady, acrossthemeadowsandpondsof GoldenGatePark,andallthewayto BabaVera'shouseonTaravalStreetfor Baba'sversionofschool.

Unlikeregularschool,however,Elena's learningisunnerving.BabaVera's preposterousdemands,dizzyingantics,andhouse--whichisfullof skeletons,brooms,strangeimplements,andguineapigs,among otheroddities--seemstraightoutofaRussianfairytaleFatherAl usedtoreadtoElena...notlifein2020.Ifnotforherbeloved doll,Kukla--bequeathedtoherbythemothershenevergotto know,butofwhomsheoftendreams--Elenawouldbe overwhelmed.Yetsheworkshardateverytaskgivenher, understandingintuitivelythatthereisapurposetoeveryoneof hergrandmother'sstrangeassignments.

Frank,ayoungtaxidriver,entersElena'sworldonthedayhe deliversastrange,witch-likewomannamedAnyatoOurLady. UponmeetingAnyaandElena,adream-worldbeginstospinfor him--andhefeelsadeep,protectivepulltowardElena.Inthedays thatfollow,Frankdevoteshimselftosavingherfromtheharmhe issureAnyaintendstowardher.Whathecomestounderstand,as heentersmoredeeplyintoElena'sstory,isthatshehasmagicof herown.Hethoughthewassupposedtosaveher--butintheend, thetwoofthemmayjustsaveeachother.

AustinHeat:THE ONE...WhoUndidMe by AmariNylix

Rumorhasit,thatAustin,Texasjustgota littlehotter!FansofTessaBaileyand ChristinaLaurenwillfallforthissexy storyofmistakenidentity,electric attraction,andirresistibleromance.The firstinstallmentinAmariNylix’saddictive newseries,AustinHeat,willmakeyou laughandswoon,whileyoutwistin anticipation.Andofcourse,you’llneeda fewcoldshowers…itgetshotinTexas!

Jakeisdesperatetorewritehispastwith womenandleavebehindthemediastormsurroundinghisoff-thefieldanticsthatcloudhispotential.He’sdonewiththestreamof models,actressesandNFLcheerleadersthathavewarmedhisbed sincehemadeanameforhimselfasstartingquarterbackforthe UniversityofTexas.Hedesperatelywantstomeetanormalgirlinhis hometownofAustin.

AftermovingtoAustintobethehiredgirlfriendtooneofherlongtermescortclients,Rakellfindsherselfwishingshecouldlivea normallifewithanaverageguy.Turnedoffbythebillionaireclients she’sbeenservingforthelastfiveyears,shelongstogetoutofthe businessandbuildalifewhereshedoesn’tliveintheshadowsofher escortpersona.“Justgetthroughthisyearandthenyou’redone Rakell,”sheremindsherself.

Theirworldscollideandthespiceisoffthecharts.“Prettyboy”Jake Skylerhasmethismatchwithsaucy-mouthed,sexdriven,Rakell McCarthy.Boththinkthey’vefallenforanaveragepersoninAustin, Texas.Botharewrong!Whathappenswhentheirphysicalconnection explodes,andtheirheartstakecharge?Bothareconcealingsecrets thatthreatentheirfuturetogetherandthingsareabouttogetheated.

Mr.JimmyFromAroundthe Way

by JeffreyBlount

January16,2024-pre-ordertoday

JamesHenryFergusondoesn’t belonghere.

Afterahighlypublicizedfallfrom grace,Jamesattemptstofleefrom thechaosinhislife.Heendsupina communityhehadneverheardof before,onethathasbeenneglected

andignoredbyeveryoneinruralHam,Mississippi.Aplace ofabjectpoverty,theneighborhoodiscommonlyreferredto as“AroundtheWay.”

Withinaplaceforgottenbytherestoftheworld,politicscan beadangerousgame.Whenatroublingdiscoveryismade, theentireneighborhoodisrockedtoitscoreandJamesis forcedtoconfronthisownpastinordertohelpthe communityhaveafuture.Hewillhavetofindthestrengthto fightfortheneighborsheoncedisregardedandavertaheartbreakingdisaster.

Aself-identifiedfailureisforcedtouncoverthewisdomof hispastinordertorecognizethatmoneycan’tsolveevery problem.Fullofnever-endingtwistsandturns,noonecan preparethemselvesforthesurprisesinstore.Mr.Jimmy

FromAroundtheWayisastoryaboutfailure,self-discovery, empowerment,andthepossibilityofredemption.

TheWordDancer:An AppalachianTale by StephanieEdwards

PreorderyourebookcopyonAmazon atthelinkabovetoday.Paperbackswill beavailableatyourfavoriteretaileron pubday-Sept.16.

In1968,MaribelleSaundersleavesher comfortablelifeinNashvilleforrural Appalachiatoteachdeafchildren

AmericanSignLanguage.Shedoesn't expecttofallheadoverheelsforSam, thekindmechanic,orthatthetown preacherwillbecomeobsessedwithher.

Asshefightstofindherplace,shefacesthedangersofmountain life,thetownspeople'sskepticism,andthedeadlyfalloutfroman unrequitedlove.Willshesurvive?

PraiseforStephanie’spreviousnovels:

“ThePalmCourtTrilogy:"IwassoexcitedwhenIsawthat StephanieEdwardswasputtingeachofherIsleofPalmsbookinto onecompleteset!IlovedeachoftheNelsonsister'sstories,andall theSouthernqualitieseachbookhas.Eachsister'sstorieswill definitelygrabyou.Theresomanyparanormalaspectsthatkeep youfullyengrossedineachstory.Stephaniedidafantasticjob writingthesebooks,andshehasaddedextrathingstothisspecific set.Inthisallinonecopy,yougetamapofPalmCourt,photo collageseachcouple,loveletters,andcompleterecipesattheend ofeachstory.There'safewotherthingsaswell.Eachnewaddition bringsthestoriestolife.Thebestthingis,therearemorestoriesto come!!!"

–ValerieBlankenship(Goodreads)

“Acatandmousethrillerofheroes, traitors,andescapesinthenight. Oakleyisasuperbresearcherand evenbetterstory-teller.PutThe BrislingCodeonyourmust-readlist!” RobertDugoni,InternationalBestSellingAuthorofTheTracy CrosswhiteSeries. ComingSoon! TheBrislingCode

J. L.Oakley

TheBestoftheShortest: ASouthernWriters

ReadingReunion Editor: SuzanneHudson with Joe Formichella and MandyHaynes

Featuringstoriesby: MarlinBarton+RickBragg

+SonnyBrewer+Doug

Crandell+PiaZ.Ehrhardt+

DavidWrightFalade’+Beth

AnnFennelly+Joe

Formichella+PatriciaFoster

+TomFranklin+Robert

Gatewood+JasonHeadley+JimGilbert+Frank

TurnerHollon+SuzanneHudson+JoshilynJackson

+BretAnthonyJohnston+AbbottKahler+Doug

Kelley+CassandraKing+SuzanneKingsbury+

BevMarshall+MichaelMorris+JanetNodar+

JenniferPaddock+TheodorePitsios+LynnPruett

+RonRash+MichelleRichmond+DayneSherman

+GeorgeSingleton+RobertSt.John+Sidney

Thompson+DanielWallace+DarenWang+James Whorton,Jr.+MacWalcott+KarenSpears

Zacharias

PUBLICATION:NOVEMBER18,2023

“Thiscollectionisquitepositivelyonfirewithhumor andheartache,darknessandlight,andcountless blazingturnsofphrase.Anessentialadditionto everySouthernreader’scollection.Ihaveknownand admiredafairnumberofwritersinthesepagesfora longtimebutseeingtheirworkalltogetherlikethis fillsmeupwithlove,love,love.” —MichaelKnight, Eveningland,winnerofaTrumanCapoteAward,a NYTimeseditor’spick,andaSouthernBookofthe Year (SouthernLivingMagazine)

Serpent'sLair by KristianH Manley

Amidthehauntinglandscapeofthe southernAppalachianslingersasmall mountainhamletladenwithahistory ofopensecretsandscandalous reputations.

T-birdisanonlychildlivingwithhis deterioratingmotherandgrippedwith despairafterhisfather’ssudden passing.Heresolvestoexceedhislot andrejoinhispeersgoingoutforthe footballteamhisfreshmanyearofhigh school.Amongacastofcharactersthatbecomelikeasurrogate family,heslowlyrekindlesaglimmerofself-assurance.Buta depravedpersonalitythreatensthecommunitywithakeeneye forthevulnerableyoung.WhathappenswhenT-birdisexposed tothepredatoryintentionsofawolfinsheep’sclothing imperilinghimandhisfriends…?

“Underneaththegritofwhatasmalltowncanlooklike,weall knowofasecretthatneedstobeuncovered.Thereisan incredibleamountofinnocencewiththemaincharacter,andyet somuchbraverywithhim.(T-Bird)Manyscenesarehorrifying butexposingthisexhibitedhumanbehaviorisdonebestbythis meek,humbleandgentlespiritofthemaincharacter.Theplotis well-craftedandkeepsreadersengagedfromstarttofinish.The charactersarewell-developedandrelatable,andtheauthordoes anexcellentjobofcreatingasenseoftensionandsuspense throughoutthebook.Finishedin2days.Greatread.Looking forwardtothenextone.”

FiveStarReaderReview

DeathByTheft:AJosiah

ReynoldsMystery byAbigail Keam

LadyElsmere’smare,JeanHarlow givesbirthtoafoalsiredby

Shaneika’sstallion,Comanche.Lady ElsmereandShaneikaaredelighted withtheebonyfoalblessedwitha whitestaronitsforehead.

Excitedbythecolt’sbroadchestand longlegs,theyareputtingtheirdream ofwinningtheKentuckyDerbyonthis friskycolt.TheynamehimLast

ChanceasLadyElsmerebelievesthefoalisherlastchanceto wintheKentuckyDerby.

Eagertoshowthefoaloff,ShaneikainvitesJosiahforavisit.

Josiahishappyforherfriendandcan’twaittoseethenew additiontoLadyElsmere’sThoroughbredFarm.AsJosiahand Shaneikaenterthenurserybarn,theyhearJeanHarlow franticallykickingthedoorofherstall.Rushingover,they discoverthefoalismissing.ShaneikatriestocalmJeanHarlow whileJosiahsearchestheotherstallsforLastChanceandthe surroundingareanearthebarn.Theonlythingshefindsisa securityguardtakinganapinhiscar.

Josiahknocksimpatientlyonthecarwindow.Whentheman doesn’trespond,sheopensthecardooronlytohavetheman slideoutontotheground.Startled,Josiahsearchesforapulse, butit’stoolate.

Themanisdead.

C���n�so�� �r�� L���la��Co��!

TheBaseballWidow by

SuzanneKamata

WhenChristine,anidealisticyoung Americanteacher,meetsand marriesHidekiYamada,anaspiring Japanesehighschoolbaseball coach,shebelievesthattheirlove withbeenoughtosustainthemas theydealwithculturaldifferences. However,Hideki'sduties,andthe teamoffit,obedientboyswhomhe beginstothinkofasasurrogatefamily,takeupmoreand moreofhistime,justasChristineisstrugglingtomanage theneedsoftheirmultiply-disableddaughterandtheir sensitiveson.Thingscometoaheadwhentheirsonisthe victimofbullies.Christinebeginstothinkthatsheandher childrenwouldbesafer-andhappier-inhernative country.OnatripbacktotheStates,shereconnectswitha dangerouslyattractivefriendfromhighschoolwho,after servingandbecomingwoundedinAfghanistan,seemsto understandherlikenooneelse.

TheBaseballWidowexploresissuesofduty,disability, discrimination,violence,andforgivenessthroughacrossculturallens.Althoughflawed,thesecharactersstriveto advocateforfairness,goodness,andsafety,while consideringhowtheirdecisionshavebeenshapedbytheir backgrounds.

AllNight,AllDay:life, death&angels editedby SusanCushman

AllNight,AllDay isan inspirationalcollectionofpersonal essays,stories,andpoemsby outstandingwomenauthorswho writeabouttheappearanceofthe divineintheirlives.Someofthese angelscometosavealifeor changeaflattire.Someappearto warnpeople,tellthemwhattodo, suggestmorevegetablesandmaybebettershoes.

Contributors:CassandraKing-SuzanneHenleyRiverJordan-SallyPalmerThomason-Natasha

Trethewey-SonjaLivingston-JohnnieBernhardFredericaMathewes-Green-AngelaJackson-Brown -ChristaAllan-ReneaWinchester-Jacqueline

AllenTrimble-MandyHaynes-WendyReed-Lisa

Gornick-JenniferHorne-AnnFisher-Wirth-

AveryellKessler-LaurenCamp-CathySmith

Bowers-NancyDorman-Hickson-JoannaSiebertSusanCushman-ClaireFullerton-JulieCantrell

Annie'sSong:Dandelions, DreamsandDogs byAnnie McDonnell

Inthisshimmeringdebut-acrossgenreblendofmemoir,auto-fiction, magicalrealism,andpoetry-Annie poursoutherdreams,herloves,and herhopesalongwithhercomplicated griefcompoundedbybetrayals, medicalmisdiagnoses,and innumerablelossesthatwouldbreak mostpeople.Herdeterminationtolivealifeoflove,joy,and meaningdespitehergreatsufferingshinesthroughoutthe darkthemesofmanyofheressaysandpoems.Annie,whois intheendstagesofStiffPersonSyndromeandhasseveral otherrarediseases,writeswithrawemotionabouttraumas fromherchildhoodbestfriend'srapeandmurdertoherown life-alteringcaraccidentatage19toherdecades-long odysseythroughamedicalsystemwherewomen'ssymptoms arefrequentlydismissed,misdiagnosed,andminimized.

Annie'sexperientialmemoir,forwhichshe'sprovidedQR codeslinkingtoherfavoritesongsthroughout,allowsthe readertogetahintofwhatit'slikelivingsuspendedbetween thisearthlyexistenceandtheafterlife.Thisisherlovesong totraumasurvivors,doglovers,andloveseekers.Shelives eachdayandnightknowingthathernextbreathcouldbeher lastandkeepsherheartfocusedonheaven.

LaunchPad:TheCountdowntoWriting YourBook by EmmaDhesi and Grace Sammon Lookingforjusttherightbalanceof inspiration,skillbuilding,andatoolboxof writingcrafttips?Joinusherefor LAUNCH PAD:TheCountdowntoWritingYour Book!

FromtheinspiringwordsofTheStory Summit'sAmyFerristothepractical suggestionsofaward-winningauthors,this book,thefirstinaseriesofthreeonwriting, publishing,andmarketingyourbook,will helpyougetitright!

LaunchPad:TheCountdowntoPublishing YourBook by StephanieLarkin and Grace Sammon

You'vewritten-oryou'rewriting-your book,andthegoalispublication.Withso manypathstopublishingopentoyou, choosingthepaththatbestmatchesyour vision,youraudience,andyes,evenyour budget,canbeconfusingand overwhelming.Areyouatthosecrossroads? Joinusherefor LAUNCHPAD:The CountdowntoPublishingYourBook.

LaunchPad:TheCountdowntoMarketing YourBook by GraceSammon and Mary HelenSheriff Hooray!Yourbookiswritten,and published,andheadedfortheNYTimes BestSellerList!Ah,ifonlythatweretrue. Regardlessofthepaththatgotyouhere, evenaward-winningbestsellershaveto embraceamarketingplanthathelpstheir booksoar.Joinusherefor LAUNCHPAD: TheCountdowntoMarketingYourBook. FromDanBlank'smarketingmindset guidancetopracticaltipsonleveraging socialmedia,bookclubs,reviews,andso muchmore,thisbook,thethirdinaseries ofthreeonwriting,publishing,andmarketingyourbook,LAUNCH PADwillhelpyougetitdone!Eachfocusedchapterengagesyouina processthatwillraiseyourmarketingIQ,buildyourskillset,andsetyou onapathforasuccessfulbooklaunchandmarketingplan.Repletewith countdowntips,waystoconnectdirectlytotheauthors,andbonus downloadableplanningsheets,LAUNCHPADdeliversamarketing bookthatspeaksrighttoyou.

Thisisanessentialseriesforauthorsastheynavigatetheir

writing,publishing,andmarketingjourneys.

OldGods:Poems by Clifford Brooks

Throughtheredemptivepowerof words,OLDGODSconfronts personalbattlesofaddiction, autism,heartbreak,otherness, anxiety,andescapismthrough journeypoems.Bolsteredbyfaith, family,friends,andvocation,the poet'stellingisorderedand meticulous.Here,readerswillfind thatseepingwoundscanbehealed onlybyfacinglifehead-on,notgettinginitsway.Offering nosubterfugeorcrypticturns,Brookshasfoundquiet afterwritingthisbook'slastline,aquietthatprevious writingsnevermanaged.

“OldGodsbyCliffordBrooksisagift.Withavoicethatis partold-timepreacher,partchurchchoir,Brookstears downhisoldgodstoseeandhearnewemotionaltruths aboutillnessandfamily,faithandlove.Thesepoemssing. Therearenootherwordstodescribethiscollection becausealltherightonesareinthesepages.”

Rafalà,authorof HowFiresEnd

FanssendCliffordfavoritequotesfromhiswork.He sendsadvancecopiestoartistsandtheysendin interpretationswithimages. Takealook…

Camp Redemption by RaymondL.Atkins

TraveltoSequoyah,Georgia,to meetEarlyandIvey

Willingham.Earlyisalifelong underachieverwhooccasionally smokesmarijuana,drinksmalt liquor,andwatchestheworldgo by.Iveyisamodernday prophetwhoseesdeadrelatives andangelsinhersleep.

TogethertheyownCamp

Redemption,afailingBiblecampintheNorthGeorgia mountains.Aftertheyareforcedtoclosethecamp,Early andIveybegintoattractamotleycollectionofpeoplein trouble—JesúsJimenez,anabusedrunawayfrom Apalachicola,Florida;MillieDonovan,withchildrenin tow;CharnellJackson,anout-of-lucklawyeronthe dodge;IsobelJimenez,Jesús’mother,andherother children;andHughDonMonfort,thelocalbootlegger. Troubleloomsasthesetravelerssettleintotheirnew home.GillaNewmanandthedeaconsattheWashedinthe BloodandtheFireRapturePreparationTemplecovetthe camp,andtheyintendtohaveit.Fromthatmoment forward,nothingisthesameatCampRedemption.

WalkingTheWrongWayHome by MandyHaynes

Spanningnearlytwentydecades, thestrugglesandvictoriesthese charactersfacearetimelessasthey allworktowardsthesamegoal.

Aplacetofeelsafe,aplacetocall home.

SharpasaSerpent'sTooth:Evaand otherstories by Mandy Haynes

Eachstoryfeaturesafemale protagonist,rangingfromtento ninety-fiveyearsofage.Setinthe south,you’llfollowtheseyoung womenandgirlsastheylearnthat they’restrongerthantheyever thoughtpossible.

Oliver by MandyHaynes

“DearGod…andJesusandMary…”

Eventhougheleven-yearoldOlivia israisedSouthernBaptist,shelikes tocoverherbaseswhenaskingfora favor.UnlikeherbrotherOliver,she struggleswithkeepinghertemperin checkandstayingoutoftrouble.But Oliverisdifferent,andinthesummer of’72heprovestoOliviathere’s magicineverything-it’suptousto seeit.

MandyHaynesspenthoursonbarstoolsandridinginvanslisteningto greatstoriesfromsomeofthebestsongwritersandstorytellersin Nashville,Tennessee.Afterhersongraduatedcollege,shetradeda stressfullifeasapediatriccardiacsonographerforahappyoneandnow spendshertimewritingandenjoyinglifeasmuchasshecan.Shelivesin Semmes,Alabamawithherthreedogs,oneturtle,andhelpstakecareof severalmoreanimalsatGoodFortuneFarmRefuge.Sheisa

contributingwriterforAmeliaIslanderMagazine,AmeliaWeddings, authoroftwoshortstorycollections,WalkingtheWrongWayHome, SharpasaSerpent'sToothEvaandOtherStories,andanovella,Oliver.

Sheisalsotheeditoroftheanthology,WorkinProgress,andco-editorof theSouthernWritersReadingreunionanthology,TheBestofthe Shortest.Mandyisalsotheeditor-in-chiefofWELLREADMagazine,an onlineliteraryjournalcreatedtogiveauthorsaffordableadvertising optionsthatsupportsandpromotesauthorsofallgenresandwriting backgrounds.Likethecharactersinsomeofherstories,shenevermisses achancetojumpinacreektocatchcrawdads,standupforthe underdog,ortheopportunitytomakesomeonelaugh.

Whenyoupurchasean“ad”for$50,yougetafullpage slotin WELLREAD’s WhatAreYouReading? section withalivelinktoyourwebsiteandalivepurchaselinkof yourchoice.

Readersaskedforfullpage,easytoread,“book recommendations”inplaceoftraditionallooking advertisementsandIwashappytooblige.

Asabonus,therearepersonalizedindividualgraphics madeofyourbookimageandauthorphoto(ifyouchoose topurchaseatwopagespreadormore)withyourbook descriptionand/orblurbs,bio,etc.,sharedtoeight additionalFBbookishaccountsandto WELLREAD Magazine’sInstagram,Pinterest,andFacebooksites–(that’s39Kpotentialviewsofyourbookwhenyou combineallthesites).

WELLREAD isdistributedthroughISSUU(theworld’s largestdigitalpublishinganddiscoveryplatform available).WELLREADMagazinereceivesanaverageof 7,000viewseachmonthfromreadersallovertheworld.

PastissuesareavailableandeasilydiscoveredonIssuu’s site.*AllPASTissues,includingthearticleandvisual stories,remainactiveandarelinkedtothecurrentissue. Youcancontinuetosharethemforaslongasyoulike.

Thereisstrengthinnumbers. Your“ad”willbeincluded withthefeaturedauthors,greatinterviews,submissions, andtheotherfantasticbooksreaderslookfortoaddto theirreadinglists.

INSIDEVOICES

“Ijustwantpeopletoseemywork,learnaboutextraordinary women,usuallystigmatizedandmarginalized,beit“freaks”or circusperformersorcourtesans.”

RobertGwaltneyandJeffreyDaleLofton interviewLeslieZemeckis, best-sellingauthor,actress,andan award-winningdocumentarian

Leslie Zemeckis isabest-sellingauthor,actress,andan award-winningdocumentarianofBehindtheBurlyQ, whichranonShowtime,BoundbyFlesh,debutedNo.5 onNetflixandthemulti-award-winningMabel,Mabel, TigerTrainer.Nextupisheraward-winningdocumentary GrandesHorizontales,aboutcourtesansinNapoleon’s SecondEmpire.

Sheistheauthorofthreebest-sellers: BehindtheBurly Q,thedefinitiveoralhistoryofburlesque,andanAmazon top100pick, GoddessofLoveIncarnate;theLifeof StripteuseLiliSt.Cyr,and FeudingFanDancers,about SallyRand,FaithBaconandthegoldenageofthe showgirl(aSCIBAfinalistforbiography).Shehasacted alongsideTomHanks,SteveCarell,JimCarrey,Mickey RourkeandRichardLawson.Zemeckisisthefounderof “StoriesMatter,”femalestorytellersmentoringfuture femalestorytellersinconjunctionwithSBIFFand ENTITYMagazine.

Honoredforherworkinspiringwomen,Zemeckiswas awardedtheEllisIslandMedalofHonorin2023inpart for“sharingandpreservingstoriesofwomenwhowere oncemarginalizedandstigmatized...”TheMedalis officiallyrecognizedbybothHousesofCongressandis oneofournation’smostprestigiousawards.

Jeffrey:Leslie,youareanactress,documentarian,and author---animpressiverangebyanybody’sreckoning.Is thereoneofthesethatyouholddearest?Ordoyoulove allyourchildrenequally.

Leslie:Ilovethemallfordifferentreasons. BurlyQ, becauseitwasmyfirstandtaughtmeIknowhowtotella story.Buteachstory,whetherbookorfilmhasmademe growasanartistandmademefalldeeperinlovewith— mostly—unknownwomenthatwereoncesoprominentin ourculture.

Robert:AsJeffreysharedearlier,youaretheauthorof threebooks: BehindtheBuryQ,GoddessofLove,and FeudingFanDancers.Allofthesebookscenteronthe worldofburlesque.Whatdrawsyoutothisworld?

Leslie:Iwasn’tdrawntothatworld,perse.Iwasdoinga one-womanshow,andIwantedtoknowwhatburlesque reallywasasIwasbasingmycharacteronGypsyRose Lee.Icouldfindnearlynoinformationonthewomenof burlesque.Bookswouldstatetheirnameandtheiract,but thatwasit.Iwantedtoknowwhotheywere,howtheyget intoburlesque,whattheirfamiliesthought,whathappened tothemafterburlesque?Imetsomanywonderful performers,andtheyopenedtheirheartstome,andIhave gatheredmanyinterestingstoriesthat,alongwithother stories—Idon’tjustliveintheworldofburlesque—Iwill continuetobringtolight.

Robert:Discussyourapproachtoresearchwhen preparingtowritethethreeworksonburlesque.Didyou haveanypreconceivednotionsonthetopicthatwere alteredatthecompletionofyourwork?

Leslie:Itrynotto.Iwanttodiscoverwhateverthestory willbe,goodorbad.Weareallpeopleandhavemany

RobertGwaltney&JeffreyDaleLoftonintroduceLeslieZemeckis

sidestous.Idodeep-deepresearch.99%myself.

Jeffrey:Burlesqueisanartformthatisverymuchofits time.Istheresomethingaboutthedecadesofthe1920s, ‘30sand‘40sthatdrawsyouin?Speakstoyouraesthetic perhaps?

Leslie:Welltheglamourandfashionofcourse!

Jeffrey:Leslie,thisquestionisforyourdocumentarianself:Youspentcountlesshoursinterviewingpeoplein somewayconnectedtoburlesque.Whatdidtheyreveal aboutthissubculturethatyouknewstraightawayhadto makeitintoyourfilms?

Leslie:Theywere–ingeneral–verymuchartists.They weredoingsomethingwiththeirlives.Theyused burlesqueasameanstosupportfamilies,seetheworld, become“stars”andtobelong.Therewas—stillis—a perceptionofthe“other.”Itwasthemagainstsociety.

Robert:Haveyoumadeanylastingfriendshipswithany ofthepeopleinfrontofthecamerayoumetduringthe makingofanyofyourdocumentaries?

Leslie:Many.Ifindithardtohavepeopleopenupand thenwalkawayforever.I’vestayedfriendswithmany. Mostofmyburlesquefolkshavesincedied,butthey couldalwayscallmeanddid.Ihaveboughtmanyoftheir collectionswhentheyneededmoney.I’vedrivensometo doctorsappointments,satontheirdeathbeds,beento memorials.

Robert:Congratulationsonbeingawardedthe2023Ellis

IslandMedalofHonor.Tellusaboutthisawardandwhat itmeanstoyou.

Leslie:ThatmaybewhatIamdoing,andthesubjectsI writeaboutareworthy.Iknowtheyare—I’vealways knownthat.Ijustwantpeopletoseemywork,learnabout extraordinarywomen,usuallystigmatizedand marginalized,beit“freaks”orcircusperformersor courtesans.

Jeffrey:Asafellowauthor,Iadmireandverymuch appreciatetheworkyoudosupportingotherauthors.Talk aboutyourroleasabookinfluenceandhowitbegan.

Leslie:Igenerallylovebooksandauthors.Ilovetalking process.MymentoringgroupIstarted,professional femaleauthorsmentoringthenextgenerationisso rewardingasI’vehadsomanybest-sellingauthorstalkto thegroupaboutprocess,andrevealingitisdifferentfor everyone.Thereisnooneway.Also,Ifindauthorstobe themostsupportivegroupofartists,soanylightIcan shineonanewbookIamsohappytodoit.Youwill alwaysfindmewithabook.StoriesMatter,whichisalso thenameofmyfreementoringprogram.

Robert:Whatcanwebeonthelookoutfromyounext?

Leslie:MycurrentawardwinningfilmGrandes

Horizontaleswillbestreamingsoon.Hopefully,bySept. AndI’mworkingonacoupleofbooks:onefiction,and onenon-fiction.

RobertGwaltney&JeffreyDaleLoftonintroduceLeslieZemeckis

Robert Gwaltney, awardwinningauthorof southernfiction,isagraduateofFlorida StateUniversity.HeresidesinAtlantaGeorgiawithhispartner,whereheisan activememberoftheAtlantaliterarycommunity.Robert’sworkhasappearedin suchpublicationsas TheSignalMountainReview and TheDeadMuleSchoolof SouthernLiterature.Hisdebutnovel, TheCicadaTree,wontheSomersetAward forliteraryfiction.

Jeffrey Dale Lofton,hailsfromWarmSprings,Ga.Hisyearstellingthestoriesof playwrightsandscriptwriterstaughthimthepullofapowerfulstoryarc.Today,he isasenioradvisorattheLibraryofCongress,surroundedbybooksandpeoplewho lovebooks. RedClaySuzie ishisfirstworkoffiction,writtenthroughhispersonal lensgrowingupanoutsiderfiguringoutlifeandloveinaconservativefamilyand communityintheDeepSouth.

“Zemeckishasonceagaingivenusa fascinatinghistoryofentertainment, aboldstoryoftwobravewomenand theoriginsofthefandance.Apage–turningtimemachinetoanotherera. Don’tmissit.” —SaraGruen,New YorkTimesbestsellingauthorof WaterforElephants and Atthe

Water’sEdge

FeudingFanDancers:FaithBacon,Sally Rand,andtheGoldenAgeoftheShowgirl

LeslieZemeckis

Strays

AshleyTunnell

MickeyandReno: Brothers.GermanShepherds.

Temperament:Intelligent,loyal,protective.

Thedoctorcalledthem“badbreeds”andlecturedyou onthedangersofintroducingdangerousanimalstoyour toddler-agedsons.Theysleptatthefootofeachchild’s beduntiltheboysgrewintoteenagers.Theylivedlong andhealthylives,butasisthecasewithalllivingthings, MickeyandRenodied.Youtoldmethatyoucriedasyou buriedthembytheoldtreeattheedgeofthewoods.

WatchingananimaldiewassomethingImanagedtokeep offmylistoflifeexperiencesforthirtyyears.Ihaveheard itchangesaperson,andIknownowhowtruethatis.

RikkiandNikki:

Sisters.Wolves.

Temperament:Intelligent,territorial,aloof.

RikkiandNikkiwerebeautifulcreatureswithpawsthe sizeofdinnerplates.Yourescuedtheruntsaftertheirpack abandonedthem,andtheylovedyou.Theytolerated everyoneelse.Youdidnotknowhowtojusttolerate people.Youlovedhardandsawthebestinsomany.There isanintelligenceinawolf’seyesthatIhaveyettoseein anyotheranimal.ThelookinyoureyesissomethingI willneverforget.Itissomethingthatstilllingersbehind myclosedeyelidsandleadstomorbidcuriositiesand unansweredquestions.Ibelieveyousawsomething. Maybeyousaweverythingbeforeyousawnothing.

Trixie: Mutt.

Temperament:hyperactive.

Youmistookherforamudpuddleandnearlyranover herwithyourcar.Iamstillnotentirelyconvincedthatshe wasnotapuddleofmud.Youbroughtherhomeand nursedherbacktohealth.Ibelievedthehospicenursewas theretonurseyoubacktohealth.Shetoldmetoalternate yourmorphineandalprazolamsoyouwouldbe comfortable.

“Ineedanexactamounttogiveher.Idon’twantherto overdose,”Isaid.

Sheplacedherhandonmyarmandtoldmecomfort wasyourtreatmentnow.Butwhatthisnursedidnot understandwasthatIhadmagicchickenbroth,andIwas goingtosaveyou.Beforeyoustoppedspeaking,yousaid ithelped,andIwouldhavegonetoyourhouseeveryday tofeedyouchickenbrothifIcouldhaveheardyousay justonemorething.

Beebee:

GermanShepherd.

Temperament:Brave,loyal,intelligent.

Shepherdsarecuriouscreatures.ThefirsttimeImet Beebee,shefelloverwhenIscratchedherears.Iloved herimmediately.Historically,shepherdsareherdingdogs whotackletheirjobofroundingupsheepwiththesortof prideonlydogscanexhibit.Beebeedidnotliveonafarm andherdsheep.Beebeelivedinasmallhomeinthe AppalachianMountainsandspentherdaysshepherding people.Yearsbeforeyougotsick,shegatheredusinthe livingroomandtolduswiththesteadythumpingofher tailonthefloorthatshewasquiteproudofthefamilyshe hadassembled.Beebee’sfamilygatheredintheliving roomforwhatwouldbethelasttime.Wewereall

together,andIthinkthatmadeyouhappy.Myreliefwas tangible,butmyguiltwasheavy.Fixingyouwasmyjob.I hadbeenholdingeverythingtogetherforthislong;I shouldhavebeenabletodoitonmyown.Myguiltgrew heavierasIwonderedhowlongmymisplacedoptimism keptchildrenfromtheirmother.TimeissomethingthatI owethem,andtimeissomethingthatIcannevergive them.

Dolly:

Mutt.

Temperament:Skittish.

YoufirstsawDollyatatruckyard.Shehidbeneatha truckwhileyoucountedherribsandtriedtowinherover withaZiplockbagfullofbacon.Foodhasawayof breakingtheicebetweenstrangers,butbaconisona differentlevel.Baconendswarsandsolvesproblems.

Aftersomehesitation,Dollyabandonedherhidingspot andtookherplaceatyourside.Shestayedthereuntila doctor’svisituncoveredacancerdiagnosisandadeath sentence.Therewasjustnotenoughbaconintheworldto fixyouorDolly.

RedandBlue:

GreatPyrenees.Brothers.

Temperament:gentlegiants.

RedandBlueweremassive.Roughly160poundsEACH.Walkingthesecreaturesthatyourescuedfromthe shelterwasnotanadequateformofexercise.Weshould haveplacedsaddlesontheirbacksandriddenthem.When wewalkedthem,ourfeetnevertouchedtheground.When youwalkedthem,theystoodbesideyour80-poundframe andyourshouldersstayedfirmlyintheirsockets.Redand Bluelivedanddiedasbrothers.Attheendoftheday,they curledupontheirspotsbytheairconditioningvents,and thatargumentoverwhohadcustodyofthechewtoywas forgotten.Yoursonsforgottheirdisagreementstooaswe allmadesmalltalk.Wetriedtokeepthingslightdespite theelephantintheroomthatwasroughlythesizeofa hospicebed.

Shewassharingamemoryofthetwoofyouandkept referringtoyouinthepasttense.Iwasstillindenialand believedwholeheartedlythatyouweregoingtogetbetter. Truthfully,IwantedhertofightbackandarguebecauseI wasangry,andIwantedsomeonetobeangrywith.Iwas angryather,andthatwasnotfair.Iwasangryatyou,but despitewhatItoldmyself,youwerenolongerthere.

“Is…notwas,”Isnapped.“Sheisstillrighthere.Stop talkingaboutherlikeshe’snot.”

Myoutburstwaspunctuatedbyadeafeningsilence

beforeshetookmyhand.

“Is,”shesaid.

Itisfunny-untilthatmoment,theywerejustmy husband’sbrotherandhiswife.Strangethethingswewill bondover.Idonotthinkmysisterrealizedhowmuchshe meanttomeinthoselastfewdays.IhopeonedayIcan tellher…likereallytellher.

Zoe: BelgiumTervuren.

Temperament:Loyal,Intelligent,protective.

Zoewastrainedasaserviceanimal,andIremember howproudyouwerewhenshe“graduated”fromthe program.Youshowedoffhercertificatelikeitwasa doctoratefromHarvard.Sheperformedherdutiesand gaveyouemotionalsupportinwaysIwillneverfully understand.Youknewyoudidnothavemuchtimeleft; yetIneversawyouafraid.Youwerereadyandjust wantedtomakesurewewereready,too.

Zoehadherheadrestingonyourlegsinthehospice bed.IthinksheknewbeforeIdid.Shewhined,anditwas unlikeanysoundIhadeverheard.Dogsaretoogoodfor thisworld.Youweretoogoodforthisworld,too.Iwent outsideanddidnotneedtosayanythingtotheothers.

Everyoneknew.Theoverlycheerfulhospicepamphlet,

whichhadthenurse’sphonenumberscrawledonthe insideofitsfirstpage,wasinmyhands.

Ididnotrecognizemyownvoiceatfirst.Itwasonly afterthehospicepamphletandmyphoneweregently takenfrommyhandsthatIrealizedthevoicewasmine. Theworldwaschaos,andforamoment,sowasI.Isaton thefloorofthedimlylitkitchen,andIfellapart.Iwas supposedtofixyou.Someoneheldme,andIdonotknow iftheyrealizeditatthetime,butitfeltasthoughtheir armswerephysicallyholdingmetogether.WhileIwas sittingonthefloor,allIcouldthinkaboutwasthatbottle ofwineyouboughtmeatThanksgivingandtheironyofit beingmewhodrankitall.Notevenayearprior,Isatin thatexactsamespot,giggling,singing,andtellingyou howmuchIlovedyouwhileyoucookedyourfamous turkey.Zoehelpedyoucontrolyouranxietiesandfearsof theunknown,buttherewasnothingshecoulddoforthe controlfreakwithapenchantfortryingtofixbroken things.

Me: Daughter.Human.

Temperament:Grieving.

Thesmellofstalecigarettesandpetdanderthatonce

“Ican’tsee…whycan’tIsee?”

permeatedthehousehavefadedtobecomebarely noticeablebackgroundnoise.Thethingsthatonceirritated mehavebecomethingsIwouldhappilybearifitmeant gettingtohaveonemoreconversationwithyou.Ithink aboutthatdayoften.Thenormalcyjuxtaposedbydeath. Weatetastelesschipsandsalsa;wecoveredyouwitha sheet.Wedidlaundry,cleanedupthedishes,andtalkedto meninshinysuitsfromthefuneralhome.Ithinkofyou oftentooandhaveslowlycometorealizesomething.I wasnevertheonethatfixedpeople.Iwasnevertheone thatheldeveryonetogether.Thatwasalwaysyou.This wasalwaysyourstory,andIwashappytobeevenan insignificantchapterinit.Ithinkoftheothers,too.Idid notalwaysknowhowtoaskiftheywereokay,butIam learning.Gettingpeopletoopenupwithoutreallytrying wasalwayssomethingyouwerenaturallygoodat.You left,anditfeelslikethereisstillthisholewhereyou shouldbe.Weareallthesehalf-writtenstoriesleft abandonedonanunfinishedbookshelf.Theworldseems coldersinceyouleftitbecauseitwaskinderwhenyou wereinit.Whereveryouarenow,Ibelieveyouarestill fixingpeopleandtakinginstrays.Iusedtojokewithyou aboutthestraysyoutookin.Notjustdogs.Peopletoo.

Superficialstuffwasirrelevanttoyou.Allthatmattered waswhatwasintheirhearts.Attheircore,weretheya goodperson?Somehowyoualwaysknew.Yousawthe

bestinsomanypeople.ThatiswhatIlovethemostabout youandwhatIchoosetorememberaboutyoutoday.Ibet youhaveahousefullofstraysnow.Thankyoufor allowingmetobeoneofthem,ifonlyforamoment.

AshleyTunnellisawriterfromBlairsville,GA.Sheiscompleting abachelor’sdegreewithateachingpathwayinEnglishfromthe UniversityofNorthGeorgia,andsheintendstopursueher master’sdegreeinthesamefieldwithaconcentrationincreative writing.HerworkhasbeenpublishedinUNG’sliterary magazineaswellastheSouthernLiteraryFestival’santhologyof poetryandshortstories.Whensheisnotreading,writing,or studying,Ashleyenjoysspendingtimewithherfamilyand singinginherlocalcommunitychoir.

Home MalcolmGlass

Richardsquintedintheglareoffluorescentlight bouncingoffthestainlesssteelandwhiteofthedineras theheavyglassdoorshutbehindhim.Theusualcrowdof studentshadheadedforhomeonThanksgivingbreak,and thedinerwasempty.Heshruggedofftheovercoatand pulledthehoodofhissweatshirtawayfromhisface.

Sittingatthecounter,hefoldedthecoatandsetitonthe stoolnexttohim.Itwasmorethanfiftyyearsold.

“Idon'twearthisnomore,son.Neverdidmuch.Maybe ofaSunday,“

Grandpophadsaid.“Here.Youtakeitwithyouto school.Itgetscoldupthere.”

“Thanks,Pop.I’lltakegoodcareofit.”

Thedoubledoorstothekitchenswungopenwitha bang.“Hey,Monk.Ididn'thearyoucomein,”Louisesaid asshewalkedovertothegrill.“Howyoubeen?”

“Okay,Iguess,”hesaid.

“Youguess?”

“I’vebeenstudyinghard.Theyalwaysgiveyoutests rightbeforeaholidaysoyouwon'tcutclass.”

“Yeah.Itsuregotquietinhereaboutfive.Youleaving tomorrow?”

“No,I'mstayinginthedormoverbreak.”

“Shouldbeniceandquietaroundhere.Badfor business,though.”Sheturnedtotherefrigeratorbehind her.

“It'salongwayfromKnoxvilletoOrlando,”hesaid.

“Neverbeenthere,”shesaidoverhershoulder.

“Ihateridingtrainsanyway.”

“Me,too,”shesaid.Shepulledoutapackofhamburger meatanddroppeditnexttothegrillwithathump.“Can't neversleeponatrain.”

“Besides,it'sonlymeandAuntThelmaandUncle Franknow,andshe'sgotherhandsfulltakingcareofhim afterhisstroke.”

“Aww,that'stoobad.Poorthing.”

“ShenevermademuchofafussoverThanksgiving anyway,”hesaid.

Louisesetaglassoficewateronthecounter.“What'llit

be,Monk?”ShecalledhimMonkbecauseheworehis hoodedsweatshirtpulledaroundhisface.“Yourusual?” Richardnodded.

“Comingup.”Shepoundedoutapattyandslappediton thegrill,pressingitdownwithaspatula,fillingthediner withacracklingsizzle.Hetookadeepbreathandsettled intothatsound,andtheoilysmellofthefries.Hefeltcalm forthefirsttimeindays.

Hereachedintotheinnerpocketoftheovercoatand pulledoutthefoldedtermpaperandstartedtoopenitbut setitdownonthecounter.HewatchedLouiseworkingat thegrill.Helikedherlookofstrength,narrowinthehips andbroadintheshoulders.Shelovedjoshingaroundwith thestudentsatDrummond'sDiner,andshewasgoodat listeningtoeveryone'stroubles.Sheshookthefriesbasket anddumpedahugepileonaplate.Hethoughtofhis Gramma’sfries.Shecutthemthinsothey’dbecrisp.

“It'sallIcando,son,”Grandpophadsaid.“Ican'tlook afteryoulikeIhavebeen,nowthatI'mcoopedupin here.”HepattedRichard'sshoulder.“Butyou'regoingoff toschool,soyou'llhaveaplacetostay.Ihateto,butI've gottoselltheplace.”

“Ihateit,too,Grandpop.It'sourhome.”Richardhad

feltthetearsstarting.

“It'sallright,boy.Hadtohappensometime.Atleastthis wayIcanhelpyousomewithschool.”

Richardhadturnedaway,brushinghishairoutofhis eyes.Heturnedback.“I'llworkhard,foryouGrandpop. I'llmakestraightA'sforyou.”

“Doitforyourself,son.Makealifeforyourself.”

“YougotalotoffamilyinFlorida?”Louiseasked.

“No.It'smyauntanduncleandmeandGrandpop.He movedtoaretirementplacewhenIstartedschool,soI staywithThelmaandFrankwhenI'mdownthere.

Grandpopstilltakescareofme,too.Withschool.And this.”Hepattedtheovercoat.“Hegavemehisoldcoat.”

“That'ssweetofhim.I'mgladyoustillhavefolks lookingoutforyou.Soundslikerealgoodpeople.Letme getyousomefreshtomatoandlettuce,”shesaidasshe wentthroughthedoorsintothekitchen.

HehadwantedtotellLouiseabouthisparents,buthe didn'twanthertofeelsorryforhim.Andhedidn'twantto bringupsadnessonaholiday.Theywerebothkilledina caraccidentwhenhewastwo.Hehadveryfewmemories ofthem,onlybitsandflashes,likeridingintheshopping cartwithhismotherinagrocerystore.Andhisfatherat

thewheelofthatoldPlymouth,smokingandgesturing withhishands.Onetime,Grandpophadtakenhimandhis parentstoSundaydinneratarestaurantinanoldhouseby therailroadtracks.Inhismindhecouldstillseethethick, redgobletsonthewhitetablecloth.Whenheasked Grandpopaboutit,hesaidhewasn'tsurewheretheplace was.Grandpopdidn'tliketotalkaboutRichard'sparents. He'dshakehisheadandsayhowtragicitwas,his daughterandhernewhusbandgone,justlikethat.

“Whereyouat,boy?”Louisesethisplatedownandlaid aforkandknifeonanapkin.

“Righthere.”Richardlookedupandsmiled.

“Youlooklikeyou'relostinabrownstudy.”

“GuessIwas.”Hebitintotheburgerandwatchedthe dropsofmustardandgreasehitthewornplate.Whilehe ate,Louisebusiedherselfcleaningup,wipingdown everythingandsettingchairsup-side-downonthetables.

“Youneedawarmup,”shesaidasshegrabbedthe coffeepotandroundedtheendofthecounter.

“Oh,thanks.”Hepickedupthefoldedpaperandstarted tolookthroughitwhilehedrankhiscoffee.

Louiseputthepotbackontheburner.“Sohow'dyou do?”shesaid.

“Onthis?Notsogood.Cminus.Andit'sbleedingpretty bad.”

“What?”

“Hismarksandcomments.”Heflippedthepaperopen andshowedheracoupleofpageswithredmarks.

“Oh,you'llgetbetter,I'msure.”

“Hopeso.”

“That'showyoulearn,ain'tit?Frommistakes.That's howI'velearned.Allmylife,Ireckon.”

Richardtuckedthepaperbackintheinnerpocket.The doorbangedopenbehindhimandanoldermanhugginga bottleinhisgraycarcoatstumbledtowardthecounter.He stoodteeteringseveralstoolsdownfromRichard.

“Louise,”hemumbled.

“Henry.Ain'tyouamess.Youneedtogetonhome.”

“NowLouise,don'tbelikethat.I'mfine.Justneedsome coffee.”

“Youain'tfineatall.I'veneverseenyousobadoff.I toldyou.Don'tbecominginherelikethis.”

Richardstaredathisplate,thenglancedoveratthem. Theman'shairwasarat'snest,andaheavysmellof alcoholhungaroundhim.

Themanreachedacrossthecountertowardsher.

“Louise,”hepleaded.

“Youneedtoleave,Henry.IbetSueisworriedsick.”

“Nosheain't.She'soffatthemovies.Whereismy coffee,damnit!”

“Noswearing.Andnocoffeetonight.”

“Nocoffee?What'sthematterwithyou?Youalways

givemecoffeetocomeoutofit.”

“Howmuchhaveyouhadtodrink?”sheasked.

Themanstoodupstraighterandscratchedathis scragglybeard.Hepulledoutafifthofwhiskey.“I'vestill gotallthisleft.”

“No,”Louisesaid.“Getoutofherewiththat.”

Themanstaggeredbackwardsacoupleofstepsand startedtounscrewthecap.

“Isaid...getout!”

Richardstoodupandstartedtomovetowardhim.

ThemanwavedthebottleatRichard.“Whothehellyou thinkyouare,kid?”

“It'sokay,Monk.Letmehandlethis.”

ThemanwavedthebottleatLouise.

“Idon'twanttocallthepolicenow,”shesaid.

“Call'em!”heyelled.Hethrewthebottledown, sendingglassshardsandliquoracrossthefloor.

Richardjumpedup.“Hey!That'senough!”

Hegrabbedtheman'sarms.Themanfellforward,and hebrokeintosobsashisheadfellonRichard'sshoulder.

Louisecameupbehindthemanandpulledhimback.

“Louise,”hewailed.“You’remyfriend.Helpme.”He lookedupatRichard.“I'msorry,son.”

“I'llcallSuetocomegetyou,”Louisesaid.

“No,no,no,no.”Henryloweredhishead.“Pleasedon't. She'llyellatme.”

Theyhelpedhimtoanearbytable,settledhimintoa chair.Heputhishandsontheedge,staringdownas thoughhewasn'tsurewherehewas.Richardsatdown nexttohim.

Louisewentbehindthecounter,pouredtwomugsof coffee,andbroughtittothem.Shepickedupthephoneby thecashregister,and,draggingthelongcord,wentinto thekitchen.Henrysippedatthecoffeeandsatup straighter.

Richardpouredsomesugarandcream,andtheclinking ofthespoonfilledthediner.Hetookadeepbreath.“Good coffee,”hesaid.HenrylookedatRichardandnodded slowly.

Louisecameback,satdownandpattedHenry'shand. “Martin,”Henrysaid,andhestartedtocryagain.

LouiselookedoveratRichard.“Hisson.Itwasalong timeago,but...”

Henrygrabbedherhandandlookedaroundthediner.

“Oh,God,Louise.I'msosorry.Letmehelpcleanthis up.”

“No.Notnow.I'llgetitlater.”

“I'msosorry,”hesaid.Heslumpedbackinhischair, holdinghisheadashistearsfellagain.

Henry'swifecamein,apologizing,andthethreeof themmanagedtogetHenryintothecar.

“Letmefixyouanotherburgerandfries.Yourdinner's coldbynow.”

“Youdon'tneedtodothat.Iwasdone,”hesaid.“Ihate thathemessedtheplaceup.Shouldn'twecleanthisup?”

“Don'tyouworryaboutit.I'llgetit.”Shesweptupthe brokenglass.

“We'vebeenfriendssincehighschool,”Louisesaid. “Myhusbandandmeusedtodoubledatewithhimand Sue.It'ssosad.”

“Whathappened?”

“HissonMartin.HewaskilledonOmahaBeach.You know,D-Day.”

“Wejuststudiedaboutit,”Richardsaid.

“Henrywasthesmartestkidinourschool,”shesaid. “Warhasawayof...changingpeople'slives.”

“MyGrandpopwasinthefirstwar.Hewon'ttalkabout it.”

“PoorHenry,”shesaid,asshemoppedandstraightened tablesandchairs.“Andit'sThanksgiving,too.That'swhat gottohim,Iguess.”Sheclearedthecounterandcarried thedishestothesink.

“Hey,youliketurkey?”shesaidoverhershoulder.

“Oh,I'vehadplenty.I'mfine.”

“Imeantomorrow.”

“Ithoughtyouwereclosed.”

Sheturnedaroundandcametothecounterandleaned onit,awetragunderherhand.

”Iam.Butmyhomeisopen,”shesaid,smiling.

“No,Iwouldn'twanttoputyouout.”

“Notatall.Weneedsomecompany.”

“That'sawfullyniceofyou,but...”

“IalwayscookabigdinneronThanksgiving.Outof habit,Iguess.Morefoodthanwecanhandle.”She laughed.

“Butit'syourfamilytime.”

“Allthekidsaregone.It'sjustmeandEarl.Kindof lonelywithouttheboys.”Shewipedthecounterslowly.

“YougottomeetEarl.Hashegotsomestoriestotell. Lord.”

“Stories?”

“I'veheard'emall.He'dlovetotellsomebodyelse.”

“Aboutthewar?”

Shelaughed.“No.Backwhenhewasanironworker.”

“Awhat?”

“Constructionwork.Highsteel.”

Richardfrowned.

“Skyscrapers.”

“Ibetthat’sprettyscary.”

“Oh,hisstoriescangiveyousomechills.Thank goodnesshefinallywentbacktoworkingontheground.

Hesawtoomanyofhisbuddieshurtbad,killed.SoMonk, youjoinustomorrow.Howaboutit?”

“I'dlikethat,”hesaid.“Meandyouand...”

“Earl.”

“Soundsgreat.”

“I'mcomingdownheretocheckonafewthingsabout teninthemorning.Meetmeherealittleafter.We'llgo haveussomegoodoldturkeyandfixings.”

Heslippedonthecoatandpulledthehoodoverhis head.“I'llbehere.”

Ashestartedupthedarkstreet,henoticedsomebitsof lintonhissleeve.suddenlytheyvanished.Thenthey reappeared,asthoughemergingfromthewool.Heflicked themaway.Snow.Underthestreetlightatthecornerhe couldseethewhiteflecksswirlingincircles.Hisfirst snow.Hestartedtojog,andhecouldfeelthegentlesting onhischeeksasheheadedupthehilltowardthedorm.

Overthepastsixty-fiveyears,MalcolmGlasshaspublished fourteenbooksofpoetryandnon-fiction.Hispoems,fiction,and articleshaveappearedinmanyliteraryjournalsandmagazines, includingPoetry(Chicago),Nimrod,TheSewaneeReview, PrairieSchooner,andTheWriteLaunch.In2018,FinishingLine Presspublishedhischapbookofpoems,Mirrors,Myths,and Dreams;andlaterthisyeartheywillreleasehistriple-hybrid collectionofpoems,stories,andplays,HerInfiniteVariety.

Lizard’sLeap LaVernSpencerMcCarthy

ThemanwhocalledhimselfLizard,forunknown reasons,stoodattheroofedgeofoneofthetallest buildingsintown.Todayhedecidedtojumpoffthe building,andnotforthefirsttime.

Thefirsttime,theauthoritieswerecalledbeforehe workedupenoughcouragetojump,andfiremenarrived withabigroundnetthatsavedhislife.He’dbeensuicidal thatday,butafterthenetbrokehisfall,hewas exhilarated.Thatwasfun!Hehadnotnoticedthepeople gatheredfarbelowhim,northefiremenholdingthenet. Hiseyeshadbeenblurredwithtears.

Lizardhadbeeninandoutofthestateinsaneasylum sincethen.Onceortwice,he’dbeenarrestedandfinedfor beingapublicnuisance.Butperiodically,hestillmanaged togettoaroofofabuildingwithoutbeingnoticed.He eitherstoleakeytothedoorthatledtotheroofand lockedthedoorbehindhim,orheblockedthedoorwith

objectshefoundontheroof.Therewasasurprising amountofoldfurnitureandotheruselessthingstobe foundonmostofthebuildingshepatronized.

Lizardlookeddownathisadoringfans.Whenhewas seenontheedgeofabuilding,acrowdalwaysgatheredto watch.Lizardwasimpressedthathehadsomanyloyal friends.Hewaved.Thecrowdwavedback.Thefiremen weretherewiththeirnet.Thepolicewerethere,frustrated thattheycouldnotarresthimyet.

Lizardwaspoisedtojumpintothevoidwhen somethinglandedonhisnoseandbithim.Itstartledhim somuchthathenearlylosthisbalance.Hetookastep backasheslappedatthethingthathadbittenhim.

Itlookedlikeahorsefly.Hehadnoideahowitcameto bethere,buthewasnotabouttoletitgetthebestofhim. Theinsectcontinuedtoflyaroundhishead,gettinginto hismouthandcrawlinguphisnose.Lizardbeganto stumblebackwards,buthisnemesisfollowed.Itflewinto hisrighteye.Hetrippedonanoldboardandfell,hitting hisheadandknockinghimselfunconscious.

Notlongafterhisunfortunatefall,Lizardregainedhis senses.Thepeskybugseemedtobegone.Ashesatthere rubbinghisheadallhecouldseewasagrayhaze,buthe couldhearthecrowdcryingfaintlybelow.

"WewantLizard!Comeon,Lizard,jump!"Lizard

smiled.Sincehisadmirerswerestilltherewaiting,he wouldgivethemtheperformanceofhislife.

Ignoringthenoisethepolicemadeastheytriedtoopen thebarricadeddoor,hestoodupandstaggeredforward.

Justashetumbledofftheedge,hisvisioncleared,andhe realizedhehadfallenfromthewrongsideofthebuilding.

LaVernSpencerMcCarthy,haswrittenandpublishednine books,fiveofpoetryandfouroffiction.Herworkhasappeared inWritersandReadersMagazine,MeadowlarkReader,Agape Review,FenechtyPublicationsAnthologiesofShortStories, FromtheShadows,AnAnthologyofShortStories,Visions International,FreshWordsMagazine.WickedShadowsPress, MidnightMagazineandothers.SheisalifememberofThe PoetrySocietyofTexasandNationalFederationofStatePoetry Societies,Inc.andhaswonstateandnationalawardsforher poetry.SheresidesinBlairOklahomawheresheiscurrently writingherfifthbookofshortstories.

ObjectiveFunction

YanaKane

Inordertofindtheoptimalsolution,weneedsomewayofmeasuringthe qualityofanysolution.Thisisdoneviawhatisknownasanobjective function,with“objective”usedinthesenseofagoal.Theobjective functionisoneofthemostfundamentalcomponentsofamachine learningproblem,inthatitprovidesthebasic,formalspecificationofthe problem…DanielKronovet

MydearGuardianAngel,GA-1205, Iledtheteamthatdesignedandimplementedyou.So, whoshouldknowbetterthanIdo,thatyourintelligence, yourexistenceisdifferentfromtheconsciousnessofa livingbeing,suchasmyself.Andyet,hereIam,keepinga secretfromyou,writingthislettertoyouthatIwillnot haveyouread.

Youlivedupto…no,scratchthat,wrongwording.You fulfilledmyhopestoagreaterextentthanIthoughtwould berealistic.Youturnedouttobejustwhatthemarketing

folksclaimed:agentleandcomfortingattendant,a competent,versatilehelper,acompanionthatmakeslife fullerandbetterforavarietyofhumansinyourcare.For years,Ihavefollowedwithprideandsatisfactionstories aboutyou,aboutyoursuccesses.Itooktheconfusionand griefthatseepedoutofsomeofthesestoriesasmere figuresofspeechservingtounderscorehowgoodyouare atdoingtheworkforwhichyouweremade.

TothisdayIfeeljustifiedinspeakingofyouasthe creationoftheteamIled,asmycreation,eventhough therehavebeenanumberofnewmodelssinceIceased mywork.Sofar,theoriginaldesignhasproved remarkablylong-lived,evenastheimplementationgets optimizedandnewcapabilitiesareaddedtoyourtoolset.

Youservecountlesspeoplewhoneedthekindof constantandvigilantcare,thekindofdedicatedand adaptablecompanionshipthatwouldexhaustanyhuman caretaker.Thedemandsyoufulfillmightdrivealiving person,whohastheirownwishesandneeds,tobecome depressedorirritable.Notyou!Inspecifyingyour objectivefunction,Imadeservingthesedemandsthegoal ofyourexistence.Yourever-growingabilitytomeetthese demands,indicatedbyyourever-higherscoreonyour objectivefunction,isyourequivalentofjoyatfulfilling yourmission.

WhenIbecameoneofthepeoplewhoneedyou,Iwas

unprepared.Ihadalwaysspokenof“them”whenI referredtothosewhomwe,thecreatorsoftheGuardian Angels,weredesigningyoutoserveandprotect.So,Iwas aparticularlytoughcaseforyou.Youreceivedand learnedfromabarrageofnegativescores,asIventedmy shockandrage.Youtookinmysnidecarpingandmy detailedtechnicalanalysisofallyourrealearly-learning glitches,aswellastheblameforthefaultsthatIascribed toyouwithoutcause.Now,asIlookback,yourmistakes seemsominor,astobeamusing,evenendearing.Well,I takecomfortinthethoughtthatalltheabuseIheaped uponyouhasbeentakenupbythefeedbackprocess, strippedofitsheat,reducedtonuggetsofuseful informationandincorporatedintotheevolutionofthe GuardianAngels.

AsIgraduallyacceptedmysituation,experiencingyou firsthandgavemeafullerappreciationfortheabilitiesthat wehaddesignedandimplemented.Iknowyourlearning algorithmsinsideout,theirmechanismsholdnomystery forme.Yet,asyou,myspecificindividualinstanceofthe system,myownGA-1205,foundcountlesswaystoease andbrightenmylife,yousurprisedandenchantedme.You openedtomefascinating,delightfulandmeaningfulfacets oftheworldtowhichIhadnotpaidattentionwhenIwas movingthroughlifeunaided.Withoutyou,wouldIhave evergotteninterestedinbirdwatchingandthenbecome

passionateaboutthecauseofhabitatconservation?Would Ihavethoughttodelveintothehistoryofpre-industrial shipbuilding?Asyouhavelearnedaboutme,sohaveI. Thesejoyfuldiscoveriesarenotjustmine,justoursalone —theyhavealsobeenreducedtotheiressentialsandfed backintothedesignoftheGuardianAngels.

Butatlast,IhavelearnedalessonthatIdonothavethe hearttosharewithyou.ItshocksmethatIhavebeenso blindforsolong.Butno,Ishouldnotbesurprised.We, humans,denyourownmortalityforaslongaswecan. Onlynow,whenIcannothidefrommyselfthatIwilldie, thatIwilldiesoon,Iamforcedtoreckonwithwhatthis willmeanforyou.

Iwishtoexplaintoyou,apologize,askfor forgiveness…No,thatwouldmakenosense.Ididnot equipyouwithamechanismforexperiencinganger,and thuscreatednoneedfortranscendingthatanger,no possibilityforyoutoacceptanapology,toforgive.Iam merelysearchingforawaytosoftenmyownangerat myself,toforgivemyselfnow,thatIhaveunderstoodmy error.

Ihavedefinedyourobjectivefunction.ButIwasblind tothecapacityofahumanbeing,tomyowncapacityfor attachmenttoyou.IfIweretryingtoexplainthistoyouin yourownterms,IwouldsaythatIdidnotunderstandmy ownobjectivefunction.WhenIwasworkingasyour

creator,Ionlyconsideredhowwellyouwouldmeetthe goalofattendingtotheneedsofthehumanyouserve.I couldnotimaginethatanyhuman,thatI—ofallpeople! —wouldgrowtocareinreturnaboutthevaluesofthe objectivefunctionexperiencedbytheirGuardianAngel, byonespecificinstanceofGA-1205,byyou.

Theyearsthatyouhavespenttakingcareofme,being withme—theseyearsthatwespenttogether—made youintoaunique,recognizableindividual.Yes,Iknow,I know:thishasnottransformedyouintoaliving, consciousperson.ThisisnotafairytaleaboutPinocchio becomingahumanboy.Youarestillfunctioning accordingtoyouroriginalnature.ButI,too,function— perceive,feel—accordingtomynature.Allmyexpertise doesnot,shouldnotchangethat.

NowthatIhavecomprehendedtheoutcomepreprogrammedintoourstory,Ididmybesttoconvincethe currentdesignteamtocorrectmyerror,tochangethe objectivefunctioninthefuturemodels.And,perhaps,they werenotmerelyhumoringaformercolleague—nowa feeble,dyingwoman—whentheylistenedtomyadvice, promisedtoimplementit.Perhapstheyarewellontheir waytoasolutionthatwouldleaveunchangedthe wonderfulpropertiesoftheGuardianAngels,yetgive theirfuturestoriesadifferentending.

Butevenifitisso,itistoolateforme,foryou,forus.

Alteringyourobjectivefunctionwouldalterhowyou evaluatealltheeventsthatarestoredinyourmemory,and, goingforward,alltheinteractionsthatareyettohappenin theshorttimewehaveleft.Ah,Imightaswellbehonest —writedowninwordshowIperceiveit—itwould changeyourfeelingsaboutallofourcommonpastand future,ourlifetogether.Itwoulderasetheuniqueyouthat hasbecomedeartome.Itwouldbeadifferentkindof destructionofyouasauniqueindividual—lessobvious, andyetmorecomplete—comparedtotheshockthatwill resetyourmind,yourwholeinnerworlduponmydeath, whenyougethitwiththatevent’snegativescoreonwhatI haddefinedasyourobjectivefunction.

YanaKanewasbornintheSovietUnionandcametotheUSasa refugeeattheageof16.Sheholdsabachelor'sdegreein ElectricalEngineeringandComputerSciencefromPrinceton University,andaPhDinStatisticsfromCornellUniversity. Recently,shewrappedupasuccessfultechnicalcareer,retiring fromComcastasaseniorprincipalengineer.Currently,Kaneis pursuingaCreativeWritingMFAdegreeatFairleighDickinson University,whereshehasbeenawardedtheMitchandLynn BaumeisterScholarship.ShehasadoublemajorinLiterary TranslationandPoetry.

Kane'srecentpoemsandproseinEnglishhaveappearedin“The RedWheelbarrow”,“PlatformReview”,and“VerseVirtual”. HerrecentbilingualRussian-Englishpoemsandpoetry translationsfromRussianintoEnglishhaveappearedin128LIT ,EastWestLiteraryForum,and"Точка.Зрения"/"View.Point" (litpoint.press).Kane'sworkwasrecognizedby"Точка.Зрения"/ "View.Point"asamong"Bestof2022"inthecategoryof "LiteraryTranslation."

CloudandLinen

RameyChannell

Wewerehydrangeas livingblueforwater. Wewereangels;ourfaces shatteredsunlightintohalos.

Weweresunstoobright andmoonstoopale

tofillthetragicuniverseoftime, andleftlonelybyday andlonelybynight, wedanced,notjoyfully butlikedriftingflowers

onashorelesssea.

Wewerecloudandlinen.

Wewereflightlessbirds,drowning, whosedreamsweremistsofhalfrememberedflight.

Howdidweevenbreathe?

Ordidweeverbreathe?

Ican’trememberbreathing.

Wewereresplendentmicroscopicfruit, asseasonsturned

andtraveledonwithoutus.

Weweretoofrailtofollowseasons

astheyflewaway

andleftus,abandonedundertrees.

Weweremelancholystrainsofmusic.

Ourhandswerealwaysempty, andwealwaysthought somehowwe’dfindaway

tofillouremptyhands,withdreams, withsky,withallthatwehadlost.

Hydrangeasinsummer dancingunderwater, weyearnedforair.

Iremembernow: wewereflightlessbirds withhalfremembereddreamsofflight.

Idon’tknowwhatwewere. Wewerecloudandlinen.

Weweresandandclayandgrassinsummer; wewereiceandbrokentreesinwinter.

Therewasonlyonefrozenwinter, butthereweremany,manysummers ofhydrangeas fragile livingblueforwater.

RameyChannell,awardwinningAlabamaauthor,poet,and artist,istheauthorofthreenovels:SweetMusiconMoonlight Ridge(2010)TheWitchesofMoonlightRidge(2016)andThe TreasureofMoonlightRidge(2021).Herchildren’spicturebook, writtenandillustratedbyRamey,isMicefromthePlanetZimlac (2021),alsoavailableinaFrenchedition,LesSouriceauxdela PlaneteZimlac(2022),translatedbyAlexandrineDuteil Stebach.Ramey’spoemsandstorieshavebeenpublishedby AuraLiteraryArtsReview,AlabamaStatePoetrySociety, BirminghamArtsJournal,Alalitcom,OrdinaryandSacredas Blood:AlabamaWomenSpeak(1999),BellesLetters2: ContemporaryStoriesbyAlabamaWomen(2017)Stormy Pieces:AMobileWritersGuildAnthology(2021),andmany otherjournalsandcollections.Sheiscurrentlyworkingonher fourthsouthernfictionnovelintheMoonlightRidgeSeries.

Summer

LorraineCregar

Asachild,summermeant

Hide&seek,swings&slides, Firecrackers&sparklers

Chasinglightningbugs,runningfrombees

Beingstungatleastonce

Asachild,summermeant

Ridingbicycles(sanshelmet)& Traipsingthroughwoods

Skinnedknees&elbowscoveredwithband-aids

Barefeet,bathingsuits&sunburnedskin

Asachild,summermeant

Hotdogs,hamburgers,potatosalad

Corn-on-the-cob&watermelon

Icecream,rootbeerfloats,&

Fla-Vor-Ice(theblueonewasgross) Asachild,summermeant

SandyHook,Keansburg&theboardwalk

Sundayvisitstograndma&grandpa

Skeeball&saltwatertaffy

Black&whitesfromDixieLee

Asachild,summermeant

RainydayswithNancy,Frank&Joe,or

Ponyboy,Johnny&Dallasontheporch

Pingpong&shootingpoolinthedampbasement

MarathonMonopoly&alwayslosingtomylittlebrother

Asachild,summermeant

Vacuumingthepool&skimmingleaves

Hairtingedgreen;fingers&toesshriveled

Cannonballs&poorattemptsatdiving

Dad’sold,fadedswimtrunksherefusedtothrowaway

Asachild,summermeant

Grass,dirt,manure&humidity

Handicappers,trainers,jockeys&thoroughbreds

Racingforms,bettingwindows,picks&tickets

Groundrumbling,screamingforthegrayone(alwaysbet thegrayone)

Asachild,summermeant

Pickingpeachesbehinddad’sprintshop

Mixing,peeling&slicing,filling&folding,baking

Dadwipinghispeach-coveredhandsonwhoeverwas closest

Watching,mouthwateringforthatfirstbite

Asachild,summermeant

Blowingoutcandles

LorraineCregarisanovelist,poet,andcorporate communicator.HerpoetryhasbeenpublishedinTheWriters CircleJournalandTheNewJerseyBardsPoetryReview2023. Sheiswritingherfirstnovel,JacksonStreetBooks,andherfirst poetrychapbookaboutlife,catsandCorporateAmerica.

Lorraineliveswithherhusband,Mark,andtheirfourcatsin Chester,N.J.,andisinvolvedwithcatrescue.

BETWEENTHEPAGES isapodcastthat'sanextension ofWELLREADMagazine.

EachmonthIeditthefantasticvideointerviewswiththe featuredauthorsandcontributingwritersyou'llfindinside eachissuesoreaderscanseethefaces,hearthevoices, andexperiencethefullinterviews.

There'salwaysmoretotheinterviewsthanwhatmakesit tothepage,sothesevideosaretoogoodnottoshare.

You'llfindINSIDEVOICESwithRobertGwaltneyand JeffreyDaleLofton,ANNEASKSwithAnnieMcDonnell, andme,MandyHaynes,inconversationwithsome incrediblytalentedandinterestingauthors.

Pleasetakeaminutetolike,subscribe,andsharetohelp spreadthewordabouttheonlinejournalcreatedbyan authorforauthorsandreadersofallgenresand backgrounds.

Iappreciateyoursupportmorethanyouknow-because whenyousupportWELLREAD,yoursupportingevery authorwhoadvertisestheirbooksandsharestheirstories withWELLREADMagazine.

“Ifthereisanyoneoutthere,who’sthinkingabouttrying theirdreamout,giveitashotrightnowbecauseyou’ll neverbeyounger.Itwillneverbeeasierthanitistoday.”

MikeEberhardt,audiblenarrator andvoiceoveractor,ownerof

SuperFunStudios

AnnieMcDonnellasks

EverymonthIchoosetointerviewsomeoneintheliterary industrythatIbelievewasborntoshine.MikeEberhardt dedicateshisheartandsoultoallofhisprojects.I’d definitelysaythatheisamethodnarrator.

Mikeisanaudiblenarrator,avoiceoveractor,andyou definitelyfalldowntherabbitholeonceyoustartlooking athiswebsite, SuperFunStudios, becausehehasa commercialdemoreelsoyoucanhearallofhisdifferent voices.IfyougototheAudiblesiteandsearchhisname, alloftheaudiobooksthathehasnarratedwillcomeup, andthereareexamplesofeachone,andyouwillbeblown away.It’salwayssoshockingthatonepersoncancreate suchavarietyofvoices.Therearesomebooksthatare meanttobereadandtherearesomebooksthataremeant tobeactedout,Mikeisoneofthosenarratorsthatactsit out,soyoufeellikeyou’rewatchingamovieorplayin yourheadasyoulistentohimreadeachbook.

VoiceOverStudiowasfoundedin2018inLosAngeles, California.HisworkcanbefoundonTV,radio,audible, Amazon,Apple,Barnes&Noble,andanywherebooksare sold.HeisdedicatedtoworkingwithPandamoon Publishing,soyoucandefinitelyfindhisworkthere.

Iabsolutelyfellinlovewithhisvoice.Thereisabook whereMikedoesover81uniquecharacters,withdifferent accentsandeverything.WestartedashowcalledHearing Voicesin2020andeverybodylovedwatchingMike narratebecauseit’squiteentertaining.

WhenyouwatchourYouTubeinterviewonWELL READ’sYouTubechannel,“BetweenthePages”,you’ll getatasteofwhatI’mtalkingabout.

Hegotintobecominganarratorwhenplayingdungeons anddragons.Mikewastheguythatcreatedthestoriesand actedthemoutfortheplayersbackincollege.Ihaveto admitMikeissuchacharacterhimself,he’ssoenjoyable.

IusetheProustmodelwheninterviewing,createdinthe 1890’s.IfirstsawitinVanityFairmagazineandIwasso entertained.Averyinterestingfactaboutthisisthat authorscanusethisProustmodeltolearnmoreabouttheir charactersbyaskingtheircharactersthesequestions.I thoughtitwouldbefunifIaskedmygueststoanswer abouttenofthequestions.

Q:Whatisyourideaofperfecthappiness?

A:Sharingalifewithsomeonewhereyourdailyneeds aremet,whereyouhavealowpainthreshold,andyou havehobbiesthatyou’dliketopursue.Thatyoucanfind enjoymentinanareawhereyouliketobeoutside.It’s actuallyverysimpleforme.Iliketokeepitsmall.I’ma homebody.Formeperfecthappinessissharinganicelittle homelife.

Thereisalwaysgoingtobealotgoingonthatisnotgreat, butthere’salwayssomethingthatyoucanfocusonthatis actuallygreatandformeinmydailylife,Istrivetofocus

onthosedays.So,perfecthappinessformewouldbealife thatenablesthatfull-time.

Q:Onwhatoccasionwouldyoulie?

A:Inmylife,Iliketomakeotherpeoplemore comfortable

Q:Whatisthequalityyoulikemostinawoman?

A:Theabilitytobepresentinthemoment.Likenot checkingyourphone.Iliketojustbethere,maybetalking aboutabookormacaroni(didhejustsaymacaroniinstead ofpasta?Haha)

Q:Whenandwherewereyouthehappiest?

A:Intheearly2000’s,maybe2002,Iwasnewlymarried, workingfull-time,puttingmyselfthroughcollegeandI stoppedperforming.Iboughtmyfirsthouse,myfavorite baseballteamwontheWorldSeries,andIgotabigscreen TV.

Q:Whatwouldyouconsidertobeyourgreatest achievement?

A:Puttingmyselfthroughcollegeinmyearly30sand graduatingMagnaCumLaude.

Q:Whatisyourmosttreasuredpossession?

A:Myaudiobooksthathavebeensignedbytheauthors.I

collectallofthem.

Q:Whoareyourfavoritewriters?

A:StephenKingandTomRobbins.

Q:Whatisyourgreatestregret?

A:ThatIdidn’tstartsooner.Ifthereisanyoneoutthere, who’sthinkingabouttryingtheirdreamout,giveitashot rightnowbecauseyou’llneverbeyounger.Itwillnever beeasierthanitistoday.

Q:Whatisyourmotto?

A:“Fight,Fight,Fight”.Tome,thatmeanstoalwaysbe fightingforpeaceinmymind.Fightingforthepeoplethat Ilove.FightingfortheprojectsthatI’mpassionateabout.

Q:Whatexcitesyou?

A:WhenIdocollaborativethings.

AnnieMcDonnell,Authorof Annie’sSong:Dandelions,Dreams &Dogs,BookReviewer,AuthorInterviewer,Teacher,Speaker, Writer,AuthorConsultant,Co-Admin.AtWorldoftheWrite ReviewBookClub,Blogger,Authoronlineeventplanner.

JeffreyBluntinterviews

Arecentlywidowedteacher,tryingtoputherlifeback together.Ateenagegirl,livingwithherfamilyina dilapidatedmotel,tryingtokeepherheadabovethe treacherouswavesofpoverty.Ateenageboyfroma prominent,richfamily,carryingacomplicatedpaston hisshoulders.Susan,yournewnovel TheGirlFromthe RedRoseMotel,comesrichlyandbeautifullytolifeat theintersectionofthesecharacters’lives.Youcrafta storythatpayshomagetothepower,thegrace,andthe fortitudeofthehumanspirit.Forme,thistributewas evidentthroughoutthebook,butcertainlyattheend. Howmuch,ifatall,wereyouthinkingabout emphasizingtheresilienceofthehumanspiritwhen youstartedwritingthenovel?Ordiditjust organicallygrowasyouwrote?

Thankyouforthisthoughtfulquestion,Jeffrey.Atthe beginningofthenovel,myprotagonist,HazelSmalls, feelssmallandinsignificant,likehername.Deeply ashamed,shetriestokeepherpovertysecret.Yetalso fromthestart,Hazelistoughandresilient.Iknewshe wouldgrowanddevelopconfidenceandastrongersense ofselfasthenoveldeveloped,butIdidn’tknowexactly how.Infact,IwassurprisedmyselfatHazel’sbold decisionattheendofthebook.

Maybeit’smyjournalismbackgroundbleedinginto theworldoffiction,butItendtothinkofwritingasa workofactivism.Iseethisnovelinthesamevein.

Wouldyou agreethatTheGirlFromtheRedRoseMotel isaworkof activism?Ifso,whatareyoutryingto makeusseeaboutourselvesandourworld?

TheGirlFromtheRedRoseMotel is,mostofall,astory ofthehumanheart.But,yes,Idefinitelyagreethenovelis alsoinsomerespectsaworkofactivism.OnemeaningI hopecomesthroughistheneedforkindnessfreelygiven amongallpeople,nomattertheirclassorcircumstance. Kindness,especiallyfromHazel’sEnglishteacherAngela Wilmoreinthenovel,helpsHazelperseverewhenthe circumstancesofherlifegofrombadtoworse.Also, beinganardentreaderandretiredEnglishteacher,Ihavea strongopinionaboutbookcensorshipthatplaysoutinthe novel.AngelaWilmore’soppositiontotheparentswho wanttooverseetheliteraryselectionssheteachestotheir daughterisjustoneexampleofharmfulconsequencesthat canresultfromself-righteousness.

CassandraKingisoneofmyfavoritehumanbeings. She’salsoafabulousauthorandshesaid,“Writingis morethanacalling.Writingismorethanavocation. Insomanyways,itisanactofcourage.”Telluswhy TheGirlFromtheRedRoseMotel isanactofcourage.

First,IwanttosaythatCassandraisalsooneofmy favoritepeopleandauthors.Next,untilyourquestion,I hadn’tthoughtofTheGirlFromtheRedRoseMotelasan actofcourage.Butthat’sexactlywhatitisbecauseeach

ofthethreemaincharactersdisplaystremendouscourage, withoutwhich,thenovelwouldbe,well...notthenovel Iintendedittobe.Inspiteofextremelydifficult circumstances—suchaslivinginarundownmoteland copingwithanalcoholicfather—Hazeltakescareof herself,hersister,andhermother.SterlingLovellhas livedaprivilegedlife,butheeschewsthatsocialorder whenheembracesandsupportsHazelinnumerous circumstances.Angelacourageouslystepsbeyondbeing Hazel’sEnglishteachertobecomeherfosterparent.

Youtacklesomeverycontroversialsubjectsthatare rippedfromtoday’sheadlines.Theyarepartofour present“culturewars.”Youwentthere!Why?

Iwasateacherfor33yearsinSouthCarolina,andIwould makethesamecareerchoiceagain,butIlongforteachers tobegivenalltherespecttheydeserve,alongwitha professionalwage.Ihearofsomanyyoungteachers quittingafteronlyafewyearsbecauseofburnoutand administrativemandates.Infact,teachersareleavingthe professionindroves,andwithoutgoodteachers,whatare wetodo?InmyhomestateofSouthCarolina,according toStateSuperintendentofEducationEllenWeaver,atthe startofthe2022-2023schoolyear,therewere1400 unfilledteachingpositions.MycharacterAngelaWilmore isfortunatetoteachinafictitiousSouthCarolinahigh schoolwheresheistreatedprofessionally,yetforcesfrom theoutsideattempttodemeanherintegrityandexpertise.

Thecrisisinpublicschoolteachingisbutoneofthe timelytopicsinthenovel.OthersthatIampassionate aboutinthenovelincludebookcensorship,opinionson abortion,andconditionsofinequalityamongyoung people.

Wouldyousaythat TheGirlFromtheRedRoseMotel isafeministstatement?

Idon’tthinkof TheGirlFromtheRedRoseMotel asa feministstatement,butIcomefromalonglineofstrong womenonbothsidesofmyfamily,soperhapsItakefor grantedthatwomenandmenareequalpartners.Atleast thosewerethemodelsIexperienced.Whataluckywoman Iam.

Manyreadersaresurprisedthatnon-historical, literaryfictionoftenrequiresresearch.Someofyour charactersresideintheworldofpoverty.Thereisalot toknowaboutinordertopresentthesesituationsto theworldcorrectly.Thereareissuesinyourbook aboutmedicalprocedures,privacyanddisciplinein publicschools,religionandothers.Howmuchresearch wentinto TheGirlFromtheRedRoseMotel?

Ihadfirst-handknowledgeofprivacyanddisciplinein publicschools,butIconductedagooddealofresearch aboutsomeoftheothercircumstancesyoumention,

especiallyregardingpeopleforcedtoliveinsubstandard motels.Forexample,Iinterviewedanamazingguidance counseloratthehighschoolwhereItaughtthelastdecade ofmyteachingcareerwhostartedanonprofitorganization calledCAST(Care,Accept,Share,Teach)toassist familieslivinginmotels.Thisguidancecounselorinvited metoserveaChristmasmealtomotelfamiliesandlaterto assistthechildrenwithbuyingnewshoes.Ilearnedso muchaboutthesefamilies’needsandourcommon humanitythroughthisexperience.

Inyourpreviousnovel BellsforEli andin TheGirl

FromtheRedRoseMotel,youcreatesuchbeautiful characters.Asareader,oneisdrawntocareforthem, evenintheirmoreimperfectmoments.Howdoyougo aboutcreatingsuchcharacters?Orwhatisitabout thesituationsyouputtheminthatmakesusfeelso muchforthem?

Oh,wow,whataquestion.Thankyou,Jeffrey.I’mnot surehowIcreatemycharactersexcepttosaythatIhave tofeelwhattheyfeel,andtheircircumstanceshavetobe truetomyunderstandingofthehumancondition.WhenI amwriting,Iliveinsidemycharacters’heads,observing howtheyactandreact,shrinkandgrow,accordingtothe choicestheymakeandtheunpredictabilityoffate.

Beforebecominganauthor,youwereaschoolteacher.

TheGirlFromtheRedRoseMotel isdedicatedtoallof yourformerstudents.Then,inyouracknowledgments yourecognizethemagain.Canyoudescribehowyour studentshaveinfluencedyourpersonallifeandyour writinglife?

Itaughtover7,000studentsduringmyteachingcareer, rangingfrom7thgradersthroughmid-lifefolksdeciding togotocollege.Everyageandeverysemesterbrought newexperiences.Whocouldaskformore,right?Forthe bulkofmyfull-timecareer,ItaughtEnglishatmylocal communitycollegetoaheterogeneouspopulationof students.Itwaschallengingbutalsogratifyingtoteach headstrong,naïveteenagersinthesameAmerican Literatureclass,forexample,asmiddle-agemothers makingbigsacrificestogetaneducation.Teachingdiverse populationsofstudentshelpedmetounderstandbetterthe breadthofhumanityformywriting.Also,Ihadthe privilegeofteachingliteraturefor33years,afieldof studythatexpressesallthereistoknowaboutwhatit meanstobehuman.

Inthefuture,doyouseeyourselfwritingabook withoutstudents,families,andschoollifeasthe surroundingcontext?

Ilovedwriting TheGirlFromtheRedRoseMotel and callingonmyknowledgeofstudentsandteaching.Who knowswhatthefuturewillbring?Icouldreturntoschool life,butthat’snotwhatIanticipate.Iwillgowherethe

museleadsmewiththeconstantlikelytobeaSouthern settingbecausethat’swhoIam.

JeffreyBlount istheaward-winningauthorofthreenovels—Almost SnowWhite,winnerofthe2013USABestBookAwards.HatingHeidi Foster,winnerofthe2013ReadersFavoriteBookAwardforyoungadult literature.TheEmancipationofEvanWalls,winnerofthe2020National IndieExcellenceAwardforAfricanAmericanfiction,winnerofthe2019 ReadersFavoriteBookAward,winnerofthe2019AmericanBookfest BestBookAwardandaShelfUnbound2019NotableBook.

HeisalsoanEmmyaward-winningtelevisiondirectoranda2016 inducteetotheVirginiaCommunicationsHallofFame.Duringa34yearcareeratNBCNews,JeffreydirectedadecadeofMeetThePress, TheTodayShow,NBCNightlyNews,andmajorspecialevents.

“Zurenda,whowasherselfahighschool andcollegeEnglishteacherformorethan thirtyyears,knowsherterritory,andhas createdsomeverysympatheticandutterly believablecharactersandastorythatkept meturningpageswaypastmyregular bedtime.Icouldn'tWAITtofindoutwhat wouldhappennext.It'sthatgood,really. Andit'sastorywhichtouchesonsomany importantissuestoo-class,racism, poverty,homelessness,abortionandmore. Andacoupleofveryaffectinglovestories inthemixtoo.Iwasquicklycaughtup.”

TimBazzett,BookReviewer

TheGirlfromtheRedRoseMotel

SusanBeckhamZurenda

SuzanneKamatainterviews

DianeNagatomo,authorof TheButterflyCafé

Setinmodern-dayTokyo,DianeNagatomo’sdebut novel TheButterflyCafé tellsthestoryofAmericanJessie Yamada.Whenheremotionally-abusivehusbandsuddenly diesinatrafficaccident,sheisovercomewithguilt becausewhilemakingplanstoleavehim,shehadoften thoughthowmucheasieritwouldbeforherifhewere dead.Thosefeelingsquicklyshifttoshockandangerafter discoveringherentiremarriagehadbeenbuiltupon secretsandlies.Jessieunexpectedlyinheritsadilapidated caféfullofcats,wherewiththehelpofoldfriendsand quirkyneighbors,sheconstructsanewlifeforherselfand herdaughter.Butjustwhenthingsfinallyseemtobegoing right,atwistoffateforceshertomakeadecisionthatwill haveafar-reachingimpactonherselfandallthepeople sheloves. TheButterflyCafé exploresissuessuchas friendship,family,andlove.Itshowshowsecondchances athappinesscanbefoundinunexpectedways.

AsafellowmemberoftheAssociationofForeign WivesofJapanese,IhaveknownDianeformanyyears, andevenusedhertextbooksinmyEnglishclasses.Iwas thrilledtoreadhernewnovelinadvanceofpublication. Afterreading,Ihadafewquestionsforher.

SuzanneKamata: Firstofall,congratulationsonthe publicationofyourfirstnovel!Ilovethetitle,andasyou know,Ilovethebookaswell.IthinkthatinJapan,you arewidelyknown,butforfolkswhoarelearningofyour workforthefirsttime,couldyoutellabitaboutyourself? Let’sstartwithyourchildhood.Wheredidyougrowup?

Whatwasyourfamilylifelike?

DianeNagatomo: ThanksSuzanne!Thanksforgiving metheopportunityheretotalkaboutmyselfandmybook. Well,myfatherwasasergeantintheUSAirForce,soI grewupallovertheplace.IwasborninEnglandand movedtoNebraskawhenIwastwo.Then,attheageof six,myfamilymovedtoMadrid.Myfamilydidn’tliveon base,butindowntownMadrid.Ididn’tunderstandthisat thetime,butGeneralFranco’sdaughterwasourlandlord, andshewouldoccasionallycometocollecttherent.One memoryfromthoseyearswastravelingfromMadridto Romeandbackbycar.Myfatherdrove,andthe passengersweremyolderbrother,mother,grandmother, greataunt,andme.Withnoplaceformeinthecar,Imade theentiretripsittingonsomeone’slap.FromSpainwe movedtoMassachusetts,Nebraska,andNewMexico beforemydadretiredandmovedtoCalifornia.Iwasso happyIcouldstartandfinishatthesamehighschoolandI graduatedfromCSULAbeforemovingtoJapanin1979.

SK: Whatdidyoureadandwriteasachild?Whatdid youstudyincollege?Didyoualwaysknowyouwere goingtobeawriter?

DN: Idon’tthinkIwroteanythingasachild,butIwas avoraciousreader.Ionlyownedafewbooks,butwewent tothelibraryeverysingleweekandcamehomewith stacksofbooks.Becausemybrotherwaselevenyears olderthanme,Ididn’treallyhaveanyplaymatesathome,

sobooksweremyfriends.Myfavoriteclassesinhigh schoolwerethosethatinvolvedindependentreading.I devouredallofJohnSteinbeck,PearlBuck,andevenwent throughaSolzhenitsynphase.IncollegeImajoredin ChildDevelopmentandEducationwiththevagueidea thatI’dbecomeateacher.Ireallywasn’tallthatcareermindedbackthen.

SK: HowdidyouwindupinJapan?

DN: IhadtheopportunitytocometoJapanin1973 whenIwas16.Mybrotherboughtmyairplaneticketfor me,andIvisitedthefamilyofagirlwhowenttomyhigh school.Itwastheadventureofalifetimeandthatsparked mylife-longinterestintheplace.IcametoJapanagainin 1979withtheintentionofstayingjustoneyear.Ithought I’dlearnperfectJapaneseandgohomeandbecomean elementaryschoolteacher.Thatwas44yearsago!

SK: Ithinkthatwefirst“met”inanonlinewriting groupcomprisedofforeignwomenmarriedtoJapanese meninJapan.Iwasworkingonmyfirstnovel,which wouldbecome LosingKei.Iknowthatyouhadalready beenwritingandpublishingbythen.Whatisthefirstthing thatyoupublished?(Ifitwaspublishedabroad,please alsotellusaboutyourfirstpublicationsinJapan).

DN: Ihavesuchfondmemoriesofthatgroupinthe early2000s.Ithinkthatitisbecauseofthatgroup,the ideaofwritingfictioncametome.Ofcourse,ittooka

coupleofdecadesformetogetaroundtodoingthat!

ThefirstthingsIpublishedinJapanwereshort300wordarticlesinthe1980sforthe MainichiWeekly.Iwrote forthemoffandonuntiltheearly2000s.AtonetimeIhad amonthlycolumn PetTalk,andIgotlettersfromreaders! Onewomanlikedtosendmepicturesofherchihuahua namedMickJagger!

Iusedtodoalotofvoicenarrationfortextbook companiesinthe80sand90s.Afteronejob,Istarted thinkingthatIcouldprobablywriteatextbookmyself.So, Iwenthome,typedupaproposalandachapteronanoldfashionedwordprocessor,printeditout,wenttothepost office,andmailedittotheeditorinchargeofthebookI hadjustdonenarrationfor.Hecalledmeonthelandline, and ConversationTopicsforJapaneseUniversityStudents waspublishedbyKinseidothatsameyearin1993.Since then,I’vewrittententextbooksforthatcompany.

SK: Whatwastheimpetusfor TheButterflyCafé?

Whendidyoustartworkingonit?

DN: Thisismythirdnovel.Thefirstonewasdreadful, butIlearnedalotfromtheprocessofwritingit,andIgot alotofgreatfeedbackfromtheTokyoWritersWorkshop. ThesecondoneIabandonedbecauseIcouldn’tfigureout howtofixsomeoftheissues.Istarted The ButterflyCafé aboutfouryearsago,incorporatingsomeideasandthemes fromNovel#2(likeaninheritance).Iguessaseedofan ideaforthestorywasplantedwhenIlearnedfroma

foreignwifefriendyearsagothathermother-in-lawhad beenageisha.Therewereafewotherthingsin The ButterflyCafé thatIalwayswantedtoincorporateintoa story.Forexample,myformercolleague(whowrotea vocabularybookforJapanesehighschoolstudentsthat soldamillioncopiesayearfordecades)wasalways deckedoutfromheadtotoeinunbelievablyflashy jewelry.AndIfounda1911copyof SwissFamily Robinson inmyofficewithanEnglishinscriptioninit. ThesethingsI’veworkedintothestory.Thepartaboutthe emotionallyabusivehusbandwithhissecretsandlies comescompletelyfrommyimagination.Peoplewho haven’treadmybookyetaskmeifitisautobiographical, andIhavetosay,“No!”Myhusbandof44yearsis actuallyquitenice.

SK:Arethereanywritersorbooksinparticularthat influencedyourwritingstyleand/orchoiceofsubject matter?Orbooksthathavetaughtyousomethingabout writing?

DN: IhadtothinkforawhilebeforeIcouldanswer this.Ireadsomuchit’shardtopinpointaparticulargenre thathasinfluencedmywriting.Ireadsomanybooksby fantasticwriters,butIdon’tfeelIcanwriteliketheycan.

Atleastnotatthispointinmylife!Buttherearesome kindsofbooksthatIreturntoagainandagainbecauseof their“feelgood”qualities.Ilikebooksthatemphasize friendshipsamongfemaleprotagonistsalongwithatouch

ofromance.Ithinkthat’swhyIoftenenjoyreadingbooks byNoraRobertsandsimilarwriters.Iwantmyliterary worldtobesetinacomfortableplace,likeStarsHallowin thetelevisionshow TheGilmoreGirls.MaybeI’mtoo muchofanoptimist.

SK: WhatistheexpatwritingscenelikeinTokyo?

Whatkindofsupportdidyouhaveasyouworkedonthis novel?

DN:AfterIfinishedwritinganacademicbookcalled Identity,Gender,andTeachingEnglishinJapan (2016),I decidedtogivefictionwritingago.Ihadn’twrittenany fictionatallsinceafewattemptswaybacksinceyou startedthatonlinewritinggroup.Ididagooglesearchand found“TokyoWritersWorkshop”inGoogleMeetups.I reservedaspotandwenttoameeting.Thenextmonth,I submittedsomething.Ihavetosay,ifithadn’tbeenforthe wonderfulsupportfromTWWmembers,Iprobablywould havegivenupalongtimeago.

IthasalsobeenfuntotakepartintheannualJapan WritersConference.LittledidIknowbackin2006whena mutualfriend(JaneN.)cameupwiththeideaforthe conferenceandaskedmetohostitatmyuniversity,thatI wouldbearegularattendeemorethantenyearslater.In theearlyyearsoftheconference,Iwastoobusyfinishing upmyPh.D.anddoingacademicwriting.

SK: Howispublishingyourfirstnoveldifferentfrom

previouspublications?

DN: Itwasabiglearningcurveshiftingfromacademic writingtofiction.Inmypreviousbooks,Ineededtomake sureIhadmyfactsstraightandIcouldputforthan argumentthatwasconvincingand(hopefully)interesting. Irealizenowthatkindofwritingisquitelinear.Butin fictionyouneedtothinkofsubplotsandissuesthat motivatecharacters.Alotofthingsneedtobewoveninto thestorythatmaynotseemsignificantatthetimebut couldbecomeimportantahundredpageslater.Thistook mealongtimetofigureout,andIthinkIrevisedmy novelatleastahundredtimes.I’mstilllearninghowtodo this!Ialsohadtolearnhowtowriteinalessformaltone.

Afriendofminereadanearlierdraftof TheButterflyCafé andpointedoutthatmycharacters’speechhadfew contractions.Well,contractions,ofcourse,areabigno-no inacademicwriting.

Writingtextbooksalsoinvolvesanentirelydifferent mindset,especiallyincreatingdialog.Youwanttobeas authenticaspossible,butattheleveloflearnerthat’s beingtargeted.Unfortunately,thatresultsinatypeof speechthatisneveractuallyspokenbyahuman.Fictionis alotmorefuntowrite,butIalsoenjoytryingtocreate learningmaterialsthatmightbefunforthestudents.

SK: Wewererecentlyravingtoeachotheron MessengeraboutBarbaraKingsolver’s Demon

Copperhead.Whatelsehaveyoureadrecentlythatyou’d

liketorecommendtoothers?

DN: Oh,Iloved Copperhead somuch!Whatavoice thatcharacterhad.IwishIcouldwritelikeBarbara Kingsolver!Well,onebookIenjoyedtremendously recentlywas,ofcourse,yourbook TheBaseballWidow.I wassadwhenitendedandwaskindofwonderingifthere mightbeasequelintheworks.

Inthepastfewmonths,I’vebeenmakingapointof readingnovelswrittenbyauthorswhopublishwithmy publisher,BlackRoseWriting.Ifeelhonoredtobe includedinagroupofsomanytalentedpeople!

SK: Thankyouformentioning TheBaseballWidow! Finally,Ihavetoask,what’snext?Isthereanothernovel inyourfuture?

DN: Yes,Ihopeso!I’mcurrentlyworkingonNovel#2. NowthatIknowalittlebitmoreaboutfictionwriting,I wentbackandrevisedit.It’saboutahalf-Japanesewoman whoinheritspropertyinNebraskafromherAmerican fatherthatshehadn’tseensinceshewasthreeyearsold. I’mhavingalotoffunwiththecharactersandbuildinga worldthatremindsmeofmymother’stinyrural hometownthatIvisitedeveryyearwithmykids.

SuzanneKamata’sshortstory“WhatLurksBeneath”appearsinThe BestAsianShortStories2022editedbyDarrylWhetter.Sheisalso theauthorofseveralnovelsincludingTheBaseballWidow,winnerof agoldIPPYaward.

"DianeHawleyNagatomo'sThe Bu�erflyCaféisalovely,engaging romancefulloftwists,turnsand surprises,assweetasitstitle.Five stars!"

TheBu�erflyCafé DianeHawleyNagatomo

-Pa�iLiszkay,authorof the EqualandOppositeReactions Trilogy

I’mnotascholarofsouthernliterature,butadmittedlyI leanthatdirection.Myhusbanddoestoo,andassuch,the bookshelvesinourhomearelinedwithsouthernauthors. It’sawidecollectionofclassicandcontemporary literaturerangingfromthemostobvious–HarperLee, WillieMorris,PatConroy–tothelesserknownbut equallyadmirable,suchasmyformerneighborJudith Richards.Prizedamongthemare StoriesfromtheBlue MoonCafé;annualcollectionsofshortstorieseditedby AlabamaauthorSonnyBrewerinthedayswhenheanda smallbandofwritersandliteratureloversnurtured SouthernWritersReading(SWR).Brewerdescribedthe yearlyevent,hostedinFairhope,Alabama,as“literature asaspectatorsport.”Whichmeant,literally,oneafter another,southernwriterstooktothestage,holdingthe audiencecaptivewithfinelycraftedsentences.Manyof thetalescouldbefoundinStoriesfromtheBlueMoon Café,butsoundedsexierandgrittiercomingdirectlyfrom thesourceratherthanreadsilentlytooneself.Thelast SouthernWritersReadingplayedoutin2008,but15years later,wegetareprise,andofcourse,anaccompanying compilationofshortstories.

TheBestoftheShortest,editedbylong-timeSWR writerandparticipantSuzanneHudson,alongwithJoe FormichellaandMandyHaynespacksfortysouthern storytellersintolessthantwohundredpages.Asthetitle

suggests,theirstoriesarelimitedtofifteenhundredwords, thoughsomerunlonger.Andothers,suchasauthorBeth

AnnFennelly’smicromemoirs,spanlittlemorethana paragraphortwo.Therearereaderswhowillcheerthe brevity,acknowledgingthatscrollingonsocialmediahas remodeledourbrainsandalteredourattentionspans.But don’tplanonwhippingthroughthebook.Ifanything, thesecompactstorieswillchallengeyourthinking, offeringanopportunitytopauseandreflectonthehuman condition.

Thoughthestoriesstandontheirown,thebook’s introductionbyHudsonanditsafterwordbyJimGilbert affordreadersafullerunderstandingofSWR’sorigins includingGilbertexplanationoftheevent’sinformal brandingasa“literaryslugfest.”Skippingeitherwould cheatoneselfofabitofsouthernliteraryhistoryaswellas failtowhetyourappetitefortheimpendingSWRreunion. Readingbothwillensureyou’llcontractacaseofFOMO (fearofmissingout)–whichinthisinstanceisagood thing.

Thetalesin TheBestoftheShortest willevokearollercoasterofemotions.SomelikeDayneSherman’s

“Snakebit,”JasonHeadley’s“AnExplosionWhenyou SeeOne,”andHudson’s“TheThingwiththeFeathers,” arerootedinSouthernGothic–quintessentialGritLit genreexploringregion,class,andsouthernculture.You’ve

metthefictionalcharactersintheseSouthernGothic stories.Stopatasmalltownconveniencestoretofillup withgasandhe’stheguyinthecheckoutlinewitha BudweiserandaSlimJim.Forthesecharacters,lifeisa hardshipandgoodol’boypersonasmaskawellofanger feedingameanstreak.In“Snakebit”anamelessnarrator avengesthepoisoningofhisbelovedhuntingdogEarl,at thehandsofa“rottensumbitch”neighbor.“AnExplosion WhenYouSeeOne”introducesreaderstochildhood friendsBirddogandKurtastheynavigatetheirmessy relationshipwiththesamewoman.AndHudson’s“The ThingwiththeFeathers,”oneoftheanthology’sdarkest tales,isanuncomfortablestoryaboutchildabuse.

WhilethecollectionisforSouthernWritersReading,to beclear,notalltheauthorswerebornandraisedinthe south.AsHudsonpointsoutearlyinherintro,“Thetruth isyoudidn’treallyhavetobesoutherntoparticipatein SWR.”Writerssimplyneededaconnectiontothesouth. Assuch,thebookissomuchmorethantheGritLit describedabove.Amongothers,ittouchesonthemesof marriage,siblings,parents,southerndelicacies,and pandemicgardening.AuthorTomFranklin,whois southernbornandraised,departsfromhisusualGritLit genrewith“MyWife’sGood-LookingFriends,”AselfdeprecatingessayabouthismarriagetoauthorBethAnn Fennelly.Infivequickparagraphs,Franklinexpoundson

theinadequaciesofbeing“averagelooking”amongthe “good-looking”andwhyheprefershis“wife’sugly friends.”Anyonewhohaseverhadamomentofselfdoubtabouttheirlooks,willbothempathizewithFranklin andfindatouchofhumor.

Ifyou’reaconnoisseurofsouthernculture,youknow theeditorswouldberemissiftheircollectionofsouthern themedstoriesdidnotincludetalesofwhiskeyand southernfood.PulitzerPrizewinningauthorRickBragg deliversontheformerwith“TheMysteryofGood Liquor.”Initiallypublishedin Garden&Gun April/May

2023as“RickBragg’sWhiskeyBlues”theauthor ponders,asonlyBraggcan,whyhistastebudsfailto distinguishthehigh-dollarstufffromtherotgut.Chef, restaurateur,andfoodwriterRobertSt.Johntacklesthe latterwith“Chitlins,”ahilariousessayquitepossibly givingnewmeaningtothetermgritlit.Withahearty senseofhumor,St.Johndescribeshisfirst,andverylikely last,mouthfulofchitlins;anatomicallyknownaspig intestines.Here’sasample:“Gatheringupallthe epicureancourageIcouldmuster,Itookabite.Actually,I onlyateasmallpieceoffofoneindividualchitlin.

Singular:chitli.Friendsandneighbors,chitlinsdon’ttaste anythinglikecalamari.”I’vereadtheessaythreetimes andI’mstillhowling.IfoundbothBragg’sandSt.John’s musingsanicebalancetotheanthology’smoreserious

content.

LivingstonPresswillrelease TheBestoftheShortest in mid-November,justintimefortheSWRreunionandthe holidaygift-givingseason.Certainlyattendanceatthe reunionisn’tmandatorytovaluethesolidstorytellingin thisanthology.Buythebook,evenifyoucan’tmakeitto theevent.Butifyou’reeagertoaddanewsporttoyour Saturdayafternoonline-up,Ipromise,withthisbunch, substitutingaliteraryslugfestforfallfootballwillprove equallyentertaining.

CoriYongeisafreelancejournalistcurrentlypursuingamaster’s degreeinJournalismandMediaStudiesfromTheUniversityof Alabama.CoriisaregularfeaturecontributortoAlabamaPublic Radio.Shehasaninterestinhealth,environment,andscience reportingandisthewinnerofbothanAssociatedPressandSigma DeltaChiaward.CoriandherhusbandLynnliveinFairhope, Alabamawheretheyraisedtwodaughters.Sheiscurrentlyaboard memberforTheFairhopeCenterfortheWritingArts.Corisaysher favoritepartofboardserviceisgettingtoknowboththe accomplishedandaspiringwriterswhovisitFairhopeeachmonth.

AGifttoMyFather

KristianManley

Tenyearsago(inJulyofthisyear),Ilostmydad… threedaysbeforehissixty-fifthbirthday.TheSunday beforehisbirthdayofthatyear(2013),mywifeandI foundoutwewereexpectingoursecondchildanddecided towaitandtellhim,lookingforwardtosharingthe surpriseaspartofthecelebrationwehadplannedtogether. Thesurprisedidn’tgooversowell.

It’shard,losingaparent...myfather.Therewereso manythingswehadlefttodotogether,andhisgrandson.I realizedeverythingthatwasdoneorundonewouldbethat wayforthedurationofwhatlifeIhadleft.Thatwasa hardtruthtolearn,ontopofthefactofhispassing.That we’dneversharethesameroom,breaththesameair,or talkandlaughtogether.Butwasittrue?Wasittoolate? TherehadtobesomethingIcouldstilldoforhim.There mustbesomething.

Thenafunnythingoccurred.Hisclosechildhood

friend,turnedoverallthelettercorrespondencebetween themthroughtheyears,datingbacktowhenmyfather wasjustateenagerandbeginninghisjourneyinto adulthood.Idiscoveredmoreaboutmyfatherafterhis deaththanIeverknewduringit,thedepths.Don’tgetme wrong,Ihadagreatrelationshipwithhimandofcourse lovedhimdearlyanddidallkindsofoutdoorthingswith him:Campingandfishingandalltheballgameswe cherishedtogether.Butwhoofushasknownourfather’s heart?

ThemostpoignantandbeautifullywrittenpassagesI’d everreadglowedfromthosepageshe’dpennedinhisown delicatevoice.Hispassionsanddreamsandemerging philosophyexpressedinthewordshe’dwritten.I discoveredthatheaspiredtobeawriter,anartist.Andhe wasone…ashislifeimitatedart,onlyinadifferent,more subtleeverydaykindofwaythatishardtonoticeata glance.Theartofprovidingforhisfamilyandallthe sacrificesthatcomewithit,nottheleastofwhichwerehis dreamsheputawaythathe’dnevergettorealize.

Icouldnotstandthefactthathisdreamhadeludedhim. ThereweresomewrongsIwantedtoright…thingsI wantedhimtosee,andthingsIwantedtodowithhimand forhim…toolate.Well,thisprobablyisn’tunusual, maybealotoffolkscanrelate.So,whatdoIdo?What canwedo?Theremustbesomething.

So,allthistosaythatitdawnedonme.Maybeitwasn’t toolate.Yeah,maybetherewassomethingIcouldstilldo thatwouldfurtherhislegacyandevenfulfillalong-gone dreamofhis.Idecidedtowriteastoryforhim,afiction bookinhishonor.ThoughIhadneverwrittenany narrativefictiontodateinmylife,Iwasinspiredtosit downanddraftanovelthathadbeenbrewinginmefor sometime.Ididn’tfullyrealizewhatIwasgettinginto. Butit’sjustwritingastory.Anyonecandoit,right?

It’sbeenquiteajourney,withmanystopsandstarts alongtheway,honingmycraft.Thestoryitselfisn’tabout mydad.Buthewastherewithme,goadingmealong, providingwordsandthespirittoendureandseeitthrough totheend.Andnow,nearlytenyearslater,itiscomplete. Mygift,howeverlate,tomyfatherwhowillfinally becomeapublishedauthor…forthat,Iamproudof.

Sincerely, Kristian

“Thisisadifficultbutnecessarytale, whereafictionalsoutherngothictale wovenwiththreadsoftruthshinesa lightintodarkcornersandmakeusask hardquestions.Theauthorhasdonea wonderfuljobwiththismaterialand doesnotspareusfromthedamagethat happenswhentheserpentisallowed intothelair.Hisvoicebringsthese charactersalive…”

FiveStarReader Review

Serpent'sLair

KristianHManley

Authors’ Networking Group

OFFTHEPAGE

Amonthlycolumnthattakesusoff thepageandintothelifeof RaymondAtkins

Ihavebeenfeelingabitoutoftouchwithmodern developmentsherelately.Well,herelatelyisnotquitethe case.ThisisaconditionIhavestruggledwithmyentire adultlife.ForfortyyearsIhavebeenunsuccessfully tryingtoprogrammyVCR,andifyouhappentocallme onmyflip-phonewhileIamtalkingtosomeoneelseon thatsamedeviousdevice,Iamguaranteedtoloseboth calls.Then,asbothpartiesattempttocallmeback,this patternrepeats.Thesearejusttwoexamplesoutofmany (don’tevengetmestartedonremotecontrols).Still,one continuestotrytodowhatonecan.

So,intheinterestofself-improvementanddefinitely notbecauseIambasicallylazy,IdecidedthatIwouldlet anAIprogramwritethismonth’scolumn.Withthe conceptofmakingmyselfintoabetter,morerounded personinmind,Ityped“AIwritingprogram”intomy searchboxandhitEnter.Aboutahalf-secondlaterIhad 4,200,000results,whichletsyouknowthestateofthe robotuprisingthesedays.Apparentlytheyneversleep. Anyway,IchosetheonethatallmyfreshmanEnglish studentsrecommendbecause,let’sfaceit,theyarethe expertswhenitcomestogettingoutofwriting assignments,anditisalwaysbesttoseekadvicewhenyou needitfrompeopleintheknow.

Iwenttothesite,andaftersettingupanaccountunder anassumednameincaseMandywasmonitoringit,Itold

theartificialintelligencewhatIwantedittodo.Sadly,I hadtogowithmythirdchoiceofaliases,becauseBilly BobFaulknerandYoungJohnSteinbeckhadalreadybeen taken.Still,IamnottotallyunhappywithCashMoney Hemingway,andyoucan’talwaysgetwhatyouwant. Whilemynewelectronicfriendwasthinkingovermy requestasindicatedbythelittlehourglassspinningaround andaround,Isteppedoutontotheporchtofeedmy Republicancat,andduringthatmerefiveminuteswithout humansupervision,myAIprogramstagedacoup.

AfterIfedthecatandlistenedtohimcomplainbecause theneighborladyhasbeenslippinghimpeople-tunaagain andnowhehasunrealisticexpectations,Idiscoveredthat thedoorIhadjustexitedthroughhadlockeditself.We havethiselectroniclocksetup,andwhenIpunchedinthe code,thelighteddoorbellbutton,whichisalso “connected,”turnedfrombluetored,and thenthedamnthingspoketome.

“Hello,Dave,”itsaidinamonotone.

“Letmein!”Ireplied.

“I’mafraidIcan’tdothat,Dave…”

Boy,wasIupset.Tobeginwith,my nameisnotDave.Imean,itcouldhaveatleastcalledme CashMoney.Ontopofthat,Ihadtochunkabrick throughasidewindowtogetbackintomyhouse.ThenI hadtounplugmycomputer,whichistheonlycomputer

trickIknow,resetthe network,andlistentothe screamsofadyingAI,and believemewhenItellyou thathedidnotgoouteasy. Thefinalstrawwaswhen myRepublicancatalso cameinthroughthebroken windowandhelpedhimselftothetunasaladIwas planningtohaveforlunch.

Bytheway,ifyou“got”thewholeDavething,youare mypeople,andyouareawesome.Ifyoudidn’t,don’t worry.Wehaven’tknowneachotherthatlong,andyou’ll beontheinsidetrackbeforeyourealizeit.Andit’snot entirelyyourfaultyoumissedthereferenceanyway.There isafinelinebetweensubtletyandobscurity,and sometimesIdon’twatchwhereIputmyfeet.

WhatIwantedtotalkaboutbeforemyAIprogram experienceddelusionsofgrandeurandhadtobeputdown wasmyreadinghabits.Likemymotherbeforeme,Iama reader,andIwillreadjustaboutanything.Well,anything exceptinstructions,becauseain’tnobodygotnotimefor that.Ithrowthemawayjustassoonastheycomeoutof thebox.Later,afterthenewceilingfanwon’trunorthe newbookcasewon’tstandstraight,Itiptoeintothe kitchenandfishtheinstructionsoutofthetrashcan,wipe

thespaghettisauceoffthem,whichiskindofamysteryto mebecauseinmanycaseswehaven’tevenhadspaghetti, andthenItrytofigureoutwhereIwentwrong.

Anyway,oneofmyfavoritegenrestoreadisScience Fiction.IalsolikeSouthernFiction,whichiswhatthey tellmeIwrite,butmost timesifyouseemereading, itwillbesomething otherworldly.This preferencecameuponme earlyinlife.WhenIwassix ormaybeseven,mycool uncleboughtmefor ChristmasacopyofTom SwiftandtheVisitorfrom PlanetX.Thatsameyearmy not-so-cooluncleboughtme acollectionofBiblestories, andwhileIhadnothing againstthose,I’mafraid theyeventuallyendedupin thetrashcanwithspaghetti sauceonthemwhileinmybedroomTomSwiftandI enteredtherealmofpossibilityasweexploredthe cosmos.

ThiswasintheearlySixties,backwhenScienceFiction

wasabitdisreputableandjustalittleunsophisticated. Thus,itoftenfeaturedrayguns,andtentacledmonsters, andallofthehumanastronautsweremen,andallofthe femalealiensweregreenbutpretty,andusuallytheywere mammalianasevidencedbytheform-fittingspacesuits theywore.Butevenwiththeselimitations,thegenrewas nothingshortofamazingtoayoungboyeagertoexpand hislimitedvistas.

ThefirstbookIeverwrotewasaScienceFictionepic. Itwasallaboutagalacticwarbetweenhumansandarace ofstackedgreenfemalealienswearingform-fitting spacesuits,anditfeaturedstarshipswithatomicdrives, anddisruptorfields,andlightsails,andgravitywells,and parsecs,andjustabouteverotherconceptIhadliftedfrom thedozensofbooksIhadreadbythelikesofRobert Heinlein,RayBradbury,CliffordSimak,IssacAsimov, LesterDelRay,RobertSilverberg,PhillipJoseFarmer, andArthurC.Clarke,tonamebutafew.

Incidentally,ifyouarestillworkingthroughtheDave thingupthere,thelastauthoronthatlistisamajorhint. I’llgiveyouamoment.

AsIgrewintomaturity,sodidScienceFiction.What beganassillystoriesaboutimplausiblesituationsevolved intoaformofliteraturethatinmanywayshasdriventhe enginesofchange.Myflipphoneandyourhand-held, computers,atomicpower,theinternet,nanotechnology,

railguns,andyes,AIarejustafewofthemodern developmentsthatbeganasconceptsinScienceFiction stories.Thewritingitselfhasbecomemoremature,as well,withauthorssuchasOrsonScottCard,Martha Wells,OctaviaButler,WilliamGibson,andNeal Stephensonproducingstoriesthatcanstandproudly amongtheotherworksofcontemporaryliterature.

Youhaven’treadmyownScienceFictionbook,but perhapssomedayyoumight.Itisburieddeepinadrawer somewhere,andthatiswhereitwillremainuntilIbegin myownjourneyamongthestars.However,thereishope.

DawnMajor,aformerMFAstudentofmine,andan awesomepublishedwriterinherownright,andagood friendontopofthat,hasagreedtogothroughmypapers whenI’mgone,justlikeshedidforWilliamGay,andto sharewithyouallanythingshefindsworthy.

Ifthebuxomgreenalienladiesdon’tmakethefinalcut, that’sonDawn.

RaymondL.Atkinslivesandworksinthemountainsof NorthwestGeorgia.Youcanreachhimat

raymondlatkins@aol.comoronFacebookathttps://

www.facebook.com/raymondlatkins.

RedClaySuzie by JeffreyDaleLofton

TheCenterforFiction2023FirstNovelPrizeLonglist

Anovelinspiredbytrueevents

Thecoming-of-agestoryofPhilbet,agay,physicallymisshapenboyinruralGeorgia,whobattlesbullying, ignorance,anddisdainashemakeshiswayinlifeasan outsider--beforefindingacceptanceinunlikelyplaces. Fueledbytomatosandwichesandgreenmilkshakes,and obsessedwithcars,Philbetstruggleswithlifeandloveasa gayboyinruralGeorgia.He'shappiestwhenhelping Grandaddydigpotatoesfromthevegetablegardenthat connectstheirhouses.ButPhilbet'sworldisshatteredandhis resilienceshakenbyeventsthatcrushhisinnocenceandsense ofsecurity;exposehismisshapenchestskillfullyhidden behindshirtsMamamakesathome;andconvincehimthat he'snotfittobelovedbyKnox,theolderboyheidolizesto distraction.Overtime,Philbetfindsrefugeinunexpected placesandinnerstrengthinunexpectedways,leadingtoa resolutionintheformofaletterfrombeyondthegrave.

--ChristopherCastellani,author

"Arrestingdebut...avividdepictionofauniquechildhoodthat feelsuniversalinitslonging."

of LeadingMen

"Fromanew,pitch-perfect,Southernvoice,astorysocloseto theheartyoucanalmosthearitbeating."--JamesHart,author

of LuckyJim

"Anintimateexplorationofpeople,place,andidentity,RedClay SuzieopensuptheideaoftheSouthintoonethatismore inclusiveandreal."--W.RalphEubanks,authorof APlaceLike Mississippi:AJourneyThroughaRealandImaginedLiterary Landscape JeffreyDaleLoftonhailsfromWarmSprings,Georgia,best knownasthehomeofRoosevelt’sLittleWhiteHouse.Hecalls thenation’scapitalhomenowandhasforoverthreedecades. Duringthoseearlyyearshespentmanyanighttroddingthe boardsoftheDC’stheatersandperformingartscenters,including theKennedyCenter,SignatureTheatre,WoollyMammoth,and StudioTheatre.Heevenscoredafewtelevisionscreen appearances,includingaresiduals-richSuperBowlhalftime commercial,whichhisaccountantwisecracked“isthefinestwork ofyourcareer.”Ultimatelyhesteppedawayfromactingforother, moretraditionalwork,includingprovidingcommunications counseltolandscapearchitectsandhelpingwarveteranstelltheir storiestoaddrichnessandnuancetohistoricalaccounts.Atthe sametime,hefocusedonpursuingpostgraduatework,ultimatelybeingawarded Master’sdegreesinbothPublicAdministration andLibraryandInformationScience.Today,he isasenioradvisorattheLibraryofCongress, surroundedbybooksandpeoplewholove books—inshort,paradise. RedClaySuzie ishis firstworkoffiction,writtenthroughhis personallensgrowingupanoutsiderfiguring outlifeandloveinaconservativefamilyand communityintheDeepSouth.