short stories and poems inspired by my daughter’s paintings.
From the writer of Revenant Sun and the Paavo Harker Mystery comes a collection of stories and poems inspired by the paintings of his daughter. Enjoy these tales of space travel and monsters, of dreams and aging, of children lost and found.
Excerpt
I was supposed to be strong today
but I can’t
the weight on this mind
is too heavy right now
to keep from cursing those nearest to the stone
the mouth is bitter with words
I told you I was better than
with all I’ve forgiven of you
still so much unsettled in me
memory is too good to not replay
the record of our better moments
when we hate each other
forget our progress
and choose venom
I cannot be what I promised
but maybe tomorrow
the sickness will be buried
under the pain of hands clasped so tight
the bones ache
but for now
I dedicate every minute of the day
to easy outs
familiar demons
disrespect
this fatigue is so strong
ask for forgiveness
strength
maybe tomorrow
I won’t sit in corners
crafting theories
for my every misfortune
ignoring every mirror in this house
eyes do nothing now
but seed doubt
when I need this anger the most
to put these words down somewhere
a record of my worst moments
gain another page in the book
of another man
too sick of himself
maybe I will put down the stone
choose to carry my women
place them higher on the mountain
than they were before
maybe tomorrow
today, I am weak
Soldier's Gap is a non-traditional mystery with literary elements. The high school principal is brutally murdered, but Deputy Sheriff Dave Jenkins's search for meaning and love is a much more significant theme.
"Murder isn't usually this fun
High school student Kevin Borden has a secret and his name is Louis Lannegan. He also has an overbearing mother. A tale of coming out in the shadow of parents and friends. Award winning novella.
