“Idle Hands and the Devil You Know” by Paul Renault
He wanted to talk, and you know me—I’m no psychic. I didn’t know what he was thinking, and Jerry didn’t come out and say he was going to crawl into a garbage bag and off himself . . .
News & Features
“On Holiday” by Jennifer Schaefer
In her poky hotel bathroom, Sallie filled up a glass with water from the sink. It wasn’t until she’d swallowed the pill—some generic form of Valium—that she stopped to wonder if the water was okay to drink. Oh well, she thought as she stepped into her red bikini bottoms. Too late now . . .
Eric Gamalinda: On Writing The Descartes Highlands
To celebrate the release of The Descartes Highlands, we’re pleased to feature a statement from author Eric Gamalinda on the novel that took him over ten years to finish.
“Sword” by Rita Davis
Every day at 3:15 p.m. my son and I walk two blocks to pick his sister up from kindergarten. Every day he has a fit, a small tantrum, or decides to become sixteen months old and needs to be held the few blocks to school . . .
“The Seeds You Plant” by Christian Aguiar
What other parents spent on music academies and study trips to New Zealand, she had spent on this little packet . . .
CYBER MONDAY SALE: 50% off all titles!
Get 50% off all titles through 11:59pm Monday, 12/1/2014, using code CM14 at checkout!
“The Importance of Being Naked” by Samuel Murphy
As a father, I don’t believe I have yet had my finest hour—and as a father of four little girls, I doubt I ever will. It’s not that I haven’t gently wiped away a tear or two, or bandaged a skinned knee, or made my share of macaroni and cheese and peanut butter sandwiches. I have. But it’s out in public where I mostly fall down . . .
“On the Way to the Clinic” by Randolph Splitter
On the platform between the subway tracks, a young woman was playing the violin. A few dollar bills and coins were scattered over the inside of her case. She played semiclassical versions of pop tunes that Maria couldn’t quite recognize. The music was nice, and the young woman had a sweet, pleasant face, but as soon as she got onto the crowded subway car Maria knew that she had made a mistake. It was a simple procedure, they had said, but not that simple . . .