This is my newest story, created in 2019 for a private contest. The prompt was to write a story with the same title as a famous novel. I loved Jonathan Franzen’s award-winning book, which was published in September of 2001. In this story, Marcus searches for his destiny, and finds it in dramatic fashion.

This story provided the inspiration for my villain in The Night Janitor. Annamaria has a slightly different personality in this story, but the inner darkness remains.

Originally published in Chiron Review. A foul-mouthed poet becomes a legend in her own mind. This style is a departure for me. I never write like this. But I thought the voice served the theme.

My personal favorite. Originally published in Thought Magazine. Greg, a former lawyer who is now homeless, gets a chance to play God for a day.