American Fiction: Volume 17

“Nary a work here suggested to me that its author found an easy home in a mold. And there were a number of stories about faith, which was heartening. Not because on wishes to thump the drum of religiosity, but because the actions that we make, and the choices we select, are always matters of faith in the most important endeavors, be they ones of love, of friendship, or honest storytelling.”—Colin Fleming, Finalist Judge

“Great fiction does not arise from the struggles of characters onto which the author piles sorrow after sorrow, but from characters readers can imagine as real people and in whom they are invested. I believe you will discover and embrace such characters here—compelling and believable—but most of all human. While many of them struggle to stay afloat in a frenetic and sometimes dangerous world, many of these stories arrive at places of joy, hope, and redemption. Never formulaic, these narratives engage and enlighten.”—Bruce Pratt, Editor