Small Places

A hard-hitting collection about small towns and their inhabitants, like the sisters who can't stop laughing at a funeral, or the kid who's about to steal a truck. These stories are about the small places. They're in the townhouse with the saggy wire fence, or the farmhouse where a woman is sharpening a knife to feed the dogs. They're in the gap between the chiller and the counter where the fast food workers cry, or the cliffs above the lake where siblings are trying to stop one another from spilling over. They're in the desert, waiting for a pregnancy test. They're at a bonfire, watching a car go up in flames. Uncompromising and occasionally surreal, these are the stories not commonly told about the people often overlooked. They merge themes of class, gender and identity with humour and a surprisingly tender reach for community. Don't miss this debut collection from an important up-and-coming new writer.