Running Wild Press’s new Short Story Anthology arrived yesterday with my story, “Pumping Station Road.” It tells the story of Lloyd, a lobbyist and trail runner whose big solo run of the length of Connecticut from east to west hits a snag. Lloyd believes he cares deeply about living an ethical life that respects community. But trying to complete this run leads him smack into some ethical quandaries when his girlfriend, a better runner, falls ill and can’t help him.
This is my first published fiction, although I’ve been writing stories for a while. I sold another story about a hunter whose truck breaks down and needs a ride to a book that is yet to come out. Short fiction allows writers to inhabit a character’s mind either wholly or in a limited way. I loved showing only what Lloyd could see and believe while still hinting at a wider reality by writing in the third person.
I felt like celebrating when my copy of the story collection arrived yesterday. Order a copy for yourself or a reader who enjoys fresh voices in fiction.
Thanks to Benjamin White, the editor, and the LA-based Running Wild Press.
