Compassion, Writing, and Running--Not in That Order

Photograph by Erin Pringle-Toungate.
CC license, please attribute accordingly

The fine people over at Howlarium recently asked writers about meditation, compassion, and writing as part of their series in which writers respond to, in my experience, complicated thoughts. As I've begun training for a half-marathon, having never been a serious runner, and as I'm experiencing the feelings that come with having a toddler who, quite often, finds my advice not simply incorrect but mildly reprehensible, this was my response:

http://www.howlarium.com/

The Whole World at Once

I'm pleased to announce that my next book, The Whole World at Once, a collection of stories, will be published by West Virginia University Press/Vandalia Press in Spring 2017. 

When Words Lead to Words, An Interview by Awst

For the past several weeks, my fiction has been featured at Awst Press.  Today, the feature closes with an interview about my chapbook, The Wandering House, which is now available to purchase through Awst.  Some additional topics in the interview: grief, folktales, and the rural Midwest. In other words, what I write about.  The interview was done by Liz Blood.

Artwork by Christa Blackwood; cover design by LK James for Awst

Up in the high mountains live the Nortang Bears

My flash fiction/very short story, "The Nortang Bears," is being featured at Awst Press today.  "The Nortang Bears" was originally published in the publication, Sand Journal in Berlin, located in Germany.

Awst has been featuring my work for the past two weeks. The feature will end tomorrow with an interview with me, as well as the release of my chapbook, The Wandering House. You can read more of my stories here: Awst Feature.

Follow Awst on Twitter: @AwstPress

Find Awst on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AwstPress/?fref=ts

When grief becomes your mother

A Home, Copyright Erin Pringle-Toungate

My story "And Yet" is the feature today over at Awst Press.  "And Yet" revolves around a dying boy who is trying to pick the right moment to tell his mother that he's ready to go home. The story appears in my collection The Floating Order.

Awst Press is an independent publisher in Austin, TX that's up to good.  Please explore their site as well as other works of mine that they have featured over these two weeks: Awst.

Follow Awst on Twitter: @AwstPress

Find Awst on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AwstPress/?fref=ts

A man ate a rabbit

"Wild Rabbit" by William Andrus, used under CC license

My feature over at Awst Press continues through this week. Today's story is "The Rabbit," which was originally published in one of my very favorite magazines, Big Pulp.

Other stories of mine on Big Pulp:

• Every Good Girl Does Fine
• Palestine, IL

Follow Awst on Twitter: @AwstPress

Find Awst on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AwstPress/?fref=ts

Out there's a porchlight where no house should be

My feature with Awst Press culminates with the print release of my newest chapbook, The Wandering House. The story revolves around a boy who may or may not be missing, a girl burned badly, and a family left in the confusion of grief after an encounter with The Wandering House.

Order The Wandering House through Awst Press ($5.00)

Please continue to tune into the Awst Feature through next Friday, 3/4/16. More of my work will be on display, as will some words from my mouth about my stories, and The Wandering House, in particular.

Artwork by Christa Blackwood; cover design by LK James for Awst

Awst Press is an independent publisher located in Austin, TX.

Follow Awst on Twitter: @AwstPress

Find Awst on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AwstPress/?fref=ts

There are landmines in the backyard

"Harvested Cornfield' by Kelly Sikkema,
used under CC license

We're at the end of the first week of Awst Press featuring my writing.  Today's feature is one of my favorite stories, "This Bomb My Heart."

"This Bomb My Heart," originally appeared in War, Literature and the Arts, and is the story of a girl whose brother comes home after multiple tours of war and begins planting landmines in the field behind the house. Please enjoy the story by following this link to Awst.

Awst is an independent press located in Austin, Texas. 

Follow Awst on Twitter: @AwstPress

Find Awst on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AwstPress/?fref=ts

A Couple Jumped Out of an Airplane

"Opposed" by Ben Seidelman,
used under CC license.

Awst Press has gathered a number of my stories and will, for the next several weeks, be displaying them on their website for all to enjoy. The feature also includes an upcoming interview and the release of my newest story, "The Wandering House."

Today, Awst is featuring my story "The Skydivers," which originally appeared in Emrys Journal.

Please stroll over to Awst to learn more about the wonderful work they're doing in Austin, TX, and to enjoy writing by a range of voices.

Add them to your Facebook page to receive updates in your feed there, as well as Twitter.

What do you bury in holes so deep?

"Mist" by Marilyn Peddle, used under CC license

You can now read "Digging," the first story of the Awst Press feature. "Digging" is the story of a brother and sister who discover their family buried in the forest. "Digging" was originally published in Lake Effect, and is in my story collection, The Floating Order.

Awst will be featuring my work for the next several weeks. Please check back in for new work as the days unwind. Feature page here.

Follow Awst on Twitter: @AwstPress

Find Awst on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AwstPress/?fref=ts