After twenty years of writing short stories and novels only to tuck them away in computer files, I am thrilled to announce my very first fiction publication! My story, “The State of the Marriage,” appears today in the Winter/Spring 2016 edition of The Timberline Review.
“The State of the Marriage” is a stripped-down piece that unfolds through dialogue, as a couple endeavors to define their partnership in the wake of horrible tragedy. The tragedy sent them running, him to hide and her to look for answers; now they both must decide whether to flee again. The story examines what happens to a marriage when mental illness takes place inside it, turning the relationship into a construct devoid of connection, place, and even a shared vocabulary.
The Timberline Review is not available online, but you can purchase a copy here.
I was chuffed [once you read my story, you’ll get why the British slang] to be asked to do my first author Q&A.
The Timberline Review is a gem of a new literary journal that was founded by members of Willamette Writers, the largest writing organization in the Pacific Northwest. Formed in 1965, Willamette Writers celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015. The idea for a literary journal took hold as a way to celebrate that legacy. I encourage you to support it with donations and by subscribing to it. If you are an emerging writer like me, I also encourage you to submit your work to the journal! I am living proof that The Timberline Review is looking for new faces.
