‘Little’ Stories Packs Big Wallop: Outskirts Publishes Critically Acclaimed Author’s New Collection of Short Fiction
Kansas City, MO, August 31, 2008 --(PR.com)-- The transience of love and poignancy of the everyday form the backdrop to “Little Stories,” the powerful new short story collection from Kansas City author Jeff Roberts.
Modestly titled, “Little Stories” is anything but demure in its exploration of universal human themes of love, desire, betrayal and disappointment. The 11 pieces of short fiction collected here—written while Roberts was an undergraduate at the University of Iowa—are richly told vignettes of life unfolding in lonely apartments, smoky bars and New York City hotel rooms. And all of them exhibit Roberts’ keen eye for the emotional intensity and weight of words.
The critics agree. As Writer’s Digest raves: “The hallmark of Roberts’ collection is his strong writing. He captures scenes with expertise, and his characters come to life through competent dialogue. The author’s stories are moving, light-hearted when appropriate, and explicitly human.” And Kirkus Discoveries writes, “...Roberts demonstrates a talent for tapping into the fault lines of human landscapes and the brittleness of relationships that are felled with a single word.”
The book’s first offering, “Relativity,” follows the breakdown of an apparently strong relationship when one lover’s past resurfaces and the other confidently sanctions a reunion. In “Most Likely to Succeed,” a “perfect child” who enters college a promising Young Republican barely graduates, then watches his life unravel in a haze of drunkenness and sex. And “The Letter,” like many of Roberts’ stories, draws readers into a character portrait whose final brushstroke masterfully enlightens the total picture.
Through it all, Little Stories takes a critical look at the inevitable moments of betrayal and loneliness in our awkward quest to love and be loved. But “Little Stories” is anything but glum for glum’s sake; time and again, Roberts shows the value—and even joy—to be had by looking backward and facing the past.
“Little Stories” is now available through Ingram, Baker & Taylor, Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com; locally in Kansas City at Prospero’s Books, 1800 West 39th Street, Phone: 816.531.WORD, Email: info@prosperosbookstore.com and the online bookstore of Outskirts Press, at: www.outskirtspress.com/jroberts.
Book Information
ISBN: 978-1-4327-2701-7
Format: 5.x8.5 paperback/5.5x8.5 casebound
Pages: 104 SRP: US$10.95/CAN$13.95 US$21.95/CAN$27.95 Genre: Fiction
About the Author: Jeff Roberts graduated with a B.A. in Liberal Studies. His writing has been recently nominated for a William Rockhill Nelson Award, and has been featured in the University of Iowa’s Daily Palette. He lives with his family in Kansas City, Missouri.
About Outskirts Press, Inc.: Outskirts Press, Inc. offers full-service, custom self-publishing services for authors seeking a cost-effective, fast, and flexible way to publish and distribute their books worldwide while retaining all their rights and full creative control. Available for authors globally at www.outskirtspress.com and located on the outskirts of Denver, Colorado, Outskirts Press represents the future of book publishing, today.
Author Contact: Visit him on the Web at www.outskirtspress.com/jroberts
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Outskirts Press, Inc., 10940 S. Parker Rd - 515, Parker, Colorado 80134
http://outskirtspress.com — 1-888-OP-BOOKS
Modestly titled, “Little Stories” is anything but demure in its exploration of universal human themes of love, desire, betrayal and disappointment. The 11 pieces of short fiction collected here—written while Roberts was an undergraduate at the University of Iowa—are richly told vignettes of life unfolding in lonely apartments, smoky bars and New York City hotel rooms. And all of them exhibit Roberts’ keen eye for the emotional intensity and weight of words.
The critics agree. As Writer’s Digest raves: “The hallmark of Roberts’ collection is his strong writing. He captures scenes with expertise, and his characters come to life through competent dialogue. The author’s stories are moving, light-hearted when appropriate, and explicitly human.” And Kirkus Discoveries writes, “...Roberts demonstrates a talent for tapping into the fault lines of human landscapes and the brittleness of relationships that are felled with a single word.”
The book’s first offering, “Relativity,” follows the breakdown of an apparently strong relationship when one lover’s past resurfaces and the other confidently sanctions a reunion. In “Most Likely to Succeed,” a “perfect child” who enters college a promising Young Republican barely graduates, then watches his life unravel in a haze of drunkenness and sex. And “The Letter,” like many of Roberts’ stories, draws readers into a character portrait whose final brushstroke masterfully enlightens the total picture.
Through it all, Little Stories takes a critical look at the inevitable moments of betrayal and loneliness in our awkward quest to love and be loved. But “Little Stories” is anything but glum for glum’s sake; time and again, Roberts shows the value—and even joy—to be had by looking backward and facing the past.
“Little Stories” is now available through Ingram, Baker & Taylor, Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com; locally in Kansas City at Prospero’s Books, 1800 West 39th Street, Phone: 816.531.WORD, Email: info@prosperosbookstore.com and the online bookstore of Outskirts Press, at: www.outskirtspress.com/jroberts.
Book Information
ISBN: 978-1-4327-2701-7
Format: 5.x8.5 paperback/5.5x8.5 casebound
Pages: 104 SRP: US$10.95/CAN$13.95 US$21.95/CAN$27.95 Genre: Fiction
About the Author: Jeff Roberts graduated with a B.A. in Liberal Studies. His writing has been recently nominated for a William Rockhill Nelson Award, and has been featured in the University of Iowa’s Daily Palette. He lives with his family in Kansas City, Missouri.
About Outskirts Press, Inc.: Outskirts Press, Inc. offers full-service, custom self-publishing services for authors seeking a cost-effective, fast, and flexible way to publish and distribute their books worldwide while retaining all their rights and full creative control. Available for authors globally at www.outskirtspress.com and located on the outskirts of Denver, Colorado, Outskirts Press represents the future of book publishing, today.
Author Contact: Visit him on the Web at www.outskirtspress.com/jroberts
###
Outskirts Press, Inc., 10940 S. Parker Rd - 515, Parker, Colorado 80134
http://outskirtspress.com — 1-888-OP-BOOKS
Contact
Outskirts Press, Inc.
Jeanine Sampson
888.672.6657 ext. 704
www.outskirtspress.com
Jeanine Sampson
888.672.6657 ext. 704
www.outskirtspress.com
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