Recently, I’ve been writing quite a bit about writing, providing some explanations about why I write what I write. I’ve even got an upcoming podcast appearance talking a lot about my background and history in relation to my works of fiction.
In the case of my short story collection Rides From Strangers, I usually talk about why I wrote what I wrote. When an author writes a short story, it sometimes requires personal experience. Not to say that these works of mine are autobiographical by any means, but there are certain things I have either done, or at least felt, that inform the work.
In Rides From Strangers, the stories are all different, but they have some common themes. The main themes that run through these pieces are the human need for fulfillment through relationships, and how people often get burned even as they seek solace from others. Regardless, that need for connection leads people to keep trying—whether through sex, marriage, friendship, or some other relationship.
The Need for Connection
Trying to put myself into the POV of these characters was easy, because, like any writer, I’ve had to spend a lot of time alone. But, unlike some people, my experiences with loneliness haven’t come from that, they’ve come in the middle of crowds. For me, the need for connection has always meant a search for kindred spirits. And like most novelists, I don’t find that many of them out there.
Thankfully, they are out there, and I have a great life with great friends and an even more amazing and loving wife. She’s supportive of my fiction habit, and understands I can’t stand to only “write for others.” This short story collection, Rides From Strangers, was all written for me, but I felt compelled to give it to the world. So sign up for my email list, and you can get the entire collection free…no obligation. If you unsubscribe after you download, no harm, no foul. I’m just happy to share it.
