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In a voice somewhere between Cormac McCarthy and Kurt Cobain, John McManus explores young people living in extreme situations. Some are in the Tennessee Smoky Mountains, some in the Pacific Northwest, a few are in the Western deserts of Utah and Nevada, one is in England, and many are scattered throughout the Southern US. All are desperate for something beyond the ordinary lives that are given to them, and every one is absolutely unforgettable.
McManus’s consciousness flows not like a stream, but a flash flood. His characters all live on the ragged edge of physical and emotional crisis, often dulled by intoxication but always on the verge of a moment of clarity. McManus straps them into a screaming, circular drag toward nothingness in what seems like one long, breathless take. — San Francisco Examiner & Chronicle
Impressive in its reflection of intense life experiences. …McManus…writes unpredictable, accomplished stories; and his language is rich with playful southern accents. — Booklist
These stories will have young adults nodding their heads and parents shuddering…McManus weaves dark and light into images that beg for our empathy. — The Boston Phoenix
Here is rage on the page. …It’s a whole environment, with a new food chain, and yes, I want to know about it. McManus is all ears. — The Los Angeles Times
John McManus is also the author of the novel Bitter Milk and the short story collections Born on a Train, all published by Picador USA. In 2000, he became the youngest-ever recipient of the Whiting Writers’ Award. His fiction has appeared in Ploughshares, American Short Fiction, Tin House and other journals. John teaches at the MFA creative writing program at Old Dominion University and is on the faculty of the low-residency MFA program at Goddard College.
Follow John on Twitter: @johnpmcmanus
Dane Elcar is a writer and audiobook narrator with fiction appearing in Puerto del Sol and Fiddleblack. He is a regular contributor to the Fiddleblack Podcast, and most recently you may hear him read his short story, "The Sespe." He is finishing his first novel.
Follow Dane on Twitter: @DaneElcar