John Corral

The Sad Picnic John Corral

Four of the short stories in this collection (The Sad Picnic, Cats, At the Club, Saying Goodbye) were written over the last decade and appeared online on obscure websites. They are joined by nine new stories written for this anthology. "Where did do you get the ideas for stories?" That's a question I get all the time. My stock answer is this: From everyone I meet, even you who has just asked me that question. Though unsatisfactory for some, that is the truth of the matter. Writers take what they see and hear and fashion it to create a stylized version of life. It's as if when Dorothy pulled back the curtain to reveal the real Wizard of Oz, the result, disappointing as it was, displayed the secret: stories are primarily experiences, and only marginally craft. Thus, I hope you enjoy reading these stories about you, my readers, and my inspiration, as much as I enjoyed writing them.