Genesis of a love story
Back in October 2000, I traveled to Japan. Such a beautiful country! It was an amazing trip.
When I came back, I started my MFA thesis class at Johns Hopkins. I told my thesis advisor that I knew at some point a story would grow out of that Japan trip.
Somehow it did. I don't even remember exactly how it all started, but the end result was "Shin-Kiba Park." It was the first m/m story I'd written, and I nervously submitted it to my thesis fiction workshop. To my shock--and delight--they just loved Brian, Ondrej and Yuji.
I sent the story out after some revision, and it was accepted by Gival Press, and earned a Pushcart Prize nomination.
The characters still spoke to me. I explored more of Yuji's life, and his story, "Nagasaki" was published by Polari Journal and was a DANA Award finalist.
More characters spoke to me. Eventually, I wrote Ondrej's story. I glimpsed into the life of the man Brian meets at Shin-Kiba Park. And then I delved into Brian's post "Shin-Kiba Park" life.
Long story short (haha), Brian's story became my MLR Press Valentine's Day novella Reflections.
The novella, along with 15 other Valentine's-themed stories from MLR Press's author team, are now available! And just in time for Valentine's Day. (Funny how that works.)
http://www.mlrbooks.com/books.php
When I came back, I started my MFA thesis class at Johns Hopkins. I told my thesis advisor that I knew at some point a story would grow out of that Japan trip.
Somehow it did. I don't even remember exactly how it all started, but the end result was "Shin-Kiba Park." It was the first m/m story I'd written, and I nervously submitted it to my thesis fiction workshop. To my shock--and delight--they just loved Brian, Ondrej and Yuji.
I sent the story out after some revision, and it was accepted by Gival Press, and earned a Pushcart Prize nomination.
The characters still spoke to me. I explored more of Yuji's life, and his story, "Nagasaki" was published by Polari Journal and was a DANA Award finalist.
More characters spoke to me. Eventually, I wrote Ondrej's story. I glimpsed into the life of the man Brian meets at Shin-Kiba Park. And then I delved into Brian's post "Shin-Kiba Park" life.
Long story short (haha), Brian's story became my MLR Press Valentine's Day novella Reflections.
The novella, along with 15 other Valentine's-themed stories from MLR Press's author team, are now available! And just in time for Valentine's Day. (Funny how that works.)
http://www.mlrbooks.com/books.php
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