C. Tyler's Ink Party

by Carol Tyler

A decade after her first book, The Job Thing, Carol Tyler returns with C. Tyler's Ink Party, a funny and eclectic collection of 15 of her very best short stories. Originally published in a variety of anthologies, these mostly autobiographical tales of "kinfolk, ex's, and idiotic behavior" showcase Tyler's wry wit and self-deprecating humor.Stories include "The Return of Mrs. Kite" (in which Carol's grandmother has the nerve to die on her 16th birthday); "Migrant Mother" (stuck in an airport with a toddler, a sinus infection, and no money); "Hard-drive to Heartbreak" (electronic matchmaking gone to the dogs); "Why I'm Agin' Southern Men"; "There's Something Wrong with a Perfect Lawn" (a moral tale for those control freaks who believe you have to beat back nature or it'll take over); and ten more funny, sharply observed, and poignant tales of everyday life.

"These stories were done during the gaps of child-raising and earning a living, " Tyler says. "Looking back, it has been such a bittersweet struggle. I wish I could have done more cartoon work, but I never regret for a minute the time that I chose to spend with my family instead."

72 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2003