Saying Secrets: American Stories

by Christopher Conlon

Five tales on contemporary life—lyrical, brutal, and unforgettable.

Saying Secrets is the first collection from acclaimed writer and poet Christopher Conlon—five tales of contemporary life by turns lyrical and brutal, most originally published in The Long Story literary journal. Whether taking you inside the mind of a horribly disfigured woman, bringing you along on a psychotic teenager's final rampage, or introducing you to a girl in California who both is and is not Anne Frank, Conlon is a storyteller whose words and worlds you'll not soon forget. This edition features a special Introduction by William F. Nolan, author of some 60 books (including Dashiell Hammett: A Life on the Edge and the Black Mask Boys mystery series) along with an Afterword by scriptwriter George Clayton Johnson, whose screen credits range from The Sinatra Rat Pack Classic Ocean's Eleven to the original Twilight Zone. Together Nolan and Johnson penned Logan's Run, the renowned futuristic novel later made into a highly successful film and television series.

164 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2000

Reviews

[Sheryl Stinchcum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christopher Conlon is an incredibly gifted writer who turns out poetry, short stories, and novels with ease--each a brilliant piece of artistry. Conlon doesn't write best-sellers. He writes literature.

He draws the reader in by creating characters that are brutally real and does not shy away from disturbing personalities or situations.

I enjoy his short stories the most, and SAYING SECRETS contains a delightful collection of them. My favorite short stories in SAYING SECRETS are "The Map of the World" and "Whisper," especially the latter.

Conlon is unique in his approach to characterizations. I am amazed at his ability to get into the minds of his characters whether they are men, women, girls--or even an infant. He is the only writer I know who has perfected this technique.

"Whisper" is a page-turner, loaded with suspense, twists, turns, and the unexpected. I can't say enough about "Whisper," and I certainly don't want to spoil it by discussing what it's about. Anyone who loves literature should read "Whisper" in particular and SAYING SECRETS in general. I've never been able to peg Conlon's fiction as plot-driven or character-driven because they are both, and for that reason, I would expect the book to appeal to many.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stellar first collection by Conlon, only to be outdone by his second, THUNDERSHOWERS AT DUSK. Both are essential for the bookshelf of fans of elegant, emotionally hard hitting, dark fiction.