Al KratzinThe CoilThe Parts of the Story Untold: On Nicole Rivas’ ‘A Bright and Pleading Dagger’Twelve pieces of flash fiction brilliance in which love is the great mystery and desire fuels all.Sep 9, 2018Sep 9, 2018
Al KratzinThe CoilAction, Suspense, & Fun: On Steph Post’s ‘Walk in the Fire’Post’s addictive crime novel with interwoven stories features genuine characters you won’t soon forget.Sep 2, 2018Sep 2, 2018
Al KratzinThe CoilSatirical Distortion of Reality: On Jared Yates Sexton's 'I Am the Oil of the Engine of the World'Sexton's story collection is a funny yet scary, brutally honest yet hyperbolic distortion of reality, and is satire at its best.May 20, 2018May 20, 2018
Al KratzinThe CoilPolitical Satire of the Uncharged: On Joe Ponepinto’s ‘Mr. Neutron’Ponepinto mines the micro, mundane, and neutral in his new political satire.Apr 18, 2018Apr 18, 2018
Al KratzinThe CoilOn Douglas Light’s ‘Where Night Stops’Light’s novel and frank sense of humor are a lot of fun, as he unwinds a mystery that leaves readers in the dark until the payoff.Feb 13, 2018Feb 13, 2018
Al KratzinThe CoilOn Kevin Catalano’s ‘Where the Sun Shines Out’Catalano’s dark novel shines where the sun won’t, gives hope in small doses, and treats trauma and family with grace.Dec 20, 2017Dec 20, 2017
Al KratzinThe CoilBest Books of 2017: Staff PicksAl Kratz shares 2017’s best books dealing with humor, loss, craft, and even a little horror.Dec 13, 2017Dec 13, 2017
Al KratzinThe CoilOn Shasta Grant’s ‘Gather Us Up and Bring Us Home’Grant’s story collection demonstrates the trademarks of flash fiction with precise imagery and themes of longing to be somewhere else.Oct 11, 2017Oct 11, 2017
Al KratzinThe CoilOn Bronwyn Mauldin’s ‘Love Songs of the Revolution’Mauldin’s novel of the Lithuanian Singing Revolution is deep and ambitious, despite being disjointed.Sep 11, 2017Sep 11, 2017
Al KratzinThe CoilOn Steph Post’s ‘Lightwood’Post’s sophomore novel is a hell of a ride that masters the conventions of the thriller and suspense genre, and leaves you wanting more.May 10, 2017May 10, 2017