Short Stories

Ghosts of State Street

                “Ghosts of State Street” by Eileen Lynch – Change Seven Magazine 

SPLENDITUDE, a novel

"Splenditude might genuinely be one of my favorite reads this year. The portrayal of bipolar disorder felt so real and Deidre’s slow spiral from losing her boyfriend to her job to her mental health was honestly gutting to read. There are some heavy suicide themes so definitely go in prepared, but I think that’s kind of the point. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to check on the people you love. If you’re looking for a story about hitting rock bottom and actually finding your way back, this is it."  Reviewed by Kimberly Carvalho for Net Galley.

“A gem of a novel that pulls you into a heartfelt journey through love, loss, and finding yourself. Set against the vibrant backdrops of Chicago and New Mexico, it dives deep into personal struggles while tackling themes of mental health and creativity with honesty. Reading it feels like sitting with a close friend, sharing their rawest moments of pain, hope, and strength.” — Reviewed by Books Below Team 

 a gem of a novel that pulls you into a heartfelt journey through love, loss, and finding yourself. Set against the vibrant backdrops of Chicago and New Mexico, it dives deep into personal struggles while tackling heavy topics like mental health and creativity with grace and honesty. Reading it feels like sitting with a close friend, sharing their rawest moments of pain, hope, and strength.  

MAKE GOOD CHOICES, stories

Make Good Choices is a deeply-rendered love note to Chicago in four story sections. “Larkins” follows Gabriel Larkin’s family’s move from an Irish-American neighborhood to the suburbs. “Old Chicago” centers on unlikely reunions and alliances from the 1960s to present day, highlighting cultural institutions of the Loop threatened by street violence. In “Difficult Kids,” a foster child’s deepest desire to belong finds him falling in love with the girl next door, a budding pianist. “Larkin Redux” returns Gabriel to his origins of Rogers Park, where he must reconcile a long life of difficult choices. Comps include The Logic of a Rose (Billy Lombardo) and The Roy Stories (Barry Gifford) and Childhood and Other Neighborhoods (Stuard Dybek).