A History of Existing Life

<p><span style=color: rgba(26 26 26 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>The language in Shelagh Powers Johnson's debut collection strikes the rare and perfect balance between understated and surprising. The characters in these stories span time periods and geographic location but are united by Johnson's astute observation of brutality and heartbreak- but also the beauty and redemption-of the every day. -Amanda Parrish Morgan author of </span><em style=color: rgba(26 26 26 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>Stroller</em><span style=color: rgba(26 26 26 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)> named one of </span><em style=color: rgba(26 26 26 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>The New Yorker</em><span style=color: rgba(26 26 26 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>'s Best Books of 2022</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(26 26 26 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)></span><em style=color: rgba(26 26 26 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>A History of Existing Life </em><span style=color: rgba(26 26 26 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>is filled with lush dark haunting and intricate prose and piercing observations. Old lovers briefly reunite. A woman's paintings transform into a living dreamscape. Everyone reckons with their past. Johnson's exquisite stories probe into the inner workings of relationships of parents who love and who betray and disappoint. Let this collection surprise and envelop you. </span><em style=color: rgba(26 26 26 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>-</em><span style=color: rgba(26 26 26 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>Lauren D. Woods author of </span><em style=color: rgba(26 26 26 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>The Great Grown-Up Game of Make-Believe </em><span style=color: rgba(26 26 26 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>winner of the Autumn House Press 2024 Fiction Prize</span></p>