The Dad Who Stayed and other stories

<p>New and full of surprises. -2025 Utah Book Awards</p><p></p><p>Every emotional payoff whether flash-of-lightning funny or tearfully joyful is earned through a rich depth of honesty that is the polar opposite of sentimentality. -Darrin McGraw coauthor of <em>Animal Future</em>.</p><p></p><p>This collection of contemporary short fiction includes a novella with a Father's Day vibe <em>The Dad Who Stayed</em> and a dozen short stories.</p><p></p><p>In <strong><em>The Dad Who Stayed</em></strong> (a novella) Joey Robinson and his mom live in part of a house in an early-1970s progressive university town. He never met his dad who left before Joey was born. When he was old enough to wonder about not having a dad his mom said it was okay.</p><p></p><p>But when his kindergarten teacher disapproves and Joey uses his dad as an excuse to run away too his mom invites a man named Jack into their life. Now Joey wonders: Will he have to start calling this man Dad-and does he want to?</p><p></p><p><strong>Twelve short stories</strong> in this collection explore friendship family love memory and loss in ordinary lives scattered from middle school to old age.</p><p></p><p class=ql-align-justify>Winner of a 2024 Silver Quill Award.</p><p class=ql-align-justify></p><p class=ql-align-justify>A 2025 Utah Book Awards Notable Read.</p>