Diane Williams, an American master of the short story who will “rewire your brain” (NPR), is back with a collection in which she once again expands the possibilities of fiction. These stories depict ordinary moments—a visit to the doctor’s office or a married couple’s hundredth dance together—but within the quotidian, Williams delivers a lifetime of insecurities, lusts, rejections, and revelations, making her work equally discomfiting and amusing. With unmatched wit in every sentence, Williams captures whole universes in a story, delivering visionary insights into what it means to be human. Williams’ devotees will be newly enthralled by her elegantly strange, bewitching stories in How High? — That High. Those who have yet to meet “the godmother of flash fiction” (The Paris Review) will find an extraordinary introduction in these pages.
One of Elle's "Must-Read Titles for Your Book Club." Chosen by The Millions and Flavorwire as one of the most-anticipated books of 2016. The very short stories of Diane Williams have been aptly called “folk tales that hammer like a nail gun,” and these 40 new ones are sharper than ever. They are unsettling, yes, frequently revelatory, and more often than not downright funny. Not a single moment here is what you might expect. While there is immense pleasure to be found in Williams’s spot-on observations about how we behave in our highest and lowest moments, the heart of the drama beats in the language of American short fiction’s grand master, whose originality, precision, and power bring the familiar into startling and enchanted relief.
Diane Williams, “godmother of flash fiction” (The Paris Review), returns with 33 short, brilliant stories. In Williams’ stories, life is newly alive and dangerous; whether she is writing about an affair, a request for money, an afternoon in a garden, or the simple act of carrying a cake from one room to the next, she offers us beautiful and unsettling new ways of seeing everyday life. In perfectly honed sentences, with a sly and occasionally wild wit, Williams shows us how any moment of any day can open onto disappointment, pleasure, and possibility.
This work by Diane Williams delves into the strange relationships of men and women. From marital betrayal to spousal abuse and unrelenting desire, Williams illuminates the lives of her characters in prose as sparse and stark as it is beautiful. These stories are as short as prose poems and as complex as novels. In them, meanings remain ambiguous and consequences seem uncertain. In the novella “On Sexual Strength” she describes the intense and sometimes strange relationship between two neighboring couples and the rage that comes with adultery, and a narrator whose social inadequacies and lack of inhibitions lead to destruction. The world Williams creates is a sensual place where quiet epiphanies—such as the one that occurs after an extramarital affair— are also possible: “It was like My Trying to Have a Tender-Hearted nature. This is how love can be featured.” Such flashes of insight and emotion glue together the fragments of life Williams lays before the reader, and the reader rejoices at the revelations.
Blues legend B.B. King spent his life sharing the music of his soul, which shone relentlessly through hardship and triumph alike. Born on a cotton plantation in 1925, the man born Riley B. King would grow up to be one of the most influential blues musicians of all time, being crowned "The King of the Blues." He never wavered from his vocation, even as he gathered up other musicians in his wake and melded them into the harmony of his animating passion. In this intimate portrait of King, author Diane Williams offers a brief account of the monumental blues man's life before settling in for a series of interviews with his bandmates and beloved family members, offering readers an invaluable opportunity to feel like they know King too.
Angels in Action demonstrates how the author called on the power of her Creator to bring about positive changes in her life. This compilation of seventeen personal inspirational accounts tells of her experiences of physical, emotional, and spiritual healing; professional, familial, and financial trials, as well as, the building relationships. They demonstrate how a woman learns to live with the knowledge and strength afforded by a relationship with a power greater than herself, and how she is transformed into a healthy, whole individual by the power of the Holy Spirit. Through these stories the reader will gain a renewal of perspective and learn how to view obstacles in life as God showing His face in order for us, His children, to build strong, unshakable foundations.
In Vicky Swanky Is a Beauty, Diane Williams lays bare the urgency and weariness that shape our lives in stories honed sharper than ever. With sentences auguring revelation and explosion, Williams's unsettling stories—a cryptic meeting between neighbors, a woman's sexual worries, a graveside discussion, a chimney on fire—are narrated with razor-sharp tongues and naked, uproarious irreverence. These fifty stories hum with tension, each one so taut that it threatens to snap and send the whole thing sprawling—the mess and desire, the absurdity and hilarity, the bruises and bleeding, the blushes and disappointments and secrets. An audacious, unruly tour de force, Vicky Swanky Is a Beauty cements Diane Williams' position as one of the best practitioners of the short form in literature today.
From the hills to the coast, the people of Mississippi have stories to tell. Most would never guess that Raleigh, Mississippi, once played host to the National Tobacco Spitting Contest. Over in Okolona, children are told of the man who lived--and died--deep down in a hole and scared passersby. From the gandy dancers who built the first train tracks in Mississippi to the eight-foot-tall man who lived in the woods of Columbia, read tales that range from common myth to a good bit of righteous gossip. Author and storyteller Diane Williams traveled across the Magnolia State to gather these local legends and has compiled them into an inquisitive, laugh-out-loud collection.
Traces the lives and athletic careers of the two sisters who are both champion tennis players whose skills on the court, sense of style, and strong opinions have changed the sport.
Diane Williams is a two-time Olympian who learned the hard way about the dangers of steroid use. After a disgraced track and field coach introduced Williams to steroids, she fought back by reclaiming her life and becoming a role model for clean living through sports. Williams has emerged as a vocal leader in the fight against the dangerous use of anabolic steroids.
Have you ever been bullied? Well, it is not a pleasant experience. You could be bullied by someone you know or by a stranger. And this bully may hurt you by saying mean words or by hurting you physically when this bully hits you or pushes you down. Today, our story begins with a boy who is in kindergarten, and he is playing outside during recess. His name is Zane. And Zane is usually a happy five-year-old boy. But today, another boy has taken Zane's toy and has pushed him down hard on the ground. Zane can't believe what has just happened to him. A stranger has just hurt him. He doesn't know what to do. But then it is the end of recess (playtime outside), and Zane returns to his kindergarten classroom. Next, he rides his bus to the aftercare childcare where he decides to tell his teacher what happened on recess today. His teacher, Ms. Diane, reminds Zane of his faith and belief in Jesus. She tells him that he had been bullied today. She also tells him how someone was also bullied over two thousand years ago. Jesus was hurt much worse because a group of mean people didn't believe Jesus was telling the truth when he announced that he was God's Son. They thought he was lying to them. Ms. Diane reminds Zane of the importance of prayer. They pray together for safety and protection for Zane, and they also pray for this unknown bully. The name of this boy doesn't matter because our Heavenly Father knows him. This bully may live in an unsafe home where he has learned or seen someone mistreated. So they also pray for this bully. After praying, Zane begins to giggle. Ms. Diane asks Zane what has made him laugh. Read along to the end to find out why Zane is giggling and no longer sad. Remember, if you have been bullied, it is important to tell an adult, an older person who will listen, because maybe that bully needs help too.
Follow Tammy as she tries to deal with the death of her mother and begin a life with a new family all in one day. Tammy's whole life changes. She has to adapt to a new environment and a new school. She was used to her mom taking care of her, but now she had to take care of herself. Tammy comes from a family who believes in prayer and putting their faith in God to a family that doesn't pray or believe in God. Since Tammy has been with her new family, she has a secret she wants to tell; but before she can figure out who to tell, another secret comes along. Tammy wears her secrets on her face, and she can't figure out why no one in the family can look at her and tell something is seriously wrong. Tammy wakes up afraid and goes to sleep afraid. She can't be a child because her situation won't let her; she can't be an adult because she doesn't know how to, nor is she old enough. But Tammy is always put in adult situations. She doesn't know she is a very strong little girl; she always worries about everyone else's safety more so than her own. She experiences obstacles in her life that no child or adult should go through. She is constantly in harm's way. Watch how Tammy develops a powerful relationship that keeps her strong through it all.
Ruby Hope Valley is a delightful and heartwarming book of love, faith, and friendship. Betty Anne, a lonely Christian woman in her fifties, who lives in the town of Ruby Hope Valley, carries a hidden secret in her heart, until she meets a young Amish girl whom she befriends after joining an Amish quilting group. They become lifelong friends and share many experiences of happiness and sorrow. Betty Anne becomes a true friend of Sara Jane and her Amish family as they struggle with Kidney disease, adoption, death and an emotional homecoming.
From light starters to hearty fare to sophisticated specialties, "Soup & Stew" contains 42 recipes for dishes such as Turkey Gumbo, Cream of Asparagus, Thai Red Beef Curry, Moroccan Lamb Stew, and Coq au Vin. 100 color photos.
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