Fleeing her family, a woman finds unexpected solace in an empty hotel. Following a shattering professional failure, a therapist becomes convinced someone is watching his every move. A coach’s disciplinary tactic doesn’t so much backfire as it implodes his players’ lives. Inhabiting a (mostly) midwestern landscape, Alex Pickett’s characters specialize in breaking rules. Believing themselves to be good people, they try to bend their situations to fit their needs or fulfill their desires. The results are rarely completely disastrous or successful, but are tinged with a humor that rides comfortably alongside embarrassment, regret, and longing—and in the process remind us that it is achingly hard to live up to expectations.Alex Pickett is a Wisconsin-born writer based in London and the author of
The Restaurant Inspector. His stories have appeared in numerous publications, including
The Southern Review,
Subtropics,
Passages North, and
Green Mountains Review.Contents
Practice
At the Twin Pines Motel
Petland
Camera Lake
Props
Glass Monkey
Résumé
Vultures
Perfect Nonsense
Ankle Grabber
Wind
Pharaoh
Scorch the Earth beneath Your Feet
The Vow
“Fans . . . will relish [Pickett’s] new story collection filled with well-meaning but deliciously flawed Midwestern characters.”
“Pickett’s poignant, funny stories . . . reveal the distinctive perspectives of the characters.”
“An inherently riveting, thought provoking, and memorable read from start to finish.”
Each story inCamera Lakeexcites you making it hard to put down till youve read all fourteen stories. The collection is gripping, powerful, and so human. A must read for fans of short story collections.
“Camera Lakeis such a powerful read. Pickett writes relevant, risló/
![Camera Lake [Paperback]](/itemImage/2/2/5/0/2_7005852.jpg "Camera Lake [Paperback]")