I have a new story called "Pepper" today in Barren Magazine's new issue.

It's been a long day. Put in more than ten hours at the day job. Did some major emailing when I got home (book stuff). Throw in the two-hour commute and the fact that my day started at 5 a.m. and you've got one tired 43 year old let me tell you.

It's been so busy today I've hardly had time to mention that one of my favorite stories I've written in a long time was published today at Barren Magazine. It's called "Pepper" and I started writing it because I wanted to remember times tossing baseball with my mom at Lulie Bate's trailer park on Indian Creek in Pike County, Kentucky.

I managed to do everything I wanted to do with this story. All the feelings I wanted to bring back to the surface were brought back to the surface; all the nostalgia was there in full; all the reasons it wanted to be a story were readily available to me as I plugged along on it.

I'm proud of the story. And Meagan Lucas, the fiction editor who helped me shape the final draft published today, was as valuable as an editor as I've ever experienced. She handled herself like a pro and served up pro-level help. It made the story that much better. Please do go see for yourself. Follow the link below and read "Pepper" and then cruise the rest of the Barren's Issue 9.

Read "Pepper"

Leave a comment and let me know what you think of the story. I'd love to hear from you.