Blurbs: "A
Sharp Bend in the Road" showcases a carnival of amazing and totally
different types of stories. From a story about a young man's encounter in
an elevator, to a gay couple in a jewelry store, to a woman entering a
retirement home, Bianco's characters are real, yet colorful and unique. He
has a gift in creating genuine dialogue making each story come alive. I
thoroughly enjoyed this collection of stories. 5 stars for sure! A fine collection
written by one author who clearly knows his craft. --Susan Violante for Reader Views
"A virtuosic collection of stories followed by the
sharp blade of a killer novella as the final act. Gerard Bianco's stories do
not creep up on you: they fall upon you like a raptor plummeting, wings folded,
golden eye ablaze. Their signature swirl of caustic irony is bitter, often
brutal - a gleam of talons and a sudden cry - resulting almost always in a
small death of the heart." -Dianne Benedict, Author of Shiny Objects
Synopsis of four of the
seventeen stories:
From “A Process of
Elimination.” When a man purchases a remote
log cabin in the Adirondacks , he believes he
has found a peaceful haven, until he discovers a stranger dead on his living
room rug.
From “The Organization.” A man, looking for a new adventure, joins a unique organization
and quickly learns that getting what you want can sometimes lead to unimagined
consequences.
From “A Sharp Bend
From “The Long Ride.” Two couples set out on a vacation in Maine
Eggcerpt:
The
Organization
I’m on the run—forced to
flee. I must keep moving. It’s the basic rule of survival. Problem is, I can’t
run forever. My money, for one thing, is almost gone. I’ve got to stop
sometime. Only not yet. I need to be convinced they’re not following me.
I
hope it’s not too late. I’m not certain, but this afternoon I thought I was
being followed. Do they know where I am? Are they watching me? Waiting for the
right moment to grab me? Or is my mind playing tricks? Why do I think they’re
closing in on me?
My
life is a total nightmare. And I can’t blame anyone but myself. I never appreciated how
lucky I was. I took my life
for granted—as if I deserved all the good things that came my way. If only I had understood the true worth of my life, I never would’ve
gotten into the mess I’m in now.
At twenty-nine, I was married to
a beautiful woman. We enjoyed
a spacious modern home. I worked hard at a decent job and built up a considerable savings. My future looked promising.
Yet, with all my good luck
and fortune, I wasn’t
happy.
I couldn’t put my finger on it,
but I’d always sensed there was something missing in my life. What that might
be wasn’t obvious. I could locate no loose ends or red flags, and yet something gnawed at me every day
like an unrelenting toothache.
I tried to figure out the source of
my discontent, and I attempted to fill the void in many ways. I studied the
philosophies of Eastern religions. I poured through self-help books. I
meditated. Yet, no
matter what I tried, the approach was never enough to fill the emptiness I felt
in my gut.
Then, one evening, while my wife,
Meg, and I were at a dinner party, I overheard bits and pieces about a secret
society called the Organization. No one knew much about them. One man
believed they were a powerful
group that could make things happen. A cute blond in a short black skirt said
she’d heard rumors the group had infiltrated the government. Around the table,
the discussion continued until our hostess, appearing somewhat nervous, said,
“I think it’s best we not talk of these things.” The conversation immediately
took a sharp turn toward a more pleasant topic.
My curiosity was ignited. I was
hooked. I’d heard about secret orders and how their members had the power to
influence culture and society. I admired how their exclusivity insured a boon
for their members. Deals went down among those who belonged that insured both
fortune and fame. A powerful and surreptitious cadre, late-night ancient
rituals in darkened rooms, covert symbols of good and evil, business conducted
furtively—what could be better?
Was this the answer to what I was
looking for? I needed to find out. I needed to know more about the
Organization: who the members were and what they stood for. I began my quest
the following day.
Gerard Bianco shares a
fresh voice in short storytelling. A Sharp Bend in the Road redefines the art of the short story collection. Seventeen
stories, built around absorbing characters, strong conflicts, and sometimes
dark and absurdly humorous ingredients, prove that the journey through life
never travels in a straight line.
Bio:
Gerard Bianco is an author, artist/illustrator, and writing
coach. He holds an MFA in Writing from Albertus Magnus
College
His works include:
The Deal Master (2006) A mystery/thriller novel. Won the Editor's Choice Award and the Publisher's Choice Award.
Discipline: A Play (2012) A love story and a laugh-out-loud comedy that uses wit to depict human frailty. It won the Editor's Choice Award, 2012, and was a Finalist in the 2013 Indie Excellence Book Awards.
His short stories have appeared in various literary journals. His lessons, exercises, and advice on the art and craft of creative fiction have appeared on the web and in the book, Now Write! Mysteries: Mystery Fiction Exercises From Today's Best Writers and Teachers. (Tarcher, 2011; Edited by Sherry Ellis and Laurie Lamson.)
His latest book, A SHARP BEND IN THE ROAD: 17 INTRIGUING STORIES, published January, 2015.
Gerard divides his time betweenPortland , Maine and Boston
The Deal Master (2006) A mystery/thriller novel. Won the Editor's Choice Award and the Publisher's Choice Award.
Discipline: A Play (2012) A love story and a laugh-out-loud comedy that uses wit to depict human frailty. It won the Editor's Choice Award, 2012, and was a Finalist in the 2013 Indie Excellence Book Awards.
His short stories have appeared in various literary journals. His lessons, exercises, and advice on the art and craft of creative fiction have appeared on the web and in the book, Now Write! Mysteries: Mystery Fiction Exercises From Today's Best Writers and Teachers. (Tarcher, 2011; Edited by Sherry Ellis and Laurie Lamson.)
His latest book, A SHARP BEND IN THE ROAD: 17 INTRIGUING STORIES, published January, 2015.
Gerard divides his time between
Purchase the book:
Amazon link to “A Sharp Bend in the Road” Kindle Edition: http://www.amazon.com/Sharp-Bend-Road-Intriguing-Stories-ebook/dp/B00S50CY7O/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1421349884
Amazon link to “A Sharp Bend in the Road” paperback edition: http://www.amazon.com/Sharp-Bend-Road-Intriguing-Stories/dp/1491753617/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1421349884&sr=8-1
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Gerard-Bianco/e/B00770UC90/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Author Contact Info:
My website: www.gerardbianco.com
My blog: www.gerardbianco.blogspot.com
http://www.writercoachingprograms.com/
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/GerardBiancoWriterEnRoute
Google +: google.com/+GerardBianco
2 comments:
The blurb for the story, A Sharp Bed in the Road blew me away. My mum went into a home a few years ago,and she must have felt like that.
Thanks, Kryssie. "A Sharp Bend in the Road" is a reader favorite. Like many of the stories, it has a unique twist. I hope you'll get to read it, along with the other stories.
Gerard
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