My Page: Russell Rowland

New West Fiction

The beginning of a new month gives us the chance to introduce a new batch of fine fiction from all over the West.

This month we feature an interesting variety of stories, starting with “The New Sister,” by acclaimed New Mexico novelist Lynn Stegner. Stegner, who won the 2007 Faulkner Award for her novel Because a Fire Was in My Head, takes us into the unsettling experience of Louisa Parker, an eight-year-old girl who has just found out that she has a step-sister, thanks to her father ‘stubbing his toe’ (her mother’s explanation) nine years ago. As hard as Louisa tries to adjust to this disruption in her family, the intrusion of this young girl becomes a catalyst for an unfortunate act. Stegner resolves this story brilliantly with a meeting between the two as young women.

The second story we’ll feature this month is by David Kranes, who is an accomplished Utah playwright as well as a fine fiction writer. Kranes starts his story with the age-old line “Man Walks into a Bar” (also the title), and from there spins a fascinating tale of overnight success for Scott Elias, a frustrated painter who suddenly finds himself starring in a major motion picture. Kranes presents an insightful exploration of the perils and challenges of success as Scott tries to retain his friendship with his roommate while hobnobbing with Brad Pitt and Hilary Swank.

New West Fiction

One of the most exciting things about literature from the West is the way it is slowly evolving in much the same way Western culture is evolving. You no longer assume that a novel from the West will be about grizzled cowboys, although there are still some wonderful novels being written in that genre.

Today’s Western writers are exploring every aspect of the Western experience, and we’re hoping to feature more and more of those experiences here at New West.

We put out a call for submissions two months ago, and the variety of stories that found their way to our inbox was inspiring and exciting. We’d like to make fiction a regular feature at New West, so we’ve reopened our submission page.

New West Fiction

Because the West has such a rich history of strong fiction writers, New West recently issued a “call for fiction” in a search for writers looking for an outlet to publish their work.

Our first call for submissions led to some wonderful results, and we’re happy to present six short stories from writers all over the West. We plan to feature one story each weekend for the next six weeks.

From Laramie, Wyoming, Tamara Linse gives us a humorous but poignant second person view of “How to Be a Man” as a woman growing up in the West.