New Story Up at matchbook
I have a new story up at matchbook today. I know you’re supposed to love all of your stories equally, like children, but I love this one a little bit more. It’s about Paul Bunyan. It’s called “The Monstrous Sadness of Mythical Creatures.” Here’s a bite:
It’s lonely up here. They don’t understand how lonely. They think they’d like to be big, to have his arm span, his strong swing. They’d like the earth to shudder wherever they step and forests to collapse in their wake. They think it would make them important. They don’t know that nothing is important when it’s taller than the tree line; anything that tall becomes more landscape than person.
I also have an accompanying Critical Thought piece, if you’re interested in knowing why anyone in the world would write a story about Paul Bunyan.
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Congratulations, Amber. I found this piece delightfully fresh and incredibly moving. Your critical thoughts are also skillfully written, and both endings sound the perfect, heartfelt note. Brava.
Thanks, Ethel. I’m really glad you liked the piece.
This made me sad for the big guy, like dang, I want to weave and weave flannel so he is never cold. Great piece, Amber.
Thanks! I’ve always sort of pitied all the old heroes that we supposed to a thousand feet tall or whatever. Seems like that would be pretty lonely.