Ordinary Sins: Stories

(Hardback)

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Description

From a bar hosting its nightly Sad Hour to the moonlit sandbox of a retired army general, Jim Heynen's new collection of micro fiction presents character sketches of strange yet fascinating men and women. Modeled after Theophrastus' "Characters" -- brief, verbal snapshots of people created by the Greek philosopher -- Heynen captures not just thequirks and eccentricities of his characters, but also their humanity. Guilty of only ordinary and forgivable sins, these sketches reveal universal human idiosyncrasies as much as they do the individual characters. Paired with the wonderfully evocative illustrations of renowned illustrator Tom Pohrt, "Ordinary Sins" will appeal to story lovers and collectors of beautifully made books alike.

Reviews

Praise for Ordinary Sins "I have been an avid reader of Jim Heynen's writing for more than three decades, eagerly awaiting the arrival of each and every one of his new books. Ordinary Sins is both genius and generous, a beautifully crafted collection of short-short fiction filled with keen wit and stunning acuity. Heynen is a master storyteller, and in Ordinary Sins he is at the height of his powers. Somewhere the ghost of Theophrastus is nodding his head in enthusiastic approval."--Robert Hedin, author of The Old Liberators: New and Selected Poems and Translations "Ordinary Sins gives you people-watching in book form. Each eccentric in this pantheon is a magnet for your gaze, their excesses fascinating, exasperating, bizarre--then suddenly familiar. 'Hey, I have relatives like these characters!' And eventually you will see yourself, recognize your quirks, and thanks to Jim Heynen's portraits of us all, you may forgive yourself. Why be human if you can't be odd in your own glorious way This is a book to revel in."--Kim Stafford, author of The Muses Among Us: Eloquent Listening and Other Pleasures of the Writer's Craft "Heynen's details are intriguing, and his voice is entertaining as always, but what most stands out in these rogues' gallery portraits of our own wayward selves is a gentle humor which makes us forgive, and even approve, our dark side."--David Pichaske, author of Song of the North Country: A Midwest Framework to the Songs of Bob Dylan "Heynen gives readers characters they care about, even if they don't always like them." -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Author Bio

Jim Heynen has won numerous awards and is frequently featured on National Public Radio. He lives in Saint Paul, MN. Tom Pohrt is a self-taught artist who has been published in more than 16 books and various periodicals. He lives in Ann Arbor, MI.