Personal essay (narrative nonfiction, brief memoir)
Date Published: Oct 19, 2020
Publisher: Jack Walker Press
Friendships serve as a cornerstone to a rich life. Each of these twenty-four accomplished authors shares authentic stories that consider the meaning of life affirming, sometimes life saving or gut wrenching, and fun realities of investing in each other: Think chicken soup with adult beverages.
Editorial Reviews:
"A thoroughly enjoyable and heartfelt read! This is an invaluable book for anyone seeking insight and comprehension of the convoluted and often misunderstood road we travel known as friendship. A definite 5-star rating!" --International Review of Books
"Friends: Voices on the Gift of Companionship will take you through the full spectrum of what it means to call someone "friend." It's the book you reach for when you need to feel connected to humanity." --Skye McDonald author of the Anti-Belle series
"The authors in this anthology come from a wide range of backgrounds, and share their stories of friendship with convincing, if often difficult, passages. ...We may still regard the gifts of shared histories as nourishment to sustain us." --Carol Barrett, Ph.D. Coordinator, Creative Writing Certificate Program, Union Institute & University; author of Calling in the Bones and Pansies.
"As the stories evolve, readers will relish the personal tones, touches, and explorations that consider the nature of friendship, its gifts and resiliency, and its lasting impact on all. ...an outstanding key to understanding how relationships evolve, change, pass, and often come full circle to become even more valued as the years go by." -- D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
Excerpt
from
BOARD
IN THE SUBURBS by
CHRIS
WIEWIORA
I heard the clink of metal on metal and then the slap and clip of
urethane landing. “Whoops” came from a lanky kid with exaggeratedly long legs
that sloppily careened with his board while his arms swung. I couldn’t figure
if he were grasping the air for balance or pumping his arms in joy. His smile
got me stoked.
I saw a sheet of particleboard, not even plywood, hauled up on top
of a green plastic recycling bin set next to a rail in a house’s driveway. This
kid had been rolling up, grinding across, and then hopping off. The metal on
metal sound must have been from a 50-50 grind.
It was janky do-it-yourself-itude. I knew exactly how that felt,
to make something happen with what you have, like finding a backyard pool to
skate.
I figured the pool would still be there as I showed off to this
kid skateboarding in my neighborhood. I started stretching my foot as far
forward on the ground as possible and then pulled my board along and pushed
fast, faster. I set my foot on my tail and tilted back, lifting my front truck
off the road and balancing a manual in front of the kid’s driveway with my back
to him.
I set the front wheels back on the ground and pushed off again. I
wanted to snap and grab my board on the wedge-like driveway a few houses down.
As I pushed to pick up speed again, I figured if I made the trick, I would
introduce myself, but if I bailed, then I’d pick up my board and skate off to
the draining pool.
I rode up the driveway and popped an ollie, up, up. My trailing
hand grabbed the side of the board in front of me between my legs. My thumb
caught the grip tape, and my fingers curled underneath on the board’s laminated
bottom. I floated and turned in an arc.
I released the board, and my wheels landed. So, I rolled across
the street to the kid.
He introduced himself as Adam and said, “That was rad, man.”
“Thanks.” I nodded my head. “This is kinda cool, too.” I pointed
to his ramp-to-rail setup. “Wanna try?” Adam asked.
We tried each other’s tricks: grinds and airs. It was like a demo:
showing off and having fun just sessioning. I skated with Adam until the
streetlights flickered on.
About the Author
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Giveaway
paperback copies of Friends
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