CONTENTS

Foreword by Linda Miller

Acknowledgments

Introduction

A Note on Editing and the Digital Companion

PART I.BORN TO WRITE: POETRY

Riding with a Friend

Ashes

Forgive Me Child

Uncle Sam Needs You

Success

Shalana

Cousin Nathan

Insatiable Death

Gators Alley

Queen of Rub-a-Dub

Sister, You Wear It Well

One More Smoke

I Never Thought

Jesters

PART II.TRANSFORMING POETRY INTO PROSE: SHORT STORIES

Gardenia Sue

Renwood Circle

Choices

The Good Side of a Man

All Talk

Grand Slam

The Turken

PART III.MASTERING THE ART OF STORYTELLING: NOVELS

Stumbling Blocks

No Ordinary Rain

Afterword by Trudier Harris