The Open Window Stories

"Some people say that the root of all evil is greed. Others say it is the desire to win; competition. Still others say that evil is a force beyond us, tempting us to go against our better natures. And then there are some who don't think evil is any more real than God." These are the opening lines to the debut collection by newcomer Joshua Daniel Pelz. A mesmerizing quest for identity, knowledge, and love; filled with secrets, buried trauma, and private joys, the characters of these well-crafted stories protect their realities with determination and wonder. In "Pull the Red String," a police constable on stress-leave is confronted by his demons during a midnight skinny-dip. In "Big Bird," a dying man tries to comfort his fellow patient by painting an unusually accurate portrait of heaven. In "Woodside Brats," an arrogant Coyote and a snobbish Woodpecker attempt to rally their fellow animals to ward-off an invasion of partying teens. The Open Window Stories is at once repulsive and addictive, the characters familiar yet inexplicable, a series of stories to be contemplated and digested with a greedy heart.