A letter bearing news of boyhood friend Karl Udengaard’s death sets Maximilian Fritz on a path of disconcerting reminiscences on his last day as editor of a community newspaper. Growing up as the son of a petrol-station owner in a Lowveld town, twelve-year-old Max is bashed around and bullied – until the arrival of Karl Udengaard. Karl teaches Max how to toughen up, while Max’s feelings for Gunna Udengaard, Karl’s enigmatic mother, rage in secret. Tragedy severs Max’s ties with the wealthy Udengaards. As the decades-old memories unravel, he begins to comprehend his own complicity in his and their misfortunes. Due South of Copenhagen is a masterful tale of the scope of intimate connections between people, small-town living during the height of South Africa’s Border War, and what it takes to put the past to rest.

Lucy Miller has worked her way up from coffee-fetcher and copy-maker to invaluable assistant. She's proud of her accomplishments, but she's looking forward to a break from her demanding boss; a visit home is just the Christmas treat she needs. Diligent and unassuming, Chanoch Evans has avoided relationships not just out of shyness, but because he doesn't feel like he has anything to offer-most of his resources are devoted to his war-veteran younger brother. When a desperate plea from their boss ruins their holiday plans, Lucy and Evans are stuck in an otherwise empty office with only each other for company. After catching their boss in flagrante, they start to see that each other's mild workplace personas might be just the tip of the iceberg. Despite the prohibition against fraternization between employees, there may be more than kissing going on underneath this mistletoe...

The first volume of a collection of short stories by Sean Dietrich, a writer, humorist, and novelist, known for his commentary on life in the American South. His humor and short fiction appear in various publications throughout the Southeast.

Lucy I'm proud of going from a coffee-fetcher and copy-maker to an assistant my demanding boss can't live without, but I can't wait to go home for Christmas. I've been busting my ass and I could really use a break. But when I'm desperately needed on a project over the holiday, I can't say no. Guess I'll be stuck at work with only shy and awkward Evans for company-and apparently my boss and her husband getting it on in her office. EvansLucy is the prettiest, nicest woman I know. And watching her get all hot and bothered when we catch our boss having kinky sex is the hottest thing I've ever seen. Dating a coworker isn't allowed, though, and Lucy and I follow the rules. Plus, a woman like Lucy deserves more than I could ever give her. I get to be the luckiest guy on earth and have a Christmas quickie with her while the office is empty, but it can't be more than that. Even if I'd really like to keep kissing her after the mistletoe comes down.