'A Manual of the Art of Fiction' by Clayton Meeker Hamilton is a comprehensive guide to writing fiction. From Realism to Romance, the author draws examples from Poe, Hawthorne, and Robert Louis Stevenson to offer a step-by-step course through essential topics like plot, characters, setting, and point of view. Amongst other topics that it touches upon, the book explores the purpose of fiction and the nature of narrative, the difference between the epic, drama, and novel, and how to structure a short story. Hamilton's guide also covers the importance of style in fiction, including memorable words and the patterning of syllables. A must-read for aspiring writers and fans of fiction alike.

In 1831 Honoré de Balzac wrote a short story, “The Unknown Masterpiece,” in which he invented the abstract painting. Almost 200 years later, writer Ingo Niermann tries to follow in his footsteps to imagine a new epoch-making artwork. Together with the artist Erik Niedling he starts searching for the future of art and, seeking advice, meets key figures of the art world. Includes the DVD The Future of Art by Erik Niedling and Ingo Niermann (HD, 157 min.). Contributors Thomas Bayrle, Olaf Breuning, Genesis and Lady Jaye Breyer P-Orridge, Olafur Eliasson, Harald Falckenberg, Boris Groys, Damien Hirst, Gregor Jansen, Terence Koh, Gabriel von Loebell, Marcos Lutyens, Philomene Magers, Antje Majewski, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Thomas Olbricht, Friedrich Petzel, and Tobias Rehberger; and commentary by Chus Martínez

One of The New York Times Book Review's Ten Best Books of 2015 One of Jezebel's Favorite Books of 2016 A Manual for Cleaning Women compiles the best work of the legendary short-story writer Lucia Berlin. With the grit of Raymond Carver, the humor of Grace Paley, and a blend of wit and melancholy all her own, Berlin crafts miracles from the everyday, uncovering moments of grace in the Laundromats and halfway houses of the American Southwest, in the homes of the Bay Area upper class, among switchboard operators and struggling mothers, hitchhikers and bad Christians. Readers will revel in this remarkable collection from a master of the form and wonder how they'd ever overlooked her in the first place. "Perhaps, with the present collection, Lucia Berlin will begin to gain the attention she deserves." -Lydia Davis

Fourteen Short Stories by master Storytellers, James N. Frey and Lester Gorn.

Fiction. Lucia Berlin was born in Alaska, raised in Chili, and presently lives and works in California. Her stories have appeared in The Noble Savage, The Critic, The Atlantic, The London Strand, and Quilt, and many other magazines and journals. This is her second volume of short stories.

This book is a complete course in writing fiction. Drawing examples from the works of such masters as Poe, Hawthorne, and Robert Louis Stevenson, it offers a guided course through such vital topics as Realism, Plot, Characters, Setting, Point of View, The Epic, Structure of the Short Story, and much more.