In this emotional debut, a New York executive, restless in his success, is sent to West Virginia where a small-town girl and her son open his eyes to a richer life than he could have imagined.

Nineteen writers dig into the imaginative spaces between conventional genres—realistic and fantastical, scholarly and poetic, personal and political—and bring up gems of new fiction: interstitial fiction. This is the literary mode of the new century, a reflection of the complex, ambiguous, and challenging world that we live in. These nineteen stories, by some of the most interesting and innovative writers working today, will change your mind about what stories can and should do as they explore the imaginative space between conventional genres. The editors garnered stories from new and established authors in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, and also fiction translated from Spanish, Hungarian, and French. The collection features stories from Christopher Barzak, Colin Greenland, Holly Phillips, Rachel Pollack, Vandana Singh, Anna Tambour, Catherynne Valente, Leslie What, and others. "A wildly varied cacophony of a book, by turns beautiful, funny, frightening, frustrating, and baffling, but never boring." —New Haven Review "Odd, Deep, Delightful" —Atlanta Journal-Constitution "This idea of playing with genre conventions is interstitiality's charm and what makes it a movement for the hypertext age. We want words to do more now and for our time not to have been spent with just one idea." —Adrienne Martini, Baltimore City Paper Delia Sherman was born in Tokyo and brought up in New York City. She earned a PhD in Renaissance studies at Brown University and taught at Boston and North-eastern universities. She is the author of the novels Through a Brazen Mirror, The Porcelain Dove (a Mythopoeic Award winner), and Changeling. Sherman co-founded the Interstitial Arts Foundation, dedicated to promoting art that crosses genre borders. Theodora Goss was born in Hungary and spent a peripatetic childhood in various European countries. She teaches at Boston University, is completing a PhD, and is introducing classes on the fantastic tradition in English literature. She is the author of a short story collection, In the Forest of Forgetting.

Welcome to Burnt River, a new series of Contemporary Western Romance stories set in the fictional town of Burnt River, Montana. Brought to you by Shirleen Davies, Peggy L .Henderson, Kay P. Dawson, Amelia Adams, and Kate Cambridge. Boone’s Surrender, Book Eleven, Burnt River Contemporary Western Romance Series, by Shirleen Davies. Daniel “Boone” Macklin has a lot to learn. Going from a bachelor rancher to the father of a six-year-old boy hadn’t been in his plans. Like almost everything else in his life, he doesn’t hesitate to face his new responsibilities head-on. The one regret he has is not facing the truth about his feelings for the woman he still loves. Willow Robinson is determined to put the tragedy from her past behind her—as well as her love for the youngest Macklin brother. Forgiveness she can offer. Forgetting is something she’d been unable to achieve. It’s been three years since the heartbreaking night that changed their lives. In Boone’s mind, continuing to act as if Willow and their close friendship since childhood is over no longer makes sense. Convincing her they deserve a second chance presents more of a challenge than training the green broke horses on his ranch. As their tenuous connection begins to rebuild, a danger to their families threatens to destroy whatever future they may still have. Every step toward a future, every memory of the past presents obstacles neither may be able to overcome. Can their wounded hearts allow them to deal with the present crisis, or will it sever any chance of rebuilding the love neither wants to admit? Boone’s Surrender, book eleven in the Burnt River Contemporary Western Romance Series, is a stand-alone, full-length novel with an HEA and no cliffhanger. Burnt River Contemporary Western Romance books: Book 1 – Shane’s Burden by Peggy L. Henderson Book 2 – Thorn’s Journey by Shirleen Davies Book 3 – Aqua’s Achilles by Kate Cambridge Book 4 – Ashley’s Hope by Amelia Adams Book 5 – Harpur’s Secret by Kay P. Dawson Book 6 – Mason’s Rescue by Peggy L. Henderson Book 7 – Del’s Choice by Shirleen Davies Book 8 – Ivy’s Search by Kate Cambridge Book 9 – Phoebe's Fate by Amelia Adams Book 10 – Brody’s Shelter by Kay P. Dawson Book 11 – Boone’s Surrender by Shirleen Davies

He’d do anything for a second chance. Could her secrets and haunted past allow him back in? Fletcher’s Pride, Book Eight, MacLarens of Boundary Mountain Historical Western Romance Series Fletcher MacLaren lives a charmed life. He works hard and plays even harder. Handsome with an easy smile, he hasn’t considered settling down. Not until his gaze lands on the loveliest woman he’s ever seen. Creamy skin, golden blonde hair, and blue eyes so deep and clear, they sparkle. The first time he saw her, slowly descending the stairs of the saloon, she captured every man’s attention. Madeleine Colbert shouldn’t want the tall, ridiculously attractive rancher whose heated gaze burns right through her. A haunted past and inability to stay in one place for long doesn’t bode well for any kind of relationship. And her job in the saloon isn’t what a respectable cowboy would consider suitable for anything other than a few fiery moments. He can’t get her out of his mind. Fletch spends his days thinking of Maddy and his nights visiting the intriguing woman, until he needs her more than his next breath. But one short discussion with his father changes everything. The note he sends cuts clean through, causing her heart to crack. Knowing he’ll never return, and with ruthless outlaws tracking her, Maddy makes the only decision possible. She runs. Returning after several months, Fletcher’s first thought is of Maddy. The time away has been miserable. All he wants is to make amends and continue with what they had before he left. For the first time in his life, he learns what it’s like to not get what he wants. Hardship continues to plague Maddy. When the outlaws discover her new location, she finds herself on the run again, returning to Conviction. But not to the man she loves. She may have outrun the people chasing her, but it doesn’t mean she’s escaped the one man who offers nothing except another broken heart. And now, Maddy is hiding her biggest secret of all. Fletcher’s Pride, book eight in the MacLarens of Boundary Mountain Historical Western Romance Series, is a stand-alone, full-length novel with an HEA and no cliffhanger. Book 1: Colin’s Quest Book 2: Brodie’s Gamble Book 3: Quinn’s Honor Book 4: Sam’s Legacy Book 5: Heather’s Choice Book 6: Nate’s Destiny Book 7: Blaine’s Wager Book 8: Fletcher’s Pride