Love, Lies, Bleeding

Love, Lies, Bleeding is an epic collection of eleven stories that range from very short to very long. These stories explore a variety of approaches—both traditional and experimental—centred around the common theme of romantic love. From infatuation to obsession, from bliss to heartbreak, they endeavour to answer some of the big questions about love: What is it? Why are we obsessed with it? Is it worth it? Is it possible to live without it? Or is it essential?

In the first few days of the new millennium, "Nine Lies" portrays some odd adventures during a cross-country train trip. An extended refueling stop in Havre, Montana, provokes the protagonist to consider the possible outcomes of various events—perhaps real, possibly imaginary, likely a combination of both.

More akin to a prose poem, "Summer" captures that all-too-brief, elevated, magical time of new love, which could either lead to a fairytale happily ever after or perhaps... death.

Is it a quest for redemption or simply refreshment? "The Pool" delves into the pursuit of dreams and questions whether it is ultimately worth it.

In the humorous snapshot of petty thievery titled "Miller Lowlife," we examine what it takes for a person to cross the line into a life of crime. Surprisingly, it turns out not to be much.

A big city, high-rise office provides the setting for "Please Let Me Know When You'll Be at the Party," which tells the story of a temp worker's obsession with the woman he is temporarily replacing.

"Fiddle o' Blood" presents a dual narrative from the points of view of a country singer and her loving, younger fan, as they meet over a bottle of cheap wine.

Set in the 1970s, "Learning to Play the Piano" highlights the unlikely relationship between a Hollywood starlet and a 12-year-old boy—a twisted coming-of-age story that may also serve as an allegory for the courting of addiction.

More of a novella, "Holly Golightly" follows a woman throughout the day she decides to break up with her boyfriend. The day's events include a movie titled Zigzag, which Holly sees at the theatre and which ends up being central to her difficult decision.

Literally bleeding... love... and lies, "A Plea to My Heart Which You Now Possess" starts with the old "organ theft" urban legend and then winds through a path of deception and self-deception.

In "Toni and the Dragon," Toni decides to break up with her boyfriend when she meets someone new. "The Dragon" in the story embodies the good, the bad, the funny, and the sometimes sad.

"The Golden Pineapple" depicts a week of epic proportions, following a man through the last days of his job. He then embarks on a train trip into the past where he grapples with ethical, life-changing questions, saves the world, and then doesn’t.