As the well-deserved accolades are pouring in for Dolly Parton, RIP, there is one blind spot I am seeing in the coverage. I just released a collection of fictional stories about strong women, so I have a thought or two.

As a GenX-er, I fondly remember Dolly at the absolute peak of her ~70-year career.

Her talent was undeniable; but she was born a poor girl. So, I found it interesting how she allowed herself to be something of a punch-line in order to get a foothold in a man's world. To be...

Since nearly my entire creative writing practice has taken place in my forties and fifties—with all printed published works being in the latter decade—I recently became interested in my favorite authors' various ages. That is, how old were they when they wrote (what I considered to be) their best works?

Here are my 24 favorite all-time short stories, listed chronologically, and further subdivided by how old the authors were when they produced them:
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19th-Century Authors
“The Tell-Tale Heart...

Macy glances up—Seatac baggage is just empty: forsaken, like Grandma's "guest room". Or home.

S'okay. They/Their world is online. Validation.

The red light spins. Thud! Even with earbuds, she hears the luggage arriving. Across the room she sees her parents approaching. Not smiling.

Back to her phone, they departs.

(2024)