Precarious
Stories of Love, Sex, and Misunderstanding
Al Riske
Includes “Pray for Rain,” winner of the 2008 Blue Mesa Review Fiction Prize
“The art of the short story is alive and well in the hands of Al Riske, who understands how to walk the tightrope of subtle emotional resonance.” —Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of Pay It Forward, Love in the Present Tense, Chasing Windmills, and many others.
“Riske’s characters brim with the fears, desires, and idiosyncrasies of real, complex human beings. In the collision of spiritual and sexual concerns that plague them, we find a truth that makes us believers in the power of his fiction.” —Laura Matter, Blue Mesa Review
“This book will stay with you long after you close it and put it away. You’ll no doubt pick it up again for a second read, maybe even a third.” —Reading at the Beach
| DOWNLOADS | Discussion questions PRECARIOUS Discussion questions for Book Groups and educators. |
| Why I wrote PRECARIOUS Discussion by author, Al Riske, about the process and motivation in writing PRECARIOUS. |
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Al Riske grew up in the Pacific Northwest and has worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor, and ghostwriter. His short stories have appeared in Beloit Fiction Journal, Pindledyboz, Switchback, and Blue Mesa Review, where his story “Pray for Rain” won the review’s 2008 fiction prize. He now lives in California with his wife, Joanne, and their dog, Bodie. |
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Connect Online:
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Upcoming Appearances: | |
 | Sabrina's Window |
Story Behind the Story: “Men Are Such Boys”
3/1/2011
This one is a story about an older woman dating a younger man. “Men Are Such Boys” was written before the term cougar became popular, and I don’t think of the woman, Deirdre, as a cougar, which has taken on a derogatory connotation. This is simply a story about a woman who thinks of all [...]
Story Behind the Story: “Just Admit It”
2/2/2011
“Just Admit It” is another one of my earliest stories. The first draft was written for a creative writing class when I was in college. To this day, more than 30 years later, I remember the instructor telling me where the story picked up interest for him, which was about a third of the way [...]
Story Behind the Story: “What She Said”
1/5/2011
This was my breakthrough. That’s what I thought when I wrote it. But it didn’t become my breakthrough for another decade. When I wrote “What She Said,” I was working for a city magazine in San Francisco and the executive editor wanted to publish it. Her boss, as it turned out, did not. Aaargh! So [...]
Story Behind the Story: “Don’t Stop Now”
12/1/2010
I started this one when I was still in high school. In the years that followed, it grew into a short novel and kept getting longer. I’d be embarrassed to have anyone read the full manuscript now, so it remains hidden away. But I’m glad I didn’t simply burn it. At some point I remembered [...]
Story Behind the Story: “Sleeping with Smiley”
11/9/2010
If you’ll indulge me, I thought I might share the story behind some of the stories in my collection. The first story, “Sleeping with Smiley,” began its life as a screenplay, and I chose the setting and the sport for their cinematic possibilities. Later “Smiley” turned into a novel, back into a screenplay, then a [...]
| Paperback | 1-935462-32-6 | $16.95 |
| E-Book | 1-935462-36-9 | $9.95 |
| Category | Literature |
| Imprint | Luminis Books |
| Publication Date | 2010-02-05 |
| Publication Status | In Print |
| Trim Size | 5.50 x 8.00 |
| Page Count | 242 |
