Beneath The Skin Read online

Beneath the Skin

  By

  David George Howard

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  Beneath the Skin

  Copyright © 2011 David George Howard

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  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  For the included works of fiction, names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in these works, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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  I would like to thank Professors Robert Rebein and Karen Kovacik of the IUPUI Department of English. Many of the following stories came from the work I did in their classes. Their expertise and guidance are greatly appreciated. I would also like to thank my fellow students in those classes for not only reading my stories but also allowing me to read theirs. Reading those stories helped me more than one might think. I must give thanks as well to my wife Michele who provided the final editing comments to this collection.

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  If you wish to contact the Author, he can be reached at any of the following:

  https://artfulscribbler.wordpress.com

  [email protected]

  The stories in this collection came from the various writing classes and workshops I have taken over the past few years. Each was written or at least reviewed with the dual-purpose of practicing the writing craft, and formulating and presenting a central idea. I cannot speak for other writers, but each story I write requires a personal investment. By that I mean, in my mind the characters exist in all dimensions with lives of triumphs and failures. I get to know these folks and put them through stressful situations. In some cases this is difficult to do. If this makes sense, these created lives exist beyond the pages, and when it comes time to put them through an experience that might have an unseemly end this takes careful consideration. This gives me pause when I get to a point where a life has to change or even end. But, if it is part of the story it has to be there.

  When it came to choosing a title for this collection, I wanted an idea that meant we were seeing beyond this public image we all project. As we pass through life, we come in contact with a great many fellow humans, but rarely view beyond the outer person. I wanted to bring out that cluttered part we all have, but seldom talk about. Each piece in this collection has a short epilogue that describes the germination of the idea that was then made into the full story. With that, please join me in these tiny spheres of humanity I have tried to create.

  I, Me

  Always the Lake

  A Reasonable Murder

  The Voices

  They Belong to Everybody

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