Tails from the Grooming Table

What does a day in the life of a dog groomer look like? Why is it so expensive to get your dog’s haircut? Does the groomer know she has makeup running down her face? Wait, is that makeup, or is that something that came out the backside of the dog? Is she just going to leave it there while she drinks her coffee? What is the most common dog name? What is the name heard around the store through the loudspeaker that no one will ever forget? What happens if a dog tries to bite? Do I have to have an appointment? Does my groomer actually care about my dog?

I’m your dog groomer. I have to stand on top of the table to work on big dogs. I have to carry your new puppy like a human baby and rock him back and forth to work on his paws and nails. My workday does not just include bathing and haircutting your precious pup. I wish it did.

I get pooped on, peed on, and all manner of bodily fluids have been on my person, yet I still prefer to work with animals over people. And yes, I really do care about your dog.

Stories - Volume I

This collection of stories is about the tension between our desire to belong to one another and how we affect one another in intimate and passing ways alike. It’s about journeying, both internally and externally, and are written to reflect real life experiences set out as metaphysical statements or curiosities.

Sitting on a Park Bench

Robi and Vic, two old friends, are sitting on a park bench on a misty fall evening, munching nuts and reminiscing. The smell of jasmine in the chilly fall air suddenly reminds Robi of their university days, many moons ago. A floodgate of memories of this time of their lives, when ‘life held promise and powers felt indefatigable,’ opens up. Who was the mysterious creature they had seen in the Gymkhana late night after the concert of ‘87? Who ratted them out after they crashed into the social event illegally held on university premises one evening? What started the infamous mess wars that drove such a rift through campus? The past becomes the present and the two compatriots go through their own remembrance of things past, while the sinister syndicate and the feared disciplinary committee loom over every encounter.

Silicon Minds

The book Silicon Minds: Tales from the Frontiers of Artificial Intelligence contains three short stories following the activities of a group called the D.A.W.N. (Digital Aged World Nexus)—consisting of hackers, activists, and rebels. The stories revolve around their efforts to challenge the dominance of the tech company GDC and expose its dark secrets, exploring themes such as identity, power, and the ethics of hacking in a digital age. The tales involve characters like a journalist, a hacker, a security agent, and a scientist, whose lives intersect and intertwine as they question the role of technology in society and contemplate the future of humanity.

Saint Margaret & Wagener

Embark on a captivating journey through this collection of short stories that unveil one of the Southeast’s hidden gems: Charleston. Immerse yourself in the essence and spirit of this Palmetto State jewel and its surroundings, as you learn the vitals and jargon unique to the area. Follow the imperturbable heroines and heroes as they lead you on diverse ventures, offering a glimpse into the distinctive ways of life in this charming corner of the world.

Each easy-to-read account within these pages features a melting pot of people and places, showcasing the local features and deep-rooted traditions of this historic city on the peninsula. Here, affability and sarcasm intertwine, underpinned by an unwavering foundation of respite and respect, all interlaced with a rebel mentality of continency that spans generations.

This book is a breath of fresh air, a celebration of non-conformity that is both salty and sweet, offering an interjective contrast to the routine of our daily lives.

Out of Bounds

Out of Bounds features Montreal women of different ages and cultural backgrounds facing a range of contemporary challenges and adventures at home and in other countries. Indigenous individuals, immigrant women, aging women, victims of domestic violence, addicts, and Holocaust survivors face making difficult choices at dramatic turning points in their lives. The stories are linked partly through one character who appears at key stages of her life, starting when she is sixteen and finishing when she is a retired anthropology professor and meets a fascinating but mysterious man she knew when she was a young reporter. She plays a role in the lives of several women featured in the book.

One of the women, who starts as an accountant and ends up helping poor women in Mexico start small businesses, has a rambling Montreal house where she welcomes women needing a safe place to escape to while making life-changing decisions. Settings include Montreal, Vancouver, and New York, as well as Portugal, Mexico, Antigua, Tunisia, Morocco, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and rural India.

Nove

These nine stories, scenes from a now-faraway youth, necessarily would have been misremembered, truncated, and therefore come into the present morphed into an entity quite distinct and separate from what they once were; however, they still bear the better telling. Thus, memory often shall bend the tale into something new, and apart from mere fact. Still, their telling is well-warranted, since all nine tales, snatched away from Mercury, do knit and meld themselves together to form a better, more fanciful whole to create a most pleasing portrait of the distant past.

Moving Stills

‘How did I go from a bold, sassy teenager to a woman afraid to get out of bed?’ laments Paula, 30 and desolate. These 38 strikingly diverse stories reveal the origins of her pain, then lead us through her sometimes difficult, often exhilarating journey toward health. Although inspired by events in her own life, Ms. Slatkin has created in Paula a vibrant fictional narrator. The writing is fast-paced, forthright, and laced with sometimes startling situations. Humour abounds. Paula is an honest spirit, and some stories deal openly with raw emotional experiences. The narrative texture, though rich in dialogue, is poetic in its use of imagery. Despite some difficult subject matter, there is an uplifting zest and vigour throughout the collection.

Mirrors

Mirrors is a collection of three stories that look beyond the surface of what reality appears to be. 

Mirrors

Katrina has worked the same job in the same small town her entire life. She has always considered herself and her existence nothing but commonplace and boring until a birthday present—one she promised herself never to use—changed everything. 

Each of us has a different version of ourselves. Some are better when left undiscovered. 

Deciduous

Daisy wakes up in a hospital bed with vague memories and broken images of her past. Her caretaker explains that she was the sole survivor of a tragic accident that left her parents dead.

They are all in a room, says a pressing voice that will soon lead her to discover the transience of seasons as they bring about death and form new life.

What’s On the Menu?

Chris Newberry has won the most coveted prize that one could win: a trip to What’s On the Menu?

In a society that relies solely on supplements for sustenance, What’s On the Menu? is the only chance to experience the long-lost sensation of eating.  

But in order to get there, you have to win the lottery. And if you do win, the trip is one you might never forget. 

Marco\'s Journey and Other Stories

Hints of S.P. Peredo’s Mexican American upbringing appear in Marco's Journey and Other Stories as he draws from personal experiences to present rich characters in diverse geographical settings: the scientist traveling through the majestic mountains of southeastern Mexico befriends an unlikely group of strangers, thus starting his own personal journey of self-discovery;; a young traveler who in 1970 ventures behind the iron curtain finding love—and danger; the girl with recurring dreams about a spider’s web struggles for her sanity; the boy with a poet’s heart growing up in America during the Vietnam War fears he is running out of time; a lover left behind during the war writes her heartfelt letter of farewell’ the caricaturesque Mexican musician who, through his performance, gives his listeners a reprieve from their sadness. 

These well-crafted stories, imbued with vivid imagery, lead readers through their own journey to discover the meaning of success, love, and living life to its fullest potential.

Manifesting Memories

What does a memory look like? Often it will appear personal and sacred because we have created it ourselves with every sensual focus we brought to our experience. Then, we sprinkle our thoughts and perspectives on it. A memory will reconnect us to the past for a  reimagining, a review, and a reframing. It will end up looking very much like who we are.

I hope the stories on these pages will entice you to return home to your own memories. Will you be stirred by how your memories have shaped you? Do they help reveal to you how unique you are? How have you chosen to be in life because of your memories? Reflecting on our memories may reveal how we truly belong to ourselves and to one another.

Enjoy the journey,

 Darlene

Life is a Story

In Life is a Story, D.A. Bennett takes readers on a captivating journey through a collection of short stories that explore the universal themes of adolescence, adulthood, and the complexities of human relationships.

Set in southern Louisiana during the mediators, the initial stories follow hard-working rural families as they navigate life’s challenges and opportunities. From there, the book ventures into the scandalous and confusing world of 21^st century bourgeoisie, where misunderstandings, heartbreak, and even crime lurk around every corner.

Bennett’s writing is not only entertaining but also thought-provoking, resonating with readers of all ages and backgrounds. With a keen eye for detail and a unique voice, the author expertly weaves together tales that are both poignant and insightful, leaving a lasting impact on the reader’s heart and mind.

As a new and adventurous author, Bennett delivers a formidable read that will captivate and inspire readers from beginning to end. Life is a Story is a must-read for anyone seeking a fresh and unique perspective on the joys and challenges of the human experience.