 THINGS I PRAY I NEVER FORGET (Unsolicited Press, June 6, 2018) — Reality can be a hard pill to swallow: Trump is president, bigotry is running rampant, and all the good people are considered “rioters” instead of protesters. It’s a topsy-turvy world that’s flung humanity back to the 50s. It sounds bleak, we know, but in difficult times such as these, we are even more astounded at how humanity has the capacity to come together for change. What does this have to do with Doug Haines’ new book THINGS I PRAY I NEVER FORGET.
In times of conflict, maybe we need to focus on people--well, people who aren’t involved in politics at least. Normal people who have issues that can’t be resolved with new bills and corrupt money. Take a break from politics and “fake-news” and join the characters in Haines’ collection of short stories as they tackle problems that they may or may not be able to overcome because, well, that’s life. Follow the alcoholic barrel man who has to learn how to be responsible for his daughter. Sympathize with the struggles of recovering alcoholic Tom W. as he is faced with a daunting decision. Why not take 15 minutes and join Andy Bergheim, up-and-coming Football coach as he is faced with the opportunity of a lifetime. The underlying theme of these stories are how we have to live with the decisions we choose, whether it's going out with a pretty girl when it means compromising your values, teaching your dog proper habits, or going out with a guy way younger than yourself. Doug S. Haines is a Texas-born musician and writer. In 2013, he co-authored Resurrecting Trash, a book about sustainable living published by Texas Review Press. His fiction has appeared in journals such as Slippery Elm, Reed, and The Chicago Tribune’s Printers Row. He teaches creative writing at Fayetteville Tech in North Carolina, where he lives with his wife, Katie, and their two dogs, Lucille and Mabel. THINGS I PRAY I NEVER FORGET is available where all books are sold. Comments are closed.
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