The Van in My Mind

Anthony Vano

Description

'The Van In My Mind' presents four short stories featuring desperate people at a crossroads–grappling for meaning, purpose, and second chances.

In "Angel In Vegas," a burned-out, numbed-out, mid-career advertising exec named Gus meets a mysteriously congenial soul at a Las Vegas casino. Can the old man persuade Gus to recover his spark–before it's too late?

Motivational speaker and guru "Frank the Tank" peddles self-help and business advice to sold out arenas. If audiences understood Frankie's dubious past, would they still flock to his books and seminars?

A mainstay supermarket chain goes bankrupt, plunging a former employee into reflection and introspection. Meet the mostly-dysfunctional employees and customers who shaped the protagonist's formative years in "A&P: A Eulogy."

In "Samurai Deadhead," a late-career kickboxer meets a rock 'n' roll legend who draws him a map to a buried treasure. After the musician's death, the martial artist sets out on a transformative quest to recover the goods. But is there any treasure to be found? Or was it all just a cruel joke?

Touching on themes of failure and success, despair and hope, darkness and light, 'The Van In My Mind' will remind you the greatest obstacles are often the ones we create.

Sujets

• Short Stories
• Fiction

Informations

• Publié par: eBookIt.com
• Date de parution: 03 mai 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781456637453
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Van in My Mind
A collection of short stories.
 
 
 
by
Anthony Vano
Copyright 2021 Anthony Vano,
All rights reserved.
 
 
Published by eBookIt.com
http://www.eBookIt.com
 
 
ISBN-13: 978-1-4566-3745-3
 
 
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
Contents
The Van in My Mind
Angel in Vegas
Frank the Tank
A&P: A Eulogy
Samurai Deadhead
 
The Van in My Mind
One morning, about two years ago, while driving to work on the New York Thruway (I-87 North), I spotted a white customized van with tinted windows, slick tires, and shiny chrome rims. Custom artwork adorned each of the back doors. On the left, a focused samurai holding a long sword with both hands, ready to attack,. On the other door, the skull from the Grateful Dead’s Steal Your Face album cover.
The juxtaposition of the samurai and the Grateful Dead logo captivated me. I wanted to know more about that van.
Who is driving?
Where is he going?
What’s inside?
Transfixed on the van and the questions it posed to my imagination, I missed my exit. The mystical van had me in a hypnotic trance. The van never left my mind. I pondered it frequently. I meditated upon it like a koan.
Over time, unique characters and concepts bubbled up to my consciousness. Some of them related to the van, and some not. The characters and concepts grew and blossomed. I put pen to paper, not knowing what might unfold, but trusting the process.
Eventually, it clicked. The stories emerged and took shape.
Within these pages, you’ll find four short stories. I finished the writing process during the COVID-19 lockdown. Focusing my attention on the stories provided a productive distraction during those confusing and scary times.
It feels gratifying to release this creation—to let the van drive out of my head, and into your mind, where it can continue its journey.
Buckle up— we’re going for a ride.