LO English Prof. Nathan Leslie Publishes 12th Book
Nathan Leslie, LO-English, published his 12th book of short stories, A Fly in the Ointment. Published by Apprentice House Press of Loyola University Maryland in May 2023, A Fly in the Ointment catalogues a portrait of 21st Century America in steady decline. The wayward protagonists within these short stories are barely able to cope, and when they do, it is with substantial assistance. This collection is populated with sketchy ne’er-do-wells who attempt to defraud the public with fake rocks or snake oil. Families barely function. Individuals seek some means of eccentric hope (miniature horses, competitive eating contests, nail fungus removal). They fixate on image and appearance and trivialities, while they lose jobs and loved ones. They tamp down skeletons in the closet. The ethically blind lead the ethically blind.
Nathan Leslie’s previous eleven books of fiction include Washington Writers’ Publishing House 2019 Fiction Award Winner Hurry Up and Relax, Three Men, Root and Shoot and Sibs. He is also the author of The Tall Tale of Tommy Twice, a novel, and the poetry collection Night Sweat. His poetry, fiction, essays and reviews have appeared in hundreds of literary magazines including Boulevard, Shenandoah, North American Review, Hotel Amerika and Cimarron Review. Nathan was series editor for Best of the Web anthology 2008 and 2009 (Dzanc Books) and edited fiction for Pedestal Magazine for many years. He is the founder and host of the monthly Reston Readings series and he teaches English at NOVA. Since 2019, Nathan has also served as the series editor for Best Small Fictions and he is the publisher and editor of Maryland Literary Review.
Submitted by:
Nathan Leslie, LO-English, NLeslie@nvcc.edu