Mark Brazaitis

Mark Brazaitis can write depression; he can characterize long lost regrets, illuminate ghosts of the past, and punctuate dashed hopes and dreams. Apprently he suffers from some of this himself, a bout of depression even cost him a city council seat irl. What must be a daily challenge for him is a bonus for readers, because I've seen very few fiction writers handle these topics as adroitly as he does.

The Rink GIrl is a collection of short stories, all of which involve an ice arena in a small town in Eastern Ohio. Front and center is a figure skater, Alice Maravicious, dubbed "Alice Marvelous" as a teen Olympic hopeful and later she goes by Maravicious again as a skating instructor and figure skating competition color commentor. Alice is the main character in many of the stories, and a walk-on character in some of the others.

Prepare to be humored, heartbroken and saddened. And enjoy it the entire time.
… (meer)