Windborne Tales: Seven Stories

“Crook delves deftly into a broad spectrum of themes, gifting the reader with not just seven stories, but seven experiences.” Jason Camelio, Global Education Professional\nAuthor Hal Crook returns after his “masterful” psychological thriller—A Brief Madness: New Identity—with this “expertly crafted” collection of stories. In Windborne Tales you’ll visit seven not-quite-fully-upright worlds, inhabited by hampered beings who haven’t yet given up the quest.\nWhether it’s a widowed animal lover who says “Enough” to loss; a precocious teen who squares off with a cruel stepdad; a forgotten pianist who wreaks havoc in a psych ward; a sly reporter who deceives crafty old timers at their own game; or an unknown saxophonist recruited to save humanity—Crook infuses their predicaments with healthy doses of truth, challenge, humor and intrigue, the impact of which can be sage at times, or blistering.\nWindborne Tales: Seven Stories is a “must read” collection that, as one reviewer writes, “unforgettably conveys what it means to be human.”\n“Crook’s stories get the pages turning by themselves… haunting creations.” Nancy McDaniel, Artist/Accountant\nABOUT HAL CROOK
Hal Crook is a professor emeritus, Berklee College of Music, Boston, and an internationally known jazz musician, composer, arranger, and teacher. He has published four books on jazz improvisation, and one novel, A Brief Madness: New Identity, available on amazon.com and through booksellers everywhere.\nInspired by the writing of poets Donald Hall, Mary Oliver, Esperanza Spalding, and I. Michael Grossman, Crook is currently at work on a collection of poems entitled Unsolicited: Non-Essential Writings from the Head and Heart.\nCrook lives in Rhode Island with his wife Joyce and two feral cats—John and Sharon—the furry stars of his Windborne Tales short story “Big Brains in Our Midst”.Visit www.halcrook.com.\nMore praise for Windborne Tales: Seven Stories:\n“This collection of stories is as easy to read as it is hard to put down. Each tale is highly creative, thought-provoking, entertaining, and unique. The writing style is acerbic and wry. Characters are depicted in gritty detail, representing the worst—and at times the best—of humanity. On display is raw reality, unexpected twists and turns, and believable endings impossible to foretell. In ‘Incident at Ponderosa East’, the depravities and curiosities of the characters are vividly brought to life, as are their hopes and dreams. Clever and eloquently worded. Brilliant storytelling.” John Ferrara, Pianist/Author/Educator\n“After a sterling debut novel—A Brief Madness: New Identity—Hal Crook has created this impressive collection of psychological gems. Part Bradbury, part Coben, part hipster, his combination of wit, quasi-memoir and off-beat imagination captured my attention at every turn, and held it. In ‘Covid Serenade’ especially, the author encapsulates his unique existential vision of the human condition.” Paul Hoffman, LICSW/Therapist\n“Each one of these unforgettable tales conveys what it means to be human. In ‘All That Comes Our Way’, the author brought me back to my childhood, vividly capturing not only how difficult it is to grow up, but how precious that experience is. And while reading ‘Adventures in Jazz’, I felt like I was part of the band, hanging out with Blue and his bandmates as they dealt with the stress of the tour and the challenges of living on the road. Constantly facing choices that pit the individuals’ artistic goals against the success of the group.” Mark Esposito, Insurance Executive