Distemper

A septet of very short stories exploring anger and those who refuse it. Combining laconic eloquence and allegorical power, Timothy Dugdale explores how people try to impose themselves on others out of fear and existential rage.

"These dense, tightly-wound tales are stylishly written and peppered with sharp dialogue. Dugdale's colourful cast of characters includes a failed drug dealer, a professional gambler, a bumbling tourist and a frustrated newspaperman, all sharply drawn. Other characters - equally as compelling - move about like shadows on the page. Locales jump from Detroit to Galveston, and from Marseilles to Dakar, while scenes range from near-comical to downright sinister. Two-parts Elmore Leonard and one-part Graham Greene, Distemper is a stiff drink that will leave readers asking for another round." - Michael Januska, author of "Riverside Drive."