"Jo Carson's first book of fiction which proves to be a deft storytelling with keen imagination and sense of humor. Carson's well-developed characters work within the context of family, friends and community as they cope with the raw edges of life itself. Jo Carson says survival 'is not always funny, and sometimes it hurts, but whatever so human an animal as we are has to do to stay whole is the stuff of it, and we laugh and laugh hard, or we come to pieces.'"--AMAZON / https://dc.etsu.edu/alumni_books/1016/thumbnail.jpg

No description available.

Between Us and All is a collection of fictional stories addressing themes of gender, religion, family, class, and sexuality. A portion of this manuscript is a linked collection of short stories, following the fictional Kelly/Sullivan family through their daily lives in the Coal Region of Pennsylvania. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.F.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2019. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

"Discount Ceremony" explores characters who find themselves in adrift states, searching for meaning and connection. Elements of magical realism present themselves in reflection of emotion and theme. Many of the characters within this collection are grappling with feelings of stagnancy, seeking solace and transcendence within small moments of intimacy. In "Dirt", a lonely office worker seeks comfort in the form of a new pet, which happens to be a pile of dirt. In "Static," a woman in stasis discovers a mysterious tree growing in her closet. In "Jane Untitled," the character of Jane grapples with a fear of aging while dealing with perpetually wet parents and a disappearing boyfriend. In "Discount Ceremony," Jacey tries to cope with relentlessly greasy hair while seeking happiness and intimacy in the small scope of her daily life. "The Sister" finds Jason encountering a pseudo-family member who brings comfort despite the lack of biological relation. In "The Melamorphosis," Mason's body transforms into that of his girlfriend Mel, prompting a re-examination of selfhood and their relationship. "At a Bar in Texas" explores the empty spaces Carson's life has come to involve as she ponders the importance of her new braces. In "HAZMAT," Maggie is haunted by her use of humor as a shield, and experiences increasing alienation when her world starts fading out. In "Mute," a radio DJ discovers a skull in her laundry basket, leading to a downward spiral of identity erosion. "The Cactuses are Turning Gray" involves Penny trying to cope with life in a decaying world, seeking connection through Dane, her only neighbor. Finally, in "Travis in Hollywood," Travis finds his world slowly unraveling as his best friend ascends to stardom, leaving him feeling disconnected from the elements of life he finds meaning in.

Follow the Bone is the author's exploration of what it means to live truthfully and authentically in an increasingly digitized and artificial world, through the author's growth as a woman and hunter in her native Oregon. With raw honesty, Lauren takes the reader through the years she spent post-college learning how to live outside of the structure of academia. As she struggles to balance the demands of a corporate job, a long-term relationship, and the pressure of social media, she brings the reader back to the places and the pursuit that save her. The reader is invited into a world of forests, mountains, trees and wild animals, where the author navigates the reality of being a meat eater with nuance and care. With vivid imagery and a gentle attention to detail, it becomes clear how deeply connected the author is to the world around her through the land, the people she loves and the animals she admires. Her growth as a person and her dedication to living a life of meaning is captured and reflected through her rich prose while she meditates on the outdoor experiences that defined her early twenties. Her stories become an entry point into an existence that lives and breathes close to the land and illustrate how participating fully in a habitat can change our understanding of what it means to be human, while also allowing for the necessity of living in a city. This book provides a narrative that doesn't feature a helpless woman finding herself in the outdoors through various mishaps and mistakes. Rather, it reflects how we all create our conception of self from what we inherit, and how women claiming their identity through the natural world can be a powerful force.

Everything She Does For You is a collection of original short fiction involving themes of love and loyalty. The stories center on characters living in the fictional town of Eastland, Maine. This collection culminates two years of creative experimentation as a fellow at the University of Miami. The current copy reflects my interest in fabulist and realistic fictions as well as my growing fascination with my state of origin, Maine, and the city in it that I know best, Portland.

Thesis (M.F.A.)--Boise State University, 2009.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 266-276). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (M.A.)--Marshall University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Includes abstract. Document formatted into pages: contains 136 p.

Thesis (M.F.A.)--Boise State University, 2009.