In May of 2016, my short collection, A Stitch of Madness, was released by Stitched Smile Publications (such an appropriately named press for the collection, I add). It was based around the three definitions of madness:

Madness: extremely foolish behavior.

Imprisoned for the murder of his best friend, Johnny Cleary sets out to tell what happened on the day Bobby “Buster” Lennon died, but are the words he writes true or does the deception run deeper.

Madness: the state of being mentally ill, especially severely.

There is something wrong with Irene. Momma’s dead and a ragdoll speaks to her in a voice that is hauntingly familiar. And what about the stitches, the very things that just might hold Irene together?

Madness: a state of frenzied or chaotic activity.

After an odd stranger pays Robert Wallenger a visit, his world begins to unravel and the past comes rushing back, along with a sickly sweet scent.

There is madness in everyone. For most, the madness never surfaces. For others, all it takes is one thing, big or small, for them to spiral out of control.

The following is the opening to the first story, Catherine’s Well:

There are things in life you wish to forget, or at the very least, push to the back of your mind so the memories only surface every once in a while.  Everyone has those moments.  Everyone.  You know them the minute they happen.  Getting caught cheating by your wife with the mistress; that car accident you were in because you were paying more attention to your cell phone, make up, radio or whatever; that night you got drunk and woke up naked on your pastor’s front lawn.  Yeah, we all have those moments.  Most of them we deal with and move on.  It’s only when someone says, ‘hey, you’re that guy they caught doing that thing in the theater,’ are you forced to relive things. 

It is what it is.

There are those things we can’t forget, no matter how bad we want to.  You know those things, too.  September 11 comes to mind.  A lot of people died.  It’s hard to forget something like that.  Seeing someone you know and love die right in front of you.  Yeah, that’s not something you want to remember.  Most folks would rather forget that person existed than to remember how they died.  It’s true.  Deep in the recesses of every human heart and mind is the fact that seeing someone die is what you remember the most about that person and that’s not something most want to recall.

You never want to see a best friend die. 

Never.

And you never want to be accused of murdering that best friend.

***

It’s been nearly seven years since A Stitch of Madness was released. If you enjoy what you read here on Type AJ Negative and have never purchased a book from me, will you consider doing so? ? You can start with A Stitch of Madness, if you like. If you want a digital copy, then you can follow the link below. However, if you would like a print copy, send me a message in the comments or send me an email at theunderwriter36@gmail.com. I would truly appreciate it.

Until we meet again, my friends, be kind to one another.

A.J.

Here’s the Amazon link: