MICHAEL COWGILL'S ABSTRACT GARAGE
Fiction, Comics, More
FICTION
This page contains novel exceprts and short stories that offer a good overview of my writing style and interests.
PALACE OF EXPRESSION: EXCERPTS FROM MY CURRENT NOVEL IN PROGRESS. Two
years ago, highway patrolman Andy Weichert responded to an accident
that still haunts him. The victims were the parents of Samantha
Mathis, a childhood friend and long-term crush he hasn't spoken to
since he delivered the news. Convinced it wasn't an accident, he
wants to discover the truth and ease Samantha's grief. Samantha
works as a waitress, and one night, three black-clad teenaged boys
threaten her outside work. She goes to Andy for help.
Despite economic constraints, eighteen-year-old Rhonda "Honda" Wallace
sees possibility where others wouldn't, especially in Rory McDonough,
an awkward boy at her community college. However, she doesn't
realize that Rory knows the boys in black and how Samantha's parents
died. Samantha's uncle, Honda and Rory's teacher, and glass
artist Arthur Rheingold believes that God caused the ills of the world,
that His creation, like all works of art, has a flaw – he made human
connection absolutely necessary but near impossible. In response,
Arthur wants to build a glass palace on the accident site, a place that
will unite people and fix the flaw. His desire brings these five
lives together and forces the truth, violence, and love into the open. |
HEROES AND VILLAINS: NOVEL EXCERPT FROM A PREVIOUS PROJECT PART II, CHAPTER 2 After
the death of his grandfather, eleven-year-old Wes Mosby finds himself
alienated from his father, who has become increasingly withdrawn and
angry. Wes befriends his neighbor Stacey. Already in junior high,
though closer to Wes' age, Stacey seems grownup, reckless, and
mysterious. She is, in fact, as lonely as Wes. This chapter
focuses on their friendship. |
| WOODWORK AND DIGNITY: LINKED SHORT STORIES WOODWORK DIGNITY In
"Woodwork," Henry struggles to deal with his visiting in-laws, who have
never approved of him or his marriage to their daughter Maggie.
During the course of the visit, a surprising bonding event leads
to a painful revelation, and Henry begins to reconsider his opinions.
"Dignity," deals with the ramifications of some of the events in
"Woodwork" as two characters' loneliness steers them in new and
unexpected directions. |