"George Singleton is a madman. He’s also one of the most talented American writers the South has turned out in decades."

--THE POST AND COURIER (Charleston, SC)

Acclaimed short-story master George Singleton follows the lives and schemes of the citizens of fictitious Gruel,South Carolina, in search of glory, seclusion, money, revenge, and a meaningful existence. In these nineteen tales, young Gruelites learn lessons when confronted with neighbors who might not be’as blind as they appear, dermatologists intent on eradicating birthmarks, and fathers prone to driving on half-inflated tires in order to flirt with cashiers. Meanwhile, the town’s older citizens try to make sense out of dogs that heal wounds, lawn-mowing dead men, wives who don’t appreciate gas masks for Valentine’s Day, and children who mix their mother’s ashes with housepaint. Hilarious and tragic, George Singleton’s unforgettable characters try to overcome their limitations as best they can.

Runt

Migration over Gruel

Christmas in Gruel

Soldiers in Gruel

Assurance

The Novels of Raymond Carver

Bluffs

The Opposite of Zero

Polish

Snipers

Lickers

Scotch and Dr Pepper

Shirts Against Skins

Soles in Gruel

Recovery

Slow Drink

What Attracts Us to Gruel

What If We Leave?

John Cheerer, Rest in Peace