The Artstars: Stories (Blue Light Books)

These stories about struggling artists are " a fierce and funny exploration of creation and its discontents" (Steve Almond, author of My Life in Heavy Metal ). Set in various creative communities—an art school, an illegal loft studio, a guerrilla street performance troupe—where teamwork and professional jealousy mix, these interconnected short stories by prizewinning author Anne Elliot follow artists as they grapple with economic realities and evolving expectations. A middle-aged poet, reeling from 9/11, fights homesickness, writer's block, and ladybugs at an artist's colony. A new empty-nester finds a creative outlet in her community garden, but gets tangled up in garden politics. As the characters pass through each other's stories, making messes and helping mop them up, some find inspiration in accidents and others are ready to quit art completely. Together, they stumble through the creative process, struggling to make art and find the spark of something new and original within themselves. In a world where the odds of becoming a star are nearly impossible, The Artstars tells the darkly humorous yet moving stories of those who dare to dream.

Enticing, heart wrenching, and darkly funny, the interconnected stories inThe Artstars are set in creative communities-an art school, an illegal loft studio, a guerrilla street performance troupe-where teamwork and professional jealousy mix, and the artists grapple with economic realities and evolving expectations. A middle-aged poet, reeling from 9-11, fights homesickness, writer's block, and ladybugs at an artist's colony. A new empty-nester finds a creative outlet in her community garden, but gets tangled up in garden politics. As the characters pass through each other's stories, making messes and helping mop them up, some find inspiration in accidents; others are ready to quit art completely. Together, they stumble through the creative process, struggling to make art and find the spark of something new and original within themselves. In a world where the odds of becoming a star are nearly impossible,The Artstars tells the stories of those who dare to dream.

1) Acquiring editor considers this to be the strongest book yet in the Blue Light Books series.

2) This collection is filled with well-written and captivating stories of struggling artists in various aspects of their lives.

3) Co-publication with Indiana Review, a well-known literary journal, who will help to promote the book

Enticing, heart wrenching, and darkly funny, the interconnected stories in The Artstars are set in creative communities—an art school, an illegal loft studio, a guerrilla street performance troupe—where teamwork and professional jealousy mix, and the artists grapple with economic realities and evolving expectations. A middle-aged poet, reeling from 9-11, fights homesickness, writer's block, and ladybugs at an artist's colony. A new empty-nester finds a creative outlet in her community garden, but gets tangled up in garden politics. As the characters pass through each other's stories, making messes and helping mop them up, some find inspiration in accidents; others are ready to quit art completely. Together, they stumble through the creative process, struggling to make art and find the spark of something new and original within themselves. In a world where the odds of becoming a star are nearly impossible, The Artstars tells the stories of those who dare to dream.

Enticing, Heart Wrenching, And Darkly Funny, The Interconnected Stories In The Artstars Bring Together An Eclectic Mix Of Artists As They Grapple With Economic Realities And Evolving Expectations And Struggle To Find The Spark Of Something New And Original Within Themselves-- Light Streaming From A Horse's Ass -- Three Lessons In Firesurfing -- Aquaria -- War -- Pink -- Down The Slope -- Volunteer -- The Stone Floor -- The Beginning Of The End Of The Beginning. Anne Elliot. "Enticing, heart wrenching, and darkly funny, the interconnected stories in The Artstars bring together an eclectic mix of artists as they grapple with economic realities and evolving expectations and struggle to find the spark of something new and original within themselves"-- Provided by publisher