My story “The Door of No Return” has been published
in The South Carolina Review. There’s
no link online at this time, but why not support a wonderful journal and buy a
copy (see below)?
This story came about when I was part of a group
writing to pieces of visual art. We were given a bunch of images and asked to
pick four we could write about. I liked this picture because I’m often drawn to
doors and paths. Plus, it was pretty. Plus-plus, I was certain I’d get my first
or second choice. BUT circumstances led to me being assigned my fourth choice, which sort of annoyed me
at first, and then stressed me out as I studied the artist’s work and realized
that this “pretty picture” was part of a series about the Middle Passage. I
knew I had to think hard about my approach to this image to do it honor, and in
the end, I'm grateful for this assignment which pushed me out of my comfort
zone…and I’m grateful to the South
Carolina Review for publishing this piece.
More information about the artist, Keith Morrison:
http://keithmorrison.com/
Keith Morrison’s Middle Passage series: http://keithmorrison.com/?page_id=874
The South
Carolina Review: https://www.clemson.edu/centers-institutes/press/journals-annuals/south-carolina-review/
Okay, if you’re desperate to read this story, send
me a sweet email and I’ll send you a file: lesliepietrzyk AT gmail DOT com