2025 Finalist for The International Book Award for Debut Story Collection The backdrops for these tales are sparse rural lands, from the Alleghenies to the deserts of the West. Farmers, gangsters, meth cookers, miners, cafe workers, lovers, and dreamers. And the animals that cross their paths, mysterious and wild. Addiction, neglect, and conflict combust, ignited by the slim flickers of self-pride, humor, and hope that yet linger. But what haunts is tenacious and unwavering. And otherwise wretched. "...gruesomely saturnine and comic...sharply limns the the bleaker aspects of rural life." -KIRKUS REVIEWS "...sterling, startling language...These are hard-hitting, reflective literary works." -MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW "...looks the horrific in the eye and pushes back." -Meagan Lucas , author of the Anthony-nominated collection Here in the Dark "...strongly emotional, nostalgic, heartbreaking, and oftentimes hilarious." -Joey Hedger , author of Deliver Thy Pigs William Burtch is a writer of fiction and essays. He was a finalist for the American Fiction Short Story Award, appearing in American Fiction Volume 17 (New Rivers Press). William's creative work spans magazine, journal and anthology publications, including Great Lakes Review, Ruminate, Northwestern Indiana Literary Journal, BULL, Schuylkill Valley Literary Journal and others.Following a childhood that spanned the Allegheny Mountains of northwestern Pennsylvania to the sprawl of Los Angeles County, he has lived in central Ohio since his teen years. After graduate school at Miami University of Ohio, he worked many years in the investment business before he began writing. His work often gravitates toward the experiences and struggles of the rural characters he grew up around, as well as themes of survival in a culture of addiction.His cherished late wife, Kari, lived courageously with ovarian cancer for three and a half years. She was selfless and inspirational and taught him about living. She gifted him with perspective.William lives in Columbus, Ohio.