The Doge of Flatbush was just published by Peatsmoke, for which I am eternally glad.

I do set out to write dense fiction at times, possibly even characterized as ‘weird’. My writing voice is whatever it happens to be – sometimes funny, sometimes irreverent, and often very serious and with a purpose. I seek to make art more than anything.

This story is personally one of my favourites. It’s tremendously meaningful to me, in a way not every piece I write is. Resonates at a personal level, as an intersection between personal and environmental crises, what happens in that confluence, and how it changes lives and our world. The story takes place in Venice, a tremendously weird but lovely city. It’s told from the perspective of a Canadian boy (yah, I’m a Canadian boy…) from Montreal and a girl from… who knows where. She has a particular take on who she is, her own identity, that anchors this narrative.

Don’t write short stories that take extended trips through time… that’s a rule of fiction, right? I think I heard that somewhere. Anyway, I disregard that rule in this story, as well as several others, and I just put it out there – whatever that thing is. I’m being provocative with this story. I’m passing through time and place, and addressing the world I see around me and what we’re doing to it, and where that could end up. It’s a weird end state, because I don’t know that our end state is other than very weird.

I don’t know what else to say about this story. Every year, one story resonates with me more than others, and this is my one for the year. It’s about as true to my voice as it gets – for better or worse. I’m sure this story is not for everyone, but if you read it, know that I’m appreciative. And if you have feedback or comments, know that I’m listening, and grateful. Also very grateful to Peatsmoke for taking a chance on a piece of fiction like this. Makes me very hopeful.

If you’d like to read the story, you can find it on Peatsmoke’s website.