In Death and Other Life-Changing Events, the ordinary and the unexpected intersect in a series of moving, sharply observed stories. With warmth, wit, and unflinching honesty, these tales explore the fragile connections between people—and the moments that shape who we are.

Diverse characters, including LGBTQ+ protagonists, populate these beautifully written stories.

⏵ A middle-aged man and an 8-year-old boy become unlikely friends.

⏵ Two sisters share memories and try to plan their mother’s funeral while an overbearing family member insists she knows what the deceased would have wanted.

⏵ Backyard swimming pools, transistor radios, and apple pie around the picnic table—politics and unspoken family drama can appear just as quickly as a tornado in a heat wave.

⏵ No matter how carefully the setting is chosen and how intricately everything is planned, a proposal can still be ruined by the wrong audience.

⏵ While adults tiptoe around the delicate aspects of a murdered young man’s life, the children piece together a story of family conflict and hidden truths.

⏵ Bronzed Adonises and Norse gods in Speedos. Two men bicker and banter about past escapades and evening plans, all while affirming the strength of their friendship.