“Stink” in Australian slang means a “fight” or something or someone that is not welcome. The Chronicles of a Stink Chicken: Episodes Second Edition features eight short stories and poetry describing the madness and wildness of thoughts and actions resultant from use of illicit drugs. It challenges unsuspecting readers with insets of respected philosophic pretext that asks real questions regarding health authority involvement with ranges of customers in the community, as social changes recreate the society they are created from. It is disarmingly presented within the same context of wild humours and contains spun encounters with insanity. The stories are about some of the author’s school friends who are mainly deceased due to substance abuse. The book also includes health and legal issues, financial truths, and the social negativities that come with using drugs. Humour is used to show how easily a user’s mind may be led into absurd beliefs. Author Kevin Munro says his short stories cover a wide period of his life that are re-weaved and spun. “Therefore, the Stink Chicken is probably myself, however in a somewhat creative and remodeled world. You would be surprised how many elements and events in these absurd stories verging upon the surreal are actually true.”

I was released from an in-patient mental health ward in early March 2006. A trophy pictured in the preface of this book displays the date July 23, 2006, as the initial USA competition poetry award. That date marks the deadline of the period required for a poem to be created, entered, and judged. All that was left for application after my 20 years of post grad training, was creative writing. My hidden hope was to offer in a real way, an apology via deed to all those who encountered me when I was unwell. There is something strange regarding that period’s legal progress, since society so easily ignores this as “dealing with madness.” My elderly mother watched as my life appeared to unravel, but always offered support. In 2009, as she lay upon her deathbed in hospital, she held the first volume for which she was my sounding board. She smiled and said, “Well, at least you have a little hope appearing now.” These works you hold are the collated works of this period of hurtful outpour, and are continuous from early 2006 until late 2014.

A “life-affirmative and eccentrically inspirational” collection from the National Book Award– and Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Color Purple (Kirkus Reviews). In these glorious, offbeat, and compassionate tales, one of America’s preeminent authors shares her experiences raising and caring for a flock of affectionately named chickens. Walker addresses her “girls” directly, sometimes from the intimate proximity of her yard, other times at a great distance, during her travels to Bali and Dharamsala as an activist for peace and justice. On the way, she invites readers along on a surprising journey of spiritual discovery. Both heartbreaking and uplifting, The Chicken Chronicles lets us see a new and deeply personal side of one of the most captivating writers of our time. In turn, Walker has created a powerful touchstone for anyone seeking a deeper connection with the natural world. “Heartfelt, thought-provoking ruminations on sustenance from perspectives of both giver and receiver.” —Library Journal “Walker’s sage, compassionate memoir is meant to be savored and contemplated.” —Kirkus Reviews

Madcap revisions of familiar fairy tales.

These short stories from a master storyteller of horror "can chill the spine so effectively that the reader should keep paramedics on standby, " says author Dean Koontz. It all begins when a young boy is held captive in an old tenement, and from there 13 nightmares unfold.

How a Midwestern family with no agriculture experience went from a few backyard chickens to a full-fledged farm—and discovered why local chicks are better. When Lucie Amundsen had a rare night out with her husband, she never imagined what he’d tell her over dinner—that his dream was to quit his office job (with benefits!) and start a commercial-scale pasture-raised egg farm. His entire agricultural experience consisted of raising five backyard hens, none of whom had yet laid a single egg. To create this pastured poultry ranch, the couple scrambles to acquire nearly two thousand chickens—all named Lola. These hens, purchased commercially, arrive bereft of basic chicken-y instincts, such as the evening urge to roost. The newbie farmers also deal with their own shortcomings, making for a failed inspection and intense struggles to keep livestock alive (much less laying) during a brutal winter. But with a heavy dose of humor, they learn to negotiate the highly stressed no-man’s-land known as Middle Agriculture. Amundsen sees firsthand how these midsized farms, situated between small-scale operations and mammoth factory farms, are vital to rebuilding America’s local food system. With an unexpected passion for this dubious enterprise, Amundsen shares a messy, wry, and entirely educational story of the unforeseen payoffs (and frequent pitfalls) of one couple’s ag adventure—and many, many hours spent wrangling chickens.