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Forthcoming in 2012

 

Twenty prizewinners are gathered for the first time in a ground-breaking anthology that explores many facets of culture not previously found under one cover. The powerful, honest, thoughtful voices—Native American, African American, Asian, European, Jewish, White—speak daringly on topics not often discussed in the open, on subjects such as racism, war, self-identity, gender, societal expectations. Their words will entertain, illuminate, take you to distant lands, and spark important discussions about our humanity, our culture, and our place within society and the natural world.

With an introduction by acclaimed writer David Mura

We are currently living in a time when students from myriad cultural backgrounds are becoming prominent in educational institutions in the United States. These students bring with them rich cultural experiences that are often lost as they feel compelled to assimilate into American society. Tara Masih has provided a microphone for these students to project their voices, to affirm and validate their experiences by telling their own stories. . . . This collection of essays provides a lens into intercultural experiences that will offer important insights for teachers as well as students. . . . and can lead to a greater understanding of and appreciation for our global community.
—Dr. Zaline M. Roy-Campbell, Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Program in Teaching English Language Learners, Syracuse University

This contemporary collection of essays will be an invaluable resource. I'm especially impressed by the range of themes. . . .
—Mary Mclaughlin Slechta, ESL instructor, Nottingham High School

Masih has assembled an intelligent and eloquent collection of essays touching upon the complexities of intercultural relations. This book provides plenty of food for thought (fried locusts, anyone?) and fodder for meaningful classroom discussion, but there is much to engage the casual reader as well—a journey to Japan, the subtext of a song, art that burns, the confusion of being a Third Culture Kid, and much more. As soon as I reached the last page, I wanted to read it again.
—Suzanne Kamata, editor of Call Me Okasaan: Adventures in Multicultural Mothering and author of Losing Kei

 

 

Where the Dog Star Never Glows

"This is a stunning debut." —Gaijinmama, Yomimono

"Powerful." —S. Krishna's Books

• An Award-Winning Finalist, Best Books 2010 (from USA Book News)
• A NewPages.com New & Noteworthy Book, January 2010
• A Top 100 Best Book of 2010 on Goodreads, Dec. 2010
• A Top 10 of 2011 on the Unabridged Chick blog
• Jane's Stories Press Foundation Recommended Reading

"Each story in this collection . . . stands alone as a piece worth the price of the book."
—Debrah Lechner, Hayden's Ferry Review

". . . Masih’s stories are minimally but skillfully detailed—no last names, vague settings—giving extra weight to simple, recurring phenomena like water and color (“the evening’s August melon light”). Striking and resonant, this collection should prove memorable for any fan of New Yorker-style literary short fiction."
—Publishers Weekly online Feb. 15 review 
(read whole review here)

It can be quite hard for one to find a collection of refreshingly diverse short stories by a single author. Readers will find Tara Masih’s collection of short stories to be wonderfully engaging. Her stories break the mold. . . .
—Viola Allo, San Francisco Book Review, Nov. 24 
(read whole review here)  

 . . . Masih has done what so many other writers spend a lifetime attempting: she’s grown so comfortable with words . . . that she can breathe life into the fictional worlds of her imagination with the greatest of ease. At least, that’s how it feels from the outside. Like the best of artisans, she makes her job look easy. . . . Where the Dog Star Never Glows is an amazing collection of short fiction that introduces Tara L. Masih as a true artist of the short story whose way with words is matched only by her intuitive grasp of all that makes us human. Needless to say, I can’t wait to see what this author does next.
  —Marc Schuster, Small Press Reviews, May 10, 2010
(read whole review here)

Tara L. Masih's debut collection of short stories is as varied as the characters she writes--encompassing a wide range of locations and styles, Masih showcases the breadth of her talent in this slim but powerful volume. . . . [I]t is hard to identify a weak link. Masih's ability to fully inhabit each character, and her strong sense of place and time, make each story a standout in its own way. Masih's especially vivid descriptions of landscape and setting allow the reader to become completely immersed in each of her tales, no matter how brief. This is an excellent collection that should appeal to many readers.
  —Elizabeth Schulenburg, BookLoons Reviews, Feb. 2010
(read whole review here)

That beautiful spirit that permeates Masih’s short stories is nothing short of extraordinary. Truly written from the heart of a poet, her ability to turn a phrase is more than appealing to this particular reviewer. . . . Throughout the book there permeates an unexpected sense of peace, even as characters battle against tough life decisions. Settings and people alike are brought to life with well-chosen words handled like paint on a canvas, leaving the reader with lucid imagery and a sense of deep reflection. . . .
  —carp(e) libris reviews, March 2010
  (read whole review here)

There is precision in her prose that manages to capture the larger essence of character, of world and worldview, in a single stroke. . . . the vast array of settings is completely breathtaking. . . . Masih demonstrates that short fiction doesn't mean small ideas. This is a global collection that uses culture as more than color. Asking what it means to be a tourist, to be ruled, to belong, she crafts stories that delve into the essential questions of human nature that are never overly dense and are always pleasant to read.
  —Alex Myers, NewPages.com, April 1, 2010
(read whole review here)

Read more reviews..

From the Publisher

In this impressive debut collection, Tara Masih shows an intimate sense of understanding her characters' innermost feelings, creating a memorable map of diverse characters that span the globe and several eras. Ghosts dance, butterflies swarm, men crystallize, the sun disappears, and water plays a role in both destruction and repair of the soul. With an unflinching eye, a mythical awareness of the natural world, and poetic, crafted prose, Masih examines the dark recesses of the mind and heart, which often leads to a small or great triumph or illumination that will resonate long after the last page is turned.

These stories have won awards and received Pushcart Prize, Best New American Voices, and Best of the Web nominations.

 

"The Burnings," from my collection, was reprinted in Merrimack Valley Magazine, Sept/Oct. 2010 issue, and illustrated by Shelley Fabrizio. (Reprinted by permission of MVM and Shelley Fabrizio.)

Photo Credits: Michael Gilligan • Copyright © Tara L. Masih 2012. All Rights Reserved  
Web design/development by Ann Cope Consulting • Original site design by James Krendel-Clark