A Fixed Place

In A Fixed Place: the long and short of story, we find moments that were held – moments of stasis, of hard-won clarity, of sexuality, joy, confusion, compassion. Fallon has collected writings published across a span from the 1980’s in magazines and ephemeral publications to make a picture of the act of creation through writing.

The collection includes pieces that span and scan more than half a lifetime: from the story a child tells herself as she struggles to come to terms with the weirdness of her extended family (A Fixed Place), to the story of a young teenager trying to comprehend tales told around the kitchen table, tales that defy interpretation (The Origins and History of Aquarelle Taffeta), to a story of violence and murder (bringing yourself to do it).

They encompass the complexities of lesbian sexuality (Not Unlike the Peeling of Many Bells and International lesbians – portraits) and interracial adoption/fostering (Goat Song). Employing a range of styles and stylistic devices, the innovative language and format of each story is carefully crafted to match the subject matter.