A Narrowing Path (Paperback or Softback)

Elsa has felt awkward and out of her depth for as long as she can remember. In a world where one's Animal Affinity is a sign of maturity and worth, Elsa's inability to demonstrate hers has become more than a disappointing nuisance; it's a narrowing path.

Obscured behind the curtain of society's disdain, she has no confidence that she'll ever conquer her Plainness. Frustrated by her failure to fit into their picture-perfect life, Elsa's family grows more intolerant of her by the week. Her boss, a seven-foot-tall rage demon, is one clawed step away from setting loose his temper and firing her-or worse.

And on top of all that, her cat wants to eat her. Things could be better. But that's not the direction they're heading.

A violent gang of wolves prowls the streets of Elsa's neighborhood, harassing Plain Ones. With the pack's presence becoming stronger and its threat more real, Elsa's life is rapidly plummeting from lackluster to perilous.

Her only bright spots are her cousin and a co-worker who seem to know her better than she knows herself. But even though they can see through to what society won't, will that be enough to protect Elsa from making a drastic choice? In her desperation to shed her Plainness, how far will she go to evolve?

Angélique Jamail is an award-winning Lebanese-American author whose poetry, essays, and short fiction have appeared in dozens of journals and anthologies and been featured on the radio. The first time she read one of her short stories to an audience was fourth grade; the reaction to it was a character-building experience. Her other books include the poetry collection The Sharp Edges of Water, and she's the creator of the zine Sonic Chihuahua. She serves on the Board of Directors for Mutabilis Press and is the Director of Creative Writing at The Kinkaid School. She resides in the Houston area with her family and their cats; she has otherwise lived inside her imagination pretty much her whole life.You can find Angélique Jamail on social media and at her blog, SapphosTorque.com, and she's available for book club appearances in person or via live video.www.AngeliqueJamail.com