Neighbors of Nothing Format: Paperback

Neighbors of Nothing examines characters who find themselves searching for new identities in worlds they no longer recognize. In "Piebald," parents assume the identity of their dead son; in "Everyday Murders," the sole survivor of a violent crime attempts to confront an online entrepreneur who sells football-style serial killer jerseys. Through odd, compelling, and sometimes futile gestures, these characters struggle against guilt and grief and the seemingly endless stretch of days. Influenced by absurdism and the southern gothic, Neighbors of Nothing offers intelligent and heartrending insights into the complex human struggle to exist with purpose.

Jason Ockert is the author of Rabbit Punches and Neighbors of Nothing. His stories have appeared in many journals and anthologies, he was the recipient of the 2010 Dzanc Short Story Collection Contest, and was a nominee for the Shirley Jackson Short Fiction Award. He teaches creative writing at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina.