The Art of the Short Story: Jill McCorkle on Old Crimes with Amy Hempel

Continuing our series about the possibilities of writing in the short form, we welcome Jill McCorkle (Life After Life, Hieroglyphics) to celebrate her wry and rich collection: Old Crimes and Other Stories. Old Crimes delves into the lives of characters who hold their secrets and misdeeds close, even as the past continues to reverberate over time and across generations: In “Low Tones,” a woman uses her hearing impairment as a way to guard herself from her husband’s commentary. In “Lineman,” a telephone lineman strains to connect to his family even as he feels pushed aside in a digital world. In “Confessional,” a young couple buys a confessional booth for fun, only to discover the cost of honesty. Legendary short-fiction writer Amy Hempel (Sing to It) joins McCorkle in conversation about her perceptive, intimate stories of longing, affection, and regret. After the conversation, McCorkle will sign books.