You'll go from amused and astounded to dazed and disabused by the rich writing and characters found in "The Muse of Wallace Rose." This novella and short stories by Bill Woods will take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions that will have you laughing, crying and shrieking all at the same time. -- Tom Wood, author of "Vendetta Stone" Bill Woods melds rich vernacular descriptions and the broken-glass realities of human nature in this diverse collection. You will feel the sticky strip club tables, smell the diner grease, and ache along with lovers, both star-crossed and reunited. -- Vonn McKee, award-winning short story author In the last story of this collection, the narrator reveals he likes hanging with an oddball because "He's going to be a character in this book I'm writing." A bit of truth embedded in fiction? In a Bill Woods' story, misfits wreak havoc on the ordinary. From dark deathbed confessions to desert drifters with secrets, nothing is exactly as it seems. If you like to read about paths less traveled, even if it takes you to the other side of the tracks or down an unknown alley, this collection is for you. -- Catherine Moore, author of "Ulla! Ulla!"