Visions of Life

Five stories were selected from the best of a short story writing contest. The contest was to create a story inspired by the art in one of the Crow Woods Publishing art books featuring Chicago area artists: 'Chicago Art Scene,' 'Art Scene: Chicago 2000' and 'Living Artists.' The contest was judged by Tony Ardizzone, the award-winning author of 'The Whale Chaser' and 'The Evenings News.' 'Dress Up' by Ann Kammerer relates the tragic story of a cross-dresser trying to conform to what's acceptable in society while preserving his identity; 'Family Portrait' by Joanne Freeman tells what happens when an older daughter goes home to see her Italian mother; 'Just Float' by PJ Minton is about a father finally coming to terms with the estrangement with his daughter; in 'Sharing Daniel' by Douglas Macdonald, a female poet deals with his boyfriend's affair in a small town in Vermont; and 'Transform' by Colby Vargas is a reflection on how bodybuilding changed a couple's physique but couldn't save their marriage.