For my whole life, I’ve lived in the Midwest. Near or even on the Ohio River. And with such a beautiful and unique setting — a place unlike any other in the country — many of my stories have been influenced by the Midwest.
It’s time, I think, to make that influence explicit. To carve out specific memories. To draw on specific places.
Some of them are real. Others are made up. The people might remind you of who you once knew or even who you used to be. But all of it is home.
Maybe you didn’t grow up in the Midwest. Maybe you live far, far away. But everyone can relate to the image of a dying mall; or your childhood house, demolished and paved over with a parking lot.
Perhaps an icon like the old railroad bridge, rusted over and marked with graffiti, stands out to you. Maybe it’s the ghosts of Main Street long ago. Or a gorgeous sunset as our glowing ball of fire dips into the river and sizzles out.
You can find all of it here.
Some of these stories are more fictional than others. Some are full of creepy forests or dark alleyways or strung-out misfits or misunderstood youth. But all of them are home.
Welcome in. Or welcome back.
** All previous photos on this page credited to Alec Lichlyter
Here are some of my previous and upcoming works, focused on the local specificities and settings I’ve fallen in love with 🙂
I also sat down recently with a local newspaper, the News and Tribune, to talk about this new stage in my writing career. You can read that full article here! Or keep reading to explore some of my upcoming projects.
Coming soon… Eulogy of the Green Tree Mall
A collection of short stories focused on the Green Tree Mall. Whether in Ricky’s car outside or the back hallways with Chuck… Falling in love or missed connections in the bookstore… There’s a lot to see and a lot to learn in a peaceful, lonely, dying mall.
Coming soon… This Modern, Midwestern Trip
Disillusioned, self-medicated, and doomed — A group of young people navigate a changing post-pandemic world of fire, ice, and AI girlfriends. Some become activists. Some become nihilists. Others just drink and drive around at night, looking down at all the pretty lights because they can’t see the stars anymore anyway
Coming soon… Ashwood Avenue
This psychological thriller, set in New Albany, follows Vanessa as she returns home to solve the mystery of her mother’s death. But not everybody wants to dig up the past. Some are even willing to kill to keep it hidden.
The power of memories. The struggle of mental illness. The search for meaning.
This coming-of-age novel — set in a ficionalized version of Madison, Indiana — follows a group of young people at the end of high school. When a famous actor moves into town with his own secrets, their futures are upended, and their lives will never be the same.
Available on Amazon or through indie bookstores.
David Kummer 