Heartbeat Roadshow: Stories

By W. Brandon Bell

Take the depraved hilarity of early George Saunders stories, add Lorrie Moore's biting irreverence, propel everything with swift, Carver-like prose, and the result would be akin to Heartbeat Roadshow, the debut story collection from W. Brandon Bell.

What would you do to escape loneliness? Would you poach a truck for the person you love? Build a tourist trap inside an abandoned distillery? Follow strangers into hotels? These are the lengths the characters in Heartbeat Roadshow will go to make a connection.

This collection jumps to life with "Brothers and Thin Skin." In this sibling rivalry story, a roller-skating construction worker arranges a violin performance for his hermitic brother (who has never played the violin before). Next up is "Occupation," a cautionary tale about the dangers of trying to revolutionize advertising in the funeral industry. In the title story, an ex-con follows a traveling propaganda machine that puts fetal heartbeats on display. Each story features one-of-a-kind characters who push against their limits, all driven by Bell's sharp storytelling.

Heartbeat Roadshow draws from contemporary experiences that Bell has squeezed for every ounce of humor, fear, sadness, and joy. The result is a funny, moving, and, above all, entertaining literary experience.

Preview the Fourteen Stories of Heartbeat Roadshow

Brothers and Thin Skin
After Jesse claims a past life as a famous violinist, his brother arranges a surprise concert. Told while wearing roller skates.

Occupation
Stu creates an ad campaign for two-for-one funeral deals. Disaster ensues.

Omissions
Sara copes with her husband's approaching death by volunteering to help a missions group, but she takes her support too far.

The Hidden Castle
A reformed criminal stumbles into a distillery in which squatters have constructed an immense castle. When things turn violent, he must make his escape.

Typo
A typo haunts a divorcee who has fled to Europe.

Men of Apology
Mitch's life crumbles after a newcomer joins his bowling team.

The Girl in the Yard
After Rye's wife and son go out of town, a girl begins sleeping naked in his yard.

Mouths Unknown
Rye tries to help his brother, who is unemployed and has fathered children with two different women.

Heartbeat Roadshow
An ex-con stumbles on a propaganda tour that plays fetal heartbeats for strangers. On impulse, the man follows the roadshow, a decision that will lead him home.

After Youth
Casper terrorizes the orthodontist who stole his beard.

Reek
An all-star trash collector's livelihood is threatened when a vindictive coworker reveals his secret.

Mr. Zebra Man
Repacking store-bought cakes helps a young man become a confection kingpin.

The Guest
Harold exercises in the men's room at work. Mark follows Harold everywhere he goes. Christy loses her hand in a factory mishap. When they come together over dinner, their lives will change forever.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1689954450
• ISBN13: 9781689954457
• Release Date: September 2019
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 216 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.0" x 8.0"