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CAIN’T DO NOTHING WITH LOVE

IMAGE OF Cain't do nothing with love cover

Love is connecting with the man in the maroon Bonneville who killed your Big Naked Guy.

Love is responding to grief by inviting the Devil into your home.

Love is finding yourself sitting Zen in an Elk’s Lodge.

Love is learning your mom is boinking a dude in a squirrel costume.

The quirky characters in Cain’t Do Nothing with Love get themselves in the worst pickles, thanks to love . . . can love get them out? Join them as they travel the wandering, unpredictable path of love.

Nine of the fourteen stories in Cain’t Do Nothing with Love have been previously published in literary journals. These journals include the Arkansas Review, Gulf Coast Literary Journal, and Southern Women’s Review. Several have won regional or national contests. You will note, the stories carry a Southern theme. Many are humorous.

CAIN’T DO NOTHING WITH LOVE WON THE 2014 CIPA EVVY AWARD IN AUDIO BOOK.

What They’re Saying:

  • “They are, at the same time, funny, snarky, and touching.” ~a stranger on the internet
  • “Your descriptions are decadent and wonderful. Perry’s voice is so endearing and soft-Southern, telling the story through his simple, truthful lens and in a kind of staccato meter that makes every sentence sure of itself. You squeezed a lot of heart into this story by digging little trenches for the readers’ feelings to soak down into even in the exposition.” ~Marisa Whitset Baker, former bookseller, current writer
  • “I love the drawl. The soothing softness of your voice belies the sharpness of the subject matter in the story.” ~Peter Tolarie, commenting on “Lucky Critters” at Podiobooks Community
  • “As always your work is fascinating!!!” ~my mother
  • “I usually don’t read short stories. I was captivated. We’ll be downloading them.” ~Jerry Harber, Author of “Saint Gabriel’s Gospel” and professional theological piddler
  • “Ellen’s writing is so . . . witty, charming and full of real life expressions we never think to put into words. I lost count of all the chuckles and guffaws as she read excerpts from her stories.” ~Michael Thompson, author of award-winning David: The Illustrated Novel and The Parchman Preacher
  • “I started with Lucky Critters and your reading reminded me for all the world of Larry Brown reading from his works years ago, one of his first, at a Jackson literary festival. It was when Larry was getting to be noticed.” ~Lynn Watkins, Mississippi reader
  • “Rollerblader for Jesus is my new best friend. It is better than clean sheet smell and when they are out of tall cups at Starbucks and upgrade me to a grande for free. it is better than finding dollar bills wadded up in receipts in the bottom of your purse and when your cat starts purring for no reason. It is THAT kind of best friend. Please keep writing things for me to love.” ~Marisa Whitsett Baker, former bookseller; current writer
  • “It was like Flannery O’Connor doing stand up. You can write it, read it and perform it.” ~Kathy Hughes
  • “The introductions were choice and left me (who usually moans inwardly at the thought of having to listen to someone read his/her work) wanting more. And then more. The stories were just fantastic. I can just see the characters sitting around listening to themselves on the cd, elbows on the glitter-sprinkled formica table, mouths full of white-bread pimiento cheese. Thank you, Ellen. You make it seem so deceptively easy. Taint fair.” ~Suzanne Henley, writer and sister University of Virginia graduate
  • “I love Ellen’s stories! Crisp, funny and fresh like a summer salad. They make me laugh and then they make me think.” ~Elaine Blanchard, storyteller, writer, actor; co-author of “For Goodness Sakes”