“Extinguisher” and “Unpacking the Object”

Two new pieces are posted this morning in the “Previously Published Stories” sidebar.  Last year the editors at Salt Hill contacted writers who had previously had work published in the magazine–mine was “Tossing Baby to the Tiger,” published in Salt Hill 14–and asked us if we would submit new work to be considered for their anniversary issue, Salt Hill 30.  I sent something and they rejected it.  They asked me to try again and I sent “Extinguisher” and they accepted it.  They also asked me if I could write a little something about the story and how it was written.  I did and that is “Unpacking the Object.”  The two pieces are understandably published together here.