On Writing and Storytelling: The Rewards of Being a Storyteller

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✈️ A Chewed Cover, a Plane Ride, and the Gift of Lost Love: Gratitude Reflections

Sometimes, the most meaningful moments begin with a bit of chaos.

Last night, my friend Dayna Pitcher shared a story that touched me deeply—not just because she praised Reunion: A Story, but because of how the book found its way into her hands. She was running late for the airport. Her dog had chewed the cover off the novella, and in the rush of departure, she spotted it on her kitchen island, grabbed it, and tucked it into her bag. That impulsive decision became a quiet gift.

On a short plane ride, Dayna read Reunion: A Story and later described it as “a beautifully written novella about lost love at one of the most vulnerable times in our lives.” She added, “It was really a gift, Alex. Amazing work.”

Her words stayed with me—not just as praise, but as a reflection of the emotional truth I try to honor in my writing. Reunion was never meant to be flashy. It was born from memory, vulnerability, and the ache of love that lingers long after the moment has passed. It leans into silence, into the emotional truths we often carry alone.

One scene in particular captures that spirit. Jimmy, the narrator, is trying to focus on Shakespeare, but the scent of jasmine and orange blossoms—Marty’s perfume—pulls him into a reverie. Her smile, her voice, her presence dissolve the classroom around him, transforming it into a ballroom from another era. A slow dance begins. He feels like Fred Astaire.

“Come on, Jimmy, let’s dance,” she says.
She extends her right hand invitingly and gives me a come-hither stare.
…She places my left hand on her waist and holds my other hand gently but firmly to her side as we sway to the beat of the music.

It’s a moment of emotional suspension—where longing, imagination, and memory converge. And it’s exactly the kind of scene that Dayna, and so many readers, have told me resonates most.

If you’re curious about Reunion or its companion piece Reunion: Coda, I invite you to join me on this journey. These stories are for anyone who believes in the power of small, emotionally honest fiction. For those who understand that sometimes, the most profound truths arrive quietly—on a plane, in a moment of stillness, or through the kindness of a friend.

Thank you, Dayna. Your support means more than I can say.