Short stories are unique in that the authors must somehow weave background, context, and a full story arc in such a small word count. Not to mention character development and reader engagement. Yet some authors seem to flawlessly master that craft – one of them being Lisa Cupolo. In Have Mercy On Us, Cupolo delivers ten short stories with complex characters and even more complex situations, each one as poignant as the last. I dare readers not to get hooked while they progress through different personalities, regions, and predicaments. 

Each story in Have Mercy on Us is authentic and thought-provoking. The stories seem like they could have been plucked out of anyone’s life. A woman struggles to come to terms with her writer husband’s infidelity while they live in a Greek village. A father travels to Africa to beg his son to briefly leave his humanitarian work to assist with his sister’s depressive episode. An out-of-work actress on a 24-hour break from her dependent family on Catalina Island. A young woman, who is the result of an affair, apprehensive about developing a relationship with her half-siblings after their father dies. There is so much going on in these ten short stories, it was so easy to get sucked in and finish the entire collection in less than 48 hours. 

Here are my favorites among the collection: 

• You’re Here Now
• Fort Pierce, Florida
• Bread
• Have Mercy on Us

Lisa Cupolo joins us for a Cantina Conversation to talk about her fascinating background and how she developed her exceptional writing talent. Keep an ear out for the interview on an upcoming episode of The Nerd Cantina Show podcast and order Have Mercy On Us, available now.