The 13 stories in this collection strip search the loves, desires, and demons of women. Self-delusion, denial, and unshakable innocence in the face of disaster come alive in the setting of rural and urban Appalachia. “If Evening Comes,” a gutsy plunge into the psyche of a woman scorned, paints a horrifying portrait of clinical depression. In “Cherries in the Snow,” a woman who hasn’t been kissed in 30 years is preparing for a first date. The title story, “Tiger Burning Bright,” explores the all-consuming role of alcohol in the female protagonist's life, offering a stunning insight into the mind of an alcoholic. Empathy and compassion for the flawed human beings who inhabit these stories make this an outstanding first story collection.
Arlene Sanders has been nominated for several awards for her fiction, including the Pushcart Prize and the Jefferson Press Prize. Her stories have been published in numerous literary magazines, including Cairn, Cantaraville, The Dos Passos Review, The Dublin Quarterly, The Edgar Literary Magazine, The Georgia State University Review, and Sugar Mule. She lives in Flint Hill, Virginia.