Made in L.A.: Chasing the Elusive Dream

Introduction

Introduction

When we first came together in 2017 under the Made in L.A. banner, Angelenos got excited. They asked us if our stories were set in L.A.

Our responses were mixed: some of them were, others weren’t.

This set us on a path to create stories that would appeal to local readers. We couldn’t do it alone; we had to reach out to our writer friends to compile and curate a collection of stories set in and inspired by Southern California. Thus, Made in L.A.: Stories Rooted in the City of Angels was born.

When we debuted this anthology at the 2018 L.A. Festival of Books, it was our turn to get excited. Halfway through the second day, we sold out of all copies of the anthology! We were overwhelmed and humbled by the enthusiasm readers had for our stories.

Spurred on by this win, we reached out to local booksellers, who supported us by stocking our anthology in their stores. Two bookstores — Stories Books & Café and Book Show — hosted readings for the anthology as well, and contributing authors participated at these events. We’re excited to have these new connections and would like to extend special thanks to Book Show, Stories Books & Café, Skylight Books, the Last Bookstore, and DIESEL, A Bookstore for their ongoing support.

As 2019 approached, we rallied ourselves for the next challenge: Volume Two. We brainstormed about preparing for a second anthology at local pubs, looking for inspiration from each other (as well as from our beverages). Our emphasis, this time, would be on the hopes and dreams of Angelenos, as well as the dark forces at work in our conscious and unconscious lives. We batted about phrases such as “living the dream,” “ in search of the dream,” “California dreams,” and “mosaic of dreams.” Finally, we settled on Chasing the Elusive Dream. We figured that our fellow Angelenos would recognize how elusive dreams can be in this quirky, competitive, diverse, and unwieldy metropolis.

For this volume, we strove to stay true to the tone and style choices of each writer. This allows us to present an eclectic mix of stories, while giving each writer the freedom to experiment with the short-story medium.

This anthology begins with an otherworldly tale by Sara Chisolm, “The Serenade of the Gangsta.” In it, a gangster’s future is foretold by a mystical mariachi’s song. The dreamy theme continues into “Luigi’s Song” by Jude-Marie Green, in which a young girl’s best friend is a whale who brings her gifts from the sea.

Summaries don’t begin to do these stories justice. These, and those that follow, cover the gamut of love found and lost; life and death; right and wrong; freedom and slavery (and slavery’s close cousin, addiction). We present stories of fortunes, both on the rise and in decline.

Nick Duretta’s “Lucky and Carmela” takes a chance meeting in an unexpected direction.

“Billboard Cowboy” by Axel Milens features a man in midlife who struggles with his position, both in the world and in his own family.

My own stories cover the Gen X experience, from the nineties until the modern age. A young college student gains assertiveness training from an unexpected source in “College Lessons,” while in “Letting Go,” a career woman learns to release her ingrained ideas about work, as well as her favorite colleague.

Cody Sisco’s “Face” explores L.A.’s underground world of psychic entanglement and seductive illusions.

C. Gregory Thompson’s “Two Kings” forces two men from vastly different backgrounds to solve the puzzle that is created when their paths collide.

Nolan Knight’s story “Mouth Bay” — a misnomer for the South Bay region because of all the gossip there — showcases the grime beneath the sunshine and glitter.

“For Hire” by A.S. Youngless follows a young werewolf who is pressed to figure out whom she can trust.

James Ferry’s “Burning Man” transports readers out of L.A. and into the desert for some soul searching.

Finally, Abigail Walthausen’s “Edition of Ten” limits the main character’s soul searching to her own neighborhood in L.A. proper.

We hope you will enjoy this new volume of L.A. stories. Some of the writers from the first anthology have returned, while others have joined us for the first time. We’re excited to present this new collection, to support our literary community, and to shine some light on more facets of the jewel that is Los Angeles.

— Gabi Lorino