Short Stories
Narrative Memoir, non-fiction
Short Stories
Unreal, Short Stories - Published 2023
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Unreal, a word often used to imply the opposite of its definition, makes a fitting title for this collection of short stories. The stories are fictional allegories of real events and explorations into the mind’s misinterpretations, save for one. One story is real.
The reader journeys through dystopian societies, psychological tumult, and introspective discovery from varying perspectives, all the while unsure wherein reality lies. Web-based Easter Eggs for every story accompany the reader through this exploration. The sole real story is revealed in the Epilogue.
Novel
Narrative Memoir, non-fiction
Short Stories
Wading in the Mirage - Published 2022
A mysterious illness strikes Jordan Barrows, plunging him into a psychosis that leaves this married man unknowingly in his own alternate reality. The years-long stay in his delightful yet imagined universe crashes down thanks to an apparent pharmacological cure found by his caring father. The awakening catapults Jordan into a familiar but decidedly different life. In the confusion of his return to the real world, Jordan rediscovers his estranged now ex-wife and works to recapture his lost storyline. Unforeseen twists carry Jordan to strange, awkward, and sometimes amusing situations until his wild ride spills into a worrisome ending for all involved. Time runs short for the couple, who cling desperately to the mirage they’ve waded into.
Narrative Memoir, non-fiction
Narrative Memoir, non-fiction
Narrative Memoir, non-fiction
Having Maddie - Published 2019
Elation over a long-awaited positive pregnancy test turns to anxious excitement with a twins diagnosis and into heart-pounding fear as the doctor reveals that both embryos have split – quadruplets. The dangers of carrying two sets of identical twins expand as rare developments are misdiagnosed at first. Share in the journey as this young couple grows confidence to follow their instincts and question rather than outright accept what is presented as fact, all with the seemingly simple goal of starting a family. Having Maddie is a medical mystery, a love story, and at times a comedy of errors.
Jason Mandel recently published his third full-length work, this one a collection of short stories. Previously, he authored in each of the fiction and non-fiction realms. Jason’s first book, Having Maddie, is a narrative memoir detailing the complex and at times misdiagnosed conditions of wife Carrie’s first pregnancy, and the impacts on their relationship. Wading in the Mirage was his first full-length fiction work, a novel following Jordan Barrows who discovers he’s been locked in his own years-long false reality and works to rediscover life with his ageing father and to recapture a relationship with his now-estranged ex-wife.
Jason works in New York City and lives on Long Island with Carrie, his wife of 23 years. They met as students at The University of Michigan. The couple has raised two children – Madelyn is studying at the University of Texas in Austin and Carter is studying at The Ohio State University.