The thirteen short stories in And to Say Hello investigate the hazards of men and women becoming fathers and mothers: the immediate harm and the long-term damage. Sometimes comic and sometimes solemn, the stories demonstrate the complexities and varieties of parent-child relationships.
Scott Randall
has previously published two short story collections: Last Chance to Renew and Character Actor. The title story from Last Chance to Renew was broadcast on CBC Radio's "Between the Covers", and Character Actor was shortlisted for the fiction category of the Ottawa Book Award. He has been twice nominated for the Journey Prize, and his fiction has appeared in numerous literary journals. He currently lives in Ottawa with his wife and daughter.
"At first glance, this collection of short stories would appear to tell ordinary tales about everyday lives: a man whose wife is expecting a baby keeps hearing, disturbingly, from an ex-girlfriend; the story of six pallbearers reflects the life of the elderly woman they are carrying; a young homeless man travels by bus to Ottawa from Montreal with a suspect new friend. On second glance, however, the subtle, psychological undercurrents of these stories reveal a writer working with stunning effectiveness and skill. This is world-class writing that probes the very depths of our everyday lives."
— Ottawa Book Awards Jury
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