A History of Heartache: Stories (Short Story Collection) set for publication in Spring 2026 by Melville House
This interlinked short story collection is populated by people in or from Texas, enduring the corrosive impacts of capitalism, extremism, poverty, and substance abuse.
“I hope these stories shine a light on the corrosive effect of masculinity, extremism, conspiracy theories, and the way capitalism can doom us to a place.”
Patrick Strickland is a journalist and writer from Texas. His short fiction has appeared at Porter House Review, The Coachella Review, Pithead Chapel, and The Broadkill Review, among others. He’s the author of three nonfiction books, including You Can Kill Each Other After I Leave: Refugees, Fascism, and Bloodshed in Greece (Melville House 2025). He holds an MFA in writing from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and works as the managing editor of Inkstick Media. He has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and placed third in the 2021 Larry Brown Short Story Award competition.
Visit Patrick’s website: www.patrickobrienstrickland.com
Find Patrick on Instagram: @patrickstricklandjournalist