Bad Apples

About the Book

A drunk finds an angel on a Greyhound bus, two old codgers stir up trouble at a retirement home when they open a sports book, family and friends of a Lutheran bride suffer through a wedding in a Catholic church. You'll find these stories and more in this delightful garden of fictional tales.

"It's funny how some people can make difficult things look so darn easy. [Swenson's] topics are often difficult too, like religion and war, and he finds a way to take the edge off and keep it honest."
—Erik Deerly, Editor and Publisher

About the Author

I fell in love with short fiction when as a young man I discovered the tales of Isaac Babel and the vignettes of the poet William Carlos Williams. I wanted to write like that, but of course I couldn't. I taught school for many years, and in the process I learned a thing or two about the anatomy of a short story. What I try to do in my fiction is tell a story with economy and humor and I hope some insight. I admire writers who cut to the chase and don't waste words.

I have written several books on writing and grammar, and years ago one on horse racing. Many of my stories have appeared in electronic magazines.

I retired some years ago, and today I live an idler's life. My wife and I make our home in Fremont, California.