Lover's Rock
Aaron Schaut
Lover’s Rock follows Gus, a guy trapped somewhere between memories from the 90s and the present, with a connection to a young Persian woman named Tina.
Tina drifts in and out of Gus’s life, leaving him to wonder if they were ever meant to be more than close friends or if they just missed their moment. He navigates the blurred lines of love, longing, and what it means to let someone slip away.
Set to a score of The Clash (past) and Joe Strummer (present), the story captures Gus’s reflections on missed opportunities, relationships that never quite took shape, and the emotional limbo that lingers in their wake. As Gus stumbles through life, he’s left questioning the choices he made, the ones he didn’t, and whether he’s chasing a ghost or the future he could still have.
Lover’s Rock is a story of unresolved love, the weight of what might have been, and the moments that define us, even long after they’re gone.
Counting Crows
Neda Aria
Tina, now in her 40s, is a famous Iranian painter living in Manhattan, but her life is fraying at the seams. Born in 80s and raised in the chaos of 90s Tehran, where the American dream and rock music flickered like dreams never come true, Tina grew up fighting for a freedom that always felt like a crime. Now, married to a great husband with her dream job and life, she’s struggling in ways she never expected. Stuck in a creative block for her latest career-defining project, Self.
Amidst this struggle, memories of a boy named Gus returns. Their accidental meetings in the dive bars and cafés of Grand Rapids. Right places, wrong times, and feelings that are left unresolved. Her search for him becomes a borderline obsession, as she’s convinced that finding Gus could be the key to unlocking the art—and the self—she’s lost.
The Tina & Gus Playlist
Reading or rolling, rock out with Gus and Tina with the Gus and Tina Spotify Playlist!
Why Us?
Because this journey is important.
Our Mission: To partner with and promote unique and sometimes ordinary voices that exist outside of ordinary trends and genres while maintaining integrity, honesty, and heart.
About us
We are tribal in our truths. Our prose is our heart.
Neda Aria
Neda Aria is a transgressive fiction author known for her daring and thought-provoking exploration of feminism and dystopian themes. Blending elements of science fiction, Aria delves into the complexities of human behavior, often challenging societal norms. Her works, such as ENARO, Feminomaniacs, and Machinocracy, are marked by a distinctive style that draws inspiration from literary giants like Philip K. Dick, Franz Kafka, Chekhov and George Orwell. Her stories often reflect her experiences growing up in Iran and her global perspective, contributing to a rich narrative that examines the intersections of personal and societal identity.
Under the pseudonym Lilith Wilde, she also explores passionate, intense romances with the same depth and insight that characterize her more transgressive works.
Aaron Paul Schaut
Author Aaron Paul Schaut writes heartfelt and relatable stories about American life. Born in Escanaba and now living in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he remains inspired by experiences and events in his own life. His "These Americans" series explores identity and belonging, anxiety and peace. His novellas "Bricks" and "Lucid America" continue where “These Americans” leaves off. He also penned the short story "The Depression of John Stonebrook," which appeared in “Starlite Pulp Review #3.”
Friends
Because we need each other,
We also like our moms.