OUT PAST THE WIRES
by Rod Picott
Rod Picott is a singer-songwriter, a poet and an author. He has a voice like velvet ripped by granite and he can write songs and stories that can also rip your heart into pieces.
Out Past the Wires is a collection of short stories about everyday, hardscrabble lives and the sometimes lonely, desperate, and sad people who live them. You may recognize yourself somewhere deep within a character, or you might see someone you know or have met. Or you may find yourself shaking your head and thanking whatever god you believe in that you’ve never been in any of the situations depicted in this book.
Because he also sings and writes songs, Rod has released a double CD, also called Out Past the Wires, as an accompaniment to his stories. As you read, he lets you know which song to listen to as a companion to each particular tale. It’s not necessary to listen to the music to enjoy the stories, but it definitely adds an extra depth of feeling to the content.
Out Past the Wires is not totally depressing, but it is definitely a glimpse into a place where pure joy rarely visits. Rod once named his musical tour and one of his albums the “Circus of Misery and Heartbreak.” That’s an apt description for this book. Don’t let that description dissuade you from reading it. It’s a hell of a good read, and just might touch you in a place you usually keep hidden.
Reviewed July 2019
House of Black and Blue 