Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes

As defined in the first story, living vicariously means living your life through someone else’s. You’re invited to live vicariously through the lives of the people in these stories. There’s the lawyer who catches his wife in the act with a nun. A college student identifies with a character in a play. A young woman loses her mother and finds her father. And a high school student’s prudish English teacher strenuously objects to a single word in her paper.

In Wyoming, as in any other state, people fall in love, and sometimes relationships are shattered. Accidents, domestic violence, prejudice, and crimes all occur. Lives are torn apart, and people are reunited. Ordinary people deal with everyday and not–so–everyday situations.

The 25 stories in this collection, most of which are set in Wyoming, are about how the various characters resolve their conflicts—or not.

About the author

Abbie Johnson Taylor

Abbie Johnson Taylor is the author of three novels, two poetry collections, a memoir, and a collection of short stories. Her work has appeared in various journals and anthologies. She is visually impaired and lives in Sheridan, Wyoming, where for six years, she cared for her late husband, who was totally blind and partially paralyzed by two strokes soon after they were married.

Before that, she spent fifteen years as a registered music therapist, working in nursing homes and other facilities that serve senior citizens. She also taught Braille, facilitated a support group for the visually impaired, and served on the advisory board to a trust fund that allows people with blindness or low vision to purchase adaptive equipment.

Our Review

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this fascinating collection of true-life stories from Abbie Johnson Taylor. Each one is an extraordinary reflection of life, seen through the eyes of ordinary people.

Real-life situations conjure many memories for me. How many of them matched my own reactions? So many lessons remembered.

Such a variety of stories, each one beautifully written, and just long enough to be read in one sitting.

I especially enjoyed ‘Triggered by an Irish Setter’ and ‘Welcome to Wyoming.’