The Long and the Short of It

About the Book

What does it mean to have a personality that is slightly skewed? I am not speaking of a personality that throughout its “earthly” tenure exhibits qualities of excess, be they psychosomatic, psychotic, delusional, or narcissistic; I am speaking of a personality that on occasion, given the depth of emotional entrapment, takes matters to the edge of predictable behavior and beyond, thus shedding light on the darkness lurking within. Although these qualities might, at times, apply to some or all of the main characters here, they primarily serve as the necessary, yet “impure,” ingredients for the alchemist’s journey; as such, they point out the twists and turns of hints and allusions, the oddness of the plots, and, of course, the suggestion of larger, more intangible issues. In The Long and the Short of It, character impurities—and our rigorous attempt to sublimate and repress them—are subtle reminders of the cosmic hoop through which we jump to keep our world ordered and “sane.”

About the Author

Peter Barbieri received his masters and doctorate in Music Composition from the University of Colorado, Boulder. His diverse creative talents have led to careers in the field of music: composer of “classical” works for orchestra, small ensembles, and solo instruments; jazz pianist, composer, and arranger; and educator. Currently, Dr. Barbieri teaches jazz piano and improvisation at his home in Longmont, Colorado. Peter Anthony Barbieri’s first published literary work, Tales From the Soft Underbelly of Confusion, iUniverse, 2007, is a collection of short stories; these stories are contained in the present volume. Three subsequent works (a trilogy) followed: Tree of Dreams, iUniverse, 2009; The Purple Sky – Part One, iUniverse, 2011; The Purple Sky–Part Two, iUniverse, 2016. Dr. Barbieri has long been interested in fiction writing as a natural extension of his interest in music composition. Photograph by: Judith Glyde.