Fred Venturini has eleven scars from eleven separate incidents, the most interesting of which is the time he was set on fire. For the others, just ask. His short fiction has been featured in the Booked Anthology, Noir at the Bar 2, and Chuck Palahniuk’s Burnt Toungues anthology. He is the acclaimed author of The Heart Does Not Grow Back and the forthcoming The Escape of Light (Turner, 2019). On the basketball court, he is a three-point specialist and defensive liability. He lives in Southern Illinois with his wife and daughter.

“Intriguing, intense, and--dare I say it--visceral. Keep your eye on this guy. He's going to cause trouble.” ― Isaac Marion, author of Warm Bodies“Fred Venturini is an awesomely talented writer, and he proves it on every page....”― Donald Ray Pollock, author of Knockemstiff and The Devil All the Time“Smart and tough and willing to look death in the eyes…This books comes from a real place– that’s what hits you right away, and that’s what matters to young adults most of all.” – Josh Woods, author of O Monstrous World! And The Black Palace"If you couldn't tear yourself away from The Fault in Our Stars, open your heart, slap on a basketball jersey and lose yourself in The Escape of Light.”– Taylor Zajonc, author of The Maw

Fred Venturini has eleven scars from eleven separate incidents, the most interesting of which is the time he was set on fire. For the others, just ask. His short fiction has been featured in the Booked Anthology, Noir at the Bar 2, and Chuck Palahniuk’s Burnt Toungues anthology. He is the acclaimed author of The Heart Does Not Grow Back and the forthcoming The Escape of Light (Turner, 2019). On the basketball court, he is a three-point specialist and defensive liability. He lives in Southern Illinois with his wife and daughter.

“Intriguing, intense, and--dare I say it--visceral. Keep your eye on this guy. He's going to cause trouble.” ― Isaac Marion, author of Warm Bodies“Fred Venturini is an awesomely talented writer, and he proves it on every page....”― Donald Ray Pollock, author of Knockemstiff and The Devil All the Time“Smart and tough and willing to look death in the eyes…This books comes from a real place– that’s what hits you right away, and that’s what matters to young adults most of all.” – Josh Woods, author of O Monstrous World! And The Black Palace"If you couldn't tear yourself away from The Fault in Our Stars, open your heart, slap on a basketball jersey and lose yourself in The Escape of Light.”– Taylor Zajonc, author of The Maw

Fred Venturini has eleven scars from eleven separate incidents, the most interesting of which is the time he was set on fire. For the others, just ask. His short fiction has been featured in the Booked Anthology, Noir at the Bar 2, and Chuck Palahniuk’s Burnt Toungues anthology. He is the acclaimed author of The Heart Does Not Grow Back and the forthcoming The Escape of Light (Turner, 2019). On the basketball court, he is a three-point specialist and defensive liability. He lives in Southern Illinois with his wife and daughter.

“Intriguing, intense, and--dare I say it--visceral. Keep your eye on this guy. He's going to cause trouble.” ― Isaac Marion, author of Warm Bodies“Fred Venturini is an awesomely talented writer, and he proves it on every page....”― Donald Ray Pollock, author of Knockemstiff and The Devil All the Time“Smart and tough and willing to look death in the eyes…This books comes from a real place– that’s what hits you right away, and that’s what matters to young adults most of all.” – Josh Woods, author of O Monstrous World! And The Black Palace"If you couldn't tear yourself away from The Fault in Our Stars, open your heart, slap on a basketball jersey and lose yourself in The Escape of Light.”– Taylor Zajonc, author of The Maw