Paperback
Retail Price: $13.95
Andrew J. Olson takes readers to rural Minnesota, where children are essential parts in the machinery of everyday life. Young men learn that hard work is its own reward, and that promises can be reaped from the land. However, workaday tragedies lie in wait, and Mother Nature is brutish in her lack of sympathy. Fortunately, the sense of duty that comes with living in a small community helps to temper both grief and loss, and in the end, we find that the heart of the heart of the country is a gift that can’t be sought, only found.
“For those of us who are blessed to live on corn-speckled streets, these stories by Andrew J. Olson ring true. There is also a universality that readers will recognize as Olson tells stories that explore family relationships, innocence, loss, grief, revenge. We reach into the stories, and they surprise us, move us, encourage us, and help us to see ourselves, each other, and the world more clearly.”
– David Bengtson, author of Broken Lines: Prose Poems.
“In this evocative first collection set mostly on family farms in west central Minnesota, Andrew J. Olson strips his haunted young men of everything but their pride... these characters live in hardscrabble but resilient emotional territory. This is their survival manual, and Olson writes it with a flair for the telling episode or detail.”
– Alan Davis, author of So Bravely Vegetative and Rumors from the Lost World.
“Set in Minnesota, the stories of Barn Stripping and Other Stories are written with a starkness that matches the often bleak winter landscapes of their settings. Death is matter-of-fact here, yet so is life. Part William Saroyan, part Kent Haruf, Olson writes with tenderness and wisdom about a world he knows well.”
– Lori Ostlund, author of The Bigness of the World.
“Barn Stripping strips away all literary excess, cuts to the bone and offers us compact and compelling tales of contemporary rural life. These stories are as spare, pristine and haunting as the windswept landscapes they so vividly evoke.”
– Elizabeth Searle, author of Girl Held In Home.
Paperback
Format: 6 x 9 Black & White Paperback, 118 pages
Publisher: Outskirts Press (Oct 29, 2012)
ISBN10: 1478717645
ISBN13: 9781478717645
Genre: FICTION / Short Stories (single author)
Andrew J Olson is a graduate of the MFA program at Minnesota State University, Moorhead, and his work has appeared in numerous journals. Olson currently instructs English and Writing courses at Northeastern Oklahoma College where he lives with his wife. 
My representative Jamie was always extremely professional and helpful during the entire process of my book publication. She always responded very quickly to requests and was always helpful throughout the entire process. She is a great role model and a great asset to the Outskirts Press family. I will highly recommend Outskirts Press to my friends and associates and also look forward to doing more business in the future. I am extremely pleased with my book publication and consider this a major milestone in my life . Thank you all very much...
Lawrence N. Weston
author of Avoiding Self Imposed Adversities
From the beginning, and throughout the process of publishing my first book, I felt that I was in the hands of a pro. Dana always took the time to answer my questions in detail and swiftly, and if she didn't have 100% confidence, she researched the question and got back to me. I was very pleased with her and I am also thankful that I was paired with her as an Author Rep.
David Matityahu Ben Avraham
author of There's No Such Thing as Magic Blood
Bridget, as well as the entire Outskirts Press team working with me, are exceptional. They held my hand through the entire process in addition to providing me with welcomed support and encouragement. I am looking forward to our next project together. I have recommended Outskirts Press to several freelance authors in my area. Thank you for making a potentially hectic journey so enjoyable and so satisfying.
Paneque y Diaz
author of More Than What They Seemed
I was very happy with my author rep's responses to me. She did a superb job of answering my questions and helping me through the editing process. She was always available when I needed her. I'm delighted with the outcome--my book looks good and it's selling! Thank you.
Kathleen O'Brien
author of Reclaim Your Right To Grow Old
A great experience with Outskirts Press. I learned a lot in this process. I will do it all over again. Thank you so much.
Esther A. Ota
author of Children: My Heritage - A Testimony
The one-on-one with Lisa was great. Especially the phone call picking out styles, font, cover template etc. She even got a vote on the color. I so wanted to have my daughter's painting as the art work on the cover and she gave me a way to do that. Her guidance helped turn my dream into a reality and sometimes it is still hard to believe until I look at my book. Thank you.
Nancy L. Regas
author of The Art of Being a School Counselor
Outskirts Press has perfected the art of self-publishing. Their process is simple and seamless with everything happening in a timely manner, giving authors complete control over how their book will appear inside and out. And the people there are fantastic. They’re friendly, knowledgeable, courteous, patient and quick to reply to emails. What more can an author ask?
Needless to say, I’ve found a home here at Outskirts Press.
Jim Black
author of Life with Bingo, Miracle on the Gridiron, Football Hero, and Ezra
Outskirts Press changed my life for the better. They turned my adoption memoir into a book that is not only beautiful to look at, it is pleasurable to read, easy to purchase online, and in less than a month already has had a profound impact on many people. A truly amazing company with a heart. Deepest gratitude!
Paul Kimball
author of We Are All Human Beings
The Outskirts Press team was helpful, attentive, prompt and detail oriented during the publishing process. It really felt like a team effort, and everyone worked hard to create an awesome final product that was my fully published book!
Eric B.
author of Realm of the Invader
Having just published my eighth book with Outskirts Press, I can attest to it being a great experience, and I look forward to publishing number nine. Thanks for a great job.
James A. Hunter
author of Soft And Gentle 8
I would like to thank everyone at Outskirts Press for helping me getting my book (Storms of Jaycard) into print. I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would write a book and have it published. Once again, I would like to thank everyone at Outskirts Press for making my book dream come true.
Joseph J. Myer
author of Storms of Jaycard