The fifteen stories in my collection, Old Dogs and Other Stories, are often told through the lens of the recurring main character, Buddy, who is seen at different stages of his life, from boyhood to old age. Buddy wrestles with issues of masculinity in a changing world—insecurities, relationships (especially with the women in his life), his role as a father (and son), and as a man constantly coming of age. \tThe stories are contemporary, set in the years between the 60s and the present, and vary widely in length and content.