Review
"Sequoia Nagamatsu's universe is one in which modern Japan and its ancient folklore play in the same delightful puddle. Creepy, unnerving, and full of heart, these tales of love and demons, death and Godzilla, loss and possibility, will creep into your dreams and enchant your imagination." -- Kelly Luce, author of Three Scenarios in Which Hana Sasaki Grows a Tail
"A combination of the mystical, magical, and marvelous, Sequoia Nagamatsu weaves a collection of bold, hysterical, and moving tales into an unforgettable debut. From shape-shifters, to star-makers, to babies made of snow, the characters in Where We Go When All We Were Is Gone form a community of longing, of the surreal, of wonder. What a joy it is to read each and every story."
--Michael Czyzniejewski, author of I Will Love You for the Rest of My Life: Breakup Stories
"These stories deftly breathe new life into the myths and pop culture of an older Japan, bringing them into the modern world and directing them in unexpected ways. It's hard to tell if Nagamatsu holds nothing sacred, or if he holds everything to be. In either case, the effect is the same: these are deft atmospheric romps that a hell of a lot of fun but also worm their way under your skin before you know it. An addictive and compelling debut."
--Brian Evenson, author A Collapse of Horses
"Ghosts, Godzilla, shape shifters, sea creatures, snow babies; Sequoia Nagamatsu's fantastical characters are nonetheless grounded in modern-day conflicts, creating a fascinating and haunting mix of science and myth, past and present. These are stories of gods and monsters walking among us, told with wit, longing, and wisdom."
--Timothy Schaffert, author of The Swan Gondola
"The stories in Where We Go When All We Are is Gone make up a rich tangle of the familiar and beautifully new. These are bright inventions but they will also satisfy our longing for the stories we have always loved."
-- Ramona Ausubel, author of A Guide to Being Born and Sons and Daughters of Ease and Plenty
About the Author
June Angela is the recipient of an Emmy and a Grammy for her work on The Electric Company series. A talented and renowned actress and audiobook narrator, she starred with Pat Morita on the first Asian American primetime television comedy series Mr. T and Tina.
Sequoia Nagamatsu is the author of the critically acclaimed novel How High We Go in the Dark. Originally from Hawaii and the San Francisco Bay Area, he is the managing editor of Psychopomp Magazine, and his work has appeared in publications such as Conjunctions, The Bellevue Literary Review, and One World: A Global Anthology of Short Stories. He resides with his wife in Minnesota, where he teaches creative writing at St. Olaf College.
Brian Nishii is a multilingual Japanese narrator who has lent his voice to a wide range of projects, including over fifty audiobook titles. A specialist in East Asian themes, he enjoys telling compelling stories.
