Praise for stories in FORT MOMMA:"Surprise and delight lurk in every paragraph of DEFROSTING HOWARD, a well-crafted story written in a clear, strong voice."-Vicki Hendricks fiction editor of QUIXOTE QUARTERLY, and author of five novels including MIAMI PURITY, IGUANA LOVE and SKY BLUES"REAL TIME is an humorous insight into the computer anxiety of the early eighties."-Dan Wakefield guest editor of PLOUGHSHARES and author of sixteen books including best selling novels STARTING OVER and GOING ALL THE WAY, and non-fiction books NEW YORK IN THE 1950'S and RETURNING.With deepest gratitude to the editors who published my stories:Dan Wakefield, PLOUGHSHARES, 1981 (REAL TIME)Michael Ishii, PAINTED HILLS REVIEW, 1993 (THE DEPRESSION)J.H.E. Paine, TENNESSEE QUARTERLY, 1993 (CURLEY'S PICTURE)Vicki Hendricks, QUIXOTE QUARTERLY, 1994 (DEFROSTING HOWARD)Reviews on Al Gowan's last novel ZAMORA'S TATTOO"Marks the debut of a new American novelist of insight, intelligence, style and sensitivity. Al Gowan is a writer with something to say that's fresh and provocative and he says it in a voice that is utterly, uniquely his own."-Gerald Gross, EDITORS ON EDITING"A dangerous and startling novel full of wit and grace. Al Gowan is a writer who takes delight in revealing the struggles of his people"-Melanie Rae Thon, SWEET HEARTS, IONA MOON, GIRLS IN THE GRASS, METEORS IN AUGUST and FIRST, BODY.