Betty Jane Hegerat is a master of the “domestic” short story, taking place in familiar settings and populated with familiar characters.

She brings a touch of freshness to the tale of a father meeting his adult daughter for the first time, a son taking his elderly mother to a parade for Queen Elizabeth, a foster mother being visited by one of her few “bad apples,” and the rest of the fourteen stories of Elephants in the Room.

Narrated by characters diverse in gender and age, from young children to octogenarians, these stories deal with awkward interactions, multi-layered relationships, and tensions that are off the page.

In these tales, the conflicts reside not with mean bosses, heartless landlords, or crushing debt but rather with the subtle dance, sometimes funny, often heartbreaking, of real families seeking happiness and understanding.