David W. Berner

Seamus Damp, an aging American-born writer, seeks refuge from his troubled past by retreating to a remote island off the coast of Ireland. However, his estranged relationship with his son continues to haunt him. One day, a young woman arrives on the island on a solitary spiritual and hiking adventure. She carries her own heartache-filled past, and she and Seamus soon discover an unusual bond. Together, they attempt to heal their hearts and erase their collective sorrows. During a harrowing coastal storm, the young woman seeks refuge at Seamus' door. A night of conversation during the wild weather begins their journey toward a mutual understanding of their personal stories of betrayal, death, and emotional hopelessness. The young woman eventually helps Seamus through health emergencies, and emergencies of the heart -- old and new -- as she, too, attempts to discover her own way toward an emotional breakthrough on a beautiful yet rugged, wind-swept island where solitude is its greatest gift. The Islander is part of The Shortish Project, celebrating short novels at theshortishproject.com.