Cloudbreak: Stories

by William Auten

“A life inside yourself isn’t a life.” Seventeen stories laced with humor and heart crisscross America where ordinary men and women search for identity and order. A retired colonel investigates a cloaked figure at a naval station. Struggling with PTSD, a sister makes a request of her brother. After success at work, a man’s stress outlet creates problems on a family vacation. Old flames cross paths and tour a cave. A former athlete weighs an invitation to a ceremony honoring his team’s achievements. On the day of the winter solstice, a trail guide takes a stranger to a vista. During the last day of filming, a reality show’s contestant wrestles with his goal. And a grandfather distracts his granddaughter with the outdoors while her parents figure out their marriage. From the coasts to the lands in between, these and other characters seek connection and meaning amid expectations, responsibilities, and chaos.

194 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 19, 2025

About the author

William Auten is the author of novels and story collections. Learn more and sign up for his newsletter at williamauten.com.

Reviews

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant glimpse into a slice of modern reality. Bittersweet, searching, humbling, grounded, imperfect. Reflections of a moment, captured for rumination and passes beyond. Stories of and for humanity. A good read. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review.