SOLVED. Superviolent collection of short stories; Mormon bishop author [s]

[Meredith]

Does anyone know the name of the book or author? Came out early 2000s, I think. Really dark, really violent stories. Author was a writing teacher in Utah and a bishop in the Mormon church. Stories like one about a guy throwing cats from his car, a woman with a glass eye and her lover, some kind of strange castle siege...

Thanks,
meredith

[Jason]

That would be Altmann's Tongue by Brian Evenson.

I haven't actually read the book, but he was my teacher this past summer. He's a "literary" writer but also falls into the "horror" category sometimes. I admire a writer who isn't afraid of genre.

His personal story of dealing with the Mormon church is rather sad. He talked about it in a interview on KCRW's Bookworm.


Jason

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

I agree with Jason. The story "Killing Cats" is what the OP describes. Reviews confirm it's a horrific violent collection and that the author is or was Mormon and a writing teacher.