Mitchell Waldman

“He wakes up in a different body.

Normally when it happens you don't remember all that came before, in the prior lives. But sometimes things get screwed up, there's a flaw in the machinery, and it doesn't work that way. Or maybe it isn't a mistake, it's done for a reason. As some believe, maybe there's a reason and purpose for everything.”
― Mitchell Waldman, The Visitor

“I’m here today to talk to you about a serious, very serious topic, and it concerns me and it concerns all of you. And you know what concerns you concerns me and visa versa. We’re all in this together and all that, you know, I’m here as President because you elected me to represent you, right, after all?” He smiles widely, tucks his head down against his chest, throws his arms out to his sides, and then the chants come, and he nods his head in mock humility, “Thank you so much, I don’t deserve it, really, do I?” and the applause comes louder this time, and he laughs, shakes his head and says, “Okay, okay, maybe I do. What can I say. We’re making this nation strong again, right? That’s what we’re doing!” And more cheers, and tossed beer cans, or, at least, that’s what Ash imagines. Then the large man with the artificial hair continues: “But on to what I’ve come to talk to you today, and I know I tend to go on, but it’s important, very, so, important. Something we all need to be concerned about. And you know what that is? Aliens.” The cheers rise again and someone yells out “Get rid of all the illegals!” and he nods, but then shakes his head, waves his arms, “Yes, yes, but no, that’s true, but not what I’m talking about this time. I’m talking about, you know, the other kind, what you call the real deal, the real thing, real aliens, like the kind that come from up there,” he says, pointing to the sky. And the cheers stop and it gets almost quiet in that parking lot.”
― Mitchell Waldman, The Visitor

“Sidney Hellman doesn't remember who he was the last time around, if there was a last time. But how can he? None of us do.

Still, there are clues.

For instance, he starts seeing things. Images of events from another life. Terrible images."

--From the story "The Monster Inside," included in BROTHERS, FATHERS, AND OTHER STRANGERS, the new story collection by Mitchell Waldman”
― Mitchell Waldman

“This used to be a great country. Not now. Not anymore.
I was laid off from the drugstore. Worked there almost thirty years. Worked my way up from the bottom, from Stock Boy to Manager, with little in the way of education -- I didn't graduate high school, was a semester shy when my dad got sick. I ran that damned place for the owner, Bud Wilkins. Then, when Bud retired, and had no one to carry on the business, this big chain bought him out and they discarded me like a badly worn sneaker."
--From the story "After the Layoff," included in forthcoming story collection BROTHERS, FATHERS, AND OTHER STRANGERS”
― Mitchell Waldman