When not writing short stories, Jesse Tamayo is at work seeking publication for his novel, Fractured Lines, which follows Vera Gomez, a barely making ends meet tattooist who has a medical bill that she cannot pay. Through a friend that has contract work as a janitor, Vera hears about a secret party hosted by Strevia, a tech company, and goes to give tattoos, abandoning a potential love interest in the process. The party is raided and, in a mad rush, she forgets the tattoo gun that her Uncle gifted her. Her gun is found the next day by late-arrival Manny Gonzalez, who founded Strevia but has since been made obsolete due to a billionaire that stole the idea through listening in on Manny’s phone. Despite him and his wife falling apart, he continues to devote his time to the company that only keeps him to save face. Vera, avoiding her potential romantic partner, travels across the Pacific Northwest for her gun and meets more than a few characters, all while Manny fulfills his corporate obligations and ignores solutions to his relationship. The story comes to a head when Vera and Manny meet, then help each other in ways neither expected. Set in near future Seattle, Fractured Lines explores themes of racial and class identity, relationships, and the weight of choices.
SHORT STORIES
Scavenging | The Bangalore Review - 2020
Foundation | 805 Lit + Art - 2021
The Coach | SORTES Magazine - 2024