Love Brain & Other Minefields
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Love Lives Large
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Literary short stories and poetry exploring intimacy, longing, and consequence.
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Named a Finalist in the 28th annual Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards in the short stories category.
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Showcases stories honored with awards from Writer’s Digest and the Pacific Sun Writers Competition
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"...Collenette’s characters live on in memories." -Kirkus Reviews
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Paperback $19.88
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Upcoming Events
California Writers Club of Marin
Author Meet-and-Greet with Alan Collenette
Saturday, May 21, 2026
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Love Brain & Other Minefields will be featured at the National Independent Booksellers’ Day Celebration
April 25, 1:00 – 3:30 pm
Book Passage, Corte Madera
Past Events
Videos: Love Brain & Other Minefields
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Reviews: Love Brain & Other Minefields
...Collenette’s characters live on in memories. Moments sting with the halting love of a strained relationship that neither side seems able to change, and this—more than differences in gender or absurdities of male misunderstanding—is where the true heart of the collection appears to lie. --Kirkus Reviews
These are stories that sing and sting. The journey takes us to broken marriages, strained relationships, and heartfelt reconciliations. The author captures how memory deepens ordinary moments into something unforgettable. A heartfelt, funny, and richly human read. -- Sophia Kouidou-Giles, author of An Unexpected Ally; Circle of Peace; Sophia's Return
The stories are honest and self-aware and reveal a man who has accumulated plenty of well-earned scar tissue during his encounters with the opposite sex.This is a wonderful collection of real life experiences. Funny as hell, poignant, absurd, joyful and WELL worth reading. In a crowded marketplace, this collection will stand out. -- T.G.S
An insightful read about love, loss, hurdles and hopes. It's a bittersweet comedy of truth. Wow! Love the mix of short stories and poems. -- Christine Noelle, author of A Long Way to the Top, featured in the anthology Human Geography.
Men have love brains, too! We watch his characters twist themselves in knots trying to do the right thing, even without knowing what that thing is. His men revel in their male circle of friends, sharing vulnerabilities and nudging each other to be mensches. I'm impressed with Alan's openness in revealing mistakes and mishaps, but mostly with his depiction of men's desire to evolve. The inclusion of Alan's poetry proves that very point. -- Colleen Dolan, author of The Ghost Ship Fire
What a resonant and memorable collection. Windows into lived experience - snapshots of different times and places that capture the richness, humour, and quiet struggles of human existence; experiences we can all recognize in some part of our own lives. A lyrical, character-driven, and unflinchingly honest collection well worth savoring. -- HBadger.H.
Excerpts from Love Brain & Other Minefields
About: Love Brain & Other Minefields
Love Brain & Other Minefields is a collection of award-winning poems and short stories--at times hilarious and at others sad and thoughtful. Readers will recognize themselves in the bewilderment of one man braving the gauntlet of life through the years, and navigating the mysterious world of women. At the same time, many pieces wander into entirely unrelated territories, tracing one man's passage through the sorrows and delights he encounters at various stages of his life.
As a participant in a game in which there appear to be no rules, a key theme in the book is his clumsy attempt to offer up his heart for female consideration.
Alan’s writing blends poetic expression with storytelling, where emotions are distilled into verses, and narratives unfold like whispered confessions. It features a mix of poetry and short stories where women are revered, and love is both a sanctuary and a minefield. Loss lingers like an echo and musings drift between reality and absurdity.