P. A. Farrell, the pen name of licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Patricia A. Farrell, has released The Price of Being Human, Book 2, a collection of nearly 30 short stories that cut straight to the heart of what it means to be alive, to struggle, to love, and to survive. Book 1 delivered 20 stories that readers called unforgettable. Book 2 goes further and deeper, with more stories, more voices, and more of the raw emotional power that made the first volume a standout.

These are not long reads. Each story fits into a coffee break or a commute. But the impact lasts far longer. Farrell writes about real people in real places dealing with real problems. A boy standing at his abusive father's coffin, hammer in hand. A woman who turns a car accident into something far darker. A man who cannot escape what the street he grew up on made him. A neighbor who holds together an entire community without anyone ever noticing. Story after story, the collection builds a portrait of ordinary life that is anything but ordinary.

"People carry enormous weight and most of it stays invisible," said Farrell. "These stories give that weight a name, a face, and a place. My hope is that readers see themselves or someone they love on every other page."

About the Book

The Price of Being Human, Book 2 contains 28 original short stories spanning a wide range of human experience. The collection includes stories that deal with family secrets, quiet acts of courage, betrayal, grief, unexpected kindness, and the moments that define who we become. The writing is direct, honest, and accessible to any reader regardless of background or education. Each story stands completely on its own. Readers can open to any page and find something that feels true.

The book follows the success of The Price of Being Human, Book 1, which featured 20 short stories in the same tradition. Book 2 expands the collection by nearly a third, offering even more variety in character, setting, and theme.

Stories in the Collection Include:

"A Blue Suit Day," "A Sunny Day," "Con Permiso," "First, Do Harm," "Long Sleeves in August," "Midnight Supper at the Plaza," "No One Needs to Know," "Now She Sleeps," "One Parrot Came," "Paper Throne," "Pure Revenge," "The Boy They Buried Alive," "The Debt She Didn't Owe," "The Heart of the Neighborhood," "The Space Between Strangers," "Tuna Sandwich Empathy," "Winter's Quick Fix," and more.

Availability

The Price of Being Human, Book 2 is available now in e-pub and paperback through Amazon and through booksellers worldwide via Draft2Digital. Libraries and independent bookstores can order through Draft2Digital's distribution network. 

About the Author

P. A. Farrell is the fiction pen name of Dr. Patricia A. Farrell, a licensed clinical psychologist, author, and media commentator. Dr. Farrell has written extensively on psychology, health, and human behavior. Her fiction draws on decades of work with real people navigating real challenges. She also writes under her professional name for nonfiction readers and maintains an active presence on Patreon at Dr. Farrell Unplugged and on Medium.com. Her Amazon author page can be found at https://tinyurl.com/8zkRpfe6