MATTHEW SHARPE is the author of the novels "The Sleeping Father "and "Nothing Is Terrible, "as well as the short-story collection "Stories from the Tube," He teaches creative writing at Wesleyan University. His stories and essays have appeared in "Harper's Magazine, Zoetrope, BOMB, McSweeney's, American Letters & Commentary, Southwest Review," and "Teachers & Writers," He lives in New York City.