Encounters is a curated collection of six contemporary short stories set across three continents. The stories reflect disparate adventures in a globalized, rapidly changing world: a young couple discovers the luxurious allure of Monte Carlo's Grand Casino, a woman from San Francisco reveals an inspirational uncle's secrets, a Bangkok expatriate lives out a night of excess, and a Russian immigrant navigates her unique New World voyage. Each story shines a different, up-close perspective on a lived moment in a certain place and time.Unmoored from the familiar past, these characters embark on borderless journeys that draw the reader into a range of vivid scenes and pivotal choices. Combining a subtle mix of character psychology, keenly observed settings, and dramatic, surprising decisions, Encounters brings to life the universal thrill of new love and the heartache of departure and loss.