is the author of The Hardy Tree (2011) and Gentle Art (2012), both published by Trolley Books. Her third book Merced Es Benz is out on Book Works in November (iphgeniabaal.com).
Editor’s Note: By way of an introduction, we’ve included two previously unpublished stories by Diane Williams, ‘Beauty, Love and Vanity Itself’ and ‘Velvety’. Beauty,...