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Of Beginnings and Ends — A Telography by S. K. Kruse
Of Beginnings and Ends is a Soul-Making Keats Literary Award-winning novel, published September 8, 2026 by Deuxmers.
This story is a telography. I coined the term for the genre, because there was none for these types of “soul stories.” The terms derives from the Greek telos (end or purpose) and graphia (writing). They are an account of one’s becoming.
The story takes places in the Hall of Beginnings and Ends. A liminal space for a liminal state. (I can’t seem to get away form them.) Here’s sneak peek of the back cover copy:
In every ending waits a new beginning.
Evy has always been able to feel the hidden sorrow of others. One day, she reaches out to a stranger drowning in his grief and is whisked away to the vast and luminous Hall of Beginnings and Ends.
The hall demands a choice. Evy must pass through a mist-shrouded arch to her best path forward or through a side door offering her a detour. Either way, pain awaits—the crucible of transformation or the slow decay of refusing to change.
Across the years, Evy returns to the hall without warning, always met with the same demand. Choose. Each time, she is plunged into strange realms uncomfortably familiar, where her hopes and fears, beliefs and doubts take shape as uncanny landscapes and characters who seem to know her better than she knows herself.
Witty, numinous, and deeply human, Of Beginnings and Ends is a reckoning with the painful crossroads of existence, and an ode to the courage it takes to embrace every ending as the threshold of a new beginning.
D. Donovan, writing for Midwest Book Review, says, “S. K. Kruse’s thought-provoking and humorous portrait of Everywoman Evy and her soul-searching quest is a riveting philosophical, spiritual, and psychological saga that not many writers could have produced.”
For readers who loved the architecture of Piranesi or the aching what-ifs of The Other Valley, this is a story built in the same country — the betwixt and between.
Available in hardcover, softcover, and ebook on September 8, 2026.
Hardcover · 978-1-944521-58-5 · $27
Softcover · 978-1-944521-26-4 · $14.95
ebook · 978-1-944521-27-1 · $8.99 ($.99 for first two weeks)
Tell the Story of Your Soul: Free Access to Online Course Through October 20
Explore the liminal passages that have shaped your life and create a “soul story” in whatever medium you choose. This self-guided online experience requires no artistic background and is available free through October 20, 2026.
S. K. Kruse Joins The Liminality Project
S. K. Kruse joins The Liminality Project as Co-Curator. Dr. Timothy Carson is the founding curator of The Liminality Project and a longtime teacher and writer in liminal studies, including courses through the University of Missouri. As co-curator, Kruse will be contributing creative and educational offerings for readers, writers, and seekers navigating change.
4th Annual Liminal Essay Contest is Now Open!
The 4th Annual Liminal Essay Contest is now open for submissions through March 1, 2026. High school and college students may submit essays. Contest sponsored by S. K. Kruse and the Guild for Engaged Liminality. Find out more!
Author Visit With Northern Valley Regional High School
S. K. Kruse discusses liminality in her short story “Summoned by a Star” and shares about her writing process with Northern Valley Regional High School students.
Author Visit With Franklin High School
S. K. Kruse discusses liminality in her short story “Summoned by a Star” and shares about her writing process with Franklin High School students.
Winners of the 3rd Annual Liminal Essay Contest Announced!
Get ready for the paparazzi! The 3rd Annual Liminal Essay Contest winners will be announced May 1st! 1st-3rd place winners for high school and college contests can be found here.
Photo by Adrej Lisakov/Unsplash
S. K. Kruse reads “Democracy: POV” at Arkana Literary Magazine Issue 18 Launch Party
“Democracy: POV,” in which an alien invader of Earth contemplates the perils and wonders of democracy, will be published April, 2025 in Arkana Literary Magazine, Issue 18. Looking forward to meeting the editors, writers, and illustrators who put together this gem of a literary mag! Read or listen here.
3rd Annual Liminal Essay Contest Now Open!
Have your students submit their essays by March 31st! See details here.
Tales From the Liminal Study Edition $.99 Pre-Order Now Available!
For a limited time, the Tales From the Liminal Study Edition e-book will be available for $.99! Take advantage of this offer until April 7th. Paperback edition available at the discounted price of $4.99, April 1st through April 7th!
S. K. Kruse Reads at A Breath of Fresh Art
A Breath of Fresh Art, produced by the acclaimed Katherine Kramer at Primrose Retreat, will feature the theme of Democracy in Life & Art. Audience members will follow maps around an historic farmstead to take in performances and view art installations by more than two dozen dancers, musicians, spoken word artists, and visual artists from Dane County and the Driftless Area arts community.
The Ramshackle Raconteurs, comprised of writers Alex Bledsoe, Matt Geiger, and S. K. Kruse, will converge on stage to present Democracy: POV, a look at democracy through the lens of parenting, pirates, fascists, and aliens!
Allison Vernon Wins 2nd Annual Liminal Essay Contest!
Congratulations to Allison Vernon of the University of Missouri for winning the 2nd annual Liminal Essay Contest with her essay, “Charon’s Forgotten Humanity." Read here.
2nd Annual Liminal Essay Contest Entries Due
Liminal Essay Scholarships due February 29th! See https://www.skkruse.com/liminalscholarship for details.
Image by Nick Youngson http://www.nyphotographic.com/
Author Visit with UM Honors College: Liminality and Literature of the Fantastical
S. K. Kruse discusses liminality in Tales From the Liminal with Dr. Timothy Carson’s University of Missouri Honors Class: Liminality and Literature of the Fantastical.
Liminality Guild Presentation
S. K. Kruse will present on the role of the liminal in the creative process for the Guild for Engaged Liminality. Watch the 13-min presentation here!
Tales From the Liminal Audiobook Released!
Deuxmers releases the Tales From the Liminal audiobook today! Listen to a 5-minute sample here. Available on multiple audiobook platforms.
The Liminal Essay Contest Winner AnnounceD!
Congratulations to Allison Vernon of the University of Missouri for winning the 2nd Annual Liminal Essay Contest with her excellent essay, “Charon’s Forgotten Humanity." Read here.
WPR Newsmakers Interview
Ezra Wall of Wisconsin Public Radio interviews S. K. Kruse about her new short story collection, "Tales From the Liminal."
WPR central Time Interview
Rob Ferrett of WPR’s “Central Time” interviews S. K. Kruse about her new collection of short stories, “Tales From the Liminal.”
Tales From the Liminal Book Launch
Book launch for Tales From the Liminal by S. K. Kruse, Saturday, November 13, 5-7 P.M. at Kismet Book Shop, Verona, WI.
WORT “8 O'Clock Buzz” Interview
Kai Brito interviews author S. K. Kruse about her new book, "Tales From the Liminal" on WORT's 8 O'Clock Morning Buzz show.
Deuxmers Publishing Releases "Tales From the Liminal" by S. K. Kruse
S. K. Kruse is pleased to announce Deuxmers Publishing has released her first collection of short stories, Tales From the Liminal! Find out more here.
S. K. Kruse Reads at A Breath of Fresh Art
S. K. Kruse reads “Summoned by a Star” from her upcoming book, Tales From the Liminal, at Breath of Fresh Art.
S. K. Kruse Reads at the 2020 Soul-Making Keats Literary Awards Ceremony
S. K. Kruse reads an excerpt from That Which Remains at the 2020 Soul-Making Keats Literary Competition Online Awards Ceremony.
S. K. Kruse Earns a 2020 Soul-Making Keats Literary Award for That Which Remains
The Soul-Making Keats Literary Competition is the perfect home for my work. My (yet-to-be-published) novel That Which Remains took third place in the 2020 Novel Excerpt category this year. I’m grateful to all the incredible women writers of the National League of American Pen Women who make this competition possible.
S. K. Kruse Reads at the 2015 Soul-Making Keats Literary Awards Ceremony
S. K. Kruse reads an excerpt from Of Beginnings and Ends, a prizewinner in the 2015 Soul-Making Keats Literary Competition, at the awards ceremony in the San Francisco Public Library.
S. K. Kruse Earns a 2015 Soul-Making Keats Literary Award for Of Beginnings and Ends
What an honor to win a Soul-Making Keats Literary award! My novel Of Beginnings and Ends took Third Place in the Joanna Catherine Scott Novel Excerpt category, under my dramatic pen name, Alessandra Black! Heading to San Francisco in April to do a reading.