At the end of last week, we announced the publication of Pushing the Wave 2017–2022 by L.A. Davenport, a collection that distills five years of his writing into a single volume. Now, we’re excited to share the first extract, “The Desert”, which is available to read on Substack.

This book is more than just a collection of pieces—it’s an exploration of how stories unfold. It challenges the idea that storytelling is confined to fiction or nonfiction, or that it must follow a linear, structured path. Instead, Pushing the Wave 2017–2022 builds its narrative piece by piece, revealing the ways in which stories emerge, shift and evolve as they are told.

At its core, storytelling isn’t about rigid definitions—it’s about experience. The act of retelling human moments, thoughts and impressions weaves together elements of the past, present and future. A story can be shaped by memory, by perspective and ultimately by the reader.

And that’s what makes this book unique. It’s not just about what’s on the page, but about the way it’s read, the connections it sparks and the way it grows with each new interpretation. Pushing the Wave 2017–2022 is a testament to the idea that storytelling is fluid—something that moves, shifts and expands, much like a wave itself.

We’d love for you to read “The Desert” and experience it for yourself. And if you do, let us know—what does the story mean to you? Because in the end, all stories belong as much to their readers as to the writers who first put them into words.

Read the first extract on Substack now.