Elizabeth Cox discusses her newest collection of short stories, *Bargains in the Real World*. Lauded for her deft touch in portraying the human condition, Cox's thirteen stories feature characters who are forced to strike a bargain with the world in order to survive. Cox is the author of three novels and recipient of the O. Henry Award. She defines herself as an educator as well as a writer, offering innovative approaches to writing fiction.
Cox grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, graduated from the University of Mississippi, and received her MFA from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. She currently teaches one semester a year at Duke University.