The characters in the stories of The Hope and Grace Mission are all attempting to escape, whether it be a small town girl eager to get out of a small town life, or a civil war re-enactor unwilling to continue her re-enactment life. Often a more figurative escape is sought, with characters attempting to escape time, family and death. The voice and internal and external structures of form in each story are used to get characters and prose to push against these boundaries and limitations. Often, they find the escape they search for, though it may come in an unexpected form, through imagination, frustration or resignation. Just as often they find themselves in the center of their dark worlds, groping for the light switch. This struggle is at the heart of this collection.