New Mexico State University alumnus Pardeep Toor will publish his debut short story collection “Hands” on April 14, 2026.
The six connected short stories follow Hans, an immigrant pursing the American dream. Hans questions his jobs, navigates toxic relationships inside and outside the Asian community, and is confronted with the harsh realities of chasing an idea of success.
“It’s kind of a painful realization that arriving in a new country is just one step – it doesn’t guarantee success,” Toor said. “Sometimes there’s a romantic notion about the immigrant experience, and I would say that this is an immigrant experience that doesn’t really work out.”
Toor’s characters are often inspired by the blue-collar labor and mannerisms he grew up around. His parents immigrated to Canada where they worked blue-collar jobs throughout his childhood, shaping his understanding of the non-linear path to success that immigrants face after moving to a new country.
“I hope people laugh, and I hope they can see the difficulty and the comedy in failure,” Toor said. “I’d like this to be additive to their worldview about the immigrant experience.”
Toor wrote much of “Hands” as he earned his Master of Fine Arts at NMSU, workshopping scenes and characters with the help of his peers and faculty mentors. He worked closely with Rus Bradburd, retired professor of creative writing and Brandon Hobson, associate professor of creative writing, who provided feedback and suggestions even after he graduated.
“Both Rus and Brandon are huge parts of this book,” Toor said. “It wouldn’t have been possible without them.”
“Las Cruces is a great place to write,” he added. “The landscape and history are inspiring. There’s a writing community there within the MFA program that was also instrumental in getting these stories across the finish line.”
“Hands” is available for pre-order here.
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CUTLINE: New Mexico State University alumnus Pardeep Toor will publish his debut short story collection “Hands” on April 14, 2026. (Courtesy photo)
