Out There Volume 2
Portals, Caverns, and Dystopias, Oh, My!Out There Volume 2 is packed with twisted governments, twisted timelines, and more-than-a-little tangled DNA.So grab a beverage of choice and sit back for a few minutes of escape into the other worlds, other times, and other realities.Stories in this collection: The ShadesTest PlotEvery 24 MinutesThe Quest of SoulsThe FracturedAs It Happens
Just a Tick of Whimsy Volume 1
Fancy a wondrous glimpse into the day in the life of an immortal wish-granter? Care to take flight with invisible creatures, snack on cheese puffs with the dead, or nap with magical kittens? Do you long to hear the whisper of moth-riding fairies, or to have one more conversation with a lost loved one?You've found the right collection.Just a Tick of Whimsy Volume 1 is filled with short fantasy tales that will delight the imagination and leave you longing for just a tick more magic in your life...Stories included in this edition: The RavenThe Keys to HappinessAtypical Medium The Killing Jar Malachi MaxwellLegacy
The Night I Prayed to Elvis
A bend in the road, a Gen-X brother and sister living an idyllic country childhood, a burgeoning adolescence among peers, and finally young adulthood out in the world, making love, making families, and ultimately, confronting mortality and loss. Award-winning Southern author James D. McCallister presents a collection of short stories born of his own life growing up in the rural 1970s American South, but with universal preadolescent, adolescent and young adult experiences sure to resonate with most readers.Depicted in a dozen vignettes, what South Carolina siblings Lucy and Timmy Latham experience will feel warm and familiar to many American middle-class kids who grew up in the 1970s and 80s-muscle cars, marching band, first loves, first jobs, the duality of heartbreak and happiness, and how childhood felt in a simpler time.Included are three award-winners: "Heroes and Villains", "Trailer Trash" and "Eye of the Vandal," along with many other previously unpublished stories making up this long-gestating cycle of fiction from author James D. McCallister, who, like 'Sissy & Timmy, ' may even have lived a few of these adventures himself. Enjoy this nostalgic journey to a mystical, fabled land called Edgewater County...
Out There Volume 1
Need an escape? A brain break from the mundane and daily drama fests? Maybe a visit somewhere "out there" would do you good.From morbid dystopias to misguided futuristic humans, this short story collection is certain to pull your imagination to alternate times and dimensions. If only for a moment.Toss in a bio-engineered, fire-breathing dragon, and what more could you ask for?Stories included in this edition: PracticeOmniAudioViablesOn the FenceHindsightThe Removal of Blue Sky
Mystery Minutes Volume 1
The first volume of Mystery Minutes takes readers on twisted journeys from alligator pits to abandoned carnivals, from too-perfect subdivisions to quiet country ponds.Mystery abounds, and the locals-be they badge-wearing crime fighters or bathrobe-clad old women-won't stop until things go their way... whichever way that may be.And one thing's for sure: You'll never gaze upon a rose garden the same way again.Stories included in this edition: Detective Zane and the Case of the Pink HatsNiche MarketLandmarksCream and MeringueThe ReloaderLake George
The Hungry and the Haunted
From the author of The Mercy Seat and Fire in Beulah comes a new collection of six stories troubled by ghosts that linger in our present moment: American Book Award-winner Rilla Askew's long-awaited return to short fiction.
All the Feels Volume 1
Searching for a hint of romance? Perhaps a bittersweet coming-of-age tale? Maybe a bit of mystery is more your flavor. Or perhaps your favorite stories are those that tug at your heartstrings and leave you with a sense of ahhhh.That's what the All the Feels collections are all about.These characters are in some of the toughest spots ever faced, baring their hearts and souls and giving us a sense of hope and, well, all the feels.Stories included in this edition: The Snowglobe EffectI, Mae DaeThe Sunrise ProjectReplacing CarrotsThe Gatherer All the Knitted Unicorns
Soaring Seagull and Heavenly Bull
These tales delve into the realm of the forgotten children within us, echoing the cries and pains from our past that seek healing. Through a heartfelt invitation to seek guidance from the Heavenly Father, these stories aim to mend the inner child, fostering peace and happiness within. Written for both the author and the reader, they reveal a journey of self-discovery and healing, offering love and understanding to the little girl and boy within. As adults, embracing these tales can prevent the cycle of pain, paving the way for inner peace, joy, and tranquillity.
All the Feels Volume 2
In this second volume of All the Feels, our characters face major life changes and upheaval of their worlds. Whether grappling with rocky relationships or confronting past demons, the choices made will forever change their life trajectories and hopefully forge paths leading to peace and closure.Grab a cup of coffee-and maybe a few tissues-and get ready to enjoy all the feels.Stories included in this edition: Where the Toadstools GrowFuneral ShoesShow and TellPenrose AlleySwings and MissesIn the Picture
Scattered Perspectives
Our perspectives in life are ever-changing, influenced by the people with whom we spend time, the experiences we encounter, and the challenges we face. How these factors affect our minds and emotions ultimately depends on us. While others may impact our viewpoints, the power to shape our perspectives ultimately lies within us. However, occasionally, we all need guidance or a nudge towards self-realisation. These 'guardian angels' can manifest in various forms, be it a colleague, a neighbour, or even a beloved pet. Often, we may not immediately recognize their influence, but suddenly, clarity emerges, and we gain the insight we've been seeking. In these moments of revelation, we might find ourselves laughing or crying in disbelief, wondering, 'How did it take me so long to see this?'
The Blue Boy And Other Stories
A diverse range of short stories dealing with love and loss; hope and disappointment; the strange and the unexpected. This collection of 24 stories includes: A couple facing the slow transformation of humanity into something radically different and beyond reach. Do they stay with the blue boy and wait their turn or do they leave while they still can?A group of ecstatic, detached heads resurrected far in the future realising, in horror, that The Future has its own plans for the relics from the past.On a cold, dark, winter's evening, a train arrives at the end of the line. One man alights. His only thought is to get home fast but the deserted streets have other ideas.Ever gone on a first date? Well, fifteen year old Jamie is about to if only he can dodge the advice-giving relatives and get out of the house in time.An entrepreneurial crab has a great idea to make a juicy profit and learns business would be less stressful without the customers.If you like stories that deal with the extraordinary within the ordinary, aspects overlooked or forgotten, the eye in the everyday then you will enjoy this book.
Point of View
The point of view from both authors tells you how life can take a turn for better or worse quite unexpectedly. The friend or lover you thought would be there for you can suddenly turn on you; the quiet boy you were somewhat enamored with in high school does not turn out to be who you thought he was. In this myriad of short stories, it is a balanced mix of expectations, and love does not fulfi ll your expectations either. Then, there is the Warrior who turns the tables, a complete 360, and we fi nd out who that person really is in the end. The stories are wrapped in their own emotional gauze where we begin to see through them but are surprised at how they unravel. Take the rising rock star for whom life has already become mundane as we watch him drown his boredom in drugs and alcohol. We feel optimistically enamored by what we deem a success story. We get to look deeper into the nitty gritty life of how fame and almost fortune has become engrained in the daily routine. The rise and fall of emotions are captivating as you turn each page.
No Stone Unturned
Precious stones, high-value trades, death threats, bandits, hidden treasure and mineral splendour: eminent journalist and storyteller Richa Goyal Sikri takes us on a rollercoaster ride across the length and breadth of Africa with 24 short adventure stories based on true events spanning the last 60 years and starring some of the most extraordinary personalities ever to walk the face of our planet.
Point of View
The point of view from both authors tells you how life can take a turn for better or worse quite unexpectedly. The friend or lover you thought would be there for you can suddenly turn on you; the quiet boy you were somewhat enamored with in high school does not turn out to be who you thought he was. In this myriad of short stories, it is a balanced mix of expectations, and love does not fulfi ll your expectations either. Then, there is the Warrior who turns the tables, a complete 360, and we fi nd out who that person really is in the end. The stories are wrapped in their own emotional gauze where we begin to see through them but are surprised at how they unravel. Take the rising rock star for whom life has already become mundane as we watch him drown his boredom in drugs and alcohol. We feel optimistically enamored by what we deem a success story. We get to look deeper into the nitty gritty life of how fame and almost fortune has become engrained in the daily routine. The rise and fall of emotions are captivating as you turn each page.
Southern Shorts
Southern Shorts is a collection of the very best of Sue Mydliak's short stories, set in a small town called Dry Prong, Louisiana.Now, you'll never imagine the situations that Charlese gets herself into with her friends, co-workers, and her nutty neighbor, Willodean.You'll find yourself laughing so hard at the antics these characters go through, you'll want to keep reading until the very last page.
Southern Shorts
Southern Shorts is a collection of the very best of Sue Mydliak's short stories, set in a small town called Dry Prong, Louisiana.Now, you'll never imagine the situations that Charlese gets herself into with her friends, co-workers, and her nutty neighbor, Willodean.You'll find yourself laughing so hard at the antics these characters go through, you'll want to keep reading until the very last page.This is the large print edition of Southern Shorts, with a larger font / typeface for easier reading.
Southern Shorts
Southern Shorts is a collection of the very best of Sue Mydliak's short stories, set in a small town called Dry Prong, Louisiana.Now, you'll never imagine the situations that Charlese gets herself into with her friends, co-workers, and her nutty neighbor, Willodean.You'll find yourself laughing so hard at the antics these characters go through, you'll want to keep reading until the very last page.This is the large print edition of Southern Shorts, with a larger font / typeface for easier reading.
Southern Shorts
Southern Shorts is a collection of the very best of Sue Mydliak's short stories, set in a small town called Dry Prong, Louisiana.Now, you'll never imagine the situations that Charlese gets herself into with her friends, co-workers, and her nutty neighbor, Willodean.You'll find yourself laughing so hard at the antics these characters go through, you'll want to keep reading until the very last page.
Grit and Roses
The stories in Grit and Roses trace the unsteady arc of a life spent pursuing a dream. A musician's career, filled with the hard, grueling work of perfecting a craft, the mishaps and disappointments of touring, and the between-gig times of mundane jobs and restless wandering, in 60s & 70s America and the Pacific Northwest. They also transcend the basic framework of a journeyman musician and explore more universal issues: desire, aimlessness, regret, hope, determination-the search for meaning in a stranger's smile and a cool drink, a backcountry sunset, or the neon beacon in the distant dark. Eugene Babb's proses have a cadence, a tempo, that suits the telling of a musician's experiences. Grit and Roses marks the debut of promising new voice in contemporary fiction.
Strained Sigma Bonds
Embark on adventures to discover stories about science, magic, the tarot, Haitian vodou, the clash of epistemologies, and addiction.These stories are about people trying to control their environment, their sense of self, even the smallest of things within their power......and failing.
Strained Sigma Bonds
Embark on adventures to discover stories about science, magic, the tarot, Haitian vodou, the clash of epistemologies, and addiction.These stories are about people trying to control their environment, their sense of self, even the smallest of things within their power......and failing.
Niz Thomas Collected - Volume One
The First Volume in the Much Anticipated Series from 11x Writers of the Future short fiction award honoree!For the first time, collect Niz Thomas' short fiction all in one place with a career-spanning, multi-volume series focused on delivering the perfect combination of genre fiction with each release. Volume One collects over a dozen short stories of relentless, page-turning suspense, beautifully taught and committed prose, and an inside look at characters facing the harsh and unimaginable truths of a life of crime. With Volume One, Niz Thomas presents his take on crime. Detectives and serial killers, assassins and their prey, mobsters, and thieves, grifters, scammers. It's all here.Beginning with a husband and wife caught on the run, desperate for redemption, facing both nature's wrath and the bleak greed inside their pursuer's heart, and ending with a series story about a mysterious woman fleeing a bad situation with a lot more than just the attitude she wears like a stiletto dagger, and finding a lot more darkness ahead than behind. Each volume promises smart suspense for a stupid good time! Add to your collection today.
Journeys Within
Journeys Within features an eclectic mix of 30 new short stories. Unexpected events prompt the characters in many of these stories to take a fresh look at their lives and their choices. What they discover sets them on a new path. A violin virtuoso whose life has been saved by music is called to share his gift with those caught in a civil war. A chance meeting of a retired woman and a young man, both feeling lost, leads them to re-examine their purpose. Nearly killed in a plane crash, a lifelong bully finds himself at the mercy of others. Some of these stories touch on current issues and events. All are stories for our time.
Pink, Pip and Rick...the Scuba Divers!
Pink, Pip and Rick .., the scuba divers are Kajari Guha's contribution to Children's literature. They are not human beings. They help the lonely children visit underwater places through water sports like scuba diving and enjoy Nature's charisma.
Faith and Consequences
Dedicated to uncover the secrets of the secluded mission at the settlement of Savana Grande, Brother Enrique Bailon encounters lies, deception, and a test of faith that could change him forever.Immensely engrossing, the Tragedy of Savana Grande is a masterful mix of suspense, danger and intrigue, all bound up in the unexplored wilderness of 18th Century Trinidad and Tobago.
One Square Mile
Kristin Sample captures the unavoidable ugliness and beauty of the female adolescent experience in One Square Mile. This collection is the embodiment of the joyful awakening and ongoing confusion of growing up. -Shira Shiloah, best selling author One Square Mile is infused with the nuances of youth and the nostalgia of a close bygone era. I loved Sample's quick, heartfelt prose. -Jessika Grewe Glover, Another Beast's Skin Relive your own childhood with a collection of stories that perfectly capture what it is to be a messy, confused, free-thinking young woman surrounded by the eccentric characters that shape her life. -Taylor Hartley, The Mists of DullahanElizabeth Bauer is a girl from a working-class family on Long Island in the 90s. She had her first kiss there, her first love and rejection. She grew up in that tiny town, having done everything from killing a slug with salt on a neighbor's porch to discovering the Playboy channel via illegal cable at a sleepover. But nothing is really about Elizabeth.At times uplifting and heartbreaking at others, One Square Mile recalls what it's like to figure out how to be yourself, how difficult and exciting growing up will always be.
The Pope Stories and Other Tales of Troubled Times
"George Guida has guts. In Pope Stories and Other Tales of Troubled Times, he sets about slaughtering the sacred cows of Italian American culture beginning with the Papal Bull himself . . ."-Jean Feraca, National Public Radio
The Peach Stone
"To children-as to artists-all life is metaphor." The genius of Paul Horgan is that he could express life with such charm and intelligence that the resemblances he suggested are themselves clear and honest reflections of reality. These twenty stories, inspired by the diverse backgrounds and experiences of Horgan's own life, are selected from four decades of writing and arranged, not by time period, but by theme. The first set speaks of childhood, with the poignancy of "To the Mountains," "Winners and Losers," "The One Who Wouldn't Dance," and "Black Snowflakes." The second speaks of youth, with the startling vitality of "A Start in Life," "In Summer's Name," "So Little Freedom," "The Huntsmen," "The Treasure," and "National Honeymoon." The third speaks of maturity, with the seasoned frankness of "The Surgeon and the Nun," "The Other Side of the Street," "Tribute," "The Small Rain," and the title story. The fourth speaks to age, with the grave wisdom of "The Hacienda," "Old Army," "The Head of the House of Wattleman," "The Devil in the Desert," and "The Candy Colonel."Whether the stuff of comedy, tragedy, or irony, the stories of The Peach Stone illuminate life as an adventure of both struggle and significance, and celebrate the divine spark that flickers in the heart of each man, woman, and child.
Look, It's a Monkey!
In this collection of narratives, we delve into a diverse tapestry of human stories, each thread unraveling tales of family dynamics, societal influences, and the unending journey of self-discovery. "The Root of All Suffering Is Deliberate Ignorance" delves into the transformative power of knowledge as a young girl challenges societal norms, aiming to break free from tradition and pursue her dreams, ultimately redefining her own boundaries.In "All Lives Matter," we witness the convergence of generational perspectives, shedding light on the dynamic interplay between wisdom and contemporary values. Within a family's heartfelt discussion about social movements and the significance of empathy, we find a poignant exploration of how our understanding of the world evolves over time."Forgive Me Child for I Have sinned" peels away the layers of parenthood, laying bare the intricate dance of motherhood. This narrative offers a glimpse into the inner struggles and aspirations of a mother who grapples with her own imperfections while striving to create a brighter future for her children. These stories serve as mirrors reflecting the universal human experience, characterized by introspection, the challenging of societal norms, and the enduring connections that bind us across generations and cultures.
This Is Salvaged
Pushing intimacy to its limits in prose of unearthly beauty, Vauhini Vara explores the nature of being a child, parent, friend, sibling, neighbor, or lover, and the relationships between self and others. A young girl reads the encyclopedia to her elderly neighbor, who is descending into dementia. A pair of teenagers seek intimacy as phone-sex operators. A competitive sibling tries to rise above the drunken mess of her own life to become a loving aunt. One sister consumes the ashes of another. And, in the title story, an experimental artist takes on his most ambitious project yet: constructing a life-size ark according to the Bible's specifications. In a world defined by estrangement, where is communion to be found? The characters in This Is Salvaged, unmoored in turbulence, are searching fervently for meaning, through one another.
The Right to Happiness
Innovative short stories explore echoes of the Holocaust upon survivors and their children, lessons of post-trauma for the 21st century.Innovative short stories explore echoes of the Holocaust upon survivors and their children, lessons of post-trauma for the 21st century.In eleven compelling narratives inheritors of the Holocaust strive to seize whatever life has left to them. International award-winning author Helen Schary Motro's intimate and poignant fiction paints the panorama of their emotional canvas: renewal as well as trauma, insight as well as sorrow, ingenuity as well as loss. Some fail to recover, while others do all to achieve solace. Unable to pierce her parents' wall of hidden mourning, a child dreams her perished grandparents back to life. A Yiddish actor turns radio host after the war - until his language becomes obsolete. Can he reinvent himself yet again? Hoarding discarded cigarette butts from her parents' ashtrays, a girl smokes in secret to mimic the grandmother who starved in the ghetto. A reluctant piano student learns that master classes teach more than concertos. A survivors' daughter yearns to live her American dream at the Thanksgiving Day Parade, but the subway from Brooklyn takes her farther away. Facing Israel's imminent annihilation an assimilated survivor discovers what she really cares about. Readers will cry at their pain, will smile with recognition - may even laugh - along with Motro's moving survivors and their children as the past continues to reverberate upon them.
The Price of my Daughter's Shoes
Life was a relentless struggle for Ruby, a mother grappling with the emotional and financial challenges of raising three daughters. Aliza, her eldest, dreamed of becoming a doctor while battling an insatiable obsession with shoes - a temptation she couldn't resist whenever opportunity knocked. In this poignant collection of standalone short stories that hit close to home, readers will discover glimmers of hope illuminating even the darkest of moments. These unforgettable tales of resilience and compassion serve as a heartwarming reminder that acts of kindness have the power to uplift the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Journaling the Journey
There is but one life to live and one direction to go, one heart, mind, and soul, and one mission to fulfill: treat life as a journey, a journey worth embarking upon, one step at a time. Tackle the uphills and downhills, navigate the swamps and deserts, reflect during the rain showers, and dance when the sun shines. Always, always strive to come out ahead. Enjoy the ride!
Killed By Death
Killed By Death is a collection of twisted tales from the odd little towns Down South in Alabama, where your neighbors have teeth, everyone has secrets, bodies are buried everywhere, and sometimes they come back. These thirteen stories have appeared elsewhere over a span of ten years but now combine for a roller coaster of white-knuckle horror, featuring backwoods killers, murderous ghosts, otherworldly curses, and beasts that stalk the forest. You'll get madmen on the loose and tales from the outer limits, so hunker down in your storm shelter. Things are going to get hairy. In "Men of Their Word," some things are best kept in the family-like vengeance.The new waitress in town meets a local legend in the flesh during the "Incident at the Buttered Biscuit." There's something weird down at the old fishing hole, in "Dammit, Mavis!"Jaylen's new friend at school has a magical talent that just might save their hide in "Let 'Em Have It."...These are just a few of the most terrible things in Matthew Weber's Killed By Death.
Hello, Horse
Taut, stylish stories take on big moral questions from surprising perspectives.A teenager's job mucking stalls at a dog track takes a strange turn when his co-worker finds a new religion at odds with winning streaks. Two brothers set out in search of fame upon the frozen waters of a subarctic lake. After her mother's death, a high school student tries to make rent by winning the Unitarian Church's Annual Young Writer's Short Story Competition. An incarcerated man considers the nature of justice between shifts with his fellow inmates at Nations at War, the ultimate live-action experience for tourists eager to learn about the Canadian Civil War.Spanning states and provinces, and featuring an apocalypse, a coterie of ghosts, nuns on ice, and an above-average number of dogs, the stories in Hello, Horse consider the mirage of authenticity and the impact of decisions we make--for better and for worse.
Kristin B. and Other Stories
Kristin B. and Other Stories is a brilliant collection of three novellas by Joseph Raffetto. The new work includes Young Scott and Zelda, the remarkable tale of Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Sayre's early love; Three A.M. delves into the ominous and tragic side of Scott and Zelda's love and marriage; and Kristin B., a dark, psychological thriller and romance. YOUNG SCOTT AND ZELDATwenty-one-year-old F. Scott Fitzgerald was a pretty boy, a drinker, remarkably outgoing for one so sensitive and, of course, gifted. It was during this period in his life that he fell madly in love with the beautiful, eccentric, and talented eighteen-year-old Southern belle, Zelda Sayre. This is the historic story of their early romance. THREE A.M.After Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald's remarkable early romance came financial excess, sexual problems, Scott's alcoholism, Hemingway, Gatsby, Zelda's illness, Hollywood, and the undercurrent of loss and love that marked their later lives. This is a look back at the dark side of paradise. KRISTIN B.Kristin Boyd returns home to try to recover. She is soon drawn to Holden Helms, a former professional baseball star, who destroyed his career because of his own demons. They must come to terms with their pasts through forgive- ness, reconciliation, and revenge. Only then will there be, for better or for worse, epiphany. Joseph Raffetto earned a BA in comparative literature from San Diego State University and is the author of Mysteries of Bowie and Other Oddities. He lives in Santa Barbara.
Coexistence
A grieving mother calls out to her faraway son. A student forgoes the lurid appeal of dating apps in exchange for a painter's love. The anonymous voices of queer native men converge amid violent eroticism. A man just out of prison balances the uneasy weight of family and freedom, while a professor returns home to conduct research only to be haunted by a dark specter. The stories and voices in Billy-Ray Belcourt's debut story collection are buoyed by philosophical undergirding, poetic demand, and the complex relationship between aesthetics and ethics. Belcourt pirouettes through the short story form in his signature staccato voice, imagining a range of characters from all walks of native life. He is an expert in celebrating the ways Indigenous peoples make total conquest impossible.
Trio
The Art Class: When Mark takes up nude modelling for an art class to earn extra money, he is unprepared for the life changing events which follow. The Birthday Party: Billy Perkins makes a surprise announcement at his 90th birthday party. The Journey: A journey through death to the spirit world, by one who knows.
Church Ladies' Coffee
Can you smell the aroma of freshly ground coffee and baked goods? Imagine you are in a coffee shop buzzing from the sound of a coffee grinder, accompanied by the laughter of customers. There is something to be said for familiar faces - along with something to tickle your taste buds. Most customers seem to transition to the "regular" customer status after one visit -- unless they are from out of town. Who is the owner and operator of this busy coffee shop? It's Elsie Swanson. What's her story? Well, while headed to a play at a dinner theater in Chanhassen, Minnesota, Elsie and her friends came across an old dairy with a for sale sign. Elsie knew little about running a business, but vision was her strong suit and it wasn't long before her coffee shop was up and running. Why did Elsie choose the name Church Ladies' Coffee? One of her fondest childhood recollections is when the ladies from her church prepared egg coffee for functions such as rummage sales, funerals, and special occasions. She associated egg coffee with the church ladies. (By the way, egg coffee translates to Swedish coffee. Give it a try!)The familiar faces at the coffee shop range in age. From the teenagers who do their homework in the hangout room (while enjoying smoothies) to the senior card club crew. They end up helping each other in one way or another. Two of the familiar faces become Elsie's matchmaking project when she intentionally mixes up their credit cards.Go ahead and live vicariously through Elsie and get to know her customers by reading Church Ladies' Coffee.
Wire Mothers
A woman begins to eat books when food can't satisfy. A reporter discovers that sympathy for the devil might be misplaced. A grandmother organizes her crimes into neat checklists. These five stories, written by one of indie lit's most versatile authors, explore bad vibes, bad choices, and bad parenting.
Tales of Mykonos
Thomas McKnight, an artist famous for prints and paintings of dreamlike views and interiors reveals a new dimension to his search for the soul of his special place - the Greek island of Mykonos. In the tradition of Isak Dinesen and E.T.A. Hoffmann a tapestry of fourteen tales weave echoes of ancient myths, with a contemporary Mykonos many consider the epitome of an island paradise. Odysseus visits on his way back from Troy; Circe enchants; Apollo snares new acolytes with his lyre, and a novelist carelessly strikes a Faustian bargain with a sinister boatman. Daphnis again meets Chloe and an artist falls for the daughter of a centaur. A strange landlord, and his blind lodger, a fallen movie queen, and the last priest of a classical god all make their entrances (and exits) on this magic island.
Our Troubles
Gripping stories, high in atmosphere and tension, of what passed for "ordinary" life in the besieged world of North Belfast during the Troubles of 1968 to 1998: house raids, searches, checkpoints, State blackmail, arrests, murders, informers, "say nothing" - a world of survival by camaraderie, courage, and caution in the face of absolute power.Our Troubles is a collection of compelling and honest stories about the Troubles in the North of Ireland - particularly the hot spot of North Belfast, from where the author hails and which accounted for one in six of the deaths in the Troubles. Two of his uncles were killed in the conflict. A great strength of the stories is the author's focus on what he knows personally and the passion he feels on the subject. He does not fall into the trap (which has become something of a convention in writing about the Troubles) of looking at the conflict from every point of view, but writes with a deep understanding of what he knows intimately: the Catholic experience of the Troubles. This was terrible as the conflict was ongoing, but even after it was over, a sense of grievance lingered because of what was perceived as a political lack of respect for what Catholics had suffered."...Automatically, Finn added Kevin Myler to the mental list of people he knew who had died in the troubles: Uncle Christy, Uncle Jimmy, Terry Morgan, other neighbours from home. Kevin's death didn't seem exceptional. ...As they filled in the blanks - Paddy and Colm were much better at keeping track of people than Finn was - it became clear that of the forty-two boys in their year, only about half had ordinary lives. Some had just dropped off the radar, the rest were in prison, on the run, or dead. So there was nothing special about Kevin. ..."
Our Troubles
Gripping stories, high in atmosphere and tension, of what passed for "ordinary" life in the besieged world of North Belfast during the Troubles of 1968 to 1998: house raids, searches, checkpoints, State blackmail, arrests, murders, informers, "say nothing" - a world of survival by camaraderie, courage, and caution in the face of absolute power.Our Troubles is a collection of compelling and honest stories about the Troubles in the North of Ireland - particularly the hot spot of North Belfast, from where the author hails and which accounted for one in six of the deaths in the Troubles. Two of his uncles were killed in the conflict. A great strength of the stories is the author's focus on what he knows personally and the passion he feels on the subject. He does not fall into the trap (which has become something of a convention in writing about the Troubles) of looking at the conflict from every point of view, but writes with a deep understanding of what he knows intimately: the Catholic experience of the Troubles. This was terrible as the conflict was ongoing, but even after it was over, a sense of grievance lingered because of what was perceived as a political lack of respect for what Catholics had suffered."...Automatically, Finn added Kevin Myler to the mental list of people he knew who had died in the troubles: Uncle Christy, Uncle Jimmy, Terry Morgan, other neighbours from home. Kevin's death didn't seem exceptional. ...As they filled in the blanks - Paddy and Colm were much better at keeping track of people than Finn was - it became clear that of the forty-two boys in their year, only about half had ordinary lives. Some had just dropped off the radar, the rest were in prison, on the run, or dead. So there was nothing special about Kevin. ..."
Tales of Mykonos
Thomas McKnight, an artist famous for prints and paintings of dreamlike views and interiors reveals a new dimension to his search for the soul of his special place - the Greek island of Mykonos. In the tradition of Isak Dinesen and E.T.A. Hoffmann a tapestry of fourteen tales weave echoes of ancient myths, with a contemporary Mykonos many consider the epitome of an island paradise. Odysseus visits on his way back from Troy; Circe enchants; Apollo snares new acolytes with his lyre, and a novelist carelessly strikes a Faustian bargain with a sinister boatman. Daphnis again meets Chloe and an artist falls for the daughter of a centaur. A strange landlord, and his blind lodger, a fallen movie queen, and the last priest of a classical god all make their entrances (and exits) on this magic island.
Two For Joy
About the BookStep into the charming world of 'Two For Joy, ' a delightful collection of stories that captures the essence of childhood life with a touch of Ruskin Bond's magic. In this enchanting anthology, the author, much like the beloved Bond, weaves tales that transport readers to the heart of a small town, where every house has a story to tell. These stories, though standalone, are intricately connected and beautifully showcase the mundane yet extraordinary moments in the lives of the town dwellers. Through the eyes of different child characters, each narrative unfolds, sometimes with a gentle humour that can make you laugh out loud and moments that tug at your heartstrings. As you turn the pages, you'll find yourself immersed in the rich details of people's lives, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary under the author's pen. The writing style invites readers to observe the beauty in the seemingly mundane. The book is a journey into the nostalgic realm of childhood, where every discovery, every friendship, and every adventure feels as vivid and precious as it did years ago. With warmth, the author paints a portrait of innocence, laughter, and the timeless allure of simple joys.About the AuthorMaxwel grew up in Jamshedpur. His childhood there served as the inspiration for many stories in 'Two For Joy'. He earned an economics degree from St. Stephen's College, Delhi, and embarked on a career as a corporate learning consultant. Later, he transitioned into television screenwriting. While working in Gurgaon, his interest in theater blossomed, eventually leading him to Mumbai, where he currently resides.
Long Beach and Other Short Stories
A collection of short stories written by Helen van Rooijen, compiled over many years of writing short stories, thriller novels and poetry. Including many Competition Winners and covering diverse topics such as loss, laughter and plain old weirdness.
Rage & Other Cages
Joyce Carol Oates calls LaBrie's writing "Mordantly funny, eerily discomforting, & unexpectedly wise -- an audacious gathering of stories mirroring our contemporary world." "Exemplary storytelling that grapples with important themes. LaBrie's collection of misanthropic short stories offers meditations on death, dying, grief, and organ donation." -- Kirkus ReviewsIn her award-winning collection of short stories, Rage and Other Cages, LaBrie offers lessons on grief, loneliness, and relationships that examine what it means to be female in today's America. The characters range from a former child actress turned real estate agent who yearns for her past, to a nurse who must convince a murderer to donate his girlfriend's organs, to a bartender at Ray's Happy Birthday Bar who is kidnapped by a customer searching for a mysterious key. Bad dates, bad jobs, and bad situations force these characters to use their wits and wiles to survive. In a voice akin to Lorrie Moore meets Mary Gaitskill, LaBrie has her readers laughing on one page and raging on another. Her voice is memorable, raw, and undeniably skillful.
The Apostate
In the heart of the desert, sin and salvation collideDive into the contemporary American Southwest with The Apostate and two additional short stories that walk the line between sin and redemption-or lack thereof.In the titular novella, a shocking carjacking in the parking lot of a bustling Tucson shopping mall sparks a frantic chase across the rugged landscape of Arizona and New Mexico. As a burnt-out college professor and his unwanted companions hurtle toward an unknown fate, their journey becomes a harrowing quest for salvation in the face of uncertainty and death."Panhandle" follows Buddy Harris's return to Seco, Texas, fresh out of prison and seeking solace in familiar streets. But home isn't what it used to be, and Buddy soon discovers that confronting the past means confronting hard truths, both about himself and those who put him in stir.Meanwhile, in "Cowboy," Johnny Dupree lives the life of a carefree cowboy until a chance encounter with a high-maintenance woman shatters his routine. Caught between his love for the open range and the complexities of human connection, Johnny grapples with his own demons in a tale of longing and reckoning.Riven with themes of personal salvation and the harsh realities of redemption, award-winning author J.B. Hogan delivers a poignant exploration of the complexities of human nature set against the backdrop of the rugged Southwestern landscape.
