Synopsis

 

The first thirty-one elements of the periodic table are each used in the thirty-one stories in this unique collection. Will Warren always be lonely? Why does Lonny’s grandfather like balloons so much? How come Derek’s new fishing rod is so important to him? Why is Paul excited to learn how to test for chlorine in swimming pools. How did Eric’s spoon melt when he stirred the coffee? These are lovingly written stories that deal with human beings and their relationship with themselves and others. Oh, yes, sometimes science plays a role.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Hydrogen

 

I remember hearing the song by Three Dog Night, “One Is the Loneliest Number,” and thinking, Yeah, that’s me. All by myself. No one cares.

Now I see that thought for what it really was, a cry in the night from a frightened six-year-old kid whose parents abandoned him to the child welfare system, leaving me all by myself, scared and alone, wondering if this foster home thing was going to work out.

Fortunately, it did. Early on, I bonded with my older foster brother Tony. His parents were crack addicts and he’d been removed from them when he was three years old and put into the system. He was four years older than me and pretty smart. He read books to me, took me on bicycle rides and taught me to fish.

One of my best memories with Tony was when I was in eighth grade. I had tip-toed from the bathroom and into the bedroom we shared. I quietly closed the door and asked “What do you think about this?” Earlier, I’d snuck into the bathroom and bleached my hair with hydrogen peroxide like some of my classmates were doing.

He put down the book he was reading and gave me a long once over. I watched as his expression changed from horrified to bemused. “To be honest,” he said, shaking his head, “it looks pretty bad.” I fought back a sudden unexpected flow of tears. All I had wanted was fit in with my classmates. “Here,” he said, standing up and taking me by the arm. “Come on. Let’s see what we can do to remedy this situation.”

He took me into the bathroom and stood me in front of the mirror. “Look.”

I looked closely at my bleached hair. Normally a rich dark brown, it was now a bright, wheat colored yellow. Some of it was orange. The closer I looked, the more embarrassed I felt.

I met his eyes in the mirror, “I guess you’re right,” I told him. “It looks pretty bad.” I felt the tears welling up again. “I’m so stupid.”

In the mirror Tony said, “Hey, relax, It’s not the end of the world. Your hair will go back to its normal color. Eventually.”

I used as Kleenex to wipe my nose. “I can’t believe I did such a dumb thing.”

“Don’t worry about it.” He mused my hair. “We all make mistakes.” Just talking to him made me feel a little better. No much, but a little. Tony was a senior in high school, good looking and popular. He didn’t need to waste time with a stupid kid like me, but he did. “Here, let me show you something.”

Even though I didn’t need it, he opened the cupboard, took out a can of Gillette shaving cream and spent the next fifteen minutes teaching me how to shave with a trac-two razor. I thought it was the coolest thing that ever happened to me. He even let me use some of his aftershave. Agua Velva. It smelled great.

We became very close after that. I’m not the brightest bulb in the pack, but Tony watched out for me and showed me stuff and helped me navigate the next four years of my life. I eventually graduated from high school. Whenever I was feeling down about my grades, he’d remind me, “There’s more to life than book learning, Warren. At least you try.” And I did. I tired as hard as I could.

In fact, I still do. I work as a stock boy at a local grocery store, and I ride the bus to and from our apartment to work. That’s right, our apartment. After I graduated, Tony asked me if I wanted to move in with him. “Because we’re buddies,” he told me at the time.

Well, yeah. “Sure!” I told him. “Thanks.”

So, he and I have our own place. He tells me he’s proud of me. I pull my own weight and ‘pay my own way’ as the saying goes. It makes me feel proud to help out. I might have been lost in the system if not for Tony. I was lucky to have met him. I still consider myself lucky.

“We’re roommates for life,” he often tells me. “I’ll always have your back.”

You know what? I not only have a brother, but a friend. And I’m not lonely anymore. Not like I was before I met Tony. I was sad then. Now, I’m not. In fact, I’ve never been happier. We’re even thinking of getting a pet. Maybe a cat. I love to have something to take care of like Tony does for me. That’d be so cool. And if we do, I’m thinking of naming him Hydro because of that thing years ago with the hydrogen peroxide. I think it’s a great name.

 

 

About the Author

 

Jim’s stories and poems have appeared in nearly five hundred online and print publications. His collection of short stories, Resilience, is published by Bridge House Publishing. Short Stuff, a collection of flash fiction and drabbles is published by Chapeltown Books. Periodic Stories, Periodic Stories Volume Two, Periodic Stories Volume Three – A Novel, and Periodic Stories Volume Four are published by Impspired. Dreamers, a collection of short stories, is published by Clarendon House Publishing. Something Better, a dystopian adventure novella, and the novel, The Alien of Orchard Lake, are published by Dark Myth Publications. In the fall of 2022, his collection entitled Holiday Stories was published by Impspired as was his collection of poetry, Haiku Seasons. In February 2023, Periodic Stories Volume IV was published, as was his collection of poems, The Alchemy of Then, both by Impspired. In June 2023, a collection of flash fiction, Dancing With Butterflies, was published by Impspired.In July 2023, his YA novella The Battle of Marvel Wood was published by Impspired. His short story “Aliens” was nominated by The Zodiac Press for the 2020 Pushcart Prize. His story “The Maple Leaf” was voted 2021 Story of the Year for Spillwords. He was voted December 2022 Author of the Month for Spillwords. He also reads his stories for Talking Stories Radio and for Jim’s Storytime on his website. He lives in a small town west of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 

Website

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

“Reading the 27 stories in Resilience, the collection of short stories by Jim Bates is like listening to one heartfelt tune after another being sung by 27 singers and never hearing an off-note. This is writing at its finest, where fiction is so well hidden in the life-affirming stories – a hallmark that almost defines Jim’s writing – that it’s easy to forget that the plots and characters aren’t real. In Resilience, relationships aren’t merely vehicles for moving a story forward; they are the raison d’ȇtre. These are stories about husbands and wives, parents and children, grandparents and their grandchildren, brothers, and friends, both young and old, and even a few animals. Not one of them in the entire collection feels fake or contrived, which is incredible. It’s hard not to think that each character isn’t someone Jim knew or knows. There’s no exaggerated soap opera or melodrama between the characters or in the stories. People live, die, are loved, missed, and mourned as if they stepped out of the photographs and obituaries in real family scrapbooks and photo albums. The tension and conflict in many of the stories hums just beneath the surface, but the focus is on the small moments in the lives of the characters, which perfectly mirror our own lives. The drama and tragedies that exist in some of the stories never overwhelm the plot and never wander into unrealistic territory.

Resilience is a mix of Thorton Wilder’s Our Town, Edgar Lee Masters’ Spoonriver Anthology, with just a touch of a subdued J.D. Salinger thrown in. I didn’t do a word count, of course, but I think there are at least three novelette-length stories included in the collection, the quasi-crime story “Sugarfoot” being my favorite among them. I can easily see Norman Rockwell doing the illustrations to Jim’s stories, which is particularly true of his stories about boys coming of age, especially in this collection as a companion to “The Last Time I Ran Away.” Jim knows the landscapes that serve both as backdrops and centerpieces to his stories; his descriptions of places in Minnesota and North Dakota are written art pieces all their own. I highly recommend Jim’s collection.” Steven Lester Carr, author of The Theory of Existence: 50 Short Stories, among other publications.

 

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Remembrance Day

 

They started walking again, her soft, small hand in his large, callused one. She was five years old, of average height, and was way too skinny in his estimation, even though she ate well at every meal. She was fun-loving and had a unique personality all her own. When they were together they talked and laughed and she was a true joy in his life.

The next house up ahead was his son’s home. He pointed, “Let’s go into your folk’s backyard and play.”

“Sure,” she agreed and ran off. The old man was eighty-six years old and followed as fast as he could. It took him a while.

A few minutes later his son Steve who was standing at the window and looking into the backyard called to his wife, “There he is, Emma, I see him. There’s Dad.”

“Finally,” she said, somewhat annoyed, “He’s lived with us for ten years. Today of all days he should know we’d be eating by six o’clock.”

Steve checked his wristwatch and said, “He still has a few minutes.”

“What’s he doing out there anyway?”

“Looks like he’s dancing.”

“What?”

“Dancing.” Steve shook his head grinned to himself. He liked that his father was a bit of an eccentric. It kept things interesting. Most of the time, anyway, but not today. Today was different. “Never mind. I’ll go get him.”

“Please hurry. I’m putting the food on the table.”

In the dining room sat Steve and Emma’s other four children. This was the family’s Remembrance Day. The day they set aside every year to remember the short life of Alisha Ann Drayton, Steve and Emma’s youngest daughter who fifteen years ago today had died at the age of five from acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Steve went downstairs and out of the back door. “Hey Dad,” he called, “Come on in. Dinner’s on the table.”

Out in the yard, the old man stopped running around and playing tag with Allie. She was wearing him out and he was getting tired, even though he didn’t mind trying to keep up. He just wasn’t as young as he wanted to be.

He turned toward his son, “All right. Just give me a minute.”

“Sure, Dad,” Steve said, walking over. He put his arm affectionately around his father’s shoulder, “You doing okay?”

“Yeah, son, I am.” He was quiet for a moment, “I just miss her, you know. I miss being with her. Playing with her. We were close. She was one of the best things that ever happened to me.” He paused a moment and then added, “It’s not just today, son, but every day. Every day is Remembrance Day. At least it is for me.” His eyes suddenly became moist as tears formed.

Steve sighed and gave his dad a compassionate hug. “Me, too, Dad,” he said, “me, too.”

Then they walked slowly towards the back door. The old man didn’t want to go inside just yet but knew he had to. Emma had dinner ready and he didn’t want to be rude. After all, it was generous of his son and wife to have him live with them. More than generous.

Over his shoulder the old man turned and waved to Allie, standing in the middle of the yard. The wind blew through her hair and the sun caught her freckles just right, making them seem to sparkle. She smiled and waved back, locked forever in the old man’s memory.

“I’ll see you soon,” he said to his granddaughter as he turned and started for the door.

“What’d you say, Dad?” Steve asked.

“Nothing,” the old man said. “It must have been the wind.”

Then he turned and waved to Allie one more time before finally going inside.

 

 

About the Author

 

Jim’s stories and poems have appeared in nearly five hundred online and print publications. His collection of short stories, Resilience, is published by Bridge House Publishing. Short Stuff, a collection of flash fiction and drabbles is published by Chapeltown Books. Periodic Stories, Periodic Stories Volume Two, Periodic Stories Volume Three – A Novel, and Periodic Stories Volume Four are published by Impspired. Dreamers, a collection of short stories, is published by Clarendon House Publishing. Something Better, a dystopian adventure novella, and the novel, The Alien of Orchard Lake, are published by Dark Myth Publications. In the fall of 2022, his collection entitled Holiday Stories was published by Impspired as was his collection of poetry, Haiku Seasons. In February 2023, Periodic Stories Volume IV was published, as was his collection of poems, The Alchemy of Then, both by Impspired. In June 2023, a collection of flash fiction, Dancing With Butterflies, was published by Impspired.In July 2023, his YA novella The Battle of Marvel Wood was published by Impspired. His short story “Aliens” was nominated by The Zodiac Press for the 2020 Pushcart Prize. His story “The Maple Leaf” was voted 2021 Story of the Year for Spillwords. He was voted December 2022 Author of the Month for Spillwords. He also reads his stories for Talking Stories Radio and for Jim’s Storytime on his website. He lives in a small town west of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 

Website

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

In this collection, Jim looks into what it means to be human in this day and age. How do we cope with the loss of a loved one? What brings us joy? How important is friendship? Can Nature heal?

These are heavy questions, and Jim tackles them head-on with stories that are both intriguing and entertaining. He is not afraid to look deep into life’s challenges. He looks at love and loss, our hopes and dreams, and our own inner fears. Ultimately, his stories show us the strength of the human character.

Jim’s gentle stories are sensitively written and character-driven. The main character is often faced with a life issue many of us face: coping with life’s day-to-day annoyances, or finding a way to derive meaning in a complicated world. These stories are heartfelt and told with quiet passion and a gentle touch. In the end, they resonate with Jim’s appreciation for the challenges we all face and, ultimately, the beauty of what it means to be truly alive and to live in this world.

The main character is often faced with issues shared by us all such as coping with day-to-day annoyances or finding a way to derive meaning in a complicated world.

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Excerpt

 

Music On The Wind

 

George and Ida Ferguson, my great-grandparents, were second-generation cattle ranchers in eastern Montana. Mom kept a framed picture of them on the fireplace mantel when I was a kid. It was taken in their parlor and you can just make out a piano behind Ida with a vase of cut wildflowers on it. They were dressed for the occasion, she in a calico dress, her long auburn hair wrapped around her head in a twirled braid, he in a white, snap button shirt, vest, and gray Stetson hat. The flat prairie land of the Yellowstone River valley can just barely be glimpsed through the billowing curtains of a window in the background.

I spent countless hours as a kid imagining what their life in nineteenth-century cattle country would have been like: herding longhorns, busting broncos, and mending fences. My tastes back then ran toward cowboys and Indians, so their romantic love was certainly not on my radar, but the true fact of the matter was that their love for each other was known far and wide.

“That’s right, Stevie,” Mom used to tell me, “They were hard workers and humble, salt of the earth people, busy with chores from dawn to dusk. But in the evenings they made time for making music. Ida played piano and sang while George accompanied her on fiddle. I’m told that their songs brought joy to even the crustiest cowhand’s heart.”

As a kid, that kind of talk was embarrassing to hear and often turned my ears red. But as I grew older, I started to imagine a different scenario, one in which they not only lived the hard life of cattle ranchers on the western frontier, but also found it within themselves to love deeply while creating beauty and harmony through their music in juxtaposition to that rugged land.

Years later I met Janie and we fell in love. While we were dating, I talked often about George and Ida. Did I idealize them? Maybe. But Janie told me she thought it was sweet they loved each other the way they did and that was good enough for me. It got me thinking that maybe she and I were kindred spirits like my great-grandparents were.

The summer after we married, Janie and I took a driving trip west to the great plains to see firsthand the land of my great-grandparents. We ended up parking our car outside the small town of Willow Creek, Montana, and spent the day hiking rolling pastureland amid pungent sage, prickly cactus, and golden fields of wildflowers, kept company by prairie dogs, meadowlarks, and a small herd of pronghorn antelope.

By sundown, we had made our way to the top of Buffalo Butte, the highest point of land in Stillwater County, and the overlook where George and Ida’s ashes had been scattered. The sun was low in the west, the sky exploding in a fiery orange from the last light of day, the land stretching out to the horizon where we could just barely make out the shadowy peaks of the Rocky Mountains.

The peace and quiet were immense, so quiet I swear I could hear both of our hearts beating. I said to Janie, my voice a whisper, “Legend has it that you can still hear my great grandparent’s music if the wind is right.”

Janie turned from viewing the scene spread out before us and took in a deep breath of fragrant prairie air. Then she took my hand, her smile as wide as the big sky above us, and said, “I’m so happy you brought me, Steve. I love you. I love being here with you.” Then she leaned in and kissed me.

“I love you, too, Janie,” I told her. “Forever and all time.” And we embraced, holding each other tight, our bodies molding into one.

Then, out of nowhere, we heard it. Faint strains from a piano, a fiddle, and then a soft voice singing. We stood together, our love growing stronger with every note we heard, listening to the heartfelt music played by my great grandparents, songs of love I somehow knew Janie and I would carry with us for the rest of our lives. Songs from my great-grandparents brought to us from them on that gentle prairie wind.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Jim’s stories and poems have appeared in nearly five hundred online and print publications. His collection of short stories, Resilience, is published by Bridge House Publishing. Short Stuff, a collection of flash fiction and drabbles is published by Chapeltown Books. Periodic Stories, Periodic Stories Volume Two, Periodic Stories Volume Three – A Novel, and Periodic Stories Volume Four are published by Impspired. Dreamers, a collection of short stories, is published by Clarendon House Publishing. Something Better, a dystopian adventure novella, and the novel, The Alien of Orchard Lake, are published by Dark Myth Publications. In the fall of 2022, his collection entitled Holiday Stories was published by Impspired as was his collection of poetry, Haiku Seasons. In February 2023, Periodic Stories Volume IV was published, as was his collection of poems, The Alchemy of Then, both by Impspired. In June 2023, a collection of flash fiction, Dancing With Butterflies, was published by Impspired.In July 2023, his YA novella The Battle of Marvel Wood was published by Impspired. His short story “Aliens” was nominated by The Zodiac Press for the 2020 Pushcart Prize. His story “The Maple Leaf” was voted 2021 Story of the Year for Spillwords. He was voted December 2022 Author of the Month for Spillwords. He also reads his stories for Talking Stories Radio and for Jim’s Storytime on his website. He lives in a small town west of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 

Website

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

In this collection of 101 stories, Jim Bates touches on the simple moments of life, sometimes memorable, sometimes nearly forgotten, but always meaningful. Memories abound:  building model airplanes, learning to bake oatmeal cookies, walking in the woods, summers spent at an aunt and uncle’s cabin, graduating from college, raising a family, and dealing with the death of a loved one. All these stories are lovingly written. They bring to mind the importance of taking the time to consider what is truly meaningful in one’s life; what is truly important. Ultimately, though, they deal with love and relationships and what it means to be human in this day and age.  The journey through life can be quite the ride. Join Jim on this one.

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Excerpt

 

Snowflake

A stuffed animal? No, not to the young boy. More than a Christmas gift, she was soft, oh so soft, fluffy and white; a cuddly bundle of something he couldn’t name. Something he needed.

He called her Snowflake. Later that winter, sick in the hospital, bright lights glaring, monitors beeping, she kept him company. Thankfully. Especially in the deepest darkest night with long hours stretching endlessly to dawn. Snowflake stayed with him nestled softly in his arms, never leaving, keeping the unrelenting loneliness at bay. Always there through the fearful tests, the poking and prodding and the needles sticking. Magically purring she was right with him, the only companion he could count on.

Even after he got home. Amid all the anger and his parent’s fighting and the arguing, Snowflake stayed by his side. Especially even then. She was in it for the long haul. He could just tell. His constant furry companion. There was something about her. The way she looked at him. The way she never complained. The way she showed him how much she loved him. Like his parents used to do. It was the best feeling in the world.

 

 

About the Author

 

Jim’s stories and poems have appeared in nearly five hundred online and print publications. His collection of short stories, Resilience, is published by Bridge House Publishing. Short Stuff, a collection of flash fiction and drabbles is published by Chapeltown Books. Periodic Stories, Periodic Stories Volume Two, Periodic Stories Volume Three – A Novel, and Periodic Stories Volume Four are published by Impspired. Dreamers, a collection of short stories, is published by Clarendon House Publishing. Something Better, a dystopian adventure novella, and the novel, The Alien of Orchard Lake, are published by Dark Myth Publications. In the fall of 2022, his collection entitled Holiday Stories was published by Impspired as was his collection of poetry, Haiku Seasons. In February 2023, Periodic Stories Volume IV was published, as was his collection of poems, The Alchemy of Then, both by Impspired. In June 2023, a collection of flash fiction, Dancing With Butterflies, was published by Impspired.In July 2023, his YA novella The Battle of Marvel Wood was published by Impspired. His short story “Aliens” was nominated by The Zodiac Press for the 2020 Pushcart Prize. His story “The Maple Leaf” was voted 2021 Story of the Year for Spillwords. He was voted December 2022 Author of the Month for Spillwords. He also reads his stories for Talking Stories Radio and for Jim’s Storytime on his website. He lives in a small town west of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 

Website

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Through a series of flash narratives, Kathryn Silver-Hajo’s powerful debut story collection, Wolfsong, draws us irresistibly into the lives of a constellation of female characters. The girls and women of Wolfsong are by turns fierce, curious, playful, vulnerable, reflective and wise. Taken together, the stories form a compelling arc from the innocent explorations of childhood, through budding growth, maturation, and the sometimes-fraught journeys women undertake as they forge their unique places in the world. Silver-Hajo’s characters uncover lifelong secrets and mysteries, face danger and uncertainty, celebrate what they’ve achieved and mourn what is lost. They love, yearn, cope with hardship, and discover how to take up the space in the world they deserve and have earned. The women of Silver-Hajo’s Wolfsong will remain with readers long after the last page of this stunning collection is turned.

 

 

Amazon

 

Praise

 

“In Wolfsong, her debut collection of stories, Kathryn Silver-Hajo displays her mastery of very short-form storytelling. These stories are brilliant bits of sea glass one feels lucky to discover and treasure. Filled with family and food and music, lovers and friends, heartbreak, and survival, these stories provide an evocative look at the hard lessons and the singular tender joys of girlhood and womanhood. You’ll want to read and reread this beautiful collection and keep it close at hand. It’s that good.” — Kathy Fish, author of Wild Life: Collected Works

“With a unique gift for writing about characters whom we feel we have known, Silver-Hajo writes with compassion and lays bare many worlds of vulnerability, uncertainty, and joy. In these 34 debut stories about the lives of girls, adolescents, and women, she creates a dazzling distillation of experience that is both haunting and hopeful. This is a very fine example of what the flash fiction form can accomplish. The characters in Wolfsong nestle deep into our spirits and refuse to let go.” — Meg Pokrass, author of The Loss Detector and Spinning to Mars

“The wise stories in Wolfsong brilliantly transport the reader from childhood to old age—and teach one of the collection’s heartfelt lessons of not wasting a moment “on the poison of disapproval, let alone a lifetime.” Wolfsong is an inspiring journey every reader should take.” — Pamela Painter, author of Fabrications: New and Selected Stories

“The very short stories in Kathryn Silver-Hajo’s Wolfsong focus on small, lovely moments in the lives of characters in which everything is illuminated. These are stories that are very much grounded in place and time, but there’s also a pervasive sense of what if throughout this collection, a tantalizing glimpse of an alternate future and the parallel universe of the imagination. These stories may be small in compass, but they’re huge in humor and heart.” — Sarah Freligh, author of Sad Math

“Beautiful and incisive. Each flash in Wolfsong is compelling in its own way. Through crisp imagery and lyrical prose, Kathryn Silver-Hajo directs her cast of characters through emotionally resonant stories. Among the female leads, you’ll find characters who long to belong, others who undergo insufferable tests, and some who narrowly escape tragedy, and each aims to steal the show. This debut collection does not disappoint. “ — Rachel Laverdiere, former editor for CNF Magazine

 

 

Review

 

I had never heard of flash narratives before, but it is exactly what the name implies, a flash of a story. Just a hint to entice and intrigue the reader and leave them wanting more.

While these stories don’t take much time to read, they aren’t meant to be read in a flash but to be savored. You might find yourself reading the words again to discover a nuance you might have missed.

Each story is set up to fill a need you might have not known you had. Each story is precisely told and might touch a nerve or fill a hole in your soul.

This is not a long book but it can be enjoyed over and over again.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Kathryn Silver-Hajo is a Pushcart Prize, Best Small Fictions, and Best American Food Writing nominee whose flash fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry has been widely published and included in a number of anthologies. Her novel Roots of the Banyan Tree is forthcoming from Juventud Press (fall 2023). Kathryn reads for Fractured Lit. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island.

 

Website * Publisher * Twitter * Instagram * Goodreads

 

 

 

 

THINGS GET UGLY

 

The Best Crime Stories of

 

Joe R. Lansdale

 

Crime Fiction / Mystery / Short Stories

Publisher: Tachyon Publications

Date of Publication: August 15, 2023

Number of Pages: 352 pages

 

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

Edgar Award winner Joe R. Lansdale (the Hap and Leonard series) returns to the piney, dangerous woods of East Texas. In this career retrospective of his best crime stories, Lansdale shows exactly why critics continue to compare him to Elmore Leonard, Donald Westlake, Flannery O’Connor, and William Faulkner.

 

In the 1950s, a young small-town projectionist mixes it up with a violent gang.

When Mr. Bear is not alerting us to the dangers of forest fires, he lives a life of debauchery and murder.

A brother and sister travel to Oklahoma to recover the dead body of their uncle.

A lonely man engages in dubious acts while pining for his rubber duckie.

 

In this collection of nineteen unforgettable crime tales, Joe R. Lansdale brings his legendary mojo and witty grit to harrowing heists, revenge, homicide, and mayhem. No matter how they begin, things are bound to get ugly—and fast.

 

 

Tachyon Publications│Signed & Personalized

 

 

Praise

 

“A terrifically gifted storyteller.” -– Washington Post Book Review

“One of the best crime writers in the business.” — Ace Atkins, New York Times bestselling author of The Revelators

“While Lansdale’s work is as varied as the regions of Texas, there is one common link through it all: his brilliant storytelling.” –- Grimdark Magazine

 

 

 

 

I am not sure how I have never read anything by this author, but now that I have gotten a taste of his writing, there will be no turning back now!

I am generally not a crime story type of reader, but these short stories provide a twisted look at what could potentially happen if you let your imagination run wild. Take, for example, the story about a certain bear that many of us might remember from television commercials way back in the day to help prevent forest fires. Now take that same bear, and insert him into society as you would a human with a twisted sense of morality. The end result just might be this story.

I really enjoyed reading how he came up with the ideas for the stories. It gave me a sense of his thought process, but I by no means totally understand it! Writers are unique, and the stories they create will entertain or haunt us long after they are done.

The title of this book is also very appropriate because things do get ugly in most of the tales. However, you might uncover some witty moments that might surprise you. I remember chuckling through a few of the stories, surprised at the humor that was included. But sometimes, all you can do is laugh.

Each story is unique and varies in length. There is a warning from the author that if you are a sensitive reader, you might want to skip this book. I might agree. While none of the stories bothered me, I can see where it might bother some. But if you are open and not squeamish, you just might enjoy these tales.

We enjoyed this book and gave it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joe R. Lansdale (Savage Season, The Donut Legion) is the internationally bestselling author of more than fifty novels, including the popular, long-running Hap and Leonard novels. Many of his cult classics have been adapted for television and film, most famously the films Bubba Ho-Tep and Cold in July and the Hap and Leonard series on Sundance TV and Netflix. Lansdale has written numerous screenplays and teleplays, including for the iconic Batman: The Animated Series. He has won an Edgar Award for The Bottoms and ten Stoker Awards, and he has been designated a World Horror Grandmaster. Lansdale, like many of his characters, lives in East Texas, with his wife, Karen.

 

  Website ◆ Instagram ◆ Facebook

 

  Twitter ◆ Amazon ◆ Goodreads ◆ BookBub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

THREE WINNERS:

 

Each receives print copies of

 

Things Get Ugly & Born for Trouble

 

(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 8/18/23)

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily,

or visit the blogs directly:

 

08/08/23	Bibliotica	Review
08/08/23	Hall Ways Blog	Excerpt
08/09/23	The Clueless Gent	Review
08/09/23	LSBBT Blog	BONUS Stop
08/10/23	The Book’s Delight	Review
08/11/23	Forgotten Winds	Review
08/12/23	Jennie Reads	Review
08/13/23	The Real World According to Sam	Review
08/14/23	It’s Not All Gravy	Review
08/15/23	StoreyBook Reviews	Review
08/15/23	Chapter Break Book Blog	Excerpt
08/16/23	Rox Burkey Blog	Review
08/17/23	Boys’ Mom Reads	Review

 

 

 

 

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Synopsis

 

Small chunks of life, perfectly wrapped and waiting for you to open is what you’ll get when you dive into Soaring by Nicole Fitton! A collection of 24 short stories told in 70 -2000 words.

Award-winning and short-listed pieces of prose sit alongside newer thoughtfully crafted short glimpses of human nature and 21st century life. You are invited to pause for a moment and reflect on the writer’s suggestions. They are sure to uplift and inspire you. The stories are perfect for today but will linger and stay with you for much longer.

 

 

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Review

 

This collection of short stories is perfect to read while waiting at appointments, over lunch, or anytime that you have 5-10 minutes.

Each story is unique and brings a new perspective to life with the situations that the characters find themselves in. I don’t know if I could choose a favorite, but I devoured all of them in no time. The author was able to draw me in while I forgot about reality, even if for a moment.

Some of the stories do have an abstract feel, which only adds to the depth of the book.

There is something for everyone in this collection and we give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Nicole Fitton is an author who resides in the wonderful leafy countryside of Devon, U.K. Originally from London, she has lived in such glamorous locations as London, New York, and Croydon!

For over three decades, she worked in music PR and marketing in Europe and the USA before reinventing herself within the world of healthcare management. She mainly writes mystery thriller novels and an abundance of short stories. She has published two contemporary novels – All Tomorrow’s Parties and Forbidden Colours both of which have received many 5* reviews. Her first single author collection of short stories, Soaring, has recently been published by Chapeltown Books.

When not writing, she likes to take long swims in cold places (Fjords & lakes) and can often be found sharing secrets and treats with her trusty English Spaniel Spaniel Poppy.

 

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Synopsis

 

This collection of novelettes takes the reader from the not-too-distant future to a time when travel between worlds is a common occurrence. Each stop along mankind’s journey outward to the stars is accompanied by a deeper look inward—from examining how extraterrestrial beings might use our own biology against us, to whether a human consciousness can survive in a virtual environment, to how wishes are really granted. Original and thought provoking, these stories—which include an interstellar religious thriller involving a second coming of Christ—will stimulate the intellect and engage the imagination.

 

 

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Guest Post

 

“Spiritual Dynamics”

 

After I lost my father to cancer in 2005, I started to rethink how I viewed the soul and the afterlife, trying to make some sense of my father’s passing, and then started thinking about our “before life.”  How do souls come and go from our physical bodies and where exactly do souls originate?

“Most people just accept the mysteries of how souls enter the body at birth and depart the body when one dies as something unknowable.  After all, no one has ever detected a soul.  No piece of equipment is capable of doing that.  In fact, there is no proof, no evidence at all, souls even exist.”

Being a distant relative of William Thomson—better known as Lord Kelvin, a major contributor to the Third Law of Thermodynamics and having been a scientist myself—I have always been interested in the Three Laws of Thermodynamics.  I thought developing the Three Laws of Spiritual Dynamics would be an interesting analog and might be used in some of my stories.  The above paragraph is from a story I wrote titled “The Natural Order of Things,” a story which explores these laws and how they came about in greater depth and will be included in By The Light Of The Sun (a future collection of stories).

I wanted “The Goldfire Project” to plant a seed for this future story and this topic.  Readers might recall The Laws of Spiritual Dynamics were first mentioned in “An Intricate Balance” (from Seven Sides of Self, She Writes Press, 2019).

Here are the Laws of Spiritual Dynamics (also referred to as the Laws of Spiritual Mechanics):

The Zeroeth Law—

GOD creates each and every soul with love and light.

 

The First Law—

Each soul created appears spontaneously with a corresponding soul of equal and opposite presence at the exact same instant.

 

The Second Law—

Each soul and its corresponding soul of equal and opposite presence become incarnate at the exact same instant.

 

The Third Law—

Each soul and its corresponding soul of equal and opposite presence leave their corporeal bodies at the exact same instant.

 

The Fourth Law—

Each soul assigned to a new corporeal host will not retain any memories from its previous incarnations. However, souls that return to the heavenly realm will retain memories from their most recent incarnation and will recover all memories from all previous incarnations.

 

People might find this series of laws as going against the grain of mainstream Christian beliefs.  But the underlying concept isn’t all that different from certain theories purported by astrophysicists … that being that for each and every subatomic particle created at the beginning of the Universe, there was an equal and opposite anti-particle created.  In other words, matter was created in pairs … a positively charged proton and a negatively charged anti-proton.  A negatively charged electron and a positively charged anti-electron or positron.  Matter and anti-matter in equal amounts.

It also occurred to me everything in the Universe is energy.  Even matter, which is simply energy that has lost something of its heat or intensity and condensed into the matter we detect with our senses.  Souls are energy, as well.  The difference is souls are information-containing energy.  That is to say, souls are highly-ordered energy.

“And if souls are highly-ordered energy, it should be possible to detect them, but only if the detectors are capable of discerning the highly-ordered energy from all other forms of energy not highly ordered.  Essentially, this means creating a filter of sorts, a filter allowing one type of energy through, but not the other.  I know.  It sounds simple in theory, but the trick is identifying the means by which one filters different forms of energy.”

Another paragraph from “The Natural Order of Things.”  Perhaps there will come a day when such a thing is possible.  Then we will have our answer.

 

 

About the Author

 

Nancy Joie Wilkie worked for over thirty years in both the biotechnology industry and as part of the federal government’s biodefense effort. She served as a project manager, providing oversight for the development of many  new products. Now retired, she composes original music, plays a variety of instruments, and has recorded many of her original compositions. She also created a series of greeting cards that display her artwork and photographs. “Faraway and Forever—More Stories” is her second collection of stories. “Seven Sides of Self” was published by She Writes Press in November 2019. She will be releasing a third collection of short stories, “The River Keeper and Other Tales,” in early 2024. She is also working on a science fiction novel and a children’s story. She resides in Brookeville, MD.

 

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Synopsis

 

A literary plant swap. An arrogant library board president. A creepy library attic. Join Molly Green and her friends as they investigate another mysterious incident in the charming small town of Hawthorn Heights, Ohio. Molly and her BFF, Claudia, are managing a Plant Swap at the local library branch when the library board president unexpectedly collapses in the attic. First responders assume it’s a heart attack, but Molly suspects something more sinister and the Succulent Sleuth is on the case again. Will Molly uncover the truth or will the culprit leave the library undetected – free of all fines?

This short story was originally published as part of A Bookworm of a Suspect cozy mystery short story anthology with Aconite Cafe.

 

 

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Review

 

This is a short story that brings back together Molly and the gang to solve another crime. This time, it happens at the library after their plant swap, which is a part of the library book sale. I chuckled at Molly’s husband trying to start a book club that read actual books and not eBooks or audio. However, he did find a kindred spirit, James, and I am curious if he will be a part of future books.

Because this story is short, I felt like there wasn’t enough time to truly develop the story and provide multiple suspects. The would-be killer wouldn’t have been on many people’s radar. The reasoning made sense once it was revealed.

I did appreciate the efforts to create a full story in fewer pages. I can imagine how hard it is to wrap up everything in fewer pages.

This is a fun mystery series, and I look forward to future installments. We give this book 3 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Iris March has a reputation for killing house plants and now she’s killing people off in books? Coincidence? Perhaps not. Iris has spent two decades working in the sustainability field and is usually either reading a book or on a trail. She lives in Ohio with her husband, son, and three cats.

 

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Synopsis

 

For every pet parent who knows there’s no such thing as ‘just a dog,’ this collection of uplifting glimpses into the lives of ordinary-turned-extraordinary dogs and the people who love them is a tail-wagging good read.

Thanks to the rescue dog who saved her life after a traumatic brain injury, Carmen Leal went from saying she’d never have a dog to becoming an advocate for man’s best friend. Carmen volunteered at the local rescue shelter by writing bios and social media posts, applying for grants, and helping to save and re-home over 6,500 dogs from a high-kill shelter. This endearing anthology includes stories that celebrate the bond between canines and humans, including:

• Buddy the beagle who went from living chained under a porch to becoming the town’s only therapy dog
• Heavenly Joy, the frightened Chihuahua who changed the life of a grumpy old man
• Bogey, an abandoned mixed-breed trained by prison inmates and adopted by his forever family

I Chose You is a collection of memorable, beautifully written stories of dogs rescued by people and, ultimately, people rescued by dogs. If you like four-legged friends and happy endings, you’ll love Carmen Leal’s touching collection of heart-warming stories.

Fetch a copy of I Chose You, the feel-good book that resonates with anyone who has ever loved a dog.

 

 

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Praise

 

“I’m so thrilled to discover this beautiful collection of stories featuring these imperfectly perfect rescue pups. I Chose You has won my heart!” — Janice Thompson, author of Paws for Reflection: 50 Devotions for Dog Moms

“Great read! Nothing in life is perfect except unconditional love. I Chose You captures that choice!”  — Adrian Palmer Board of Directors Medical Advisor Australian Shepherds Furever Rescue

“The best prescription I can write for trauma survivors, veterans with PTSD, and others with mental health issues, is the healing power of dogs. I Chose You is the perfect gift for yourself or a dog lover and a wonderful reminder of the unbreakable bond between canines and their people.”  —Angela Miller, Licensed Professional Therapist

 

 

Review

 

I love reading books that are about dogs, have dogs in the story, or really anything that involves dogs.

I loved reading all of the different dog stories. They shared what they went through and how lives were transformed. It gave me an overall warm feeling.

We rescued two dogs, and they brought us so much joy. I think when you choose a dog, and they choose you back, a bond is formed that cannot be broken. Love is unconditional.

While I read this book quickly, I still took my time in savoring the different stories and what each owner and dog endured to get where they were in the end.

These stories will touch your heart, and I recommend rushing out and purchasing your own copy. You will be glad you did.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Carmen Leal is a storyteller and the author of multiple books, articles, devotionals, and human-interest stories. Carmen relocated from Hawaii to Oshkosh, yes, there is a story behind the move, and has become an awesome dog mom. Carmen and her husband have become reluctant gardeners and know a crazy amount about Wisconsin weeds. She is the mother of two sons, two incredible grandsons, and Coconut, the best imperfectly perfect rescue dog in the world.

 

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