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Twisted Tales: Short Fiction and Poetry by the Infinite Monkeys Chapter of the League of Utah Writers
Twisted Tales are adventures that surprise, with endings that astonish, making stories that linger. Travel with us as we dare the uncertain and explore the complexities of fiction, sure to run into the unexpected turn and haunting completion. Another excellent endeavor from the Infinite Monkeys.
218 pages, Paperback
Published April 22, 2025
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About the author
Johnny Worthen
61 books145 followersJohnny Worthen is an award-winning, best-selling author of books and stories. A Utah Writer of the Year. Trained in modern literary criticism and cultural studies, he writes upmarket multi-genre fiction, symbolized by his love of tie-dye and good words. “I write what I like to read,” he says. “This guarantees me at least one fan.”
Johnny is best known (so far) for his award winning, nationally acclaimed, best-selling young adult novel, ELEANOR, THE UNSEEN. It is a great book and if you haven’t read it, you need to. Johnny’s debut novel, the adult occult thriller, BEATRYSEL along with its companion story DR. STUART’S HEART explores the darker sides of love and Magick.
CELESTE, THE UNSEEN BOOK 2, continues Eleanor’s story as she tries to maintain a life in Jamesford, while distant events and local suspicion conspire to threaten everything. DAVID, THE UNSEEN BOOK 3, sees the powerful transformative conclusion of this awarding series as Eleanor learns her past and builds her future.
Johnny’s entry into mystery with THE BRAND DEMAND won a Silver Quill Award from the League of Utah Writers in the best novel category, while, his genre-bending comedy noire, THE FINGER TRAP, introduces Tony Flaner, a flawed slacker every-man detective who can’t throw a punch but can slay a room with sarcasm.
Johnny's short stories appear in a number of anthologies including the Dark Fiction LITTLE VISIBLE DELIGHT (The Point), Utah Horror, OLD SCRATCH AND OWL HOOTS (Keep Sweet), IT CAME FROM THE GREAT SALT LAKE (May 15th), Utah Fantasy, SECRETS & DOORS (A Thousand Secret Doors), HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT (The Lost Curse of the Witch's Nest) and the limited edition commemorate Salt Lake Comic Con anthology HEROIC: TALES OF THE EXTRAORDINARY (The Grape Whisperer).
Johnny lectures and teaches about writing and life whenever anyone will listen. He edits professionally for Omnium Gatherum, a dark fiction press. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with his wife, sons and a cat.
Johnny is best known (so far) for his award winning, nationally acclaimed, best-selling young adult novel, ELEANOR, THE UNSEEN. It is a great book and if you haven’t read it, you need to. Johnny’s debut novel, the adult occult thriller, BEATRYSEL along with its companion story DR. STUART’S HEART explores the darker sides of love and Magick.
CELESTE, THE UNSEEN BOOK 2, continues Eleanor’s story as she tries to maintain a life in Jamesford, while distant events and local suspicion conspire to threaten everything. DAVID, THE UNSEEN BOOK 3, sees the powerful transformative conclusion of this awarding series as Eleanor learns her past and builds her future.
Johnny’s entry into mystery with THE BRAND DEMAND won a Silver Quill Award from the League of Utah Writers in the best novel category, while, his genre-bending comedy noire, THE FINGER TRAP, introduces Tony Flaner, a flawed slacker every-man detective who can’t throw a punch but can slay a room with sarcasm.
Johnny's short stories appear in a number of anthologies including the Dark Fiction LITTLE VISIBLE DELIGHT (The Point), Utah Horror, OLD SCRATCH AND OWL HOOTS (Keep Sweet), IT CAME FROM THE GREAT SALT LAKE (May 15th), Utah Fantasy, SECRETS & DOORS (A Thousand Secret Doors), HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT (The Lost Curse of the Witch's Nest) and the limited edition commemorate Salt Lake Comic Con anthology HEROIC: TALES OF THE EXTRAORDINARY (The Grape Whisperer).
Johnny lectures and teaches about writing and life whenever anyone will listen. He edits professionally for Omnium Gatherum, a dark fiction press. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with his wife, sons and a cat.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 21, 2025
A collection of experienced and new voices of the League of Utah Writers Infinite Monkeys Genre Writers chapter. This collection has science fiction, fantasy, poetry, and more that classifies as a twisted tale.
I am the president of The Infinite Monkeys, and as such I worked on the submissions, editing, and production of this collection. I also have an introductory essay, and my own story is included.
A Twisted Tale is…
Let me give you some of the information I included in the introduction to the collection. There are different definitions of what makes a tale twisted. There are many different aspects that can make a story a twisted tale, and so much of it depends on the author creating the work
One style is the works of O’Henry, where there is an amazing twist at the end of the story. You think you have the story figured out until the very end when the author slips you a mickey. Everything is there in the story, so the ending not only fits and makes sense, but it really is also appropriate for the story being told.
Another style is known as the twisted fairytale. These are retellings of stories we may be familiar with, but they are told from a different point of view, or the setting has been changed in some way. Recent movies and novels are based on this. This collection has several of these. These can also include genre swaps that provide a different perspective on what the story is about.
One of my favorites are mashups. We see these all the time without realizing they are in fact a twisted tale. Some even become their own genre after their popularity grows. My story is a mashup of fantasy and science fiction.
There are also those stories that are just different, twisted in a way that you may not expect to see a story like this. I really like the story of a potato.
This Collection
Together these twenty pieces provide wonderful reading. This may be a way to find a new piece from a writer you already enjoy. Or you may find someone who strikes your interest, and you can look for more of what they have done. I always find it fun to work on the Infinite Monkeys anthologies because I know the people and what they have been working on for other places. We try to provide a theme that allows the writers to try their hand in a new area, and this collection delivered. You can find all sorts of different genres, (as I like to tell people our group includes everyone, because what’s not a genre)?
Overall
I worked with three other people in selecting and editing these stories to be able to bring them to print. I think we did a good job. I am biased though. These were the best of the submissions we received, but not all of them. We selected the top and brought them together in this work.
I enjoyed working on this collection. I think you will also. This is our anthology that was called in 2024 and published in 2025. I believe we have another award-winning collection.
I hope you enjoy the work as much as I do. I ask that you support your local authors, those independents who are working on perfecting their craft and taking the risk of sharing their stories. It is through the support given in the earlier days of a writing career that makes the future brighter for all of us.
You can read the complete review at
https://guildmastergaming.blogspot.co...
I am the president of The Infinite Monkeys, and as such I worked on the submissions, editing, and production of this collection. I also have an introductory essay, and my own story is included.
A Twisted Tale is…
Let me give you some of the information I included in the introduction to the collection. There are different definitions of what makes a tale twisted. There are many different aspects that can make a story a twisted tale, and so much of it depends on the author creating the work
One style is the works of O’Henry, where there is an amazing twist at the end of the story. You think you have the story figured out until the very end when the author slips you a mickey. Everything is there in the story, so the ending not only fits and makes sense, but it really is also appropriate for the story being told.
Another style is known as the twisted fairytale. These are retellings of stories we may be familiar with, but they are told from a different point of view, or the setting has been changed in some way. Recent movies and novels are based on this. This collection has several of these. These can also include genre swaps that provide a different perspective on what the story is about.
One of my favorites are mashups. We see these all the time without realizing they are in fact a twisted tale. Some even become their own genre after their popularity grows. My story is a mashup of fantasy and science fiction.
There are also those stories that are just different, twisted in a way that you may not expect to see a story like this. I really like the story of a potato.
This Collection
Together these twenty pieces provide wonderful reading. This may be a way to find a new piece from a writer you already enjoy. Or you may find someone who strikes your interest, and you can look for more of what they have done. I always find it fun to work on the Infinite Monkeys anthologies because I know the people and what they have been working on for other places. We try to provide a theme that allows the writers to try their hand in a new area, and this collection delivered. You can find all sorts of different genres, (as I like to tell people our group includes everyone, because what’s not a genre)?
Overall
I worked with three other people in selecting and editing these stories to be able to bring them to print. I think we did a good job. I am biased though. These were the best of the submissions we received, but not all of them. We selected the top and brought them together in this work.
I enjoyed working on this collection. I think you will also. This is our anthology that was called in 2024 and published in 2025. I believe we have another award-winning collection.
I hope you enjoy the work as much as I do. I ask that you support your local authors, those independents who are working on perfecting their craft and taking the risk of sharing their stories. It is through the support given in the earlier days of a writing career that makes the future brighter for all of us.
You can read the complete review at
https://guildmastergaming.blogspot.co...
Displaying 1 of 1 review