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Light and Shadow: Minds Shine Bright International Creative Writing Anthology Seasons 2 2025
Only by exploring the nuances of light and shade can we truly appreciate the delicacy, beauty and complexity of light and of life itself. LIGHT AND SHADOW, the second anthology in the SEASONS series by MINDS SHINE BRIGHT features forty three winning and commended writers and poets from the annual Minds Shine Bright writing competition. LIGHT AND SHADOW is a powerful collection of stories and poems for our times —an antidote to hype and oversimplification.
202 pages, Paperback
Published June 28, 2025
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About the author
Amanda Scotney
6 books8 followersAmanda Scotney is a writer, poet, independent filmmaker and the Founder of Minds Shine Bright, an arts business that publishes collections of poetry, short stories and scripts featuring established, new and emerging writers and poets. She was born in Hobart, Tasmania and now lives in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Amanda is passionate about promoting the arts and writers and supporting and building creative communities and safe spaces for writers and poets to create and connect with readers. Amanda is the judge of the Minds Shine Bright Writing Competitions.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 12, 2025
As a contributor to the wonderful Minds Shine Bright anthology Confidence 2, I went into this expecting another thought-provoking selection of poems and stories… and that’s what I got! There’s something here for everyone: Diverse writing styles and perspectives from Australian and international writers allowing the reader to bounce around, pick and choose, then return to the pieces they like best.
STANDOUTS INCLUDE: Helen Booth’s story, “The Brightest Star”, which explores the challenging but tender relationship between photographer Mon and her partner Frank; Edie Redwine’s story “Roots”, a harrowing, life-affirming survival story of their 1st-person narrator, Pine Tree Woman; Keren Heenan’s story “The Colour of Air”, about a child afflicted by a mystery illness (reminding me of the masterful horror stories by Graham Tugwell); Lans Felby’s essay “Just Black”, which invites the reader into the darkness; Alice Gorman’s story “Lavatime”, about a scientist living on a moon colony in the not-so-distant future; and Scott Winkler’s story “In Which a Socked Foot, a Cat, Two Avocadoes and a Goddess Take Flight, and Count Leo Takes a Bow”… which you just have to read.
You will absolutely be glad you bought this book! I highly recommend!!
STANDOUTS INCLUDE: Helen Booth’s story, “The Brightest Star”, which explores the challenging but tender relationship between photographer Mon and her partner Frank; Edie Redwine’s story “Roots”, a harrowing, life-affirming survival story of their 1st-person narrator, Pine Tree Woman; Keren Heenan’s story “The Colour of Air”, about a child afflicted by a mystery illness (reminding me of the masterful horror stories by Graham Tugwell); Lans Felby’s essay “Just Black”, which invites the reader into the darkness; Alice Gorman’s story “Lavatime”, about a scientist living on a moon colony in the not-so-distant future; and Scott Winkler’s story “In Which a Socked Foot, a Cat, Two Avocadoes and a Goddess Take Flight, and Count Leo Takes a Bow”… which you just have to read.
You will absolutely be glad you bought this book! I highly recommend!!
December 21, 2025
Absolutely loved this collection of beautiful poetry and prose. Very well curated for the theme, divided into categories like “Moonlight” and “Dawn to Dusk.” I haven’t read every work yet; I’m savouring it slowly, a poem or story at a time. It must have been difficult to choose the Top Eleven. It’s hard to pick a favourite so far but I must say I loved the short story Roots by Edie Redwine, third prize. It fully engaged and moved me to tears. I feel my maternal grandmother so deeply and this is the first time I’ve ever read about that connection. It’s viscerally powerful, fast-paced and terrifying, communicating the horror of atrocities against First Nations peoples. It will remain with me, always.
This was a gifted copy for review and I am honoured to have the opportunity to recommend this wonderful book!
This was a gifted copy for review and I am honoured to have the opportunity to recommend this wonderful book!
October 3, 2025
Thank you for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
3 stars
This was a fairly interesting anthology! There were definitely some that I just didn't care for personally (not bad just not my taste) and there were quite a few that really intrigued me.
I'm not actually a huge fan of short stories/anthologies because I feel like the story is just starting to get good and then it's cut off. But some of these really are quite good.
3 stars
This was a fairly interesting anthology! There were definitely some that I just didn't care for personally (not bad just not my taste) and there were quite a few that really intrigued me.
I'm not actually a huge fan of short stories/anthologies because I feel like the story is just starting to get good and then it's cut off. But some of these really are quite good.
October 13, 2025
I found I liked the short stories a lot more than the poems.
Although the short stories I liked were few and far between.
Some of my faves were “The Color of Air” “The Christmas Party” “Marshmallows” and “Milk Teeth.”
A lot of the writing just went over my head. Which isn’t hard to do. Too much prose.
I received this book as a LibraryThing Early Reviewer.
Although the short stories I liked were few and far between.
Some of my faves were “The Color of Air” “The Christmas Party” “Marshmallows” and “Milk Teeth.”
A lot of the writing just went over my head. Which isn’t hard to do. Too much prose.
I received this book as a LibraryThing Early Reviewer.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews