A Journey of Words

by Brian Paone, Marlon Hayes, J.M. Ames

From Scout Media comes A Journey of Words—the second volume in an ongoing short story anthology series featuring authors from all over the world.

In this installation, the authors will lead the reader to destinations unknown; from the heartbreak of driving to visit a loved one for the last time, to the far-reaches of outer space, to mysterious islands inhabited by long-forgotten spirits. You will learn how deadly a trip to a greenhouse can be, the perils involved in delivering the mail, and a hard lesson about how shiny new Volkswagen Beetles should not be trusted. These stories of traveling and journeys will touch your heart, send shivers down your spine, and make you root for the underdog.

Whether to be enlightened, entertained, or momentarily caught up in another world, these selections convey the true spirit of the short story.

Genres: Science Fiction Fantasy, Audiobook, Short Stories

552 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2019

About the author

Brian Paone—a Salem, Massachusetts native displaced to northern Virginia—has been a published novelist since 2007. Brian is primarily a speculative fiction author who doesn’t know how to stay in his lane. His novels feature an array of subgenres for those readers who dare to venture just outside of realism.

Brian is a police detective in Maryland and has worked in law enforcement since 2002. He is the father to four children, a self-proclaimed rollercoaster junkie, a Star Wars 501st member since 2005, a New England Patriots fanatic, and his favorite color is burnt orange. In 2019, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming the proud owner of a 1981 DeLorean!

Reviews

[Carl Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

My story is one of those in this book, so of course I'm a bit biased, but it truly has a bit of something for nearly every taste. Thirty-six authors provide thirty-six separate tales that will delight you, make you cry, make you thirst for exotic lands, make you sleep with the light on, or make you remember people and places that were imbued with special meaning for you. There is no single genre common to all of the stories, rather they each involve a physical journey as a central theme. So grab your favorite walking shoes, your oars, your car keys, or your boarding pass, make sure your dog is in good hands and come along with us as we delight and amaze your senses. Jump around, it's okay, the stories all stand alone and can be read in any order. Mine is on page 493, and you'll need a time machine to enjoy the good parts. Just, make sure your insurance premiums for the year have been paid, and wear good shoes.

[Donise Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Conversations with the Serpent” by Andrea Barrios and “The Last Ride” by J.M. Ames are my two favorite stories in the anthology. Both stories are incredibly well written and moved me to tears.

[Lauren Nalls · Rating 4 out of 5]

This thick collection of travel-themed short stories really does hold something for everyone. If you want to know what it's like to move north of the border into the United States from your native Mexico, Andrea Barrios can show you with beautiful, lyrical, style in her story "Conversations with the Serpent." If you've always wanted to roam with the dinosaurs, then Carl D. Jenkins has you covered in his story, "Jurassic Station." You can ride a germ-filled bus with Susan Gibbons in "21 Minutes," contemplate your home in a crowded city with Sian Davies in "164 from Stoke," and even dream-travel one's own mind like a tourist, with Arielle Williams in "Counting Lambs & Lions." This Anthology from Scout Media contains such an eclectic mix of thirty-five great stories based only upon one requirement; it had to contain a journey. These are my favorites. What will yours be?

[Sylvia Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought the Kindle edition on the recommendation of one of the authors. This is a fun collection with something for everyone. Each story had its own appeal, even the cutesy addendum Brian's little girl wrote. However, in the Kindle edition at least, there were DOZENS of errors - typos, misspelled words, incorrect homophones, punctuation - if you can get past that without getting too distracted, I think you'll enjoy the tales told. It's hard to pick a favorite; but I laughed, I cried - this is not a bad way to spend a rainy afternoon or two.

[Douglas Esper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obviously I'm biased as one of my stories appears in this anthology, but i've really enjoyed the other stories as well. Sometimes anthologies with several different genres can be a clunky affair, but as each story has a journey at its heart, the book has a flow.
Some of my favorites:

Get Your kicks On Route 66 by David Williams
Ants of Uranus! by Randy Blazak
Jurassic Station by Carl D. Jenkins
The Last Ride by "That heart-wrenching bastard" J.M. Ames
The Whalers Dues by Brian Paone

and many many others.

[Kitt O'Malley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Collection of Short Stories

I enjoyed reading this collection of short stories. I especially liked that they vary in genre. Thanks to the authors for sharing their work with us.

[Susan Gibbons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable from the front to the back. There is something for everyone - humor, hope, and healing.

[Kari Holloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jurassic Station was my favorite. Secondhand Dolls and The Last Ride were heartfelt and yet gut wrenching at the same time. There are stories for everyone in this collection.