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A Year of Stories: Black Coral
At the beginning of 2016, Steve Spalding -- author of Founder's Saga and creator of the popular podcast Steve Reads Stories -- challenged himself to write one piece of short fiction, every weekday, for a full year. This collection, Black Coral, is the second in a series of books to chronicle that journey.
Inside are twenty original tales, ranging from a literary fiction piece about two men, a tombstone, and a road trip many years in the making ("The Headstone of Leslie Ann Michaels"), to an urban fantasy short that gives a look at the entrance exam to a very exclusive, very dangerous college of magic ("The Weisz Insitute").
After every story, Steve gives insight into his inspiration, the writing process, and the challenges of 2AM editing sessions.
Black Coral is a book for anyone who adores quick fiction with an edge, stories that can make you laugh or think or feel, while being short enough to be read in a single sitting. It's a book for lovers of literature, and genre buffs alike, and it's one that we hope you enjoy.
Inside are twenty original tales, ranging from a literary fiction piece about two men, a tombstone, and a road trip many years in the making ("The Headstone of Leslie Ann Michaels"), to an urban fantasy short that gives a look at the entrance exam to a very exclusive, very dangerous college of magic ("The Weisz Insitute").
After every story, Steve gives insight into his inspiration, the writing process, and the challenges of 2AM editing sessions.
Black Coral is a book for anyone who adores quick fiction with an edge, stories that can make you laugh or think or feel, while being short enough to be read in a single sitting. It's a book for lovers of literature, and genre buffs alike, and it's one that we hope you enjoy.
180 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 7, 2016
1 person want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 24, 2017
The first story was very odd to me. I needed to say that.
But then came a Breakroom Memo from the "that person" employee - a memo that anyone who has ever worked in an office community can relate to...
"I bought three Snickers bars from the Cash and Save last week, and placed them in the crisper for safe keeping...When I checked the following Monday, during my weekly audit of office supplies and sundries, there was only one Snickers bar...while I don’t want to start a witch hunt, and it’s not fair to point fingers without proof, I think Debra knows something that she isn’t telling us.
I’m not calling her a thief…exactly, but when I charted the amount of money she’s donated to the communal coffee fund over the last year, versus the amount of coffee she’s consumed, well, let’s just say that I found her generosity to be wanting."
Excellent!
A shifty bartender in Mixing up a Miracle
“So you’re the guy, right?”
“I’m a guy, yes…”
“No man, that’s not what I’m talking about. You’re‘the guy,’ right? The one who makes the drinks?”
“That is what a bartender does…”
“Yea, you’re the guy alright. My buddy told me you were sort of a prick..."
Probably my favorite with a runner up being a startling letter near the end about a man and a ghost.
I like ghosts.
There were only a few stories that were so-so, but the others surely made up for them. I think this collection has something for everyone.
4 and a half stars!
××Received copy in exchange for an honest review
But then came a Breakroom Memo from the "that person" employee - a memo that anyone who has ever worked in an office community can relate to...
"I bought three Snickers bars from the Cash and Save last week, and placed them in the crisper for safe keeping...When I checked the following Monday, during my weekly audit of office supplies and sundries, there was only one Snickers bar...while I don’t want to start a witch hunt, and it’s not fair to point fingers without proof, I think Debra knows something that she isn’t telling us.
I’m not calling her a thief…exactly, but when I charted the amount of money she’s donated to the communal coffee fund over the last year, versus the amount of coffee she’s consumed, well, let’s just say that I found her generosity to be wanting."
Excellent!
A shifty bartender in Mixing up a Miracle
“So you’re the guy, right?”
“I’m a guy, yes…”
“No man, that’s not what I’m talking about. You’re‘the guy,’ right? The one who makes the drinks?”
“That is what a bartender does…”
“Yea, you’re the guy alright. My buddy told me you were sort of a prick..."
Probably my favorite with a runner up being a startling letter near the end about a man and a ghost.
I like ghosts.
There were only a few stories that were so-so, but the others surely made up for them. I think this collection has something for everyone.
4 and a half stars!
××Received copy in exchange for an honest review
October 7, 2016
A nice collection of stories. some better than others, and i believe the last one was missing. I look forward to the next one.
September 6, 2016
Light quick read, not really long enough to classify them as short stories, which is why I tagged these as vignettes. Some I connected with and found witty and engaging, others I found somewhat over the top quirky, others I found hard to follow. Overall a solid 3 stars. A light book to read on the plane or train. I received this book as an advanced reader copy from LibraryThing.com, in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews