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In a Flash 2016: The eSpec Books Annual Flash Anthology
In a Flash, the eSpec Books annual flash fiction anthology, features the highlights of the press’s monthly flash fiction contests from the preceding year. This collection of speculative microfiction runs the gambit from steampunk, westerns, and urban fantasy to science fiction and horror, with stories by Christopher J. Burke, Jim Knipp, Herika R Raymer, Anton Kukal, Marie Vibbert, CB Droege, David Bartell, Jeff Young, Rie Sheridan Rose, Jean Buie, David M. Hoenig, and Jamie Gilman Kress.
100 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 22, 2016
3 people want to read
About the author
Danielle Ackley-McPhail
118 books208 followersAward-winning author, editor, and publisher Danielle Ackley-McPhail has worked both sides of the publishing industry for longer than she cares to admit. In 2014 she joined forces with husband Mike McPhail and friend Greg Schauer to form her own publishing house, eSpec Books (www.especbooks.com).
Her published works include eight novels, Yesterday's Dreams, Tomorrow's Memories, Today’s Promise, The Halfling’s Court, The Redcaps’ Queen, Daire’s Devils, The Play of Light, and Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn, written with Day Al-Mohamed. She is also the author of the solo collections Eternal Wanderings, A Legacy of Stars, Consigned to the Sea, Flash in the Can, Transcendence, Between Darkness and Light, The Fox’s Fire, The Kindly One, and the non-fiction writers’ guides The Literary Handyman, More Tips from the Handyman, and LH: Build-A-Book Workshop. She is the senior editor of the Bad-Ass Faeries anthology series, Gaslight & Grimm, Side of Good/Side of Evil, After Punk, and Footprints in the Stars. Her short stories are included in numerous other anthologies and collections.
In addition to her literary acclaim, she crafts and sells original costume horns under the moniker The Hornie Lady Custom Costume Horns, and homemade flavor-infused candied ginger under the brand of Ginger KICK! at literary conventions, on commission, and wholesale.
Danielle lives in New Jersey with her husband and fellow writer, Mike McPhail and four extremely spoiled cats.
Her published works include eight novels, Yesterday's Dreams, Tomorrow's Memories, Today’s Promise, The Halfling’s Court, The Redcaps’ Queen, Daire’s Devils, The Play of Light, and Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn, written with Day Al-Mohamed. She is also the author of the solo collections Eternal Wanderings, A Legacy of Stars, Consigned to the Sea, Flash in the Can, Transcendence, Between Darkness and Light, The Fox’s Fire, The Kindly One, and the non-fiction writers’ guides The Literary Handyman, More Tips from the Handyman, and LH: Build-A-Book Workshop. She is the senior editor of the Bad-Ass Faeries anthology series, Gaslight & Grimm, Side of Good/Side of Evil, After Punk, and Footprints in the Stars. Her short stories are included in numerous other anthologies and collections.
In addition to her literary acclaim, she crafts and sells original costume horns under the moniker The Hornie Lady Custom Costume Horns, and homemade flavor-infused candied ginger under the brand of Ginger KICK! at literary conventions, on commission, and wholesale.
Danielle lives in New Jersey with her husband and fellow writer, Mike McPhail and four extremely spoiled cats.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 25, 2017
Every month eSpec issues a Flash writing challenge. Varying between funny themes like "Let's Get Catty!" to serious themes like "Omega, Man!" and biological warfare, the challenge draws writers to craft amazing stories under 2000 words. eSpec books collected a year's worth and released its 2016 anthology. Some of the story are trite and others burn your brain, and the genres range from humorous contemporary, to time travel, to steampunk, and more.
The Thing about Humans by Christopher J. Burke - A lovely homage to a favorite musical of mine.
Test Run by Jim Knipp - Feels more like an intro to a story than a story, but the decision made is life changing.
The Final Exit by Herika R. Raymer - The theme of Nuclear Devastation leads to this black story about Hope.
The Dirtslinger by Anton Kukal - At least one gunslinger loses during every showdown, but you know what they say - each day above ground is better than a lifetime beneath it.
Kitten Lorelei Loves CherryBerry24 by Marie Vibbert - I don't know about this story - readers will either love or hate it, but isn't that just like cats and computers?
Bighorns Last Survivor by Anton Kukal - One of the trite stories. Fun but forgettable.
Under Pressure by CB Droege - Then we have this gem where I want at least another 5,000 words to figure out what is happening.
Little Kink by David Bartell - Breeding will tell, as does inbreeding.
Reading Between the Lines by Jeff Young - From the theme of "I'm Sorry, Dave" comes a flash proving to be the perfect length for the topic presentation. "I am here" will haunt me like "I'm sorry, Dave."
Chance Encounter by Rie Sheridan Rose - Steampunk flash.
Freedom Fighting for the Modern Woman by Jean Buie - While I hate the title, the spy flash is nice.
Ride into Legend by David M. Hoenig - A young Pony Express Rider gets paid to deliver a package.
There Goes the World by Jamie Gilman Kress - The theme "Submitted for Your Approval" made a writer craft this Twilight Zone where "The lights flickered once, twice, then held steady." ... maybe.
Microbiome by Herika R. Raymer - What a scary, scary world created for this apocalyptic story. The world scared me more than the story - another haunter.
The Thing about Humans by Christopher J. Burke - A lovely homage to a favorite musical of mine.
Test Run by Jim Knipp - Feels more like an intro to a story than a story, but the decision made is life changing.
The Final Exit by Herika R. Raymer - The theme of Nuclear Devastation leads to this black story about Hope.
The Dirtslinger by Anton Kukal - At least one gunslinger loses during every showdown, but you know what they say - each day above ground is better than a lifetime beneath it.
Kitten Lorelei Loves CherryBerry24 by Marie Vibbert - I don't know about this story - readers will either love or hate it, but isn't that just like cats and computers?
Bighorns Last Survivor by Anton Kukal - One of the trite stories. Fun but forgettable.
Under Pressure by CB Droege - Then we have this gem where I want at least another 5,000 words to figure out what is happening.
Little Kink by David Bartell - Breeding will tell, as does inbreeding.
Reading Between the Lines by Jeff Young - From the theme of "I'm Sorry, Dave" comes a flash proving to be the perfect length for the topic presentation. "I am here" will haunt me like "I'm sorry, Dave."
Chance Encounter by Rie Sheridan Rose - Steampunk flash.
Freedom Fighting for the Modern Woman by Jean Buie - While I hate the title, the spy flash is nice.
Ride into Legend by David M. Hoenig - A young Pony Express Rider gets paid to deliver a package.
There Goes the World by Jamie Gilman Kress - The theme "Submitted for Your Approval" made a writer craft this Twilight Zone where "The lights flickered once, twice, then held steady." ... maybe.
Microbiome by Herika R. Raymer - What a scary, scary world created for this apocalyptic story. The world scared me more than the story - another haunter.
January 22, 2021
Retroactive Review (22 Jan 2021): This is an anthology of flash fiction, and all were picked via contests over a year-long-ish period. They were fine and enjoyable, but I think stories this short are harder to get into or have much of an impact, especially if you read them all in one sitting like I did.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews