Carnival

by Lee French (Editor), Jennifer Courtney

A collection of short stories by the members of the Northwest Independent Writers Association

Everyone loves a party.

Twenty authors from the Pacific Northwest want to take you on a rollercoaster ride. Mermaids, monsters, mayhem, and madness lurk within. Have your ticket ready at the turnstile and prepare to be amazed!

Featuring stories by:
L. Wade Powers
DL Gardner
Stephen Hagelin
DK Ritchey
Jonathan Eaton
Nia Jean
Kamila Z Miller
William J. Cook
Emma Lee
Connie J. Jasperson
Roslyn McFarland
Steven C. Schneider
KateMarie Collins
Sheila Deeth
jl courtney
Suzanne Hagelin
Eric Little
S.L. Brown
Liam RW Doyle
April LaDelfa

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 6, 2018

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories headed by a poem, all set in the Pacific Northwest, are collected into an anthology with a great cover, well-planned order, and an appealing theme. The idea of a carnival is taken in many different directions, from D.L. Gardner’s evocative Ferris Wheel to Liam Doyle’s strange Harbinger. Different voices tell coming-of-age, coming-of-mystery, and coming-of-trouble. Robed figures, no rules, too many rules… it’s a cool blend of ideas and faces, and a carnival of strange ideas, filled with fascinating reads. I read this one by opening pages at random, quickly drawn in whichever page I landed on. And I really enjoyed it.

Disclosure: My review is of other entries in this collection, not my own story.

[Kerry]

This collection of short fiction and poetry from the Northwest Independent Writers Association includes literary fiction, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and romance.

A carnival blends the exotic eclectic and sometimes places it in the most mundane of locations. This would describe the offerings in this collection of indi authors. Be it an opportunity to free a mermaid from ill-intentioned carnies or sampling "out of this world" cotton candy, Carnival allows readers to step outside the ordinary or look at it in a new way.

Sometimes, people are their truest selves when disguised, and sometimes, it is the choice of and crafting of the disguise that determines destiny. Meet a "Girl on the Boardwalk" or cheer for a "Duck in a Dog Show." In "Bambi's Revenge" by Connie J. Jasperson, the wronged protagonist moves on and reclaims a bit of her own power. jl courtney's award-winning "Stark Naked" would make Rod Serling Proud.

I think April La Delfa's concluding poem sums up the feel of the anthology well. "...He would show her a likeness/she had long kept hidden..."

As stated in the NIWA Mission statement, the path of the indie author is challenging, so it is wonderful to see another group band together to create and encourage together.