A TWIST OF LEMON: 100 Curious Stories in Exactly 100 Words

by Arlene Duane Hemingway

"Never underestimate the power of brevity. These stories are humorous, thought-provoking, and all-too-human. They are a delight to read!" ~ Peter Goldsmith, Writer & TV Producer

"Arlene Duane Hemingway proves herself to be a gifted storyteller on many levels. Not only does she examine relationships in abundant variety, but she consistently manages this feat in exactly one hundred words." ~ Marilyn McComas, author of the poetry collection Palace of Imaginings

Wickedly funny, suspenseful, intense, and intriguing, you will be immediately drawn into to these one hundred word stories—aka “drabbles”—masterfully crafted by Arlene Duane Hemingway. Every word has been carefully chosen for style and content to create mesmerizing tales and characters. Covering a range of topics and emotions, this collection of 100 of the briefest narratives provide plenty of food for thought with enough love, hatred, malice, surprise, humor, deception, reckoning, treachery, and mystery, for all. If this is your first experience with microfiction, you will soon be hooked. If you are already a fan of the genre, prepare to be delighted.

128 pages, Paperback

Published March 27, 2020

Reviews

[Anne S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful little book and should be in every doctor's and dentist's office as well as on every coffee table in America so we can pick it up, read a story that makes us pause and think, and then get on to what else we were doing, all in five to ten minutes. One hundred word stories, or drabbles can be picked up and read in practically an instant. It is just the thing for this busy, fast-paced world. But beware, you may not be able to stop at just one. I guess I'm too wordy. Maybe that's why it amazes me that a full story can be told so succinctly, complete with beginning, rising action and denouement. It does amaze me and it can be done. I've tried it. Maybe we all should.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were so many varieties of stories, each expressing real life in different contexts, some of which I related to, others that I could not. But that isn't the fault of the author, nor does it mean those I could not relate to were any less well-written. Yet that's how we get a glimpse into other worlds, isn't it? The author flung back the curtain on the best and worst of life's tableaus and invited us in.

Her stories are crafted with great skill, and at times I was reminded of Dorothy Parker/acerbic, or O'Henry/ironic. But Ms Hemingway has a style all her own, plus the wit, wisdom and intelligence, to engage me in each story.

[Cheryl Benton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicous, delightful, and delectable. This was my first experience reading "drabbles" and I am now hooked on the genre. Arlene Duane Heminway has masterfully created 100 intriguing stories in precisely 100 word. Great stores, characters, and it covers every human emotion. Throughly enjoyable.