Witness Testimony and Other Tales

by P.A. O'Neil

Some authors paint such vivid pictures with their words that the reader feels as though he or she is actually present, a silent observer or phantom, almost participating in the events of a tale. Such an author is P. A. O’Neil — but that’s not there’s a powerful golden thread of charm or warmth or humanity that runs through her stories too. Not to mention that within these pages you’ll also encounter Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes and more, and venture to as far-flung places as Venice, Vancouver Island and Faerie.With a Foreword by Steve Carr.P.A. O’Neil has been writing professionally for four years. In that time, her stories have been featured in multiple anthologies (many of them international best-sellers), as well as on-line journals and magazines from several continents. She and her husband reside in Olympia, Washington, with her adult children living nearby.

294 pages, Paperback

Published May 4, 2020

About the author

P.A. O’Neil’s stories have been featured in over forty anthologies, on-line journals, and magazines. She and her husband reside in Thurston County, Washington. A collection of her stories, Witness Testimony and Other Tales, is available on Amazon. She was the winner of the 2023 Mustang Flash Fiction Award with her story, “The Great Burro Revolt.” Her article, “Northwest Passage,” about the Ellensburg, Washington Rodeo from the Summer 2022 issue of Saddlebag Dispatches won fourth place in Western nonfiction at the 2023 Will Rogers Medallion Award national competition. For links to books which feature her stories, please visit her Amazon author page: P.A. O’Neil.

Reviews

[Peter Astle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful collection of short stories told with a unique voice.

Witness Testimony covers a wide range of genres, but the voice shines through each one. If variety is the spice of life, Witness Testimony and Other Tales has it in spades. The joy of such a huge literary selection box is that you are almost spoilt for choice. As with all short story collections, I read this one out of sequence, choosing titles that appealed to me first and then sampling the others afterwards. In the end it didn’t matter.

All the stories worked wonderfully well in different ways, sustained by the confident writing style and that unique voice. Well worth a buy. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Elaine Marie Carnegie-Padgett Author · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eclectic and entertaining collection. I am not usually a fan of short story compilations preferring to sink my teeth into another world for days at a time, but I loved this book. I was moved by “Miss Cluny Remembers,” and I hated to see it end. I loved the “Augusta Spaulding Matter,” and "The Bullfighter's Waltz." Mick instructing Dalton in the 8 Second Dance, it’s hard for a Texas girl not to picture the humor of those two cowboys out by the stock gates.
P A O’Neill’s diverse stories constructed one after another to reveal a glimpse into another time, another life complete with the imagery and emotion that make the reading excellent; and make you return to that Author’s works again and again. I highly recommend it!

[Dave Spillane · Rating 5 out of 5]

P.A O’Neil has a certain way with words that is hard to find in any other writer I’ve read. Dreamlike, otherworldly, and yet somehow rooted in the here and now. She writes of tenderness, loneliness, hope, and the everyday needs of the everyday person. And just as you think well this is very nice, WALLOP! - she floors you with a twist that will stay with you for a very long time.

My favourite in this collection is ‘Miss Cluny Remembers’. The story of a girl born to plantation slaves in the 1950s. She is recollecting an important event in her childhood. Just read it and be blown away by O’Neil’s grasp of human nature.

Highly recommended.

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Every Story Exceptional!

P.A.O'Neil fills every story with real human interactions and emotions, relatable to everyday life. Tenderness, common human hopes, loneliness, love. I especially enjoyed, "Miss Cluny Remembers". And, although a murderer/suicide story, "Witnesses and Testimony" touched my heart in unexpected ways. I highly recommend this lovely collection of stories.

[Carol E. Downs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought Provoking

Random tales of regular people with a personal insight on their individual perspectives makes these vignettes unforgettable. The commonplace becomes the singular under Ms. O’Neil’s transformative pen.

[Jim Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first story about a Christmas to remember (for maybe not the happiest of reasons), to the stunning final story set in a prison, this collection drew me in on the strength of the author’s strong writing and sensitive portrayal of her characters. P. A. O‘Neil has a wide-ranging imagination that is evident throughout this eclectic and far reaching collection. There are even two mysteries. One, “The Case of the Venetian Glass” is a spot-on Sherlock Holmes mystery written, of course, from the point of view of Dr. Watson. Then there’s a superb murder mystery “The Augusta Spaulding Matter” which is set at a romance writers conference. One of my favorites in this excellent collection was “The Bullfighter’s Waltz.” When was the last time you read a story about the rodeo? It’d been a long time for me, if ever, but I’ve been to a few. The author captured beautifully the sights and sounds of the rodeo circuit, which was one thing, but the story about the friendship that developed between the upstart newcomer and the aging rodeo clown, a one-time champion bull rider himself, was heartfelt, sensitively drawn and a delight to read. In fact, all of the stories in this marvelous collection are like that. P. A. O’Neil creates imaginative stories and uses words judiciously to paint beautiful portraits of the nuances of everyday life. I was often nodding along because I could relate so well to the emotions at play in the subject material. These stories are superbly written and I loved every one of them. I seriously didn’t want the collection to end, and I’d read more of P. A. O’Neil’s work in a heartbeat. Highly recommended.

[P.C. Darkcliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witness Testimony and Other Tales has proven that P.A. is an accomplished and all-around writer, who can effortlessly plunge into any style—and take you along with her. You can find anything in her collection of stories from Sherlockian mystery, through various contemporary pieces to hard-boiled fantasy. If you like a book that takes you to different worlds and epochs, Witness Testimony is the right thing for you.

[Diana Kathryn Penn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Witness Testimony was an interesting and engaging collection of short stories. When I first began reading, I found it difficult to ease into a reading rhythm because I had expectations, based on the title and cover. I opened this book preparing for the intrigue of courtroom drama, legal thrills, and witness interactions. However, that’s not what I found, so starting out was slow going for me.

By the time I reached the second half of the book, I let go of my preconceived notions. Once I accepted that these stories, though not bound legally together, were indeed witness accounts of life, it then became easier for me to relax into the absence of pattern and enjoy the journey. Actually, the author allowed the reader to be the witness to a cross section of humanity with all its solaces, uneasiness, and eccentricities. Taken from that interpretation, the collection made sense. My strongest critique would be that the title and cover art set me up for a predisposition against that experience, initially.

Overall, this was an enjoyable book. Here are a few of my favorite stories from this collection:

The Bullfighter’s Waltz was a curiosity. A story that connects emotionally in a setting where emotion is not the expectation, was a pleasant surprise. I felt that I could easily relate to these characters, even though their day-to-day is very distant from my own. The humanity of this story was felt, rather than read. That was nice.

The Matchmaker’s Reward entertained with a bit of fantasy. This is one story that left me wanting more. For me, it read perhaps as a last chapter for a larger novel… and perhaps it is… I hope it is. A bunch of questions were left unanswered, and I wanted to know more about the character’s history and their future. I wanted to know more about the magic and the rules behind how it is used, or how it isn’t. I enjoyed this story very much. It felt a little like a “Pat The Bunny” book for adults… a few words gave the reader so many tactile experiences, it left me wanting to learn more.

The Sending was tremendously poignant for me. Everything about this story, the why behind it, and the minute details of spirituality, evoked something akin to a universal understanding. This story was delicate and powerful simultaneously. It offered just enough to allow for emotional transference, but not quite enough to lose the intellectual intensity of the moment. That duality, for me, made it a great read.
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I recommend this book to readers who enjoy the sensation of being a fly on the wall. These are tales experienced through the expression of the temperature of the room, rather than the cold distance of reporting.

[Katharina Manassis · Rating 5 out of 5]

P.A. O’Neill gives the reader quite a ride in this diverse collection of short stories. All are meticulously researched with engaging characters and plot lines. Some have interesting or humorous twists at the end, a la O. Henry; others result in the protagonist learning something new about themselves. My favorite ones though are those where an initially off-putting character changes, allowing their better nature to shine through at the end. It speaks to the author’s faith (which I share) in the potential for good in all of us, a very hopeful comment on humanity.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are tales from a master storyteller. A Christmas memorable perhaps for all the wrong reasons, a tale set in a prison. The down to earth characters may be heroic, bullying, kind and generous or possibly capable of murder. The characters in the title tale face up to an impossible, heartbreaking choice. My favourite tale, The Bullfighter’s Waltz, exposes the rough and tough world behind the scenes at a rodeo. A five star collection.

[Judith Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy books with surprise endings, plot twists and engaging circumstances. Ms. O'Neil really delivered those in this book. Each story captivated my interest from the beginning. The writing is very good and characters seem to spring to life from the pages. There is also a broad variety of tales from many locales, which I'm sure would attract many readers. I'm looking forward to reading more from this talented author!

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a refreshing collection of tales with twists and turns and unexpected endings. The way the stories flow remind me of remind me of the joy of reading Reader’s Digest decades ago, yet these stories are told with open-mindedness and embrace modern ideologies. I loved it.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll be honest, I'm not a huge fan of short story compilations, but I bought Ms. O'Neil's collection awhile back and finally finished it. I was amazed at her stories and impressed with her imagination, knowledge and detail.

She did an amazing job writing these stories. Props to her for this amazing collection.