Autumn Paths

by Allan Hudson, Angela Wren, Sandra Bunting

Nine writers from both sides of the Atlantic, including best-selling and award-winning authors, have created this miscellany of stories.
These tales of family, mystery, intrigue, adventure, and suspense will take you across continents, through time and space in this world and others. With a linking theme of autumn, discover new landscapes, encounter new and intriguing characters, uncover secrets and lies, and witness the resolution of old enmities.
Take the first step on this roller-coaster of an emotional journey, and you won't be disappointed.

Genres: Short Stories

165 pages, Paperback

First published September 26, 2021

About the author

I live on the east coast of Canada. I'm married to a wonderful lady, Gloria.

I love reading and writing.

My short story The Ship Breakers received Honorable Mention in the Writers Federation of NB short story competition and has been selected by McGraw-Hill Ryerson to be part of their iLit collection.

In 2020, my short story, In the Abyss, received Honorable Mention in the WFNB writing Competition.

My short stories have been published in a collection titled A Box of Memories.

I have a series featuring Detective Josephine (Jo) Naylor. Book 1 - Shattered Figurine. Book 2 - Shattered Lives. Book 3 - Shattered Dreams and soon to be published, Book 4 - Shattered: The Final Act.

The Drake Alexander series, Wall of War & Vigilantes.

Historical Fiction: The Alexanders Vol. 1 1911 - 1920. The Alexanders. Vol. 2 1921 - 1925.
Father is a fictionalized version of true events during WW2.
Code Name: Iron Spear 1941 is a murder mystery set in WW2.

I am a contributor to the Path Anthology series. Autumn Paths. Winter Paths. Spring Paths.

Coming soon - One Bedroom Ark. The story of Jeb Coyne, a lonely widower and Olivia Fletcher - a seventeen year old single mother with no where to go.

I write as often as possible. I love adventure and change. I am fortunate to have a loving family and am a very happy man.

Reviews

[Joan Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Autumn Paths is a collection of nine short stories written by mostly Canadian authors. The stories are different genres, but each has a common theme—life’s pathways.

As with most collections, there are some stories that stood out to me above others. Chuck Bowie’s Footfall had an enjoyable and somewhat surprising twist at the end. I also enjoyed The Booksellers Secret Octavo by Angela Wren. The Maze by Monique Thébeau touches on a situation that is unfortunately all too common.

Each story is short enough to read during lunch break or for a quick read before turning in for the night.

[Eden Monroe]

“Original, entertaining and a darned good read, Autumn Paths, An Anthology, is a great collection of stories well told, by nine very memorable authors.”

Eden Monroe, author of Dare To Inherit, Almost Broken and more.

[Sophie Narey (Bookreview- aholic) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of amazing writers.... yes please! This is a collection of 9 short stories they are different genres so there is definitely something for everyone , they have the common link of autumn.

I loved each of the stories, of course like any collection of stories there are ones that stand out a little more to me than others , but each are unique and beautifully written. Whether you are already a fan of these authors or gave never heard of them it is a great way to read little snippets of their writing styles.

A truly great read for any time of year , and fans of any genre there is sure to be something you love in there!

[MJ LaBeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

The short stories in this collection are a mix of genres, including mystery, romance, historical, sci-fi, and adventure. They share a common theme regarding life’s paths either taken or to be taken. Don’t let the title Autumn Paths mislead you! These snappy, well-written tales are sure to delight no matter the season.

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though the title says Autumn, you can read this collection of 9 short stories any time of the year. The authors are mostly from the New Brunswick area of Canada and the collection of genres is varied.

I have never read any works by these authors but I found each story to be entertaining in its own unique way. This was a perfect read to enjoy a sampling of genres with genres ranging from science fiction to thriller to adventure and other works of thought provoking fiction.

I love anthology collections as a change of pace after reading a longer or heavier novel and these stories were a perfect reset for me.

I enjoyed all the stories but I
want to highlight a few.

All book lovers will enjoy, “The Bookseller’s Secret Octavo” by Angela Wren which tells about a house being renovated and a secret room filled with books.

“The Path to Redemption” by Pierre C Arseneault tells about a man returning back home to bitter memories.

Thriller lovers will enjoy “Path To Nowhere” by Angella Cormier about a jogger that is being followed.

This collection has something for everyone and has given me a new group of authors to be on the look out for!

[Sally Cronin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the theme of all the stories is ‘Autumn’ the stories showcase a number of genres including sci-fi, YA, thriller, mystery and dystopian. This provides and excellent collection with something for everyone.. and an introduction to genres you perhaps might not read normally. The authors did a wonderful job creating engaging and thought provoking stories around the central theme.

I enjoyed them all and if I was to mention just one or two to highlight it would be Winter Tar by Jeremy Thomas Gilmer – a glimpse into an Ireland in a post-apocalyptic world of the return of the Viking raids. And The Path to Redemption by Pierre C. Arseneault which will strike a chord for anyone who returns home out of necessity when all they wish to do is leave their past behind.

If you are looking for a well-written multi-genre collection to enjoy then I have no hesitation in recommending.

[Pierre C. Arseneault · Rating 5 out of 5]

It might seem pompous to rate this book as I'm one of the author's in it, but this is for my co-author's contributions.

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read and enjoyed novels and previous short stories from author Angela Wren, I was tempted by this collection, even though it I knew it was going to be something a little different from my usual reads and with only a small connection to France.

A good short story needs to draw me into its character’s lives immediately, give me a mystery or some fast-paced action, and then tie up all the loose ends in a neat conclusion that leaves me satisfied. This collection might have deviated from my normal reads, but I enjoyed the variety of scenarios and plot twists. Each story introduced me to a different set of characters in a different location (including the life of a bookseller in France), as well as visiting different eras too. There were sad times and hardships, revenge and reconciliation, fantasy, history and so much more. Some of the stories left me wanting more, some let my mind wander as I imagined more, and one in particular left me with a huge grin on my face.

I was right to take the chance on this book and found it refreshingly different.

Autumn Paths would be a great choice if you are looking for a book that is easy to dip in and out of at the end of a busy day.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is always interesting when a group of authors contribute to an anthology that goes on to have some genuine riches. The only theme that links these nine stories, each one a success in terms of exposing some truth or insight, is autumn. The writers are a group from both sides of the Atlantic called “Seasonal Collective”. While here in Britain we are presently a long way from our season of Autumn, this collection of stories can be read and enjoyed at any time, as often autumn is a motif, a metaphor that does not define the story, but adds greatly to its richness. This book contains nine stand alone stories, one or two refer to characters who appear in other writings by the author concerned, but no prior knowledge of anyone’s work is required. These stories undoubtedly act as a taster for the work of the author responsible, but are never merely a trailer but are fully formed tales in their own right. Each story is followed by a short biography of the author, which is useful rather than relegating such details to the back of the book.

As always with a short story that works for the reader, it is necessary to include something of the setting, the context, the characters and a satisfying resolution to a narrative that holds together. As a reader of short stories I found each of these demands were met in the stories in this volume, and I was successfully whisked to and from various places and even times by each writer. Accordingly I was pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this Anthology.

The first story by Sandra Bunting looks at how life can shape people and how they can shape their own lives and adventures over decades. Pierre C. Arseneault looks at how a sense of place can affect one’s perspective of a life. Chuck Bowie takes two established characters and places them in close proximity to see what happens in an action packed story that contains surprises. S.C. Eston writes of a world dominated and defined by technology with references to a natural world of leaves and human feelings. Angela Wren, in my favourite story of books and secrets in France, develops the idea of a relationship through a hunt for the unknown. “The Maze” by Monique Thebeau looks at the relationships between adults and children when life can seem desperate. A very different setting and outcome is explored in a post apocalypse land of “Winter Tar” by Jeremy Thomas Gilmer. Another favourite is the story of curious children in “Warriors and Trickery” by Allan Hudson which looks at the dynamics of serious play and surprising adults. The final story, “Path to Nowhere” by Angella Cormier has an inner dynamic and surprises for the unwary reader.

Thus this is a collection of mainly contemporary stories that have much to say about the human condition in sometimes extreme circumstances as well as less dramatic but no less effective situations. It is a fascinating Anthology with some very individual perspectives expressed, and altogether it is a powerful read.

[Jennifer Bourque (ButterflyReader77) · Rating 4 out of 5]

**** 4 Stars ****

"Autumn Paths" was an enjoyable anthology of short stories that all focus around the paths of life, that just happen to follow the Autumn theme. There are a wide array of genres including science fiction, historical fiction, crime drama, humour, and thriller. I love anthologies and I quite enjoyed this one and it was an added bonus that the authors all live in my home province New Brunswick, Canada.

Nine Canadian authors contributed stories and I was truly entertained by each of the stories, but I do have to give a shout out to one particular story. That story is "Footfall" by Chuck Bowie. I loved the twist at the end of his story and I am excited to read more of his books; as well as the books of all of the authors from this anthology.

This anthology includes stories from Allan Hudson, Monique Thebeau, Angela Wren, Angela Cormier, Chuck Bowie, SC Eston, Sandra Bunting, Pierre C. Aresenault, and Jeremy Thomas Gilmer.

The second book to this series is titled "Winter Paths" and I am looking forward to reading those stories as well.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of anthologies because they allow me to read a few new-to-me authors, all in one sitting. The theme of these stories is ‘autumn,’ shown through a number of genres. We have sc-fi, thriller, mystery, dystopian, YA, romance, adventure…there’s a little bit of something for everyone here.

It’s hard for me to select a favorite because each story is brilliant on its own. I love that each story has a common theme but each author took that theme in such a unique direction. This has given me a list of authors to check out and another anthology to add to my list of books to re-read again.

I highly recommend this. I think there’s a story in here for every reader. Fantastic writing and really unique plots. Loved this!

Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.

[Allan Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been a wonderful experience for me. To be sharing my story with eight other accomplished authors make me proud and humble to be included. The stories are great. There is something for all readers.

[Bookshortie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an anthology of nine short stories which feature different genres that take place in different countries which all centre around the theme of autumn. As all of the stories differed in theme this was ideal to pick up after a long day at work when you want to read but are unsure as to how much you want to read. One of my favourite aspects of this book is that after each story there was a little author bio which I quite liked as it helped me to connect with the story and the author. As a mood reader I liked the fact that as this was an anthology of short stories if gave me the opportunity to pick the story I read rather than read the stories in the order that they appeared in the book. In this book, the contents page includes the title of the story and a short description as to what it was about which I found really helpful because I then picked the story that I was in the mood to read. I enjoyed all of stories but the one that stuck out was The Bookseller’s Secret Octavo which I found fascinating and would have happily read a full novel about this story.

The perfect read for autumn or any season for that matter.

[Sandra Bunting · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am one of the nine authors on this anthology and am so proud to be part of this. Won't you join me on the path - a real variety of interesting stories

[Hannah State · Rating 5 out of 5]

This enticing collection of short stories is sure to uplift, inspire, and satisfy hungry readers. With tales from multiple genres including adventure, mystery, sci-fi, and more, you'll find something for everyone. I very much enjoyed the variety and impressive quality of the storytelling. Every story was developed and executed well, and each author brought a unique perspective and writing style to the collection. Autumn is the underlying theme, but these stories are perfect to read any time of the year. I look forward to reading more stories by these talented authors.