Spirit Seizures: Stories

by Melissa Pritchard

Stories deal with a pregnant psychic, the ghost of Sarah Bernhardt, a woman's obsession with tribal lore, an obese model, and a woman fearful of terminal illnesses

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, School

182 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1987

About the author

FLIGHT OF THE WILD SWAN, Bellevue Literary Press,
March 2024, RB Media audiobook

- Book Award Finalist: Last Syllable, Longform Literary Journal (winner announced 12/25)
- A Favorite Book of 2024: The Washington Independent Review of Books
- 2025 Georgia Author of the Year Finalist, Literary Fiction
-* Portland Book Review, "The writing is beautiful, stark and luxuriant by turns."
_ New York Times, "Best Historical Fiction"
_ New York Sun, "A standout."
- NPR/GPB's Peter Biello, All Things Considered: "...an amazing book. Just an incredible book."
- Denver Post, "An awe-inspiring story."
_ *Publishers Weekly, starred, Featured Fiction.
_ *Kirkus Review, starred.
_ *Foreword Reviews, starred, "An inspiring novel."
- Atlanta Journal Constitution, "An addictive read..."
_ Historical Novel Society, "Powerful...a significant tribute."
_ LibraryThing Review
_ Booklist, "A compelling human portrait of an extraordinary woman."
_ Historical Novels Review, "Powerful."
- Atlanta Journal Constitution, "An addictive read..."
_ Midwest Book Review, "Exceptional."
_ BookBrowse TOP PICK, "...a tremendously written novel...a story to read, reread, and share with others."
- A "Reading with Arizona PBS selection"
- Southern Literary Review: "Rich and detailed...exceptional!"


AWARDS: 2025 Georgia Author of the Year Finalist, Flannery O'Connor, Carl Sandburg, Janet Kafka, NEA, five Pushcart and O.Henry Prizes, Barnes & Noble Great Writers Award, Carson McCullers Fellow. Fiction, non-fiction in Paris Review, Ecotone, A Public Space, Conjunctions, LitMag, Southern Review, O the Oprah Magazine, Wilson Quarterly, the Nation, Chicago Tribune, NYTBR, others. Frequently anthologized. Fiction editor: IMAGE

Reviews

[Art the Turtle of Amazing Girth · Rating 5 out of 5]

full review to come

[Sarah Joyce Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this collection of stories. Melissa Pritchard's use of precise, descriptive language opens up a visual world for the reader placing her or him in the center of each story; a witness to the unraveling of lives. The reader is given an up close and personal view of complex and beautiful characters as they struggle with the devastation and mystery of life. We can see ourselves in them and the comparison elicits feelings of loss, sadness, and yet we're left feeling hopeful too.

[Kandice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my type of book, but I can tell that it is very touching, and filled with a lot of memorable characters. It is definitely literary short stories, written with a poetic flair and filled with philosophy.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this collection!
It simmers in southwest imagery and makes me feel cozy.
Melissa is an amazing writer and this early work was just a testament of what was to come from this writer!

Amazing!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75... Very good, but not quite as good as some of the other Flannery O'Connor Award winners I've given 4's to.

[Sara]

flannery o'connor award for short fiction