Short Story lovers discussion

My new book actually exists; got my copies of it yesterday in the mail! If anyone is interested, here is the Goodreads page:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13...

And here is the Amazon page:

http://www.amazon.com/Ohio-State-Priz...

My short collection, Curiosity Killed the Sphinx and Other Stories was just released by Press Americana.

*Oct. 5 update - GIVEAWAY of 3 copies. Enter through Nov. 5
http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...



It's available at Barnes & Noble and at Amazon.com in paperback.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/curio...

http://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-Kille...

The Kindle edition is also available:

http://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-Kille...

I'm working on a collection of stories set in the mythical town of Marville, OK and have released the first one (and probably subsequent ones as well) as Kindle stories. I hope to have the book completed by the end of 2012.

A Bit Light is available here:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007Z3RZ8K

as is my flash fiction story Spinning:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007RECRQW

and while I know this is the short story section I tend to think of poems as very short stories, as are songs/lyrics. My poetry collection No Longer Dressed in Black was released in April 2012:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007SQ9JYC



Enjoy!

Congratulations! (laced with envy, but I bought it and am looking forward to reading it.)
Chris

Some of you may (or may not) be interested in my latest blog post: A Dream About Robert Aickman

http://jameseverington.blogspot.co.uk...

I've edited the title of this thread--since we're all dropping promotions here, it didn't make sense to have my name and the title of my book in the title of the thread.

However (or: Accordingly), I'll mention that the Kindle edition of my book came out this week.

Thank you sir! And congrats!

Yeaa, I've been waiting.

I know I said I bought it. That's what comes from stretching the truth. I meant I was going right to Amazon to buy it, but then it wasn't on Kindle so I waited. NOW I can say I bought it. Can't wait. I just read the Hunger Games (don't bother) and the NF garden book by Michelle Obama, (really good-thought it would be all pictures, but it wasn't--and she can write, too) so I'm ready for your stories, Geoff.

Chris: Thanks so much for buying the book. I don't know much about Kindle and hope that the book looks decent in that form. It's a handsome little number (if I do say so myself) in its paper form.

Yes, I like the cover. It will show up in black and white on the Kindle, but it's on Amazon. I gave/give away all but a few of my books because I like my Kindle so much.

I just haven't made that jump yet. I still like all the sensory parts of handling a paper book.

Geoff, in awe of first story. How the heck did you get inside that head? I gave up the 'thrill' of football weekends (UGA Bulldogs) when I went back to work in the eighties and discovered beautiful, quiet afternoons in the fall were not to be wasted. My negative feelings about the acceptance of injury and the 'win' mentality and reading your excellent look into what passes for wisdom passed on to young minds-- on the heels of the Penn State tragedy-- I think I'll read something light next. War and Peace, maybe.

I read the second story twice because the end came too quickly, and I wanted to read it again for more depth reading. I spent years recording for the blind, and sometimes I read too fast, even silently. Blessing or curse? Probably both. I'm stalling. trying to think of an adjective. All the overused ones apply, like powerful, insightful, etc., you know the ones, but maybe 'blown away' to use the vernacular. I write short stories, too, and I struggle sometimes, so I can appreciate your expertise. I plan to savor them one at a time, so expect more comment.
Chris

Chris, wow, thanks for your careful, kind response to those stories. Heavier than War and Peace: maybe I can use that as a blurb on my next book. . . .

I never know quite how to respond to praise--I'm much more attuned to my own flaws--but thank you, thank you.

Victoria Dragon Part II

Check out my new short story featured in The Cross And The Cosmos ezine. Victoria Dragon Part II is the exciting conclusion to Victoria and her tribe of Amazons.

Do you like Amazons, human hunting machines, post apocalyptic world and mermaids? This is a story for you. Did I mention that it's free?

http://crossandcosmos.com/

http://jacoblindaman.com/

My latest short fiction is currently available for FREE on Amazon at http://amzn.to/Q5GEoM for US readers and at http://amzn.to/M6GCaZ in the UK...

Was the perfidious Mister Wickham in fact responsible for the happy marriages of Elinor and Marianne Dashwood?

This story explains the full story behind Colonel Brandon's cryptic remark to Miss Dashwood - "We met by appointment, he to defend, I to punish his conduct."

This is the review of my book that will run in the Times-Picayune this weekend: http://www.nola.com/books/index.ssf/2...

Excellent Geoff!

My short story is available for both the Kindle and Nook for FREE!

It is a story about a girl that has a comfortable life until she finds out her family is moving out-of-state. Instantly her entire life is disrupted. She has to leave the only life she has ever known behind. Not only does that mean every friend she has ever had, but she has to leave her boyfriend. They refuse to let it be the end of their relationship, but the long distance makes things a lot more difficult than they ever thought it would.

Check it out to see what happens at:

Amazon

or

Barnes & Noble

What do you have to lose...IT'S FREE!

Geoff wrote: "This is the review of my book that will run in the Times-Picayune this weekend: http://www.nola.com/books/index.ssf/2..."

Even the review was well done and I agree with him. Liked his examples to prove his assessment. I've read two more stories and I'm totally amazed at your 'people observations,' and the underlying humor. The examples I found led me to believe I missed some and I want to go back searching. I lost it at 'but urinalysis and the M.M.P.I. both indicate toxic levels of rancor.' and 'Clean goggles please.' Can I be your friend? I want to be able to tell my friends (who are leaving me with ever increasing speed--I'm 80.) that I have a new friend with a wicked sense of humor. I'm sorry that you have to compete in a writing world with so much inferior stuff. I'll tell you what my mother--1889-1949- would say, "Cream always rises to the top."
I'm ready to read more, yet don't want to get to the end. Also want to respond to each story because I like to review.
Chris

Thanks for your incredibly generous comments, Chris--I'm so glad you're enjoying it.

A person probably can't judge his own writing anyway, but it's the supposed-to-be funny parts that I'm least able to judge--I just can't tell anymore whether they're funny. By the time you've revised 20 or 30 times, the joke has gone out of it, you know?

Delaney expects it will be difficult to convince her father to leave behind his career as a pro-wrestler and get a normal job; but what she doesn’t expect is that he’ll be accused of murder in the process. Will she be able to sort through a cast of quirky characters to find the real murderer, or will she find herself on the wrong side of the ropes?

Here's what readers say ~ "A quick and entertaining read..." "...fun, quirky, and nothing like I expected..."

Murder on the Ropes ~ "This isn't staged pro-wrestling, this is down-and-dirty grappling with a murder chaser."

Purchase from publisher: http://bit.ly/JYXxzb
Purchase from Amazon: http://amzn.to/NtSQvl

If Montana intrigues you, check out my short story inspired by a unique Montana town near Glacier Park! FREE on Amazon Kindle through September 24th! Download this short suspense story for FREE: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009DNY35I. Enjoy! Love us some short stories!!! :)

My short story collection, Strange Love - Short Stories and Twisted Tales is available through Barnes and Noble, my CreateSpace estore: https://www.createspace.com/3897326 and Amazon:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Strange-Love-... , and is also available as an ebook: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008KGT83G . I will warn that these stories are not for the faint hearted, while not horror they are very dark, and probably not suitable for lovers of traditional romance stories. The next book in the Strange Tales collection will be out soon, watch this space!

Geoff wrote: "Thanks for your incredibly generous comments, Chris--I'm so glad you're enjoying it.

A person probably can't judge his own writing anyway, but it's the supposed-to-be funny parts that I'm least ..."

I finished the book several weeks ago and then got so busy I wasn't even reading, much less evaluating. I can say even from this distance that I like your ability to become someone else. More later. Don't give up on me. You've had critiques from some with much more authority/experience than I have, but I'm your public and I like your stories. Not all of them, understand, but most of them and I'll be more specific.

p.s. Finally got one published, In May but they neglected to tell me the date. Here's the link. I hope you like it. Your opinion matters. http://deepsouthmag.com/2012/05/true-...

Thrilled to place second in the 2012 Raymond Carver Story Story Contest. Here's the link. It will also appear in print with an interview. Comes out today!

http://carvezine.com/2012-fall-paloni/

Congratulations to you, Jodi! That's no small honor. A friend of mine was published in Carve a few years ago, and I looked the mag over pretty closely at the time--they do good work. I'll sneak in the time to read the story during this next week.

Thanks, Geoff.

Jodi wrote: "Thrilled to place second in the 2012 Raymond Carver Story Story Contest. Here's the link. It will also appear in print with an interview. Comes out today!

http://carvezine.com/2012-fall-paloni/"
How exciting? I just had my first story published and feel like a different person. I read your story and really liked it. You have a way of getting inside the head of your characters in a very subtle way. Geoff's stories have that quality, too, but he makes them forceful and raw.
Congratulations on the win, Jodi.
Chris

Chris,

Thank you so much for reading and taking the time to comment.

I read your piece in Deep South. I admire stories that weave place and nature with character and plot and you have done that well. I also found it quite remarkable how much tension I felt in a seemingly "quiet" piece.

And then, the ending. A change in POV and a reminder of how we are creating illusions everyday, seeing what we want to see, etc.. What a surprise!

Jodi

Jodi wrote: "Chris,

Thank you so much for reading and taking the time to comment.

I read your piece in Deep South. I admire stories that weave place and nature with character and plot and you have done that ..."

Thanks, Jodi

The Kindle version of my book of short stories "Shadows of Lost Time" is free till 9th October. Here is the amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/Shadows-of-Lost...

Please read the book. And if you like it, please put up a review on Amazon/Good Reads.

This is what the book is about:

"Shadows of Lost Time" is a collection of short stories. It is divided into 3 sections: The Past, The Present and The Future. The first section has 6 stories based on historical people or events. I have fictionalized certain aspects to present an alternative perspective of history. The second section has 2 stories based in the modern city of Delhi. The last section has two stories which try to explain some scientific mysteries of today using stories set in the future.

More details available on Amazon.

"Love Travels Forever" has just been released and is available now on Amazon for $1.99 in kindle eBook. It’s one of my most personal efforts . . . an inspiring collection of seventeen stories filled with romance and passion, the hopeful innocence of youth, and a love so strong it transcends the mortality of life.

Amazon link:

US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009X1OFVC

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Travels-...

Here are just a few of the people you’ll meet:

Evan and Frankie, a loving couple traveling through life hand-in-hand, are unaware that the shadow of fate is about to tear them apart. Helpless to change their shortened future together, one of them makes a promise—a promise of devotion and courage, honoring a love that surpasses the boundaries of time.

Mark and Janice, the perfect couple with the perfect life, are on the threshold of finally seeing their dreams come true—until an unexpected circumstance changes their lives forever.

Danny, a young soldier fresh out of boot-camp, is desperate to find a way to travel home and marry his sweetheart before being shipped overseas. Stranded in a train station on a three day pass with no hope in sight, Danny meets Wanda, an incredible woman who vows to find a way to bring Danny and his fiance together.

Nora and Georgia are two eight-year-old best friends who share giggles, dolls, and secrets. But when one of them faces sudden danger, the other responds with an unconditional act of love and forges a lifelong bond between them unaffected by fear or prejudice.

So find a quiet spot, get comfy, and grab a box of Kleenex. You’re about to take an unforgettable journey of the heart, to a place where compassion and hope have no limits, and where love continues to travel forever.

Hopefully, I’ve piqued your interest and you’ll consider adding "Love Travels Forever" to your eBook reader.

Amazon link to “Love Travels Forever”

US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009X1OFVC

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Travels-...

Many thanks,
Jaye Frances
www.jayefrances.com
http://blog.jayefrances.com
http://www.facebook.com/jayefrancesau...
http://www.amazon.com/author/www.jaye...
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

Jaye Frances

Love Travels Forever

Here are my eBook Giveaways and update for the week:

There’s still time to enter Halloween Spooktacular at Romance Book Junkies. Drop by and read a scary morsel of my paranormal-occult romance novel “The Kure” and enter the giveaway for a free kindle eBook. Here’s the link:

http://www.romancebookjunkies.com/201...

The Kure



Contest ends 10/31/12

Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews is featuring three eBook giveaways:

For an unnerving sampling of my sci-fi supernatural tale “The Beach” follow this link:

http://lauriethoughts-reviews.blogspo...

The Beach



Contest ends November 10

“The Possibilities of Amy,” my coming-of-age romance novella about high school dating and relationships is featured here:

http://lauries-interviews.blogspot.co...

The Possibilities of Amy



Contest ends November 3

And if you like twisting, edgy adult satire told from the male point of view, batten down the hatches and get ready to sail the bumpy seas of romance with Dean in “The Cruise-All That Glitters.” Here’s the link:

http://lauries-interviews.blogspot.co...

The Cruise - All That Glitters



Contest ends November 17

Finally, my new book, “Love Travels Forever” was released last week on Amazon. This collection of my favorite short stories and essays is one of my most personal efforts. Here’s the link:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009X1OFVC

Love Travels Forever



Have a great week, and keep reading!

Jaye Frances
www.jayefrances.com
http://www.facebook.com/jayefrancesau...
http://blog.jayefrances.com

Jaye Frances

Hi, everyone! Here are my eBook Giveaways and updates for the week:

To kick off the release of “Love Travels Forever,” the following book review sites are featuring sneak peek excerpts along with a few eBook Giveaway Contests:

To Read or Not To Read – Contest ends November 9:
Link: http://www.2readornot2read.com/2012/1...

Bibliophilic Book Blog – Contest ends November 19
Link: http://www.bibliophilicbookblog.com/2...

Unwritten by Mysti Parker:
http://mystiparker.blogspot.com/2012/...

Love Travels Forever



“Love Travels Forever” is available now on Amazon for $1.99
Here are the links:

US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009X1OFVC

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Travels-..."

Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews is hosting eBook Giveaways for both “The Beach” and “The Cruise-All That Glitters”

“The Beach” is a sci-fi supernatural tale about a man who is given the opportunity to change his life. The book also includes the suspense thriller, “Short Time”

http://lauriethoughts-reviews.blogspo...

The Beach



Contest ends November 10

“The Beach” is available now on Amazon for $1.99
Here are the links:

US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008X76CD6

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Beach-ebo...

For a twisting, edgy adult satire told from the male point of view, batten down the hatches and sail the bumpy seas of romance with Dean in “The Cruise-All That Glitters.”

http://lauries-interviews.blogspot.co...

The Cruise - All That Glitters



Contest ends November 17

“The Cruise-All That Glitters” is available now on Amazon for $1.99
Here are the links:

US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081IST8S

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Cruise-Th...

Have a great week, and enjoy the reads!

Jaye Frances
www.jayefrances.com
http://www.facebook.com/jayefrancesau...
http://blog.jayefrances.com

Jaye Frances

Hi guys,
My short story collection Strange Love - Short Stories and Twisted Tales is available to download for your kindle FREE this weekend (10th-11th Nov 2012).
10 short dark fairytaleish short stories and flash fiction pieces all surrounding the theme of love, how it makes us and breaks us. You wont find any traditional romances here, just quirky viewpoints and chilling love tales. Enjoy :~D

My book, "Shadows of Lost Time" is free on Amazon till 28th Feb:

http://www.amazon.com/Shadows-of-Lost...

This is a collection of short stories. It is divided into 3 sections: The Past, The Present and The Future. The first section has 6 stories based on historical people or events. I have fictionalized certain aspects to present an alternative perspective of history. The second section has 2 stories based in the modern city of Delhi. The last section has two stories which try to explain some scientific mysteries of today using stories set in the future.

Hildie at the Ghost Shore is my newest short story and published today at FICTION365. This is a historical piece set in Belgium, in 1700s, with supernatural elements. Fiction365 is a quiet ezine that is gaining more popularity on the Internet.

http://www.fiction365.com/
http://paulacappa.wordpress.com/

Having just joined this group, I thought I'd put up my recent publications.

Available FREE:

"Evaporated Government" http://apodispublishing.com/fusion/pa...

Available for the Kindle:

"Unto Us a Child is Born," in current issue of Old Hedgy Times:

http://www.amazon.com/Hedgy-Times-Iss...

Any Edith Wharton fans out there? This week on my blog Tuesday's Tale of Terror, I'm featuring her short story AFTERWARD.

If you like haunted house stories, this one is a psychological twister.

http://paulacappa.wordpress.com/

Hi folks, I just published an unusual short story anthology called "A Plague of Dreams" the first volume in the Dreamwood Tales series.
What's unusual is that each story is unique and crosses several genres.
People who've read it seem to like being able to jump from one world to a completely new world in the next story.

http://www.amazon.com/Plague-Dreams-D...

or, if you prefer good old fashioned paperback:

http://www.amazon.com/Plague-Dreams-D...

I just joined so I'll be lurking in threads here and there.

looking forward to talking to other short story fans.

OH! I almost forgot. You can read one of the short stories from the book for FREE on my blog:

http://dreamwoodtales.wordpress.com/f...

Horror in Abasteron House.

Every Day Fiction has published my flash fiction "Abasteron House" in their March issue.

http://paulacappa.wordpress.com/

My short story collection SURVIVAL SKILLS is now available.

www.ashlandcreekpress.com/books/survi...

http://www.amazon.com/Survival-Skills...

NOTE: this offer is now over, my bell curve is fixed, yay ! or not so yay! depending on how you view it.


---------
I'm humbled by all the reviews of my book, how kind and glowy they are.
I'm especially glad it's getting into the hands of people that enjoy it... that's the main thing.

I wrote the stories with the idea of writing a story that *I* would like to read. I'm glad others like them.

Now, here's the challenge: So far, this is NOT a bell curve. Everyone is liking it. On the one hand, fantastic, on the other, its not believable. So that means I need more people to review it and maybe even not like it. Otherwise, this is looking weirdly nonstatistical (no such word, I know).

SO, if any of you want a free review copy so you can add to the bell curve, and give an HONEST review, even if you don't like it, please message me and I'll get one to you somehow. I'm out of paperbacks at the moment, I need to order some more, but ebooks are easy to send out. Thanks! This doesn't mean you should TRY not to like it, it just means I want a wider statistical sample.

Or else, god forbid, I just got lucky and on my first jump out of the gate made a universally likable book (which so does not fit my usual karma, so forgive me if I'm suspicious)


ok, this is probably the weirdest request ever, but here's the deal. I'd like to get at least 10 more HONEST reviews so I personally can feel better about the sample.

I won't be ordering in more paperbacks for at least a couple of weeks due to my own logistics, but I can send ebooks in any format, .mobi, .doc, ebook, you name it. Just message me with an email to send it to you.

thanks for even considering this bizarre experiment!

-----------------

NOTE: this offer is now over, my bell curve is fixed, yay ! or not so yay! depending on how you view it.

Zombie Hunting Bites will be FREE on Amazon Tuesday April 16, 2013...
http://www.amazon.com/Zombie-Hunting-...

Sounds interesting, I'll check it out!

From now until the end of May, if you purchase either the ebook or paperback version from Amazon of My short story anthology "A Plague of Dreams", and then send me your snailmail at my email, I will send you a signed, humorously drawn dragon (which relates to one of the stories in the book) personalized to you, on a postcard.
Proof of purchase is desired, but not required, if you tell me what day you purchased it.

Is this a good, kosher idea for a DEAL? I have no idea. someone let me know if it's not.

Add me as a friend and I'll give you my email.

For one thing, this is a nice way to get the author's signature (AND DRAWING!) even if you purchase the electronic book!

For group members, you can download my short story collection NINE ROMANTIC STORIES (reference to Salinger, intentional) for free from Smashwords, using coupon code KF29B

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...

Free download:


http://sharavega.com/demo/Reverie%20-...

"The Tell-Tale Trunk" - a contemporary reworking of Edgar Allan Poe's classic short story "The Tell-Tale Heart":
US - http://www.amazon.com/The-Tell-Tale-T...
UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Tell-Tale...
Best wishes, Stephen Livingston.