Category: Short Stories/Anthologies/Novellas/Essays

“Tales of Asterra” by Michael Frank Rizzo

May 9, 2023

In “Tales of Asterra,” Penniforth Octavius Rodgers, otherwise known as Penny, narrates stories about different places, times, and people of this mystical land which is comprised of 50 different realms. The unique characters are not all mundane; some have very special gifts and abilities. Unfortunately for some, the gifts come from dark magic. In this world, there are magical serpents, trolls, dwarves, fairies, pirates, man-eating plants, and other mystical beings, some of which were previously unknown to me. … More “Tales of Asterra” by Michael Frank Rizzo

“U.P. Reader Volume #6: Bringing Upper Michigan Literature to the World” by Deborah K. Frontiera and Mikel B. Classen

April 14, 2023

Most regional publications showcase the best work of the area’s writers, and the U.P. Reader is just one among the many such publications. Featuring short stories, essays, commentary, poems and more, this magazine that is more like a booklet offers entertaining, thought-provoking and curious works to delight and enlighten readers. … More “U.P. Reader Volume #6: Bringing Upper Michigan Literature to the World” by Deborah K. Frontiera and Mikel B. Classen

“Ghost House” by Sara Connell

March 23, 2023

Ghost House is a collection of short stories by author Sara Connell and each of these stories is truly excellent. They are full of horror, hauntings, very dark humor, and surprising endings. What more could a reader want? I highly recommend the book if you enjoy this kind of story. Each of the stories offers the reader something different and all of them are spellbinding in the telling. … More “Ghost House” by Sara Connell

Meet the Author! Getting to Know Keith A. Hamilton, Author of “Nine Bear Lodge”

February 22, 2023

Keith A. Hamilton is originally from Southern Alberta. Since the early 1990’s he has been working in Indigenous Economic Development, living and working in numerous small and remote indigenous communities throughout Western and Northern Canada. He and his wife and their dog have made Bella Coola their home since 2016. He is presently serving as the CEO of the Nuxalk Nation economic development corporation. He took up writing for fun as a hobby a few years ago. … More Meet the Author! Getting to Know Keith A. Hamilton, Author of “Nine Bear Lodge”

“Nine Bear Lodge” by Keith A. Hamilton

February 1, 2023

Two men who fled the Fall of the Berlin Wall come face-to-face with their horrific past when, out of pure coincidence, they end up vacationing at the same lodge. One was a smuggler who was ruthlessly beaten and tortured by the other, who was an officer. Set in the lush forests of the Bella Coola Valley in beautiful British Columbia, the men struggle to immerse themselves in the idyllic setting due to the past rearing its ugly head. What will happen when the ex-smuggler approaches his biggest adversary? Read and find out! … More “Nine Bear Lodge” by Keith A. Hamilton

“The Guest House: Stories of a Nervous Mind” by Shannon Terrell

January 31, 2023

In The Guest House: Stories of a Nervouse Mind author Shannon Terrell has given the reader an in-depth and very personal look into a life filled with anxiety disorders and how to deal with them, and she has done it in a very honest and well-written manner. … More “The Guest House: Stories of a Nervous Mind” by Shannon Terrell

“Regrets, Love, Sex, and Life Lessons” by Melissa Owens

January 20, 2023

“Regrets, Love, Sex and Life Lessons” by Melissa Owens is a blend of bristling, real-life short stories chock full of prudent life lessons and guidance. The narration starts with an emotional recount of the author’s health journey in and out of psychiatric hospitals due to the euphoric and unusually irritable effects of her bipolar disorder condition. Her mental agitations would cause her tormenting problems and a break from reality for a long time. In one of the psychiatric hospitals, she meets a man whose interests and chemistry are undeniably beatific, but the relationship is short-lived when a tragic occurrence happens. … More “Regrets, Love, Sex, and Life Lessons” by Melissa Owens

“The Man Who Screams at Nightfall and Other Stories” by Rush Leaming

January 19, 2023

In this collection of eclectic short stories, author Rush Leaming takes the literary world by its reins by diving into the supernatural, the unsettling, and even the daring human scenarios to present readers with a unique panorama of a world most intriguing. Based on true events, Leaming’s short stories transverse across continents in countries such as The Democratic Republic of Congo, Thailand, Greece, Spain, and America bringing together experiences that range from themes such as loneliness, guilt, redemption, nostalgia, loss and love. … More “The Man Who Screams at Nightfall and Other Stories” by Rush Leaming

“The Exact Likeness of Living Persons” by Margaret J. McMaster

January 14, 2023

“The Exact Likeness of Living Persons” by Margaret J. McMaster is an eclectic collection of free writing assembled into a book you’ll want to visit again and again.

The collection is a mix of prose, short stories, poetry and even a play. As a reader, I could not figure out an identifiable sequence based on which its content was structured, but the heart of the book is people. As such, readers will find stories about characters, situations people get into, places where people lived, and things people do, among others; all reflected within the array of different artistic writing styles the author expressed herself with. From ‘the end of a marriage,’ ‘Breakfast in the Garden…,’ to a play about old age love, and ‘What Was left at The End.’ Some of these stories are complemented with cute images and pictures which makes the read even more enjoyable. … More “The Exact Likeness of Living Persons” by Margaret J. McMaster

“This Distance We Call Love” by Carol Dines

January 10, 2023

In Ms. Carol Dines book, “The Distance We Call Love” we embrace different people going through varying situations that life throws at them. With each story, the characters learn to either accept what’s happening in their lives or to adapt to change because of their changing circumstances. Each story presents the adaptability or lack of adaptability people must face in their individual lives and what the ultimate outcome is based on how they react to their unique situation. … More “This Distance We Call Love” by Carol Dines