The Contrary Canadian

Tags

Author Karen Cote', Chase Enterprises Publishing, Great Short Stories, Strangely different short stories

 

 

 

 

 

Author Karen Cote’ presents Writers on the Wrong Side of the Road, a collection of short stories by authors from around the world. These stories were derived from the instruction to write something really different. Then, we took away the rules and let them write whatever the hell they liked. Here is some of what we got, and there’s more inside the covers…

 

HOLD-UP by Lucille Robinson

A rapist learns why crime doesn’t pay—will he survive the lesson?

* Partial Review on Amazon: This story is thoughtful and well-written. I liked the premise a lot, but would have liked to have read more. The ending was justifiably abrupt, but it did leave the story feeling somehow incomplete. Nonetheless, it’s a good, short read.

 

JUDGMENT DAY by Angelika Devlyn

An injured woman falls into the hands of a psychic psychopath.

 

FOR ART’S SAKE by Elizabeth Coldwell

Just what is Danni prepared to do for Art’s Sake?

* Partial Review on Amazon: I don’t claim spanking as one of my turn-ons, but I enjoyed this erotic piece all the same. The story is well-written and cohesive and moves to a satisfying ending.

 

SIMON SEEKS by Nathan L. Yocum

Gotta find someone, go to Simon Craig. But don’t get on his bad side.

* Partial Review on Amazon: This story is executed beautifully, offering creative visuals and awesome depth to details other authors might leave mundane. The only disappointing part is the ending, which seems far too abrupt for such an otherwise meticulously laid out story. I wanted to read more.

 

THE BAREFOOT HERO by Tim Fleming

Grieving man stumbles upon a remarkable form of heroism.

* Partial Review on Amazon: The Barefoot Hero” brought tears to my eyes. The story is bittersweet, tragic, and brilliantly written. The characterization is deep and thoughtful, leading to a conclusion that is as painful as it is gratifying. A lovely story.

 

THE JOURNEY by Megan Johns

A complex woman—wife and mother, has a most surprising secret.

 

TRIONA’S BEANS by Casey Wolf and Paivi Kuosmanen

Teenage girl saves a world between first and last dinner call.

 

THE MEAL by Mike Brecon

Reality TV at its ugliest and most brazen.

 

SEVEN DEADLY SINS by Karen Cote’

He won’t stop. There must be seven to forgive his own sins.

 

THE SMILE IN HER EYES by John B. Rosenman

Can a young girl and an old man find love in an intolerant society?

* Partial Review on Amazon: Very well-written and creepy on many subtle fronts, “The Smile in her Eyes” reads like Lolita in The Twilight Zone. Pay attention to every little detail when you read this story or you’ll miss out on its full brilliance.

 

SLUMFAIRY by Tonya Moore

A jaded mercenary is enlightened by her strange world. 

 

TAKE TWO by Kit St. Germain

 

MALPAS (Novella) by Marion De Sisto

Her invisible & insatiable dream lover wants things his way. Not likely!

 

CLICK ON THE BOOK COVER TO LEARN MORE, INCLUDING HOW TO BUY:

Visit Karen at: http://www.karencote.tv/beyond-rules-anthology/

Advertisements

The Contrary Canadian

Tags

Clayton Bye: Publisher, Gender Stereotyping, Megan Johns, Personal Essays, Short Stories, Strangely different short stories, The Contrary Canadian, Title: Writers on the Wrong Side of the Road

Megan Johns talks about Gender Stereotyping

Gender stereotyping has long been a personal bugbear. It can have a negative influence on so many aspects of a woman’s life, both in the workplace and at home. The inspiration for my two short stories in the anthology Writers on the Wrong Side of the Road was born out of this frustration

By stereotyping, we are saying that particular characteristics apply to all members of a group. Yet are all blondes dumb or all women bad drivers? Of course not! Worse are the bucket loads of stereotypes tipped over a woman’s head the minute she becomes a mother. This type of generalisation can be a great disservice and result in prejudice.

We are told that stereotypes help us to simplify a complex world. In my opinion, however, they often do more harm than good. They can lead to simplistic assessments, which are fundamentally flawed.

In my first story,‘The Journey’, a wife and mother tries to break into a spontaneous conversation in a train carriage. The stereotyped perceptions of the group of young singletons leads to her exclusion. Dismissed as irrelevant by them, she starts to assess her own life and measure it against theirs. The results lead to some surprises…

Excerpt 1:
‘Melody shrank back in her seat, instantly deflated. It was as if her own experiences had been devalued without uttering a word. She peered across the short dividing gap. It might as well be a hundred miles, she was so far removed from their world, and she knew her presence didn’t even register on their collective radar. Had time and life really made her appear so banal, she wondered?’

Manic Readers review: 4 stars  While Stay-at-Home-Mom listens to the conversation of Thighs, Nerd Guy, and Strappy she seethes, justifying her choice to herself and experiences a gamut of emotions from indignant to smug. The end comes completely out of left field, but instead of wondering “what the frill?” I read with wicked delight. Well done.

My second story ‘A New Leaf’ features a recently divorced woman trying to move on with her life. The only thing holding her back is her family. Surely she will never manage on her own? Or will she?

Excerpt 2:
‘I watched the progress of her red Fiat from the bay window of the sitting room until it disappeared down the hill. A grating of gears confirmed her right-hand turn at the junction. Poor Sarah. She tried so hard. All the family did. That was the trouble. If only they could see that they tried too much.’

Manic Readers review:  4 stars Can you really find new life, after a divorce, via a rural cottage garden? I loved this little golden nugget about moving on, in spite of those around us. The narrator is my kinda woman.

To read the reviews on the other stories in the anthology go to http://bit.ly/JK76iL Better still, buy a copy of Writers On the Wrong Side of the Road and read the stories for yourself.
BUY links: Publisher Chase Enterprises or Amazon  Available in paperback and Kindle
Megan Johns  Website      Blog

The Contrary Canadian

Tags

Author: Elizabeth Coldwell, Erotic Romance, Fiction, Publisher: Clayton Clifford Bye, Short Story, Short Story: For Art's Sake, Strangely different short stories, The Contrary Canadian, Title: Writers on the Wrong Side of the Road

 

Elizabeth Coldwell Talks about The Fine Art of Taking a Risk

When was the last time you took a risk when it comes to fiction? Deciding to pick up a book by an author you’ve never heard of, rather than choosing the latest bestseller that’s been advertised with fifty shades of hype? Walk into the majority of bookshops, at least here in the UK, and you’ll be confronted by piles of books by familiar names on very familiar themes. It’s all chick lit, Scandinavian crime thrillers and werewolf/vampire love triangles, with publishers relentlessly playing follow the leader in search of sales. Walk past those towering piles, the ‘three for the price of two’ offers, towards those neglected shelves at the back of the shop and you’ll find interesting books by unfamiliar writers, but how many people bother to do that? The way books are marketed, It’s no surprise the industry is now dominated by no more than a couple of hundred authors, and it’s becoming ever harder for new voices to be heard unless they fit into the narrow slot of what publishers want this season.

As writers, we take risks all the time. When we send a manuscript to a submissions editor, we run the risk of having it rejected. If we present it to a critique group, we risk harsh appraisal, even from people who know and like our work. So what should we do? Stick the story in a drawer and run the risk no one will ever read it?

Writers on the Wrong Side of the Road appealed to me as a project because it was designed specifically to take risks. Mashing up genres that don’t often find a home together, giving authors free rein to explore unusual and possibly controversial topics, offering an opportunity, above all, to have fun… Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?

The lead character in my story, For Art’s Sake, also finds herself taking risks, forced by circumstances to step out of her comfort zone. First, when her secure teaching job comes to an end and she has to reinvent her career, going into the house clearing business with her brother. Then, when she meets a man who offers the romance she’s been craving, spiced up with something that appeals to her more adventurous sexual tastes. Not to mention that he’s taking something of a risk himself, by revealing needs to her that some women find peculiar or even distasteful. Can they find happiness together? You’ll just have to pick up a copy of the anthology and find out, won’t you?

—Elizabeth Coldwell

Note: Leave a comment for Elizabeth Coldwell and earn the chance to win a personalized eBook version of Writer’s on the Wrong Side of the Road

The Contrary Canadian

Tags

Clayton Bye: Publisher, Personal Essays, Strangely different short stories, win, Writers on the Wrong Side of the Road

The Publisher of “Writers on the Wrong Side of the Road” speaks about the unique project.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you collected a diverse group of talented authors from around the world and asked them each to write for you a new short story that would give their audience a different kind of reading experience? I did. And when the project came to be, I also decided to take away all the rules. It would just be the authors and their talents going into the collection.

I found 14 authors willing to take on this project. And, as a nod to their lack of writing parameters, I decided to call the book Writers on the Wrong Side of the Road. As in life, so it is in art—these wrong side of the track/road authors not only surprised me with their imagination and their dedication to their craft, they’ve surprised a few reviewers, as well.

“I enjoyed each story and can’t decide which was better. I got started reading and really couldn’t stop—wanting to read more or continue on to the next hair-raising story. I like a book I can pick up and not put down and was surprised how much this read kept me coming back for more. Writers on the Wrong Side of the Road certainly did it for me. From the umber-creepy to the tragically bittersweet, this anthology has it all.” –CK Webb (WebbWeaver)

“The editing by Sassy Brit and C.C. Bye is excellent, and the entire presentation is beautifully professional. If you like the short-story genre and want something unique and innovative, you might consider this read. My personal favorite was Malpas, a novella, by Marion Webb-De Sisto, an erotica beauty and beast.” –Kaye Trout, Midwest Book Reviews

“This anthology contains some of the creepiest and unusual stories I’ve read in a long time. While a few of the selections seemed out of place either by caliber or by genre, the best works in this anthology truly set the bar for greatness in speculative fiction. As a whole, I rate Writers on the Wrong Side of the Road at four stars and recommend it as a great addition to any speculative fiction library.” –L. Lane, Cerebral Writer

I think Writers on the Wrong Side of the Road is a difficult book for reviewers. The only theme is the challenge to write something truly different. This is why the last reviewer couldn’t get her mind around what appears to be a children’s story right in the middle of a collection of dark fiction. But I don’t think the story is just for children; I think this was a successful attempt to meet our mandated “untheme.” It, more than all the brilliant stories found in this 312 page paperback, belongs in our anthology.

However, it’s also a fact that any criticism launched against this anthology can be challenged by the fact that these stories are printed exactly the way the authors wanted them printed, with some proofreading thrown in, of course. So, whether they are good or not should be glaringly clear.

Want a read that doesn’t just promise to be different? Then pick up a copy of Writers on the Wrong Side of the Road. If your local store doesn’t have the book, get them to bring it in. We’re distributed globally.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a personalized, one of a kind, eBook copy of Writers on the Wrong Side of the Road

Copyright © 2012 Clayton Clifford Bye