Welcome to the publication day push for Snow-Kissed Proposals, courtesy of Rachel’s Random Resources.
Category Archives: Short Stories
Backstories by Simon Van der Velde @SimonVdVWriter #ShortStories #LiteraryFiction #RBRT
Author: Simon Van der Velde
Published: March 2021 by Smoke and Mirrors Press
Genre: Short Stories, Biographical, Literary Fiction
Dreamers, singers, heroes and killers, they can dazzle with their beauty or their talent or their unmitigated evil, yet inside themselves they are as frail and desperate as the rest of us. But can you see them? Can you unravel the truth? These are people you know, but not as you know them.Peel back the mask and see.
Backstories comprises fourteen intriguing tales of life changing moments in the lives of well known characters. The author has given his imagination free rein to pen concise but evocative descriptions, giving impressions, something that just might have some truth in it, of certain people before fame or notoriety claimed them. The twist being they are not fully named, in some cases not at all or not named as we might know them. It’s up to the reader to guess their identities.
Backstories ~ A #QandA with author Simon Van der Velde #ShortStories @SimonVdVWriter #TuesdayBookBlog
I note that your publisher, Smoke & Mirrors Press describes Backstories as, ‘the stand-out most original book of the year’. Isn’t this just marketing hyperbole?
Perhaps a little, but perhaps not. What I do in Backstories, in defiance of creative writing 101, is withhold the protagonists’ identities, and this omission is what makes Backstories so utterly unique.
#InterviewFeature with Jeff Richards about his forthcoming release ‘Everyone Worth Knowing’ #ShortStories @ohiowa89 @mindbuckmedia
In his short story collection Everyone Worth Knowing (Circuit Breaker Books, June 1, 2021), author Jeff Richards explores the stories of everyday acquaintances through the stories of 17 male protagonists.
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I believe that music—especially rock and the blues—influenced this collection. Could you talk a little more about how music has informed your writing, and this book in particular?
Four of the stories in this collection are based on the lyrics in songs. For instance, the title for Riding the Fences comes from the Eagles song “Desperado.” The story itself follows closely the lyrics and theme of the song. Happiness comes from the John Prine song “All the Best.” Both are about the break-up of a marriage. One of the other stories is based on Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers’ “Cool Guitar.” I interviewed Jimmy for a magazine article and this is what he said about that song: “It sounded like, you know, it came from an old blues singer and it had a great twist, a great hook, ‘I’m gonna sell the bitches car./And buy myself a cool guitar.’ You know the guy gets even with the lady for throwing him out of their apartment. And, of course, I thought either this will be a big hit or I am going to be in big trouble with the National Organization of Women. But the real idea, when you listen to the lyrics, is that the guy singing the song is the asshole and he admits it at the end. And fortunately people get this. I think more women than even men.”
Historical Stories of Betrayal by Judith Arnopp, Cryssa Bazos, Anna Belfrage et al #HistoricalFiction #ShortStories #RBRT
Published: November 2020 by Historical Fictioneers
“Loyalty breaks as easily as a silken thread.”
Misplaced trust, power hunger, emotional blackmail, and greed haunt twelve characters from post-Roman Britain to the present day. And betrayal by family, lover, comrade can be even more devastating.
Historical Stories of Betrayal is a wonderful collection of short stories written by a variety of authors, with dates ranging from AD 455 when Roman leader Ambrosius needs people around him he can trust, up to 1849 and the present when Carina must discover the ancestor who betrayed the family or it will result in devastation for the family.
A couple of my personal favourites include Heart of a Falcon by Amy Maroney which tells the story of Estelle, a young Frenchwoman, whose family live in Rhodes town where her father is falconer to the Grand Master. When Estelle is invited by the King of Cyprus to be companion to his daughter and tutor his forthcoming grandchild her dreams are dashed as she soon discovers the underlying reason behind her being sent away.
Road to the Tower by Elizabeth St. John tells of events in 1483 when Lady Elysabeth Scrope stood as godmother to the young Prince Edward. When she received an urgent summons for herself and her husband from the Duke of Gloucester her husband was not at home. King Edward IV was dead and the prince was in danger. He must be taken to London immediately for the coronation. Elysabeth believed in Sovereynté – the right of women to make their own decisions…so she undertook the journey to London.
All the stories are of a high standard, offering a glimpse into the past when treachery, injustice and treason were rife, and includes historical figures such as Thomas Percy who is trapped in a no-win situation, Francis Drake coping with trouble at sea, Margaret Beaufort found guilty of treason, and pirates Anne Bonny and Calico Jack to name but a few. Anyone who loves historical fiction would find stories to enjoy in this collection.
I chose to read and review Historical Stories of Betrayal for Rosie Amber’s book review team, based on the digital copy received.
Book links ~ Amazon UK | Amazon US |
A concise synopsis of each story from Amazon…
AD455—Roman leader Ambrosius is caught in a whirlpool of shifting allegiances
AD940—Alyeva and cleric Dunstan navigate the dangers of the Anglo Saxon court
1185—Knight Stephan fights for comradeship, duty, and honour. But what about love?
1330—The powerful Edmund of Kent enters a tangled web of intrigue
1403—Thomas Percy must decide whether to betray his sovereign or his family
1457—Estelle is invited to the King of Cyprus’s court, but deception awaits
1483—Has Elysabeth made the right decision to bring Prince Edward to London?
1484—Margaret Beaufort contemplates the path to treason
1577—Francis Drake contends with disloyalty at sea
1650—Can James Hart, Royalist highwayman, stop a nemesis destroying his friend?
1718—Pirate Annie Bonny, her lover Calico Jack, and a pirate hunter. Who will win?
1849/present—Carina must discover her ancestor’s betrayer in Italy or face ruin.
#ThrowbackThursday ~ You. I. Us. by Annalisa Crawford #ContemporaryFiction #ShortStories
Throwback Thursday this week looks back at a wonderful selection of short stories published in June 2016. Some serious, some raising a smile or a laugh, taking snippets from people’s lives.
My Thoughts
This collection of short stories is a little gem. It runs the spectrum of emotions from differing points of view and age ranges, from the most joyful high to the depths of sorrow – emotional, sensitive, moving and tender. The stories convey sentiments we can all relate to and appreciate. There are sketches from all sorts of situations and each gives pause for thought. I enjoyed them all. Here’s just a very small taste, there are lots more.
#GuestPost from Nancy Joie Wilkie #Author of Seven Sides of Self #ShortStories exploring various sides of one’s personality #FridayReads
Welcome to Nancy Joie Wilkie who has written a guest post about how she became a first time author. Nancy’s recently released book ‘Seven Sides of Self’ is a collection of short stories delving into the realms of science fiction and the metaphysical. Here’s the book info…
Blog Tour #BookReview ~ Manipulated Lives by @HALeuschel ~ Narcissists are everywhere #StoryCollection @rararesources
I’m delighted to repost my review of Manipulated Lives for my stop on the blog tour, organised by Rachel’s Random Resources.
My Thoughts
The Lynmouth Stories by LV Hay #ShortStory Collection @LucyVHayAuthor @rararesources Blog Blitz #BookReview
I’m delighted to be taking part in the blog blitz for The Lynmouth Stories by LV Hay, organised by Rachel’s Random Resources.
First of all, here’s the book info …
Magic O’Clock & Magical Memories by L.S. Fellows #BlogTour @rararesources @lfwrites Short Story #BookReviews
I’m delighted to be one of the bloggers kicking off the tour for these two books, courtesy of Rachel’s Random Resources.
betweenthelinesbookblog.com 
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