Tag: short story collection

Shahrazad’s Gift by Gretchen McCullough Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

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Author Gretchen McCullough explores the lives o people in modern Cairo in the short story collection “Shahrazad’s Gift”.

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The Synopsis

Shahrazad’s Gift is a collection of linked short stories set in contemporary Cairo—magical, absurd and humorous. The author focuses on the off-beat, little-known stories, far from CNN news: a Swedish belly dancer who taps into the Oriental fantasies of her clientele; a Japanese woman studying Arabic, driven mad by the noise and chaos of the city; a frustrated Egyptian housewife who becomes obsessed by the activities of her Western gay neighbor; an American journalist who covered the civil war in Beirut who finds friendship with her Egyptian dentist. We also meet the two protagonists of McCullough’s Confessions of a Knight Errant, before their escapades in that story. These stories are told in the tradition of A Thousand and One Nights. 

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The Review

One of the beautiful things about fiction writing is how it allows readers from one part of the world to explore and gain insight into how people live in other parts. This collection of short stories is no different, as the author wonderfully showcases the rich tapestry and vibrant life that breathes into the city of Cairo. The thoughtful imagery allows the setting and atmosphere to appear on the page. 

The connectivity of the cast of characters and the ode to the classic tale of A Thousand and One Nights made this collection truly shine. The humor and wit that these characters exuded, the exploration of the city’s lesser-known corners, and the emphasis the author put on stories of love and self-discovery made this a gripping and compelling read that readers will return to time and time again.

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The Verdict

Creative, insightful, and entertaining author Gretchen McCullough’s “Shahrazad’s Gift” collection is a must-read short story. The various cultures and histories of the characters and the melding of worlds within this one city made the story feel transformative and engaging and is not to be missed by readers. Be sure to check out your own copy of this fanstastic book today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Gretchen McCullough was raised in Harlingen Texas. After graduating from Brown University in 1984, she taught in Egypt, Turkey and Japan. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Alabama and was awarded a teaching Fulbright to Syria from 1997-1999. 

Her stories, essays and reviews have appeared in The Barcelona Review, Archipelago, National Public Radio, Story South, Guernica, The Common, The Millions, and the LA Review of Books. Translations in English and Arabic have been published in: Nizwa, Banipal, Brooklyn Rail in Translation, World Literature Today and Washington Square Review with Mohamed Metwalli. Her bi-lingual book of short stories in English and Arabic, Three Stories from Cairo, translated with Mohamed Metwalli was published in July 2011 by AFAQ Publishing House, Cairo. 

Currently, she is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Rhetoric and Composition at the American University in Cairo. 

https://gretchenmcculloughfictionwriter.com

Americana: Stories by Bill Hemmig Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

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Author Bill Hemmig showcases the human experience through a multitude of snapshots and short stories in the collection “Americana: Stories”.

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The Synopsis

The many faces of curiosity. Which one do you see?

Welcome to Bill Hemmig’s Americana, a collection of snapshots that capture the everyday American experience. From filling the bird feeder to a realtor conference (behind) the happiest place on Earth to the picturesque canals of Venice, each story celebrates the eccentricities hidden inside the fabric of an ordinary life.

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The Review

From a storytelling perspective, the author’s work put into this book’s character development and imagery was riveting. The relatability and heart that these characters exuded and the rich dynamics between them were incredibly engaging. The thoughtful use of imagery helped elevate the enthralling yet thought-provoking atmosphere the author had tapped into for these stories.

Yet it was the balance of realism and almost fantasy-style storytelling that the author embraced that made this collection so unique. The way each story spoke to everyday situations and emotions that people go through, and yet the abstract imagery that made each story feel like another world entirely came across as a fairy-tale-like parable to take lessons from, and the idea that life itself stems from our thoughts and ideas made this a complex yet engaging read.

The Verdict

Memorable, thoughtful, and engaging author Bill Hemmig’s “Americana: Stories” is a must-read short story collection that is not to be missed. The author writes in a way that allows us to see ourselves in these characters, yet the story’s abstract nature allows us to feel transported all at once. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Bill Hemmig is the author of Americana: Stories and Brethren Hollow, both published by Read Furiously. His short stories appear in Read Furiously’s Life in the Garden State anthologies, The World Takes and Stay Salty, and in the Toho Publishing anthology, The Best Short Stories of Philadelphia, 2021. He has had stories published in the journals The Madison Review, Philadelphia Stories, and Children, Churches and Daddies (cc&d), and he is a three-time finalist in the New Millennium Writing Awards. By day he is Dean, Learning Resources & Online Learning at Bucks County Community College in Pennsylvania.

Find Bill online at:

Website | Instagram | Twitter

It Came From The Trees: And Other Violent Aberrations by Joel McKay Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

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Author Joel McKay explores the cosmic, haunting horrors of the world in his collection, “It Came From the Trees: And Other Violent Aberrations”. 

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The Synopsis

Tree planters on the run from parasitic insects. A physicist who has become the target of a murderous airline. Teenagers trapped in a museum with an eldritch horror. An escaped pit fighter thrust into a desperate stand at a sagging mountain fortress. And a luckless cowboy sailing across a sea of grass to the bloody resurrection of an elder god. Welcome to Joel McKay’s It Came from the Trees and Other Violent Aberrations, a collection of five page-turners as strange, disparate and bloody as their titles suggest.

So, grab a stiff drink, turn the lights down low, settle into your favorite reading nook and enjoy this brief but memorable collection of tales from one of the newest voices in Canadian pulp fiction.

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The Review

This collection of stories did an incredible job of simultaneously capturing the essence of terror and pulp fiction. Each tale expertly weaves the haunting atmosphere the author’s writing evokes with the mounting tension that the genre is infamous for. 

The creepy settings and the horror-filled narratives perfectly complement the rich characters that populate these stories. The way these characters are thrust into these evolving bouts of terror and the unsettling nature of the horrors they face brings to mind the works of Stephen King and H.P. Lovecraft and the horror classic The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen. 

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The Verdict

Chilling, atmospheric, and engaging author Joel McKay’s “It Came From The Trees: And Other Violent Aberrations” is a must-read horror and pulp fiction collection. The cosmic horror setting and the grounded character development will keep readers interested and invested in the author’s work now and in the future. If you haven’t already be sure to check out this book today! 

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Joel McKay is an award-winning writer. He calls Prince George, B.C. home, where he lives with his wife and two daughters. Wolf at the Door is his first novella, which won the 2022 Global Book Award gold medal for horror. His most recent published fiction was the short story Number Hunnerd in Tyche Books’ anthology Water: Selkies, Sirens and Sea Monsters, and the splatterpunk western short story Hands, which was published in Brigids Gate Press’ anthology Blood in the Soil, Terror on the Wind.

The inspiration for his fiction is drawn from the landscapes and people of British Columbia, particularly the province’s vast, untamed and often misunderstood north. It’s the small towns and the people who call them home that inspired the good ol’ boys featured in Number Hunnerd, or the cool, crisp evenings and early sunsets of October that planted the idea for werewolves at a Thanksgiving feast.

Joel is passionate about Canada, its history and the history of the peoples who have called it home since time immemorial. As far as he’s concerned, New England has got nothing on Northern B.C. when it comes to perfect settings for supernatural tales.

In his spare time, Joel is an avid fly fisherman, mountain biker, hiker and reader. His work as an economic development professional, public relations specialist and journalist has earned him numerous national, provincial and local awards and recognitions.

https://linktr.ee/joelmckay

Death Drives a Semi: 25th Anniversary Edition by Edo Van Belkom Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Author Edo Van Belkom shares the 25th Anniversary Edition of one of the most compelling collections of horror stories in the book “Death Drives a Semi”.

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The Synopsis

Keep one eye on the road ahead and another on the rearview mirror.

Because, like the legendary phantom semi of this book’s titular story, these stories will creep up on you and overtake you without warning.

Edo van Belkom twists his unique perspective and droll, black sense of humor into twisted observations of the sad, violent, and ironic sides of life in this special 25th anniversary release of a compilation of his most beloved horror stories.

With a voice and range that has drawn comparisons of Robert Bloch, Richard Matheson and Stephen King, van Belkom takes the reader down a most unique highway that breaths new life into classic horror tropes, all the while maintaining the essence of the best of a combination of “The Twilight Zone” and the old E.C. horror comics of the 1950s.

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The Review

The stories found in this collection were both profound and haunting all at once. The chilling imagery the author infuses into the stories found within is shocking and engaging, and the heart and emotion put into these horror stories ground the characters enough to keep the reader invested in each and every story.

The heart of this narrative was the quick pace of the stories and the emotional depth of the characters that helped to highlight the horrors of the story. One story that stood out to me immediately was The Basement, which not only highlighted the strong cultural elements of being an Italian immigrant in Canada but played on the protagonist’s emotional state to elevate the terrifying realities of this mystery basement, making this a story readers will be drawn to time and time again. 

The Verdict

Thoughtful, entertaining, and masterfully written, author Edo Van Belkom’s “Death Drives a Semi: 25th Anniversary Edition” is a must-read horror short story collection. The atmosphere and tension of each story when blended with the dynamic character growth really brought me back to Stephen King’s Night Shift and Everything’s Eventual, two collections that defined the horror genre for so many. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Edo van Belkom is the author of three novels, including the best-selling Wyrm Wolf and Lord Soth. He has also compiled Northern Dreamers: Interviews with Famous Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Writers and edited Northern Horror, an anthology of new stories. “Rat Food,” a short story in Death Drives a Semi, won the Bram Stoker Award. 

Love the Sinner by Mo Moshaty Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Mo Moshaty terrifies readers in the best way possible with a collection of short stories that will show the horrors that await when love becomes deadly in the book “Love the Sinner”.

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The Synopsis

According to Dante, a sin is the misdirection of love – the human will, or essentially, the direction of our beings. Love the Sinner is an examination of just how those sins can kaleidoscope into horrific consequences creating a distorted and deadly landscape. These stories stand stark before you in full glaring misstep and macabre to show the human psyche in all its twisted reality.

From grief and its rage to medical meddling to ensure a new world order to bloody revenge within a quantum leap, these stories seek to solidify one absolute truth: man is the scariest monster.

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The Review

The author did a tremendous job of crafting compelling stories that felt whole and complete, no matter how long or short the stories lasted. The imagery and atmosphere were immediately felt in the book’s opening chapter, playing into the theme of sin and love quite beautifully. The tension builds quickly and intensely in this book and allows the reader to really hone in on the settings of these stories immediately.

To me, the stories found a great balance between heartfelt character development and intense themes. The stories each found that battle between sin and love and character to embody that juxtaposition of darkness springing forth from light. The story Maddalena really stood out, as what started out as a passionate and romantic encounter turns into a truly terrifying moment of horror that will stick with readers long after the story ends.

The Verdict

Intense, heartfelt, and chilling, author Mo Moshaty’s “Love the Sinner” is a must-read horror short story collection you won’t want to put down. The twists and turns in this collection and the way the author is able to craft characters the reader can identify or engage with made this a compelling read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Mo Moshaty is an Afro-Latina screenwriter, author and producer. Raised within the clash of her mother’s Yaqui heritage and her father’s strict Southern Baptist upbringing, Mo’s work contains worlds in which characters of color strive for identity, sentiment and belonging within the comedy, horror, and sci-fi genres.

Co-producer and member of Nyx Horror Collective, she’s partnered with Stowe Story Labs to provide a fellowship for women genre writers over 40, and has also partnered with horror streaming giant, Shudder Channel, to co-produce the 13 Minutes of Horror Film Festival 2021 and 2022.

Still engaging with her first love, short horror literature, her work can be found in “A Quaint and Curious Volume of Gothic Tales”, by Brigid’s Gate Press and “206 Word Stories” by Bag O’ Bones Press. “Love the Sinner”, a psychological horror collection of short stories will be released by Brigids Gate Press in July 2023 as well as “Clairviolence: Tales of Tarot and Torment Vol 1 & 2” by Spooky House Press in 2024.

Mo has lectured on Trauma in Cinema with Prairie View A&M Film & TV Program, Horror Studies BAFSS Sig, and the University of Sheffield in the UK.

https://www.momoshaty.com/

The Condemned: A Memoir Told Through Selected Early Works of Short Stories, Essays, and Poetry by Shari Lopatin Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Shari Lopatin shares a collection of both fiction and non-fiction stories, as well as essays and poems, to share the story of a young woman trying to find herself in the book “The Condemned”.

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The Synopsis

In this special memoir told through a collection of earlier works including fictional short stories, non-fiction essays, and poetry, Shari Lopatin tells the story of her younger self—a millennial coming of age through the 1990s and 2000s while fighting to make sense of a world rapidly changing amidst The Great Recession and September 11. Touching on themes still relevant today, Shari shares deeply emotional pieces from her formative years about mental health, the search for home, the awkwardness of dating, love and heartbreak, and the effects of Antisemitism.

Included in this hand-selected collection are the fictional short stories “Pomegranates” about the power of kindness and connection; “A Call from Paris” about a young marriage falling apart; “Stone from HELL” about the effects of a monstrous society; and the namesake of this book, “The Condemned” about finding self-acceptance. Shari also included other personal essays and poems never before seen.

Ultimately, The Condemned: A memoir told through selected early works of short stories, essays, and poetry reveals one young woman’s struggle to find herself within a confusing and sometimes ostracizing world, and the messages of love, hope, and truth she now brings to others.

The Review

What an emotional and captivating collection of stories. The author found a great balance between her fiction and nonfiction works, with each story doing an exemplary job of conveying the raw emotions and pivotal moments that defined her life. The imagery and the heart that the author poured into the story and essays were remarkable, really bringing the reader into these moments and in the case of the fiction work, allowing the reader to embrace the characters outright.

The poetry was also so moving and conveyed the honesty and passion of the author’s writing so eloquently. The quick pace of the book and the variety of the collection gave the author ample opportunity to really connect to a wide range of different readers and gave an intimate look into the author’s life in a creative and moving way.

The Verdict

Insightful, thoughtful, and engaging, author Shari Lopatin’s “The Condemned” is a memorable and thought-provoking memoir filled with creativity and heart. The powerful messaging of the stories in this collection brings to life a beautiful and emotional story of triumph in the face of adversity, and the journey to find life and purpose. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Shari Lopatin tells stories that matter. An award-winning journalist in her earlier years, she now writes novels that tie into modern-day social issues, short stories, serialized fiction, essays, and poetry. Shari has worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine writer, public relations professional, social media manager, and earned the title of “Cat Mom of the Year.” Read more of Shari’s work and get updates on her latest books by signing up as a free or paid subscriber for her Substack newsletter, Rogue Writer, at sharilopatin.substack.com.

They Hide: Short Stories to Tell in the Dark by Francesca Maria Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Author Francesca Maria takes readers on a journey into the depths of darkness to explore the shadowy nature of fear and control in “They Hide: Short Stories to Tell in the Dark”.

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The Synopsis

Who are we if not for the monsters that we keep?

They Hide: Short Stories to Tell in the Dark collects thirteen chilling tales that weave through the shadows, exploring the nature of fear, powerlessness, and control.

– A series of murders in a New England colony

– An untamed beast in pre-revolutionary France

– A mysterious stranger who invades 18th-century Ireland

– A traveling circus that takes more than the price of admission

– A gathering of the Dark, telling tales on the longest night of the year, and more.

Come play with vampires, werewolves, ghosts, zombies, ghouls and the devil himself. Make sure you check under the bed and don’t turn out the lights.

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The Review

The author does such an incredible job of weaving together a moving yet horrifying collection of stories. The way each story flowed smoothly and kept a great pacing, while still allowing the tension to build and the chills to build up in the reader’s mind made for a truly compelling and captivating collection. 

To me, it was the author’s use of both emotional storytelling and shocking horror moments that made each story shine. Some of my favorite stories in the collection touched upon the dark side of some of my favorite things, from ancient Egyptian mythology in the story “Imhotep”, to the shocking real story of Christmas in “Spreckles” and the gasp-worthy finale in the story “Wendigo”, each story wove between the horrors and emotions of reality with the twisted nature of the strange and the bizarre side of our world and cultures. 

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The Verdict

Memorable, entertaining, and thrilling, author Francesca Maria’s “They Hide: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” is a must-read collection of horror short stories that is one of my favorite short story collections of 2023 thus far! The suspense, drama, and heartfelt connection readers make to the characters of these stories and the rich world-building that the author employs throughout this collection will keep readers engaged and eager for more as the last story ends and a new one begins. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Francesca Maria writes dark fiction surrounded by cats near the Pacific Ocean. She is the creator of the Black Cat Chronicles, a true horror comic book series narrated by a mystical black cat. And her short story collection; They Hide: Short Stories to Tell in the Dark will be out in April 7, 2023 from Brigid’s Gate Press. Her short stories and essays can be found in Crystal Lake Publishing’s Shallow Waters series and anthologies and Death’s Garden Revisited.

https://francescamaria.com/

https://twitter.com/Writer_of_Weird

Throwing Shadows: A Dark Collection by Jerry Roth Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Jerry Roth brings a haunting collection of short fiction filled with tales that will creep, haunt, and terrify readers in the book “Throwing Shadows: A Dark Collection”.

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The Synopsis

Throwing Shadows is a collection of 9 creepy stories that have something for everyone.

A woman develops an unhealthy obsession with a scarecrow. A boy plays with a Ouija board and receives a terrifying warning of murder. A down-on-his-luck father learns what happens when you die in your sleep. These stories and six more frightening tales await the reader within the pages of Throwing Shadows: A Dark Collection.

Throwing Shadows will feed that hungry dark side that lives in your cellar.

* This collection of horror, thriller, and science fiction has something for all readers seeking tales of suspenseful fiction. With a vintage paperback feel, along with with a modern sensibility, these short stories will take the readers down a dark path of pulp dread. Throwing shadows: A Dark Collection will feed that hungry dark side that lives in your cellar. 

The Review

The author does an incredible job of crafting each story to fit into the depth of darkness that the overall narrative holds. The level of world-building and setting that the author was able to build upon in each story was remarkable to behold, as each story’s world felt vibrant and alive in the narrative. The imagery that the author utilized in the writing allowed the reader to really feel the tension that kept each of these stories flowing smoothly.

Yet it was the atmosphere and tone that the author was able to achieve in each story and how they played into the narrative, theme, and character development that really drew my attention as a reader. The themes of parenthood, the darkness in our own lives, and the chilling nature of reality itself were well-represented by very relatable and captivating characters who made the reader feel seen and represented in a very real way.

The Verdict

Captivating, entertaining, and haunting, author Jerry Roth’s “Throwing Shadows: A Dark Collection” is a must-read novel of 2022 for the Fall/Halloween season. The chilling narratives take readers to the darkest depths of the natural and unnatural world, and the pulpy, almost noir element of the storytelling felt like a great nod to the old Hollywood style of horror that paved the way for authors like Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and so many others to tell their tales. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy of this book on October 25th, 2022! 

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Jerry Roth is an award-winning author of Bottom Feeders, from Sunbury Press. Following up with this success, he released a psychological thriller, On the Tip of Her Tongue, one year later. The author currently lives in a converted 1908 Catholic church in Ohio.

His writing career began with his award-winning screenplay, Gray Matter. Switching gears, Jerry created the critically successful Disc Golf website, Inkslingers DG and wrote for the Disc Golf Pro Tour in 2017.

His influences for writing can be traced backed to authors such as Anne Rice and Stephen King. Jerry’s upcoming literary projects include: a Gothic novel, Wish it away, a YA Fantasy, Into the Aether: Miscreant’s Rise, and a Short Story novel, Throwing Shadows: a dark collection— Due this year.

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Interview with Author Philippa Jabouin 

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1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

This is my first book and my initial intention was to publish in French, which is my first language. However, I stumbled upon a writing contest for micro fiction and French was not one of the languages in which you could submit your work. I ended up submitting 2 stories but I had almost fifty that I was not using. That’s when I decided I would publish them and that’s how my collection ended up being in English. 

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2) What inspired you to write your book?

Short stories have always been my favorite type of fiction. Two of my favorite authors, Françoise Sagan and Chimamanda Adichie, write with so much emotional intensity. I was inspired by their work and wondered, what triggers intense emotional reactions for me? This is what motivated me to write the stories in my book. 

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

I hope they appreciate the deep inner workings of the human mind. Things are not always what they seem at the surface, and it is almost impossible to read other people’s minds. When you are not in someone else’s shoes, you just never know what is going on for them.

4) What drew you into this particular genre?

I enjoy novels in general and I think short stories simply give me the impression that I am getting even more out of an author. Great short stories leave you with a sense of awe and wonder because the length leaves you wanting more. I would love to create that feeling in my readers. 

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5) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

I don’t use much social media. Maybe I should. I use the old fashion social networks, i.e. word of mouth!

6) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

The author Hala Alyan states that she allotted 30 minutes a day to her creative writing as she was working on her doctoral thesis. I decided to try it out and soon 30 minutes a day became 1 or 2 hours. That is how I got my book written and published in a year. 

7) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

I would like to keep writing and publishing short stories for the moment. I feel I need the practice before I devote time to a full novel. My next collection of short stories will be in French!

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About the Author

Philippa c. Jabouin has authored many articles and short stories under her name and as a ghostwriter. As a recovering ex-lawyer, she now spends her time writing as a freelance journalist, editor, and consultant. This is her first published collection of short stories. She lives in the Ottawa/Gatineau region of Canada.

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https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/short-shorts-on-family-and-other-issues-philippa-c-jabouin/1140828868