The Clocktower: And Other Short Stories by N. T. Laemmle is a set of modern-day fables, interwoven in a striking poetic world.
Each story is very different from the others in this collection. What connects the stories is the lesson behind each one, and while some of the lessons were so subtle I had to go back and reread the story again, others were bright and bold in my face.
Colony One by T. L. Ford is a fun sci-fi/mafia adventure story about an orphan girl named Alex Smith.
I enjoyed this story for the most part, and I think T. L. is a talented and very analytical writer, but sometimes I felt this was to a fault. The book feels like two different stories, one where Alex is on the streets and then gets involved with the mafia, and then the other is about her experience founding Colony One. And unfortunately for me, it felt like the story dragged on near the middle when she’s creating her business.
Read MoreFlowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes is a fantasy tale about a science procedure on a lab rat and a man.
The story is written as a diary by a mentally disabled man named Charlie. He and a lab rat, Algernon, have an experimental procedure done to cause their intelligence to skyrocket. This seems like a breakthrough in science, and maybe it is! But what it means is not necessarily what anyone had planned.
Read MoreDonn’s Hill by Caryn Larrinaga is a psychic mystery with great writing and interesting characters.
Larrinaga did well crafting unique characters with their own voice and personality. In fact, I think the interpersonal relationships are the crux of this story and it’s how our main character, Mackenzie Clair, learns to accept and understand herself.
Read MoreOmer Pasha Latas by Nobel Prize winner Ivo Andrić is set during nineteenth-century Sarajevo, a place where both Muslims and Christians live, harboring uneasy feelings toward one another and resentment for the Ottoman rule.
While I didn’t find a common plot in this story, other than the actions of Omer and his troops, I found the story quite engaging. This book is about characters, rather than plot, which fit perfectly.
Read MoreWatch the owners of Collective Tales Publishing Elizabeth Suggs and Jonathan Reddoch unveil their brand new premium LeStallion Notebooks. LeStatllion was one of the sponsors of the Romantic Letters Event where writer Keyra Kristofferson won a cute Rosé Felina notebook for her submission in the 100-word flash fiction contest.
Read MoreThe Caprinian Saga: An Anthology of Space Travel, War, and Hope by Melissa Myring is a collection of twenty short stories and four sneak peeks into Caprinian life and culture.
Our story takes place in the year 2026. Caprinians have come to Earth as refugees, living and working alongside humans after the Caprinians’ world was destroyed during war. The humans take them in with open arms, despite their odd appearance, from their height to their protruding head horns (sometimes envied by other Caprinians). Even so, they feel very human to me. They think and feel and struggle, just like humans.
Read MoreThank you to everyone who participated! Keyra Kristoffersen is our first-place winner. She gets a premium Rosé Felina notebook from LeStallion and free editing of up to 5,000-word story/poem sponsored by EditingMee.com. Austin Slade Perry was our second-place winner. He gets a 2,500-word story/poem edited, and Olivia Hope came in third-place, receiving an honorable mention.
Stay up-to-date with future contests by subscribing to our blog.
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Read MoreNo Strings by Virginia Babcock is an endearing sweet love story with some great character development.
The story tells the tale of two characters who meet for purposes other than for romance. Our female protagonist Emory (who is a complete badass) wants a baby, but she doesn't want to have a relationship to get it. Ten, our male protagonist, happens to be in the right place at the right time. This was a fun and very unique story. I was really pining for the characters, and while the ending was a little more old-fashion for my taste, I still enjoyed it.
Jurassic Park: The Lost World by Michael Crichton was a great read. Often, when I come across a sequel, I’m not that impressed. But Crichton’s knowledge of dinosaurs and advanced storytelling abilities left me wanting more.
Much in the same way that the first Jurassic Park starts, we discover dinosaurs on an island. Unlike the first book, where a park was coming to life, this story is about characters rediscovering the park long-abandoned.
Read MoreBy Elizabeth Suggs
The Liberty Key by author Michael R Goodwin is when a house meets a person. This isn’t so much a paranormal story as it is the house is the living thing.
The story starts when [character name] is searching for a house after dealing with the death of his wife and child. When he finds The Liberty House, it’s much too big for him, but he loves it.
Read MoreHey, Romance Writers! For those of you who are planning to attend the first Romantic Letters Event this weekend on the 9th, we are hosting a flash fiction writing contest, sponsored by LeStallion notebooks.
Please post your story on your IG or FB and TAG ME by midnight MST THIS Friday, the 8th! If you do not have an active social media, you can email me at luwromance@gmail.com.
Read MoreAre you a romance writer or an author who enjoys including romantic subplots in your stories? Then this FREE online multi-class workshop is for you! Romantic Letters is an all-day event with multiple presenters on writing craft, marketing, business, and more, including a panel on marketing and business.
Featuring:
Read More2021 has arrived! How do you feel? Hopeful? Relieved? Excited? 2020 brought new opportunities to Editing Mee, and I’m so excited to see what 2021 holds for us. Check out the video for more information! Thanks, everyone! 2020 couldn’t have been so awesome without you!
Read MoreLate Night Shots: Intoxicating Mystery & Suspense Stories by Charlotte Valentine with a special extra story by Laura Cation is a collection of four quick, mysterious short stories--perfect for a nice night in.
We start strong with “Ghost Writer,” which centers around Alan, who at one point was a bestselling author, yet as the years passed by and Alan continues to drink more heavily, the words won’t come. Worse than that, Alan’s publisher and agent have grown agitated.
Read MoreThe Stand by Stephen King follows a group of survivors as society collapses from a fatally contagious disease, wiping out nearly all of humanity. Masterfully written, the reader watches as infrastructure crumbles, and humanity is left to fill in the absence of power, for better or worse.
Read MoreEyes of Sleeping Children by D. A. Butcher is nonstop intensity. This story revolves around the Sandman and how he affects a father and husband Louis Lockhart.
The setting and the story are refreshing and kept me guessing. I didn’t expect any of the twists at the end, and each and every one fit perfectly within the universe.
Read MoreScratches by Joshua Marsella is a horror novella about a mother and son who inherit a house after the death of a family member with a violent past.
This story, while horrific with fun horror elements, does touch on what true monsters are out in the world. In a way, it talks about what evil men and women are truly capable in a safe space. We need more stories like this out in the world, detailing the worst of humankind, not to glorify it, but to shed a light on something that should be addressed. This story does that, while maintaining the theme of a fun horror story.
Read MoreGeorge Orwell's novel 1984 tells of a world divided into three different States, all under sovereign and totalitarian rule: Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia. The novel focuses on one individual in Oceania (this included the United Kingdom) who goes against society's expectations. This man, Winston, believes there is a brotherhood, one that is the answer—the ultimate defender—to this world. In his process of discovery, he meets a woman named Julia and uncovers more of the world than he had ever thought he could, especially about Big Brother.
Read MoreThe Moonlit Road: A Collection of Short Horror Stories by William Stuart is a horror anthology. Each story has a slow build and an impactful climax.
Each story weighs heavy on meaning, and all could be unpacked a thousand-fold with new avenues of thought and ideas, but they need time.
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