Notions: A collection of short stories

Best Blog
Leading Change—The Key To Survival
Charles A. Ray writes about bringing creativity to leadership.

Read Blog Entry »
Best Video
Exposing the Secrets of Freud's Inner Circle
Brenda Webster brings her own expertise to some surprising revelations.

Watch Video »
Best Review
The Dark Abode
Writers in the Sky praises Sarojini Sahoo's tale of lovers divided by war.

Read Review »

Synopsis:

Notions is a collection of short stories that combines human drama with a sense of wonder. The stories in this volume explore the realms of human experience from a family struggling to cope with loss to a woman on another planet about to face her greatest fear.

Book Excerpt:

Surfacing

‘Is there a guidebook to dealing with incredible sadness?’

Peter broke through the surface with a gasp; the sudden intake of air overwhelming his lungs. Gareth swam on an intercept course ready to kick out at his brother. Mr. Keys booming voice rang out in the confined pool space.

‘Gareth, back off’.
Kerry stood a small distance behind her husband, worry-lines creasing her perfect skin, arms folded in thought. ‘Is there a guidebook to dealing with incredible sadness?’ Her sister Anne had looked at her and asked. At the time she had thought it to be the stupidest question ever asked but now it seemed to be the only one that made any sense. Every day, it seemed that she found new highly irregular or inappropriate actions that she had to stop herself from taking. It was only when reality broke this badly that one realized how much structure there was to one’s life normally.

Just yesterday she had found herself wanting to scream at the crowds in the mall, moving and bustling groups of busy shoppers, just getting on with things, just doing what they normally did. But things weren’t as normal- the world was far from normal- and how dare they not acknowledge this fact. There was no guidebook. There was no definitive way to deal with these feelings except to live through them and come out the other side.

The boys were getting better but there was always the worry of the recovery breaking down. Kerry let out a small sigh and ran her hand through her shoulder length blonde hair.
She went to put her arms around Mark but something silent and cold inside her stopped her. He needed his space as well, it whispered to her. It was too soon.

Write a Review »