My new $0.99 short story: The Writer & the Witch

[robinsloan]

Hi there,

I shared my previous short story, Mr. Penumbra's Twenty-Four-Hour Book Store, here on Kindle Boards and got a really warm, helpful response, so I thought I'd do the same with my new story: The Writer & the Witch.



This is a short (4,000-word) story, and the title doesn't lie: It's about a young writer and an old witch who meet on a lonely road that winds towards the New Capital. Actually, they meet there twice. The first time, there’s a curse involved. The second time -- you'll have to read and find out.

Now, the style is different from Mr. Penumbra's Twenty-Four-Hour Book Store; but like Mr. Penumbra, it talks a bit about what it means to have a long life. And there's a twist!

I hope you'll give it a look, and if you do, I'd love to hear your feedback, either here or on Amazon. Thanks!

[Brendan Carroll]

Hi there,

I shared my previous short story
I hope you'll give it a look, and if you do, I'd love to hear your feedback, either here or on Amazon. Thanks!

Hey, Robin, I went to look at the description of your story on Amazon and there isn't one.  Shouldn't there be a description, so's I know what I'm a'fixin' to buy?  Tell what the story's about other than a witch and a writer cause I don't know about that other book Mr. Penumbra... but I am intrigued enough to be interested.  Thanks, Brendan

[Lynn ODell]

Amazon sometimes takes their time about posting book descriptions. I'm sure it will appear.

In the meantime, there is a brief description in the post (under the pic of the cover).

@ Robin

I did read Penumbra and loved it. I believe I gave it a very good review. 

Unfortunately, in order to spare my bank account further aches and pains, I am no longer buying short stories. I just read way too fast. 

However, having enjoyed your first one, I did want to wish you luck with this one!   

[telracs]

I liked Penumbra, but didn't love it.  I was thinking of buying this one, but you threw in a line that's a deal breaker with me, especially with a short story.  You said there's a twist.  Unfortunately, when I know there's a twist, I end up spending more time wondering if I guessed it right then I do enjoying the story.  Also, I'm in the same situation as RedAdept, I'm passing on short stories since I read them too fast.

[robinsloan]

The description's up now, so take a look if you missed it the first time.

@scarlet, I am entirely charmed by the fact that you DON'T like twists in stories! Maybe I can talk you into it: It's not a giant, lurching, everything-I-believed-was-wrong twist. It's more of an unexpected second chance. I might reconsider the use of the word "twist," in fact, because you're right, it implies a Big! Surprise! and I'm not sure this qualifies.

[telracs]

The description's up now, so take a look if you missed it the first time.

@scarlet, I am entirely charmed by the fact that you DON'T like twists in stories! Maybe I can talk you into it: It's not a giant, lurching, everything-I-believed-was-wrong twist. It's more of an unexpected second chance. I might reconsider the use of the word "twist," in fact, because you're right, it implies a Big! Surprise! and I'm not sure this qualifies.

Robin,

To clarify, it's not that I don't like twists, but I don't like being told that there are twists, if you get the difference. If you put in a surprise and I don't see it coming, I'm thrilled.  If you put in a surprise that I kind of expect based on what's going on and how I mentally plot out the story line as I'm reading, I think I'm smart and insightful into the author's mind.  But if I'm aware that something might be coming, my brain goes into analyze mode.  Okay OVER-analyze mode, it's always in analyze mode, ask Kevis or Keith Melton.  And then I tend to lose the enjoyment of just being in the moment.  It's not you, it's me and the bizarre machinations of my brain.

[Brendan Carroll]

OK, Robin, giving it a try.  How can I go wrong at .99?  I don't have much time to read, so this should take only a week or two.  LOL.  I'll let you know what I think.  Brendan