A mixed theme anthology The Way Things Were – Collected Stories is a first collection by this historical thriller novelist. Some of the stories were first published in various literary journals and or published online.
“Moments in interesting lives that are given penetrating depth
by very good quality writing.” – 5 stars
The collection presents a different, yet richly depicted, set of unusual protagonists each with their own personal yet unique struggles. The writer’s arc is wide, including for instance one with a historically accurate origin, another about bookbinding and yet another about the hazards and acrobatics of climbing to maintain cell phone towers. Thus, stories that resonate of today, while others contrast starkly, but interestingly set as they are within the last 60 years, One in particular, for example, an eye-opening tale of the lives of a retiree couple set in a heartbreaking imagined not too distant future. Locales include France, Belgium, Mexico and Switzerland, as well as the U.S. The various plots are engaging and clever, though the resolutions in some stories are troubling. In some, the reader might have cause to ponder and imagine his/her own ending. Overall, an interesting and rather different collection about subjects and lives not often written about.
ISBN: 9781310649684 (ebook) $3.99
ISBN: 9798448436017 (pbk) $9.95
J.R. R O G E R S 