A Short View

http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/ We live in a micro-byte society. Everyone who can, works at least one job, and often two or more, just to make ends meet. Our families need our time and attention; our homes require cleaning and maintenance, and vehicles, yards, gardens, computers —we're buried in "To Do" lists we have little hope of keeping up with. When we get online we're deluged with social networks, blogs, webpages, and email. It's almost as though life has become one long episode of the six o'clock news, with every piece covered in ten minutes.

Even relaxing with our favourite hobby is often done in short bursts. I suppose that's one of the reasons short stories and anthologies have seen a resurgence in popularity lately. In a fast-paced life, where we never seem to be able to finish anything, short stories and flash fiction offer that bloom of satisfaction we get from a goal accomplished.

For many authors, short stories are the appetizer we offer the reader, in the hopes of stimulating their appetite for a full meal. Photo courtesy of Lissette E. Manning Over the next few weeks, I'll try to bring you a virtual buffet of literary  hors d'oeuvres.

I'll begin by introducing you to Lissette E. Manning, who has a fabulous selection of short stories available. You can find her  on   Facebook , Twitter , Google + ,  Goodreads , and Amazon , among other online places.

Don't miss her webpage, at http://www.simplistik.org/ , either. Cover art courtesy of Lissette E. Manning Most recently, Lissette released an Omnibus Edition of Books 1 & 2 of her Closure series, Memories .

"He wanted to remember. She would rather forget."

Memories is a compilation for the Closure series which includes the first two books, Closure and Broken.

Follow Ben and Ellie Morgan as they recall pieces of their past and deal with the pain and heartache that ensues from the decisions they've made, decisions that will change their lives forever.

A heart-felt and bittersweet journey, it's one anyone can relate to.


Lissette has graciously provided us with an excerpt:


"I’m leaving, Ben."

Ellie’s words still rang with crystal clarity within my head. For the life of me, I could not brush them off. The devastation my wife had wrought upon me still resonates with each passing day.

I tried to make sense of what she’d said to me, but my mind refused to acknowledge every word that had spilled from her lips. We’d spent so much time together, building a life that had spoken volumes. Everything had seemed so perfect. And yet it was not. With those three words, she had shattered the very world I’d built around her.

Taking a deep breath, I walked throughout the house she and I had shared. Everywhere I looked, I saw something that reminded me of her. The Prince of Tides, a book she had always meant to read, lay forgotten upon the coffee table. A misplaced pen lay haphazardly on the mantle. A pair of worn slippers were tucked discreetly underneath the edge of her desk. Seeing these things brought forth a wave of heartache so deep that it suffocated me.

Leaning across the doorjamb as I surveyed the contents of my living room, I brought to mind the day she had told me she was leaving. The memory of it was still so vivid it left a sour taste within my  mouth.

Download your copy of Memories today for only $1.99 (http://www.amazon.com/Memories-Closure-Omnibus-Edition-ebook/dp/B008O66YFM), and don't forget to visit Lissette online to let her know what you think. Reader feedback and reviews are like oxygen for the muses. Without you, the words can't breathe.