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I Never Thought I'd See You Again
I never thought I’d see you again.
What comes to your mind when you see that phrase? A reunion with a former lover? A shocking encounter with a dark face from your past? A dearly held memory come to life . . . or one you’ve tried desperately to purge from your mind?
In this extraordinary collection of original fiction, sixteen great storytellers spin the tales that filled their imaginations when considering that sentence:
New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan brings us the reunion of father and daughter under deadly circumstances.
USA Today bestselling author Janet Tronstad weaves a tale of lost love on a Christmas Eve during the Great Depression.
New York Times bestselling author Alyssa Day traverses realities to pull together generations.
USA Today bestselling author Kathryn Shay returns to her Hidden Cove series to tell of a father returning to his son’s life . . . and turning that life upside down.
Romance, suspense, and magic, secrets unearthed, mysteries revealed, and promises finally kept – all of this and much, much more comes to you in this unforgettable anthology that is every bit as evocative as the title that served as its inspiration.
Contributors include:
Allison Brennan
Alyssa Day
Dianne Despain
JoAnn A. Grote
Greg Herren
Ann La Farge
Kelly McClymer
Barbara Meyers
Shirley Parenteau
Mary Hart Perry
C. B. Pratt
Laura Resnick
Kathryn Shay
Deb Stover
Janet Tronstad
Janet Woods
What comes to your mind when you see that phrase? A reunion with a former lover? A shocking encounter with a dark face from your past? A dearly held memory come to life . . . or one you’ve tried desperately to purge from your mind?
In this extraordinary collection of original fiction, sixteen great storytellers spin the tales that filled their imaginations when considering that sentence:
New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan brings us the reunion of father and daughter under deadly circumstances.
USA Today bestselling author Janet Tronstad weaves a tale of lost love on a Christmas Eve during the Great Depression.
New York Times bestselling author Alyssa Day traverses realities to pull together generations.
USA Today bestselling author Kathryn Shay returns to her Hidden Cove series to tell of a father returning to his son’s life . . . and turning that life upside down.
Romance, suspense, and magic, secrets unearthed, mysteries revealed, and promises finally kept – all of this and much, much more comes to you in this unforgettable anthology that is every bit as evocative as the title that served as its inspiration.
Contributors include:
Allison Brennan
Alyssa Day
Dianne Despain
JoAnn A. Grote
Greg Herren
Ann La Farge
Kelly McClymer
Barbara Meyers
Shirley Parenteau
Mary Hart Perry
C. B. Pratt
Laura Resnick
Kathryn Shay
Deb Stover
Janet Tronstad
Janet Woods
424 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
9 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Lou Aronica
53 books89 followersI have been associated with the book publishing world since August 1979, when I started as an assistant in the Managing Editor’s Department at Bantam Books. Prior to founding The Fiction Studio, I served as Deputy Publisher of Bantam and Publisher of Berkley Books and Avon Books. During this time, I launched the premier science fiction and mystery imprints in the business, and also presided over the largest growth period to date in the history of the #1 single-title romance program.
My earliest publishing experiences were in the field of science fiction and fantasy. I started my first publishing imprint, Bantam Spectra, at the age of 27 and published my first New York Times bestseller with that imprint a year later. My first editorial acquisition, David Brin’s Startide Rising, won the field’s two highest awards, the Hugo and the Nebula. I subsequently published New York Times bestsellers with Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, David Brin, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, Raymond Feist, William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, Neil Gaiman, and others, while also acquiring five consecutive winners of the Nebula Award. In addition, I created the “Full Spectrum” anthology series, which won me a World Fantasy Award in 1994.
My biggest commercial accomplishment in the field of science fiction and fantasy was my acquisition and design of the Star Wars book publishing program. Started at a time when licensing interest in the movies was very low, the book publications consistently hit the New York Times list (as high as #1) while also jump-starting the entire Star Wars franchise.
In the nineties, I moved beyond science fiction. As Mass Market Publisher for Bantam, I launched the Bantam Crime Line mystery imprint and was closely involved in the development of several bestselling authors, including Elizabeth George, Robert Crais, and Diane Mott Davidson. I launched the Bantam Fanfare romance imprint, which led to the development of bestselling authors such as Amanda Quick, Tami Hoag, and Iris Johansen.
In 1994, I left Bantam to become SVP and Publisher of the Berkley Publishing Group. The two imprints I started there, Boulevard (a media imprint) and Signature (a literary imprint) had New York Times bestsellers within their first year. I also acquired and edited the bestselling futuristic mysteries by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts).
In 1995, I moved to Avon Books to spearhead a turnaround of that company as SVP and Publisher. I supervised significant changes to the company’s industry-leading romance program, which led to the largest growth period in the program’s history to that point. Committing the company to a profitable path of publishing for dedicated readers, I launched a series of imprints focused on science fiction, literary fiction, mystery, pop culture, health, history, and teen literature. Most of these imprints had bestsellers very quickly.
In 1999, I left Avon after the acquisition of the company by The News Corporation. The creative investment I made in that house continues to pay significant dividends, however, as writers whose publishing programs I developed became breakout bestsellers, including Dennis Lehane, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, J.A. Jance, Stephanie Laurens, Lisa Kleypas, Bruce Feiler and Peter Robinson.
In addition to my current role with The Fiction Studio, I am a novelist and nonfiction writer. My novels, The Forever Year and Flash and Dazzle appeared under the name Ronald Anthony. My nonfiction books include the New York Times bestseller The Element (written with Sir Ken Robinson), the national bestseller The Culture Code (written with Dr. Clotaire Rapaille), Conscientious Equity (written with Neal Asbury), Miraculous Health (written with Dr. Rick Levy) and A Million Thanks (written with Shauna Fleming).
Finding myself missing the publishing side of the business, in 2008, literary manager Peter Miller and I started a small book imprint called The Story Plant. Right now, it’s a tiny opera
My earliest publishing experiences were in the field of science fiction and fantasy. I started my first publishing imprint, Bantam Spectra, at the age of 27 and published my first New York Times bestseller with that imprint a year later. My first editorial acquisition, David Brin’s Startide Rising, won the field’s two highest awards, the Hugo and the Nebula. I subsequently published New York Times bestsellers with Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, David Brin, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, Raymond Feist, William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, Neil Gaiman, and others, while also acquiring five consecutive winners of the Nebula Award. In addition, I created the “Full Spectrum” anthology series, which won me a World Fantasy Award in 1994.
My biggest commercial accomplishment in the field of science fiction and fantasy was my acquisition and design of the Star Wars book publishing program. Started at a time when licensing interest in the movies was very low, the book publications consistently hit the New York Times list (as high as #1) while also jump-starting the entire Star Wars franchise.
In the nineties, I moved beyond science fiction. As Mass Market Publisher for Bantam, I launched the Bantam Crime Line mystery imprint and was closely involved in the development of several bestselling authors, including Elizabeth George, Robert Crais, and Diane Mott Davidson. I launched the Bantam Fanfare romance imprint, which led to the development of bestselling authors such as Amanda Quick, Tami Hoag, and Iris Johansen.
In 1994, I left Bantam to become SVP and Publisher of the Berkley Publishing Group. The two imprints I started there, Boulevard (a media imprint) and Signature (a literary imprint) had New York Times bestsellers within their first year. I also acquired and edited the bestselling futuristic mysteries by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts).
In 1995, I moved to Avon Books to spearhead a turnaround of that company as SVP and Publisher. I supervised significant changes to the company’s industry-leading romance program, which led to the largest growth period in the program’s history to that point. Committing the company to a profitable path of publishing for dedicated readers, I launched a series of imprints focused on science fiction, literary fiction, mystery, pop culture, health, history, and teen literature. Most of these imprints had bestsellers very quickly.
In 1999, I left Avon after the acquisition of the company by The News Corporation. The creative investment I made in that house continues to pay significant dividends, however, as writers whose publishing programs I developed became breakout bestsellers, including Dennis Lehane, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, J.A. Jance, Stephanie Laurens, Lisa Kleypas, Bruce Feiler and Peter Robinson.
In addition to my current role with The Fiction Studio, I am a novelist and nonfiction writer. My novels, The Forever Year and Flash and Dazzle appeared under the name Ronald Anthony. My nonfiction books include the New York Times bestseller The Element (written with Sir Ken Robinson), the national bestseller The Culture Code (written with Dr. Clotaire Rapaille), Conscientious Equity (written with Neal Asbury), Miraculous Health (written with Dr. Rick Levy) and A Million Thanks (written with Shauna Fleming).
Finding myself missing the publishing side of the business, in 2008, literary manager Peter Miller and I started a small book imprint called The Story Plant. Right now, it’s a tiny opera
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 23, 2013
It's difficult reviewing an anthology of such a wide variety of stories and authors. One was so shocking(Katy's place)that I had to set the book down. Others were intriguing ("Persephone's Granddaughter", "Play it again, Sam," "Because of You"); others I really loved ("Facing the Mirror," "Backdraft," "The Only Girl in the World," "Fabian's Wake," "The Tower".
What was greatest about this collection was how much I learned about what short stories can do in a few pages or as many as fifty. All the authors were multi-published and thus, experienced writers.
If you're looking to explore the short story genre, check out this anthology. Your favorites may differ markedly from mine, but that's no reason not to explore what these authors did with the theme of the book and its title.
What was greatest about this collection was how much I learned about what short stories can do in a few pages or as many as fifty. All the authors were multi-published and thus, experienced writers.
If you're looking to explore the short story genre, check out this anthology. Your favorites may differ markedly from mine, but that's no reason not to explore what these authors did with the theme of the book and its title.
August 22, 2013
One of the niftier things about the e-book publishing world is how I can pre-order something, forget about it completely, and then suddenly one day when I turn on my Kobo - there's a little alert that a new book is on my e-reader.
That happened today, with I Never Thought I'd See You Again, a Novelists Inc. Anthology. I nabbed this as a pre-order because my editor and friend Greg Herren has a story in it. I picked it up, and read the introduction, and was immediately charmed.
I love anthologies, as you've likely picked up on by now. And I love the idea behind this one - it's a singular prompt that is the title of the book: "I never thought I'd see you again."
I can't wait to see the various directions the writers take.
"36 Hours," by Allison Brennan
The first story in this collection is by a prolific author that I've not read before, but now have added to my "must read" list. Have I mentioned how many books this Short Story project of mine has added to my "must read list" yet? The story here has a simple start, but a pleasantly tangled execution: Angel is a fifteen year old in police custody, being transferred to juvie as a temporary safe place for her while she waits to testify in a murder case that deals with a local gang. Except something goes wrong from the start, bullets rain down, and now she's running for her life.
Enter Jake. Jake is a former marine, ex-cop, ex-con who is now making a living putting all those former skills to use as a bounty hunter. When he gets a call that Angel is on the run - and that the police think she is a cop-killer - he springs into action, trying to find and save her - because she's his daughter.
Their familial bonds are nearly nonexistent, the crime (and the truth behind the crime) is a snarled mess, and the end result is more danger than Angel is likely to survive. The tension mounts piece by piece, and the overall effect was of a pulse-racing thriller. I loved it.
"Facing the Mirror," by Dianne Despain
This is the second story in I Never Thought I'd See You Again and its placement is definitely enough to let the reader know that the range of tales within this collection - each prompted by the line that is the title of the collection - will be wide. The first tale was a thriller. The second tale is about a woman facing - or not facing - cancer.
I think the strength of this tale is in the verisimilitude. At no point did I have any trouble imagining myself in this place, or in the place of the character's husband, and all the reactions, frustrations, delusions, and angers were absolutely understandable and real. There's a rawness alongside the numbness of denial and confusion that is a perfect paradox for the situation. I've had family members fight and win and lose against cancer, and this story was as easy to put on as an old shirt that I loathed, but fit perfectly. It's a tricky balance to write something this cruelly honest, and the ultimate ending was a good mix.
"Solomon's Paradox," by Kelly McClymer
I'm going to say it again over and over when I discuss I Never Thought I'd See You Again but here it comes a third time: the range of stories is surprising (in a very good way). This third tale is speculative fiction based - a young man who drove and texted and ended up in an accident that killed the passenger (his good friend) is involved in a new "atonement" program where, instead of jail, his body is given to the victim for a year.
The story is told through the eyes of the mother of this dead son - who is temporarily not dead and abiding in the body of the young man responsible for the son's death. This is a year that is supposed to be about atonement - the guilty young man loses a year of his life and allows the other to "live" for that year in his place (and his body). The drugs involved suppress the mind of the body, leaving it mute and silent throughout this year.
What would you do? Would you live out this year fully with your "son" or would you plot some sort of revenge? Is a year enough? Is there actual atonement?
Is it possible to move on?
Brilliant little concept for a story, and the characters were vividly done.
"Play it Again, Sam," by Deb Stover
The next story in I Never Thought I'd See You Again is a short piece that gives a character from Stover's novel "A Willing Spirit" (which sounds kick-butt, by the way). This story involves cowboy lawmen, time-travel, a serial killer, angels, and a tough-as-nails FBI Agent.
The story stands alone and is quite fun and clever (as well as a bit of a thriller near the end). And yet I'm sure if (no, when) I read the novel, there'll be even more depth to it. Like I said, I do love tales that build on other narratives. And now yet again there's another book on my To-Be-Read pile.
"Christmas Eve at Alison's Diner," by Janet Tronstad
I'm the first to admit that I don't have much Christmas spirit left in me. After more than a dozen retail Christmases, it's hard to really find that particular feeling and get all warm and tingly. Especially in Ottawa, where the tingly you feel at Christmas is more of the "frostbite" kind than the warm hearth kind.
That said, the next story in I Never Thought I'd See You Again did indeed manage to snag on the frayed edge of my cold little yuletide heart and give me a smile and a rush of wellbeing. Set during the Great Depression, this is the story of a woman about to lose what little she has left - her diner - and a man who is trying to convince her it's time to leave and try again elsewhere. That she is trying to give this town (which is falling apart in the intense poverty of the era) one last Christmas - especially for the children.
Heartbreaking, sad, and an incredibly well drawn picture of a horrible time period, "Christmas Eve at Alison's Diner" is a lovely way to spark some Christmas spirit in even the cold dark heart of a retail clerk.
"Persephone's Granddaughter," by Alyssa Day
Another tale included in I Never Thought I'd See You Again, this one has the fun spark of the start of a larger story - that of a young woman, Penny, who has decided to run away from her mother (and what she perceives as her mother's terrible choice to move them to the middle-of-nowhere Ohio) and is instead about to learn that she's the descendent of a Greek goddess.
Oh, and she's also got a destined role to fulfill.
I was definitely left with the sense that these were characters of which I'd be seeing more. If anyone knows if these characters are a part of a YA or a paranormal romance series, fill me in.
"The Greek, the Dog, Sangri-La and Me," by Janet Woods
I really enjoyed this story - I have to say I'm so glad this book was pointed out to me, and it's definitely becoming a favorite in my collection of "loose theme" anthologies. Here we have a young man in a beach side home with an aging dog and a load of memories, thoughts, and tangled feelings about his home, those who raised (and didn't raise) him, and a vague sense of losses that don't quite break the tone of the story into maudlin, but definitely give you a sense that there is a sadness to him.
It's gently told, this story, and through the three characters and one sense of place listed in the title, we get a portrait of this man and his life so far. Even when the darkness of his youth is described, it's done with a kind of blurriness that leaves you feeling the same cocoon that seems to wrap around the character himself.
I don't want to ruin any of these stories, so I won't say more. I will say as far as atmosphere goes, the turns of phrase and texture of the language in this story really drew me right in. It really was a moving piece.
"A Streetcar Named Death," by Greg Herren
Sometimes a short story can sneak up and sucker-punch you. I did something I never do and I skipped the brief bio for Greg Herren's story because I know his writing so well, which meant I was blindsided by his story in I Never Thought I'd See You Again. The story is simple in premise - the reunion in this case is between the narrator and a man who just finished serving eight years in jail for a violent crime. The narrator remembers the man, of course - how can you forget someone who brought bloodshed into your life? - but the man who has now served his time and paid his debt to society doesn't remember the narrator.
Coincidence places them on the same streetcar. But it's the spiral of violence, blood, death, and vengeance that follows which fills this tale with a visceral and damned honest sense of reality.
I'm not sure I can have an unbiased opinion on this tale. Though it wasn't a streetcar, I once bumped into someone in the middle of a shopping mall with a similar scenario, and I can tell you all the thoughts that move through this narrator's head? They're right. I had zero trouble getting into the the head of this character, and finished this story with a deep unease about how I felt about it.
Definitely a powerfully done tale.
"The Tower," by Mary Hart Perry
The next story in I Never Thought I'd See You Again is all about unwelcome guests, as well as an unwelcome visit from the past. I loved the setting of this story - The Tower of London - and how Mary Hart Perry set about to put her characters in a time and place where the darker connotations of the Tower itself were a bit reversed: the woman telling the tale here, Maisie, has found security, home, and family through the Tower. She has a good life, and wishes to keep it.
Which is why a man from her past - a past her husband knows nothing about - is such a problem. Blackmailed into helping this larcenous "friend" from years ago, Maisie has some difficult decisions to make. She knows full well that she can't come clean to her husband, but she also knows that this dark piece of her history will not relent after one helping of blackmail. Her whole life is at stake.
And what wouldn't you do to keep your life as it is?
A clever story, with a lovely period flair.
"Fabian's Wake," by Laura Resnick
This was a fun and light story from I Never Thought I'd See You Again. Here, a daughter is attending her father's wake (I know, I know, fun and light, right?) and he pops up out of the casket to continue his litany of criticisms about her and her life choices.
Awkward.
Since Eileen is the only one who can see him, the rest of the family is somewhat bemused, and the poor woman is struggling to tell her dad to move on (like, really move on) while the others only hear her side of the conversation. By the way, the writer does a hysterical job here of melding that one-sided conversation against what her relatives can hear and what her father is saying. I had a good laugh a few times during this story.
It was a perfect little story for today.
"Katy's Place," by Barbara Meyers
This story was a well-balanced story that was dark - and hopeful - in parts. The set-up is this: Cassie, a woman who as a teen lost control of her car and had an accident that claimed the life of her best friend has just come face-to-face with the friend's mother, many years later. Is there forgiveness? Cassie isn't sure, but when her dead friend's mother asks for time to sit and talk to her, Cassie accepts. What follows is an eloquent - and at times, almost painful - recounting of Cassie's life as she tells the mother everything she has done to try and pay back a debt she knows full well she can never repay.
The story then gives the mother a chance to speak, and the ending - well. If you don't have a shiver up and down your spine, I think you may have missed a word or two. I Never Thought I'd See You Again continues to deliver.
"Backdraft," by Kathryn Shay
Forgiveness is a very, very hard thing in a family sometimes. When the thing you are asked to forgive a family member for is huge and caused true pain and suffering, it can be all the harder. I have to admit, when I read this story, the next in I Never Thought I'd See You Again, I found myself perfectly content to be as unforgiving as the main character, Riley. Riley, a firefighter whose father was a firefighter as well, has never forgiven his father for something truly atrocious the man did - and when his father returns to his life, it turns everything upside down.
I really, really struggled with how the rest of his family, and his girlfriend, were pushing him to forgive. In fact, the more they pushed, the more I - as the reader - sided with Riley. I think my own baggage is very firmly in a carry on position here, and I know that, but here's the thing: I'm maybe not so great a person that forgiveness is always possible for me. I'll make it to politeness, and I don't carry around a burning seething piece of hatred like Riley does in the story (and that's where I did understand his girlfriend and friends and family a bit - they were right to tell him to move past the anger). But actual forgiveness for some crimes is just not something I have in me.
This story definitely made me think.
"Because of You," by JoAnn A. Grote
Speaking of the past, this story is a lovely tale that is set in the mid-seventies when a woman is wheeled into an assisted living building and is wheeled beside a man. She's not happy to be there, and he tries to tell her a story of his past to make her feel better.
What follows is the story of the man who - during the rocky time between the Great War and the flu epidemic - began to fall victim to the dread disease. So often fatal, the quarantines and fear everyone felt often meant people were turned away, but this man was lucky enough to have a woman to help him through.
Touching and lovely, this story put a smile on my face.
"Skipper and I," by Ann La Farge
The characters in this next story from I Never Thought I'd See You Again would disagree about the whole technology thing, but that's fine. Here we meet Lucy, a woman who is recently separated, about to go to a conference, and talking to her mother about the one guy she really remembers being in love with.
Skipper. Who was her best friend when she was six.
The reverie of Skipper is interwoven with Lucy's feelings about her life since, and how her relationships have gone. But fate is about to offer her another shot, and La Farge puts together a satisfying answer to the question: if you could take a second chance, would you?
"The Only Girl in the World," by C.B. Pratt
The second-last story in I Never Thought I'd See You Again is Pratt's moving piece. Here we follow a fighter pilot through training while he thinks - nearly constantly - of a face he only half-remembers, and is a little worried might not exist. He's in love with a woman he's not entirely sure isn't just an image from a marketing campaign for soap or something, half-remembered from his childhood.
When his plane is hit, and things go south for the pilot, the story picks back up with a nurse caring for him, and the true extent of his injuries start to become clear as you follow this story to an ending that I really loved, and didn't see coming at all. It's sweet, but it's a kind and bittersweet sort of story. It's nicely placed in the collection, too, a gently sad (but hopeful) story right before the last tale in the collection.
"Tide Change," by Shirley Parenteau
This is the last tale in I Never Thought I'd See You Again, and I'd say it's the one that has the least literal interpretation of the title and prompt. Here we meet a woman who has given up on a lot of things in life, and who is back at the beach, where she finds rejuvenation.
A bottle bobbing in the water gives her a shot at meeting someone she never thought she'd see again. I won't ruin it, but I loved this ending to the collection, and thought it perfectly placed. It's a lovely story, and a great collection. I'll definitely be watching for more collections from Novelists Inc.
That happened today, with I Never Thought I'd See You Again, a Novelists Inc. Anthology. I nabbed this as a pre-order because my editor and friend Greg Herren has a story in it. I picked it up, and read the introduction, and was immediately charmed.
I love anthologies, as you've likely picked up on by now. And I love the idea behind this one - it's a singular prompt that is the title of the book: "I never thought I'd see you again."
I can't wait to see the various directions the writers take.
"36 Hours," by Allison Brennan
The first story in this collection is by a prolific author that I've not read before, but now have added to my "must read" list. Have I mentioned how many books this Short Story project of mine has added to my "must read list" yet? The story here has a simple start, but a pleasantly tangled execution: Angel is a fifteen year old in police custody, being transferred to juvie as a temporary safe place for her while she waits to testify in a murder case that deals with a local gang. Except something goes wrong from the start, bullets rain down, and now she's running for her life.
Enter Jake. Jake is a former marine, ex-cop, ex-con who is now making a living putting all those former skills to use as a bounty hunter. When he gets a call that Angel is on the run - and that the police think she is a cop-killer - he springs into action, trying to find and save her - because she's his daughter.
Their familial bonds are nearly nonexistent, the crime (and the truth behind the crime) is a snarled mess, and the end result is more danger than Angel is likely to survive. The tension mounts piece by piece, and the overall effect was of a pulse-racing thriller. I loved it.
"Facing the Mirror," by Dianne Despain
This is the second story in I Never Thought I'd See You Again and its placement is definitely enough to let the reader know that the range of tales within this collection - each prompted by the line that is the title of the collection - will be wide. The first tale was a thriller. The second tale is about a woman facing - or not facing - cancer.
I think the strength of this tale is in the verisimilitude. At no point did I have any trouble imagining myself in this place, or in the place of the character's husband, and all the reactions, frustrations, delusions, and angers were absolutely understandable and real. There's a rawness alongside the numbness of denial and confusion that is a perfect paradox for the situation. I've had family members fight and win and lose against cancer, and this story was as easy to put on as an old shirt that I loathed, but fit perfectly. It's a tricky balance to write something this cruelly honest, and the ultimate ending was a good mix.
"Solomon's Paradox," by Kelly McClymer
I'm going to say it again over and over when I discuss I Never Thought I'd See You Again but here it comes a third time: the range of stories is surprising (in a very good way). This third tale is speculative fiction based - a young man who drove and texted and ended up in an accident that killed the passenger (his good friend) is involved in a new "atonement" program where, instead of jail, his body is given to the victim for a year.
The story is told through the eyes of the mother of this dead son - who is temporarily not dead and abiding in the body of the young man responsible for the son's death. This is a year that is supposed to be about atonement - the guilty young man loses a year of his life and allows the other to "live" for that year in his place (and his body). The drugs involved suppress the mind of the body, leaving it mute and silent throughout this year.
What would you do? Would you live out this year fully with your "son" or would you plot some sort of revenge? Is a year enough? Is there actual atonement?
Is it possible to move on?
Brilliant little concept for a story, and the characters were vividly done.
"Play it Again, Sam," by Deb Stover
The next story in I Never Thought I'd See You Again is a short piece that gives a character from Stover's novel "A Willing Spirit" (which sounds kick-butt, by the way). This story involves cowboy lawmen, time-travel, a serial killer, angels, and a tough-as-nails FBI Agent.
The story stands alone and is quite fun and clever (as well as a bit of a thriller near the end). And yet I'm sure if (no, when) I read the novel, there'll be even more depth to it. Like I said, I do love tales that build on other narratives. And now yet again there's another book on my To-Be-Read pile.
"Christmas Eve at Alison's Diner," by Janet Tronstad
I'm the first to admit that I don't have much Christmas spirit left in me. After more than a dozen retail Christmases, it's hard to really find that particular feeling and get all warm and tingly. Especially in Ottawa, where the tingly you feel at Christmas is more of the "frostbite" kind than the warm hearth kind.
That said, the next story in I Never Thought I'd See You Again did indeed manage to snag on the frayed edge of my cold little yuletide heart and give me a smile and a rush of wellbeing. Set during the Great Depression, this is the story of a woman about to lose what little she has left - her diner - and a man who is trying to convince her it's time to leave and try again elsewhere. That she is trying to give this town (which is falling apart in the intense poverty of the era) one last Christmas - especially for the children.
Heartbreaking, sad, and an incredibly well drawn picture of a horrible time period, "Christmas Eve at Alison's Diner" is a lovely way to spark some Christmas spirit in even the cold dark heart of a retail clerk.
"Persephone's Granddaughter," by Alyssa Day
Another tale included in I Never Thought I'd See You Again, this one has the fun spark of the start of a larger story - that of a young woman, Penny, who has decided to run away from her mother (and what she perceives as her mother's terrible choice to move them to the middle-of-nowhere Ohio) and is instead about to learn that she's the descendent of a Greek goddess.
Oh, and she's also got a destined role to fulfill.
I was definitely left with the sense that these were characters of which I'd be seeing more. If anyone knows if these characters are a part of a YA or a paranormal romance series, fill me in.
"The Greek, the Dog, Sangri-La and Me," by Janet Woods
I really enjoyed this story - I have to say I'm so glad this book was pointed out to me, and it's definitely becoming a favorite in my collection of "loose theme" anthologies. Here we have a young man in a beach side home with an aging dog and a load of memories, thoughts, and tangled feelings about his home, those who raised (and didn't raise) him, and a vague sense of losses that don't quite break the tone of the story into maudlin, but definitely give you a sense that there is a sadness to him.
It's gently told, this story, and through the three characters and one sense of place listed in the title, we get a portrait of this man and his life so far. Even when the darkness of his youth is described, it's done with a kind of blurriness that leaves you feeling the same cocoon that seems to wrap around the character himself.
I don't want to ruin any of these stories, so I won't say more. I will say as far as atmosphere goes, the turns of phrase and texture of the language in this story really drew me right in. It really was a moving piece.
"A Streetcar Named Death," by Greg Herren
Sometimes a short story can sneak up and sucker-punch you. I did something I never do and I skipped the brief bio for Greg Herren's story because I know his writing so well, which meant I was blindsided by his story in I Never Thought I'd See You Again. The story is simple in premise - the reunion in this case is between the narrator and a man who just finished serving eight years in jail for a violent crime. The narrator remembers the man, of course - how can you forget someone who brought bloodshed into your life? - but the man who has now served his time and paid his debt to society doesn't remember the narrator.
Coincidence places them on the same streetcar. But it's the spiral of violence, blood, death, and vengeance that follows which fills this tale with a visceral and damned honest sense of reality.
I'm not sure I can have an unbiased opinion on this tale. Though it wasn't a streetcar, I once bumped into someone in the middle of a shopping mall with a similar scenario, and I can tell you all the thoughts that move through this narrator's head? They're right. I had zero trouble getting into the the head of this character, and finished this story with a deep unease about how I felt about it.
Definitely a powerfully done tale.
"The Tower," by Mary Hart Perry
The next story in I Never Thought I'd See You Again is all about unwelcome guests, as well as an unwelcome visit from the past. I loved the setting of this story - The Tower of London - and how Mary Hart Perry set about to put her characters in a time and place where the darker connotations of the Tower itself were a bit reversed: the woman telling the tale here, Maisie, has found security, home, and family through the Tower. She has a good life, and wishes to keep it.
Which is why a man from her past - a past her husband knows nothing about - is such a problem. Blackmailed into helping this larcenous "friend" from years ago, Maisie has some difficult decisions to make. She knows full well that she can't come clean to her husband, but she also knows that this dark piece of her history will not relent after one helping of blackmail. Her whole life is at stake.
And what wouldn't you do to keep your life as it is?
A clever story, with a lovely period flair.
"Fabian's Wake," by Laura Resnick
This was a fun and light story from I Never Thought I'd See You Again. Here, a daughter is attending her father's wake (I know, I know, fun and light, right?) and he pops up out of the casket to continue his litany of criticisms about her and her life choices.
Awkward.
Since Eileen is the only one who can see him, the rest of the family is somewhat bemused, and the poor woman is struggling to tell her dad to move on (like, really move on) while the others only hear her side of the conversation. By the way, the writer does a hysterical job here of melding that one-sided conversation against what her relatives can hear and what her father is saying. I had a good laugh a few times during this story.
It was a perfect little story for today.
"Katy's Place," by Barbara Meyers
This story was a well-balanced story that was dark - and hopeful - in parts. The set-up is this: Cassie, a woman who as a teen lost control of her car and had an accident that claimed the life of her best friend has just come face-to-face with the friend's mother, many years later. Is there forgiveness? Cassie isn't sure, but when her dead friend's mother asks for time to sit and talk to her, Cassie accepts. What follows is an eloquent - and at times, almost painful - recounting of Cassie's life as she tells the mother everything she has done to try and pay back a debt she knows full well she can never repay.
The story then gives the mother a chance to speak, and the ending - well. If you don't have a shiver up and down your spine, I think you may have missed a word or two. I Never Thought I'd See You Again continues to deliver.
"Backdraft," by Kathryn Shay
Forgiveness is a very, very hard thing in a family sometimes. When the thing you are asked to forgive a family member for is huge and caused true pain and suffering, it can be all the harder. I have to admit, when I read this story, the next in I Never Thought I'd See You Again, I found myself perfectly content to be as unforgiving as the main character, Riley. Riley, a firefighter whose father was a firefighter as well, has never forgiven his father for something truly atrocious the man did - and when his father returns to his life, it turns everything upside down.
I really, really struggled with how the rest of his family, and his girlfriend, were pushing him to forgive. In fact, the more they pushed, the more I - as the reader - sided with Riley. I think my own baggage is very firmly in a carry on position here, and I know that, but here's the thing: I'm maybe not so great a person that forgiveness is always possible for me. I'll make it to politeness, and I don't carry around a burning seething piece of hatred like Riley does in the story (and that's where I did understand his girlfriend and friends and family a bit - they were right to tell him to move past the anger). But actual forgiveness for some crimes is just not something I have in me.
This story definitely made me think.
"Because of You," by JoAnn A. Grote
Speaking of the past, this story is a lovely tale that is set in the mid-seventies when a woman is wheeled into an assisted living building and is wheeled beside a man. She's not happy to be there, and he tries to tell her a story of his past to make her feel better.
What follows is the story of the man who - during the rocky time between the Great War and the flu epidemic - began to fall victim to the dread disease. So often fatal, the quarantines and fear everyone felt often meant people were turned away, but this man was lucky enough to have a woman to help him through.
Touching and lovely, this story put a smile on my face.
"Skipper and I," by Ann La Farge
The characters in this next story from I Never Thought I'd See You Again would disagree about the whole technology thing, but that's fine. Here we meet Lucy, a woman who is recently separated, about to go to a conference, and talking to her mother about the one guy she really remembers being in love with.
Skipper. Who was her best friend when she was six.
The reverie of Skipper is interwoven with Lucy's feelings about her life since, and how her relationships have gone. But fate is about to offer her another shot, and La Farge puts together a satisfying answer to the question: if you could take a second chance, would you?
"The Only Girl in the World," by C.B. Pratt
The second-last story in I Never Thought I'd See You Again is Pratt's moving piece. Here we follow a fighter pilot through training while he thinks - nearly constantly - of a face he only half-remembers, and is a little worried might not exist. He's in love with a woman he's not entirely sure isn't just an image from a marketing campaign for soap or something, half-remembered from his childhood.
When his plane is hit, and things go south for the pilot, the story picks back up with a nurse caring for him, and the true extent of his injuries start to become clear as you follow this story to an ending that I really loved, and didn't see coming at all. It's sweet, but it's a kind and bittersweet sort of story. It's nicely placed in the collection, too, a gently sad (but hopeful) story right before the last tale in the collection.
"Tide Change," by Shirley Parenteau
This is the last tale in I Never Thought I'd See You Again, and I'd say it's the one that has the least literal interpretation of the title and prompt. Here we meet a woman who has given up on a lot of things in life, and who is back at the beach, where she finds rejuvenation.
A bottle bobbing in the water gives her a shot at meeting someone she never thought she'd see again. I won't ruin it, but I loved this ending to the collection, and thought it perfectly placed. It's a lovely story, and a great collection. I'll definitely be watching for more collections from Novelists Inc.
May 31, 2014
Amazing. Talented authors each do a take on the phrase, "I never thought I'd see you again." Viruoso performances that bring laughter, quickly a heart beat, or bring up a tear. Great way to sample the work of gifted writers at the top of their form.
February 12, 2014
This is a wonderful collection of stories all centered around the phrase "I never thought I'd see you again." It is fascinating to see how each author interpreted the phrase and where they went with it. I loved the diversity of each installment.
May 10, 2025
This anthology has a wonderful theme, and I thoroughly enjoyed how it was expressed in many different genres. The stories are the kind I will remember for a long time, and I have discovered some new authors along the way.
November 4, 2013
36 Hours-This story by Allison Brennan was great. I like that the main character was reunited with her father, despite what might have happened in the past. It was full of suspense as well, which I enjoy.
Facing the Mirror-Yep, finally read this story. I've never had cancer, but I imagine it can be a very scary thing to go through. I think the first doctor she went to wasn't very personable, but she also shouldn't have waited so long to contact someone else. But, in the end, everything was cured and she was able to look at herself in the mirror again.
Solomon's Paradox-This story was confusing because it's dealing with two different people in the same body. I don't think I could do an experiment like that. Sure, it would be nice to be back, but probably not at the cost of being followed and checked up on constantly for a year.
Play it Again, Sam-Aside from "36 Hours", this is my new favorite story from this anthology. I like the idea of being able to go back in time to get a job done. I think I would be able to keep an open mind about the whole idea. I don't know where the title for this story came from, but it's like that phrase, "Don't judge a book by its cover." I will definitely read more by this author.
Christmas Eve at Alison's Diner-This story made me cry. I enjoy the romantic, sappy, love stories. And this one was a Christmas story, too, so it was all the more fun.
Persephone's Granddaughter-This story was strange, but I had a feeling it would teach the girl a small lesson after she ran out on her mother. Now, she has to "serve" time down there, bringing dying people to the light. I hope she misses her mother.
The Greek, the Dog, Shangri-La and Me-This story was very hard for me to follow. There didn't seem to be any flow to it, just like the title itself.
A Streetcar Named Death-I worked in two different jails before, and sometimes I wonder what it would be like to meet someone who had been released, on the street one day. It's kinda different being the ex-officer instead of the ex-victim. This story was good, so I will read more by this author.
The Tower-I thought the story started out confusing, because it was written like it was from the time frame the story took place. I enjoyed the twist at the end where she had actually stolen two of the crown's jewels the night before she helped the guy break in to steal the actual crown.
Fabian's Wake-This story had some humorous points in it. At the last funeral I went to, I wonder what it would have been like if the deceased spirit popped up to talk to me one last time.
Katy's Place-The twist at the end of this story was great. The mother took her daughter's death so hard, she could never forgive the person who was driving. In a way, her gift was cruel. I hope the other woman didn't use the revolver.
Backdraft-This story has everything I want in it. Romance, and they both work for the fire department. They're worried about each other's safety, and they even broke up until Riley could really bond with his father. Everything ended well. This story was very similar to the books Allison Brennan writes, so I enjoyed it a lot.
Because of You-I thought this story was good. The girl nursed Carl back to health, despite not really knowing him. I imagine it was all the more difficult to do so back in 1918, when there were fewer medical means of healing something like that.
Skipper and I-This story was slightly choppy. First, she's talking about the past, where she first met the boy. Then she's at a conference where she sees him again. It all happened very quickly.
The Only Girl in the World-This story was romantic, in how the soldier got injured in the war, only to meet the woman he was thinking about while in the hospital ward. And a couple weeks after he died, she died with a smile on her face because she knew she would see him again in heaven.
Tide Change-This story was extremely short. The woman likes writing music, and she discovers a washed-up bottle on the beach. Then the gentleman who wrote the music and dropped the bottle into the ocean comes to her door, and they set out to look for more bottles washed up on the shore.
Facing the Mirror-Yep, finally read this story. I've never had cancer, but I imagine it can be a very scary thing to go through. I think the first doctor she went to wasn't very personable, but she also shouldn't have waited so long to contact someone else. But, in the end, everything was cured and she was able to look at herself in the mirror again.
Solomon's Paradox-This story was confusing because it's dealing with two different people in the same body. I don't think I could do an experiment like that. Sure, it would be nice to be back, but probably not at the cost of being followed and checked up on constantly for a year.
Play it Again, Sam-Aside from "36 Hours", this is my new favorite story from this anthology. I like the idea of being able to go back in time to get a job done. I think I would be able to keep an open mind about the whole idea. I don't know where the title for this story came from, but it's like that phrase, "Don't judge a book by its cover." I will definitely read more by this author.
Christmas Eve at Alison's Diner-This story made me cry. I enjoy the romantic, sappy, love stories. And this one was a Christmas story, too, so it was all the more fun.
Persephone's Granddaughter-This story was strange, but I had a feeling it would teach the girl a small lesson after she ran out on her mother. Now, she has to "serve" time down there, bringing dying people to the light. I hope she misses her mother.
The Greek, the Dog, Shangri-La and Me-This story was very hard for me to follow. There didn't seem to be any flow to it, just like the title itself.
A Streetcar Named Death-I worked in two different jails before, and sometimes I wonder what it would be like to meet someone who had been released, on the street one day. It's kinda different being the ex-officer instead of the ex-victim. This story was good, so I will read more by this author.
The Tower-I thought the story started out confusing, because it was written like it was from the time frame the story took place. I enjoyed the twist at the end where she had actually stolen two of the crown's jewels the night before she helped the guy break in to steal the actual crown.
Fabian's Wake-This story had some humorous points in it. At the last funeral I went to, I wonder what it would have been like if the deceased spirit popped up to talk to me one last time.
Katy's Place-The twist at the end of this story was great. The mother took her daughter's death so hard, she could never forgive the person who was driving. In a way, her gift was cruel. I hope the other woman didn't use the revolver.
Backdraft-This story has everything I want in it. Romance, and they both work for the fire department. They're worried about each other's safety, and they even broke up until Riley could really bond with his father. Everything ended well. This story was very similar to the books Allison Brennan writes, so I enjoyed it a lot.
Because of You-I thought this story was good. The girl nursed Carl back to health, despite not really knowing him. I imagine it was all the more difficult to do so back in 1918, when there were fewer medical means of healing something like that.
Skipper and I-This story was slightly choppy. First, she's talking about the past, where she first met the boy. Then she's at a conference where she sees him again. It all happened very quickly.
The Only Girl in the World-This story was romantic, in how the soldier got injured in the war, only to meet the woman he was thinking about while in the hospital ward. And a couple weeks after he died, she died with a smile on her face because she knew she would see him again in heaven.
Tide Change-This story was extremely short. The woman likes writing music, and she discovers a washed-up bottle on the beach. Then the gentleman who wrote the music and dropped the bottle into the ocean comes to her door, and they set out to look for more bottles washed up on the shore.
October 17, 2013
In this hefty anthology, sixteen successful authors responded to the prompt “I never thought I'd see you again” and, as a result, sixteen wildly different short stories – of varying lengths – were created. Author introductions give us a little background to the author's approach to their interpretation of the prompt, which is lovely, and the vastly different stories that came about as a result are admirable.
However, the varying lengths of the stories did throw me off kilter a little. My review copy didn't have an index, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect when approaching a story. I was quite surprised to find that the first story was very long for a “short story”, and as such took a long time to get through; not ideal for a tea break read or a quick before-bed story. Of course, in a published eBook or copy, you'd be able to assess the lengths of the stories better and to choose accordingly, so this is only a minor quibble subjective to my preference of shorter story lengths in an anthology.
Overall, this is a really enjoyable anthology that offers a mix of story genres and lengths to surprise and stimulate the mind. If you can keep an open mind, every story has something different to offer a reader, and whilst some stories are more appealing and gripping than others, the anthology offers up a great taster of diverse creative writing.
Full review to appear HERE.
However, the varying lengths of the stories did throw me off kilter a little. My review copy didn't have an index, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect when approaching a story. I was quite surprised to find that the first story was very long for a “short story”, and as such took a long time to get through; not ideal for a tea break read or a quick before-bed story. Of course, in a published eBook or copy, you'd be able to assess the lengths of the stories better and to choose accordingly, so this is only a minor quibble subjective to my preference of shorter story lengths in an anthology.
Overall, this is a really enjoyable anthology that offers a mix of story genres and lengths to surprise and stimulate the mind. If you can keep an open mind, every story has something different to offer a reader, and whilst some stories are more appealing and gripping than others, the anthology offers up a great taster of diverse creative writing.
Full review to appear HERE.
July 25, 2013
Initially I was unsure about how I would like this book. Previously I had never read anything with this type of format. The most interesting part of this book was that they all included the line...."I never thought I'd see you again. Surprisingly when I finished reading the collection of short stories, I found myself wishing that there had been more contributors to this book. My favorite short story was the first one written by Allison Brennan. It illustrated a complicated father daughter relationship in an adventure format.
One of my favorite aspects was the mix of genres that were included. It keeps the reader interested and also exposes them to genres that they might not ordinarily read.
Would love to read another book like this with a different line. Kudos to the publishers, The Story Plant.
Review also posted on goodreads.com
One of my favorite aspects was the mix of genres that were included. It keeps the reader interested and also exposes them to genres that they might not ordinarily read.
Would love to read another book like this with a different line. Kudos to the publishers, The Story Plant.
Review also posted on goodreads.com
September 10, 2013
I’d Never Thought I’d See You Again
The Story Plant delivers again!
In this anthology of short stories, The Story Plant brings together many authors of different genres gathered around the theme of “I’d never thought I’d see you again.”
It is interesting to read each author’s vision of this phrase. They each have an emotional tie to the theme; and they each craft delightful stories sure to impress the most discerning reader.
In this busy world, these bite-sized stories are perfect for a lunch break or waiting room when you don’t have time for a lengthy novel. It is a wonderful way to revisit authors you love and to discover new authors a reader might also enjoy. The genres run the gamut so there is something for everyone.
Be sure to sign up for a newsletter to learn all of their latest releases from The Story Plant at http://www.thestoryplant.com/
The Story Plant delivers again!
In this anthology of short stories, The Story Plant brings together many authors of different genres gathered around the theme of “I’d never thought I’d see you again.”
It is interesting to read each author’s vision of this phrase. They each have an emotional tie to the theme; and they each craft delightful stories sure to impress the most discerning reader.
In this busy world, these bite-sized stories are perfect for a lunch break or waiting room when you don’t have time for a lengthy novel. It is a wonderful way to revisit authors you love and to discover new authors a reader might also enjoy. The genres run the gamut so there is something for everyone.
Be sure to sign up for a newsletter to learn all of their latest releases from The Story Plant at http://www.thestoryplant.com/
February 12, 2017
I got this from NetGalley to review.
I'm a sucker for short story collections, and this one sounded interesting. The only trouble with collections that are by different authors is that it's hardly fair to rate the book as a whole when some of the stories were good and some were not.
While none of the stories stood out as excellent to me, writing wise, I did enjoy quite a few. My favorite was probably Bettie and Carl. I did skip about three of them, as I read the first page and was not interested. Otherwise, the stories were solid enough, and it was interesting to see how each writer approached the title phrase. A good read if you like short stories and aren't too stuck in one genre.
I'm a sucker for short story collections, and this one sounded interesting. The only trouble with collections that are by different authors is that it's hardly fair to rate the book as a whole when some of the stories were good and some were not.
While none of the stories stood out as excellent to me, writing wise, I did enjoy quite a few. My favorite was probably Bettie and Carl. I did skip about three of them, as I read the first page and was not interested. Otherwise, the stories were solid enough, and it was interesting to see how each writer approached the title phrase. A good read if you like short stories and aren't too stuck in one genre.
January 9, 2014
Read this review at Got Fiction? blog
Anthologies like this with so many authors can be hard to get through sometimes. The only common theme throughout was the phrase "I never thought I'd see you again." Each author was to write whatever she wanted with that as the main concept.
Some were complete wins, and made me crave more-I'm looking at you Alyssa Day.
Others didn't work for me at all.
But the great thing about anthologies like this is that there are so many different stories that there truly is something for everyone.
I'd suggest this anthology, but I'd also say that since there are so many stories that you won't feel bad if you don't like one or two.
***ARC courtesy of the author
Anthologies like this with so many authors can be hard to get through sometimes. The only common theme throughout was the phrase "I never thought I'd see you again." Each author was to write whatever she wanted with that as the main concept.
Some were complete wins, and made me crave more-I'm looking at you Alyssa Day.
Others didn't work for me at all.
But the great thing about anthologies like this is that there are so many different stories that there truly is something for everyone.
I'd suggest this anthology, but I'd also say that since there are so many stories that you won't feel bad if you don't like one or two.
***ARC courtesy of the author
March 15, 2017
One of my favorite things about reading anthologies is that I get introduced to new authors that I wouldn't have found before. The authors in this anthology were given a writing prompt and the entire collection is based on these words: "I never thought I'd see you again." What kept it interesting was each author took a different view on that phrase and it wasn't just traditional scenarios that may come up with those words. The first story was my favorite out of the entire book and that one gets 5 stars. The rest of them were good but not as captivating as the first one.
I received this book from NetGalley.
I received this book from NetGalley.
October 15, 2015
Short stories. Some were quite good, I thought. Some were not so good. I like these books because you get a short visit with each author and find if you like their writing style. I found I liked Allison Brennan, Barbara Myers and Kathryn Shay the most.
March 16, 2014
2.5 stars. Some stories were better than others.
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