It Goes On

by D.R. Shoultz

This is a new cover edition for ISBN13: 9781495359248

From inspirational to tragic, suspenseful to romantic, the stories in IT GOES ON will keep you entertained to the very end, with the end being only twenty minutes away. The collection examines the lives of families, lovers, schemers, lost souls, and even pets, providing a fly-on-the-wall perspective of their challenges, their miseries, and their joys.

STORIES INCLUDED:

SOMETHING FOR NOTHING - A calamity of errors develops as a man and wife attempt to steal pension funds from their aging aunt.

ABANDONED - A mother Lab and her two pups fight for survival after being abandoned in the North Carolina back country.

REFLECTION - A man steps through his reflection, seeking to cross paths with his soul mate in a time long ago.

CLASS REUNION - His ten-year high school reunion turns out to be everything Mike Watson had hoped it wouldn’t.

EASY COME - A Wall Street broker engages in a personal tug-of-war between his family and his career.

A LOVE NEVER LOST - The story of a middle-aged widow and a search for love that returns her to a familiar place.

A COSTLY LEGACY - A son faces the decision of protecting his father’s legacy or saving his own reputation.

A CHRISTMAS FOUND - A young couple’s struggle to find happiness is aided by a lost spaniel.

ANOTHER DAY - A malcontent sales executive discovers his boring routine isn’t all that bad.

THROUGH HIS EYES - Duke, a beloved family pet, tells his life story.

THEIR PLACE - The story of a small-town Missouri diner and the role it plays in the lives of its townspeople.

KILLING HIM WITH KINDNESS - The storybook life of a couple comes to an unexpected, tragic ending.

CYBER ONE – Chapter 1 - A sneak peek at CYBER ONE: A Miles Stevens Novel, #2, a CIA time travel thriller.

208 pages, Paperback

First published May 28, 2014

About the author

An author of mystery/crime novels, D.R. (Donn) Shoultz hails from Delavan, a small town in central Illinois, but has resided in the Southeastern U.S. most of his adult life. Donn and his wife Claudia have recently moved from their longtime residence in the Carolina Mountains to a home atop the Cumberland Plateau in Crossville, Tennessee. Claudia continues to share her considerable editing experience in shaping Donn's novels. In their free time, they both enjoy traveling and hiking nearby wooded trails with their dog, Milo.

Donn began writing fiction more than a decade ago following a sales and marketing career that took him across the world. His early work featured Miles Stevens, a time-traveling CIA agent, sent back from 2050 and his home in Langley, Virginia to intercept historic tragedies already in the history books.

Donn’s recent focus is adding stories to his Mountain Mystery Series. In each Mountain Mystery, tension rises quickly. The mystery (usually a murder) makes an early appearance. Hometown heroes spring into action, searching for clues, often competing with local law enforcement as they move closer and closer to danger. The stories are set in fictitious mountain communities with the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop. Clues are sprinkled throughout with twists keeping readers off balance. These books are great for weekend reads, offering crisp, fast-moving chapters and up-all-night suspense.

If you’re looking for a mystery series with legs, this is it. Your favorite sleuths from the initial stories return in future novels, making them a series within the Mountain Mystery collection of novels.

In order of publication, his books include:

Miles Stevens Series
* Melting Sand
* Cyber One
* Gone Viral

Mountain Mystery Series
* At the River's Edge (Emily Edwards #1)
* Butcher Road (Jack Fowler #1)
* Fallen from Sight (Ryan Nelson #1)
* A Town Divided (Luke Maxwell #1)
* A Town in Fear (Luke Maxwell #2)
* Dark River (Emily Edwards #2)
* Road to Justice (Jack Fowler #2)
* Rising River (Emily Edwards #3
* Border Town (Luke Maxwell #3))

Donn's short stories, which he interweaves between writing novels, are an eclectic collection of tales looking at the lives of lovers, schemers, everyday people, and even pets. Each includes a twist and is designed to bring a tear and/or a smile to the reader. His stories have received national contest recognition, including from Writer's Digest magazine. His short story collections include:

* It Goes On
* Most Men

You can find more about Donn and his writing at DRShoultz.com.

Reviews

[J.C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Master of Manipulating Emotion

It Goes On is an eclectic collection of short stories by D.R. Shoultz, which captures the human (and sometimes canine) condition. Following every day people, most of the tales take place in middle America. There, the pace of life is slower, but the impact of decisions are magnified by everyone knowing everyone. One story has Portal Fantasy elements, and several include dogs. Overall, be prepared to have your emotions pulled in several directions, from hope to sacrifice, despair to redemption.

As a whole, I felt some of the stories took a while to develop, with more “telling” than “showing” at the start. On occasion, I felt unnecessary information slowed the pace of the beginning. However, with the exception of “Their Place,” each story had me full engaged by the middle, caring for (or in some cases, despising) the main characters, and hoping for outcomes. By the end, Shoultz comes to a conclusion which was well worth the wait.

Shoultz generally writes in Omniscient viewpoint with a distinct narrative voice which I hear as Dan Rather’s steadfast intonation. For a few stories, he used First Person. There are a couple of Point of View slips, but nothing horribly egregious to pull me out of the stories for more than a second.

Because of the mastery in manipulating emotions, I would say several of the stories are not fit for a day when you are feeling down, so I will categorize them here (mild SPOILERS):
Something for Nothing: Comeuppance
Abandoned: Anger and Mostly sad.
Reflection: Sad
Class Reunion: Pulled in many directions.
Easy Come: Sad
Taking the Fall: Sad
Love Never Lost: It will make you mad, but the ending is so worth it.
Costly Legacy: Awesome story of sacrifice, but ultimately quite sad.
Christmas Found: SUPER FEEL GOOD! Read this one if you need a pick-me up!
Another Day: Read it on a day when you feel like life is boring, and count your blessings!
Through His Eyes: Whimsical and Cute.
Their Place: I had a hard time keeping engaged with this one.
Killing Him With Kindness: Emotional Rollercoaster.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Norm Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleased to Recommend This Anthology

I thoroughly enjoyed the dozen short stories in this collection. Each is of a length that can be digested in one sitting with the satisfaction of being fulfilled at the end, never left hanging. The author reveals each of the stories so it is unique and easily discernible from the others. I appreciated being able to read each without having the feeling of repetition. Well done Mr. Shoultz.

Shoultz’s writing style draws the reader in during the first paragraph or two in anticipation of what is about to take place. His characters include everyday people in relationships, frustration and devious plans. Each has a story arc that takes the reader from where the characters begin … to where their journey takes them. From the unusual behaviour of a couple in “Something for Nothing” to the depth of love expressed in “Killing Him with Kindness,” you will be entertained by clear, concise storytelling.

Two of the stories, “Easy Come” and “A Christmas Found” are Award winning pieces. The author is offering the profits from Amazon sales as a benefit for the North Carolina animal shelters.

I am pleased to recommend this anthology to both lovers of the shorts and to anyone who would like to taste the treasure that is the short story.

Norm Hamilton, Writer, Copy-Editor, Proofreader
Author of From Thine Own Well , Sarah’s Embrace , The Digital Eye
Website
Email

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a digital copy of this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

[G.G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I want to specify that I usually don't give a second look at short stories because they end too fast. I had never considered buying one before this one. However, I have read a few novels from Mr. Shoultz and since I liked what I had read, I decided to give it a try. Besides, it was also for a good cause (supporting NC animal shelters).

I have never reviewed a book of short stories. I don't know how to proceed. They are short so I can't mention anything for fear of spoilers so I will just mention the titles.

The first story, Something for Nothing, surprised me and caught my attention more than I had expected. I realized that I actually could enjoy short stories after all.

Then came Abandoned. If you love animals, you had better have tissues with you when you'll read this one. Mark my words! I LOVED the story even if I cried like a baby.
After finishing that one, I wouldn't have mind even if the other stories hadn't been good, I was sold. I had already my money's worth.

Reflection, despite the competition of the first two was also very enjoyable.

The next few were great read but nothing compare those first three. I think I had been spoiled too much already and I didn't think any of the others could be as good from then and on. Boy was I wrong! A Christmas Found was a gem. It would make a wonderful movie. Beautiful and unpredictable, I wished it had been longer. In fact, I wished a whole novel would be made out of this one. That's how much I loved it.

To my surprise, I wasn't finished. There was another story I enjoyed very much: Through his Eyes, written in the POV of a dog. Again, if you love your pets, you'll love this one.

So ok, not all the stories are masterpieces, but the ones I loved are enough for me to give this book a 5 stars. I am so looking forward for #2!

[Loren Lockner · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing collection of brilliant short stories! I have always loved short stories and as an English teacher, find their length and quick impact to be wonderful in the classroom. Some of the stories contained in this fine collection of works by D.R. Shoultz are worthy of the classroom and I plan to use the stories ‘A Christmas Found,' a delightful story of hope and fate for a middle-aged couple, ‘Another Day,' a Cohen Brothers’ type of story that makes one cherish what we have, and ‘Through His Eyes,’ a wonderful point of view story in my literature classes as we discuss theme and a writer’s technique. I loved the volume and particularly enjoyed the ‘use’ of dogs as pivotal characters in some of the stories. I highly recommend this lovely read. Many of the stories will stay with you long after the book is completed.

[Kathy Duffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this group of short stories. They encompassed a variety of themes, excellently told. I particularly enjoyed "A Christmas Found" and "Another Day". I hope this author - D.R. Scoultz gets some prime recognition for his writing -- his style and his originality.

[F.J. Soto · Rating 5 out of 5]

It Goes On is an eclectic collection of short stories by D.R. Shoultz, which captures the human (and sometimes canine) condition. Following every day people, most of the tales take place in middle America. There, the pace of life is slower, but the impact of decisions are magnified by everyone knowing everyone. One story has Portal Fantasy elements, and several include dogs. Overall, be prepared to have your emotions pulled in several directions, from hope to sacrifice, despair to redemption.

As a whole, I felt some of the stories took a while to develop, with more “telling” than “showing” at the start. On occasion, I felt unnecessary information slowed the pace of the beginning. However, with the exception of “Their Place,” each story had me full engaged by the middle, caring for (or in some cases, despising) the main characters, and hoping for outcomes. By the end, Shoultz comes to a conclusion which was well worth the wait.

Shoultz generally writes in Omniscient viewpoint with a distinct narrative voice which I hear as Dan Rather’s steadfast intonation. For a few stories, he used First Person. There are a couple of Point of View slips, but nothing horribly egregious to pull me out of the stories for more than a second.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

D.R. Shoultz' first short story collection is right up my alley since I'm one of those readers with a short attention span. I love the instant gratification of reading a story from beginning to end in about fifteen minutes.

Shoultz has a gift for tugging at your heart strings without sounding trite. In "Abandoned," he paints a vivid, heart-racing description of the many dangers threatening an abandoned dog and her puppies. I'm not a pet owner, but "Abandoned" and two other dog stories ("Through His Eyes" and "A Christmas Found") are among the best in the collection.

My favorite tale in "It Goes On" is the dark and twisted "Something for Nothing." If Alfred Hitchcock were still alive, I have no doubt this story could inspire his next creepy movie.

I thoroughly enjoyed Shoultz' debut short story collection, as well as the sneak peek at his next Miles Stevens novel included at the end of the book. "It Goes On" is a gem, and would make a thoughtful and inexpensive gift for any occasion.

[Jonel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a collection of stories! Some were wildly imaginative while others were heartfelt. They were all, however, very enjoyable. Shoultz writes on a variety of different topics, each equally well. I was especially enchanted with the dog based stories. They were told from their POV but remained entirely realistic. I don’t think I’ve had my emotions engaged in so many different ways in such a short period of time. I love Shoultz’s writing style. It’s so polished and straightforward. I find it easy to engage with. He made me cry more than once, but made me laugh just as many times.

Shoultz’s first collection of short stories made me contemplate life in different ways. This collection was a joy to read, both as separate stories and as an anthology. This book will become well read & dog-eared in short order as it becomes my go-to read when I’m looking for something quick to read. I can’t wait for his second collection.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

[Jonel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a collection of stories! Some were wildly imaginative while others were heartfelt. They were all, however, very enjoyable. Shoultz writes on a variety of different topics, each equally well. I was especially enchanted with the dog based stories. They were told from their POV but remained entirely realistic. I don’t think I’ve had my emotions engaged in so many different ways in such a short period of time. I love Shoultz’s writing style. It’s so polished and straightforward. I find it easy to engage with. He made me cry more than once, but made me laugh just as many times.

Shoultz’s first collection of short stories made me contemplate life in different ways. This collection was a joy to read, both as separate stories and as an anthology. This book will become well read & dog-eared in short order as it becomes my go-to read when I’m looking for something quick to read. I can’t wait for his second collection.

[Mark Mayfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love short stories. I love diversity in short stories. I read lots of full length novels but love sort stories using my Kindle Fire audio for short commutes, or reading at Starbucks before work, or reading during lunch. I find them a refreshing way to get my mind off whatever is happening in the day. D.R. Shoultz has put together an extremely well-written set of short stories that keep you going from one to another. They vary from Wall Street stories to a dog story (my fav even though it's sad) to magic time-shifting mirror stories and much more. Every single one held my interest and and me want more at the end. This collection does not disappoint. I originally got it thinking it would last me for weeks, checking out a story here and there, but they held my interest so well, I ended up going through the book in three days, without effort. Abandoned, I even read twice. A great set of reads by D.R. Shoultz.

[Mr. Bohemian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nurse911: One thing we can be certain in life, is that It Goes On. That is certainly the case for our most recent patient by DR Shoultz. Structured as a variety of short stories, it details the lives of an assortment of characters from their own perspective as they deal with situations ending in tragedy or triumph. Sorting through our patient's multiple endings as they continued to go through the school of hard knocks was truly a testament to my career as a Nursing professional. Tragedy was the most predominant symptom our patient possessed. Consequently, my initial evaluation dictated a more timid review. However, it wasn't until I later finished the book and had begun digesting its content in self-reflection did I understand the bittersweet lessons it provided between the lines. It's when we are going through the hard times do we possess the unique opportunity to gain insightful perspectives on what gratitude really means to us individually.

[Pennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very colorful book with a little of everything thrown your way to whet the appetite. Short stories are my thing, especially having such a busy lifestyle. Each one was very different to the next from heart ache to endearing, and each with unpredictable endings. My favorite one was 'A Christmas Friend' which I have to admit that I read first as I love all things Christmas and it's my favorite time of year so couldn't resist. My other favorite was 'Class Reunion'.
Each story had realism with shocking consequences, especially the one about the two old age pensioners that steal money - enough said, as I don't wont to give any spoilers away. The author assembled an imaginative style with well written events crafted in its entirety of this fine collection. A great addition to my kindle library and highly recommended.

[Terry Sprouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read. Each story quickly drew me in and kept my interest all the way to the end.

I like the fact that the stories deal with normal everyday life are not preposterous situations where we must suspend reality. In my mind, almost all the stories could have potentially have happened, and the conclusions left me with a satisfying feeling.

I also liked that the author did not use excessive bad language or violence.

The author has a very smooth writing style that adds a layer of eloquence to the stories.

My favorite story was “Abandoned” about a three Black Lab dogs, a mother and her two pups. I could really relate to the story as I am the owner of a Black Lab, and she has a very genial and noble personality. I imagined that my dog, Blackie, was the experiencing the same feelings of abandonment and suffering the same hardships as the dogs in the story.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Good Reads First Reads. Thank you! I enjoy short story collections because in a few pages a writer can give you a satisfying mystery, drama or comedy, sometimes with a twist on human nature. "It Goes On" is a quick, light read of several basic stories about average people experiencing ups and downs in their lives. Two stories are told from the point of view of a dog. My favorite is "Something for Nothing". A story of 2 people behaving badly. I was surprised at the somewhat unexpected ending. I didn't love the stories but I didn't dislike them; I just wanted a little more punch to them. 2.5

[Lucille · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read one of D.R. Shoultz's novels and thought I'd give his short stories a try. Boy, am I glad I did. I particularly liked his stories that included pets. "Abandoned" had me in tears several times, and so did "A Christmas Found."

"Something for Nothing", a story about a couple stealing pension funds from their aunt, was a little twisted, but it definitely was dramatic and I didn't anticipate the shocking ending.

All in all, a good collection of stories and well worth the price. There is something for everyone.

[Karen Ginther · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are many good things about this collection of short stories. I liked the ease with which each one was told. I was truly moved by several of them. D.R. Schoultz is clearly an animal lover with the ability to put himself in their position. His stories share life lessons without being preachy. I enjoyed learning names and descriptions, made up or real, of states and towns in parts of the country I will probably never travel. If you like short stories, I recommend It Goes On by D.L. Scoultz.

[Sara Claridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each story is completely different. Sometimes there’s a twist in the end, sometimes it’s heart-warming or makes you pause for a moment and think, but you never know which way it’s going to be until that final sentence.
The author might say that the end is only 20 minutes away, but the trouble is I always enjoyed the previously story so much I start to read the next one. That just while I drink a cup of tea moment turns into a much longer chunk of time.
My favourite story was the one with the mirror. I really didn’t expect that ending.

[Mohammed Malik · Rating 5 out of 5]

surprisingly good

I have never been a fan of short stories, however after reading a review of this book by a English teacher and his reasons for liking short stories, I thought why not. I am so glad I took the time to read this collection.
Every single story is about real life without any fantasy. Some have happy endings and others pain and suffering. Every one of these stories will move you emotionally. I might just b become a fan of short stories!

[Juli Savage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short story book, easy to read, some brilliant little stories with twists at each ending

[Joseph Minart · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful Writer.
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2016
As I write this little review, I must ponder about my reading experience. I have read more wonderful written pieces that I am privileged to read and learn from different writing styles. This book takes a special place in my heart, mostly because it is the best written piece that I've read since picking up reading.

D.R. Shoultz is no doubt a very talented writer. He plays on your emotions as if you are interwoven with the story's characters, feeling the despair and anguish, and gladness and hope. Actually when I think about it, not too many authors, especially self-published authors I've read, have reached the level of passion and depth into fully developing their stories. Some of his passages even makes you want to cry.

My favorite piece was the story about the abandoned dogs. Even though he has plenty of wonderful dialogue in his other short stories, this particular piece struck a special chord to me for a narrative with little to no dialogue, but it still packed a powerful punch.

I am glad that I have read his work.
I received a free copy from a Goodreads R&R.

[Denis Hachey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly enjoyable collection of 12 short stories, each one so different from the other, but all of them are well thought out and well written. Some of them make you think and others fill you with emotion which shows that the author has done a great job job. Being short stories, you can just pick up the book and read one whenever you have fifteen minutes to spare. I almost wished some of the stories were longer as I found I was so immersed into the characters. All in all an extremely satisfying read.

[Scott Spotson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Several of these stories are like the Wheel of Fortune (the legend, not the game show). You know, one moment, you're up, and the next, you're down. Spin the wheel, and find the next victim.

I very much enjoyed all the stories, each story has a twist or a moral, or both. I can tell the author really, really loves dogs, as a dog would be the main character in a heart-rendering story.

The only story I struggled with was A Costly Legacy. It seemed that the main character in that story was doomed, and nothing he could do would make it right. In that, it just seemed futile.

[Tien · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains many deep meaning stories. One could make you smile of happiness. One could make your heartache. One could give you a hope to go on with life. I would recommend it to everyone.

[Chris Angelis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The short story format is a very powerful one - more powerful than most authors and readers realize and give it credit for. Some of the finest writers in the history of literature have achieved their place in the pantheon as a result of their short stories (Franz Kafka comes to mind). However, in order for the full power of the format to be expressed, certain conditions must be met. Failure to satisfy these, results in a lackluster outcome.

In It Goes On by D.R. Shoultz the reader is offered a relatively voluminous collection of short stories that are bound together through the concept of life continuing beyond a tragedy or other unpleasant event. Generally speaking, this in itself would be probably too generic to rely on as connective tissue, unless there were a sustained, specific focus placed on the characters' mentality and thought processes unfolding.

But first things first: The reader entering the volume is met by well-written texts, easy-to-follow narratives, and quite engaging stories (in terms of plot). Every now and then the language deployed really conveys a lot of accentuated meanings - one example I can think of is in "A Christmas Found", where two characters are described as being "deeply in love and deeper in debt". Quite brilliantly put. Another positive note comes from the author's willingness to cross genres and experiment (mildly). "Something for Nothing" reads as a Faulknerian Southern Gothic tale, indeed managing to portray the grotesque both in its comic and its morbid expression. Similarly, "Reflection" comes off as a cross between magic realism and fin-de-siècle devolution. There are also stories written from the perspective of a dog, which is always something interesting.

I spoke earlier about focus placed on the characters and their thought processes, hinting at it being an integral element of narrative cohesion. This is a point that does leave room for improvement, I think. Indeed, I believe that it would've been better for the volume if it contained less but more developed stories, with a proper narrative progression, including a meaningful arc. As it stands, most stories come off as somewhat pointless, where - to borrow from Mikhail Bakhtin's concept of adventure time - things seem to happen to characters instead because of them. The reader never truly gets a deeper, more elaborate view on the inner worlds of the undeniably interesting protagonists, which leaves only chance ("fate"; irony; the cruelty of the universe) as the operative actor. Additionally, the temporal layout is occasionally awkward, with temporal leaps of many decades occurring unexpectedly. Many stories are about money, reputation, morality, but none is developed enough to offer a more stable reference to the justifications behind actions. As a result, most of the stories come off as somewhat naive and uni-dimensional, for all their interesting premises and beautiful language.

Nonetheless, when all is said and done, It Goes On remains a well-written collection of interesting stories that is worth the reader's time. And although it refrains from exploring deeper motivations, thoughts, and feelings, that also means that it is accessible, easy-to-read, and can appeal to a very wide audience.