2021 Indie Authors' Short Story Anthology

by Sunny Abernathy (Contributor), Astrid B. Blume, Debbie De Louise

The 2021 Indie Authors Short Story Anthology was born out of necessity. This group of authors participates in short story writing groups throughout the internet, and while their work is seen by those in the groups, it was decided that the stories needed to be published to reach a broader base. And while many writers and artists struggle to create during the events of the COVID 19 Pandemic, this group endeavored to write. These stories are a small sampling of their accomplishments.

The idea originally started with Mustang Patty and her small indie publishing company, Heathory Press. For the 2020 Anthology, she invited authors from across the various writing groups she participated in, Reedsy.com and Deadlines for Writers. The 2020 Indie Authors' Short Story Anthology consisted of thirty stories from eighteen authors, and this current volume has twenty-five contributors, offering thirty-five stories.

These Authors represent six different countries, across five continents.

They
Thom Brodkin, Tammy Godfrey, Sue MacDonald, Steven McKenney, Richard Newell, Renee Pellegrino, Nina Heiser, Sunny Abernathy, Mustang Patty, © Maruschka Scott, Mackenzie M. Hebner, John K. Adams, Jessica Brimer, Jane Bradshaw, Ellen Eigner, Deidre Whitt Lovegren, Debbie De Louise, Cindy Myer, Christy Kunin, Chris Gibson, Charles Bucklin, C Alexis, Becky Crookham, and Astrid B. Blume.

380 pages, Paperback

Published June 20, 2021

Reviews

[Richard Newell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology has 35 stories by 25 authors from six countries and five continents, so should have wide appeal. Although the brief was to write about "moving on", not all the authors complied. This does not detract from the book at all, as there are some outstanding short stories here.

However, it loses a star because there are many proofreading errors of a minor nature, and one major lapse where the authors's name in the table of contents and at the head of his story is at odds with the name given in the biography (Gibbons versus Gibson). The nearness of the difference does not suggest a nom de plume so much as a typo. Readers with a critical eye may stumble over these shortcomings and find them distracting. There were also a couple of offerings that I found incomprehensible.

In general, the best written stories are also the best presented, and this makes the book overall an enjoyable read.
(Conflict of interest - I am one of the authors.)

[Natillie Painter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of authors from the world join together to bring us short stories based on moving on or overcoming one of life's obstacles. I enjoyed the historical telling of Sunny Aberanthy's "Providence Road" as a young woman looks to leave plantation life. And then Renee Pelligrino wrote a great short story set on suspense in a contemporary setting.

[Jessica Brimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for some great short stories with different genres. I highly recommend this book!