It has taken me a while to jump on the “short story” band wagon, but at last I have arrived… but probably not for the reasons you would expect. I am still not thrilled about a story being cut down just when I think it is gaining momentum, and I am a huge fan of character development in stories… which, lets face it… is not going to happen in 25 pages. But one thing is clear, (and this is why I’m now a fan) in just a few short pages you can tell whether or not you are going to enjoy an author.
About a month ago Vanessa Morgan emailed me about reviewing her novel “Drowned Sorrow.” “Sure” I said. For a woman that was being hailed as the “female Stephen King” I had to know what she was all about. 4 weeks later I still haven’t received her book (and honestly that’s fine considering I’m still VERY FAR BEHIND) but with Halloween quickly approaching I just couldn’t help myself… so I cracked open her little ditty “The Strangers Outside” and took a peek.
Now… while 25 pages is a little too clipped for me to pass her the “Sultan of Scare” crown, I can at least dub her the “Empress of Eek.” There is an undeniable talent that shows through in Morgan’s work, and to that I say… bravo. If an author can manage to make me do the sideways head cock in so few pages… there’s just no telling what they’ll be able to do with a full length novel.
So…if you are a fan of Hitchcock-esq shorts, or even a good tale to share with your friends on a dark night… this one is just what you are looking for, and with the day of the dead quickly approaching, it only seems natural to take a trip on the creepy side.
Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: the number for the police is always 9-1-1 DUH!
For a complete description click image.
[Rating:3.5/5]I was afraid that I would give too much away if I wrote my own description, so here is what Amazon had to say.
Synopsis: Two sisters, Jennifer and Louise, return to their remote holiday cabin after a day at the seaside. But little do they know they’re being surrounded. Shortly after their arrival, the girls will come face to face with THE STRANGERS OUTSIDE. When the assailants make their intentions known, things take a shockingly terrible turn and an intense battle for survival will begin.
I found it a fun read look forward to something else from her.
I might give it a try. They say (who? I don’t know!) that short stories are far harder to write than novels because it’s hard to get all the right elements into one.
I would like to ‘like’ short stories, but most of the time they leave me flat or wishing they were novels.
Nice post though 😀
They still get to me on a really-that’s-it? level, but I’ve learned they can be an excellent “New Author Guide”
Thank you for the review, Misty. If you ever happen to be on holiday in Belgium, Europe, and you are surrounded by creepy monks, try the numbers 101 and 112 instead of 911 or you won’t make it out of there alive 🙂
Good to know 🙂