Storytelling Fiction

There are several aspects to writing fiction. Rendering what John Gardner in The Art of Fiction describes as a 'vivid and continuous dream' is a complicated affair. Story is created from the imagination of a writer, who in turn must translate it onto a page of symbols so that another person can read, absorb, and experience the story in a similar fashion. It's a remarkable process when you think about it. In On Creative Writing the process of writing fiction is demystified and cut in palatable bites to help any writer who has the passion and mad desire to tell a story. Reviews: Bitten by ...

Three complete stories in one collection! Includes The Mystery of the Haunted Boxcar, The Clue in the Corn Maze, and The Ghost of the Chattering Bones.

In the heart of the Deep South, Stanley Sinclair’s dream simmers quietly in a worn-down kitchen behind a wood-burning stove. But when he dares to serve more than food—to serve comfort—he ends up feeding more than stomachs. He feeds a town. Grease, Grits, and Glory is a soulful, funny, and deeply satisfying story about second chances, family (by blood and by biscuit), and the magical messiness of life when you live with your heart wide open. With a cast of unforgettable characters—including a kazoo-playing oddball, a fiercely wise little girl, and a goat with too much personality—...

This edition brings together some of Ephron’s most famous writing on a generation of women (and men) who helped shape the way we live now, and on events ranging from the Watergate scandal to the Pillsbury Bake-Off. In these sharp, hilariously entertaining, and vividly observed pieces, Ephron illuminates an era with wicked honesty and insight. From the famous "A Few Words About Breasts" to important pieces on her time working for the New York Post and Gourmet Magazine, these essays show Ephron at her very best.

Detective Laci Jolett and her K9 Bell have a new case with dangerous and deadly consequences. A woman from the local safehouse has been poisoned and her ex-husband is the number one suspect. Time is not on Detective Jolett’s side and Bell may pay the ultimate price when someone decides one less K9 is a good thing. With so much on their plate, the last thing Laci and Bell need is an irritating cat who puts notches on its scratching post each time it antagonizes Bell. After Laci’s puts a grumpy old man with a roving eye in his place, the forever enemies are stacking up and Bell will do ...

Three complete stories in one collection! Includes The Sword of the Silver Knight, The Game Store Mystery, and The Mystery of the Orphan Train!

Three complete stories in one collection! Includes The Black Pearl Mystery, The Cereal Box Mystery, and The Panther Mystery.

The stories in Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart are about the abomination that resides within us all. That churning, clawing, ravenous yearning: the hunger to be held, and seen, and known. And the terror, too: to be loved too well, or not enough, or for long enough. To be laid bare before your sweetheart, to their horror. To be recognized as the monstrous thing you are. In these lush, strange stories, GennaRose Nethercott explores human longing in all its diamond-dark facets to create a collection that will redefine what you see as a beast, and make you beg to have your heart broken.

When you think of unforgettable characters from books you’ve read, who comes to mind? James Bond, Harry Potter, Scarlett O’Hara, Elizabeth Bennett, Atticus Finch, Sherlock Holmes? These are just some of the most iconic characters in fiction. They are so memorable that even decades or centuries later, they still captivate our imagination. But what exactly is it about them that keeps generations so invested in them? Writers apply certain rules and tricks with their characters to make their stories shine. With this guide, you’ll find out exactly what they are.

An unnamed narrator abandons his unfinished thesis and returns to northern Alberta in search of what eludes him: the shape of the novel he yearns to write, an autobiography of his rural hometown, the answers to existential questions about family, love, and happiness.

Three complete stories in one collection! Includes The Disappearing Staircase Mystery, The Mystery on Blizzard Mountain, and The Mystery of the Spider's Clue.

Three complete stories in one collection! This volume includes The Mystery Horse, The Mystery at the Dog Show, and The Castle Mystery.

Three complete stories in one collection! This volume includes The Mystery at the Alamo, The Outer Space Mystery, and The Soccer Mystery.

Ignite Your Imagination with 200 Days of Gothic: Writing Prompts for gothic, dark romance, cosmic horror and paranormal storytelling! Unleash your inner storyteller with 200 Days of Gothic: Writing Prompts! Perfectly crafted for writers, enthusiasts, and dark fiction lovers alike, this book is your ultimate guide to conjuring up tales that will haunt your readers after the sun comes up. Dive into a treasure trove of eerie, twisted, strange and enchanting prompts designed to spark creativity and bring your most spine-chilling ideas to life. Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting ...

Three complete stories in one collection! Includes The Canoe Trip Mystery, The Mystery of the Hidden Beach, and The Mystery of the Missing Cat.

Three complete stories in one collection! Includes The Celebrity Cat Caper, Hidden in the Haunted School, and The Election Day Dilemma.

The hardest yet most essential element of writing great fiction is character—specifically, creating a central hero who is relatable, compelling, and worth the audience's precious time. In this entertaining and practical guide, popular blogger, writing coach and screenwriter Matt Bird breaks down what makes characters embraceable and unforgettable, and presents insider tips and tricks for writers of all levels and genres.

Dive into this animal cozy mystery where a group of quirky cats and clever dogs become unlikely heroes, proving that sometimes it’s the pets solving a crime that leads their humans to the truth. In the gossip-filled small town of Sunridge Junction, Leona Willis, known as the reclusive “crazy cat lady,” suddenly finds herself a suspect when a prominent resident is discovered dead under mysterious circumstances. With her reputation on the line, although reluctant, Leona teams up with retired police detective Maya Thompson, a friend she hasn’t spoken to in years. Maya brings along her ...

All children mythologize their birth... So begins the prologue of reclusive author Vida Winter's beloved collection of stories, long famous for the mystery of the missing thirteenth tale. The enigmatic Winter has always kept her violent and tragic past a secret. Now old and ailing, she summons a biographer to tell the truth about her extraordinary life: Margaret Lea, a young woman for whom the secret of her own birth remains an ever-present pain.

The Woodshed Mystery: The Alden children are staying at the New England farmhouse where their grandfather grew up. There are many stories and legends about the old farm, and there’s a woodshed near the house that holds a surprising secret... a secret that dates all the way back to the Revolutionary War! The Lighthouse Mystery: When the Aldens take a summer trip to the New England coast, they have a fun place to stay: a lighthouse!