Summer is perfect for short stories…
This week, I was finalizing a short story. I am one of five co-editors of the Feisty Deeds anthology – historical fictional tales of women around the world and across centuries.
In addition to my editorial duties shaping the collection, I’m also a contributing author. Since submissions open in August, I needed to get that keyboard clicking.
And, in writing and completing my story, I realized (once again!) how much I love short story writing. (And they truly are perfect for summer, dip into one story on the beach, go for a swim, and jump into a new world in your next story. My idea of perfect summer rhythms…
It’s so satisfying to create your story arc and characters in so few pages. For this collection, the word count is quite low, 3000 words, which translates into 10-11 pages. Because I tend to “overwrite”, I reached almost 5000 words for my story – and then started a process of brutal cutting. But, I got there!
Although this is the third in our series, I highly recommend you check out Feisty Deeds: Historical Fictions of Daring Women and Feisty Deeds II: Historical Tales of Batches and Brews. This collection is created with the stories of fellow members of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA) Historical Fiction affinity group. All proceeds are destined to the WFWA Scholarship Fund, benefitting aspiring writers facing financial constraints in achieving their dreams of becoming a published author. Explore these wonderful collections for yourselves!
In addition to these collections, I’ve also published my own collection of short stories, Drink Wine and Be Beautiful. Italian Tales of love, betrayal, longing, desire – and hope. See some of my editorial reviews for this collection below.
I loved creating this collection, and I’m eger to write a second volume of Italian women and expatriates in Italy … providing me the chance to write new short stories. I might just find an opportunity between upcoming novel projects.
What about you, readers and writeres – do you enjoy reading/writing short stories?
“This is a strong body of work, and the author is unafraid to experiment, as the stories range from slices of life to near fairy tales. Sullivan’s own adventures abroad and knowledge of history provide solid grounding for her narratives. A searching collection of tales about women’s quests for self-realization.” –Kirkus Reviews
“The short stories in Drink Wine and Be Beautiful are delicate renderings of Italian people and culture that capture succinct moments in time and the Italian psyche. Each piece captures a piece of Italian culture and its heart, presenting emotional works of romance and quiet contemplation which analyze the pathways of love and relationships.” -Midwest Book Reviews
“Twenty-one fascinating slice-of-life stories fill up the pages of this captivating collection. Set in different cities of cultural and historical significance. Drink Wine and Be Beautiful contains stories about women from diverse backgrounds and stages in navigating love, betrayal, loneliness, success and much more. Each short story in this enthralling collection is unique and brings something different to the narrative. There is a relatable quality to the protagonists of these stories that make them feel like real people. Their flaws, conflicts and struggles shape their personalities in distinct ways. Sullivan has a way with words and brings emotions and complex relationship dynamics to the pages in a seamless fashion. Highly recommended.” -Readers’ Favorite Review
“Kimberly Sullivan impresses again, with a collection of stories displaying emotional sophictication and surprise. This is a collection that contains sharp and tender observations of the complexities of being human. This is a wonderful read for those who love a book that guides the imagination to foreign destinations with a feeling of being home anywhere in the world. Drink Wine and Be Beautiful masterfully delivers emotional complexity in settings rich with equal parts romance and melancholy.” -Feathered Quill Review
