Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Out Of The Storm: Anthology

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Synopsis: An anthology featuring the winners of the 2014 "Storming the Short Story" contest, sponsored by a chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).

Contemporary category:
1st place: "Squall Line" by Jim Hamlett (Contemporary)
2nd place: "Dorothy's Carol" by Terrie Todd (Women's Fiction)
3rd place: "A Rumspringa Storm" by Steve Hooley (Amish)
4th place: "Tempest Tossed" by Annette O'Hare (Women's Fiction)

Speculative category (Fantasy / SciFi):
1st place: "The Grumpy Chronicles" by Susan Lyttek (Fantasy)
2nd place: "The Great Storm" by Karla Rose (SciFi)
3rd place: "Oddman" by Carla Hoch (SciFi)
4th place: "Aperture" by Linda Kozar (SciFi)

Others category:
1st place: "Just West of Clovis" by Ralph D. James (Western)
2nd place: "Husband Hunting" by Crystal L. Barnes (Western)
3rd place: "Detention" by Gretchen Engel (YA / Fantasy)
4th place: "Fire in a Storm" by Angela K. Couch (Historical)

Proceeds from the sale of the anthology will be donated to the Scholarship Fund of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).

Thoughts: There are some really good stories in this group. I found it interesting that, in some cases, the first place winner wasn't always the one I found to be the best in that particular category.  My three favorites were "A Rumspringa Storm," "The Grumpy Chronicles," and "Detention" . That is not to say that the others weren't fine stories in their own right, just that they didn't appeal to me quite as much as the three I mentioned. 
If you are looking for some top quality, clean fiction short stories, this is definitely the book for you. 
 **I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher in exchange for my honest review.**

My rating: Four stars

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