I’m giving away a YA short-fiction sampler: a collection of stories from Cicada, the 7th anniversary edition of Beyond Centauri, and a classic edition of Cricket.

How to enter: 1.) leave a comment, along with your email address, on this post by Feb. 20  OR 2.) subscribe to Word Crushes by Feb. 20  (current subscribers are automatically entered–U.S. only (sorry)). A winner will be chosen at random with the help of Random.org.

And be sure to visit the other I Heart YA Giveaway blogs:

I’ll be giving away a sampler of YA short fiction from a collection of Cicada stories to the 7th anniversary issue of Beyond Centauri–check back next week to enter.

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Not every story is a novel.  Some ideas are just not long enough to sustain fifty-thousand plus words. But are short stories or novellas any less interesting or enjoyable because of their length?

Before I started writing I shunned short stories, considering them unworthy of my time or appreciation. They couldn’t be any good because they were…short. Daft, huh? My aversion began in school. Teachers forced me to read and evaluate short stories I had no interest in. I tarred all shorts with the same brush: boring and educational. It never occurred to me they could be read for pleasure. But I’ve discovered from speaking to family and friends that many people feel the same way.

Having read and written numerous short stories and novellas, I’m here to tell you that short tales can be exciting, filled with enchanting characters that tug at your heartstrings and despicable ones that make your insides shrivel. Mrs. Cruickshank, the antagonist from my novelette, The Trouble with Nightingale, is one of my favourite creations. She’s totally disgusting, and yet it’s her awfulness that entices the reader into the narrative.

Excerpt from The Trouble with Nightingale:

“The sixty-something skank with a too-tight pencil skirt, crooked beehive and five-inch stilettos sucked hard on a Marlboro. Smoke hung about her head like a grotty aura. Scarlet lipstick leaked into the creases around her lips, and canary-yellow eye shadow meandered past her squiggly-pencilled brows, giving the impression she’d applied it all without the use of a mirror.”

Designed to read in one sitting, short stories, novelettes, and novellas usually begin close to the tales conclusion and speed towards the final, and hopefully unexpected, revelation. They’re a whirlwind ride of conflict and unexpected consequences that ramp up emotional energy. With a limited number of words at the author’s disposal, the writing tends to be more concise than in a novel. Every word carefully selected, every sentence either developing character or driving the story towards its conclusion. Even descriptions must pay triple duty, setting scene, creating atmosphere, and foreshadowing plot.

Excerpt from The Trouble with Nightingale:

 “Millie prodded the lift’s grimy call button and glanced over her shoulder. Shadows thick with movement skulked beneath the concrete stairwell, darting away from each flicker of the orange security light above her head.

She leaned an ear toward the graffiti-scratched doors and listened for the rattle-clunk of the descending elevator. Like the rest of Nightingale Estate after dark, the mechanism remained eerily quiet.”

So when you’re next perusing the pages of an on-line book store, why not purchase a short story, novelette, or novella? They contain the same elements as a novel but in a bite size package, bursting with concentrated conflict to set your heart rate galloping. Like me, you might be surprised at the incredible characters and adventures you discover.

The Trouble with Nightingale

When seventeen year old Millie Scrubbings moves to new digs on East London’s Nightingale Estate, she believes she’s finally closed the door on a childhood dictated by strangers. But overnight, her peaceful high-rise turns bonkers, and a series of grisly murders leaves Millie frightened and more helpless than ever. Millie must accept her lead role in rescuing Nightingale from its descent into anarchy, or risk all Hell breaking loose.

$1.99 e-book available at Musa Publishing  and Amazon.

To follow Amaleen Ison, visit her blog www.amaleenison.com, Twitter @AmaleenIson, or visit her on Facebook.

Love to write? Share all your fabulous fiction here! Publish your newest creations, or get advice on works-in-progress. And read great stories by other New Moon Girls!”

The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories: Volume 1

” To create The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories: Volume 1, Joseph Gordon-Levitt — known within the hitRECord community as RegularJOE — directed thousands of collaborators to tell tiny stories through words and art. With the help of the entire creative collective, Gordon-Levitt culled, edited and curated over 8,500 contributions into this finely tuned collection of original art from 67 contributors. Reminiscent of the 6-Word Memoir series, The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories: Volume 1 brings together art and voices from around the world to unite and tell stories that defy size.”

Congratulations to Krystal and a big welcome to all the new subscribers. Feel free to send me market news, your publishing successes, and any other tidbits from the YA short-story world.

From the publisher: “In these stories of no more than 1000 words, well-known and emerging American authors spotlight crucial moments of change during coming-of-age. Their young protagonists face matters of great consequence, such as the death of a parent, unwanted pregnancy, and bullying, as well as lighter, if perplexing circumstances: how to hold a prom when being home-schooled; what to do when the babysitter suddenly sees the Rapture.”

Giveaway details: 1.) leave a comment, along with your email address, on this post by Dec. 27  OR 2.) subscribe to Word Crushes by Dec. 27  (current subscribers are automatically entered). A winner will be chosen at random with the help of Random.org.  And be sure to visit the other Mid-Winters Eve Giveaway blogs:

My contribution comes after Richard Brautigan’s The Corporal, which I read in high school, and it’s a thrill–although slightly surreal–to be following in his pages.

And be sure to check back next week when I’ll be giving away a copy of Sudden Flash Youth as part of the Mid-Winters Eve Blog Hop.

Since I’m already in self-promotion mode, I’d be remiss not to mention What’s Nature Got to Do with Me? from Native West Press.

This collection of essays and poetry includes my essay, Roadkill, about a chance encounter with a golden eagle feasting on (you guessed it…) roadkill.

But enough about me… Do you have any publication news you’d like to share or need help promoting? Word Crushes is always available as a promotion platform for YA authors (and others–I’m flexible) so let me know.

First Inkling: “First Inkling is more than an international literary magazine and online bibliophile hotspot. First Inkling is a snapshot of a generation. Through the prose, verse, and in-depth interviews of tomorrow’s preeminent writers, First Inkling explores the cultural, intellectual, and political ethos of their world. First Inkling is a visionary print and online medium dedicated to seeking out the most talented student authors in the English language, and publishing their work alongside criticism from the most important writers of our age. “

New digital short works series for Penguin: “Penguin is launching a digital series of exclusive short works called Penguin Shorts, releasing nine titles by authors including Helen Dunmore, Toby Young and Colm Toibin.”