Elegant, haunting, beautiful prose in short, short stories to savor and share. Imagine a world where shadows of enchantment instantly render ordinary experiences eerie, terrifying or sublime, and where the unexpected becomes the norm. The twenty-one micro stories in Laura McHale Holland’s Just in Case comprise such a place: a universe where a wife betrayed relishes her revenge; a couple chugging toward retirement takes a surprising U-turn; a much maligned character finally has his say; a cozy family scene chills the blood; a curious relative cannot leave a half-human baby alone. The short stories in this collection contain layers of meaning hidden in metaphor, revealed in raw emotion and arresting in their sudden intimacy. Magical, yet grounded this is flash fiction at its best by an author who know how to pack a gratifying punch and leave the reader hankering for more.
I believe stories can spark our deepest, truest selves—sometimes momentarily, sometimes indelibly—and I strive to do this every day. I'm now at work on a novel inspired by magical realism and folklore. It introduces a quirky, sometimes contentious cast of characters in a fictional river town where forces beyond everyday reality both help and hinder, and secrets surface, testing the community's mettle. The book is with beta readers now. Previously, I've published two memoirs, a collection of flash fiction, and an anthology on sisterhood that contains the work of 76 writers from across the globe. I also enjoy writing short plays and have had several produced locally. In addition, I edit full time for a financial services trade publication, serve as a judge for short fiction contests run by a global arts organization and occasionally copyedit novels written by local authors. I feel it's worth pursuing our dreams through all of life's ups and downs, even when they seem lost to us, and if my persistence in pursuing a creative path can help you on your journey, that will fill my heart with gladness.
Quite a while after I wrote this little story I learned that in some writing circles, using fairytales and folk tales as springboards for short fiction is frowned upon. That notion surprised me. The rationale, according to the article I read, is that re-writing traditional stories or using fairytale characters in new contexts is overdone. In any event, I expect that won't stop me from writing stories like Cold Case in the future, and I hope it doesn't interfere with your enjoyment of them either.
Book Excerpt
Just In Case: twenty-one bite-sized stories
Of course it was a witch we outsmarted in the woods, not some feeble, senile neighbor. And yes, her home was built of candy and cake. Impossible? I have no time for people who don’t believe in magic. I am not a sociopath. She was about to eat my brother—me next, no doubt. You think the jewels make us look guilty, that it was all premeditated? You think we killed our stepmom, too? Outrageous! You have no proof. Hansel made a deal? He’ll never testify against me. Let’s just see what a jury has to say.
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