Story A Day May Collections

‘Story A Day May 2011’ comprises the 31 short stories and flash fiction written from daily prompts given during May 2011. No prompt information, no author comments, just the stories themselves. Inspired by the Story A Day.org website (and it’s starting all over again this May!).

Characters include the heart-tugging ‘Threadbare Girl’ (who we meet early on then conclude with), a blue-blooded couple with a rocking horse, husbands and wives seeking revenge, an alien on a blind date, a grandfather afraid of heights, two historical figures, a young girl with a very vivid imagination, a mother’s desperate hospital visit and others portraying random acts of kindness.

We have the Bermuda Triangle, the Wild West and more than one shaggy dog story.

From Chelsea buns to casseroles we share highs and lows but they all go to show what can be done with a prompt, a few hours and a colourful imagination.

31 stories – An Author’s Challenge contains the above 31 stories but also the prompts and author’s notes.

Both books are on Smashwords at just $1.49 (about £1) each which works out at 5c/3p a story. The ‘stories’ version is on Amazon for $1.62 inc. tax.

Reviews received to-date for ‘Story A Day May 2011′ (stories only):

• 5* on Smashwords: “31 stories, each of them gems. Short ‘quick hit’ fiction suited to a short attention lifestyle.”
• 5* on Smashwords: “Just finished reading this. I’m astonished by the range. Although I was OVERCOME with delight by the story, ‘Over’, by far my favorite was the tiny gem ‘Alternate Reality’. This could be the seed for a much larger piece. ‘The Big Game’ was clever – I wanted to learn more, and I guess that’s what every reader wants from a story they like. This was a lot of fun!”
• http://gardenurthark.wordpress.com/2012/03/23/morgen-baileys-story-a-day-may-a-review but be warned there are quite a few spoilers.
• 5* on Smashwords: “In 31 fascinating stories, Morgen Bailey’s STORY A DAY MAY (STORIES) compels the Oedipus in us to find answers to the riddles that her sometimes playful, sometimes strange, and sometimes puzzling perspectives so Sphinxlike present.”
• An honourable mention on http://storyaday.org/teaandthunderstorms/2012/04/30/pre-may-prep-3-to-submit-or-not-to-submit.

Review received to-date for ‘Story A Day May (challenge):

• 5* on Smashwords: “Although I only downloaded this book yesterday, I have read most of the stories last night and was very impressed with the contents. Morgen Bailey is obviously a very talented writer, with a very vivid imagination and an excellent use of language. Including the daily prompts for each story certainly adds to the enjoyment of the book, as I will probably also try to write my own set of stories using the same prompts. If I wasn’t so busy at the moment completing unfinished work, I would probably have tried to do this year’s May challenge, but maybe next year…”

Short stories are my favourite format to write and read so there will be many more to come, either individually as freebies or $1.49 anthologies as well as the occasional novella or three.

In fact, Story A Day May started again 1st May 2012 so there will be a 2012 collection available later in the year. Do take a look at Julie’s blog, even if you’re late to the party you can still do the prompts.