This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Ann Chiappetta will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
A demon deer and a ghost cat. Sibling rivalry and sexual awakening. Self-image and self-confidence. The chance for an offworlder to breathe free at last on a new planet. Those are just some of the diverse themes of these remarkable stories. Some endings are happy, some are sad, and some are intriguingly open-ended. But once you step inside the author’s world, you cannot emerge unmoved.
Read an Excerpt from “A Temporary Perspective”
Sloane had ordered Chinese take–out, a treat on their fixed income. Josh loved eggrolls, and his smile upon seeing the containers made her day.
After clearing the dishes and stowing the leftovers in the fridge, Sloane noticed Josh watching her.
“Josh, what is it?”
“Can I talk to you?”
“Sure, honey.” She put her hands in her lap to hide her nervous fidgeting.
“Mom, now that I’m in 8th grade, I’ve been thinking about what I want to do after high school.”
“You mean, like college?”
“Kind of. But not really. Mom, I want to join the military.”
Sloane stopped fidgeting, shocked. This wasn’t how the conversation should go, she thought. He was supposed to say something different. “Mom, I want to learn all about computers.” Or “Mom, I want to run my own business.” But the military? She must have looked confused, because she saw the barest flick of an eye roll from her usually respectful and stoic son.
“The military?” she asked.
“Yes, the Army—the Reserve Officer Training Corps, actually. It starts in 9th grade.”
Sloane didn’t know how to respond. Part of her was relieved, and the other part wasn’t happy at all. “That means you’ll be going away a lot.”
“Not until after high school,” he said. “Besides, Juan and Mark are joining ROTC, too.”
“Sounds like you’ve done your homework on this one,” she said. “I’ve tried my best to raise you to make good decisions and be practical.”
They sat in silence at the dining table. Sloane couldn’t help finding the irony in what was clearly her own inaccurate thinking. Josh wasn’t even thinking of her as an embarrassment or of himself as the only son of an abandoned single mother who was going blind.
“It could be dangerous,” she said. “I’ll worry.”
“Mom, it’s what I want. There are kids who get all messed up just crossing the street.”
Sloane shook her head in defeat. There was no arguing with the invincibility of youth.
About the Author:
Ann’s nonfiction essays have been printed in Dialogue magazine, among others. Her poems are often featured in Poesis, The Pangolin Review, the Avocet, and Magnets and Ladders. Her poetry is also included in Breath and Shadow’s 2016 debut anthology, Dozen: The Best of Breath and Shadow.
Her first two books, a poetry collection, UPWELLING: POEMS C 2016 and memoir, FOLLOW YOUR DOG A STORY OF LOVE AND TRUST C 2017, are available from all eBook sellers in electronic and print softcover, and as audio books from Audible.
Ann’s third book WORDS OF LIFE: POEMS AND ESSAYS C 2019 can also be purchased in all eBook formats and in softcover. The Audible audio book will be released in Fall 2020. Ann’s newest title, A String of Stories: From the Heart to the Future C 2020, is also available as an eBook and softcover.
Ann’s blog: http://www.thought-wheel.com
Ann’s personal website: http://www.annchiappetta.com
Ann’s author page: http://www.dldbooks.com/annchiappetta/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annie.chiappetta
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thought-Wheel-from-the-mind-of-Ann-Chiappetta-1635335713146080/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnieDungarees
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/String-Stories-Heart-Future-ebook/dp/B085BZJ1MK/ref=sr_1_1
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That is a beautiful 9 point buck on the cover