Stories and poems that have made it into our recommended reading section are hand picked by our staff. They have been identified as exceptional pieces of writing, which warrant separate recognition.
Stories that are part of a series, or novels that have made it into this outstanding series section, are nominated by our staff and awarded by a select panel. These stories have been deemed superior as complete works and have garnered special recognition.
You are almost certainly guaranteed a good read, if you've selected a story from these offerings!
I came so far for Beauty And she took me down many roads Confident and Proud, up on the high;Broken and Humbled, down in the low I traveled so far for Beauty, Found myself a long way from home Digging graves in the moonlight--I buried my heart alone I sacrificed for her, my BeautyI held Isaac to the altarHer praise I thought she'd give meKnife in hand, I did not falter.Although, pleasure came from BeautyHer laurels I was...
Being a mother A love like no other Thats how I feel Love thats so real My mother Didn't feel the same What did I do wrong? Is that my shame? She left us Sleeping babies in our beds Put brandy in our bottles Gave us fuzzy heads Dad came home Found us home alone Our mother packed and gone He knew something was wrong He saw red He was really angry When he checked our bottles And smelt brandy She left us I was 6 months old M...
Gaze into the mirror, what do you see?Be honest, what gazes back at thee? Peer deep into those beautiful eyes.They tell a story not filled with lies. Every happening in your life.Every sadness, every strife. Behind them, your existence displays.Each bad, each happy, memory plays. Stare hard, choose the next path to take.The past is gone, your heart don't forsake. Choices, we all have the right to choose.No other soul can...
Which direction should she go? Tanya had to make a decision. And she had to do it quickly.Taking a deep breath and pursing her lips, Tanya depressed the accelerator. Straight it would be. Straight away from her lifetime home. Straight into the unknown. Straight onto the longest bridge in the world—ironic for someone panicky about crossing bridges, but that was how desperate her situation had become. After discovering his...
Sometimes to write of love, tender feelings, longing and desire. But is that love? Sometimes sweet but often bitter. Or is it passion, a battle fought, a war of attrition? Love? Is it surrender or victory complete or mutual annihilation? Does love possess the soul or auction the heart? Is there fair exchange? It is torment and exhilaration, being one, becoming fractured. The pieces of the puzzle, none that fit but all in...
Dear AuthorAs you may be aware from my earlier letters, I am one of your biggest fans. I loved your last book — and I don't just mean I liked it a lot. I mean I loved it the way a man loves his wife, his children, his parents. The way a drowning man loves a life jacket, or the stranger who dives into the water to rescue him, heedless of the danger; the way that stranger loves others more than himself. I really, really lov...
Rusty, the screen door it slams. “Ya’ll be careful out there, please.” Momma yells. Rusty, the screen door it slams as Momma ushers us outside. “Little pitchers.” Momma says to Daddy. Rusty, the screen door it slams as Daddy sends us outside. “Daddy doesn't feel well.” Rusty, the screen door it slams as Sissy runs off. “I don’t care what you think, I love him.” She yells, loud enough for the world to hear. Rusty, the scre...
The wood-spoked wheels of the old Crow-Elkhart began sinking in the soft mud along the shoulder of Route 9W almost as soon as I stopped the car. I had just pulled off the macadam in a panic, at the sharp command of my father. Aunt Alma protested that she was alright, but she was looking rather pale, from what little I could see of her. A towering stack of luggage, all her worldly possessions, filled most of the back-seat,...
Dedicated to combat veterans and PTSD sufferers, wherever they may be...thank you for your service... An Enemy That Haunts My Mind... In the middle of the night I lie in bed, Fighting an enemy that’s in my head. An enemy that’s always there, An enemy that won’t play fair. An enemy that haunts my mind, An enemy that is not kind. The price paid for doing good, Of doing like I’m told I should. Serving my country in time of w...
Stalingrad, December 25, 1942.Winter blankets everything, turning the landscape bizarrely beautiful. If you look carefully, you can make out shapes under the hoarfrost and snow. Burned out tanks and piles of brick and steel that were once buildings litter the frozen battlefield that was once home to over 400,000 Russian men, women, and children. Now the corpses outnumber the living. You can see them as well, frozen limbs...
From The Files Of Jack And The Giant Private Investigators Case 12: Mary’s lost little lamb “Mary had a little lamb; its fleece was white as snow. And everywhere that Mary went that lamb was sure to go.” Now we've all heard this nursery rhyme before, but have you ever wondered what it all meant? I mean who was this Mary dame and what was it about her that this lamb found so infatuating? I’m Jack, Jack Vine, private eye. I...
As I sit and look out my window I see the snow falling. The stillness of the night as the moon reflects on the snow covered trees gives off a kind of magical feeling. I start to daydream of my youth, when I was in awe of each new thing. Oh, how I would dream of my birthday and finally when the day was here I would see the gifts and realize none were from you. How I would wait for each Christmas Day and no presents had you...
When two young, moderately successful vaudeville performers teamed up for a comedy act in 1923, it didn’t take long to realize that they had found the right fit — both personally and professionally — and that their future success would be far beyond moderate. Together, George Burns and Gracie Allen, who married in 1926, formed one of the most popular and enduring comic duos in entertainment history. Burns was largely resp...
THE MOUNTAIN I am a mountain. I am massive, and I am immovable. I do not need to move, Because I am fine where I am. I let others walk over me, But it does not hurt me, Because my skin is so tough. Dust blows onto me, and stays for a while. Then it leaves without saying goodbye. But it does not hurt me. For I will always have dust to love. When people climb me, they pierce my skin. But the dirt falls into the spaces, And...
Break this down Particle by particle Compare the matter To the grand scheme And blow it away To wherever dust twirls In a snowglobe of memories Like how my mouth brushed Your rough cheek, Or the satin of your lips, My fingers running through That crop of soft hair And over your smooth skin Blink. See the moments Where the sun Caught the stars Burning in your eyes, Licking gold over The flip of your lashes As your crooke...
