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Mary Deal

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Off Center in the Attic - Over the Top Stories
by Mary Deal   
Books by Mary Deal
· Write It Right-Tips for Authors - The Big Book
· Write It Right - Tips for Authors, Volume II
· The Howling Cliffs - A Sara Mason Mystery    >> View all

See larger image

Kindle Edition
Write Any Genre

Category:  Mainstream
Publisher: Mary Deal

ISBN-10:  B005M31P7M

Type: Fiction

Pages: 88

Copyright: 
August 29, 2011
ISBN-13: 9781466189652


Humor and nonsense, flights of fantasy into other realms, fright, disgust and disappointment, silliness and wonderment, and the sadness of reality and heartache. It’s all here and more in stories that may leave you a little Off Center in the Attic, conjured through a mind that may be a little Off Center in the Attic.

 

 

 

 

The 30 zany stories in this collection include:

 

 

 

Acting in a Coffin - A director plays a prank that backfires on a movie set.

The Wallflower - A woman compares herself to one who is the life of the party.

Pupule - A neighborhood gets a lesson in humility from a crazy old Hawaiian man.

To Soar - What a bird drops.

Out of Body - A man is shot and his brain goes through a metamorphosis.

Looking for Life - Never the right one.

Most Wanted - The killer of young boys remains at large.

Grandpappy’s Cows - Antics of backward backwoods relatives.

Boy at the Crossroad - The making of a monster.

Cafeteria Science - How to lose your lunch.

Indoctrination - A daring woman wants to experience something different and gets her wish.

Explosive Day - No escape.

The Smell of Death - A clue to the dying.

Legacy - A woman in mourning changes her life to follow in her mother’s footsteps.

An Urgent Message - A plea to a writer.

Rituals - Neurosis as a way of life.

Watched - Being watched can kill.

The Swimmer - A man losing his sanity.

Thanatos - The urge to die.

Alien Footprints - An invisible perpetrator.

Vibratory Rates - Visitations from heaven and hell.

The Voodoo Kit - A Jamaican hex follows a woman home.

Pekoe - A newborn kitten abandoned in a portable toilet.

Great Lady of Wisdom - A holy goat.

The Last Thing I Do - The end of making memories.

Future Winner - A little-known artist gets a break.

Innocence - A high school girl on the verge of betrayal by her innocence.

Sister Fly - Karma

Homeless, Not Heartless - A man and his dog.

Roots - What you may find when tracing your family tree.



Excerpt

From "Out of Body:"

Sirens wailed, tires screeched. I dared a peek between the slats of a crate. Intermittent blue lights flashed their circular pattern. Excited people crowded the street. The police and, hopefully, medics had arrived to tend to the victims. The creep straightened, tucked the gun into his waistband and pulled the tee shirt loosely over it. One last look and he turned and strutted toward the alley entrance, acting nonchalant.

Since the cops had arrived, I’d be safe. The shooter wouldn’t dare take out anyone in front of the police and the crowd.

As the shooter walked, I jumped from my hiding place sprinting back to the kitchen doorway. Then my nerves went raw. I saw the shooter catch a glimpse of me. His head jerked back in my direction. I heard the shot and time kicked into slow motion like electrical power being unexpectedly cut.



Professional Reviews

Mary Deal, Woman of 1000 Voices
Okay, well at least several dozen voices. And each voice is unique. That is what drew me into one story after another in this anthology. First off, I have to say that I love flash fiction more and more, especially when I find great authors like this. In my hectic life, I don't always have time to indulge in a novel. But flash fiction is like a bite of chocolate that soothes a sweet tooth. I can enjoy an entire story, meet a new character in just a few minutes, and put the book down feeling satisfied. Mary Deal is a master at flash fiction. Each story is a new world in just a few words. Her characters are well-drawn and the situations she puts them in range from the fantastical to everyday things that we all deal with. I met crazy Hawaiians, goat admirers (one of my favorite stories), a kitten that opens hearts, people losing their sanity and others who find it. Highly recommended.

Kim McDougall

Author



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