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Winter's Regret: What Might Have Been
To be human is to have regrets, to question decisions, even to doubt our own abilities and capacities. Whether it’s because of a path not taken or a decision made for selfish or – perhaps worse – unselfish reasons, we all have had moments and decisions we regret. We might regret not recognizing an opportunity. In the end, the choices we make help shape our future. The final anthology in Elephant’s Bookshelf Press’s “Seasons Series,” Winter’s Regret includes stories from P.S. Carrillo, Liz Coley, Sakura Q. Eries, Morgan George, Michelle Hauck, Kelly Heinen, Amanda Hill, Precy Larkins, Robert Wayne McCoy, Mindy McGinnis, A.T. O’Connor, Jeff O’Handley, Paul Parisi, Matt Sinclair, A.M. Supinger, Charlee Vale, and Cat Woods.
- GenresShort Stories
178 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2014
About the author
Matt Sinclair
8 books20 followersMatt Sinclair is a writer of fiction and nonfiction. He works as a journalist in New York City covering philanthropy and the nonprofit sector in the United States and with increasing focus on international philanthropy. In 2012, he established Elephant's Bookshelf Press, LLC, a traditional publisher of fiction and (eventually) nonfiction. Since its inception, EBP has published eleven books, including six anthologies, as of 2016. Its first publication of 2017 will be Lost Wings, the debut of Don M. Vail, whose urban fantasy novel takes place in San Francisco and the many levels of hell.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 20, 2014
There are 18 stories in this anthology, which means you get 18 chances to explore different voices, worlds, and characters. The common theme is regret, but each story showcases its own interpretation of regret, and it was fun to see how varied our perspectives can be. In Perfection by Mindy McGinnis, for instance, regret rears up its ugly head years later when the mother misses the time she could have spent with her children. In Do Dead Psychics Smoke Cigarettes by Robert McCoy, there's a sci-fi-ish twist at the end that I wasn't expecting, and the main character's regret comes a day too late.
The starter story, Second-Chance Sunday by Liz Coley, explores the main character's inner demons and the dark irony of second chances in life. When Stars Align by A.T. O'Connor is any young woman's nightmare. Adrift by Matt Sinclair is about a couple's marriage and the little things, little decisions, that make a difference in their relationship. One Way Out by M. Arthur Stone was deceptive--I had to read it twice to understand what was going on. It's not what it seems at first glance, and it will leave your heart pounding.
Anguish by Kelly Heinen is something that parents fear. An Unexpected Reunion by Jeff O'Handley tells of a man carrying the burden of his past on his shoulders. The Rose by Amanda Hill is one teen boy's bumbling mistake. A Life on Fire by Morgan George is of a man watching his life go up in flames, and the decision that he must make afterward. Navigator by Paul Parisi is of a careless act the main character would soon regret. Through the Fence by Cat Woods is a moment of bravery...or not. One Hundred Nights by Sakura Q. Eries is a story of What-If.
Los Sufridos by P.S. Carrillo opens up the possibility of a place where one can leave their regrets behind. Island of Blood and Horns by A.M. Supinger has unicorns! Though it is not of the fluffy-happy-rainbow-type variety. A Gift of Roses by Charlee Vale explores love and immortality. The Unfinished Task by Michelle Hauck is of a young woman's sacrifice to save what she loves.
I left Rimorso for last because this is my brain-child. I'll leave it to readers to form their own opinion of it. :)
These are well-written stories. Some aim to entertain, while others seek to dig deeper into the human psyche and prompt the readers to ask questions. I'm honored to have my story be included in this anthology.
The starter story, Second-Chance Sunday by Liz Coley, explores the main character's inner demons and the dark irony of second chances in life. When Stars Align by A.T. O'Connor is any young woman's nightmare. Adrift by Matt Sinclair is about a couple's marriage and the little things, little decisions, that make a difference in their relationship. One Way Out by M. Arthur Stone was deceptive--I had to read it twice to understand what was going on. It's not what it seems at first glance, and it will leave your heart pounding.
Anguish by Kelly Heinen is something that parents fear. An Unexpected Reunion by Jeff O'Handley tells of a man carrying the burden of his past on his shoulders. The Rose by Amanda Hill is one teen boy's bumbling mistake. A Life on Fire by Morgan George is of a man watching his life go up in flames, and the decision that he must make afterward. Navigator by Paul Parisi is of a careless act the main character would soon regret. Through the Fence by Cat Woods is a moment of bravery...or not. One Hundred Nights by Sakura Q. Eries is a story of What-If.
Los Sufridos by P.S. Carrillo opens up the possibility of a place where one can leave their regrets behind. Island of Blood and Horns by A.M. Supinger has unicorns! Though it is not of the fluffy-happy-rainbow-type variety. A Gift of Roses by Charlee Vale explores love and immortality. The Unfinished Task by Michelle Hauck is of a young woman's sacrifice to save what she loves.
I left Rimorso for last because this is my brain-child. I'll leave it to readers to form their own opinion of it. :)
These are well-written stories. Some aim to entertain, while others seek to dig deeper into the human psyche and prompt the readers to ask questions. I'm honored to have my story be included in this anthology.
June 21, 2014
3.5 Stars
Up until a few years ago, apart from college assigned 'The Garden Party', I had avoided short stories, preferring to spend my precious reading time on novels I could get stuck into. It was only after a BBC 4 'Open book' recommendation that I once again opened a short story anthology and since then I have enjoyed several, however, this is the first anthology I have read that collects different authors into one book rather than being written by a single author. As such, this may explain why I often found the book uneven reading, switching between so many different styles and subjects. The theme of all the stories is regret although the degree to which this is evident differs in each story and how each author addresses this topic is unique. The stories that succeed the most for me are the ones which engage with a reality that most fits my own or one I can empathize with. The stories that deal with dragons and unicorns were well written and tugged at the heartstrings but I am not really a fantasy reader - although I said that about short stories ten years ago. I did enjoy 'Rimorso' which had a fantastical element to it but possibly because of its Venice setting. The most successful of the collection for me were the opening and concluding stories which felt like classic short stories although very different. 'Anguish', 'An Unexpected Reunion' and 'Through the Fence' were also heart-rending and compelling in very different ways.
Overall, although there were points in my reading when story after story just wasn't grabbing my attention and their differences became agitating, there were enough interesting and well written stories to sustain the interest and several authors that I will look forward to reading more of.
* I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
Up until a few years ago, apart from college assigned 'The Garden Party', I had avoided short stories, preferring to spend my precious reading time on novels I could get stuck into. It was only after a BBC 4 'Open book' recommendation that I once again opened a short story anthology and since then I have enjoyed several, however, this is the first anthology I have read that collects different authors into one book rather than being written by a single author. As such, this may explain why I often found the book uneven reading, switching between so many different styles and subjects. The theme of all the stories is regret although the degree to which this is evident differs in each story and how each author addresses this topic is unique. The stories that succeed the most for me are the ones which engage with a reality that most fits my own or one I can empathize with. The stories that deal with dragons and unicorns were well written and tugged at the heartstrings but I am not really a fantasy reader - although I said that about short stories ten years ago. I did enjoy 'Rimorso' which had a fantastical element to it but possibly because of its Venice setting. The most successful of the collection for me were the opening and concluding stories which felt like classic short stories although very different. 'Anguish', 'An Unexpected Reunion' and 'Through the Fence' were also heart-rending and compelling in very different ways.
Overall, although there were points in my reading when story after story just wasn't grabbing my attention and their differences became agitating, there were enough interesting and well written stories to sustain the interest and several authors that I will look forward to reading more of.
* I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
March 30, 2014
Interesting concept for an anthology - stories about the choices we regret. A very nice collection of authors and tales - all are easy reads, but leave you with that wonderful desire to think about them long after the story itself is finished.
Some of the stories are poignantly real - like "A Life on Fire", by Morgan George, about Henry Tubbs, whose barn burns, killing all his cows - and what he does in the aftermath. Or "Anguish", by Kelly Heinem, about a woman's complicated, painful relationship with the son who ran away.
There is also fantasy, for those of us who love to explore the choices of those who don't live on the surface of our world. Michelle Hauck's "The Unfinished Task", which draws us skillfully into the heart of a woman who has lost everyone she loves to a dragon. And "Rimorso", by Precy Larkins, whose protagonist is weird and frightening but eventually very sympathetic as well - even when you least expect to feel any compassion for her at all.
I definitely recommend!
Some of the stories are poignantly real - like "A Life on Fire", by Morgan George, about Henry Tubbs, whose barn burns, killing all his cows - and what he does in the aftermath. Or "Anguish", by Kelly Heinem, about a woman's complicated, painful relationship with the son who ran away.
There is also fantasy, for those of us who love to explore the choices of those who don't live on the surface of our world. Michelle Hauck's "The Unfinished Task", which draws us skillfully into the heart of a woman who has lost everyone she loves to a dragon. And "Rimorso", by Precy Larkins, whose protagonist is weird and frightening but eventually very sympathetic as well - even when you least expect to feel any compassion for her at all.
I definitely recommend!
June 8, 2014
Beautiful. I have never been so into a book. One of my new favorite books and the introduction, i read it well over 10 times. It's almost as if my heart was speaking and although i had no control over it it told the truth and only the truth. Beautiful book and i was very very impressed especially by the introduction i dont have the words to describe how it smoke to me. The stories were amazing also, some of them showed pure love, some showed how people aren't always what we think they are etc. BEAUTIFUL~ ANYONE WHO HASNT READ IT MUST READ~!!!AND DONT SKIP THE INTRO.
March 8, 2014
The art of the short story is making a welcome return. Where else can a reader find a complete literary concept crafted in just a few pages and get a feel of a writer's style as succinctly. Every story in this collection is unique in voice and style. All well edited and definitely worth reading.
July 7, 2014
I received this book as a giveaway. Most of the stories are well written, but be forewarned they are very depressing.
August 13, 2020
Nice selection of short stories
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews