In preparation for a combined volume of To Cut a Short Story Short, vols. I and II, and Bound in Morocco, scheduled for later this year, I recently re-read and edited my first collection of stories. By the way, the combined volume, to be issued later this year, is provisionally titled, In Dulci Jubilo, Two Hundred Little Stories.
Not having read some of the stories in To Cut a Short Story Short: 111 Little Stories for several years, I was pleasantly surprised to find I enjoyed them all! I made a very small number of textual changes, in one or two cases to make things clearer. I also corrected some punctuation and changed the font and layout, so I’ve called this a revised edition and given it a preface. That is the version you will now receive should you order a copy (recommended!). It contains material not found on this blog, primarily Caravan of Nightmares, a 4000-word ‘horror-comedy.’
I also used the same revised text for a hardback version, now available on Amazon. The quality of the proof copy is super and I would recommend it highly.
I have also updated the Kindle Version with this very latest revised edition of To Cut a Short Story Short: 111 Little Stories and am offering it FREE for 48 hours from 14th July 2023 at 08.00 GMT.
Simply head over to your local Amazon to order your FREE copy, whilst stocks last! And be sure to tell your flash-fiction-loving friends and family. 🥳
Below are a selection of reviews from Amazon and Audible
(The Audible reviews reference the audiobook version of this title)
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 6 September 2017
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 10 September 2017
BRAVO! BRAVO! I’D GIVE IT A TEN-STAR IF I COULD!
TO CUT A SHORT STORY SHORT BY SIMON J WOOD AND NARRATED BY ANGUS FREATHY is comprised of 111 short short stories. Each story has a bit of a weird twist to it. Just when you think the story is going one way, it goes another.
I loved this audiobook and wanted it to never end! The stories are, yes, short shorts, each with a quirky twist to it., Angus Freathy does an excellent job in narration and, along with the writer, makes the listener want to come back for more.
What did you love best about To Cut a Short Story Short: 111 Little Stories?
Very short stories can be a tremendous challenge for an author, but Simon J. Wood consistently rises to the challenge. In a span of a few minutes, he seizes the listener’s attention and transports the listener to an intriguing setting with intriguing characters. Sometimes the tales are remarkably brief (like “The Majorette” or “What the Devil.”) “Caravan of Nightmares,” however, delivers the goods with over twenty-five minutes of content.
The author quickly establishes himself as a master storyteller, with each tale captivating the listener. Short stories (and very short stories) like this are part of a wonderful genre that is very easy to appreciate and enjoy. The genre works extremely well in the audiobook format, where listeners may want to immerse themselves in something from beginning to end in less than five minutes (perhaps during a car ride, or while running an errand).
What does Angus Freathy bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
In the spirit of full disclosure, I’m already a huge Angus Freathy fan, which is why I selected him to narrate my historical novels. Mister Freathy is an absolutely superb voice actor. In addition to the classical British, Masterpiece Theater-esque gravitas he provides, he also demonstrates a very impressive array of accents and voices. His accents are wonderful in “A Friend in Need,” which takes the listener to a hot, sultry night in Rio. Across more than one hundred distinct tales, the dialogue is crisp and distinctive. I don’t think Mister Wood could have made a better choice for his narrator.
Any additional comments?
Five stars to Simon J. Wood and “To Cut a Short Story Short.” Literature fans and audiobook fans will love these fascinating tales, with each one delightfully interpreted by an outstanding narrator.
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Just ordered my copy will start reading this evening 😁
Great, enjoy! 🙌