Tales for a Lazy Afternoon
Henley,
Vincent E., et al, Eds.
Skagit
Valley, WA: Skagit Valley Writers League, 2014. 419 pages.
www.skagitwriters.org
Tales for a Lazy Afternoon
is a collection of short pieces by some 50 writers, members of the oldest
literary society in the USA state of Washington. The writers typically are accomplished
in a variety of professions and a large number have been successful in having
other works published. Most writers include a short biographical sketch and
sometimes a photo. The writings include both poetry and prose; the prose mostly
fiction but sometime memoirs. Some are excerpts from larger works. The prose is
usually two to six pages, some a few pages longer. The collection title ‘…for a
lazy afternoon’ is accurate. You can keep this book nearby and read selections
at random. Some are fun; some are poignant. Some are complete thoughts; others
leave you thinking of the backstory and what is to come. You can read of magic talk
show callers, zombies, space aliens who travel from planet to planet on
lightning bolts, snakes from the snakes’ perspective, fortune cookies that
predict romance, teenage stories, Cowboy stories, farm stories, immigrant
stories, travel stories, government spooks, tall tales, family, friendship, and
salmon. The poetry, serious or whimsical covers the range of living; love,
family, aging, animals, places, and being a klutz, and more. Most poems will
bring something recognizable to the reader. This is a collection of works by
serious people who are writing to their standards. Tales for a Lazy Afternoon would be a good companion for anyone who
is thinking about writing. It would be not so much for ideas to use but to see
the range the imagination can cover. See the League’s Internet site to
purchase.
Voices
author Judy Price has contributed poetry to this collection.