American Fiction Short Stories

By the time of his early death in 1988, Raymond Carver had established himself as one of the great practitioners of the American short story. Where I'm Calling From, his last collection, encompasses classic stories from Cathedral, What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, and earlier Carver volumes, along with seven new works previously unpublished in book form.

Celtic mythology, Arthurian romance, and an intriguing interpretation of British history - these are just some of the themes embraced by the anonymous authors of the eleven tales that make up the Welsh medieval masterpiece known as The Mabinogion. They tell of Gwydion the shape-shifter, who can create a woman out of flowers; of Math the magician whose feet must lie in the lap of a virgin; of hanging a pregnant mouse and hunting a magical boar.

The Best American Short Stories 2021 immerse the listener in powerfully imagined worlds and allowing them to bring some of that power into their own lives. From a stirring portrait of Rodney King’s final days to a surreal video game set in the Middle East, with real consequences, to an indigenous boy’s gripping escape from his captors, this collection renders profoundly empathetic depictions of the variety of human experience.

This superb collection of larger-than-life folk heroes aptly represents America’s robust early days, perfectly capturing the vitality of the men and women who carved a new country out of the North American wilderness. Author Mary Pope Osborne supplies a fascinating introduction to each tale and then gives her own original twist to the telling of it. Scott Snivley takes the listener on a wild ride from sea to shining sea in this classic collection, which includes Davy Crocket, Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind, Johnny Appleseed, Stormalong, Mose, Febold Feboldson, Pecos Bill, John Henry, and Paul Bunyan.

Welcome to Crowned and Covered, a beloved Black-owned salon. After the passing of her Aunt Shirley, twenty-one-year-old hairstylist Senae inherits the shop that has been a second home to generations of women in Westin Hills, Antionette. Determined to preserve its legacy while giving it a fresh start, Senae transforms the space—and herself—one Sunday at a time. This intimate collection of short stories follows five loyal clients who return each week not just for hairstyles, but for sisterhood, truth-telling, and the soft work of becoming whole. There's Lashae, a real estate agent with a ...

Book 2 (The Finale): The sh*t hits the fan and all hell breaks loose as Layla's new career choice has her keeping secrets and telling lies. Some relationships will be broken, some relationships will be repaired, and some relationships will end tragically. The tables will definitely turn as a new romance blossoms, and an existing one struggles. Ultimately, Layla will have to decide does she go with her head? Or her heart? Read what happens in the finale and find out what will be the fate of Layla and Marcus!

Andre Monroe is ready to move on from heartbreak, and the first step is bringing home his rescue pup. He’d bonded instantly with the playful Zeus and was already planning their first adventures. But one thing he definitely hadn’t daydreamed about was Zeus accidentally being promised to someone else - or that he might go home empty-handed and brokenhearted all over again.

Mesha and Jason are two siblings who grew up on the rough streets of Detroit. They were thick as thieves, and Mesha actually was one while Jason got into the life of selling drugs. Mesha, being the eldest, had always been overprotective of her little brother. From the streets to women. In an attempt to protect her brother from a secret and any further heartache concerning his daughter, one day, Mesha takes her overprotective antics to a whole other level. One that may leave their bond broken forever, if he finds out. Lela is a female who is know for scamming and coming up with schemes to ...

A collection of the year’s best short stories, selected by Pulitzer Prize winner Andrew Sean Greer and series editor Heidi Pitlor.

At twenty-nine years the beautiful Deja Rayne has only been in three serious relationships. With her last two relationships leaving her brokenhearted, Deja never imagined herself dating, or engaged to a drug dealer. After months of being pursued, Deja could no longer say no, to Prime irresistible sex appeal or his bad boy charm. Now three years, and a baby later Deja is starting to regret her decision. Prime is spending less time with his family, and more time in the streets. What Prime doesn’t know breaking Deja's heart comes with deadly consequences. She promised herself if Prime is in ...

Many Indigenous people believe that one should never whistle at night. This belief takes many forms: for instance, Native Hawaiians believe it summons the Hukai’po, the spirits of ancient warriors, and Native Mexicans say it calls Lechuza, a witch that can transform into an owl. But what all these legends hold in common is the certainty that whistling at night can cause evil spirits to appear—and even follow you home. These shiver-inducing tales introduce listeners to ghosts, curses, hauntings, monstrous creatures, complex family legacies, desperate deeds, and chilling acts of revenge.

Emery Thompson hates Calvin Chamberlain. From the way he acts like he’s better than everyone to the way he moves through the world thinking his podcast is the cream of the crop, every little thing about the man gets to him. Even that dashing, oh-so-confident smile. He’d rather be caught dead than be around the man any longer than necessary—or admit that last part out loud.

This series is a short story collection aimed at the reader on the go. Each standalone takes you into the lives of the men and women that play in the streets risking life and limb for the almighty dollar. Some handle the heat of the life while others fold under the pressure of it all. So, take a few minutes on your lunch break or right before bed and see who is and who isn’t about that life. This story is book 1 and is titled “Hot Girls in the D”.

Comprising two distinct short novels - Monroe's Nightmare in Paradise and Bad Luck Shadow from critically acclaimed Victor McGlothin - Borrow Trouble is a hot double-feature that perfectly showcases each author's unique style.

A collection of stories from the most famous Western author of all time! Desert Death-Song is a compilation of some of Louis L’Amour’s greatest stories, many of which might otherwise be difficult to find. Whether he was writing under his early pen name, Jim Mayo, or his own, L’Amour’s stories are unforgettable, touching on rough and rugged American ideals, and set in the untamable frontier of the Western United States.

The greatest short story writers strive to achieve a single, dramatic effect, a feature which the early masters of this genre perfected. Although the short story came from Europe, it was reborn in America and reached a pinnacle of superb form on these shores by the turn of the 20th century. In so many of our best writers, we hear echoes of a pioneer ethos that sustains the heart of a great literature. Here are 12 of America's best.

Short & Cozy BWWM Interracial Romance After losing her mother, Ava sets off on a solo van life journey to find herself. But a sudden near death experience places her in the hands of a handsome lifeguard named Shawn who comes to her rescue, igniting a spark neither of them expected. As their paths cross in unexpected ways, Ava finds herself torn between the past she's trying to escape and a future with a man who might just change everything. Will Shawn be the one to heal her heart, or will their fate be lost in the tide? ❤️African American Woman/White Man Interracial Romance 💙Dual POV...

Based off today’s hottest, ratchetest, dopest hashtags, bringing you laughter, crazy, and whole lot of story. In the vein of the Wayans Brothers, Chris Rock, and shows like In Living Color, Authoress Sh’aniQu’a takes a new look at Urban Literature. Bandettra was born and raised in Cockygate, stripping to make ends meet and take care of her mother and kids. No father in the picture, baby daddy drama galore, and a need for a boss to sweep her off her feet, she decided to take a thug up on his offer to prove to him she was the one meant to be his main chick. De’von, a Boss, just ...

No nation has ever achieved the literary diversity of America. From nativist humor to immigrant triumph, Americans have recorded their visions and hopes better than anyone

This collection is a short-story lover's dream. Included are 17 classic works, representing the finest American writers in the genre. Included are "Bartleby the Scrivener" by Herman Melville, "The One Million Pound Bank Note" by Mark Twain, "The Pit and the Pendulum" by Edgar Allan Poe, and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving.