• Wonderful World of Worders A Review by Nora Gruenberg

Wonderful World of Worders

Review by Nora Gruenberg

Wonderful World of Worders is a collection of micro-stories writtenby seventy-two authors from twenty-seven countries. Jenni Doherty,Irish writer, performance poet and contributor to the collection,compiled the 525 stories, many of which were created on online writingcommunities, such as BBC’s Get Writing, Edit Red and More Writing. Theauthors use elements of humor, intrigue, history, death, horror,science fiction and romance, among others, to demonstrate that onetheme can yield countless interpretations.

Flash fiction and micro-stories have gained recognition as distinctgenres of fiction, and Wonderful World of Worders presents a fun,thought-provoking array. The book is organized alphabetically by titleclusters, allowing the reader to compare and contrast the authors’differing interpretations of each theme. Various takes on thetwo-hundred plus themes expose facets of individual authors’ abilitiesand offered brief glimpses into the worlds of talent found within eachof the featured writers.

Two particular authors, Karen Jones and Darren Wheatley, arefeatured prominently throughout the book, demonstrating a range ofemotion and style. Wheatley concisely describes a gambler’s potentialfor ruin and Jones’ dodgy fortune-teller wields a tarot deck in thetitle, Cards. Again, in the title The Source, theyportray a simple phrase in such unique ways, from Jones’ surgical scenewith a twist to Wheatley’s tale of sexual charlatanism, evoking bothhumor and recognition of human weakness. Throughout the book, theycontinuously provide quality examples of flash with its ability topique the reader’s interest and remain in the mind long after the storyhas been finished.

Although they are the most prolific of the collection’s authors,Jones and Wheatley are in splendid company with each of thecontributors. I liken the experience of reading Wonderful World ofWorders to attending a party featuring a varied, colorful buffet withflavors to suit all tastes. Every story wasn’t to my liking, but aswith any unfamiliar or unexpected flavor or texture, experience isoften an end in and of itself.

Micro-stories work when they encapsulate an entire story within the60-250 word count. They also work when mere suggestion allows thereader to draw their own conclusions. I happened upon an occasionalstory that left me bemused or unsatisfied, but so what? The variety ofstyles and thematic renderings is one of the book’s great appeals; itprovided a range of concepts, issues and images that left me wondering,thinking and inspired to write.

About The Author

Nora Gruenberg is a thirty year old wife andmother of one. She lives in Chicago’s southwest suburbs and writes asoften as possible. She has been published on 34th Parallel and iscurrently seeking publication for her first Novel “Delia”.

Nora Gruenberg @ EditRed

Alors, Et Toi? is a quarterly magazine of the arts.

http://alorsettoi.com

www.citizen32live.moonfruit.com

BBC Radio Foyle: The Paul McFadden Show Monday 3 December 2007

"Short Change: Brevity is - they say - the soul of wit. A new book, 'Wonderful Word of Worders,' takes the short story form to a whole new level..."

BBC Radio Ulster Arts Extra with John O' Neill Presenting: Tuesday 30 October 2007

"This unusual anthology of short stories contains over 525 stories of either 60, 100, or 250 words. Jenni Doherty compiled the book and describes it as an ideal book for the bus stop or waiting room. The book's 72 authors communicate with each other through internet writing communities and a large number of them were inspired by the BBC's 'Get Writing' site. Local writer Felicity McCall, tells us if internet writing groups really encourage newcomers..."

Please do feel free to drop by and leave a comment there or on the relevant threads where other fellow contributors are based:

* MoreWriting
* Writers' Dock
* EditRed

Plus More here:

Go Hemel, UK: Wonderful World of Worders Book Review
Dublinka Literary Blog: Dublinka Short Review on Worders
Culture Northern Ireland site (Book Review): Play on Worders...
Cyberscribe: Book of the month
EditRED: >> WWW Book Launch <<
MoreWriting: Wonderful World of Worders
Writers' Dock: Wonderful World of Worders

Comments from fellow contributors, general readers, other writers and buyers, plus more Book Reviews & Features to follow soon...

To order copies of the book direct please click HERE or drop me a line if you'd like a bulk order as it may save on P & P.

Remember Christmas is just around the corner & the Worder Books will make excellent gifts!

****

Associated links:

Guildhall Press

PLUS, I will be uploading all press coverage in relation to the Wonderful world of Worders later tonight which includes our first review, reader's comments and much more - so keep an eye out!

Jen :)

PRESS RELEASE

Guildhall Press

is pleased to announce the launch of

Wonderful World of Worders

Compiled by Jenni Doherty

Friday 12 October at 7.15pm in the Verbal Arts Centre, Derry

The latest venture from Derry publishing house Guildhall Press is Wonderful World of Worders(WWW) – a wild, invigorating, exciting extravaganza of assorted literary works from all walks of life and corners of the world. WWW is an innovative creative collection of 525 micro-stories compiled by Donegal writer Jenni Doherty with a foreword from respected fellow author Sean O'Reilly. Worders are micro-stories which vary from sixty to 250 words on specific titles, and in this collection most of the authors have been published on various online writing communities. The collection is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) and represents seventy-two writers from over twenty-seven countries including Ireland, the UK, Europe, America, Zimbabwe, Kuwait, India, Australia and Kenya with authors ranging from eight years of age to middle age. Irish based contributors include Mark Burns, Julieann Campbell, Felicity McCall, Darren Anderson, Fionnuala McGowan, Lynda Kenny, Liz Gallagher, Kevin Connolly, Stephen Reilly, Anatoly Kudryavitsky, Ann Green and the youngest, Saoirse Doherty, from Derry.

WWW Project Co-ordinator Jenni Doherty commented:

"In this fast-moving age of juggling work and family life, commuting and queuing, overtime competing with quality time, it has become harder for people to find extended opportunities to relax and read. This unique collection of Worders now embraces and allows for this. They range from contemporary modern-day issues to horror, from science fiction to romance, humour to grief, religion to satire, philosophy to surrealism, experimental to wacky – all genres and styles that we have come to expect from full novels. Yet, individually, these Worders may have little or no access or outlet to the reading public, but – as a complete package – they work brilliantly together. Where many anthologies may appear too ordered and contemporary, here rules are broken, new words are formed, adventurous styles are created, and taboo subjects are addressed."

Jenni continued:

"The writers – some already published, some first timers – all have personal stories they needed to express in fiction. Some did not have English as their native language yet still made valuable contributions in that medium. Others translated their original stories into English. This collection proves, therefore, that we can communicate at anytime, any place and anywhere. It also proves that fiction continues to be a stimulating, challenging, boundary-breaking genre with many dimensions still to be explored and this is one of those exciting dimensions that will reach readers that other writing cannot reach. Each distinct thread will please existing fans of fiction and inspire newcomers. The audience can pick and mix their topics, their genres, their writing styles and their reading times. Ideal for adults on the go and those with short concentration spans and possibly the preferred literature genre of tomorrow. This collection can be accessed in those spare moments between appointments and business meetings, on the train to work, on a tea break, at the doctor's or hairdresser's etc – all places where we can either choose to waste our time or put it to better use. By reading.

"Several of the authors will be attending the launch from England and Scotland and will be reading their work on the night alongside their Irish-based counterparts. Many of the authors also generously contributed their writing fees to support the work of the Guildhall Press associated charity AWE: Action With Effect Charity which strives to relieve the suffering of the homeless and sick in India, so we are very grateful to them for this kind gesture."

Sean O'Reilly, author of the foreword, added:

"Worders are thresholds where the self suddenly understands where it stands in the world. They aspire to being as instantaneous as a text message but can be thought about again and again as small parables of human life. The luminous moment must fade… but the memory remains and is transformed into language by these writers co-operating across global boundaries. Here, then, is a stimulating and often moving collection of new writing born from the fusion of today's technology with the human experience of the vastness of every passing moment."

Wonderful World of Worders will be on sale from 12 October 2007 for £6.95 and available from Guildhall Press and all good bookshops.

For further details contact: Jenni Doherty, Guildhall Press, Ráth Mór Centre, Bligh's Lane, Derry BT48 0LZ; Tel: (028) 7136 4413; E: info@ghpress.com