A short story anthology from the Southern California Writers Association
Edited by DP Lyle
Includes “Splash” by DP Lyle
INTRODUCTION by DP Lyle, Editor
Everything begins with an idea.
Whether it’s building a skyscraper, walking on the moon, or creating a work of art, the idea comes first. The dream, the vision. Then the hard work of bringing the idea to life begins.
So it was with It’s All in the Story.
The idea to publish an anthology began in late 2016, when the Southern California Writers Association (SCWA) Board of Directors approved this project, and the work began. When I was asked to serve as editor for this anthology, I was honored and enthusiastically accepted.
The SCWA provides a forum for encouraging and promoting the welfare, fellowship, spirit, and continuing education of published and unpublished writers in the Southern California area. Monthly meetings feature world-class instructors of all genres, experience, and skill levels who share their knowledge and expertise with the members.
And now, an anthology.
Sixty-four stories were submitted for evaluation. The quality of these submissions was exceptional. An editorial committee read and ranked each manuscript, and though each was worthy of inclusion, ultimately 24 were chosen for publication in this edition. During the ranking process, author identities were carefully hidden from the committee, and all rankings were based solely on merit. The result is an amazing collection of stories.
Everything begins with an idea.
This is particularly true in storytelling. It’s the classic What If? What if this happened? Or maybe that? What would happen next? How would this, or that, effect the protagonist? What responses would it invoke? What feelings and emotions would it stir? What pressures, complications, and obstacles would test the hero? This is the stuff of great fiction.
This is how every story begins, and develops.
Many believe that writing a short story is easier than writing a novel. I mean, doesn’t creating 3000, 5000, or 10,000 words require less effort than hammering out 100,000? In many respects, this is true. A novel takes more time, there are more elements to weave together, and characters and plots must be developed more deeply. But, with longer fiction, the writer has more “room.” Room to thoroughly explore characters, to devise more complex plots, to offer brighter descriptions, to write longer dialog exchanges, and to craft more exposition that deepens and cements the story.
In shorter fiction, there is much less room to maneuver. Each of the above elements must also be addressed but the reduced word count puts significant limitations on the author. Developing empathetic characters, interesting plot twists, sparkling dialog, and vivid settings is no less important but in shorter fiction the telling must be economical, concise, and chiseled. No easy task.
Each of the authors who submitted stories for this anthology faced this challenge head on and all acquitted themselves well. Whittling the 64 submissions down to the 24 selected was a difficult process. But, in the end, the result is a compelling collection.
Each included story roots itself in California—-the history, geography, culture, and the wonderfully quirky folks who inhabit the “Left Coast.” The stories span from 1812 San Juan Capistrano to the California gold rush to the modern-day Newport Coast.
In this collection, you will find heroism, tragedy, humor, and both realized and broken dreams. You will “hear” many voices, and meet a host of memorable characters, each facing unique personal challenges.
A young woman, struggling with her past, unsure of her future, and looking for that interpersonal connection that will allow her to smile again. A couple, both damaged. She by abandonment and a fractured heart; he by war, a broken body, and undeserved guilt. Can love survive that? A would-be photographer who shoots aging surf musicians and a famous-for-being-famous star, each making their own “California Promise.”
We will meet three Cal Tech nerds as they plan to break Vegas; a concert pianist who is damaged both physically and emotionally; a pair of bank robbers who get much more than they bargained for; siblings who take their high desert “full service” gas station to an entirely new level; and even William Randolph Hearst, the vampire.
You will encounter star-crossed lovers divided by culture, race, and social standing; a fallen angel on a quest, and on the run; a demon who devours souls; and a “Kick The Bucket” tour operator as she ferries tourists past famous LA murder sites. You will meet a young boy who seeks the impossible pot of gold at the end of the rainbow only to cross paths with a digger of long-forgotten Orange County graves and a killer who must dispose of a body in a Disneyland motel. Who’s the real victim here?
And so many more wonderful characters and fascinating tales.
So, I invite you inside. Get comfy, sit a spell, and enjoy these remarkable stories. Each is beautifully written, thought provoking, and will linger with you long after the last page.
Welcome to It’s All in the Story.
DP Lyle, editor and contributor
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction by D. P. Lyle
After the Wave Breaks—-Jo Ellen Pitzer
Angel of the Morning—-D. J. Phinney
House at Pooh Corner—-Julie Wells
California Dreamin’—-Casey Pope
Christmas in Santa Ana—-Biff (Harold D.) Baker
Earth Angel—-Maddie Margarita
Filthy Lucre—-Andrew R. Nixon
Full Service—-Steven G. Jackson
I Love California, Except for the Flakes—-Wanda Green
Just for Fun—-Glenda Brown Rynn
The Kick the Bucket Tour—-Jo Perry
Life Dies and Then You Suck—-Steven G. Jackson
Magdalena—-Lani Forbes
Solving for X—-Anne Moose
Splash—-D. P. Lyle
Steps—-Phyllis Blake
The Inevitable Avocado—-Jeffrey J. Michaels
The Quest for Avalon—-Catheryn Hull
The Unpleasantness in Room 27A—-Dana Hammer
The Untimely Death of Sweet Mims—-David Putnam
Verity’s Truth—-Maddie Margarita
You Can Bank on the Breeze—-P. J. Colando
Zolota: Another Gold Rush—-Rose de Guzman
The Mighty and Me—-Janis Thomas