Are you looking for a unique gift for your friends and family? Consider buying a Holiday bundle from me. Watering Words: 52 Short Stories is perfect for avid readers looking for unique short stories, for busy readers who are tip-toeing back into reading, and everyone in between. With 52 short stories ranging from serious to silly, readers are sure to find a story they will love.
What you’ll get:
- Autographed book
- Framed photograph
- Bookmark
- Vintage Christmas stickers
- Gift wrapping
- Shipping
Order before Dec. 17 and your gift will arrive in time for Christmas.
Need a bit more convincing? Here’s some recent reviews from Goodreads and Amazon:
I’ve never really delved into the world of short stories, but if this is what they’re like, man, I’ve been missing out! Each and every one of these stories grabbed me in one way or another, with vivid depictions of different worlds and great character development, in so few pages! If any of these were made into full-length novels, I’d gladly read them all!
—Carla Hart, 5 stars
I have thoroughly enjoyed Watering Words. As a “busy” reader, to have a collection of short stories that I can pick up and put down easily is wonderful, but to have one like this that is so very well written and so varied in the stories told is a real treasure. The back of the cover says this collection “explores the complexities of being human,” and I couldn’t agree more. I have had the pleasure of reading Bridgette’s work online for several years now, and can’t wait to read more.
—Amy H., 5 stars
The tales in Watering Words travel across genres, tones, and themes, and yet each story– even the more far-flung, clearly fantastical tales– are imbued with a deep sense of the personal. If a story doesn’t speak to you on a deeper level, there’s more than a good chance it will help you see another’s experience with more of an open heart. At the core of Kay’s writing is an achingly tender yet tenacious humanity striving for connection.
The stories that stood out the most for me were “Waiting for the Bus”, “Final Goodbye”, “Water in a Dish”, “Dani and the Queen”, “One Thing”, “A Child Like Me”, “Carrots and Muffins”, “Chocolate Kisses”, “Island Blue”, “Apple Stars”, “The Peacock Effect”, “Inside the Trees”, “Coffee and Cloves”, “Stitches in the Woods”, and “The Mask”.
—Lennox Rex, 5 stars
Short stories are somewhat out of fashion. De Maupassant, Joyce, O’Connor are from generations long past. Their stories are observational, based on the world around them. But the longer form of the novel has long held sway and its genres are many. Here Ms Kay returns us to the short form, and her collection is impressive. Each stands alone so the volume can be appreciated over time. Many of her 52 stories are infused with magical realism, and her imagination is impressive, as is her descriptive work. There are spirits here, there are demons. Animals talk and fly, inanimate objects spring to life. Often the main character or narrator is a young person, troubled by the world and finding answers in another dimension. The endings are generally happy, or at least hopeful. Some leave you wondering. But always there is worry and fear – few of these stories are cosy though they may lead to redemption.
Creating these remarkable stories is one thing, but the author’s observation, especially of nature in all its forms, is often breath-taking. Word choices and combinations enhance the offerings and one is immersed in each story.
The end of days, and post-apocalypse scenarios are also featured with the remaining humans trying to survive. Usually we are left hopeful.
Hard to choose favourites here but to pick a few:
- The Old Man. Sick, confused, he is called to the light by his mother.
- Something in the Water. Quite beautiful writing.
- Island Blue. Disturbing.
- The Peacock Effect. A crotchety old pair learn to love again by an old memory.
This collection, and Ms Kay herself, deserves much more attention.
—Roy McCarthy, 5 stars
Bridgette Kay offers a massive debut collection of stories which cover a gambit of genres from the more speculative to the more mundane, but always remaining engaging. This feels like an incredible buffet which will continue to bring new readers to Kay’s work as the years go on. From stories which feel like classic American short stories to retellings of classic fairy tales–there is something in this collection for every readers who enjoys a delightfully crafted taste of the fantastique!
—SirReadsalot, 5 stars
I began reading this book knowing I would enjoy every page. Bridgette Kay doesn’t disappoint with Watering Words.
Every story is an in-depth look into the lives of characters that morph into their very own pieces of beauty, beast, friend, and foe. I took my time reading this one, savoring it for close to a month.
I wanted to become one with the words, and I did.
I appreciated several things I recognized reoccurring in different stories as symbols or perhaps themes: the name “Theo,” the number thirteen, and familial struggles brought about from the mother/matriarch of the family.
You will find tales focusing on love, loss, and grief with hints of magic, witchcraft, and religion sprinkled in. To say that many of the stories had me on the edge of my seat is a crippling understatement.
Beginning the book with Waiting for the Bus and ending it with Rainy Day Recruit is pure unadulterated genius. Most, if not all of these stories are extremely powerful, they can stand perfectly on their own, but these two stories are placed exactly where they should be, and I believe they entice the reader to come back for additional reads.
I know I will.
—Tre L. Loadholt, 5 stars
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Bridgette Tales 