Scarlet Stockings
by Louisa May Alcott
Harry Lennox has been away from town for five years and is back visiting his sister Kate. Kate has become friends with Belle Morgan, “a nice, bright, energetic, warm-hearted dear.” Harry hasn’t met Belle yet but he likes to watch her pass by wearing her scarlet stockings. Harry would like Kate [...]
The Lottery
by Shirley Jackson
The American Literature website has some wonderful classic short stories. As part of my new program to educate myself on short stories, they have been a superb resource. I want to tell you about a story I found there but first let me tell you about one of the key [...]
Hard Feelings
by Barbara D’Amato
Suze Figueroa and Norm Bennis are Chicago cops. They get along real well which is good because they are partners. A lot of people don’t think women make good cops but Norm is not one of them. He has great respect for Suze.
One cold winter day, as their shift is just getting [...]
In this new-found love of mine for short stories, I’ve been looking at some of my old favorite authors to see what short stories they may have written. Mark Twain gave me some of my earliest story memories. His stories were favorite at our house when I was a kid. This one I associate with [...]
The Rancher’s Lady
by Elmore Leonard
Willis Calender has come to town on the stagecoach with his eleven-year-old son, Jim. Willis’ wife died a year ago and he needs a wife, especially for the little girl back at the ranch. That is the purpose for this long trip to town. A marriage broker had arranged for Willis [...]
When the librarian showed me the short story section I was surprised at the variety. One of the volumes I brought home was Mystery Writers of America Presents Show Business Is Murder. As editor Suart M. Kaminsky said, nearly every major mystery writer, including Shakespeare (Hamlet), used show business as a focus in their stories. [...]
Nan (Letters From a Hill Farm) has been tempting me for months with her tales of intriguing short stories. But it was Edith Wharton (The Writing of Fiction) who gave me the final push to ask the librarian about books of short stories.
In one short week a new reading world has opened up for me. [...]
Hi! My name is Margot. My blog is about the things I love to do. That could be what I'm reading, places we visit, my family, food, or whatever else is happening. I hope you'll stay and visit a while.
Contact me by email: margot (DOT) peck (AT) gmail (DOT) com. 
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NORTHERN CALLIFORNIA