Here I am, friends and neighbors, just back from a four-month walkabout and ready to tout my newest book: Power Tools. This is a fine new collection of short stories, twenty-one in all. Sometimes you just have to reach for the tagline, and here it is: There are moments in life when having the right tool makes all the difference.
Power Tools: An elderly woman sets out alone on a journey into a new life. Two soldiers in a bunker share candy and memories. A widower takes on the Supreme Court with a robot. Grief is sung over the cobbled streets of Valletta. Two old heroes question their purpose. These stories tell tales of love lost and found, of the fight for justice, and the glimmering flame of hope that keeps us afloat. Unforgettable characters push back against the crushing weight of the world and shoulder the burdens they carry within. Love, laugh, dance, weep; these are the stories of Power Tools.
Kudos…
Everyone needs a bit of recognition now and then, even a lowly short story. The title story of this collection grabbed the spotlight as a solo act (Hint: Power Tools). This hard-hitting story received a nomination for a Pushcart Prize as well as for a Best of the Web. W00T!
Here’s the Pitch…
I hear you asking: why should I buy your book? Why buy books at all? Luckily for us, I’ve got a smart-ass answer. Reading books places you in a very elite category. You see, reading is in decline these days. If you read more than two books in 2023, you’re in the top half of U.S. adults. There you have it, sports fans. Buy books (hopefully mine) and then read the books you purchased. Do that, and you can claim your elite status. Bully for you and good for Indie authors like me.
If you want to learn more about the dismal state of reading in the USA, here you go:
This is the point where I close with my Call to Action. Click Now! Do It! Whatever. Truth is, I’d be thrilled if you gave my collection of stories a go. If you do decide to purchase a copy (Paperback or eBook!), I truly hope you enjoy the stories. Connecting with a reader is the biggest payback I can receive. Dog knows I’m not getting rich on royalties.
Okay, right, back to the pitch: Buy My Book Right Now! Please! Here’s the link:
If you’re not a link person, here is the actual book page:
Power Tools
There are moments in life when having the right tool makes all the difference.
An elderly woman sets out alone on a journey into a new life. Two soldiers in a bunker share candy and memories. A widower takes on the Supreme Court with a robot. Grief is sung over the cobbled streets of Valletta. Two old heroes question their purpose. These stories tell tales of love lost and found, of the fight for justice, and the glimmering flame of hope that keeps us afloat. Unforgettable characters push back against the crushing weight of the world and shoulder the burdens they carry within. Love, laugh, dance, weep; these are the stories of Power Tools.
Marco Etheridge is a writer of fiction, an occasional playwright, and a part-time poet. He lives and writes in Vienna, Austria. His stories have been published in more than eighty reviews, journals, and magazines in Canada, Australia, the UK, and the USA. Power Tools gathers twenty-one of his best short stories into one collection. An elderly woman sets out alone on a journey into a new life. Two soldiers in a bunker share candy and memories. A widower takes on the Supreme Court with a robot. Grief is sung over the cobbled streets of Valletta. Two old heroes question their purpose. These stories tell tales of love lost and found, of the fight for justice, and the glimmering flame of hope that keeps us afloat. Unforgettable characters push back against the crushing weight of the world and shoulder the burdens they carry within. Love, laugh, dance, weep; these are the stories of Power Tools.
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the page above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Marco Etheridge
Marco Etheridge is a writer of prose, an occasional playwright, and a part-time poet. He lives and writes in Vienna, Austria. His work has been featured in over one hundred reviews and journals across Canada, Australia, the UK, and the USA. His story “Power Tools” has been nominated for Best of the Web for 2023. “Power Tools” is Marco’s latest collection of short fiction. When he isn’t crafting stories, Marco is a contributing editor for a new ‘Zine called Hotch Potch. In his other life, Marco travels the world with his lovely wife Sabine. Website: https://www.marcoetheridgefiction.com/