Published: Oct. 01, 2011
Words: 47,007 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9780972876827

Short description

"Four Star Funerals: An Anthology About Death" (in three parts: Memoir, Poetry, & Fiction) packs the emotional wallop of "Titanic," darkened with a dash of "Tales From the Crypt." This 10-author anthology about death and its aftershocks will sear your soul, make you laugh ... and ultimately help you heal, if you're haunted by a death that has upended your emotions in ways you never expected.

Extended description

By Ann Barrington, David R. Davis, Melissa Russell Deur, Patricia Holland, Kathryn Lay, Deborah J. Lightfoot, Martha Moore, Cecile Odell, Diane Roberts, and BJ Stone. Cover art copyright (c) 2011 by David R. Davis. All rights reserved.

"Four Star Funerals: An Anthology About Death" (in three parts: Memoir, Poetry, & Fiction) packs the emotional wallop of "Titanic," darkened with a dash of "Tales From the Crypt." This 10-author anthology about death and its aftershocks will sear your soul, make you laugh ... and ultimately help you heal, if you're haunted by a death that has upended your emotions in ways you never expected.

From the Preface: (Read more) By Ann Barrington, David R. Davis, Melissa Russell Deur, Patricia Holland, Kathryn Lay, Deborah J. Lightfoot, Martha Moore, Cecile Odell, Diane Roberts, and BJ Stone. Cover art copyright (c) 2011 by David R. Davis. All rights reserved.

"Four Star Funerals: An Anthology About Death" (in three parts: Memoir, Poetry, & Fiction) packs the emotional wallop of "Titanic," darkened with a dash of "Tales From the Crypt." This 10-author anthology about death and its aftershocks will sear your soul, make you laugh ... and ultimately help you heal, if you're haunted by a death that has upended your emotions in ways you never expected.

From the Preface:

Anguish, joy, anger, relief, regret, sadness, numbness, fear, guilt, greed, indifference -- so many ways to feel about a death. Maybe you reach for a touch of humor to lighten your heart. Whatever your response to the end of a life, know that you are not alone.

“Four Star Funerals” is a collection drawn from the personal experiences of the Four Star writers, a critique group that met at the Four Star Coffee Bar in Fort Worth, Texas. Death has not merely touched our group, it has hammered many of us in recent years. We’ve lost children, husbands, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, close friends. We’ve lost one of our own, a beloved member of our close-knit group.

“Write what you know” is standard advice to writers. We’ve taken it to heart. Death is what we’ve come to know too well in recent times. Our individual responses to our bereavements show a universe of emotions. You never know how you will react until you’ve been there.

If you’ve been there, if you’ve lost someone important to you, maybe you’ve been surprised -- even shocked -- by your reaction. Perhaps you have felt that your emotions are inappropriate. Maybe it will help you to know that one of us, in our small but diverse writers’ group, has felt much as you have. In our essays, anecdotes, poems, and stories, we hope you find a measure of comfort. You are not alone, nor are we.
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Tags

short fiction, poetry, anthology, inspiration, death, short stories, memoir, mississippi, poems, biography, bereavement, folklore, texas history, funerals, folk history, david davis, southern history, anthology memoir, inspiration and hope, writers groups, diane roberts, folkways, deborah lightfoot, deborah sizemore, ann barrington, david r davis, melissa russell deur, patricia holland, kathryn lay, martha moore, cecile odell, bj stone, burials, four star writers, four star funerals, four star coffee shop

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Reviews

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Review by: Marvin Mayer on Dec. 28, 2011 :
There were at least 3 reasons why I chose to purchase this e-book: to learn about people's reactions to death; to respond to the personal request [to purchase it]; and to check my ability to download it to my newly acquired iPad. While all 3 were valid reasons, the purchase could and should have been made just to enjoy a good read. It definitely was one.

I truly was impressed by the quality of writing from so many different authors. Each story was unique, but each was extremely well written. I even found myself identifying with the authors of at least two of the individual stories.

The subject of death and funerals is one most people don't care to discuss or read. The title, therefore, might have been a put off for me had the invitation not come through my friends at SCBWI. I'm glad I didn't let that (the title) dissuade me. The subject of death was handled with discretion, punctuated now and then with humor, making it a "fun" read.

I highly recommend it.

Marvin S. Mayer, Author
msm@kidsbooksbymarvin.com
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: New Summerfield Press on Oct. 01, 2011 :
This anthology is a good read all around. I was lucky enough to earn a place in it.
(reviewed the day of purchase)

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