The Monkey's Journal

This collection includes six fantasy (historical, contemporary, urban) short stories featuring female protagonists. Magic of Song and Lightning; Victory Girl; Down to the Heart; The Life of Stuffed Toys; The Songs of Their Lives; and; The Monkey's Journal Travel from 1930s Appalachia to modern day California in this collection of fantasy short stories. What if the book women, those intrepid librarians delivering materials to their charges on horseback, brought more than mundane knowledge to their patrons? Tomboy Ruthie realizes what she truly desires when she meets a Gancanagh, or love talker. Darla is writing a new ending to murder ballads, those tales of deceit, betrayal, and death. Who hasn't lost pets over the years? The pain of losing them is the price for the joy they give us. Different people have different ways of remembering their beloved cats and dogs and other creatures. And some are magic. A triathlon fairytale? Swim, bike, and run your heart out. ¿¿¿¿¿¿¿ Books and cats and wishes and guilt -- a writer's Monkey Paw.