Book Review: 100 Stories for Queensland

Rating:

The brief was clear: short stories wanted for a charity anthology to support the Queensland flood victims. All stories must be of an uplifting or upbeat nature.

It’s incredible seeing the online writing community join together to achieve something wonderful, like 100 Stories for Queensland. Hundreds of talented writers submitted stories, and 100 of those were selected to be part of this anthology – and it’s an honour for me to be amongst the latter number.

Upon having an advance peek of the book, I was moved to tears by the introduction written so beautifully by Kate Eltham, CEO of the Queensland Writers’ Centre. Eltham speaks of the day she and so many others watched the Brisbane River struggle against the onslaught of rain, and she tells us what it was like for a Queenslander to be part of the ensuing days and weeks.

Her short piece is an inspiring introduction to the uplifting fiction following.

Of course, I then flicked straight to my story – what writer isn’t excited to see their name and work in print?! – before heading back to the beginning to read through the other 99 pieces.

And what a collection it is.

Headlined by authors Anita Heiss and Janet Glover, each work of fiction gives the reader a feeling of positivity. As a collective, they make up a few hundred pages of strong messages – there is hope, there is happiness, and the human spirit is an amazing thing.

Readers are taken from Australia to interspace, from past to present to future, in a number of genre, and an eclectic collection of writing styles and storytelling techniques. Entertaining, uplifting, funny or happy – each of these stories tells of ultimate triumph and hope.

Kate Eltham sums it up: “One hundred beautiful stories. Our stories. When so much was lost or destroyed, this was created. That’s something that can never recede or wash away.”

All proceeds are donated to the Queensland Premier’s Flood Appeal.

Title: 100 Stories for Queensland
Author: Various
Category: Short stories
Publisher: Emergent Publishing
ISBN: 9780987112637 (ebook), 9780987112620 (paperback)
RRP: $4.99 (ebook), $19.99 (paperback)
Publication Date: 3 May 2011 (ebook), 6 May 2011 (paperback)