Available in the Following Formats
- E-book ASIN: B0BVJD1DML
- Paperback ISBN: 979-8-3769-9660-7
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Mementos - A Unique Collection of Short Stories & Flash Fiction - Book 6
People ask: "Why do you use photographic prompts when you write short stories and flash fiction?" Larry Sultan, an American photographer
from the San Fernando Valley in California, provides one answer: "Photography is there to construct the idea of us as a great family and
we go on vacations and take these pictures and then we look at them later and we say, 'Isn't this a great family?' So photography is
instrumental in creating family not only as a memento, a souvenir, but also a kind of mythology." Beyond the physical, however, lie our
memories and in them, the pictures stored in our minds' eyes. As writers, aren't these memories - both the physical and the "mementos of
the mind" - the essence of our works, the prompts we use to spin words and phrases into literary tapestries our readers can use to discover
something about life, a bit about us, perhaps, and, in the process, maybe even a little about themselves?
In this volume, you'll find a story about a trip down memory lane and, despite what is said, the ability to go home again. For those of us who seem to get caught up in the never-ending battle for their attention, leaving little time for family and friends, we offer the story "Time in a Bottle" as a reminder of what truly is important in life. And if you're a reader of police procedurals, this anthology includes eight (8) excerpts from the author’s Detective Louis Martelli, NYPD, Mystery/Thriller series (which can be read in any order). In short (pun intended), there is something in this book for almost every genre and taste.
Featured Review
"An engaging read, Mementos: A Unique Collection of Short Stories & Flash Fiction (Book 6), is the sixth book in the Mementos Anthologies by Theodore Jerome Cohen. It consists of forty-four titles, most of which are inspired by unusual photographs found on the internet. The one exception is inspired by a computer-generated photograph produced by an artificial intelligence (AI) system. The book also contains excerpts from the author's thriller series featuring NYPD Detective Louis Martelli. It opens with my favorite story in the collection, a poignant non-fiction story titled Going Home, inspired by a picture of The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Streetcar 361. Time in a Bottle, inspired by a picture of a man smoking a cigar while looking out the window is another of my favorites as they both evoke strong emotions that are familiar to many of us.
"Reading Theodore Jerome Cohen's aptly titled Mementos was simply a delight. I love the variety and surprise of his stories inspired by photographs, the souvenirs with which we remember a person or an event close to our hearts. This is where Cohen's creativity shines through because although the stories start with photographs, the plots that follow are not always what one would expect. Compressing an entire story into the space of just a few paragraphs, Cohen doesn't fail to deliver one surprise after another. His stories always have interesting characters and well-established settings. Sometimes subtle, at other times palpable, the tension is masterfully woven into the plot. This is a quick and entertaining read filled with intriguing imagery, fascinating characters, and stylish prose."
Praise for Theodore Jerome Cohen's Writing Style
"A signature style that weaves fact with fiction." ~ Mark Mitchell, former editorial page writer for the Wall Street Journal"Prolific!" ~ Gary Sorkin for Pacific Book Review
"A unique, creative imagination." ~ Richard Blake for Readers Views
"Evokes a deep connection with the characters." ~ Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite
"Smart, mature characters." ~ Krista Schnee for Hollywood Book Review
* Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Star