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    Iowa's Original Writers Anthology
    Iowa's Original Writers Anthology
    Iowa's Original Writers Anthology
    Ebook143 pages2 hours

    Iowa's Original Writers Anthology

    By Matthew Davenport, Sue Raymond, Steve Havemann and

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    About this ebook

    Experience the Strong Literary Culture of Local Iowa Authors

    Independent or Traditionally Published, it doesn't matter. In the end, we're all IOWA.

    Step into a world of fantasy, love, business, mystery, adventure, and horror as you open the pages of this book to discover the intense literary culture that resides in Iowa. This Annual Short Story Anthology is a collection of works by writers of all walks of life. If you're interested in partaking in Next Year's Anthology, start writing and send an email to submissions@davenportwrites.com

    Authors included in this Anthology: Kathryn Daugherty, Ross Griswold, Wendy & Charles Siefken, Ethan Charron and Lauri Buck, Nan McAdam, Robert Kerr, Steve Havemann, Sue Raymond, Jordyn Meryl, Stephen Brayton, and Matthew Davenport.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDavenport Writes, LLC
    Release dateDec 8, 2015
    ISBN9781519996428
    Iowa's Original Writers Anthology

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      Book preview

      Iowa's Original Writers Anthology - Matthew Davenport

      Iowa’s Original Writers Anthology

      2015

      Edited by Kelsey Boyce and Matthew Davenport

      Iowa’s Original Writers Anthology: The 2015 Collection of Short Stories by Iowa Authors

      A Davenport Writes, LLC Publication Book/December 2015

      This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to real person, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

      Published by

      Davenport Writes, LLC

      Copyright © 2015 Davenport Writes, LLC

      All rights reserved

      The right of the individual authors to be identified as the author of their individual works within this collection has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

      ––––––––

      No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way by any means without the prior permission of the copyright holder, except as provided by USA copyright law.

      Cover Design: Cover design © Davenport Writes, LLC

      Note from the Authors:

      ––––––––

      We greatly appreciate you taking the time to read our work. Please consider leaving a review wherever you bought the book, or telling your friends about Iowa’s Original Writers Anthology, to help us spread the word. Thank you so much for your support.

      CONTENTS

      ––––––––

      Introduction

      ––––––––

      In the fall of 2014, I was visiting a book signing (The First Annual Iowa Author's Fest, coordinated by Larry Stumbo). I hadn't heard about the book signing event until that morning, and jumped at the chance to network with more authors.

      It was at this event that an idea was born.

      While shaking hands and introducing myself to colleagues in the independent writing world, a discussion came up about more events, about sharing ideas, about culminating author resources, and about how networking as a team of authors could be very beneficial.

      At the height of this conversation, Wendy Siefken (Fantasy author of Kai's Journey) and Jordyn Meryl (Romance author of Becca's Dance) kept encouraging me to do it for them.

      That's something that we need. They'd both said as we discussed the different facets of the perfect company for local authors. As the discussion grew, it was quickly decided that this resource needed to happen and that I was the one who could kick it off.

      Since that fortuitous day in September of 2014, I created Davenport Writes LLC, we've become a team of over 20 local Iowa authors, and we've worked together to bring our literary creations up and out of Iowa and into the world.

      Our Davenport Writes website (www.davenportwrites.com) has provided authors all over the world with resources in the form of freelance editors, cover artists, and voice actors (for audio books). The site provides tutorial videos on marketing your books, creating a brand, and using the Internet's vast resources to automate your marketing efforts.

      Davenport Writes is also a consulting firm, helping authors figure out what marketing techniques work for their books, designing websites to help in establishing your brand, and helping you attain your goals as a writer, whether those be getting one book out in front of your audience or helping you manage your career so that you can get back to writing the 30th novel in your series. If you need publishing assistance, we’re here to help you.

      Needless to say, it has been a busy year.

      Although this book is the first in what we hope will be an annual series, it's another tool that we are providing the interested authors of the DW Team. Don't be fooled by the exciting tales that are in these pages, we're working our magic on you.

      How?

      You probably picked this book up because you like an author listed here, or because you like a specific genre or want to learn more about Iowa's incredible literary culture. Whatever your reason, you're about to discover even more. We want to help you discover more authors, more great stories, and just plain more.

      So, when you finish with the one or two stories that you picked up this copy for, keep reading until you reach the back cover and keep a notepad and pen handy, so that you can look up these wonderful authors outside of this work.

      Thank you for your support. We hope that you enjoy the adventure.

      Kathryn Daugherty

      ––––––––

      Kathryn Daugherty set out in 2005 to be a writer of romance. Her hope was to write books that would engage readers in stories of Family, Friendship and of course LOVE. She filled that goal with the publication of her first novel, A Case of Hearts.

      Reviewers have deemed her story, A ‘just one more chapter before I quit’ read. This writer brings us characters to care about, along with cheering for a little boy who has much at stake in the center of a courtroom drama. The story gives the reader many concepts of doing what is right.

      The beginning pages will bring you into the emotional lives of Carol Matthews and her nephew, Jeff.  Asking Donovan Delaney, a down-on-his-luck attorney, for help brings about a relationship that makes you smile. The book gives you a romance you can share with all ages.

      A Case of Hearts can be purchased at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Case-Hearts-Kathryn-Daugherty/dp/0985807792/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378138453&sr=1-1&keywords=Case+of+Hearts+Kathryn+Daugherty

      Or

      Barnes and Noble online http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-case-of-hearts-kathryn-daugherty/1116744609?ean=9780985807795

      Kathryn’s second book, She Promised Her Heart, has new characters who again will seek love in the comfort of family and friendships. Reviewers of this story describe it by saying it reads like a Hallmark movie filled with warmth it’s that good.  This novel is an amazing love story...about never letting go...and never settling...  loved this book from start to finish and can only hope there is a sequel in the works. Kathryn Daugherty did a wonderful job weaving the past love story with the present.

      She Promised Her Heart can be purchased at http://www.amazon.com/She-Promised-Heart-Kathryn-Daugherty/dp/0692550682/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1448721096&sr=8-1&keywords=She+Promised+Her+Heart

      Or

      Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/she-promised-her-heart-kathryn-daugherty/1122768919?ean=9780692550687

      Visit Kathryn’s website at www.kathryndaugherty.com where you can find more short stories.

      Consequences was written after the Virginia Tech Massacre April 16, 2007. The attack is the deadliest shooting incident by a single gunman in U.S. history and one of the deadliest by a single gunman worldwide.  Thirty-two people were killed and seventeen wounded in two separate attacks on campus. The second student that was killed that day was Ryan C. Clark, a twenty-two-year old senior, who was a Resident Assistant in West Ambler Johnston Hall. Ryan was shot and killed when he went to offer aid to the first student who died in the dorm, Emily J. Hilscher.

      The tragedy of this event felt too close to home. At the time of the shooting our youngest son, T.J. was an RA (resident assistant) at the University of Northern Iowa. The what if... thoughts made me pour this story onto the page.

      Consequences

      by Kathryn Daugherty

      ––––––––

      Bang! Bang! You’re dead!

      Who was Tommy talking to? I wondered as I pushed open the door to my son’s room. There stood my five-year-old with a toy gun in one hand, and holding his stuffed rabbit by its ears in the other.

      Mommy, I shot a rabbit. Can you fix it for supper? A face full of pure delight peeked up at me.

      I sighed and shook my head. Even though, I knew the answer, I asked the question just the same. Tommy James Walker, where did the gun come from?

      From Grandpa. It’s just a toy, Mom. I’m pretending to shoot rabbits, bears, and enemy soldiers. I stepped further into Tommy’s room. It was then I caught sight of several stuffed animals, along with a new group of G. I. Joe action figures lined up like a shooting gallery in front of his bed.

      With a proud grin, Tommy said, Grandpa said when I was bigger he’d buy me a real gun. He told me he would teach me how to use a gun, the right way, and how to shoot. Then I can bring home real animals for you to cook.

      Tommy, give me the gun and the G.I. Joes. Both you and grandpa know the rules: no guns or war toys. My son’s eyes filled with tears, and his bottom lip quivered as he handed over his prized possessions.

      Now I want you to go play with your puzzles or Legos. I’m going to go have a talk with Grandpa. I pushed his white blond curls, hair the color of innocence, away from his eyes and kissed the top of his head.

      I left my husband David at home to keep an eye on Tommy while I headed to my parent’s home. I knew exactly where to find my dad, in his workshop.

      My dad was a man of honor; he had served our country during the Vietnam conflict. He had the medals to prove his bravery. Dad was a loyal American; he believed and supported the rights given to us by the Constitution.

      I laid the toy gun, and action figures on the bench in front of him. Why did you give these to Tommy? You know how David and I feel about him playing with guns and toys that advocate war.

      It’s just a toy gun.’ He said raising his hands palms up. The G. I. Joes are the latest fad. The lady at the toy store told me. What’s the big deal, Jill?"

      It’s a big deal because we’ve told you before that we don’t want guns, toys or otherwise, in our house. There are studies that show these types of toys lead to violence.

      You’re joking, right? Dad wrinkled his brow, stared at me a moment, then looked back to the piece of wood he was working with, before he spoke again. If Tommy learns to respect toy guns, then I can teach him about real guns and how to use them properly. You do know it’s a constitutional right to bear arms. Firearms have protected lives and liberties for years.

      It doesn’t really matter what you say. In fact, I don’t care what you say.  Dad, I know guns kill people.

      He was what

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